Je suis née beauté, et je suis suprême

Chapitre 281

"Would it do any good to tell you?" Zi Mo was very calm. He was calmer than anyone else since Shi Yi left. He could even laugh and talk with people on the day he heard the news.

"Zi Mo!"

"Disperse... Eunuch Hai has been waiting for several days." Zi Mo turned around.

Su Gu looked at him, puzzled: "Zi Mo..."

Zi Mo didn't turn around, walking away alone in the sun, holding his umbrella...

"Qianqing, matters of state are of utmost importance." Sikong seemed to have regained his spirits.

Su Gu was bewildered: "Your Majesty..."

"Let's go, Xi Lingchi is still in the country, we can't be impolite."

"Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty!"

"Let's go!"

After half a month of martial law, the city gates were finally opened, and the orderly royal guard escorted the emperor back home...

...

Suddenly everything seemed peaceful:

Qian Qing held the morning court session as usual, without offering any explanation for Shen Ziyi's disappearance.

Shen Huanzheng did not press the matter. In his heart, no matter how outstanding Shen Ziyi was, he was still just an illegitimate child and not as important to him as Zi Mo.

He looked at his proud son, Zi Mo, who was perfectly normal, neither downcast nor angry. He attended court on time and handled affairs regularly. No more unpredictable actions would suddenly occur in the court, and no one would raise any offensive questions...

Sun Zhixian stood in the hall, speaking eloquently, while Qian Qing listened attentively, resting her head on her hand.

Sikong stood in his usual spot, gazing blankly.

The only difference was that Su Keji, who always stood, was now kneeling trembling behind Sikong, not daring to raise his head...

Gao Yanxing intercepted Zi Mo again. The atmosphere these past two days had been really strange. The Emperor only listened without answering, and the Prime Minister only looked without speaking. They seemed normal, but it was as if a big conspiracy was brewing: "Xianxu, does the Emperor... intend to make a move against someone?"

"Father-in-law." Zi Mo bowed, more respectful than usual. "This humble servant does not know." After speaking, Zi Mo walked away without waiting for Gao Yanxing to ask any further questions. He walked very slowly, showing no dissatisfaction with Gao Yanxing nor any interest in the topic.

Gao Yanxing was even more frustrated. He was afraid of losing face if he chased after the emperor, so he could only try to figure out how not to bump into the emperor.

Wu Yongkang dared not speculate, but everyone said that Shen Ziyi was gone. He had no way to verify this, and the message he sent had not been answered.

But it is a fact that Shen Ziyi has not attended court for a month. It is not impossible for him to skip court. He did not know how to send a message and sent people to inquire, but there was no news.

Those in the know, however, spoke little. The eerie atmosphere told him that the rumor of Shen Ziyi's accident was the most reliable...

Li Zhiliang was dejected: Nuya was gone, and he couldn't accept the news for a long time, but Aunt Yun's words dismissed him.

He searched everywhere he could think of, but he couldn't find the woman with the sorrowful look of autumn frost...

He admired her. They first met at Yanxiaolou, or rather, without Nuya, he would never have entered such a place in his life.

Meeting Nuya was accidental; her simple attire as she lingered outside the Shen residence made her look more like a maidservant of the Shen household.

She bowed to him: instantly captivating his eyes and stirring his heart.

After that, he began searching for her aimlessly, until he learned that she was the top courtesan at Yanxiaolou.

He laughed at his own foolishness, but he still went, and abandoned his gentlemanly knowledge to become her regular customer. She liked to hear people talk about Ziyi, and every time he was mentioned, Nuya would unconsciously smile.

I initially thought it was just a girl's particular fondness for rumors, but now I realize things might not be so simple...

Aunt Yun didn't know how to bring up the gossip she had overheard to her friend. Her sister of many years was sitting in front of her, and she couldn't bring herself to speak.

"Ah Yun, what's wrong?" She was pacing back and forth, feeling dizzy.

"Xiao Rong, your older brother is here." Making conversation.

"I know, everyone in the city knows. What are you trying to say?"

"Nuya is dead." He couldn't bring himself to ask.

"Really?" Madam Mu looked slightly surprised. "Mission failed? There's no other possibility."

"Well, I'm not entirely sure. It was a personal order from Master." To be honest, she was incredibly anxious.

"A private mission? It's risky and unavoidable." Madam Mu didn't take it to heart. Everyone who came out expected this day to come; it was just a matter of time.

Aunt Yun finally couldn't help but ask, "Have you seen Ziyi?"

Murong was furious when her close friend mentioned her unfilial son: "Don't mention it. He's angry with me and hasn't come back yet."

"You..." Aunt Yun asked tentatively, "Have you heard any news about him these past few days?"

Murong pondered for a moment: "No, I don't know where Little Grass is. No one's been mentioning her." It's much quieter at home when no one's caused trouble. Even if she never comes back, no one will miss her. We need to temper her temper; it's all because we spoiled her too much and she's become unruly!

"I...I heard..."

"What do you want to say?" he stammered.

"I heard Shen Ziyi is dead," Aunt Yun said in one breath, watching Murong's reaction closely.

Murong dropped her teacup and looked at Aunt Yun in surprise: "How is this possible?" Zi Mo hadn't been home for the past two days; he was with Xiao Yi.

"I heard it from the guests..."