Chapter 27: Slender Hands, As If Boneless
In her haste to confirm if Lu Yanzhi was dead or alive, Xiao Li had gone to the Lu family residence first. It was only upon her return that she found the entire Princess Mansion surrounded.
Hong Yue said, "Princess, it’s people from the Ministry of Justice!"
Having been informed of the Princess’s return, the men from the Ministry of Justice were already waiting at the entrance.
Xiao Li dismounted and hurried forward to greet them.
"I am Meng Zheng, Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Greetings, Princess."
Xiao Li frowned as she watched the people moving in and out. "Are you trying to tear my mansion down?"
Meng Zheng replied with a rigid expression, "Princess, by order of His Majesty, I am to work with the Chief Eunuch to thoroughly investigate the Prince Consort’s assassination."
Meng Zheng presented the imperial edict. Xiao Li gave it a cursory glance. "Lou Yan is here too?"
Just as she spoke, a familiar figure strode out from within. His deep-set eyes, like dark pools, fixed on her with a sharp, sinister chill before lowering as he approached.
"Greetings, Princess."
’His submissive act is fascinating,’ Xiao Li thought. ’Like a wolf deliberately sheathing its claws.’
She extended her hand and said in a lazy tone, "I’m tired. Help me inside."
Meng Zheng’s eyelid twitched. He stared at Xiao Li in astonishment. ’She’s talking to Lou Yan, isn’t she?’
’This Princess Xuanyang is so audacious. How dare she order around the Emperor’s personal Chief Eunuch?’
’And this is Lou Yan, of all people—a man famous for his brutal punishments. The Princess really doesn’t know her place.’
Lou Yan seemed surprised by her command, but after a moment’s hesitation, he offered her his arm.
Xiao Li placed her hand on his arm without ceremony.
With one arm supporting her and the other clasped behind his back, Lou Yan lowered his head slightly. His gaze fell upon her fingers—pale as snow, smooth as jade, and exquisitely slender.
’Such delicate hands, as if boneless.’
’And yet, these were the very hands that could kill without a shred of mercy.’
’How beautiful they must look, that snowy white stained with crimson.’
Meng Zheng simply watched as Lou Yan escorted Xiao Li inside. He didn’t follow; his part, after all, was finished.
’As for the Princess,’ he thought, ’she’s just like the rumors say—only more arrogant and ignorant by the day.’
Meng Zheng had been promoted by Chief Minister Lu, so his loyalties lay with the Lu family, and he bore a grudge against this princess. However, he knew his place and never considered acting on behalf of Mr. Lu. His current duty was to find the culprit and provide answers to the Lu family.
Once they were out of Meng Zheng’s sight, Xiao Li asked, "Investigating cases is a matter for the Ministry of Justice. Why did His Majesty send you?"
Lou Yan replied, "The Prince Consort is severely injured, reportedly by a Hidden Weapon of a kind never seen before. His Majesty places great importance on this and sent me to supervise the progress of the investigation."
Xiao Li said, "Oh, so you’re just supervising."
Lou Yan glanced up at her. "Supervising, and also catching the culprit. This assassin is exceptionally skilled, and dealing with desperate criminals is what I do."
’His words seemed to carry a hidden meaning.’
Xiao Li smiled. "How impressive."
Lou Yan asked, his face impassive, "Does the Princess know if the Prince Consort has offended anyone?"
Xiao Li shook her head. "I don’t know."
’She only knew Lu Yanzhi had offended *her*. As for anyone else, she genuinely had no idea.’
Lou Yan glanced at her again. "And where was the Princess yesterday?"
Xiao Li answered without missing a beat. "I was resting after my fright. You have no idea—that crazed horse charged right at me! It nearly scared me to death."
Lou Yan paused. "...But I heard the Princess rode to the rescue and was quite heroic, wasn’t she?"
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow, looking smug. "But of course. My equestrian skills are second to none. I was incredibly heroic. It’s a pity you weren’t there to see it. You would have been thoroughly impressed."
Lou Yan was silent.
Xiao Li squeezed Lou Yan’s arm slightly. Her expression remained unchanged, but the corners of her eyes lifted, her smile taking on a bewitching, cold allure. "This is far enough. My thanks, Eunuch Lou Yan."
Lou Yan froze on the spot as Xiao Li strode away with her attendants. Her tall, slender figure was ramrod straight, seemingly indestructible. ’When no one was looking,’ he thought, ’this weak, pawn-like princess has already transformed into an expert hunter.’
Lou Yan saw the real Xiao Li, but he said nothing.
Xiao Li knew that he saw her for who she was, but she wasn’t afraid of him revealing it.
’But she had a feeling Lou Yan wouldn’t expose her. There was no reason for it—just intuition.’
***
The Ministry of Justice continued its investigation, visiting the crime scene at the Princess Mansion three times a day. But with Xiao Li still carefree and unbothered, it would be a miracle if they found anything.
Lu Yanzhi’s life was saved, and he had regained consciousness. However, his injuries were too severe; with fevers, infections, and fainting spells, he was still hovering at the gates of Yama Hall.
Before Xiao Li, his actual wife, had even made a peep, Chen Pingting showed up at her door.
"How can you still have an appetite?"
Chen Pingting burst in, her face contorted with rage, and immediately began her interrogation, as if Xiao Li had committed some heinous crime.
Xiao Li’s brow furrowed. Just like that, Chen Pingting had all but ruined her appetite.
"What are you doing here?"
"You have the nerve to ask me that?" Chen Pingting strode forward, glaring. "The Prince Consort’s life is hanging by a thread, and you couldn’t care less! Do you have a heart?"
Xiao Li tilted her head with a cold smile. "So you do remember he’s my Prince Consort? The way you’re acting, anyone would think he was your husband."
Chen Pingting’s face flushed, but she forced herself to stand firm. "Nonsense! Are you out of your mind? I’m talking about *you*."
With that, she tilted her chin up arrogantly. "I am here with a verbal command from the Empress Dowager, ordering you to visit the Prince Consort at the Lu family residence."
Her face twisted in disgust. "The Prince Consort is gravely injured, and you don’t even ask after him. You’re so cold and heartless, it’s positively wicked! My aunt is furious. I suggest you go to the Lu family residence immediately and apologize to the Prince Consort. Otherwise, my aunt will not let you off."
Xiao Li said, "I’m not going."
Chen Pingting retorted, "You dare defy her command?"
Xiao Li rolled her eyes. "The Lu family won’t let me through the door."
Chen Pingting instantly sneered, "Serves you right!"
Xiao Li gave her a scornful look. "If you could get into the Lu family’s home yourself, you wouldn’t have bothered coming to me with the Empress Dowager’s edict, would you?"
Chen Pingting stopped smiling and glared at her hatefully. "You’re coming with me to the Lu residence right now!"
"I just picked up my chopsticks. I’m not done eating, so I’m not going." As Chen Pingting opened her mouth to argue, Xiao Li pointed to the door. "Go wait outside. I’ll head over when I’m finished. If you cause any more trouble, I’ll make sure you don’t see Lu Yanzhi tomorrow, either."
"You..."
Xiao Li leisurely served herself another bite.
Chen Pingting was seething. ’If my own status didn’t make it awkward for me to visit the Lu family, why on earth would I come here to take this crap from her!’
"Fine, eat! I hope you eat till you burst!"
With that, she stormed out, kicking over a nearby stool as she went.
Xiao Li watched her leave, her gaze growing colder by the second.
’How could a woman like that even exist?’
’She knows full well the man is married, yet she insists on throwing herself at him. That’s bad enough, but she even has the audacity to flaunt her affair in front of his actual wife.’
’Utterly shameless.’
’There are so many men in the world. Why did she have to fixate on someone else’s husband?’
’Is it for love? If this is what "love" looks like, then it’s nothing but a shameless, pathetic joke.’