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墨書 Inktalez
"Your Majesty, the poison is called Severing Child Scatter."
As Xia Muxin's words fell, the crowd erupted in astonishment once more. Shen Muhan, however, pulled her into his embrace, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. Instantly, no one dared to look at Xia Muxin with probing eyes anymore.
"Ah... Wuwu... I don't want to live, I don't want to live."
At this moment, Su Xiuning was frantically waving her hands, crying out that she wanted to crash into a pillar. This situation was undoubtedly a great humiliation; now that everyone in the court knew about it, how could she possibly have the face to continue living?
"I beg Your Majesty to take responsibility for my daughter."
Suo Ao nearly faltered under Su Xiuning's madness and immediately clasped his fists toward Tian Ming Rui, pleading.
Logically speaking, the poison was found within Shen Manor, and thus Shen Manor should bear the primary responsibility. The only solution was for Shen Manor to marry Su Xiuning; that way, they would not leave behind any incriminating evidence. Even if Su Xiuning would still be a laughingstock, at least she would find a good match.
Everyone understood the severity of Severing Child Scatter and immediately shed sympathetic tears for Su Xiuning.
"Your Majesty, now that Xiuning has been wrongfully harmed and lost her right to be a mother, she knows she is unworthy of the Regent. Now she only wishes for death to prove her innocence. I hope Your Majesty will grant her wish."
"Xiuxiu..."
"Ning'er..."
Su Xiuning knew deep down that Tian Ming Rui was Shen Muhan's sworn brother; regardless of the circumstances, he would prioritize him first. Thus, steeling her heart, she made one final threat. She did not believe they could truly watch her die like this.
Su Rong and his son gasped in shock, while Suo Ao held her tightly in his arms. In an instant, father and daughter embraced each other and began to cry sorrowfully.
Xia Muxin's gaze shifted to Shen Muhan, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Shen Muhan raised an eyebrow and smiled before leaning closer and saying:
"Go ahead, if it breaks, I'll be here to support you."
Xia Muxin shot him a look that clearly said, "Don't think this will earn you my forgiveness," and then knelt down to propose to Tian Ming Rui:
"Your Majesty, as a woman myself, I feel deeply for Miss Su. Without heirs, her future would be bleak. If she were to marry later and be scorned, it would be better to end it all now. I have dozens of ways to die that I could share with Miss Su for her consideration. In our village, there are certain customs surrounding death; if one dies correctly, they are sure to be reborn into a good life. Moreover, Miss Su is talented and beautiful, with a kind heart. I believe Yama would not let her suffer in hell before being reborn."
After speaking, Xia Muxin looked at Su Xiuning, whose cries had abruptly stopped, with red-rimmed eyes and said sorrowfully:
"See? The methods I mentioned seem to have worked. It appears Miss Su has come to terms with it—better to die early and be reborn. She seems so cheerful now that she has even forgotten her sadness."
Tian Ming Rui felt his composure slip away once more; he could hardly describe the joy swelling within him. Xia Muxin was truly a gem; just look at Su Xiuning's face—it was like a palette of colors, ever-changing.
Furthermore, Xia Muxin maintained an expression of profound sorrow and sympathy while delivering such words with utmost seriousness—it was simply astonishing.
Not only him, but Shen Muhan also shook his head in disbelief. He remembered saying that people in the capital were quite playful, but at this moment, he thought: Muxin, you are the most playful of them all.
Yet he couldn't help but want her performance to come to an end; he interrupted her enthusiasm by cheering her on:
"What does Muxin think is the best way to die?"
Xia Muxin's lips curled into a smile as she seemed genuinely interested in the topic of death:
"I once heard of a woman who committed a wrong but refused to admit it. Not only did she curse the heavens for fairness, but she also spread inciting words everywhere. In the end, she fainted from anger and was mistakenly declared dead by an incompetent doctor. Her family buried her, and thousands of years later, this place became desolate. When someone later moved here and began farming the land, they unearthed her grave. Can you guess what happened next?"
As Xia Muxin spoke, an inexplicable chill ran through everyone present; yet she appeared invigorated and posed a question for them.
"What do you think?"
Of course, the most curious among them was Tian Ming Rui. Ignoring the dignity of his position as emperor, he propped his chin on his hand and gazed at Xia Muxin with keen interest before asking aloud.
Many people had asked this question, but within a short time, they seemed to sense that something was different about Xia Muxin, and thus they held back from asking.
"When the coffin was opened, the first thing that struck the eye was an extraordinarily beautiful sight. The woman was half-sitting, her pupils wide open. One hand was striking the coffin while the other was pressed against her abdomen. Due to the passage of time, her clothes had decayed, yet her body remained intact, flawless like white jade. Even though her pupils were painfully wide, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest."
"So... is she dead or not?"
The officials all moved in unison, their hearts racing as they listened to Xia Muxin's vivid description. As soon as she paused, they exchanged glances filled with unspoken questions until finally one official asked.
"Dead, of course she's dead. How could someone sealed in a coffin not be dead? According to archaeologists' calculations, she has been dead for thousands of years."
"Ah? Isn't that a monster? Then... what about now?"
"Weathered away?"
"......"
Everyone was puzzled: What does 'weathered away' mean?
Xia Muxin looked disdainfully at them, pouting as if to say: I won't tell you.
"Xia Muxin, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Su Xiuning felt a chill run down her spine as an inexplicable image of a naked woman with a twisted face and immense suffering appeared before her eyes. She trembled all over and cried out sharply.
Xia Muxin pretended to pat her chest and looked at Su Xiuning, whose face had drained of color. Finally, she said with a wicked grin:
"What I mean is that if you don't court death, you won't die. Besides, isn't this way of dying rather interesting? Your pain, your fear, your helplessness—all hidden from the outside world and buried in that coffin. If it weren't for the villagers clearing the land, wouldn't that woman have become an everlasting beauty who never rots?"
"You... you are cursing me..."
Su Xiuning pointed a finger at Xia Muxin, tears streaming down her face as she made a pitiful accusation.
"Hey, everyone, please help me out here. Commoner merely cited an example; why must you be so angry, Miss Su? A mere commoner wouldn’t dare to curse you, would they?"
You’ve already placed such a heavy burden on me; it’s a great mercy that I haven’t publicly exposed your ugly face. Yet here you are, making a fuss and disturbing my sleep early in the morning. Do you really think I’m that easy to bully?
"By the way, Your Majesty, the scene that Commoner described is still fresh in my memory, as if it were yesterday. If everyone doesn’t mind, Commoner could draw it out in public. But it might be a bit terrifying; I hope no one has nightmares tonight..."
In the end, Xia Muxin seemed to feel it wasn’t enough and subtly asked.
Her words resonated deeply with the officials present; while they were frightened, they were also eager to know what this so-called scene by Xia Muxin was like.
Eventually, they reached an agreement, and Xia Muxin truly began to draw.
With a cheerful demeanor, she lifted her sleeve and grasped her brush, her small hand dancing across the paper.
During this time, she asked a Court Lady for some colored ink and a few brushes. As she painted, she focused intently, her eyes slightly lowered. The crowd stretched their necks to see but dared not approach.
Finally, after a short while, Xia Muxin set down her brush.
She then gestured for the two Court Ladies beside her to come forward.
The two Court Ladies glanced at the Emperor and, upon receiving his nod, picked up the painting and turned it towards the officials.
Everyone looked on with curiosity. Upon seeing it, their faces turned pale with shock; several of them pointed at the painting and stammered:
"This... this... this isn’t... isn’t..."
Xia Muxin calmly clapped her hands and walked towards a corner. At that moment, being invisible seemed like the best option for her. However, halfway there, she was stopped by Shen Muhan.
"Are you done playing?"
Shen Muhan's eyes were as deep as a dark pool, firmly locking onto Xia Muxin's pouting face, which was puffed up in frustration. He gently brushed his large hand across her cheek, but when he saw that she remained unresponsive, he pinched her petite nose instead, gritting his teeth yet relishing the moment.
"How about we just get married here in the capital?"
His words finally provoked Xia Muxin's discontent and protest. She swatted his hand away from her nose and laughed.
"Dream on!"
With such a huge mess still unresolved, how could he even think about marrying her? Not to mention there wasn't even a chance—no way at all.
Shen Muhan was well aware of her thoughts, but he had already devised a foolproof plan. Today was merely to let this little girl vent her frustrations.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the air. Su Xiuning's pupils widened, her face contorted in horror as she clutched her head tightly and toppled over to the ground.
"Alright, she's done for. We can really bury her now."
- End of Chapter -
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