Chapter 123 Western Cold

He looked down at his bare arms and chest, which were covered with deep red and purple whip marks that were swollen and raised, with almost no intact skin left!

shame!

This feeling was driving him almost crazy!

He curled up, burying his head deep in his knees, his body trembling slightly uncontrollably.

The version of myself that screamed madly for revenge last night now seems so ridiculous and pale.

Pei Mingyue is not a ladder, but an abyss! A purgatory!

A rustling sound came from behind.

Pei Mingyue lazily turned over and slowly woke up.

She seemed to be sleeping very well, with a satisfied blush on her face.

She propped herself up and leaned against the headboard.

Seeing Xie Wulu curled up on the ground, a hint of regret flashed in Pei Mingyue's eyes.

It's not that I feel sorry for him, but I just think it would be a bit disappointing if such a good-looking face were ruined too quickly. I should give him something in return and let him see some hope.

After all, some games are more fun when played slowly.

The palace maids tiptoed in to help Pei Mingyue wash and change. Throughout the entire process, no one glanced at Xie Wulu on the ground, as if he were nothing more than an insignificant piece of trash.

Only after the exquisite breakfast was laid out on the table, and Pei Mingyue slowly stirred the bird's nest soup in the white jade bowl with a silver spoon, did she seem to finally remember that there was someone on the ground, and lazily speak:

Seventeen.

Xie Wulu's body trembled almost imperceptibly!

"...Yesterday, you said you had a way to deal with that bitch Xie Sangning?"

Pei Mingyue scooped up a spoonful of bird's nest, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly without even lifting her eyelids. "Tell me about it. If it's interesting... I might take pity on you and let you rest for a couple of days according to your method."

Xie Wulu suddenly raised his head!

The feelings of despair and hopelessness receded like the tide, replaced by excitement!

Chance!

The opportunity has arrived!

Ignoring the excruciating pain all over his body, he struggled to kneel down, the movement aggravating his wounds, causing him to gasp in pain, cold sweat instantly rolling down his forehead.

But he gritted his teeth, using all his strength to maintain his kneeling position, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

"Your Highness! Your Highness is wise! No... Seventeen does indeed have a plan! It might be able to kill her in one blow! And send that vile woman to the depths of despair!"

"Oh?" Pei Mingyue finally raised her eyelids, a hint of interest flashing in her eyes. "One blow to kill? You've got quite the nerve. Tell me about it."

She put down the silver spoon and leaned forward slightly.

"Your Highness! Do you still remember... where Xie Sangning came from? And how did she accumulate such immense wealth in just a few years, to the point that even His Majesty had to be wary of her?!"

Pei Mingyue frowned slightly: "Xihan?" She had absolutely no interest in that godforsaken, impoverished place.

“It is indeed Xihan! Your Highness! Just think about it! What kind of place is Xihan?! It is recognized as the poorest and most miserable place of exile in the entire Daqing Dynasty! The land is barren, the climate is harsh, and even rats would starve to death there! The court provides relief every year, but it cannot fill that bottomless pit! His Majesty has long regarded that place as a burden and wishes he could just get rid of it!”

"If that place weren't on the border of the Qing Kingdom, and losing it would put the Qing Dynasty in danger, His Majesty certainly wouldn't want it!"

He stared into Pei Mingyue's eyes, speaking each word clearly:

"But why?! Why did Xie Sangning, a weak woman, not only survive in that godforsaken place, but thrive? Her father's salary is all with our second branch of the family. Where did he get the money to squander money and build up his influence in Jinling?"

Xie Wulu's breathing became rapid: "There is only one explanation! That Xihan... is not some desolate and barren wasteland at all! Its underground... must be hiding an immense fortune! Either a huge gold mine that is richer than a country! Or some kind of mineral that is priceless and urgently needed by the court! Only such windfall could transform someone into the Princess of Jianing, whom even His Majesty has to take seriously, in just a few years!"

Pei Mingyue suddenly jumped up from her chair!

Her eyes widened as she stared intently at Xie Wulu, who was kneeling on the ground!

yes!

Such a simple truth! Why did she never think about it deeply?!

Xihan! That wretched place! How could it possibly nurture someone like Xie Sangning, who possesses such an air of wealth and privilege, practically a nation's riches?!

Unless... unless there really are mountains of gold and silver underground in the Western Cold Kingdom! And she illegally mined and embezzled them!

"Continue!" Pei Mingyue's eyes were frighteningly intense! It was as if she could already see Xie Sangning's head rolling to the ground!

Xie Wulu was overjoyed to see Pei Mingyue's reaction!

"Your Highness! If this is true... then Xie Sangning has committed a heinous crime! Unauthorized mining of national mines! Embezzlement of vast wealth! Deceiving the emperor! Any one of these... is enough for her to be executed by slow slicing!"

"His Majesty has long been disgusted by Xie Sangning's repeated provocations against the imperial authority and his arrogant and domineering behavior based on Xie Zhenting's military power! It is only because Xie Zhenting holds a large army that he has no choice but to tolerate it!"

"Once this is confirmed..."

Xie Wulu's eyes gleamed with glee: "His Majesty has obtained this butcher's knife, enough to completely destroy the Xie family! Just imagine... what will he do?! He will only be overjoyed! He will only be eager to raise this knife! To completely remove this thorn in his side, this thorn in his flesh!"

"By then!"

Xie Wulu suddenly raised his head and looked at Pei Mingyue, "Your Highness! You have rendered great service to His Majesty! You are the meritorious minister who has eradicated a giant scourge for the court! Exposing Xie Sangning's shocking crimes is enough to offset all your previous minor mistakes! His Majesty is overjoyed and will lift your confinement, restore your allowance and salary, and even... double your rewards. It is only a matter of time before you regain the Emperor's favor!"

Release from confinement! Restore his favor! Win back the Divine's heart! Bestow double the reward!

Pei Mingyue was completely ignited by the wonderful blueprint described by Xie Wulu!

She could almost see herself donning her magnificent palace attire once more, standing atop the Golden Palace to receive her father's reward, and trampling Xie Sangning underfoot as she mocked him mercilessly!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Pei Mingyue excitedly said "good" three times in a row, her face flushed with excitement, and paced back and forth in the hall!

"Seventeen, good Seventeen! Your brain! You really haven't disappointed me!"

She abruptly stopped, looking down at Xie Wulu, who was still kneeling on the ground, her eyes filled with admiration and a hint of possessiveness.

"This plan is brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Pei Mingyue clapped her hands and laughed. "I will arrange it immediately! Right now!"

She strode to the desk, even rolling up her sleeves without regard for decorum, and quickly wrote a note.

The handwriting was messy, yet it was full of impatience.

The content is extremely concise:

"There's suspicion about Xihan! Investigate the mine veins immediately!"

After she finished writing, she clapped her hands, and an old eunuch in gray robes appeared silently at the door, standing with his hands at his sides.

Pei Mingyue rolled the paper into a small scroll and handed it to the old eunuch:

"Tell my people that they must do whatever it takes! They must dig three feet into the ground to find evidence that Xie Sangning embezzled mineral resources in Xihan!"

"Tell him! If this succeeds! When I rise again, I will guarantee him a hereditary title! If it fails... or even the slightest leak of information..."

A cold glint flashed in Pei Mingyue's eyes, "Tell him to bring his entire family, young and old, to come and give me their heads!"

"Yes, sir!" The gray-robed old eunuch took the scroll of paper, and with a flicker of his figure, disappeared outside the door.