Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 347: Is It Only Because of This?

The crowd looked curiously and fearfully at this emperor with a face as calm as water. As he approached step by step, people hurriedly moved aside.

Qi Yun came to the pile of jewelry and bent down to personally pick up a flower hairpin, which made Chen Zhong beside him extremely anxious; such matters should be handled by him.

But when he saw the hairpin, he was slightly stunned and gradually lowered his head.

Fortunately, he didn’t intervene, otherwise, the Emperor’s wrath would not have been a matter of jest.

Qi Yun picked up the hairpin, his gaze growing deep, then raised his head to look at the embarrassed palace maid, and said lightly, "Where did you get this item from?"

"I... I... I don’t know..."

The palace maid said fearfully.

Qi Yun’s eyes were icy: "Don’t know? Then where did you steal it from?"

"I... I..."

Another palace maid nearby, annoyed by her stammering, quickly sought Qi Yun’s permission, saying, "Emperor, she stole goods from several palaces, and this hairpin should be from one of them."

"Then go and ask!"

Qi Yun seemed very impatient but exhibited a keen interest in this hairpin.

A message came shortly after, saying it was stolen from Zilan Palace.

Qi Yun’s pupils narrowed slightly. Zilan Palace was very close to the palace of Princess Consort Yun. Without a word, he immediately took people there.

In Zilan Palace lived a concubine, Yu Pin. This concubine was not very noticeable, usually existing like a transparent figure, thus no one generally bothered with her. But it was said that she and Princess Consort Yun were very close, referring to each other as sisters.

"Concubine greets the Emperor, long live the Emperor!"

At the gate of Zilan Palace, Yu Pin, having received the message, was already dressed neatly and respectfully kneeled on the ground. When Qi Yun approached, she bowed to greet him.

Qi Yun slightly nodded, not entering immediately, prompting Yu Pin to quickly follow inside.

"It is rare for the Emperor to visit this concubine; I am deeply honored. I have prepared some refreshments, please, Your Majesty, taste them!"

Yu Pin was slightly round-faced, looking shy and dignified. She carefully held a tray, half-crouching as she presented it.

Qi Yun looked at the refreshments but had no appetite. He waved his hand and said, "Rise, I have something to ask you!"

"Yes."

Yu Pin rose respectfully, composed and without a trace of panic.

To others, this appeared as poise and elegance, a sign of good breeding, but to Qi Yun, as the Emperor, he saw matters more profoundly and clearly.

In his view, this was premeditated!

He narrowed his eyes, showing the cloud-patterned hairpin in his hand, and said faintly, "Is this item from your palace?"

Yu Pin raised her gaze, looked at the hairpin, and was slightly taken aback, "Yes, this item belongs to this concubine. How did it find its way to the Emperor’s hand?"

Her beautiful eyes slightly widened, a flash of panic evident in them.

Qi Yun: "Someone has been stealing in the palace, taking many goods. Does Yu Pin not know that items have been lost from her palace?"

Yu Pin slightly parted her cherry-red lips, looking very alluring: "Though this concubine’s palace is simple, it is not lacking in goods. Moreover, this concubine seldom wears many ornaments, so it’s hard to notice."

"Hmm."

Qi Yun nodded, handing the hairpin to Yu Pin, yet she didn’t move.

Qi Yun frowned, "Why don’t you take it?"

"Please forgive this concubine!"

Yu Pin suddenly bowed low and kowtowed.

"This item belongs to Princess Consort Yun, and it should have long been returned to the Emperor. However, this concubine shared a deep affection with Princess Consort Yun, truly wishing just to have a memento, which is why I have kept it until now. Now... now that it is in the Emperor’s hand, this concubine dares not keep it any longer..."

Qi Yun looked at her blandly, then reclasped the hairpin in his palm.

"Why do you keep bowing your head? Lift your head up!"

Qi Yun’s words were calm, giving an impression of a benevolent emperor, but Yu Pin trembled all over, bowing her head even lower.

This demeanor made it hard not to be suspicious.

"Lift your head!"

Qi Yun raised his voice, scaring Yu Pin into quickly raising her head.

She appeared sturdy, but in reality, her eyes were filled with panic, indicating her guilt. Qi Yun looked at her with irritation, coldly saying, "Why are you flustered?"

"This concubine... this concubine is not..."

"Bang!"

Qi Yun slammed a palm onto the table, startling all the palace maids and eunuchs around, who kneeled on the ground, filled with terror.

Yu Pin turned pale with fright.

"Does Yu Pin take me for a fool, deaf, or blind?"

"This concubine dares not!"

Yu Pin fell to her knees with a thud, eyes tearing up, looking pitiful, but Qi Yun had no pity for her, maintaining a cold face as he said, "Speak!" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Yu Pin inhaled deeply, choking up as she said, "This was given to this concubine by Princess Consort Yun before she left, saying to keep it as a memory."

Qi Yun’s pupils contracted slightly. Whenever Princess Consort Yun was mentioned, he would lose some normal thinking and sternly said, "Princess Consort Yun left? You knew she was leaving? Why didn’t you stop her? Hmm?"

Qi Yun was angry!

Knowing full well he cared most about Princess Consort Yun, yet watching her go was a disregard for him?

Or did you deliberately let Princess Consort Yun leave?

Yu Pin quickly said, "Emperor, at that time, Princess Consort Yun had just given birth to the Seventeenth Prince, but those rebel armies had already stormed into the Imperial Palace. They were searching for Princess Consort Yun and the prince to take them and use them to threaten the Emperor!

Princess Consort Yun did not want to be used as leverage but was too weak to stay in the palace safely. Concubine helped her to escape, Emperor, it was truly not an intentional release of Princess Consort Yun!"

Qi Yun tightened his grip, his anger gradually dissipating. He looked at Yu Pin and suddenly asked, "Then do you know where they went?"

"This... this concubine does not know! At that time, a loyal guard took Princess Consort Yun and the Seventeenth Prince away, but Princess Consort Yun and the Seventeenth Prince went separately.

She said if they were together, they’d be completely doomed if caught by the enemy. It was better to act separately, increasing their chances of survival.

Qi Yun pondered; indeed, this was logical.

Separating made it even safer.

Yu Pin raised her head, lightly glancing at Qi Yun, seeing him lost in thought, so she continued, "Princess Consort Yun said she knew martial arts, so she could go alone. No need to worry about her, and let that guard escort the Seventeenth Prince away, to a small village on the border and live an ordinary life."

Qi Yun’s expression slightly twitched: "Why live an ordinary life in a small village at the border? Is the Imperial Palace not good?"

"Princess Consort Yun said the struggle for royal power and fame is too bloody; she disliked living such an anxious life..."

Qi Yun became bewildered.

Could it be that Xiang’er was unwilling to return because of this?

And not for some other reason? Had he over-calculated and misunderstood her intentions?

Qi Yun mused, while Yu Pin obediently closed her mouth. The surroundings were eerily silent, the drop of a pin could be heard.

Suddenly, Qi Yun said, "Before they left, did they take anything with them?"