104. The Forsaken Pawn

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Le Qianxue’s feet were almost unable to move. Qingqing’s face was completely unscathed, perhaps deliberately left so that people would recognize her as the courtesan queen of the Yihong Courtyard.

Yet Qingqing’s body and limbs were a horrifying sight, her clothes soaked red with blood. She was barely alive, clinging to her final breath.

Le Qianxue did not know what she was feeling. Her first instinct was to rush forward and save her, but several Wind Shadow Guards stood watch ahead.

There was no way she could manage it alone.

She forced herself to calm down, and only then was she able to hear what the common people were saying.

“Oh my, who would have thought the courtesan queen would be a rebel? What a surprise.”

“Then who sent her? Could it have been Liangjin? That ruler has been casting covetous eyes on Tianlong for a long time.”

“Who knows? In any case, she’s already been exposed as a pawn. Her master probably won’t come to save her now.”

Le Qianxue’s ears rang loudly, and she could no longer make sense of anything around her.

The first person she thought of was Zhan Lianjing, so she hurried straight to the War King’s Residence.

The eunuch driving the carriage saw her leave and called out several times, but Le Qianxue did not turn back.

When she arrived at the War King’s Residence, she found everything remarkably peaceful. Could it be that Zhan Lianjing did not know Qingqing had been captured?

She entered. Having visited many times before, she was not stopped by the guards. Zhan Lianjing had also long since ordered that she was not to be hindered from entering the residence.

After asking around, she learned that Zhan Lianjing was in his own courtyard, and a maid led her there.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw him seated beneath a flower trellis. The weather was scorching, but evening had already fallen, and much of the heat had faded.

Hearing footsteps, he turned his head. When he saw Le Qianxue approaching, he set down the teacup in his hand.

Perhaps it was only her imagination, but Le Qianxue felt that his expression was especially gloomy that day.

Uneasy, she walked over and asked, “Lord Zhan, do you know about Qingqing—”

“I know.” Zhan Lianjing cut her off before she could finish.

His voice was perfectly calm, as though he were speaking of something entirely ordinary.

Le Qianxue said, “You’re not going to save Qingqing? If we act now, she may still have a chance of surviving.”

His gaze was淡漠, yet there was always a trace of distance in it. He said, “His Majesty has declared her a rebel. Anyone who goes to save her now will only bring disaster upon himself. She knew this day would come, though she never expected it to arrive so soon.”

Le Qianxue found it difficult to understand. Frowning, she said, “Qingqing was one of your most capable subordinates. For that reason alone, can’t you devise a foolproof plan to save her?”

When Zhan Lianjing had previously been imprisoned, it was Qingqing who mobilized troops and rescued him.

Zhan Lianjing turned his head away, unwilling even to look at her. He merely said, “I know what I’m doing. Leave.”

He had never before told her to go. Le Qianxue froze, unable to decide how to react.

She pressed her lips together. “Lord Zhan…”

Perhaps he was simply in a bad mood, which was why he was treating her this way.

But Zhan Lianjing could no longer restrain himself. In a cold voice, he said, “I told you to leave! Must I order someone to throw you out?”

The roar stunned Le Qianxue. She clenched her fists and said, “Then I’ll leave. There’s no need to lose your temper with me.”

She turned and walked away.

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Only after she had gone did Zhan Lianjing smash the teacup on the table against the floor. He was furious.

Brightmoon and Chasingstar emerged from the shadows, staring at the shattered porcelain strewn across the ground with some trepidation.

Whenever Zhan Lianjing became angry, he usually wore an icy expression. That version of him was the most frightening of all. Anyone who came within half a step of him would meet a death without even a grave.

Of the two, however, Chasingstar was the most incensed. He asked, “My lord, are you really going to let her go just like that?”

Zhan Lianjing saw the matter clearly. “His Majesty was far too deliberate. There is something suspicious about this. She plainly knew nothing of it. If she had known, would she have worn that necklace to the War King’s Residence? Wouldn’t that have been tantamount to seeking death?”

Brightmoon’s anger subsided as well. Having heard his explanation, she realized that it indeed made sense.

“My lord is right,” she said. “His Majesty seems to be trying to drive a wedge between the two of you. Still, you must remain cautious. Among outsiders, she is the only one who knows that Qingqing is your agent.”

Zhan Lianjing lowered his eyes, his voice heavy. “I know. Do not spread this matter. Investigate it thoroughly before we say anything more.”

He did not believe that Le Qianxue was the one who had given the report.

Yet the message from the palace said that the Emperor had praised Le Qianxue lavishly, declaring that she had rendered great service and bestowing upon her the heirloom treasure.

Although the Emperor’s actions were somewhat contrived, he could not afford to let down his guard.

Fortunately, Le Qianxue knew little about his affairs. Even if she had truly betrayed him, the loss would not be too great.

It was only his heart that twisted with unbearable pain.

At that moment, Brightmoon asked again, “My lord, what of Yuan Tianci? He is her master. Can he be trusted?”

“If Yuan Tianci dares to play any tricks, kill him,” Zhan Lianjing said.

Then, all at once, he remembered something.

The realization nearly robbed him of breath once more.

After returning to the General’s Residence, Le Qianxue remained troubled by Zhan Lianjing’s attitude toward her.

She thought it over repeatedly and felt that something was wrong.

Just then, Peach Blossom entered carrying hot tea. Seeing the necklace around Le Qianxue’s neck, she exclaimed, “Miss, that necklace is beautiful.”

Le Qianxue lowered her head. She had been in such a hurry that she had simply put it on and left.

Now that she took it off and examined it, she found it truly beautiful—exceedingly ornate. Unfortunately, Le Qianxue had never cared for such gaudy things.

She studied it more carefully and felt that the necklace looked strangely familiar.

Peach Blossom handed her the tea and asked, “Miss, what’s wrong?”

Le Qianxue accepted it and took a sip. “I’m thinking about something. You may leave for now.”

Peach Blossom acknowledged her and withdrew.

Le Qianxue thought for a while longer before suddenly realizing the truth. Her hands began to tremble.

She touched the necklace again and murmured, “He actually schemed against me like this…”

This necklace had belonged to the empresses of previous generations. Empress Yang had only risen to the throne later, and the Emperor had never given the necklace to her.

But when Le Qianxue was very young, she had seen the former Empress wearing it.

It had been nothing more than a fleeting impression. Had she not been thinking about it now, she would never have remembered.

When she connected that memory with the Emperor’s claim that she had rendered great service, his decision to keep her in the palace, and what had happened to Qingqing afterward, she understood everything.

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That sly old fox of an Emperor!

Le Qianxue was furious. She nearly hurled the phoenix necklace onto the floor. The old Emperor had used her in such a scheme, and she would not let the matter end there.

But her anger passed quickly. What she could not understand was why Zhan Lianjing had treated her that way. He clearly suspected her, yet he had said nothing.

Le Qianxue drew a deep breath. “He’s too suspicious by nature. He will never trust anyone easily. Very well, I’ll go and explain everything to him.”

Once she had made up her mind, she reached the door—then stopped.

Going to explain herself did not mean anything. Zhan Lianjing had indeed suffered a setback, and since she had previously been in contact with Qingqing, it was only natural that he should suspect her.

Without evidence to prove her innocence, anything she said to Zhan Lianjing would merely be wasted breath.

After thinking it over carefully, she made a decision.

She would rescue Qingqing.

Saving Qingqing would not be easy. There would certainly be an ambush waiting at the execution grounds.

Le Qianxue considered her options. The only person she could think of who might help was Le Yongcheng.

She sent Peach Blossom out to inquire and learned that Le Yongcheng had already returned. Le Qianxue immediately went to find him.

After hearing what she had to say, Le Yongcheng initially refused. The matter was far too dangerous. But then he reconsidered and said, “His Majesty is an old fox. Deliberately driving a wedge between you and the War King is infuriating. Besides, I’m afraid you’ll never be able to marry if this continues. For both personal and moral reasons, I have no choice but to help you.”

Only Le Yongcheng could come up with such a high-minded excuse.

“Then, Father, do you have enough people who can help?” Le Qianxue asked.

Le Yongcheng gave a laugh, looking rather pleased with himself. “Do you know that the three great princely houses secretly train their own guards? In fact, many powerful people do the same. I was simply too lazy to train any, but fortunately, I have enough subordinates.”

Thus, Le Yongcheng had no need to train secret guards. He had more than enough men at his disposal.

“How many are there?” Le Qianxue asked. “And how capable are they?”

Le Yongcheng led her toward the study as he spoke. “I have two hundred trusted subordinates. They’re fairly skilled, though still somewhat inferior to the Wind Shadow Guards. You’ll have to judge for yourself.”

Hearing this, Le Qianxue nodded. As long as she had people, she was no longer afraid that she would be unable to rescue Qingqing.

Le Yongcheng took something from a hidden compartment in the study and handed it to her. She looked down and discovered that it was a tiger tally.

“Father, are you sure it’s appropriate to give me something this important?” Le Qianxue asked.

“It’s fine. From now on, you may keep it,” Le Yongcheng said. “The court is changing by the day, and I’m barely able to keep my footing. I have no idea what His Majesty is really plotting. With my reputation, I can still command the armies without the tiger tally. You should keep it to protect yourself.”

Le Qianxue nodded, a faint bitterness rising in her heart.

Le Yongcheng continued, “If you mean to save someone, go at once. That girl probably won’t last much longer. My men are waiting near the ancestral shrine. Show them the tiger tally, and they will come to your aid.”

Le Qianxue gave a quiet assent. Time was of the essence, so she returned to prepare.

She paused before leaving and said to Le Yongcheng, “Father, thank you.”

Le Yongcheng smiled. “You’re my only daughter. Everything I have will be yours one day. There’s no need to thank me.”

Something about those words struck Le Qianxue as strange, but she did not dwell on it. She hurried away.

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