Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 763: Arrest and Return to the Palace to Beg for Mercy (4)_1

Chapter 763: Chapter 763: Arrest and Return to the Palace to Beg for Mercy (4)_1

Mo Yan, however, had no mind to think of ways to help Mother and son of the Wu family since three members of the Chen Family had been arrested and brought to the capital a few days prior, awaiting their fate.

The day after the Chen Family was escorted into the capital, Mo Yan submitted her request to see the Emperor at the palace but never received a summon from Emperor Huian.

Mo Yan figured that Emperor Huian probably knew the purpose of her request for an audience, and his refusal to see her was effectively a refusal to spare Mrs. Du. Without admission to the palace, she could not personally plead for Mrs. Du, leaving her only hope to be that Xiao Ruiyuan could persuade Chu Heng. That way, she might have a chance to enter the palace and convince Emperor Huian to pardon Mrs. Du’s death sentence.

Seven to eight days passed without any news from either the imperial palace or Xiao Ruiyuan, causing Mo Yan to grow increasingly restless. If it dragged on any longer, she truly feared the next news she received would be of the execution of the Chen Family.

Mo Qingze, who spent his days studying at home, noticed Mo Yan’s unusual behavior and couldn’t help asking her several times.

Mo Yan dared not reveal the truth, merely making up a vague excuse to get by. Chen Ji’s misconduct was something she was determined to hide from her family. Furthermore, saving Mrs. Du was planned to be carried out secretly; if Emperor Huian agreed to spare Mrs. Du, she intended to privately arrange a safe place for her without letting anyone in the family know, not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble for her family.

Luckily, on the ninth day, a message came from Xiao Ruiyuan via the Hidden Guard. Chu Heng was willing to forgive Mrs. Du and would speak on her behalf in the palace, as a repayment for the help Mo Yan once gave.

The boulder hanging over Mo Yan’s heart finally fell away in large part. If Chu Heng was willing to let Mrs. Du go, Emperor Huian might be more likely to relent.

On the afternoon of the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, a Little Eunuch came to the Mo Family and brought an oral decree from Emperor Huian, summoning Mo Yan to the palace at the fifth quarter of the morning on the eighth.

Finally having received definite news, Mo Yan calmed down. Early the next morning, she dressed in her County Lord’s official attire and went to the imperial palace to meet Emperor Huian.

Upon entering the palace gate, Mo Yan was greeted by Little Eunuchs who directly escorted her to the Imperial study. Outside the study, she encountered Xiao Ruiyuan who was waiting for her.

Dismissing the Little Eunuchs, Xiao Ruiyuan walked with Mo Yan inside while speaking, "My cousin said The Emperor has already softened. When you go in and he asks you something, just tell the truth."

"Mmm, I understand!" Mo Yan nodded with a smile, though in her mind she thought she must not reveal the real reason for saving Mrs. Du, no matter what.

The Little Eunuchs outside of the Imperial study announced their arrival before leading Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan inside.

Emperor Huian looked very serious, and Mo Yan, feeling somewhat apprehensive, curtsied and waited for him to begin questioning.

After a good while, Emperor Huian asked about the reasons for Mo Yan’s desire to save the criminal Mrs. Du. His tone sounded quite normal, leaving no clue as to what he was truly thinking.

Mo Yan quickly gathered her thoughts and, after bowing to Emperor Huian, spoke gravely, "Chen Ji committed a grave crime that implicated his family; neither he nor his relatives are forgivable! However, Mrs. Du is still Hejia’s birth mother and has shown him the grace of life. It would not be right for Hejia to abandon Mrs. Du and deny this fact. Great Chu upholds filial piety, and everyone in the realm knows how devoted and loving you are to the Queen Mother. Hejia also wishes to follow your example, to be a filial person, and cannot bear to see Mrs. Du be executed."

Having finished her speech, she bowed deeply to Emperor Huian and remained in that position for a long time.

Her words did not contain a single plea, yet they touched upon filial piety and flattered Emperor Huian without causing any offense.

How clever! Emperor Huian’s expression did not change, but his eyes flashed with approval. Moved by some thought, he asked in a deep voice, "Since you acknowledge that Chen Ji is an evildoer and his family unforgivable, what will you do if I refuse to pardon Mrs. Du?"

Mo Yan replied swiftly, "Throughout history, it’s been hard to reconcile loyalty and filial piety! If Your Majesty is unwilling to forgive Mrs. Du, Hejia must also comply, and all I can do is to find a decent burial site for Mrs. Du. I will pray for her daily, hoping she has a peaceful and joyful afterlife, thus fulfilling the filial bond between mother and daughter."

Emperor Huian had assumed Mo Yan would continue to plead and offer former services or that promise in exchange. However, she spoke instead about the difficulty of balancing loyalty and filial duty. Was this her true sentiment, or was she attempting to gauge his thoughts and mislead him with those words?

In an instant, the suspicious emperor began to doubt Mo Yan’s true intentions.

Feeling the intense scrutiny from above, Mo Yan nervously didn’t dare to raise her head. Her words were intended to appease, and if Emperor Huian was truly unwilling to pardon Mrs. Du, she would have no choice but to use that promise as leverage.

No matter how important loyalty to the monarch was, it was not as important as her younger siblings.

After what seemed a long time, Emperor Huian spoke again, his voice now much softer than before, "You possess a heart of utmost purity and filial piety. If I were not to grant your wish, I would seem cruel and heartless. In recognition of your past achievements, I shall pardon Mrs. Du of her capital punishment."

Overjoyed, Mo Yan knelt down quickly to express her gratitude, "Your Majesty is merciful, honoring Hejia’s devotion to filial piety. Hejia thanks you for your magnanimous grace!"

Observing Mo Yan’s unhidden, heartfelt joy, Emperor Huian had thought that her plea for Mrs. Du had an ulterior motive, but now it seemed that she truly had a pure filial heart. People like her were easier to employ.

With that thought, Emperor Huian cast a subtle glance at Xiao Ruiyuan and noticed his gaze fixed on the newly standing woman’s knees, which left him momentarily stunned and his expression softened further.

Unaware of Emperor Huian’s thoughts, and not knowing how "handy" she was for later use to the point that she felt utterly stifled when repeatedly exploited by the Imperial Family..., Mo Yan inwardly rejoiced.