Upon seeing this dossier, Di Lingwei’s mind raced, generating a multitude of ideas.
Perhaps she could stir things up a bit.
…
Phoenix Capital was as bustling as ever.
Several days had passed since the Lantern Festival, but people on the streets still discussed it with great interest and enthusiasm. It was clear the festival had been a tremendous success.
The Ministry of Rites was also very pleased with its triumph and had already decided to promote the festival in all cities across the Phoenix Dynasty. It was foreseeable that by the third day of the third month next year, every corner of the dynasty would erupt in grand celebration.
Di Lingwei walked unhurriedly down the street, dressed in a white Liuxian dress. Her features were as exquisite as a painting, and she radiated grace with every glance. Xing Ruolan and the disguised Imperial Guards followed at a measured pace behind her.
“Which family’s Young Miss is that?”
“I don’t know, but she’s truly beautiful. I’ve never seen such a good-looking woman in my life.”
As Di Lingwei passed by, people on the street occasionally cast glances her way, none recognizing her as the Heavenly Mandate Empress.
Though the Heavenly Mandate Empress was known to all, her true appearance was not something just anyone would know. Common folklore could only say she possessed peerless beauty, unparalleled wisdom, and supreme martial strength. Such descriptions were too vague. Even if they saw Di Lingwei face-to-face, no one would connect her to the Empress.
Before long, Di Lingwei arrived at the Ministry of Justice.
Currently, the only person within the Ministry she was willing to see was Mu Fuwan.
“Greetings to Your Majesty!”
Upon entering the Ministry, Minister of Justice Ding Ling and the other officials rushed over to pay their respects.
“Rise,” Di Lingwei said, her hands clasped behind her back. She walked directly towards the Ministry’s dungeon without slowing her pace.
Along the way, the Ministry personnel who saw Di Lingwei were greatly startled. Not everyone was qualified to enter the palace for an audience with the Empress; many were seeing her for the first time. When they realized the legendary Heavenly Mandate Empress was such a stunning woman, their hearts filled with awe.
But awe was all it was. No one dared entertain any improper thoughts. This was the Heavenly Mandate Empress, an existence they could only look up to.
“May I ask what matter brings Your Majesty here? This subject and others can prepare in advance to avoid inadvertently causing any offense,” Ding Ling hurried alongside her, his face wreathed in a fawning smile. The two small mustaches on his upper lip trembled with each word.
“Zhen wishes to see Mu Fuwan.”
“Your Majesty need not come in person for such a thing. One command, and this subject and his men would surely bring Mu Fuwan before you.”
“Unnecessary. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Di Lingwei entered the dungeon. Under her orders, no one else followed.
The Ministry of Justice’s dungeon was built to be extremely sturdy. The prisoners within were mostly bound with iron chains, greatly limiting their ability to attack. So, entering alone wasn’t particularly alarming.
It was precisely knowing how secure this place was that she had chosen to come directly.
Walking slowly through the dungeon, the prisoners in the cells on either side raised their heads to look at her.
It didn’t take long for Di Lingwei to find Mu Fuwan.
Her cell was relatively clean, and although Mu Fuwan wore prison garb, she herself seemed fairly tidy, just a bit haggard.
That was normal. Trapped in a dungeon, not knowing what the future held, the pressure would be immense. Becoming haggard under such pressure was perfectly natural.
Hearing the footsteps, Mu Fuwan also looked up. Her whole body stiffened for a moment before she lowered her head and said, “This Guilty Subject greets Your Majesty.”
Di Lingwei looked at Mu Fuwan and said nothing.
Thinking carefully, ever since Mu Fuwan’s exposure and capture, she still chose to greet her formally whenever they met, maintaining perfect etiquette. What did that mean? It suggested Mu Fuwan likely held no personal malice towards her. Her actions against the Empress were driven by the person pulling her strings from the shadows.
Reaching this conclusion, Di Lingwei wasted no more time. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the dossier she had brought into the cell.
“This is…” Mu Fuwan was taken aback.
“Information Zhen recently uncovered. You might as well read it,” Di Lingwei said leisurely.
Hearing this, Mu Fuwan bent down to pick up the dossier. Her wrists and ankles were bound in chains, so her movements were accompanied by the clanking sound of iron rattling against the floor.
She opened the dossier and began reading slowly. As she read, her expression started to change, and her eyes contracted sharply.
What Di Lingwei had Mu Fuwan read was precisely the information about her origins.
The dossier laid out Mu Fuwan’s background in exhaustive detail, even recording the current lives of her biological parents.
Honestly, Mu Fuwan had never expected to see such information in her lifetime. She had even asked the Wang Family to help investigate, but even they couldn’t uncover anything definite. It had remained a lingering Regret in her heart.
But now, the truth of her birth had finally been unearthed.
She was simply… someone who had been abandoned.
As she read on, Mu Fuwan couldn’t help the tears that streamed down her face. She knew that the dossier Di Lingwei had placed before her must be genuine. The dignified Heavenly Mandate Empress had no need to deceive her on such a matter.
But it was precisely because it was true that it struck such a deep chord within her, making her all the more sorrowful.
Achievement Unlocked: 【The Sorrowful Mu Fuwan】. You may now view Mu Fuwan’s Heart’s Desire Trait.
A notification chimed in her mind.
Di Lingwei wasn’t surprised. Ever since she realized that unlocking Mu Fuwan’s achievements was likely tied to her emotional state, she knew how to proceed. Bringing this dossier here was a deliberate attempt to provoke an emotional shift in Mu Fuwan and unlock the achievement. And indeed, she had succeeded.
Now, only Mu Fuwan’s final piece of information—her Weakness—remained locked.
Di Lingwei used her Mystic Left Eye to examine Mu Fuwan.
Name: Mu Fuwan
Identity: Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Personality: Down-to-earth and pragmatic, while also being extremely loyal.
Hobby: Practices swordsmanship whenever she has spare time. Very passionate about improving her own strength.
Martial Power: 82.
Regret: Never being able to know the identity of her parents, having been an orphan since childhood.
Heart’s Desire: To repay the Wang Family and Wang Feifei. She is willing to do absolutely anything for their sake.
Weakness: Unlock achievement to view.
Seeing Mu Fuwan’s Heart’s Desire, Di Lingwei heaved a long, internal sigh.
‘Wang Feifei… so it really is you!’
Wang Feifei had always been Di Lingwei’s prime suspect. The reason she hadn’t moved against her wasn’t just due to insufficient evidence; she had also feared making a mistake. She didn’t want to wrongfully harm the innocent. But now, seeing Mu Fuwan’s Heart’s Desire, there were no more doubts left to settle.
The person behind Mu Fuwan was, without a doubt, Wang Feifei!
