Chapter 137: His Highness Duke of Qin personally appears (2/2)

“Son, she’s the true poisoner. You have to punish her severely! No, you have to kill her to prevent future troubles! My Tianning capital can’t tolerate such people!”

Mu Qingwu and Chu Xifeng split ways to take Han Ruoxue and Madame Li into custody. Han Ruoxue was like a walking corpse. Tears kept falling from her eyes, but she didn’t say a word. On the other hand, Madame Li kept glaring at Long Feiye, her eyes spitting venom.

It was Long Feiye all over again! How many of her subordinates had this man killed? If it wasn’t for his interference, she would’ve accomplished her goals long ago. She wanted to tear him to pieces!

Long Feiye gave Madame Li a derisive glance. Her hatred of him was nothing in his eyes. Even if Han Yunxi hadn’t been able to reveal the poison today, he still would have used force against Madame Li. He refused to allow the existence of any dangerous persons. Of course, Han Yunxi’s display had completely exceeded his expectations. She had done a beautiful job and he was very satisfied.

He didn’t want to waste any more words with Madame Li but ordered, “The eyewitness testimony and material evidence are both conclusive. Someone, take these true culprits to the imperial prisons to await trial!”

Imprisoning them was just a pretense. Madame Li and Han Ruoxue would both be taken in for clandestine interrogation. What Long Feiye wanted to know were the details regarding the concealed spies.

But Madame Li actually started to laugh. “Duke of Qin, I advise you to let me go immediately. Otherwise…” As she spoke, she gave Grand Concubine Yi a significant look. “Otherwise, I guarantee that your mufei won’t live to see the sun tomorrow!”

Grand Concubine Yi’s face darkened at these words. What did she mean?

“You don’t have the skills!” Long Feiye said coldly.

“She’s already been poisoned with my secret formula!” Madame Li said, giving Grand Concubine Yi a disdainful look. “Old lady, don’t you feel that your throat’s started to itch, as if you want to cough?”

Grand Concubine Yi was so scared that she forgot to pay attention to her body. Hearing Madame Li’s words, she really did feel an itch and turned anxious. “Feiye, this…”

“Send us to the city gates and I’ll give up the antidote. Otherwise, hehe…” Madame Li arrogantly outlined her conditions.

Long Feiye hated being threatened in any way. He completely ignored Madame Li’s bluster and ordered, “Come, take them into custody!”

Even Grand Concubine Yi had been awed into silence by him. Although she was anxious, she didn’t dare speak up. Chu Xifeng held Madame Li in place, but who knew that as soon as they turned, his hands would turn numb? Suddenly, they lost all their strength in the same instant Madame Li fished out a dagger and rushed towards her nearest target, Han Yunxi. How could Han Yunxi know that Madame Li was still capable of fighting back? Stunned, she forgot to dodge but stayed rooted to the spot as the dagger drew near.

“Ahh–!” she gave a shout and closed her eyes. As soon as she did, a spray of warm blood flew to land on her face.

Was it her blood?

But she didn’t seem to be in any pain.

Han Yunxi carefully opened her eyes, only to see Madame Li standing stock-still before her, blood trailing out of her mouth. The dagger in her hand was less than five cun[1] away from her heart. Suddenly, Madame Li’s hand slackened as her weapon fell to the ground. Han Yunxi’s line of vision slowly lowered until she saw the sharp arrow impaling Madame Li through her back and out her stomach. Long Feiye was standing behind her, his cold eyes filled with a vicious, heinous rage.

Han Yunxi was too astonished. Madame Li was one of the leaders of the Northern Li spies. Interrogating her would definitely yield lots of information, but Long Feiye had actually killed her. Was it a split-second decision because the situation had turned dangerous? Or was he simply too angry? But what was he angry about?

Madame Li slowly, very slowly, turned around to look disbelievingly at Long Feiye. “You…you….”

“Your lordship won’t even give you the chance to kill yourself,” Long Feiye said, aloof and audacious. After taking care of Madame Li, the other hidden spies were as good as scattered sand, loose and disorganized. Why wouldn’t he be able to take care of them?

Madame Li spat out another mouthful of fresh blood before breaking out into laughter. “Good, very good! You deserve the titles of Tianning’s Duke of Qin and Qin Wangfei! The people all know that Tianning has a Duke of Qin, but not an Emperor Tianhui! The people all know that Qin Wangfei can treat poisons, but not that the detoxification expert is the true poisons master! HahahAHAHAH…”

She laughed and laughed as she fell to the ground and exhaled her last breath. Upon the silent audience, Madame Li’s words were still swirling in their ears. Long Feiye’s face was utterly cold. Within the crowd, many faces of the nobility had taken on unpleasant expressions, while Crown Prince Long Tianmo’s face had turned completely black.

Madame Li’s words had raised the Duke of Qin to the skies while throwing Emperor Tianhui to the dirt. If Emperor Tianhui got wind of these words, the results would be terrible. Soon, Grand Concubine Yi broke the silence. “This nonsense-spouting shrew! She dared to instigate the Duke of Qin and the emperor! Her death was too cheap!”

Although she harbored dissatisfaction towards the empress dowager and emperor in her heart, although she’d always thought that the throne in the imperial palace should rightfully belong to her son, losers were always the wrong party. You were called a king if you were successful, and a thief if you failed. Everything now had already been fixed into place.

Emperor Tianhui was already taking precautions against the Duke of Qin. But such dismissive words would definitely incite him! The situation had turned severe enough for Grand Concubine Yi to forget all about her poison.

Still, Long Feiye seemed to disdain Grand Concubine Yi’s attempts to mediate a compromise. Without anyone noticing, his lips curled up in scorn before he had someone take away Han Ruoxue and Madame Li’s corpse.

-o-

[1] cun (寸) – See the link for further explanation. A traditional cun is equal to ~3.7cm (~1.5in).