139. An Unspeakable Secret
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Chapter 139
With countless questions weighing on her mind, Le Qianxue thought for a moment before saying, “Have someone make the preparations. I’m going to the Xishan military camp.”
Hua Tao was even more puzzled. “Miss, what are you planning to do? Are you going to ensure your safety? Uncle Zeng has already sent people there.”
“No. I have something to discuss with my father.”
Hearing this, Hua Tao did not dare ask anything more and immediately went to make the arrangements.
Le Qianxue had only been back at the General’s Residence for a few days, yet she was already going out again.
At the city gates, however, she saw Yu Guhan. He had apparently just returned to the capital and was dressed in ordinary clothes. He, too, was slightly surprised to see her. He had never expected her to return safely after being abducted by Zi Ye.
Yu Guhan pulled on his horse’s reins and blocked her path. He was still the Crown Prince, after all, and Le Qianxue could not simply ride around him.
She stopped and looked at him. “Your Highness, is there something you need?”
“You’ve returned safely. You truly are lucky to be alive.”
His true nature had long since been exposed, so his words were rather biting now. He no longer cared. In his eyes, Le Qianxue had betrayed him and was shamelessly lacking in self-respect.
Le Qianxue smiled. “Yes. The War Prince sent people to rescue me.”
At the mention of Zhan Liancheng, Yu Guhan’s face darkened considerably.
“Le Qianxue, one day you will regret this,” he said coldly.
“Even if I am wrong, I will keep going. You may think I am wrong, but I believe I am right.”
Having said that, Le Qianxue could not be bothered to continue the conversation. She flicked her whip and rode out of the city.
The Xishan military camp was quite a distance away. Although Le Yongcheng had not yet been stripped of his real authority, the old Emperor had already begun suppressing him in many ways.
If things continued like this, Le Yongcheng would be in danger as well. For now, Le Qianxue wanted to find that fan as quickly as possible and uncover the secret of the former imperial palace.
When she arrived at the Xishan military camp, Le Yongcheng happened to be returning from an inspection.
“Qianxue, what brings you here?” he asked. “Seeing that all your limbs are intact, I can finally rest easy.”
The several generals behind him burst into laughter.
Le Qianxue’s face darkened. “Father, come over here.”
She pulled Le Yongcheng aside. He looked somewhat puzzled. “What is it?”
“What is my relationship with Zi Ye?” she asked.
Le Yongcheng froze for a moment, but quickly replied, “What relationship could there be? He is the ruler of the Liangjin Kingdom. What kind of relationship could you possibly have with him?”
“Then why, when he abducted me, did you seem so unconcerned? Weren’t you afraid he would kill me?”
“This...” Le Yongcheng paused, evidently unsure how to respond. “How could I not have been worried?”
“You clearly turned back to the Xishan military camp because you knew Zi Ye would not hurt me. That is why you were so calm. If it had been anyone else, you would have been frantic.”
Le Yongcheng’s expression darkened. He said in a low voice, “I do have some past association with him. But you know how the Emperor has always been wary of the Liangjin Kingdom. How could I possibly reveal it? Once he knew you were my daughter, he naturally would not mistreat you. It is as simple as that. Do you find it suspicious merely because I happen to have a friend?”
The explanation was plausible enough, but Le Qianxue still felt that something was amiss.
Le Yongcheng pushed her toward the exit of the camp. “All right, you should not stay here. Go back at once. Your birthday is in two days. I will return then and celebrate with you.”
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With Le Yongcheng pushing her away, Le Qianxue had no choice but to nod and ride off.
It had taken her more than half an hour to get there, yet Le Yongcheng had brushed her off with only a few words. He really was something.
After Le Qianxue left, Le Yongcheng breathed a sigh of relief. If he had not reacted quickly enough, he truly might have been exposed.
When Le Qianxue returned to the General’s Residence, she discovered that Zhan Liancheng had come.
She had been traveling for several days and was already exhausted. “Shouldn’t you have been waiting at the War Prince’s Residence for news? Have you found Yunge?”
“We found her,” Zhan Liancheng replied. “I have already sent people to escort her home.”
Le Qianxue gave a soft acknowledgment. With that, the matter could be considered neatly resolved. It was a satisfactory outcome.
By then, night had fallen. Le Qianxue had little appetite and forced down only a few mouthfuls before growing unbearably sleepy. Zhan Liancheng told her to rest first, then left.
She had barely slept during the past few days. The moment her head touched the pillow, she fell into a deep sleep.
Zhan Liancheng had Hua Tao bring a basin of water. He then carefully wiped Le Qianxue’s face, as well as her hands and feet.
He sat silently beside the bed for a long while, leaving only after midnight.
With Le Qianxue’s birthday approaching, the General’s Residence had become unusually busy.
Le Linglong had already been sent to Yu Nanfeng’s residence as a concubine. As for Madam Xu, she remained at the General’s Residence but had lost every trace of status.
Even so, she had sent Le Qianxue an elaborate gift in advance. Hua Tao accepted it, but when she saw that Madam Xu still had no intention of leaving, she asked, “Madam Xu, is there something else you wish to say?”
Madam Xu hurriedly nodded and walked over to Le Qianxue.
Le Qianxue raised her eyes. “What is it?”
“I know that you and the Fourth Prince have a fairly good relationship,” Madam Xu said hastily. “I beg you to say a few words on Linglong’s behalf.”
Le Qianxue gave a short laugh. “Why should I speak for her? She brought this upon herself.”
Madam Xu’s expression stiffened. After everything that had happened, she knew very well that Linglong had indeed done wrong.
But now that she had made a mistake, was there truly no chance to turn back?
“Linglong is your younger sister, after all,” Madam Xu pleaded. “She knows she was wrong. She is suffering now, and only you can help her.”
Le Qianxue sighed helplessly. “She is already the Fourth Prince’s concubine. How could I help her? You should speak to the Fourth Prince yourself.”
Hua Tao poured Le Qianxue a cup of tea and added, “That’s right, Madam Xu. The Fourth Prince is furious, and he was wrongfully accused, after all. Second Miss certainly will not have an easy time at the Fourth Prince’s residence. You should try to accept it and stop making things difficult for my mistress.”
Madam Xu’s eyes reddened. “But Linglong is not truly evil. She loves the Fourth Prince, which is why she did what she did. Qianxue, all of this was my fault. I was the one who planned it. I know I treated you badly in the past. If you wish to vent your anger, do whatever you like. I only ask that you help Linglong.”
As she finished speaking, Madam Xu dropped to her knees.
Le Qianxue was even more helpless. She quickly said, “You are my elder, after all. If you kneel before me, anyone who sees it will think I bullied you.”
She thought about it. Le Linglong had merely been greedy for wealth and glory. She had never truly harmed her.
But Madam Xu had poisoned her at the beginning, leaving her unable to cultivate internal energy. Was Le Qianxue supposed to become the good person she needed simply because Madam Xu had come to beg?
Some things had to be paid for.
Madam Xu’s face crumpled with grief. “I know I wronged you in the past, but Linglong is my only daughter. I have only her. My life may soon be forfeit, and I want her to live well.”
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Le Qianxue raised an eyebrow, suddenly remembering something.
She let out a soft laugh. “You and Linglong slandered the Fourth Prince. How could the Emperor have let you off so easily?”
Madam Xu’s face stiffened. She even forgot to cry.
She stammered, unable to find an answer.
Le Qianxue made a guess. “Let me see... You were the Emperor’s agent from the very beginning, weren’t you?”
Madam Xu’s face turned deathly pale.
“Wasn’t that the case?” Le Qianxue asked with a smile.
Madam Xu struggled for breath. At last, she spoke slowly. “I... I was. Back then, the Emperor forced me into the General’s Residence and ordered me to spy on your mother.”
Le Qianxue had already guessed as much, so she nodded. “Then you should go and beg the Emperor.”
“I am no longer of any use to him. I threatened the Emperor once, and he will never forgive me,” Madam Xu replied.
Otherwise, how could the Emperor possibly have spared them? Slandering a royal prince was a grave crime.
Le Qianxue frowned. “What did you threaten the Emperor with? Does he actually have something you could use against him?”
She found it strange. Madam Xu was sharp-tongued and malicious, but Le Qianxue had never imagined she possessed such leverage.
Madam Xu hesitated before saying, “The Emperor... The Emperor has a secret in my hands.”
“Madam Xu, the Emperor is the Son of Heaven. How could he have a weakness in your hands?” Even Hua Tao found it laughable. Surely Madam Xu was lying.
“Brat, do you think I would lie about this? If I were, why would the Emperor have spared me?” Madam Xu retorted. Then she turned to Le Qianxue. “Qianxue, if you want to know, you must promise that Linglong will live well from now on. The Fourth Prince must not mistreat her again.”
“I can only speak to the Fourth Prince,” Le Qianxue said calmly. “Whether he listens to me is another matter. I cannot promise you anything. If you want to tell me, then tell me. I will not take advantage of you.”
Madam Xu was even more at a loss. After thinking it over, she decided to reveal everything.
“All right. As long as you speak to the Fourth Prince, that will be enough.”
Le Qianxue asked Madam Xu to sit down and explain herself properly.
Madam Xu lowered her voice. “Qianxue, this is no small secret. Once revealed, it will leave everyone astonished.”
Her attempt to build suspense had gone far enough. Le Qianxue shot her a cold glance.
Madam Xu continued, “After your mother died, the Emperor secretly sent people to exhume her grave. Her body was transported to his own imperial mausoleum. I sent someone to investigate and learned that the former Empress’s coffin had been opened. Someone else had already been placed inside.
“You know where your mother’s body is, don’t you? That day, I risked my life to reveal this matter, and the Emperor’s expression changed at once. Think about it. Your mother was the wife of one of his subjects, yet the Emperor intended to be buried alongside that subject’s wife. Would that not be the most outrageous absurdity in the world?”
Le Qianxue’s gaze turned cold.
So that was the truth.
The old Emperor had gone too far.
...
Tianjin
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