Chapter 28: The Canary Captured by the Enemy Emperor 15

All the concubines and palace maids at the scene quickly bowed, except the Empress Dowager.

“Rise.”
Jun Yuanming spoke these words specifically to Lin Muqing. She felt specially favored, pursed her lips, and looked up at him with pitiful eyes—
Hoping he wouldn’t side with the Imperial Consort just to please the Left Prime Minister.

The system, seeing so many people ganging up on the host, was furious:
【Host, our mission is to bear and raise the baby—not to endure humiliation! I’m this close to shoving a gun down their throats! Just run off with the male lead already—the resource system can support you for life!】

Lin Muqing replied, “Let me handle them first. I won’t take this lying down.”

The Imperial Consort quickly hid behind the Empress Dowager.

Jun Yuanming first looked at the Empress Dowager, his voice cool and emotionless:
“Mother, have you forgotten what I once told you?”

He had never spoken of the wounds he’d suffered while serving as a political hostage. Yet the Empress Dowager always pressured him to produce heirs. His refusal had been his only form of protest.

The Empress Dowager knew what he meant. He didn’t want her interfering in the palace disputes—but she was desperate. Perhaps this was how she herself had once slowly lost the emperor’s favor to other women.

“The Imperial Consort’s face is this swollen—what, did she slap herself? I just didn’t want you to be deceived by Lin Shuyi!”

She pulled the Imperial Consort forward again, trying to lift her veil.

The Imperial Consort, terrified, quickly covered her face. If His Majesty saw her like this, would he ever visit her again?

Jun Yuanming’s cold gaze made the Imperial Consort shrink back.
“Your Majesty, please give your concubine justice!”

His eyes were icy, laced with mockery—full of disdain.
“If Qing’er hadn’t grabbed your leg in time, you wouldn’t be crying here right now. Your father would be weeping before your coffin.”

Standing tall with hands behind his back, Jun Yuanming’s broad figure stepped in front of Lin Muqing protectively. Then he gestured to the cold-faced man behind him.

“Tell the Empress Dowager what really happened.”

The dark-clad guard knelt on one knee, pressing his palms together respectfully and lowering his head:
“Reporting to the Empress Dowager: this subordinate was in the shadows protecting Lin Shuyi. It was the Imperial Consort who made the first move, attempting to push Lin Shuyi off the bridge.
However, she lost her balance and nearly fell instead. Lin Shuyi caught her in time.
Due to the urgency of the situation, this subordinate stepped in and pulled the Imperial Consort back to safety.
Everything I said is true.”

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened—from initial annoyance to full-blown humiliation, as if she’d been played for a fool. She turned coldly to the Imperial Consort who was cowering behind her.
“Imperial Consort, do you take me for an idiot?”

“Your Majesty… I… it’s not like that…”
The Imperial Consort was speechless. The Emperor had actually assigned someone to protect Lin Muqing?!

The Empress Dowager was deeply unsettled—Jun Yuanming had never done this for any other concubine.

Her gaze shifted slightly as she looked back at Lin Muqing, and she finally let out a sigh:
“Lin Shuyi, it was I who failed to investigate properly. I wronged you… This was my mistake.”

Lin Muqing watched it all unfold. Her heart brimmed with admiration and delight toward the man who stood before her like a shield. As for the Empress Dowager—she didn’t want to be too harsh. After all, publicly humiliating her would only damage Lin Muqing’s own reputation.

Still, she hadn’t expected the Empress Dowager to admit fault without resentment.

Feigning panic, she lowered her head and said respectfully,
“Your Majesty overstates. You were misled. As long as the matter is cleared up, that’s what matters.”

The Empress Dowager looked at Jun Yuanming again, sighing deeply.

“I truly shouldn’t interfere anymore.”
With those words, it was as if she had resigned herself. From the urgency in her son’s voice earlier, she had already guessed it—he cared for Lin Muqing.
Just like she once cared for the late emperor.

Supported by her attendant, she slowly turned and left—her back slightly hunched, her shadow lonely.

The Imperial Consort panicked, wanting to apologize—but how could she do it in front of Lin Muqing?

“Your Majesty, I… I was confused for a moment. The matron told me to strike first and have the Empress Dowager punish Lin Shuyi, then let my father deal with her later. It was all a moment of madness, not—”

The matron froze in shock. Her heart turned cold.

Jun Yuanming cut her off sharply, not even looking at her:
“The Left Prime Minister is waiting for the Imperial Consort in the imperial garden. Save the rest of your performance for your father.”

The Imperial Consort’s expression froze.
Beneath her veil, the grievance still hadn’t faded—and now she was once again humiliated in front of Lin Muqing!

Why was her father waiting for her?
Wasn’t he supposed to be stalling the emperor—not watching her fall from grace?