Qi Yuan took a deep breath, slowly closed her eyes, and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just need to make a trip to Jiangxi.”
“Huh?!” The Old Marquis Qi was instantly stunned. He hadn’t expected Qi Yuan to say something like that so suddenly.
Why was she suddenly thinking of going to Jiangxi?
Was it to see the Imperial Grandson?
He… well, he didn’t dare to stop her outright. But he still couldn’t help but lower his voice and say, “Ah Yuan, that might not be a good idea. The Emperor himself opened that new academy and specially requested that you teach the first class. If you leave now… it wouldn’t look good.”
After all, she was a young woman. Though the family had always helped her cover her absences, claiming she’d gone back to her hometown or fallen ill, this time it would be different. The Imperial Grandson was currently in Jiangxi, and there were too many eyes watching.
Not to mention, Qi Wang was constantly monitoring her every move.
Qi Yuan frowned and was about to speak when Qi Zhen suddenly came running up from downstairs. He burst through the door, gulped down a mouthful of tea, and said excitedly to Qi Yuan and the Old Marquis: “Father! Ah Yuan! Did you hear? They dug up tons of disaster relief grain from Cao Xingwang’s ancestral tomb! That grain was meant for flood relief!”
What the h*ll was he thinking—
Hiding relief grain in his ancestral tomb?!
Qi Yuan let out a light scoff and turned to the Old Marquis. “See? I told you I was right.”
What could the Old Marquis even say? His granddaughter really did speak with prophetic accuracy.
He lowered his voice and muttered, “It’s over for Cao Xingwang. He’s finished.”
Of course he was. Qi Yuan’s expression remained cold and unreadable.
The relief grain alone was enough to cost him his head. Not to mention Qilin had also implicated him in colluding with Li Changqing and Qiu Chuying, and in presenting Emperor Yongchang with poisoned pills.
Those crimes alone were enough to see him executed many times over.
Qi Yuan curled her lips faintly. “Qi Wang won’t be happy about this.”
After the grain was discovered, Emperor Yongchang flew into a rage. He immediately ordered Cao Xingwang imprisoned and his property confiscated.
Qilin and the others were also thrown into the Imperial Prison and placed under strict investigation.
Then, the Emperor issued eight consecutive decrees condemning Qi Wang for his disloyalty, unfilial conduct, and utter lack of righteousness. He ordered Xiao Yunting, acting as Imperial Envoy, to confine Qi Wang within his own manor, no stepping out, until the imperial court in the capital handed down a final judgment.
Emperor Yongchang, truth be told, was not a bad father. He was not the kind to slaughter his sons as Emperor Xuanzong of Tang once did.
But while he wouldn’t kill Qi Wang, he certainly wouldn’t let him go unpunished.
Once Xiao Yunting was finished managing the flood relief in Jiangxi, the Emperor planned to have him escort Qi Wang back to the capital.
Didn’t want to go to your fiefdom, huh?
Fine. Then stay in your manor in the capital forever, live out the rest of your days like a pig in a pen.
He took a deep breath.
He then ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate all officials involved in the handling of relief grain, from transport officers to the supervisors guarding the grain.
New officials were appointed to take over relief transport duties.
The scandal rocked the court.
When Feng Yuzhang heard the news, he nearly fainted.
He’d known Feng Caiwei was reckless and bold but he hadn’t expected her to be this stupidly reckless.
Truly idiotic, completely brainless!
Qi Wang had wanted Xiao Yunting dead. Why would he ever team up with Feng Caiwei out of goodwill?
Of course it was all part of a plot, to use Feng Caiwei to drag down Xiao Yunting and the Eastern Palace.
And yet Feng Caiwei had been this stupid!
Madam Feng was still crying endlessly at home.
Sobbing over how tragically Feng Caiwei had died and couldn’t stop cursing Qi Yuan: “She’s heartless and vicious! If she had the skill to handle those dogs, then she could’ve controlled them too. But no! She deliberately made the situation worse! That venomous woman, she won’t die a good death!”
Feng Yuzhang couldn’t believe it. Even now, Madam Feng’s mind was still so deluded.
He stared at her in disbelief, then suddenly stood up and slapped her hard across the face.
Then pointed at her and shouted, “The upper beam is crooked, the lower beam slants! It’s you, always filling her head with nonsense! Always praising her, telling her she was destined to be the Imperial Grandson’s wife! And now look what’s happened! You indulged her to the point where she had no idea how high the heavens were. She’s finally dead!”
Madam Feng clutched her face in shock.
She gaped at her husband, completely stunned. She hadn’t expected Feng Yuzhang to react so violently.
She had only been venting at home. They had lost a grandson and a granddaughter because of Qi Yuan, wasn’t it only fair to complain?
Why was Feng Yuzhang treating her like this?!
Feng Yuzhang couldn’t be bothered to explain. He pointed at her and said harshly, “You’d better pray to every god and Buddha that Young Lady Qi doesn’t hold this against us. Otherwise, you can start counting down your days!”
He had already seen for himself what Qi Yuan was capable of.
Anyone still trying to mess with her had to be brain-dead.
He hurried off to the Qi residence.
Qi Yuan was at the training grounds, watching Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzheng practicing martial arts.
Ever since Tian Baoci hit them at the restaurant, she had become much stricter with both Qi Yunzheng and Shen Jialang.
At the moment, both boys were holding horse stances, drenched in sweat, faces flushed red, looking like they might collapse at any moment.
Yet both grit their teeth and pushed through.
Qi Yuan let out a slow breath.
She could send them with many guards. But others had guards too, better guards.
In the end, no number of guards could compare to personal skill. At the critical moment, you had to save yourself.
She glanced at the instructor. “Increase the training intensity gradually. I don’t want them learning flashy nonsense, I want real, deadly skills. Understand?”
The instructor had been recruited through Lai Chenglong. Hearing her words, he nodded quickly:
“Rest assured, Miss. We’re professionals, your young masters will be trained properly!”
As he spoke, the instructor hesitated and glanced at Qi Yuan.
She had been focused on the two boys, but noticed his look and raised an eyebrow. “What is it? Something to say?”
She was satisfied with this instructor.
Whether someone had real skill could be seen at a glance. And being recommended by Lai Chenglong made him all the more trustworthy.
The instructor coughed lightly and said in a low voice, “Miss, our master… has returned.”
Qi Yuan didn’t react at first.
Master?
Only when she saw the instructor’s anxious expression did she finally realize—
Lai Chenglong was back?
A faint daze passed through her.
It had been so long.
So much had happened.
She had nearly forgotten he had gone east to Japan.
She hadn’t expected him to finally return.
An old friend had come back. Qi Yuan couldn’t help but feel a bit happy. “Really? When did he return?”
“Yesterday,” the instructor said, scratching his head. “First thing he did after returning was report to the palace. But Miss, when I went to fetch him, his very first question was: ‘How has she been lately?’”
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