Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 296: Like I’d Ever Believe You!
After leaving the Imperial Palace, it was already dark.
"When I get back, I’ll talk to my father and ask him to cancel this marriage. If he’s embarrassed by my appearance, there’s no need to force it."
Long Yue looked at her childhood playmate with heartache and nodded gently, "Okay. Remember to come find me, I’ll definitely get my master to cure you!"
Pei Yushu was momentarily stunned. The idea of restoring her appearance seemed so distant that the words felt like they came from far away, leaving her with a sense of unreality.
But she still thanked Long Yue.
"A Mu, let’s go find the Young Prince! I have something very important to tell him."
At the General Mansion, Long Yue recounted what Pei Yushu had said word for word to Qi Jingyu, who sat there thoughtfully with his chin resting on his hand.
Suddenly, he looked up with a serious expression, "Long Yue, there’s actually something I haven’t told you. Shi Qin and I came to Shengjing City not just to catch Grandpa’s attention but more importantly because we found a problem with your father."
"Have you been investigating this matter these past few days? Is that why you’ve been nowhere to be seen?"
Long Yue hadn’t seen the Young Prince much these past few days. He seemed to disappear right after waking up in the morning, and if she hadn’t asked the gate soldiers, she would have thought he’d returned.
Qi Jingyu rubbed the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed, "Yes, but since he’s your father, I didn’t mention it."
"Hmph, what father? Please don’t insult the sacred term of father!" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Long Yue snorted coldly, having not a shred of fondness for her own father!
"So, what have you found out?"
Li Qingmu was at ease, sipping freshly brewed tea while lounging in a chair, questioning as he drank.
Shi Qin bowed, "We discovered that he has extensive dealings with the Xue Family. Although it seems to be simple business transactions, the amounts involved are enormous!"
"Important ministers of the court are not supposed to engage in commerce. It’s a rule set by the founding Emperor to avoid the merging of power and wealth, which could cause problems. Pang Wenzheng must not be personally engaging in these businesses, so who is?"
"His wife, Liu Bingxin!"
Long Yue pondered, "That explains why he abandoned my mother to marry Liu Bingxin. Her family is in business, and with his official background, their business has been smooth sailing ever since. No wonder I didn’t notice back then!"
"Yes, I noticed he seems quite close to the Lady of the Southern Country!"
They even saw Lady of the Southern Country walking with Pang Wenzheng before coming back, which might explain something.
Li Qingmu: "Noble families have always been targets of suppression and suspicion by successive dynasties. Since the previous Xia Dynasty, the civil service exam system was promoted to elevate those from humble backgrounds, thus reducing the control of noble families in court!
Ministers considering intermarriage with noble families must be cautious to avoid arousing the Emperor’s suspicion. For someone like Pang Wenzheng, an important minister, to be so close with noble families... well, there’s definitely something fishy!"
Thanks to the previous Xia Dynasty, which promoted the imperial examination system; otherwise, noble families would dominate the court, supervising even the Emperor’s decrees and opposing policies beneficial to the nation and people.
After all, in some ways, benefiting the people inevitably infringes on the interests of others, most of whom are the noble families that hold most of the wealth.
Dynasties last for a hundred years, noble families for a thousand. Dynasties may fall, but noble families continue to thrive for millennia.
Of course, Li Qingmu deliberately ignored the incident over twenty years ago when Emperor Qi Yun took action against the Xue Family, resulting in a bloodbath. Many opposition forces, those noble families that tried to combine forces, were ruthlessly suppressed by him using the military!
I want to hold the supreme power in this country. If any noble family dares to make noise, then they’ll be dealt with!
Qi Yun had a ruthless method of solving issues!
Though there were countless troubles afterward, at least the power stayed under his control, leaving those people seething but speechless.
"Moreover, we’ve found out something else."
"Hmm?"
"Pei Jinheng is very close with the Xue Family and Pang Wenzheng!"
Li Qingmu’s pupils narrowed slightly, a glint of cold flashed in his eyes, "When did it start?"
"Just in the past two years, the activities were not apparent before; recently, they’ve become more active, which led to our people accidentally discovering it!"
"Isn’t there a Yulong Pavilion on the Emperor’s side? Didn’t those people notice anything?"
"Well..." Qi Jingyu shook his little face, furrowed with confusion, "Who knows? But, in the past ten years, Grandpa has deployed most of the Yulong Pavilion to look for the Seventeenth Prince and his mother, perhaps neglecting this?"
Shi Qin mumbled, "The Emperor genuinely loves Princess Consort Yun, and it’s sincere affection. To deploy so many people from the crucial intelligence department, Yulong Pavilion, just to look for that mother and son..."
"Shi Qin, you shouldn’t say such things!"
Qi Jingyu frowned, looking dissatisfied on his young, immature face. Shi Qin pursed her lips, feeling wronged.
She was just airing her grievances and causing no harm, and yet the Princely Heir reacted so dramatically? Besides, was she not stating the truth?
Long Yue silently observed from the side, occasionally glancing at her own man, who appeared to be engrossed in sipping tea, seemingly oblivious.
Ha, what an act!
"Shi Qin, for now, let’s put aside other matters and keep a close eye on Pang Wenzheng. Besides... does Grandpa even know I’m here? Shouldn’t I make an appearance?"
The little fellow rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, and Li Qingmu quickly took off with his little wife.
Late at night, when everything was still.
Long Yue leaned against the headboard, quietly watching the man across the room undressing.
This guy was up to no good again!
"Why don’t you want to mention that lychee tree?"
Upon entering, Long Yue thought about telling the Young Prince, but Li Qingmu opposed it, leaving Long Yue perplexed.
"Because I think this matter should be directed to Mr. Duanmu."
"My master?" Long Yue looked at him in surprise. "Do you suspect that the lychee tree... is poisonous?"
If it truly was poison, consulting the Young Prince would be useless; ultimately, they would need to consult Duanmu Nan.
"Yes, its vibrant red color is unusual for a lychee tree. I can’t think of any other reason except for poison, but as for the specifics, it requires Mr. Duanmu’s judgment."
Long Yue nodded, "In that case, I’ll go to Yangxin Residence tomorrow to ask Master. Hopefully, Sister Yushu will come find me tomorrow so that we can go together and avoid unnecessary trouble."
Li Qingmu frowned, "Seeing a doctor is a normal occurrence; what trouble could there be?"
Long Yue glared at him in annoyance, "Other troubles may not exist, but isn’t there a gigantic trouble right here?"
Well... how clever was Li Qingmu? He immediately understood that his young wife was complaining about him meddling too much. He couldn’t help but touch his nose, smiling, "Yes, my dear wife, I was wrong to watch over you so often. Tonight, let me serve you well to make amends?"
Long Yue looked at Li Qingmu’s mischievous grin, her face turning pale in fright. She quickly backed away, grabbing the covers tightly, "You... you stay away!"
"Just a hug, nothing else!"
The man wore an earnest expression, and Long Yue thought to herself, I don’t believe a word you say!
Indeed, the next morning, when getting out of bed, Long Yue felt a bit weak in the legs, and looking at the man dressing leisurely beside her, she just wanted to punch him.
At that moment, Huanhuan arrived just in time to save the scene, calling loudly from outside, "Madam, Miss Pei is here to see you!"
