When the Son of Heaven grows angry, corpses pile by the millions.
At the Yongchang Emperor’s command, the newly appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard moved like wolves and tigers, storming into many people’s homes that very same day.
Naturally, among them were the numerous properties Pu Wuyong had secretly acquired outside.
Only after a thorough search did they realize just how deeply Pu Wuyong had hidden himself.
He even had a residence just a stone’s throw from Qi Wang’s manor.
Right by the imperial city—an old eunuch daring to live shoulder to shoulder with the imperial clan.
The Yongchang Emperor was furious and ordered the Three Bureaus to conduct a strict investigation.
But what no one expected was that the presiding judge for this case wouldn’t be a minister from any of the Three Bureaus—but the Imperial Grandson, Xiao Yunting.
When the Emperor saw Xiao Yunting again at Baiyun Temple, the young man was wounded, and of his thirty Daoist soldiers, only twelve remained—showing just how desperately he’d fought while pursuing Pu Wuyong down the mountain.
The Emperor instinctively scolded him: “Utter recklessness! A son of noble blood does not sit beneath a collapsing beam! You are the Imperial Grandson—how could you take on such a dangerous task?!”
Though it was a scolding, the admiration in his eyes couldn’t be hidden.
The current Crown Prince was sickly—weak in both body and will.
He had once favored Qi Wang because he was healthy, robust, fond of riding and archery—so much like the Emperor in his younger years.
But now it seemed that this still-uncrowned young Xiao Yunting, who dared to lead troops alone in pursuit of a heretical cult, resembled him even more.
Xiao Yunting carried a trace of pride on his face: “If I hadn’t discovered anything, then fine. But once I learned that Pu Wuyong colluded with a cult and plotted rebellion, how could I stand by and do nothing? With you, Grandfather, Immortal Master Miaojing, and my uncle all here—how could I run away from battle?”
Liu Wangfei looked at Xiao Yunting and chuckled softly, “What a good child. You remind me a bit of His Majesty when he first arrived in Zhangzhou back in the day.”
At her words, the Emperor’s face turned nostalgic.
Yes—youthful spirit, commanding vigor—it really was like his younger self.
He patted Xiao Yunting’s shoulder with praise: “Good imperial grandson!”
The court ministers exchanged glances. All of them were deeply shaken.
It seemed the Crown Prince’s seat could last a few more years after all.
Later, in private, Xiao Yunting sought out Liu Wangfei to thank her.
She smiled, lowered the bed curtains over the sleeping Xiao Mo, and said gently, “You don’t need to thank me. Not only will I praise you in front of the Emperor, I’ll also persuade him to respect the Empress. That’s the price I should pay, isn’t it?”
After all, Xiao Yunting had saved her and her son from Qi Wang’s grasp. He couldn’t possibly be some great sage who expected no return.
Seeing Xiao Yunting looking slightly flustered, she smiled and waved her hand, “Yunting, there’s no need to be nervous. My Mo’er is the way he is. I’ll definitely die before him. For now, I can care for him—but what about after I’m gone? A foolish prince without an heir—what kind of life do you think he’ll have?”
Xiao Yunting glanced at the bed curtain and solemnly promised, “You can rest assured. I’ll treat Uncle with care.”
Liu Wangfei nodded, then asked, “Is Miss Qi doing well?”
She understood clearly: Pu Wuyong’s death could not have been Xiao Yunting’s work alone.
That day, the women had gathered together, but the young lady who came with the Eldest Princess—Qi Yuan—had disappeared partway through.
She guessed that Qi Yuan must have gone to kill Pu Wuyong.
There was no need to hide things between them.
Honesty served everyone better. Xiao Yunting lowered his voice and told her about how Pu Wuyong had buried Qi Yuan’s people alive.
Liu Wangfei was stunned. A mad dog like that—one that could bite at any time—had to be put down. Otherwise, anyone near it risked being ripped apart.
She nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Xiao Yunting’s expression and couldn’t help but laugh aloud, “You two—one kills, the other cleans up the mess. You really are…”
…quite the match.
No one knew why, but when Liu Wangfei said those words, Xiao Yunting felt a burst of joy in his heart, and he couldn’t help the smile that appeared on his face.
However, right now, Qi Zhen and Old Marquis Qi weren’t smiling at all. It wasn’t until the next day, when they returned home and learned that Qi Yuan had already arrived safely, that they finally let go of the worry in their hearts.
Qi Yuan hadn’t returned to Baiyun Temple last night. They’d been worried that, for once, the always-successful Qi Yuan might have slipped up.
But now that she was back, it meant she was fine.
Good. As long as she was safe, that was all that mattered.
Qi Zhen and the Old Marquis hurried to Peach Blossom Courtyard to see Qi Yuan.
The poison in Qi Yuan’s body had already been neutralized by Xiao Yunting. As for the remaining injuries, they weren’t much of an issue to her.
Pain had long become a part of her body—it wasn’t worth even mentioning.
Upon seeing Qi Zhen and the Old Marquis, she briefly recounted the process of killing Pu Wuyong.
Then she looked at them and said, “Grandfather, Father, Pu Wuyong is dead. This matter, for now, has come to a temporary close.”
Ah Huang was running back and forth wagging its tail. Qi Zhen finally let out a breath of relief. But after thinking for a moment, when he recalled Qi Yuan’s wording—”for now”—he couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine. “Ah Yuan, what do you mean by for now?”
Pu Wuyong was dead—how could there still be danger?
Qi Wang had been deposed, and Princess Baorong was about to be married off in a political alliance.
Shouldn’t everything be completely over by now?
Qi Yuan let out a light laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “No. Baorong and Qi Wang also have to die. If they don’t die, this matter will never truly end.”
She knew the sibling pair far too well.
Qi Wang was the type who, if he couldn’t get something, would rather destroy it.
As for Princess Baorong—she was the kind who, even if she fell into h*ll, would drag others down with her.
If not for Qi Wang giving Pu Wuyong the sleeve dart, Pu Wuyong might never have been a real threat to her.
She must kill them both!
Qi Zhen was already numb to hearing this sort of thing.
He even vaguely felt like she’d said something similar before.
The fact that Qi Wang was still alive by now was something of a miracle.
After all, most of the people Qi Yuan had declared should die… usually died not long after. None of them made it this far.
Old Marquis Qi was much more clear-headed. He frowned and said, “That will be difficult. Qi Wang and Princess Baorong are currently keeping vigil at Noble Consort Xiao Liu’s mourning hall.”
It was said that they often cried so hard they fainted.
Even the Yongchang Emperor’s rage had lessened somewhat.
After the envoy from the Eastern Kingdom presented a bride-price list to the Emperor, he had merely sneered and instructed the Ministry of Rites to draft a dowry list.
From this, it was clear that although Qi Wang and Princess Baorong had lost favor, they still held some standing in the Emperor’s heart.
Of course, that wasn’t the key issue.
The key issue was that Princess Baorong and Qi Wang were still in the palace.
If Qi Yuan killed them outside the palace or lured them out, then naturally, it wouldn’t be a problem.
But if she wanted to kill them inside the palace…
Unless Xiao Yunting was Emperor, there was no way. The Golden Guards, Imperial Guards, and Embroidered Uniform Guard weren’t just for show.
Qi Yuan sneered and said, “No—it’s fine. I won’t need to make a move. They’ll come courting death on their own.”
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