Chapter 156 Into the Cell Again

The next day, the envoys returned to the imperial palace once again. However, they brought up the old matter anew, stubbornly demanding a definitive verdict on the previous incident, which proved somewhat troublesome.

"Did we not agree on a seven-day deadline? Why must you press us so relentlessly?" Jun Ye-Li felt a hint of displeasure at the untrustworthiness and eagerness of this bunch.

Gazing at the crowd, his eyes carried a dark gloom. They were supposedly here for the peace between the two nations, but did they truly think he was someone to be trifled with?

Yet today, these people seemed hell-bent on being unreasonable. In the face of Jun Ye-Li's words, they grew even more unbridled. "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is not that we wish to press you relentlessly, but rather that the news has already reached the ears of our Sovereign Lord. She is exceedingly angry and demands that you hand over the murderer as soon as possible to give us an explanation!"

"Are you certain?" Jun Ye-Li narrowed his eyes slightly. Over the past few days, he had kept a close watch on these fellows. There had indeed been correspondence passing between them, which simply could not have gone unnoticed.

They brandished the name of their Sovereign Lord, but how could they have received news from her so quickly? Could it be through some legendary transmission of sound over a thousand miles? It was nothing short of a joke!

His scrutinizing gaze made those men feel somewhat guilty. One of them gritted his teeth, braced himself, and angrily retorted, "Your Majesty, you must stop stalling for time. This matter is fundamentally your fault. Our people met with tragedy on your territory. She is merely a woman—surely you can make some concession and provide an account, if only for the sake of peace between our two countries!"

"Very well. Since it has come to this, I will make it explicitly clear to you: in the presence of all civil and military officials, the seven-day period was secured to thoroughly investigate the murderer. Naturally, no premature decision will be made!"

Neither side would yield, and the atmosphere grew somewhat tense. Because of this seven-day grace period, no matter how confident the envoys felt, they could not override a monarch's spoken word.

One of them darkened his expression and, with a final shred of stubbornness, suddenly blurted out, "If that is the case, Your Majesty should at least place the suspect under detention in the imperial prison. To allow Consort Rong to roam the palace as unbridled and carefree as if nothing happened—is this not an insult to us? Do you look down upon us?"

This statement was made with remarkable candor, causing Jun Ye-Li to furrow his brow. "You seem to know the affairs of the imperial palace like the back of your hand..."

These fellows usually resided at the guesthouse; how could they possibly be so well-informed? Coupled with this sudden change in attitude...

Scarcely four days had passed, and they could not even wait out the remaining three? What specific benefit could Hua Rong's death possibly bring them, that they would risk a direct confrontation with him here?

Faced with this skepticism, the envoy's expression shifted instantly, as if his mouth had been sealed with glue, leaving him utterly clueless as to how to respond.

Seemingly out of a guilty conscience, the envoy began to stammer, "I—after all, this concerns diplomatic relations between our nations. Naturally, we must pay closer attention. That is hardly unreasonable, is it?"

"Fine, it is not unreasonable. Since the matter has reached this point, I shall grant your wish and temporarily place Consort Rong under arrest. But if you continue to press us aggressively, I cannot help but suspect your true motives for being in such a rush!"

Jun Ye-Li swept a cold glance over them, sending a chill through the entire group, yet they still forced themselves to act as though nothing was amiss.

The matter was thus hastily concluded with the detention of Hua Rong.

Watching the group depart with lingering reluctance, Jun Ye-Li fell into deep contemplation and suddenly issued an order: "Zhuifeng, follow these people closely and do not leave them even for a moment. I fear these fellows are not simple, and someone behind the scenes is fanning the flames, stubbornly driving Consort Rong to her death!"

She was merely a minor concubine of the inner palace; these people had no reason to target her to such an extent.

Following Zhuifeng's acknowledgment, Jun Ye-Li slowly departed.

Barely half an hour later, Hua Rong, who was still in the courtyard watering and fertilizing flowers, suddenly saw several guards rush in, led by a chief eunuch.

Judging by their ill-intentioned demeanor, Hua Rong felt a slight pang of panic. "What are you all doing here?"

"Consort Rong, His Majesty has instructed us to invite you to spend a few days in the imperial prison."

The eunuch spoke with pristine courtesy, yet somehow those words sounded thoroughly wrong. "Are you certain you did not misspeak? Inviting this concubine to stay in the prison—how very hospitable of you!"

The word "invite" felt exceptionally jarring in this context, leaving her bewildered. Since when did people issue invitations like this? She had no idea whose toes she might have stepped on.

"Wait, what on earth do you mean? Is this an order from His Majesty?"

"It is indeed His Majesty's command. Forgive us, Consort Rong, but pray come along."

The eunuch stepped aside, and the guards split into two rows.

Hua Rong stood frozen in place. She had only been released a few days ago; why was she being sent right back in the blink of an eye? Was this prison truly turning into her personal home? Did she have to be shuffled in and out so casually—did she have no pride to maintain?

"Impossible, His Majesty would never do such a thing. There must be some reason behind this!" Hua Rong shook her head, but suddenly recalling her current state of forced leisure, she experienced a flash of sudden enlightenment.

Yet the only baffling part was why, having released her, they would imprison her once more. "Could those people have gone to trouble His Majesty again, forcing him into a corner?!"

"We beg Your Ladyship not to ask so many questions, but rather to obediently enter the prison. After all, this is His Majesty's decree, and we are merely following orders."

As the voice trailed off, the eunuch cast a meaningful glance at the guards. Disregarding Hua Rong's apprehensive anxieties, two guards grabbed her by the arms and dragged her away by force.

"You fellows, I can walk on my own! Let go of me at once!"

All the way, Hua Rong found herself back inside the very same cell she had previously occupied. Because Jun Ye-Li had personally had it tidied up, it looked quite clean, almost like a home.

Even so, remembering that this place was the grand imperial prison, Hua Rong still felt somewhat uneasy living here, her mind racing with wild imaginations. "If those people continue to hound His Majesty, this matter is bound to blow up. Surely I am not about to become some foolish scapegoat, am I?"

With no clue as to the identity of the true murderer, Hua Rong was now on the verge of tears. Had she known this would happen, she never would have left the palace in the first place, only to end up in such a plight.

Just as depression weighed heavily upon her heart, the sound of footsteps drifted in from outside.

Hua Rong pricked up her ears. The pace was slow and measured; it certainly could not be those brash guards. "Could His Majesty have come to see me?!"

With a flicker of delighted anticipation, Hua Rong eagerly stretched her neck toward the cell door, only to behold Lady Zhao arriving from afar.