Qi Yuan had a quality that was different from others. Most people placed great importance on rules.
Living in this world, people were naturally expected to follow all kinds of regulations.
It was as if everyone lived bound within invisible walls, and people had long grown used to it.
But Qi Yuan was different. She acted completely outside the constraints of these rules.
If someone hurt her, she would absolutely repay it tooth for tooth.
Just as she had said: if you wait for others to deliver justice, when will it ever come?
Lu Mingan had never thought things could be done this way. The best outcome he had ever imagined was to wait for the emperor to judge the case and eventually restore their name.
But now, Qi Yuan had shown him a path he had never considered.
His expression gradually hardened. His grip on the reins tightened so much that the veins on the back of his hand bulged.
Then, he calmly turned his head to Qi Yuan and said, “I’m going to kill him.”
Yes—what Qi Yuan said made sense.
Even if this was taken to Emperor Yongchang, what would happen? At most, it would go to a tribunal, and the Three Bureaus would spend two or three years slowly reviewing it. Meanwhile, Lu Minghui’s family connections, his network of allies and in-laws, and the ties to Duke Chu’s household would keep pleading for him, again and again.
In the end, he probably wouldn’t even suffer much—maybe just exile or house arrest.
Qi Yuan, still splattered with blood, wasn’t surprised to hear him say this. She nodded and said, “Shall I go with you?”
Lu Mingan could see it clearly—this young lady quite enjoyed killing people.
Actually, Qi Yuan didn’t love killing. She simply felt that even though Lu Mingan carried deep resentment, he still seemed like someone who was used to following the rules.
What if, when the time came, he went soft and let Lu Minghui turn the tables on him?
That wasn’t impossible.
Lu Mingan coughed lightly. Though he had a straightforward nature, he wasn’t stupid—of course, he could tell what Qi Yuan meant.
But at his age, and as a man from a military background, having a young girl guard him like this felt… somehow wrong.
He seriously thought it over and still politely refused: “Lady Qi, I can handle this myself, don’t worry. It’s the Wangfei who will need your help more.”
Lu Mingan wasn’t a fool. Throughout this journey, Qi Zhen had protected them with great care and effort, repeatedly helping them evade assassins. Now that Xiao Yunting had appeared, he understood even more clearly where the Qi family’s allegiance lay.
At this moment, Xiao Yunting and Liu Wangfei were standing firmly on the same side.
Qi Yuan didn’t question it.
After suffering so much and paying so dearly, if Lu Mingan could still go soft, then it would simply be fate.
Since he had made his choice, Qi Yuan didn’t waste words. She simply turned to Xiao Yunting.
Xiao Yunting thoughtfully said, “Princess Consort, don’t just focus on killing—you need a witness.”
He reminded Princess Consort Lu, “Find Ma Xuan, the Prefect of Tongzhou. Tell him there was an assassination attempt on a royal subject! Have him go see the scene and act as a witness.”
Lu Mingan was immediately struck by the reminder. He couldn’t help but reevaluate Qi Yuan and Xiao Yunting once more.
These two weren’t just good at killing—they also had sharp minds and were extremely skilled at setting traps for people.
He nodded. “I’ll leave the Eldest Princess and Liu Wangfei in your care.”
Speaking of Liu Wangfei, Lu Mingan sighed. “The Wangfei’s health has been poor for many years. The only reason she’s been holding on this long is to come back and seek revenge on Duke Chu. But how could she possibly defeat someone as cunning and ruthless as Duke Chu?”
Politicians had no conscience.
And Duke Chu was the perfect example.
When Duke Chu was mentioned, Qi Yuan curled her lips and said, “Exactly. He even went so far as to claim that Liu Wangfei isn’t his daughter—what else wouldn’t he dare to do?”
Seeing the Princess Consort visibly frown in worry, Qi Yuan suddenly asked, “By the way, that Duchess Chu—is she also from the capital?”
Xiao Yunting turned to look at her. “How do you know that?”
Qi Yuan shrugged. “I heard about it. My father said that on the way back to the capital, Liu Wangfei mentioned that Duchess Chu was the Duke’s childhood sweetheart. If they were childhood sweethearts, they must have known each other from a young age—so she should be from the capital, right?”
As she spoke, she turned to Princess Consort Lu. “Does Princess Consort Lu know her background?”
Lu Mingan paused for a moment, then nodded. “I actually do know a bit.”
Qi Yuan smiled. “Perfect. Looks like we’ll have something to keep us busy too.”
It was already deep into the night, but Duke Chu’s residence was still brightly lit.
The dishes on the table had long since gone cold. A servant girl cautiously stepped forward and pleaded, “Old Madam, you must eat something, no matter what…”
Old Madam Liu was already in a foul mood, and now, hearing this girl nagging in front of her, she suddenly smashed the teacup in her hand at the girl’s head. “You think you can manage your mistress’s affairs now? What do you think you are?!”
The one who had stepped forward to persuade her was Dingxiang, the senior maid who had always been the most favored. Her mother had also served Old Madam Liu’s senior in the past, and they had always held considerable influence in the household.
But she hadn’t expected the Old Madam to lash out so suddenly. Dingxiang was stunned, not daring to cover her wound or cry out in pain. Her knees buckled and she dropped to the floor, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for forgiveness.
Old Madam Liu didn’t even spare her a glance.
Ever since Liu Jinghong and the Second Master had met with misfortune, and Qi Wang had broken his leg, her temper had grown worse by the day.
Living in luxury for so long had once softened her, but now, as soon as things went against her wishes, all that gentleness and patience had disappeared.
Seeing Dingxiang still sobbing, she coldly glanced at the old housekeeper nearby.
Immediately, two burly maids came forward and dragged Dingxiang away.
Even the most favored maid had been punished—no one else dared to make a sound.
Old Madam Liu was in a furious frenzy when suddenly the sound of maids greeting the Duke came from outside. She quickly stood up.
Hurrying to the corridor, she saw Duke Chu and immediately called out, “My Lord!”
The Duke saw her rushing and quickly stepped forward to support her, scolding gently, “Why are you in such a hurry? I’m right here. I won’t fly away. Don’t get yourself hurt.”
Old Madam Liu choked with emotion. “I was worried sick! Why did you come back so late? Are you alright?”
The Duke led her inside. Seeing that the dishes had gone cold, he ordered them to be reheated.
Then he took off his cloak and, face darkened, said, “That wretched girl came back and immediately exposed Jinghong and Wanqiu’s parentage—she even dragged your name into it.”
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Liu’s face immediately twisted with hatred. “I knew it! She’s always looked down on me! When she discovered Jinghong’s true parentage back then, she wanted to have me dragged to Wangye to confess!”
She bit her lip, and every time she thought of how Liu Wangfei had once pointed at her and called her a wh*re, she couldn’t contain her rage.
That wretched woman—just like her short-lived mother—wasn’t anything good!
A concubine?
If her family hadn’t fallen into ruin back then, and if the Liu family hadn’t needed a noblewoman to marry in, how would Madam Jiang have ever had the chance to enter their household?!
In the end, it was simply that her own birth had been inferior to Madam Jiang’s. Otherwise, how could Madam Jiang have had the chance to give birth to that little wretch, Liu Wangfei?
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