Chapter 5: Suspicion
The beast clans all knew how much Li Feng doted on her daughter, Li Xuanyue. It was this indulgence that had allowed Xuanyue to become so arrogant, looking down on everyone in the Phoenix Clan.
But that didn’t mean she could disrespect the five clans on her wedding night. The men sent for the marriage alliance were either princes or the sons of elders. For Li Xuanyue to be so bloodthirsty and cruel, was she not looking down on them all?
“Did Princess Xuanyue truly lay a hand on them last night?” The “them” the five envoys referred to were, of course, the very princes and young lords they had personally escorted for the marriage. If their fears were true, they would immediately return to their clans, report to their kings, and unite to demand an explanation from the Phoenix Clan. They could not allow their people to die in the Phoenix Clan for no reason. It would be a profound insult.
Li Feng’s brow furrowed. She had already explained everything so clearly. The events of last night were nothing but malicious rumors. Why wouldn’t these old fools listen? Were they determined to wait for her daughter to come and slap them in the face with the truth?
“Your Majesty, we demand to see the five consorts.”
“Your Majesty, we demand to see the five consorts.”
Seeing Li Feng’s frustrated expression, the five envoys assumed their suspicions were correct and all knelt before her in unison.
Li Feng was getting extremely annoyed. Just as she was about to announce that Li Xuanyue was on her way with the five consorts, a clear voice suddenly rang out from outside the hall.
“I apologize for making the envoys worry.”
Hearing the voice, the five kneeling envoys looked up in surprise toward the entrance.
Under the watchful eyes of all present, Li Xuanyue, dressed in an exquisite red phoenix robe, slowly entered the hall with the five consorts. The princess’s complexion was fair, her beauty like a blooming flower. The five consorts by her side were each handsome in their own right, and together they made a stunning picture, like a gathering of celestial beings.
“This child pays her respects to the Mother Empress.” While greeting the envoys, Li Xuanyue did not forget to bow to Li Feng, who was seated on the throne. The five consorts followed suit.
“Good, good. All of you, rise.” Looking at her five sons-in-law, Li Feng was overjoyed. The frustration that had been weighing on her heart vanished the moment she saw her daughter.
“Esteemed envoys, can you now believe what this Empress has told you?” Everyone could hear the good mood in Li Feng’s voice, the earlier irritation completely gone. “You may all rise.”
An awkward expression crossed the faces of the five envoys as they rose to their feet under Li Feng’s gaze. They each carefully inspected the prince or young lord from their own clan, and only after confirming that they were all safe and unharmed did they finally feel at ease.
However, Li Xuanyue’s reputation for madness was well-established. The envoys could not completely let down their guard.
“Your Majesty, while this matter may be a misunderstanding, we have all heard the rumors about how Princess Xuanyue has treated her consorts in the past,” one of them said. “This five-clan marriage alliance is for the sake of friendship. We wonder if the princess would be willing to guarantee, in our presence, that she will treat them well from now on.” They had no desire to keep sending a new wave of princes and young lords to the Phoenix Clan.
The envoys’ words were a slight to the Phoenix Clan’s imperial authority. In her past life, Li Xuanyue would have flown into a rage. But after all she had been through, she found that she could understand their position.
“Very well,” Li Xuanyue agreed without a moment’s hesitation.
Her quick agreement surprised even Li Feng on the throne.
“I promise you all that I will treat them well from now on. If I do not, may I die a horrible death.”
The five consorts were also stunned by her words. They had never dreamed that the high and mighty princess of the Phoenix Clan would make such a guarantee to them, in front of everyone. But they suspected it was merely for show. Once the envoys were gone, Li Xuanyue would likely reveal her true colors.
“Second Princess, Consort Lin is here.”
Meanwhile, in Chaoren Hall, Li Qinghe had not slept well all night, her plans having failed so spectacularly. As she was mentally reviewing her list of suspects, Ruyue hurried in from outside.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Qinghe’s face. What is he doing here at a time like this?
“Lin Yue greets the Second Princess.” Soon, a man dressed in elegant blue robes stood before Li Qinghe, bowing respectfully. He was tall and slender, with refined features and an ineffable grace in his every movement.
“Didn’t I tell you not to come see me unless it was absolutely necessary?” Li Qinghe asked, trying to conceal her displeasure. “Speak. Why are you in such a hurry to see me? Were you seen?”
Lin Yue was, after all, one of Li Xuanyue’s consorts. If anyone discovered him secretly meeting with her, it would be extremely disadvantageous for her.
Lin Yue, however, was oblivious to her concerns, his face etched with worry. “This servant heard that the Phoenix Empress has ordered you to be confined to Chaoren Hall for three months. I was worried, so I came to see you. Are you alright, Princess Qinghe?” he asked carefully.
Li Qinghe had saved his life. If she hadn’t intervened back then, he would have died at Li Xuanyue’s hands. Now, hearing that she was being punished, Lin Yue was frantic with worry. Li Qinghe was everything to him, and he was deeply saddened to see her treated this way.
Li Qinghe didn’t need Lin Yue’s concern. But the thought that one of Li Xuanyue’s own consorts cared so much for her, while her sister treated her with such cold indifference, brought her a strange sense of satisfaction.
“I’m fine. It’s just three months of confinement in my own palace,” she said dismissively. She wasn’t bothered by such a small matter. What she really wanted to know was who had sabotaged her plan. She refused to believe that Li Xuanyue hadn’t drunk the porridge in front of her. So many people had seen her drink it with their own eyes. Yet somehow, she had emerged completely unscathed.
Did she take some kind of antidote beforehand? Li Qinghe’s expression darkened.
“Have you noticed anything unusual about my sister lately? Anything she said or did?” Otherwise, how could she have escaped this trap?
Lin Yue was taken aback by the sudden leap in her train of thought. But he didn’t question her, instead bowing his head in thought. “No, the Great Princess has been acting and speaking as she always does. Second Princess, are you asking because you suspect the Great Princess framed you?” From what he knew of the Great Princess, she didn’t seem like someone capable of such cunning. Could there have been some kind of misunderstanding?
Recommended Reads
