Li Changqing had never experienced such utter defeat.
He wasn’t stupid. Though he didn’t want to admit it, deep down he knew with absolute clarity—this matter couldn’t be separated from Qi Yuan.
Just days ago, he had read Qi Yuan’s fortune, declaring her a jinx, a disaster-bringer, someone destined to bring ruin to all those around her.
And what happened?
In just a few days, Qiu Chuying was dead!
Qiu Chuying had hidden in the capital for so many years without incident—yet he died now, at such a critical moment? How could that possibly be a coincidence?
His young disciple saw how dark his face had become and, alarmed, urged him, “Master?”
Li Changqing snapped out of it, letting out a cold laugh. “Run? If I run now, wouldn’t that just drag His Highness down with me?”
The young disciple was nearly in tears. He looked at Li Changqing, utterly bewildered. “But Master, if we don’t hide now, what else can we do? They’re everywhere—people are out hunting for us!”
Li Changqing pushed open the window and saw a group of Embroidered Uniform Guard setting up checkpoints in the street, stopping and searching passersby.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before they started going door-to-door.
His eyes lowered. After a pause, he said coldly, “Go find two sets of clothes. Change out of our Daoist robes!”
The disciple had still wanted to persuade him, but the moment Li Changqing turned to glance at him, he instantly froze and could only respond with a miserable, tearful “Yes, Master,” before hesitantly leaving the room.
Li Changqing shut the window and, without expression, began pulling out his longsword and carefully wiping it clean.
He had already wronged His Highness. He couldn’t bring him more trouble.
So—since things had come to this—he would end it himself.
He had to kill Qi Yuan and Xiao Yunting. Once they were dead, everything would be over.
At that moment, Qi Wang was overjoyed. The ointment Li Changqing had sent had taken effect. After Divine Physician Xue had rebroken and reset his leg, the medicine was applied—and though the pain was so intense he could barely breathe each day—
His leg could heal!
As long as he could walk again, what did pain matter?
So even though the magistrate of Hongdu was outside pleading with him to open the granaries and release food, he remained in excellent spirits. Smiling, he said to Eunuch Xu, “Ask him where the government grain has gone—why does he want to touch my granary?”
Then he added with a faint smirk, “Since he loves the people so much, he shouldn’t just talk—find some people and have him donate his family fortune too. Otherwise, how can he claim to love the people like his own children?”
Eunuch Xu immediately broke into a cold sweat and couldn’t help but advise in a low voice, “Your Highness, I’m afraid that wouldn’t be wise. The flooding this time is serious, and as you’ve only just arrived, showing concern for the people and working with the local officials would go a long way…”
Qi Wang was growing increasingly temperamental—obsessed with news from the capital, yet completely ignoring matters in his own fief. Eunuch Xu was deeply worried.
But Qi Wang was no longer the desperate, powerless man in the capital who still listened to advice. Now, in his domain, his word was law.
He looked at Eunuch Xu with a smile that wasn’t really a smile. “Old Xu, are you trying to overstep me?”
Eunuch Xu’s heart dropped instantly. That accusation—he could never bear it. He fell to his knees at once to beg forgiveness.
Luckily, the prince was in a good mood thanks to his healing leg. He didn’t press further and waved it off.
Eunuch Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead, rose carefully, and backed away.
But before long, he hurried back in and knelt on the floor. “Your Highness, news has arrived from the capital.”
Qi Wang narrowed his eyes and casually reached for the message. With just a glance, he burst into loud laughter.
Eunuch Xu could tell he was pleased and assumed the message must be good news, so he finally allowed himself a breath of relief.
Indeed, the prince looked completely refreshed. He clapped several times, thrilled, and even turned to Eunuch Xu with uncharacteristic warmth: “Old Xu, get up! Why are you still kneeling?”
Eunuch Xu smiled bitterly in his heart but dared not say anything. He quickly stood up and asked in a flattering tone, “Your Highness, is there good news from the capital?”
“Oh yes, excellent news!” Qi Wang sneered. “Daoist Li said Qi Yuan was the reincarnation of a white tiger—the bane of fate, a jinx who dooms everyone around her.”
Yet he gave Feng Caiwei a phoenix destiny.
Tsk tsk. What a shame he wasn’t in the capital to see Qi Yuan and Xiao Yunting’s faces when they heard.
Wasn’t Qi Yuan so capable?
No matter how low he bowed or how humble he acted, it was never enough to win her sincerity.
If he couldn’t have her heart, he might as well destroy it.
Let no one have it.
He looked forward to seeing Qi Yuan carry the burden of that “jinx” label and slowly suffer in obscurity.
Eunuch Xu chuckled too. “That really is wonderful. Daoist Li is favored by His Majesty. If he says so, the emperor will believe it—and so will everyone else. Lady Qi’s days will certainly be difficult from now on.”
Qi Wang felt invigorated.
He had given Qi Yuan face. Since she didn’t want it, she couldn’t blame him for this.
The prince turned to Eunuch Xu and ordered, “Bring paper and ink. I want to write a letter of greeting to Royal Father.”
Nothing brings joy like an enemy’s downfall.
For Qi Wang now, nothing brought him more satisfaction.
He had decided: he was going to be a good son—or at least, look like one.
And when the prince was in a good mood, his attendants had an easier time too. Eunuch Xu felt fortunate and hurriedly ordered Jinbao to prepare the writing supplies, finally letting out a long breath of relief.
But while Qi Wang reveled in his triumph, far away in the capital, Emperor Yongchang was livid.
He had not been this angry in years.
He had trusted Li Changqing deeply—bestowed titles and riches upon him, kept him close as a personal attendant, and even allowed him to enter and leave the palace freely. And now—this Daoist had turned out to be a treacherous beast.
Not only had he abused the emperor’s trust to fabricate false cases, he had even laced His Majesty’s medicine with Wushi San!
Everyone knew—those noble families of the Wei and Jin dynasties had taken so much Wushi San they rotted from the inside out, lost their hair, and died in agony.
Enraged, Emperor Yongchang immediately summoned the Hanlin Attendant-in-Waiting to draft an edict stripping Li Changqing of his Daoist title. He ordered a city-wide manhunt and personally declared that Li Changqing was guilty of unforgivable crimes.
When news reached the Eldest Princess, she had been trying to think of a way to help Qi Yuan shake off the label of “jinx.” She froze in shock—and then asked in disbelief, “What happened to Li Changqing?”
Lu Mingan, now in charge of the Inspection Division, was overseeing the search for Li Changqing himself. Upon hearing her question, he simply smiled and said, “He’s finished!”
