Whether to advance or retreat is up to oneself.
After Li Xingyi left Cining Palace, Qianwu said with some guilt, "Your Majesty..."
Li Xingyi said calmly, "Don't worry about it. Even without you, I would still be punished."
Asahi hesitated and said, "But..."
Qianwu wanted to explain that it wasn't Li Xingyi's fault, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. After all, it was Shi Hui who wished the entire Li family would die. Regardless of whether it was Li Xingyi's fault or not, she would blame it on Li Xingyi and punish him.
Li Xingyi glanced at Qianwu and said, "Let's go back to the palace. There are still 'guests' waiting."
Qianwu replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
There's still someone in Fengyi Palace who needs to be dealt with!
Li Xingyi's voluntary admission of punishment was merely a pretext for what was to come.
This matter must be resolved completely this time, Shi Hui. I wonder what consequences your plan will bring to yourself?
After Qi Dou and Zhao Hongxing arrived at Xuanzheng Hall, they began to handle government affairs. After a long time, Qi Dou finally finished dealing with these affairs and said, "Secret Guards."
Suddenly, a man in black appeared in the hall, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and knelt on one knee. Qi Dou asked, "Is Xingyi alright?"
The guard thought for a moment, then decided to tell the whole story: "Her Majesty the Empress was summoned by Empress Dowager Shi and made to kneel for a period of time..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Dou immediately stood up angrily and said, "What?! Why didn't you inform me immediately?!"
The guards remained silent.
If Your Majesty did not care so much about the Empress, I fear you would only be concerned with her beauty and neglect the country and its people. How could things have turned out this way?
Qi Dou glanced at the guard and said, "I'll deal with you later."
After saying that, he hurriedly walked towards the door, and it was obvious that he was going to rescue Li Xingyi.
Upon seeing this, the guard immediately said, "Your Majesty! Wait, the Empress has already returned to Fengyi Palace, but she has been punished by being forced to copy scriptures a hundred times. She can only come out when she finishes copying them."
Qi Dou stopped after hearing this, but he still clenched his fists, and it looked like he was about to speak again.
Zhao Hongxing hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, imperial favor breeds jealousy! Ever since the Empress entered the palace, you have visited her palace every day, and you have even clashed with Empress Dowager Shi for her sake, while neglecting Consort Duan. Hasn't that made the Empress a target?"
Qi Dou was stunned for a moment.
Yes, the imperial harem has always been a place of intrigue and backstabbing. Whoever receives more favor will be envied, especially since Li Xingyi is a member of the Li family that Shi Hui hates the most!
Qi Dou blamed himself, saying, "...It was my fault for not protecting her well. I always wanted to be with her and forgot that we were surrounded by wolves."
Both the secret guard and Zhao Hongxing felt some sympathy for the emperor. If the late emperor hadn't left Qi Dou an imperial edict saying, "Crown Prince Qi Dou may marry whomever he wishes," Qi Dou might not have been able to marry Li Xingyi as his empress.
Over the years, Shi Hui has secretly cultivated relationships with officials and even secretly placed his own people in the court. He has developed commerce on the frontier. When the new emperor ascended the throne, his family moved to Jiangnan and arranged for women from his family to marry into powerful families. This network is basically complete. Although it cannot be confronted directly, it is enough to pose a threat.
Adding to the troubles, Qi Hui's forces were also watching from the sidelines, and there were other countries' restless ambitions, which was truly a headache. On the surface, Qi was peaceful and harmonious, but underneath, undercurrents were surging and the situation was turbulent. With the enemy still at large, how could there be any peaceful life?
Zhao Hongxing sighed and said, "Your Majesty, I know your love for the Empress is as clear as day, but with the overall situation at hand, we cannot let personal feelings get in the way! You know the consequences of defeat, so you must immediately pull yourself together!"
Qi Dou replied, "Yes, we cannot lose. I will not do that again."
He then patted Zhao Hongxing on the shoulder and said, "Hongxing, thanks to you for making me realize my mistake, I will reward you handsomely. I will give you a thousand taels."
Zhao Hongxing hurriedly said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I have not rendered any merit or done anything, so there is no need for any reward."
Qi Dou frowned and said, "I said I would reward you, and I will reward you. Don't refuse. Tell everyone that you served me well and that I was very pleased with you, which is why I rewarded you."
Zhao Hongxing could only flatter, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Only then did Qi Dou remember that there was still someone on the ground. He asked, "Is there anything else?"
The bodyguard was speechless.
I haven't finished my report yet, have I?
He respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this morning a disheveled man came looking for the Empress. However, the Empress was summoned by Empress Dowager Shi, and the man was waiting in the Phoenix Palace. In my observation, he may have come because of that rumor."
Perhaps fearing that Qi Dou might misunderstand, the guard spoke very quickly.
After listening, Qi Dou pondered for a while and said, "You all continue to keep watch. If anything happens, come and tell me immediately. Now you may leave."
"The shadow guard, having received the order, replied, 'Yes.'"
Just then, Li Xingyi and Qianwu arrived at Fengyi Palace and heard a "crack" sound coming from inside.
Following this was a gruff voice, filled with dissatisfaction and anger: "Damn it! I've been waiting for so long, I've even drunk a whole pot of tea, all you do is let me drink! You've worn down my patience! I've already been merciful and not held your neglect against you, I feel terrible, what's wrong with taking a bath here?! Huh! What? You think I'm dirty? Fine, I'll go to the city gate and show the people your ugly faces!"
Qianwu frowned and said, "Your Highness, where did this scoundrel come from, so uncouth! This servant will go and teach him a lesson right away!"
After saying that, he was about to rush inside.
Li Xingyi stopped Qianwu with his hand and said, "It's alright, I will handle it myself."
She then walked into the hall, but unexpectedly, Li Xingyi bumped into the man. The man was stunned when he saw Li Xingyi's face. Qianwu, seeing this, angrily shouted, "How dare you!"
When the palace maid who had been with Qingyi saw Li Xingyi return, she bowed to her. Li Xingyi nodded, and the palace maid quickly left the place of trouble.
The man was startled by Qianwu's voice, but he recklessly flirted with Li Xingyi, "Hehe, I didn't expect there to be so many beauties in this palace. I wonder if you are married? If not, you can come with me. Anyway, I came to the palace to take the opportunity to find a wife and get the Empress to give me an official position, hehe."
Everyone present was shocked. This man was really courting death. However, his lewd appearance and his disgusting voice gave people goosebumps and made them feel so disgusted that they almost vomited.
Qingyi quickly opened her mouth to prevent herself from spitting it out. Qianwu's fists hardened, and she angrily said, "This is the current Empress! How dare you, you shameless scoundrel, speak so shamelessly! You..."
Li Xingyi had been quietly observing everything. Before Qianwu could finish speaking, Li Xingyi stepped past the man and said, "Oh? Is this what you wanted to see me about?"
She walked to a higher place and slowly sat down.
Upon hearing Qianwu's words, the man was so frightened that he immediately knelt down and cried out, "Your Majesty, spare me! I didn't know you were the Empress, that's why..."
So she is the Empress. She is very lucky today.
Thinking of this, the man chuckled again and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness. Let's talk about my affairs instead."
Li Xingyi looked at him quietly, as if she had seen through his tricks, and said, "Then let's begin."
Hearing this, Qianwu was a little worried and said, "Your Majesty..."
Li Xingyi glanced at her, and Qianwu had no choice but to shut up.
The man was secretly pleased to hear this.
Hehe, just as that person said, it's easy to handle.
He chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, we don't need so many people to talk business."
After hearing this, Li Xingyi calmly said, "Qingyi, stay. Everyone else, leave and close the door behind you."
Qianwu and the others had no idea what Li Xingyi was planning.
Qingyi, of course, knew what Li Xingyi was going to do, and remained calm.
Seeing this, Asahi thought for a moment.
Could it be...?
Then Qianwu led everyone out.
Although the man didn't know why he had kept this palace maid, he didn't think much of it. He just assumed that Li Xingyi was taking precautions as a woman. He felt that he, as a man, should be able to handle two women. Thinking of this, he immediately stood up and pounced on Li Xingyi, saying, "Your Majesty, you are truly stunningly beautiful. This humble subject will be gentle, hehe."
Qingyi stood quietly to the side, watching him court death.
Standing outside the door, Qianwu heard a loud "bang" from inside, her heart tightened, and she froze.
Inside the room, Qingyi looked at the stone pillar and saw the man lying against it, a pool of blood beside him. Blood was flowing from his mouth, and he looked at Li Xingyi, slurring, "You...you...this...this slut..."
It's obvious at a glance that Li Xingyi kicked him like this.
Li Xingyi picked up a sword from the side and slowly walked over, looking down at him and saying, "Are these your last words?"
"Snap!" Before the man could speak, she severed his head with her sword.
"Bang!" The head fell to the ground, and Li Xingyi watched all of this without blinking.
Qingyi quickly went over and deftly took the sword, then raised it with both hands and struck the corpse again. She calmly said, "Your Majesty, you may call for help now."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
