Chapter 654: Remember to return it to your lordship (1/2)
It was clearly Long Feiye who sent the assassin after Empress Xue’s life, but now Han Yunxi had been unjustly accused of the deed. Ever since she became Qin Wangfei, Han Yunxi had been maligned countless times. By now she was used to it, but she couldn’t help a goofy smile at Long Feiye as she stood at a loss.
She wasn’t afraid of Ning Cheng smearing her good name. Empress Xue’s corpse was still present, which meant they could track down the truth easily. She was no coroner, but she could still find ways to uncover the woman’s true cause of death. As long as the truth was publicized, her guilt would be washed clean.
But there was no way she could do that now! Not when the true culprit was none other than her husband Long Feiye.
Han Yunxi sprawled across the tea table, feigning a stern glance at the man without a word. Still, her eyes were warning enough for him.
Long Feiye, you figure out what to do with this!
Long Feiye walked over and brushed a few strands of her hair. “Are you afraid?”
He’s provoking me! Han Yunxi glared at him wordlessly.
Long Feiye broke into an easy laugh. “Your lordship will simply admit to the deed.”
Han Yunxi immediately slapped his hand away. “How are you supposed to admit to anything without proof? If I won’t admit it, you definitely can’t! Even if you’re beaten to death!”
Long Feiye was waiting for those very words. Coldly he cried, “Someone come, bring brush and ink!”
He was going to write a letter in return to his master, so Han Yunxi scooted over to look. She discovered that the reticent man had written a whole slew of words in rows that filled the page. The general idea was that Duanmu Yao had no right to make unfounded, malicious claims without evidence. If she could prove that Han Yunxi was the one who hurt Empress Xue, then he wouldn’t get involved in their grudge. Otherwise, he’d accuse Duanmu Yao of framing false charges and request his master to step back from the entire affair.
Once Long Feiye put down his brush, Han Yunxi asked, “Just like that?”
“Mhm,” Long Feiye sealed the missive and even marked the envelope with his personal stamp to make sure that no one would peek ahead of time.
“So once your master agrees, he won’t be able to meddle in the future even when it’s revealed that you were the true mastermind behind the killing?” Han Yunxi teased.
Here was a real loophole! Of course, Long Feiye wouldn’t be stupid enough to expose himself as the culprit. His ultimate goal was to prevent the sword sect master from getting angry. Moreover, he didn’t want to offend Western Zhou’s imperial court, either. Northern Li had been idle for the past few years, but they were paying attention to everything happening south of their borders. Western Zhou was an invaluable ally in keeping back that threat.
Once Long Feiye had someone send off the letter, he and Han Yunxi sat back calmly to wait! After all, Duanmu Yao had only tattled to her master. News of the accusation had yet to spread, so it’d be foolish if they struck first now. As a matter of fact, Duanmu Yao was waiting this moment for their reply. She was staying in the borderlands between Yaoshui and Fenglin Prefectures with her mother’s corpse, which she had taken out of the Chu army barracks. In one had she had the item that proved Han Yunxi was to blame. She was waiting for updates from her master before she dealt Han Yunxi a fatal blow!
That woman had not only stolen away her childhood sweetheart, but the mother who loved her best. How could she bear it all? This time she would thoroughly rip her reputation to tatters to pay back the debt of blood! No matter what sacrifices she had to make!
“Princess, a letter from Celestial Mountain!” one of her servant girls came in with a message from the sword sect master—not written by the man himself, but by the servant she’d arranged to stay by his side.
Duanmu Yao only knitted her brow at its contents. “His insanity acted up again?”
Master had already received the Duke of Qin’s reply, but because one of his mental fits had flared up again, he didn’t read its contents. Neither did he allow anyone else to unseal the letter, so nobody knew what her senior brother had said.
“Princess, the Duke of Qin wouldn’t dare to violate the sword sect master’s words. As this servant sees it, let’s proceed with the plan on our side. A quick battle will force a quick decision and avenger esteemed empress sooner so she can rest in peace,” the servant girl murmured.
Duanmu Yao’s voice was cold. “This princess was only giving master a cusory update after all. Chu Qingge gave me such solid evidence that it’ll be impossible for the Duke of Qin to silence the public and protect that slut once I expose her. I refuse to believe that senior brother would go against the entire world just for her sake!”
The more she thought, the angrier she felt. Right there and then, she issued orders to spread word that Han Yunxi was the murderer of Empress Xue. Three days later, she was to face off against her one-on-one at her door to repay the blood debt. At the same time, she called the Duke of Qin into account for allying with Western Zhou while allowing Han Yunxi to commit such an atrocious deed. The news soon sent the now calm western regions into a furor of activity again as everyone paid attention to the sensational news.
Chu Qingge’s temper exploded as soon as she heard the updates. Ignoring the fact that she was surrounded by servants, she cursed Duanmu Yao without any sense of dignity. “That brainless slut! How is she expecting the Duke of Qin to like her when she’s such an idiot? Her and her wild fantasies!”
She was the one who gave Duanmu Yao “proof” of Han Yunxi’s crime, but it was only so the girl could cause more difficulties for their shared rival. Instead, she’d dragged His Highness Duke of Qin into the muck as well!
“Does she have any right to call Long Feiye into account? Why does he have to explain himself to her at all?!” Even at a time like this, Chu Qingge’s hatred was purely directed towards Han Yunxi. She held no ill will towards Long Feiye, nor did she wish to see him hurt a bit.