Harmful to others and oneself
The best course of action is to seek justice and redress the injustice. Regardless of whether it succeeds or not, it provides clues, so why not give it a try?
But this is already a murky situation, and if this person gets involved, there's likely to be danger. However, with this person's help, even if justice is not upheld, clues can still be found. After all, this is a chaotic case full of doubts. Thinking of this, Li put aside his guilt and made up his mind.
Throughout history, those in power and high positions cherish their influence and often resort to using others to do their dirty work, rather than acting personally. In the case of the Li family, the He family and Daoping are likely just the tip of the iceberg.
Li Yin thought to himself, then after a moment's thought, he bowed to Qi Shixu and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Qi."
Qi Shixu quickly bent down to support Li Yin's arm. Before he could even utter a polite word, he saw a person standing three steps in front of him, behind Li Yin.
Qi Xue was also slightly surprised when she saw this, and her eyes widened for a moment.
She had only ever heard rumors about the Wen family's disregard for imperial power, since there were nobles in the Wen family in the palace, and she thought it was mostly hearsay. But now she had seen it twice today. If this morning it was just that they didn't give face to the princes, now that they were leaving the banquet, it was that they didn't give face to the royal family.
Li Yin sensed a burning gaze behind her and guessed who it was. She was not shocked at all and even acted as if Wen Youqing did not exist.
Qi Shixu hurriedly let go of her hand and said to Wen Youqing, "Brother Wen."
Wen Youqing's gaze never left Li Yin, and she said calmly, "What were you talking about just now? Keep talking. I'm just listening. There's no need to panic."
Qi Xue stepped forward, as if to explain, but Qi Shixu quickly walked to her side, grabbed her hand, squeezed it hard, and pulled Qi Xue back a step.
Qi Xue looked at her brother and saw that he looked anxious, so she held back her words and listened to Qi Shi say, "We have already explained the matter to Miss Li. There is nothing else. We will take our leave now."
After saying that, he pulled Qi Xue away. Qi Xue looked at her brother's expression, which seemed to be a pardon, and was very puzzled. As she walked, she turned back to look at Wen Youqing.
He stood quietly behind Li Yin, his eyes lowered, staring straight at Li Yin. His eyes were like deep pools, their depths unfathomable, and all his emotions were well hidden.
If you only look at Wen Youqing, you will feel that she has long black hair, a scholarly air, and beautiful eyebrows and eyes.
She didn't quite understand why her brother felt a sense of...fear towards Wen Youqing.
She chose not to ask, but kept the words to herself. If Qi Shixu wanted to say something to her and could say it to her, she would definitely say it. If she didn't say it, it was either unspeakable or something she didn't want to say.
As Qi Xuelin reached the corner, she turned her head slightly and glanced at Li Yin, who in turn looked at her.
Qi Xue and Qi Shixu are gone, leaving only Li Yin and Wen Youqing.
This person is indeed extraordinary; the Wen family's influence is likely even deeper than the He family's.
After watching Qi Xue leave, she turned around and looked up to meet Wen Youqing's eyes, which were filled with a hint of sorrow.
Wait, lamenting? What happened to me just now? Why is this person suddenly feeling lamenting?
As she thought this, she saw Wen Youqing's face become even more aggrieved, her eyes staring straight at Li Yin, as if Li Yin had just abandoned her and was a heartless man.
Seeing this, Li Yin asked, "Are you unhappy?"
The sorrow in Wen Youqing's eyes deepened. He said, "You just had contact with him."
"That's it?" Li Yin raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this, and continued, "My contact with him just now was merely accidental."
Wen Youqing gently tugged at Li Yin's sleeve and said, "You are my wife, you should touch me."
When Li Yin saw the hand tugging at her sleeve, she smiled slightly, her tone tinged with amusement as she said, "Young Master Wen, how childish of you! Tugging at someone's sleeve is a trick only children use."
Hearing this, Wen Youqing still didn't withdraw her hand. Instead, she looked at Li Yin with a mournful gaze. Even though Li Yin felt that he was not wrong and that Wen Youqing's actions were all an act, he still felt somewhat guilty because of Wen Youqing's mournful gaze, which was like looking at a heartless man.
She finally gave in, sighed softly, and took one of Wen Youqing's fingers.
Wen Youqing smiled as he felt the touch on his hand. He said, "I can also help you with the Li family's affairs if you need it." Before he could finish speaking, Li Yin gestured for him to be quiet.
He shut his mouth, but Li Yin took his hand and pulled him behind a tree. However, the two were still too conspicuous, so Li Yin pulled him behind a wall.
As Wen Youqing looked at the hand he was holding with Li Yin, the corners of his lips curved into a deeper smile. He paid no attention to the increasingly loud conversation between the two people outside, but quietly looked at his hand, then at Li Yin, listening to his own accelerating heartbeat.
A flutter of excitement and panic dominated the mood at that moment. Ripples, layer upon layer, spread across the calm surface of her heart, which had been as still as a lake, the instant Li Yin took her hand.
"We've almost finished doing what Princess Daoping instructed us to do; all that's left is to wait for that person to return," a palace maid said.
Another palace maid chimed in, "Hey, do you remember to replace that person's chopsticks?"
“Of course I remember. Apart from her, everyone else is the same. If this matter is accomplished, how do you think the princess will reward us? Will she transfer us to serve the crown prince?” the palace maid continued.
"Haha, you're dreaming. This matter has to succeed, otherwise..." She stopped talking and frowned. Another palace maid quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"This matter must be accomplished," the palace maid said earnestly, but then she changed the subject, saying, "If it fails..." As she spoke, she leaned closer to the other palace maid and whispered in her ear, giving her detailed instructions. After listening, the other palace maid nodded and said, "You're really capable."
After exchanging these words, the two took out some items from a nearby room, carefully locked the door, and then walked away along a different path.
Li Yin released his hand and quietly walked out. What exactly was Zhao Lianying going to do?
There were no traces of poison on the food or chopsticks.
Wen Youqing followed behind Li Yin and said, "Those two are going to do something that will harm you. Miss Li, how about we make a deal and I'll help you?"
When Li Yin heard about the deal, he immediately said, "No."
The transaction was a mutually beneficial arrangement. She did not intend to marry Wen Youqing, and naturally did not want to have any further involvement with him, lest she become entangled in future troubles.
Upon hearing this, Wen Youqing looked at Li Yin's retreating figure and smiled, but if Li Yin turned around, he would find that Wen Youqing's gaze was filled with mockery.
Li Yin, you are now trapped in this situation and there is no way to escape.
Wen Youqing looked at Li Yin, then at the slender, fair neck peeking out from between his hair. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously made a gesture as if he were choking someone.
What would it feel like to choke someone with a neck like that?
He chuckled softly upon realizing this thought.
Li Yin, my wife, you are destined to be entangled with your husband for the rest of your life.
Li Yin had been away from the banquet for some time, so she chose to go back and turned to Wen Youqing, saying, "Excuse me."
The moment Li Yin turned around, Wen Youqing felt a sudden panic followed by a surge of joy. He lowered his eyes to conceal his emotions. He wondered how Li Yin would react when he discovered what kind of person he was—would he be fearful and panicked, or would he feel the same way? But he was also afraid that Li Yin would distance himself from him because of this, so he had no choice but to hide all of this.
Li Yin, unaware of all this, looked at Wen Youqing with her lowered eyes and downcast eyelashes, feeling a pang of pity. His heart softened, and he said gently, "If you have no one to play with, how about we play together at your residence another day?"
Wen Youqing smiled and looked up, asking, "Is this true?"
“Of course,” she said, and then she walked away.
Wen Youqing stood there, watching Li Yin walk further and further away, and murmured softly, "You also have feelings for me, we are mutually in love."
Li Yin followed his memory and soon arrived at the Star Gazing Tower. He stepped inside, walked around the screen, admired the mountains and water, watched the morning stars sink, and then slowly made his way up to the second floor.
The white gauze curtains were like clouds and mist. Li Yin raised his hand to lift the curtains, looked around, and after confirming his location, he walked to his place.
She sat down, her posture elegant and her back straight. The person next to her was still dressed in purple, but the person had changed, and Yu Shu was nowhere to be seen.
A bad feeling welled up in Li Yin's heart. The purple-clad maid beside him bent down and handed him a pair of chopsticks after he sat down.
Li Yin did not catch it, but looked at the person on the high platform. Zhao Lianying smiled gently at her, without saying a word, but simply stretched out her slender hand and tapped the chopsticks on the table three times.
Li Yin then understood Zhao Lianying's intention: to threaten her with the Rain Book. Li Yin had no choice but to accept the chopsticks handed to him by someone nearby. He held them in his hand and found nothing strange about them; they also had no smell.
Seeing that Li Yin was quite satisfied with her behavior, Zhao Lianying smiled and said, "Everyone, how about we ask Sister Li to perform another dance?"
This time, fewer people agreed, making the atmosphere somewhat quiet. It was the first time Zhao Lianying hadn't heard everyone agree with her, which made her even more angry. She disliked Li Yin even more, feeling that it was his appearance that had dimmed her former glory.
Li Yin, that jinx.
I really want you to die.
She remained calm and composed, and said magnanimously, "Since everyone is in such high spirits and does not need any entertainment, then there is no need for Sister Li to perform the sword dance."
Everyone fell silent. Zhao Lianying curled her lips into a smile. The show was about to begin.
One person suddenly collapsed, followed by a second, then a third... until the tenth person. Zhao Lianying, seeing this, asked in a panic, "What, what's going on, Sister Gu, Sister Chen?"
After saying this, she suddenly coughed violently. She looked at the wine glass in front of her, pointed tremblingly at Li Yin, and then blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief. She felt a pain in her throat and quickly reached up to touch her neck, trying to make a sound. But no matter what she said, she could only utter simple "ah".
Zhao Lianying froze on the spot. How could things be different here? This item wasn't in the original plan. How could this be?
She tried again, but the result was the same; she lost her voice.
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