Le Yuanhou looked grave, he always felt that this person was ill-intentioned, regardless of what was said or asked, it all seemed somewhat targeted, seemingly filled with smiles, but sharp beneath the surface. Why would such a person be involved with Le Yuanhou Mansion?
She mentioned the peony...
Le Yuanhou’s thoughts suddenly became a whirlwind. Could it be that she knows something?
——
Ji Xinhe walked out of the Le Yuanhou Mansion, her gaze gradually growing colder.
Indeed, something was amiss!
What secret is this mansion hiding? Are those who want to kill her also involved with the Le Yuanhou Mansion?
Thoughts were shooting through Ji Xinhe’s mind rapidly, increasingly feeling that something was not right, engrossed in her thoughts, her brow furrowed.
Then, she heard some people discussing something at the side of the road.
"Did you know that Lord Duan Lan and Le Yuanhou’s daughter were blessed with marriage by His Majesty himself yesterday? The spectacle was truly splendid! "
"This is quite fair, as both families are of equal standing. It is not surprising."
"I just heard, though, that Miss Li Junyao of the Li family, is arrogant and domineering, and not particularly good-looking. Lord Duan, with all his fame, marrying such a woman, I worry he may feel wronged."
"Isn’t that the truth?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Xinhe froze for a moment. His Majesty granted marriage yesterday? Suddenly, she remembered the strange smile on the face of Mu Houchu yesterday, as though she realized something.
Once she returned home, indeed, Mu Houchu was waiting for her.
With wide eyes, Ji Xinhe exclaimed, "Mu Houchu! Did you arrange the marriage between Duan Lan and Li Junyao?"
Looking completely innocent, Mu Houchu looked up from a pile of official documents, "What does it have to do with me?"
"Don’t play dumb with me! A few days ago, Duan Lan came to me and said he wanted to call off the engagement with the Li Family. Suddenly, His Majesty has granted marriage? Is this not your doing?"
No one else could possibly arrange this but him!
Mu Houchu’s smile was chilly, "So, you’re suggesting that you’re unwilling to let him go?"
Ji Xinhe glared at him: "What does my willingness or unwillingness have to do with this? You knew perfectly well that Duan Lan has no interest in Li Junyao."
"Should I also give him a hand, then, since he’s interested in you?" Mu Houchu’s smile disappeared, as his eyes flashed with a hint of chill.
Ji Xinhe was taken aback, not knowing why she was slightly taken aback, "Me, I, those are two different things! On what grounds did you decide his marriage?"
Upon finishing, she felt embarrassed for putting up such a scene in front of him. They were currently not in any particular relationship, why should she have a guilty conscience?
Mu Houchu suddenly stood up, exuding an imposing presence, drawing near her: "Do you know there’s a rule for my actions?"
Ji Xinhe swallowed nervously, "What rule?"
In a low voice, Mu Houchu said in her ear, "Those who stand in my way, deserve to die."
A chill ran down Ji Xinhe’s spine, as she saw the icy gleam in his eyes and the barely hidden bloodthirsty gleam.
Ji Xinhe was suddenly quite angered, "How did he offend you? Just because he had feelings for me, are you going to kill off every man who has feelings for me?!"
"Ji Xinhe, it’s your fault that he’s in such a situation today. If you hadn’t been so close to him, this wouldn’t have happened. I was already kind to him. You can try to get closer to him and then we’ll see if he’s fortunate enough to live until the day he gets married." Mu Houchu’s voice was cold, with a ruthless tone.
Ji Xinhe’s heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly wished she were powerful enough to stand against this man, so she wouldn’t constantly be at his mercy!
Ji Xinhe bit her lip hard, finally saying, "I took him as a friend who had helped me, never harboring any other thoughts. I won’t see him again, you can ask His Majesty to withdraw the decree."
Because of her, Duan Lan’s life was ruined. She would carry this guilt for the rest of her life.
Besides, she had seen what kind of person Li Junyao was.
Mu Houchu curled his lips in a cold smile, "Really? Seems like you haven’t hidden your investigation of the Wang family and Le Yuanhou Mansion from him, but kept me completely in the dark. You trust him that much?"
Ji Xinhe’s eyes widened in surprise: "You...How did you know?"
Mu Houchu gripped her chin, his voice lowered, "Every corner of the capital is within my sight, even the residence of the Duan family is not outside my jurisdiction. You think I’m unaware of your recent activities in the capital?"
Regardless of who she wanted to investigate or target, it mattered little to him. Should she only ask, he would present her with even the control of a kingdom.
But, the only thing that annoyed him was she didn’t speak a word about these investigations to him, but Duan Lan knew one way or the other. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Ji Xinhe was instantly irritated, "You were spying on me?"
With a swift motion, Mu Houchu pulled out the handkerchief from her hand, "But have you thought about asking me?"
Ji Xinhe turned her head away, "I can handle this on my own."
About this handkerchief, she hadn’t confided even in her brothers. She wasn’t used to relying on others, especially under such vague circumstances with Mu Houchu.
Looking at her stubborn stance, Mu Houchu suppressed his rage, finally saying, "So, you don’t need my help?"
Ji Xinhe retorted coldly, "Did you agree to help me when I asked? Did you agree to spare Duan Lan when I asked you to?"
Then she turned around, ready to leave. Duan Lan’s situation had already made her furious enough, she didn’t feel like wasting more time engaging in tedious conversation with him.
But then, a remote voice came from behind her, it was Mu Houchu.
"Did you find out that this handkerchief originated from the Le Yuanhou Mansion? The silk fabric is very precious, with only so many pieces produced each year, which the Emperor usually grants to his favoured concubines within the harem. Only a few families outside the palace have this privilege."
Ji Xinhe stopped in her tracks and turned around to ask, "And then?"
Mu Houchu slightly curved his lips, "Now you want to ask me?"
Ji Xinhe widened her eyes, "And then?"
"Although Le Yuanhou Mansion is nobility by title, it has been in decline for many years. Beginning from the reign of the late Emperor, they haven’t held actual power, let alone ever received such valuable gifts."
Ji Xinhe furrowed her brows, "So it doesn’t belong to the Le Yuanhou Mansion?"
"However, the Le Yuanhou Mansion twenty years ago was a renowned and prosperous family in the entire capital city. The Li family boasted of an abundance of talent, guarding the kingdom of Da Qian and repeatedly making military achievements. The then Emperor Renzong highly favored the Li family. According to the records of the Imperial Household Bureau, when the Li family was in power, they did receive the gift of silk fabric once. But back then, the wife of Marquis Li was not Lady Sun."
"Was it Li Junyao’s deceased mother?" Ji Xinhe asked, surprised.
"Yes."
Ji Xinhe felt even more perplexed. If this handkerchief belonged to the previous Marquis’ wife, then how did it end up in the hands of her mother?
Mu Houchu gazed at her intently, "Xinhe, no matter what you want to find out, what you want to do, I will support you. I will give you everything you want, without leaving out a single thing. But there is one thing, you can only rely on me. Not anyone else, not at all. Otherwise, you won’t know what worse things I can do when I’m jealous."
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