Live-in Son-in-law-Chapter 1131: Self-Proclaimed Cleverness

"Come in," Qiu Tang said blandly.

The palace doors opened, and Li Tianyang walked in with two soldiers in tow.

As a minister, seeing the Emperor's woman late at night required others to be present; otherwise, rumors would not sound pleasant.

"Subordinate Li Tianyang, pays respects to Lady Qiu."

Although Qiu Tang was now a deposed Empress, she was not someone they could afford to offend.

"Rise," Qiu Tang said. Then, she laid down the pen in her hand, "What brings you to see me?"

Li Tianyang instinctively glanced around.

"What are you looking for?" Qiu Tang's willow-like brows furrowed slightly.

Li Tianyang hastily turned back, respectfully saying, "I came to see how Lady Qiu's injuries were. If the Emperor asks, I should know what to answer."

"Much better, no need to worry."

"Then I am relieved."

Qiu Tang looked at Li Tianyang indifferently, "Do you have other matters?"

Li Tianyang hesitated for a moment, then said, "Lady Qiu, the Emperor has ordered me to thoroughly investigate the incident of the intruder the other day at this hour. I have a few questions I'd like to ask."

Qiu Tang picked up her pen again, speaking blandly, "I said everything there was to say last time, what is unclear now?"

"Please do not be upset, Lady Qiu, I am just performing my duties and won't take too much of your time."

Qiu Tang remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Ask away."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lady Qiu! Your cultivation is profound; last night, you confronted the assassin directly. Did you manage to see the assassin's face clearly? If you remember, it would greatly aid us in capturing the one who attempted to assassinate you."

Qiu Tang's eyes flickered slightly. With her level of cultivation, if she claimed not to have seen the attacker's face, no one would believe it.

"I saw it clearly."

Li Tianyang was overjoyed, "I will fetch an artist right away; I would trouble Lady Qiu to describe it so the artist can sketch the attacker's appearance."

"No need, I will draw it for you."

As she spoke, Qiu Tang took up her brush to paint.

As the Empress who was once favored by the Emperor, it was not because Qiu Tang lacked cultivation strength; her skills in painting, chess, calligraphy, and poetry were also outstanding.

All the women in the royal harem lived only for one person—the Emperor. Everything they learned and did was to capture even just a glance from him.

Qiu Tang was once like that too. But now, she understood that the man was cold and heartless, never truly caring for anyone.

Before long, Qiu Tang finished her painting.

"Li Tianyang, this is the assassin from that night."

Of course, Qiu Tang wouldn't actually draw Qin Yi's face; she had casually sketched a figure that even she didn't recognize.

However, when Qiu Tang handed the painting to Li Tianyang, Qin Yi, hiding in the shadows, turned pale.

Things took a bad turn.

This woman had acted too cleverly.

Last night, Qiu Tang didn't see his transformed face, but Li Tianyang did. And so did the cultivators who had clashed with him. If this portrait were shown to the Emperor, all their previous efforts would have been in vain.

Indeed, Li Tianyang maintained a calm face, but his eyes changed. Last night, he had confronted the assassin, who was clearly an old man, yet the one Qiu Tang had drawn was evidently a young man.

This was very telling; Qiu Tang claimed to have seen the assassin's face, but the person in her drawing was not the same one he had seen. This could only mean one thing: Qiu Tang was deliberately covering for the assassin.

It appeared the Emperor's suspicions were correct—the assassination last night was likely a plot orchestrated by Qiu Tang herself to frame the Second Prince. Otherwise, why would Qiu Tang cover for the person who tried to kill her?

Li Tianyang accepted the drawing, nonchalantly saying, "Lady Qiu, your artistry is truly impressive. Thank you for your assistance."

"No need for thanks, I also wish to capture the one who tried to assassinate me as soon as possible."

Li Tianyang gave a slight smile, "Then I shall take my leave now."

Qiu Tang nodded slightly.

Qin Yi was anxious; as soon as Li Tianyang left, this drawing would quickly be delivered to the Emperor.

"Find a way to dismiss those two soldiers, and make Li Tianyang stay," Qin Yi communicated to Qiu Tang through Divine Thought.

Qiu Tang's expression changed slightly. But having experienced this before, she wasn't as shocked as last time. She could hear the urgency in Qin Yi's voice and sensed that something must be wrong.

Seeing Li Tianyang already at the door, about to leave, she had no time to think deeply and spoke, "Li Tianyang."

Li Tianyang paused in his steps and turned to look at Qiu Tang, "Does Lady Qiu have anything else to say?"

Qiu Tang hesitated, appearing a bit troubled.

"Lady Qiu, please speak directly."

Qiu Tang sighed and instructed the two soldiers, "You two may leave; Li Tianyang, stay. I have something to say to you."

Li Tianyang was slightly startled and quickly said, "Lady Qiu, this doesn't follow protocol."

Even though deposed, Qiu Tang was still the Emperor's woman; an unmarried man and woman alone in a room was something that, if rumored to the Emperor, could cost him his life.

"This concerns the Emperor's safety," Qiu Tang's expression became serious.

Anything concerning the Emperor's safety was no small matter.

"In that case, please pardon me, Lady Qiu." Li Tianyang instructed the two soldiers to guard outside the door.

After the soldiers left, Li Tianyang moved two steps forward, "Please speak, Lady Qiu."

Qiu Tang forced a bitter smile; she had nothing to say. Her previous words were merely to keep Li Tianyang there.

Just as Qiu Tang was in a quandary, a shadow flickered like a ghost from the darkness, moving at incredible speed, like a gust of wind sweeping through every corner of the grand hall.

Li Tianyang's face changed dramatically.

Yet, the figure did not attack him but instead circled the grand hall in an instant. This bizarre action left him momentarily at a loss.

Li Tianyang, having achieved Unification Realm, was confident in his cultivation, and therefore not afraid.

The frenzied figure abruptly halted.

Li Tianyang looked over to see the figure smiling at him.

"Who are you?" Li Tianyang asked calmly, without panic.

This question seemed directed at Qin Yi, but in reality, it was meant for Qiu Tang. He had long heard rumors that the royal concubines and ladies, unable to bear the loneliness, would secretly keep young lovers. After all, the Emperor had so many women that he couldn't possibly remember them all or distribute his favors equally.

The young man in front of him was strikingly handsome, leading Li Tianyang to assume Qin Yi was Qiu Tang's kept lover.

Though the royal family had long been whispered about, without evidence, no one dared to speak carelessly, as this concerned the Emperor's dignity. Who would dare tell the Emperor that a concubine had betrayed him? That was a matter that could cost someone's head.

Li Tianyang hadn't expected Qiu Tang to be so bold, even while under house arrest, to dare keep a young lover by her side.

Qiu Tang still didn't know why Qin Yi wanted her to keep Li Tianyang.

Qin Yi gave a slight smile, saying, "Let me introduce myself, I am Qin Yi. You must have heard of me."