Chapter 24: Are You All So Idle?
Li Qinghe’s anxious heart instantly calmed.
Her private dealings with Imperial Physician Fang were secret; even if they were discovered, it wouldn’t be now.
Li Feng’s words had given Li Qinghe quite a scare. Fortunately, she reacted quickly and didn’t reveal any flaws in front of the Empress.
However, in the eyes of the elders, Li Feng’s words were a deliberate attempt to cover up Li Xuanyue’s infertility.
Since when did an Imperial Physician need the Empress Consort’s consent?
Who in the entire Phoenix Clan didn’t know that the Phoenix Empress was supreme? Who would dare to disagree with her command? Or not recognize her authority?
So what if he was the Empress Consort?
Husband and wife were one body, but in the end, on important matters, he still had to listen to the Phoenix Empress.
“Phoenix Empress, the Empress Consort is the master of the inner palace,” the Third Elder pressed on. “Given the Empress Consort’s usual virtue and magnanimity, he would surely not refuse this matter. For the future of our entire clan, I implore the Phoenix Empress to reconsider.”
“We implore the Phoenix Empress to reconsider.”
Seeing the Third Elder speak out, the other elders chimed in with their agreement.
Li Qinghe couldn’t suppress the glee in her heart.
The Third Elder and the others had not disappointed her.
Li Xuanyue, just you wait to be dragged down from your high horse by me.
“Mother Empress, what the Third Elder and the others say is very reasonable,” Li Qinghe said, feigning concern for Li Feng. “The matter of heirs is a major affair for the Phoenix Clan and cannot be taken lightly. I believe that after Father Consort learns of this, he too will choose to agree for the sake of the bigger picture.”
“For my younger sister to say so, do you feel that the Mother Empress is being selfish and not considering the bigger picture?”
Li Xuanyue hadn’t expected to hear Li Qinghe’s insinuations the moment she arrived.
She immediately questioned her out loud.
“You’re here, Yue’er.”
On the throne, Li Feng, who had been nursing a massive headache, instantly brightened at the sight of Li Xuanyue.
“Your child pays her respects to the Mother Empress.”
Li Xuanyue withdrew her gaze and bowed to Li Feng, who was seated above.
With that, the previously boisterous hall fell silent at Li Xuanyue’s appearance.
Li Qinghe’s hands, hidden in her long blue sleeves, clenched into fists.
She hadn’t imagined that even at a time like this, Li Xuanyue would disregard her own well-being and come to the Hall of Central Harmony.
And looking at her complexion, aside from being a little breathless and unsteady on her feet, she seemed to be fine.
Not at all like someone on the verge of death.
Could she have seen through my plan?
“Elder Sister!” she forced, suppressing her resentment and anger as she bowed to Li Xuanyue.
Li Xuanyue didn’t even spare her a glance.
“The Third Elder and the others truly love to jump to conclusions,” she said, her sharp gaze sweeping over the elders in the hall. “Are you all so idle you have nothing better to do?”
“Even I only just learned of my own difficulty with bearing children, yet you’re all in such a hurry to come and question the Mother Empress.”
Li Xuanyue’s spontaneous lie was so convincing, she almost believed it herself.
“Could it be that you think the Mother Empress is shielding me?”
The faces of the Third Elder and the others were a mixture of embarrassment and pallor. Although they held no real power in the clan, they had lived for thousands of years. To be reprimanded now by a young, hot-headed princess—if word of this got out, where would they hide their faces?
“How can Princess Xuanyue prove it?”
The Third Elder was the type who wouldn’t shed a tear until he saw the coffin.
Rumors don’t just appear out of thin air.
If nothing had happened, how could such rumors have started?
In his view, Li Xuanyue was just bluffing, refusing to admit the truth even in the face of death.
“Indeed, Princess Xuanyue, how can you prove this?” the other elders chimed in. “We can’t just believe whatever you say, can we? Everything requires evidence.”
Li Qinghe, who had been ignored from the beginning, was delighted to see Li Xuanyue being cornered by the elders.
The smile she was suppressing was about to break free.
“Elder Sister, although your younger sister is not very knowledgeable,” she said with false kindness, “I know that the elders are doing this out of concern for you. You shouldn’t hide it anymore.”
Hah!
Concern for her?
Li Qinghe’s ability to lie through her teeth was truly remarkable.
“Then how about I give this ‘concern’ to you?” Li Xuanyue retorted to Li Qinghe, stunning her into silence.
“Also, since you claim I’m hiding something, then present your evidence!”
To speak so brazenly without any proof, where did she get the nerve?
Li Qinghe’s face stiffened. “I… how could I possibly have evidence?”
Even if she had it, she wouldn’t be the one to present it.
“Hah, since you have no evidence, what nonsense are you spouting here?” Li Xuanyue said irritably.
“As the saying goes, to catch a thief, you need the stolen goods; to catch an adulterer, you need to catch them in the act. Since you are all so certain of my infertility, then fine. Bring out all the evidence you’ve collected.”
She wanted to see who was brave enough to stand up and speak in front of her.
Li Xuanyue raised her proud head and looked down on everyone present. She was naturally stunning; even though her face was pale, it couldn’t hide her exquisite beauty and noble air.
The Third Elder and the others exchanged glances, then all lowered their eyes, saying nothing more.
What evidence did they have? They had only heard the rumors and rushed to the Phoenix Empress for confirmation. If they had evidence, they would have already elected the Second Princess as the future sovereign of the Phoenix Clan. Why would they have waited until now?
Li Xuanyue’s eyes darted around. “Why is no one speaking?”
Weren’t these old fools so eloquent just a moment ago? Why were they all silent now that she asked for proof?
“Just now, I said these were mere rumors, yet you all clamored for me to prove it, saying you couldn’t just believe my word,” Li Xuanyue sneered. “So why is it that when I ask you to provide evidence of my infertility, you all go silent?”
“It’s because the stick hadn’t hit you yet, so you didn’t feel the pain.”
“Now that it has landed on you, you finally feel how wronged you are.”
“Am I right?”
Her light words filled the entire Hall of Central Harmony.
No matter how thick-skinned the Third Elder and the others were, they couldn’t withstand such mockery. Their faces turned beet red.
“Elder Sister, how can you say that about the Third Elder and the others? They are also thinking about the future of the Phoenix Clan,” Li Qinghe chimed in with feigned goodwill. “Why must you be so harsh, Elder Sister?”
The position of Crown Princess hadn’t even been decided yet, and this bitch Li Xuanyue was already acting like one. Wasn’t she afraid of being collectively opposed by these old geezers during the election?
Li Xuanyue glanced sideways at Li Qinghe. “When did you get the right to speak here?” she said, in a tone that could infuriate someone to death.
Don’t think I don’t know you’re behind all this. Trying to act all innocent and pure here? If she wasn’t disgusted, she was at least annoyed.
Li Qinghe froze, so mortified she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
This bitch Li Xuanyue was as detestable as ever.
She really should just die immediately.
“Mother Empress, your child requests a thorough investigation into this matter.”
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