In Another World, Everyone Want to Kill Me!-Chapter 225: Merit and Fault
Upon hearing the Emperor’s decree, Xie Lianhua instantly went limp and collapsed to the ground.
She knew all too well what kind of place Cold Palace was and she also knew that those who entered it rarely emerged intact.
Yet once the Emperor had spoken, there was absolutely no room for reversal.
She could only kowtow incessantly while begging the Emperor for mercy.
"Your Majesty, please spare me... Lianhua knows she was wrong..."
Before long, specks of red blossomed on the floor.
Seeing her like this, Yue Mingxuan felt a trace of reluctance and pity rise in his heart, yet he still did not speak up on her behalf.
He himself was barely able to protect his own position now and simply had no spare strength to help anyone else.
Everyone present watched Xie Lianhua in silence.
Although there was compassion in their eyes, not a single person stepped forward to say a word for her.
Only when the guards came forward and dragged her away did her pleas for mercy finally fade, though they seemed to linger faintly in Yue Mingxuan’s ears.
Yue Mingxuan closed his eyes in pain.
He loathed this cold and indifferent version of himself.
For the sake of self preservation, it seemed he had already lost the innocence and passion he once possessed.
Since arriving in this era, he had changed far too much, so much that he no longer felt like himself.
The Emperor’s voice pulled him out of his self reproach.
"Yue Mingxuan, do you acknowledge your guilt?"
Yue Mingxuan replied helplessly, "This subject acknowledges his guilt." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
No matter what, admitting fault first was always the safer course.
After all, an argument could never be started by just one person.
The Emperor looked at Yue Mingxuan and spoke slowly.
"Yue Mingxuan, you and Xie Lianhua caused a loud disturbance in Chengqian Palace, damaging the dignity of our Beirong state. However, in consideration of your meritorious service in treating Qing’er, merit and fault cancel each other out. We will not send you to Cold Palace."
Hearing this, Yue Mingxuan finally let out a sigh of relief.
That hellish place, any normal person who entered it would likely come out mad.
"But," the Emperor continued, "though the death penalty is waived, punishment cannot be avoided. The books We ordered you to copy, double the amount."
"Th-this..." Yue Mingxuan’s face instantly fell.
Being made to copy books was more unbearable to him than death itself.
With a surge of reckless resolve, he said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, then you might as well send me to Cold Palace instead."
He would rather go mad than copy books, absolutely no way he was doing that.
Before the Emperor could respond, Rong Qinglei spoke up anxiously. "Father Emperor, Mingxuan was only joking. Please do not punish him by sending him to Cold Palace."
The Emperor did not respond to Rong Qinglei.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Yue Mingxuan and asked, "Are you truly willing to go to Cold Palace rather than copy books?"
Yue Mingxuan paused for a moment, then nodded firmly.
In any case, he now had Gongsun Xing backing him. Even if he were sent to Cold Palace, he likely would not suffer too much or endure serious hardship. Perhaps he might even gain a bit of peace and quiet there.
Seeing how resolute Yue Mingxuan was, Rong Qinglei’s face turned deathly pale.
Ever since he could remember, no one had dared to openly defy Father Emperor’s wishes like this.
He feared that Yue Mingxuan was now facing grave danger.
Yet to everyone’s surprise, the Emperor did not grow angry.
After pondering for a while, he said, "Since you dislike copying books, then exempting you from copying them is not impossible." As he spoke, he turned to Imperial Consort Hua with a hint of emotion and said, "The way this child digs in his heels reminds me of an old acquaintance."
At this point, the Emperor’s expression softened a little. "Back then, she also refused to copy books..."
Seeing the Emperor sink into reminiscence, no one around dared to make a sound.
The entire Chengqian Palace grew so quiet that even the sound of a needle dropping to the floor would have seemed deafening.
Only after a long while did the Emperor let out a deep sigh and turn his attention to Rong Qinglei. Qing’er, are you feeling better?"
Rong Qinglei glanced at Yue Mingxuan who was still kneeling on the ground and replied after some careful consideration, "Thank you for your concern, Father Emperor. Mingxuan’s medical skills are exceptional. I am feeling much better."
Hearing that Rong Qinglei was deliberately giving Yue Mingxuan credit, Imperial Consort Zhou spoke with some displeasure. "I’m afraid that more than half of the credit should go to Miracle Doctor Gongsun, shouldn’t it?"
What Yue Mingxuan wanted most at this moment was to keep a low profile.
So while still lowered his head he said,"Imperial Consort Zhou is right. Miracle Doctor Gongsun indeed contributed greatly."
Imperial Consort Zhou had expected Yue Mingxuan to argue with her as he had earlier and giving her an opportunity to accuse him before the Emperor of being ignorant of propriety.
Instead, he lowered his brows and meekly accepted it, completely unlike the sharp tongued person who had quarreled with Xie Lianhua earlier.
Seeing that Yue Mingxuan did not refute her at all, Imperial Consort Zhou felt as though she had punched a wad of cotton.
Annoyed, she turned her head away and no longer paid him any attention.
The Emperor seemed not to notice what was happening before him at all.
He keeps his focus on inquiring after Rong Qinglei’s condition with evident concern.
About the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, an attendant slipped in quietly and reminded him, "Your Majesty, it will soon be time for the midday court."
He had originally planned to stay a while longer, but with the midday audience approaching, he had no choice but to rise and take his leave.
