Chapter 68: Assault on the Crown Prince of Mu

“Le Qianxue, I am still your second mother. If you dare do anything to me... you would be committing a grave offense…” Madame Xu said, “I am at least your father’s concubine. If you hurt me… Master will not let you go!”

Le Qianxue did not bother to argue. She simply sat down and set the basket of fruit aside.

She smiled and said, “You needn’t worry, Madame. I have no intention of harming you.”

Yin Susu guarded the door, her demeanor fierce—quite unlike Le Qianxue.

Madame Xu steadied herself, determined not to lose composure before Le Qianxue.

She stared at Le Qianxue. “I raised you. You wouldn’t deliver fruit for nothing.”

Madame Xu was shrewd; Le Qianxue nodded, smiling in response.

She picked up an apple and said, “Actually, I came to ask what illness claimed my mother years ago.”

Madame Xu’s expression flickered with surprise. She glanced at Le Qianxue, then quickly looked away.

She replied, “How should I know…”

“You don’t know? You’d already entered the household then. My father was away from the General’s Manor, and my mother’s health was failing. You managed all the daily affairs,” Le Qianxue said with a half-smile.

Madame Xu grew impatient. “I truly don’t know. The imperial physician from the palace treated your mother, sent by the Empress Dowager. I asked, but your mother always told me it was a minor illness.”

Madame Xu then muttered, “Who knows what minor illness—two years later, she died. The palace physicians are nothing but quacks.”

Le Qianxue’s face darkened. She studied Madame Xu, who didn’t seem to be lying.

She asked, “Was there anything unusual about my mother at the time?”

“Nothing unusual—just that you were troublesome, and quite dull-headed then. It broke your mother’s heart,” Madame Xu said, her tone contemptuous.

She regretted her words instantly, forgetting Le Qianxue was no longer the girl she once tormented. To speak such things now was to invite disaster.

Indeed, Le Qianxue’s smile deepened. “I suspect someone murdered my mother—and that person is you, Madame Xu.”

Madame Xu’s face changed at once. She stood abruptly. “Hey! You can’t slander me like this! A life is at stake—I’d be held accountable!”

Le Qianxue remained leisurely. “But my mother died, and you benefited most. Look how much you’ve gained in the General’s Manor all these years.”

Madame Xu shook her head frantically. “It isn’t so! Your mother had already put me in charge—I would never do such a thing!”

“But as long as my mother lived, you could never truly be mistress of the house. Only with her gone could you fulfill your ambitions!” Le Qianxue said.

Yin Susu chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, “Miss, we should take her to the magistrate and investigate thoroughly!”

Seeing Yin Susu approach, Madame Xu retreated hastily. “Nonsense! Even if your mother was murdered, it wasn’t by me!”

At last, Yin Susu seized Madame Xu and forced her to sit.

Le Qianxue fixed her gaze on Madame Xu and spoke softly, “Madame Xu, why not tell me—who killed my mother?”

Madame Xu knew she’d misspoken; her face paled, but she dared not say more. Her life hung in the balance.

Le Qianxue gestured, and Yin Susu understood.

Yin Susu produced a small dagger, pressing it to Madame Xu’s throat. If needed, Le Qianxue would not hesitate to use violence.

Madame Xu’s legs buckled. “Le Qianxue, I am your second mother—do you truly dare kill me?”

“You yourself said you’re not my real mother. And you know how you’ve treated me these years,” Le Qianxue replied. “Now that I seek revenge, it’s not too late, is it?”

Madame Xu recalled how poorly she’d treated Le Qianxue in the past.

She never imagined Le Qianxue’s mind would clear one day.

Madame Xu stammered, “I… I… Calm down. We can talk this over, can’t we?”

Yin Susu released Madame Xu.

Madame Xu exhaled shakily, sweat pouring down her brow. “Le Qianxue… you never asked about your mother before. Why now? Sometimes knowing too much is dangerous.”

“I only know that if my mother was murdered, I will avenge her,” Le Qianxue said.

And this matter might concern herself as well.

For Yu Guhan coveted her, and it could not be so simple—it might be tied to Tong Xianxian.

Madame Xu sighed, her demeanor different from usual.

She spoke, “Your mother was indeed murdered—but the culprit was the Emperor! How will you seek revenge?”

Le Qianxue had anticipated this; her expression remained calm, showing no surprise.

She asked, “Why did the Emperor kill my mother?”

Madame Xu frowned. “No wonder you don’t know—the Emperor ordered this matter silenced. Over ten years have passed; no one speaks of it, and the younger generation is unaware. The Emperor wanted to appoint your mother as Imperial Consort, but she was fiercely stubborn—she tore the imperial edict to shreds!”

Le Qianxue was startled. Tong Xianxian had such spirit.

To openly defy the Emperor—even if he favored her, he would not tolerate such rebellion.

Madame Xu reminisced, “Later, the Empress Dowager intervened to settle the matter. Your mother married the Master. I thought the matter ended, but when your mother fell ill, I overheard her speaking with a master. She said the Emperor wanted both mother and daughter dead, but she had negotiated to let you live, asking the master to protect you.”

“And then?” Le Qianxue pressed.

“Then the master noticed me. I fled at once,” Madame Xu replied.

Le Qianxue’s face grew grim. If that were so, perhaps the Emperor still intended to kill her—just not yet.

For the first time, she felt her life was as fragile as duckweed, at the mercy of others.

Madame Xu, seeing her silent, added, “Your mother treated me well. Let me advise you—do not oppose the Emperor, lest you lose your life!”

Le Qianxue rose. Now that the truth was clear—the Emperor was the killer—her path to vengeance would not be easy.

She said, “Forget today’s conversation, Madame.”

“Of course! You may not value your life, but I certainly value mine!” Madame Xu replied.

Leaving Madame Xu’s courtyard, Le Qianxue walked in deep thought.

Yin Susu, seeing her like this, said, “The dead are gone; there’s no harm in letting the matter rest. But if the Emperor bears a grudge, he may target the General’s Manor. Then you and your father will be in trouble.”

“That depends on timing. For now, he fears Prince Zhan and dare not move against my father, who commands the army. But if Prince Zhan falls, my father loses his value—and the General’s Manor will perish,” Le Qianxue said.

Yin Susu nodded. “The heart of an emperor is ruthless—truly so.”

Le Qianxue’s face was somber, uncertain what to do.

Yin Susu continued, “Now that you’ve allied with Zhan Lianjing, though you claimed it was false before, perhaps it’s time to reconsider.”

Le Qianxue replied, “I know. But we don’t yet understand Zhan Lianjing’s character—it’s too soon to say.”

In short, Zhan Lianjing was weighing her, as she weighed him.

Yin Susu nodded, saying no more.

Meanwhile, Yu Guhan had been confined in the palace for several days over that incident, though nothing had happened yet. But Mu Qingyu had repeatedly entered the palace to plead for him.

Naturally, the Emperor ignored her, so Mu Qingyu returned to the Duke Mu’s residence for help.

But the Duke Mu’s residence refused to intervene, which infuriated Mu Qingyu further. She quarreled in the street and wounded someone.

Actually, it was no accident—officially, that was the story, but the commoner had been beaten nearly to death at Mu Qingyu’s orders! Only a breath remained.

That day, Le Qianxue happened to pass by.

Yin Susu pulled the whip away. Mu Qingyu looked up at Yin Susu. “How dare you pull my whip? Do you not know who I am?”

Le Qianxue stepped from behind Yin Susu, seeing the man collapsed with numerous whip marks.

She frowned slightly. Though she had never sought enmity with Mu Qingyu, to beat someone so ruthlessly in public was unacceptable.

“Of course I know. You are the Crown Prince’s secondary consort. But you should know—even as the consort, you cannot beat people at will,” Le Qianxue said.

Mu Qingyu snorted. “What business is it of yours if I beat someone? Le Qianxue, mind your own affairs! This time I will not forgive you!”

Le Qianxue remained indifferent. “Do as you please. I simply wished to remind you. If you will not listen, there is nothing I can do.”

After she finished speaking, Yin Susu snatched the whip.

Many townsfolk watched Mu Qingyu coldly. Compared to Le Qianxue’s poor reputation, they despised Mu Qingyu even more!

Mu Qingyu, furious, tried to order her attendants to deal with Le Qianxue.

Suddenly, several men rushed forth, seeing the fallen man and panicking.

“First Prince! First Prince, what’s happened to you?!”

“This is terrible—the First Prince has fainted. Get a physician, quickly!”

“Who beat the First Prince of Mu Kingdom?!”

In an instant, all eyes focused on Mu Qingyu.

Mu Qingyu froze, her hand trembling. What? She had beaten the First Prince of Mu Kingdom…

Le Qianxue was startled as well. She recalled hearing that Mu Kingdom was soon to visit—she hadn’t expected the First Prince to come incognito, and now, thanks to Mu Qingyu, he was beaten nearly to death!