5394

Chapter 5394: The Offender Accuses First

"What happened?" Qiao Mu rubbed Ning Guangjing's smooth head, feeling a bit speechless. This tens-of-thousands-year-old Ning Guangjing (Condensing Light Mirror) had grown old but not wise; its intelligence probably wasn't even as high as Little Monk's...

"Kong Kong, come here, my boy." Qiao Mu beckoned to him.

Little Monk quickly scurried over, hastily running to stand beside Qiao Mu.

"What happened to your face?" Qiao Mu narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze sharply falling on his left cheek, where there was a faint bruise. If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't notice it.

Ning Guangjing cried even more pitifully and miserably, howling louder and louder, "We got beaten! And me, me, my neck is bruised here too."

Qiao Mu looked at the spot on Ning Guangjing's neck he pointed to and indeed saw a two-finger-wide bruise.

"What's going on, Kong Kong?" Qiao Mu pulled Little Monk close, looking at him seriously. "Who bullied you?"

Little Monk scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed at Qiao Mu. "Mother, did I cause you trouble? A-actually... it's nothing."

"What do you mean 'nothing'?" Little Monkey angrily bounced in front of Qiao Mu, his face filled with righteous indignation. "Missy, today when we were listening to the teacher's lecture in the juvenile academy, someone provoked us!"

"Right!" Adult Ning Guangjing quickly nodded. "Some very, very naughty bad kids provoked the three of us, looking for trouble."

"Amitabha," Little Monk clasped his hands together with a "pa" sound, blinking. "Two little benefactors, please don't speak anymore. It was just a small matter, truly."

Qiao Mu saw that Little Monk was about to start lecturing again, so she quickly interrupted him, changing the subject and feigning curiosity. "Guang Guang, tell me, who provoked the three of you?"

"Your Royal Highness." Chief Eunuch Chen, rushing in, gave a strange glance at the three children standing to the side, then quickly bowed. "Your Royal Highness, Crown Princess, outside, Lord Lu from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and Assistant Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Justice have come together to beg for forgiveness."

Mo Lian was momentarily stunned, then calmly glanced at the three little ones. "You three, come out with me."

Adult Guang Guang quickly tugged on Little Monkey's sleeve, secretly shaking it. The latter glared fiercely at him, scaring the little guy into retracting his hand and quickly standing properly.

Qiao Mu saw them exchanging glances, and her heart stirred slightly. She took Little Monk's hand and gently patted it. "Kong Kong, you've never lied before."

Little Monk quickly said, "Amitabha, a monastic does not utter falsehoods."

Qiao Mu rubbed his head. "Then tell me, are these people who came to beg for forgiveness related to your incident?"

Little Monk thought for a moment, then honestly nodded his bald head. "Mother, please don't be angry, okay?"

Qiao Mu pinched his little chubby face. "I'll settle accounts with you later."

Having said that, she went to settle her son, who had finished relieving himself and was now asleep again, then turned and exited the palace hall. Approaching the entrance of the main hall, before she even stepped inside, she heard faint, childish sobs.

Upon entering, she saw, good heavens, a row of seven or eight-year-old children kneeling at the main hall's entrance. Several grim-faced court officials were repeatedly apologizing to the Crown Prince, begging for forgiveness.

Qiao Mu looked at the row of children kneeling on the ground. When she clearly saw their faces, she couldn't help but be stunned.