Chapter 100: Authenticity
His gaze, heavy with implication, constantly swept between her and Langhua. It was as if he were asking if Li Xuanyue was blaming him for interrupting a good thing between her and Langhua.
Li Xuanyue furrowed her brows. What was this nonsense?
Yumianâs gaze was simply too explicit. It forced her to stand up.
“You are not allowed to let your imagination run wild,” she scolded sternly. “This Princess and Consort Lang were merely discussing matters regarding the Phoenix Clan.”
“Since Consort Yu wants to see this Princess so badly, I will go with you to the Twilight Palace right now.”
That would save him from making wild guesses here.
Seeing his goal achieved, the smile in Yumianâs eyes could not be suppressed.
Before leaving, he specifically glanced at Langhua lying on the couch.
“Young Master Lang, some things may feel satisfying to say, but they can also drag one into a state of eternal doom.”
The Fish Clanâs singing voice was unmatched among the hundred beast clans. Specifically, Yumianâs speaking voice was like an enchanting melody, slowly sounding in Langhuaâs ear.
But watching Li Xuanyue standing ahead without any reaction, Langhua knew Yumian had used sound transmission to speak to him alone.
He couldn’t help but frown.
“For now, please remain peacefully in this Wolf Tooth Palace, Consort Lang. Do not go anywhere.”
This was to avoid giving the enemy more opportunities to capture or kill him.
Such a big commotion early in the morning naturally didn’t escape Hua Shanâs ears. Those in the know could guess the matter wasn’t simple. Those who didn’t know thought the two consorts were fighting for favor.
Hua Shan had stayed in the Phoenix Clan for most of his life; how could he be confused by these superficial phenomena?
“Xiao Ce, whose side do you think Yue-er will take when the time comes?”
Hua Shanâs hand, holding the shears, constantly trimmed the pot of peonies before him. The purple peonies looked extremely noble and elegant in the pot, just like Hua Shan himself.
Only to be viewed from afar, not to be touched. Noble and extravagantly delicate. Observable but unattainableâthis was the truest form of Hua Shan.
Previously, in front of Li Phoenix, he maintained the persona of the dignified and elegant Phoenix Lord Consort. But in private, when no one was around, he revealed this unattainable, noble countenance.
Xiao Ce, upon being asked, didn’t know how to answer for a moment. He wasn’t Li Xuanyue; how could he guess her thoughts? How could he know which side she would stand on?
Hua Shan asked only to hear his opinion, not because he truly expected him to answer for Li Xuanyue.
“Master might as well call the Princess and ask,” Xiao Ce answered hesitantly. “Given the Princess’s trust in the Master, this subordinate feels the Princess should believe in you.”
Hua Shanâs hand paused on the shears. “You certainly know how to speak.”
In a very good mood, he tossed the shears into the basket beside him.
“So be it!”
He lifted his phoenix robes, sat down on the side, and took a sip of tea from the table.
“You are right. Yue-er is this Lordâs child. We have had a deep father-daughter bond since she was small. How could she suspect this Lord because of a few provocative words from others?”
“However!”
At this point, Hua Shan suddenly stopped. He raised his head, placed the tea on the side table, and continued:
“That Consort Lang sent by the Fox Clan will sooner or later spread this Lordâs secret. This is not a good thing.”
“Find a time and see what method can be used to make him disappear completely from Yue-erâs sight. It would be best if Yue-er couldn’t even detect it.”
Hua Shan could disregard his position as Phoenix Lord Consort, but he had to consider Li Xuanyueâs opinion of him. She was his daughter. As a father, he naturally didn’t want to destroy his beautiful image in his daughter’s heart.
The only solution was for Langhua to disappear inexplicably. Only then could he preserve his image as a benevolent father in Li Xuanyueâs heart forever.
After leaving the Wolf Tooth Palace, Li Xuanyue kept thinking about the words Langhua had said to her.
She wasn’t a fool. Langhuaâs expression today, as well as the injuries on his body, were enough to prove he wasn’t lying.
Since he wasn’t lying, then Hua Shan really was hiding someone in his palace.
A dark glint flashed through Li Xuanyueâs eyes.
Seeing her suddenly stop halfway, Yumian looked puzzled.
“Is the Princess tired?” he asked with concern.
From the moment Li Xuanyue walked out of the Wolf Tooth Palace, Yumian had noticed her distraction. Presumably, she had taken the words Langhua said to her in the Wolf Tooth Palace to heart.
Li Xuanyue raised her eyes to look at Yumian. “For some reason, this Princess suddenly remembered there are still some matters left unattended.”
She said apologetically, “Consort Yu, regarding your kind invitation today, I fear this Princess will be unable to keep the appointment.”
In the end, Li Xuanyue couldn’t be as calm inside as she appeared on the surface. She was a reborn person. She wouldn’t be deceived by superficial appearances.
Langhuaâs suffering told her that Hua Shan was indeed hiding something from her. And it wasn’t a trivial matter.
She had to send someone to investigate clearly whether Hua Shan was hiding someone in his palace. And exactly what kind of person was hidden there.
Thus, after refusing Yumian and returning to the Phoenix Harmony Palace, the first thing she did was call Xiao Han out from the shadows.
Xiao Han, kneeling on the ground, was somewhat confused. Ever since Langhua and Li Xuanyue personally rescued him from the secret chamber, he hadn’t appeared in front of Li Xuanyue. Her sudden summons made Xiao Han feel somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.
“Princess!”
Confused as he was, Xiao Han didn’t forget the fact that as a subordinate, he had to bow to his master.
Li Xuanyue gazed with complex eyes at Xiao Han kneeling on the ground. “Do you know the reason this Princess called you here today?”
She pondered for a few seconds before asking Xiao Han in a low voice.
Xiao Han looked up at her and shook his head. “This subordinate does not know.”
He had been patrolling the Phoenix Harmony Palace for so many days. If he truly knew Li Xuanyueâs purpose, he wouldn’t be kneeling here looking confused.
Li Xuanyue saw he didn’t seem to be faking it. She lowered her eyes. “You were previously Father Monarchâs confidant, so you should know about matters regarding Father Monarch.”
She asked Xiao Han with a tone of certainty.
Xiao Hanâs body stiffened instantly. He vaguely sensed what Li Xuanyue was going to ask next.
“Then do you know about the matter of Father Monarch hiding someone in his palace?”
As Li Xuanyue spoke, she didn’t forget to observe the expression on Xiao Hanâs face.
She saw the shock in his eyes and the stiffness of his face. The panic and loss of composure in his eyes naturally didn’t escape Li Xuanyue.
Her heart sank immediately.
She could be practically certain that the authenticity of Langhuaâs words today in the Wolf Tooth Palace was at least ninety percent.
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