Chapter 454: You’re your lordship’s wangfei (2/2)

“Your Highness, chenqie’s clothes are to your right. I’ll have to trouble you to get them,” she said next.

Long Feiye collected the robes and draped them over her form before lightly embracing her from the back, his chin resting on her shoulder. Han Yunxi gave a mild start, suddenly aware that something about him was different today. As to how, she couldn’t quite say.

“Han Yunxi…” he murmured softly.

“Mm…” she replied back, just as soft.

But he didn’t end up saying anything. He only avoided her hugs to keep her in his embrace for a long, long time. Han Yunxi was left confused and lost. She was about to ask him what was the matter when he resumed his usual self.

“What happened with these burns? What’s the connection with Su Xiaoyu?”

Alright, this is more important right now! Han Yunxi shifted to the side and found a more comfortable position before telling Long Feiye everything that had happened with Su Xiaoyu. The more he heard, the uglier his expression grew.

That damned Tang Li. Something this big happened at the Duke of Qin’s estate, but he hid it from me.

Of course, Long Feiye didn’t lose his temper there. He made sure Han Yunxi was lying comfortably on the couch before stalking down the stairs. Unlike his previous good mood, he was nothing but enraged now. When Zhao mama saw him, she quickly backed away. Meanwhile, Chu Xifeng had just received updates on the Su Xiaoyu situation and arrived at Leisurely Cloud Pavilion.

“This subordinate has been derelict in his duties, may Your Highness mete punishment!” Chu Xifeng fell to his knees by the door.

“How are you doing your jobs? Even a child younger than ten can sneak in here?!” Long Feiye growled.

Han Yunxi had put on her robes to dash down the steps, and was now standing silently at the foot of the stairs.

“This subordinate deserves death!” Chu Xifeng didn’t even dare to lift his head. As soon as he got word that Su Xiaoyu had injured esteemed wangfei, he knew he was dead meat. After all, he was the one who had first sent scouts to investigate her history.

“Your lordship will give you five days. If you can’t find the master behind the scenes, do as you see fit! And also, throw out all the servants! Replace them with members from the Solitary Enclosure instead!” Long Feiye ordered coldly.

Zhao mama desperately fell to her knees at the declaration. “Your Highness, have mercy! This old servant…”

Long Feiye flew into a rage before she was done. “Zhao mama, were all your years in the palace for naught? You’re old and experienced, but you were still swindled by a little girl?”

Zhao mama could only shiver, at a loss for an answer. She really had been careless this time.

“Chu Xifeng, what are you dawdling for?” Long Feiye shot next.

Chu Xifeng saw Zhao mama’s pleading gaze and dearly wanted to help, but he was having enough trouble saving himself already. Finally, Han Yunxi spoke up.

“Your Highness, chenqie has a…”

But Long Feiye cut her off icily. “If we had changed all the servants at the start, you wouldn’t have been so seriously injured!”

How could the Duke of Qin’s estate allow the existence of spies within their walls? How could the Duke of Qin’s servants ever dare to accept bribes?To Long Feiye, this was nothing but a source of disgrace and humiliation.

These were the facts, so Han Yunxi had nothing to refute him. She could only plead, “Your Highness, can’t you…”

Long Feiye refused before she could ask for anything. “This is non-negotiable.”

Zhao mama and Chu Xifeng both looked hopeless. If even esteemed wangfei couldn’t help them, then they were surely doomed to tragic ends. But then, something remarkable happened.

Han Yunxi actually took a step forward and took Long Feiye’s hand. She didn’t say a word, but the action was enough to make him turn around and wait for her to speak.

What did this count as? A coquettish act? A honey trap?

Whatever the case, it worked! Zhao mama and Chu Xifeng exchanged looks filled with hope.

“Your Highness, when chenqie ferreted out Wang Laifu and Su Xiaoyu, I made a public promise not to punish the innocent. If Your Highness does this, do you want chenqie…to lose the trust of the servants?” Han Yunxi asked in a hurt tone.

Now it was Long Feiye’s turn to be struck speechless. Han Yunxi, however, gave him a chance for a graceful retreat. “Your Highness, just give chenqie another chance. Chenqie will definitely make sure to tidy up the Duke of Qin’s estate from the inside out.”

Han Yunxi’s words had her shouldering the burden by herself. She was still the mistress of the estate, after all, so the servants here were her responsibility. If one could accuse the old and experienced Zhao mama of being tricked by a child, then they could accuse the bright and intelligent her of falling for the same schemes. As she spoke, Han Yunxi lightly swung Long Feiye’s hand in hers.

Perhaps her words really did reach him; perhaps the hand-holding was to blame. In any case, he relented to a compromise. Long Feiye held her hand still so she would stop swinging theirs back and forth and said coldly, “There will be no next time!”

Han Yunxi rejoiced. She immediately shot a glance at Chu Xifeng and Zhao mama, who quickly expressed their thanks for her grace with hearts of gratitude.

The servants had escaped a terrible fate yet again, Chu Xifeng wasn’t sure what he’d find upon investigating any more, and Tang Li was by far the saddest of the lot. Long Feiye had Chu Xifeng send secret orders for Tang Li to keep watching over the Hidden Pavilion. Without his orders, Tang Li wasn’t allowed to budge a single step from the grounds, or else pay the consequences.

Tang Li fell into depression at the news. He almost entertained the thought of going back to the Tang Clan to get married and have children. Fortunately, Chu Xifeng stopped him. “Young Master Tang, are you sure His Highness will forgive you even after you get married and have children?”

Tang Li fell silent and obediently returned to the Hidden Pavilion without a word.

By now it was approaching daylight. Long Feiye didn’t go to see Su Xiaoyu, but had tea with Han Yunxi in the gardens instead. He wasn’t worried about finding out the true culprit as long as the girl was in their hands. He could even wait until Chu Xifeng made his inquiries. There was something else he had to tell Han Yunxi first…