Chapter 141: Han Yunxi gets taken advantage of (2/2)

News of her illness intensified the gossip around the capital. Public bets were made on whether or not Mu Liuyue would appear, on whether Han Yunxi would spare her in the end, on whether the Duke of Qin would interfere. In any case, all sorts of bets were going on.

Not many discussions existed about Madame Li or her daughter, or the woman’s dying words. It wasn’t clear whether someone had led the way to suppress the gossip or whether the popularity of the ongoing bets had drowned out everything else.

As to the security of the Han Family, Han Yunxi couldn’t set her worries at rest until Long Feiye gave her a definite answer. The evening of the next day, Han Yunxi had just left Grand Concubine Yi’s quarters when she saw the lights shining at Long Feiye’s rooms. She stirred in excitement before going over to knock on his door.

Knock knock knock!

Long Feiye was reclining in a rocking chair, his forehead drawn with fatigue. One couldn’t help but wonder what he’d been doing for the last few days. He pinched his eyebrows before rising to move towards his desk. Only then did he say, “Come in.”

Han Yunxi pushed open the door and entered, making a beeline for the study. Long Feiye took up a brush and started to write accounts, not even bothering to look at her as she came in. Han Yunxi stood before him, separated by the study table as she asked, “Madame Li is Qingyi, right?”

“Mmm,” Long Feiye replied indifferently.

Since Madame Li was Qingyi, that meant she was the leader of this batch of hidden spies. Capturing Madame Li meant that they could round up the whole group in one fell swoop.

“That…that day with that terrifying masked man, what about him?” Han Yunxi asked again. The masked man was the true poisons expert. Unless they rooted him out, they’d probably have more troubles in the future.

“Aside from Madame Li, no one else knows of his existence,” Long Feiye’s tone was very even, but Han Yunxi’s mind recalled Madame Li’s reticent expression. She couldn’t figure out what kind of capabilities that masked man possessed to make Madame Li so devoted to him.

After asking about Madame Li, Han Yunxi hesitated before going on. “Have you found out the background of Celestial Fragrance Teashop’s owner?”

At this, Long Feiye raised his head to ask her coldly, “Do you have business with your lordship?”

Perhaps they were standing too close to each other, perhaps his eyes were too cold; in any case, Han Yunxi found herself unconsciously backing away.

Couldn’t she find him even if there wasn’t any business?

Wasn’t she asking him questions right now? Gu Qishao had taken advantage of her!

Well, all right, this wasn’t her main motive for coming. She might as well say it outright.

“Regarding the hidden spy, will the Han Family be implicated as well?”

The matter had been publicized simply as Madame Li and her daughter poisoning the young general. But in truth, Madame Li was one of the leaders in Northern Li’s spy network. Her crime was grossly heinous since she threatened the security of the entire Tianning Country. Since Madame Li had came from the Han estate, the Han Family had responsibility as well.

“I can’t give you a definite answer right now,” Long Feiye said simply.

Hearing this, Han Yunxi grew agitated. “Then what about Yi’er? You promised me you’d protect him!”

This was the first time that Long Feiye had seen Han Yunxi so worked up over a single person. Was Han Yunyi her weak point?

He hated when this woman had weak points!

All matters regarding the hidden spies were in the palm of his hand. With his power and authority, it would have been an assured thing to protect Han Yunyi. But Madame Li’s dying words that night had angered Emperor Tianhui. Han Yunxi didn’t know, but suspicion had fallen on the Han house and herself in equal measure.

A detoxification expert was precisely the foremost authority on poisons. How could Emperor Tianhui not have second thoughts upon these words by Madame Li? Should he use her heavily, or root her out immediately? Either choice was the difference of a thought for the paranoid sovereign. Moreover, Han Yunxi was Long Feiye’s wife. How could Long Feiye not have a headache?

This matter required Long Feiye to circle around Emperor Tianhui.

“Your lordship has no way to give you a definite answer right now,” Long Feiye replied, still as indifferent as before.

What?

Han Yunxi was astonished and leaned forward. Her voice rose with her agitation. “You clearly promised me!”

Because he’d promised her, she’d taken him to Madame Li’s quarters to search for evidence. Why did he say that things weren’t certain now? What did he mean? He couldn’t protect Yi’er anymore?

This was the first time that anyone had dared to raise their voice at him. Long Feiye’s tone turned stern. “Isn’t the Han Family and Han Yunyi still all right? Why are you so anxious?”

Han Yunix immediately backed down, but she still wasn’t satisfied. “I…I…then you tell me, what do you mean?”

“Exactly what the surface meaning implies. If there’s nothing else, you can go,” Long Feiye was both vexed and perturbed. When he saw this woman getting restless, he grew even more irritated. He really didn’t understand why he wanted to shield her. In any case, she was a woman given to him by Emperor Tianhui. If the emperor wanted her, he might as well take her! What was he so worried about?

On the other hand, Han Yunxi was stunned that this fellow could act this way! She grew angry enough to slam the table. “What you’ve promised me, you have to see through!”

Long Feiye’s eyes rested on her hand before slowly rising to meet her eyes. Very good, this woman had broken another record. Not only did she yell at him, she dared to pound his desk as well.

“Your lordship will say this for the last time. You, get out!” Long Feiye’s voice had reached frigid tones.

Han Yunxi didn’t fear him at all. She gave him a vicious glare before flicking her sleeves and leaving!