Chapter 44: Peace and Prosperity
Li Qinghe asked in a deep voice.
Since it had already happened, she knew that scolding Ruyue now would be useless.
The best solution was to quickly figure out a way to resolve this.
Otherwise, if Hua Shan and his daughter truly traced this back to Ruyue, she, as the master, would also be implicated.
Ruyue immediately stopped crying and shook her head.
“How could this servant possibly tell anyone about such a major matter?”
Ruyue’s eyes widened.
She wasn’t stupid!
“Aside from you and this servant, Princess, I haven’t told a soul.”
Princess, see how cautious this servant is.
Please praise me quickly.
Ruyue’s face was full of ingratiation and flattery.
Li Qinghe felt irritable just looking at it. “So, you think I should reward you?”
“Idiot! If you had leaked even this, there would be no need for you to continue living.”
The flattery on Ruyue’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of shock and lingering fear.
Li Qinghe had no mood to pay attention to the expression on Ruyue’s face. Instead, she picked up the teapot on the table and poured herself a cup of tea, discussing countermeasures as she did.
“Go inform them to kill the man and destroy the corpse immediately.”
After sitting down, her eyes flashing with a deep, cold light, she gave the decisive order. “Additionally, send someone to silence everyone involved in this matter.”
Only in this way could she prevent Hua Shan and his daughter from tracing the clues back to Ruyue.
And only then could she continue to remain safe and sound.
Ruyue frowned, secretly alarmed.
She had never imagined that her private decision would cost so many people their lives.
If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have acted so recklessly on her own.
Now, she had harmed so many people at once.
To say Ruyue didn’t feel guilty now would be a lie.
But she also knew that her little bit of guilt wouldn’t change anything.
If Li Qinghe didn’t do this, she would be the one implicated.
So… guilt was one thing.
Survival was another. She could only consider it her debt to them. In her next life, if given the chance, she would work like an ox or a horse to make it up to them.
For two whole days, the people Li Xuanyue sent out couldn’t find Physician Fang.
However, news came from Hua Shan’s side that a charred corpse had been found yesterday in a temple outside the Phoenix Clan’s territory.
Preliminary judgment suggested that the charred corpse was likely Physician Fang, who had gone missing two days ago.
When the news reached Fenghe Hall, Li Xuanyue was somewhat surprised.
“Are you sure the dead person is Physician Fang? And not someone else?”
Li Xuanyue asked seriously1.
Based on her understanding of Li Qinghe, she shouldn’t have moved against Physician Fang so quickly.
Could it be that they had pressed her too hard?
Li Xuanyue was puzzled.
Yinxin knew what Li Xuanyue was suspecting and spoke respectfully, “The Empress Consort has just had people carry the corpse outside Fenghe Hall, saying that the Princess should go and identify it personally.” 2
Li Xuanyue’s eyes darkened.
She knew very well that with her Father Consort involved, the news couldn’t be fake.
Thus, it could be concluded that Physician Fang was truly dead.
“Let’s go. Accompany this Princess to take a look.”
She raised her eyes, then made up her mind and led Yinxin out of the hall.
The appearance of a charred corpse outside Fenghe Hall naturally attracted the attention of many maids and guards.
Everyone knew this was Physician Fang, who had been abducted two days ago3.
What surprised people was seeing Physician Fang in such a burnt state.
After death, without magic to maintain it, Physician Fang quickly reverted to his original Phoenix form.
A hairless phoenix burnt black—calling it a chicken wouldn’t be an exaggeration. If Hua Shan hadn’t used magic to maintain Physician Fang’s human form for a while when sending him over, someone might really have failed to recognize him.
Yinxin raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose lightly. “Princess, this is Physician Fang’s corpse.”
She took the initiative to explain to Li Xuanyue, “When the Empress Consort had him sent over just now, he specially extended the time Physician Fang maintained his human form.”
“The time must be up now, so Physician Fang has reverted to his original form.”
“En!”
Li Xuanyue gave a low hum of acknowledgment.
The burnt Phoenix Emperor looked no different from an ordinary rooster.
A pair of phoenix claws were curled up.
Presenting a curled-up state.
Some squeamish maids nearly vomited on the spot from the smell of burnt flesh permeating the air.
But even the maids with better mental fortitude looked pale.
It was clear they were struggling to hold on.
Li Xuanyue frowned.
She hadn’t expected Li Qinghe to be so ruthless and decisive.
She had thought Li Qinghe abducted Physician Fang to learn the truth of what he had told her before making a move against him.
She hadn’t expected that to prevent them from finding any clues, she wouldn’t leave him any time to survive.
For a moment, Li Xuanyue felt a trace of apology towards Physician Fang.
She had promised in front of him that she would send people to protect him well4.
That she wouldn’t let him come to any harm.
Unexpectedly, in the end, he was still abducted and lost his life right under her nose.
Li Xuanyue closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Give him a proper burial.”
When she opened her eyes again, the apology and guilt in them were replaced by calm. “Tell people to take good care of his family. If there is anything, report directly to this Princess.” 5
“Princess, do we still need to continue investigating this matter?”
Yinxin asked in confusion.
Physician Fang was dead, but the culprit hadn’t been found.
Letting it go like this seemed to let them off too easily.
Li Xuanyue lowered her eyes. “Father Consort will provide a result.” 6
Although this matter had been forced to a close with Physician Fang’s death, given Hua Shan’s temperament, he wouldn’t likely give up so easily.
What Li Xuanyue needed to do now was wait for news.
With her current strength and means, she indeed needed to continue accumulating power.
When her wings were full and the poison in her body was completely detoxified…
She could try to slowly emerge from under Hua Shan’s wings.
“Oh, look who it is. It’s Consort Yao.”
As the mistress and servant walked to the Phoenix Clan’s peach garden, Li Xuanyue suddenly heard a sharp voice coming from ahead.
Her steps paused, and she looked towards the pavilion not far away.
She saw two figures seemingly arguing about something near the pavilion.
Seeing this, Yinxin prepared to step forward and scold them but was stopped by Li Xuanyue raising her hand.
“Don’t go. Let this Princess hear what they are saying first.”
It seemed the consorts in her palace weren’t as peaceful and prosperous as they appeared on the surface.
Just listening to that Consort Zhao’s ear-piercing voice gave it away.
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