Chapter 94: Surely... Not, Right?
By the time Xiao Li entered the palace, the Emperor already knew about the assassination. After all, so many people had died, and the target was a princess. If the men from the Patrol Camp and the Military Department claimed they hadn’t seen anything, they’d have a death wish.
Xiao Li stormed into the palace to question the Emperor, but before she reached the Imperial Study Room, she ran into Lou Yan first.
He wore the crimson-purple robes of a Chief Eunuch, accentuating his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
It was the same uniform that made other eunuchs look bloated and grimy, but on Lou Yan, it inexplicably gave him a handsome and noble air. His physique alone emanated a potent virility—who would have thought this man was a eunuch?
He wasn’t wearing that ugly mask. His face was cold and unapproachable, but when he saw Xiao Li, his gaze clearly filled with concern.
"Princess."
"I heard you were attacked, Princess. Are you injured?"
His tone was icy, seemingly devoid of emotion. If not for the look in his eyes, one might have dismissed his words as mere pleasantries.
"I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt."
Xiao Li walked past him. Lou Yan bowed respectfully, as was proper. As she moved by his side, she left a fragrant breeze in her wake. The hem of her sleeve brushed his palm, and he felt as if his pinky finger had been gently hooked.
His heart skipped a beat. When he looked up again, her retreating figure was already gone.
Xiao Li entered the Imperial Study Room. Inside was not only the Emperor but also an elderly man with graying hair.
"This old official greets the Princess."
He greeted her with a very warm demeanor.
Xiao Li paused for a moment before she remembered him. "Grand Tutor Feng."
She had met him once during the Mid-Autumn Festival. He was Feng Yin’s grandfather.
"Since you and the Grand Tutor are discussing important matters, Brother, perhaps I should wait outside?"
Grand Tutor Feng waved his hand. "This old official is finished. I shall take my leave."
Once he had left, the Emperor finally looked Xiao Li over. "You weren’t hurt?"
Xiao Li said, "I was almost killed."
The Emperor said angrily, "These assassins are too audacious! We will not let them off lightly."
"Po Feng."
The Emperor asked, "What?"
Xiao Li stared at him. "Po Feng. He’s the Commander of the Lu family guards. He tried to intervene on the day I killed Lu Yanzhi, but he failed."
The Emperor fell silent.
Xiao Li sneered. "What is the meaning of this, Brother? You go quiet the moment you hear it’s the Lu family."
The Emperor said helplessly, "Divorcing Lu Yanzhi was one thing, but publicly humiliating and then killing him... that really was going too far."
’Xiao Jingyun never failed to disappoint. He could never figure out whose side he was supposed to be on.’
"Are you saying I deserved it, Brother? That we should just let this go?"
The Emperor shook his head decisively. "No, that’s not it. The matter must be investigated. Assassinating a princess is an unforgivable crime. We simply mean that you shouldn’t be so extreme in the future."
"You already divorced Lu Yanzhi. You could have just gone your separate ways and never seen each other again. You had to kill him out of spite, and now you’re facing their revenge..."
He sighed. "You killed him, and then you couldn’t handle it, falling unconscious for a whole month. Was it really necessary?"
’That month I was unconscious... it wasn’t because I was heartbroken over killing Lu Yanzhi. But forget it... there’s no way to explain it.’
"The Lu family nearly usurped your throne, yet you’re still defending them, Brother. Truly magnanimous of you."
The Emperor replied, "What do you know? This is the Emperor’s Skill. Only by ruling the world with benevolence can one achieve lasting peace and stability. Killing doesn’t solve problems."
’What a benevolent Emperor indeed.’
"I heard you’re investigating the person who killed Lu Cang that day, Brother. He did help you, indirectly. Are you planning to offer him amnesty and recruit him?"
The Emperor’s expression instantly turned cold. "We have no need for help from someone of dubious origins. That person kills without compunction and has no regard for Imperial Power or the law. If he can kill Lu Cang this time, there’s no guarantee he won’t kill Us next. Such a vicious criminal must be executed without pardon."
Xiao Li was speechless. "..."
’Well... although the Emperor was being unreasonable, wanting to kill the very person who helped him, he was right about one thing. Xiao Li knew herself well. In the future, she just might actually kill the Emperor.’
’The Emperor’s astuteness was truly surprising.’
Seeing Xiao Li’s silence, the Emperor asked, "Why aren’t you talking? What are you thinking about?"
Xiao Li pursed her lips and sighed theatrically. "I thought you might recruit him, Brother. I was hoping to see the true face of this mysterious person. But after hearing you say that, I suppose I should just forget it."
The Emperor snorted. "You are just too audacious. Go back. We will arrange for three hundred Imperial Army soldiers to guard the Princess Mansion. He absolutely won’t dare to come again."
And just like that, Xiao Li was dismissed. The Emperor didn’t even mention what he would do about the Lu family.
The Lu family was exiled, and that was the end of it. She was attacked, and that was the end of it. There was no follow-up.
’It was a miracle this man had been Emperor for so many years.’
Frustrated, Xiao Li left the Imperial Study Room. For some reason, her thoughts drifted to Grand Tutor Feng. The Emperor held him in high esteem; the man was his former teacher and mentor.
’Just how did Grand Tutor Feng teach the Emperor?’
"Princess."
Xiao Li’s path was blocked by Lou Yan, who had clearly been waiting for her.
There was no one else around. Lou Yan bowed meticulously, his etiquette flawless.
Since she was full of questions, Xiao Li walked over to him. "Lord Seal Master, do you happen to know why Grand Tutor Feng came to the palace today?"
Lou Yan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he gave her a deep look before asking, "This servant will answer anything the Princess asks. If my answer satisfies you, will there be a reward?"
Xiao Li was taken aback. "...Just say it first."
Lou Yan didn’t press her for a promise, instead stepping slowly to her side.
"After the Lu family’s exile, Mr. Wang became the Grand Secretary, but the position of Vice Chief has remained undecided. His Majesty wants to hear the Grand Tutor’s opinion. In truth, he wants the Grand Tutor to take the post himself, but the Grand Tutor keeps refusing. This was his third visit to the palace regarding the matter."
’Everyone has their own ambitions, so it wasn’t surprising that Grand Tutor Feng would refuse. The Feng Family came from a long line of scholars, dedicated to teaching and nurturing talent. They had never shown much ambition for political power.’
Xiao Li had only asked because she thought Grand Tutor Feng had taught the Emperor to be an utter fool. What kind of Emperor ruled with only benevolence and no decisive, thunderous tactics?
’Then again, considering the Feng Family’s style, teaching only benevolence seemed perfectly normal.’
Her question answered, Xiao Li started to leave. But a certain someone’s gaze followed her like a shadow. Pretending not to notice, Xiao Li gave a dismissive wave and walked away without a backward glance.
’Men shouldn’t be spoiled.’
---
Xiao Li’s guards suffered heavy losses in the assassination attempt. She paid a fortune in compensation, but money couldn’t replace their lives.
She realized the people protecting her were simply too weak.
Relying on conventional weapons alone, even victory came at a great cost.
The only reason they took such a beating was that they were too weak.
Improving their skills would come with practice, but that was too slow. The answer had to lie in their weapons.
Xiao Li threw herself into researching weapons, forgetting to eat or sleep. She didn’t leave her residence for three straight days, until an invitation was delivered to her.
With her reputation for killing her husband still causing a stir, it was quite bold of someone to send her an invitation.
She opened it. An invitation to a banquet from the Wang family. ’Ah, that makes sense.’
The Wang family had triumphed over the Lu family. Now that their patriarch was the Grand Secretary and one of their daughters was the Empress, they were riding a wave of success. Naturally, they wouldn’t be afraid of a princess with a tarnished reputation.
"I’m not going."
Xiao Li’s refusal was blunt. She didn’t give the invitation a second glance. But the Wang family seemed dead set on having her attend; they not only re-sent the invitation, but Mrs. Wang came to deliver it in person.
Her speech was overly familiar, and her smile was as sweet as a blooming flower.
Xiao Li felt the expression was somehow familiar. It was only after she saw her guest out that it hit her: Mrs. Wang had the look of a matchmaker trying to arrange a pairing.
’It couldn’t be... could it?’