Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 357: Actually, the Emperor Has Always Been Thinking About You!

Chapter 357: Chapter 357: Actually, the Emperor Has Always Been Thinking About You!

Moreover, when Qi Junlian admits his mistakes to them, he uses "I" rather than "this prince," which is sufficient to indicate that he regards them as his own people.

Li Qingmu bowed his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, "You’ve overestimated, Prince. There won’t be a next time."

This time was unavoidable because he sharply sensed something sordid hidden at Luanshi Ridge, and to go there, he could only tell the Emperor everything in detail.

Qi Junlian, however, did not blame him, which moved him emotionally.

"Enough, no more of this, dispiriting! It’s rare that you come to the Prince Mansion, I must entertain you well. Zitong, give the orders, let there be good wine and food!"

"Prince, actually, I came this time for another matter..."

Li Qingmu stopped halfway in his speech, and Qi Junlian waved his hand, "No talks today, let’s discuss after tonight."

"Alright!"

Since Qi Junlian wanted to entertain him, he couldn’t spoil the mood anyway. There were still many days to come, and any conversation could be left for a few days later.

That night, Qi Junlian hosted a banquet at his mansion for Long Yue and her husband, with Qi Jingyu seated beside them, happily engaging in rare conversations.

Midnight, in the silence of the night.

Li Qingmu leaned against the window, gazing at the round moon overhead, lost in thought.

Long Yue brought a cloak over gently covering his shoulders, "What are you thinking about?"

"I’m calculating the days," Li Qingmu said. "Luanshi Ridge’s terrain is incredibly complex, with sheer cliffs and steep rock faces all over the mountain. In such a place, it’s easy to defend and hard to attack. We want to get in, but it’s not easy."

"Not just not easy, it’s very difficult!" Long Yue replied. "Before we pretended to surrender and mixed in, that trick can’t be used anymore, so we definitely can’t just directly storm in the next time, right? How many troops would die, and it’s uncertain if it would even succeed!"

"Exactly, even if we spent a lot of manpower and resources to storm in, those people might have already moved. So, we have to devise a foolproof plan."

"You’ve been standing here thinking for a long time. Have you come up with a solution?"

"I have, but it depends on whether Heaven favors us or not."

Heaven?

Long Yue frowned and looked up in the direction Li Qingmu was facing. She saw a thin layer of dark clouds covering the moon, and the night sky dimmed briefly. Then a gust of wind blew the clouds away, and the bright moon emerged again.

Long Yue knitted her delicate eyebrows slightly, pondering.

Li Qingmu’s mention of Heaven favoring, it seemed, intended to use the weather against those people, but what was he planning to do?

She looked up, wanting to ask about his plan, but the other person merely drew her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Rest. It’s been a day of travel, I’m a bit tired."

Long Yue was silent, knowing that his words were an excuse for not wanting to talk. Although she felt unhappy, she went along with him—after all, he was sick.

A patient’s emotions tend to be intense, out of control, and also anxious. As his family or companion, one should show more understanding.

This was something her master once said to the family of a temperamental patient during a treatment, and Long Yue had always kept it in mind.

Rest then!

"Phew—"

The candle flame extinguished, and they fell asleep.

The next morning, they went to see Qi Junlian.

Qi Junlian had already finished breakfast and was sipping medicine. Seeing the two of them arrive, he put down the bowl of medicine: "Here to discuss matters?"

Li Qingmu had mentioned yesterday there was something he needed to talk to him about, which Qi Junlian remembered, so when the couple arrived, he asked the maids around him to withdraw, leaving only the Princess Consort Lingjiang.

"Speak."

His voice was very flat, somewhat lacking in vigor.

Li Qingmu said, "Prince, we wish to borrow troops from you."

As a prince assigned away, Prince Lingjiang could maintain a private army, but the number must not exceed ten thousand, which was the limit. Exceeding this raises suspicion of conspiring rebellion.

Li Qingmu boldly asked for five thousand, which was half of the mansion’s forces.

Qi Junlian was merely startled for a moment before regaining his composure, saying, "Why so many? Did the Emperor approve?"

The reason was one thing, but the Emperor’s side was key; if he didn’t agree, no matter how many you want, it couldn’t be given.

"Prince, this is the Military Order."

After Qi Junlian spoke, he paused for a long while. Long Yue and Li Qingmu exchanged glances, then took out a small golden tiger-shaped seal.

She could actually have taken it out as soon as her counterpart finished saying those words, but that act was too revealing, and everyone here was on the same side, so there’s no need to do that.

Consequently, upon seeing that small tiger token, Qi Junlian was utterly dumbfounded.

His face turned increasingly pale, his hand trembling slightly as he received that tiger token.

Long Yue wasn’t afraid he’d keep it to himself, so she handed it over freely.

Qi Junlian reached out, gently caressing the little tiger token, for quite a long time, before sighing lightly, "The Emperor trusts you two so much... Zitong, don’t let the Concubine Mother know about this, otherwise..."

Qi Junlian was a prince, yet Qi Yun didn’t trust him much, but trusted Li Qingmu, giving him the tiger token commanding three armies, which was indeed enviable.

Qi Junlian thought himself quite indifferent, yet still felt deeply shocked and disturbed. His Concubine Mother had some resentment towards Shengjing; if she knew, it might cause unnecessary trouble.

However, what one fears comes knocking first, as a figure appeared at the door, coldly stating, "This old person already knows!"

Uh!

Qi Junlian’s voice abruptly stopped, and he got up to greet the door.

"Concubine Mother, why have you come?"

"Why, forbidden for me to come?"

The Old Princess Consort wore a silver mask, with simple adornments on her head, dressed in a ink-green robe with golden trims, slowly walking in.

Long Yue and Li Qingmu both saluted, but Long Yue still sneaked a peek at the scars revealed beneath the Old Princess Consort’s silver mask.

Were these the burns from back then?

Thinking of a woman of unparalleled beauty, ruined, the hatred in her heart must be boundless!

But Long Yue felt something was not right.

Recalling that Pei Yushu was also disfigured by fire but had been healed, and her master was so skilled in healing, knowing Qi Jingyu for many years, hadn’t he checked on the Old Princess Consort?

She felt she should ask the Young Prince later.

"You’re joking, Concubine Mother, please sit."

"Concubine Mother, have some tea."

Qi Junlian and the Princess Consort quickly served the Old Princess Consort, while Long Yue and Li Qingmu stood obediently to the side.

This was their elder.

The Old Princess Consort took a sip of tea, looking up, her gaze sweeping over Long Yue and her husband, suddenly sneering: "So this is the Imperial Censor Li? Heard he’s fondly trusted by the Emperor? Often violating restrictions, yet always escaping punishment? Truly, a favored minister!"

"Ahem, Concubine Mother..."

"Ahem what? Did Concubine Mother say anything wrong?"

The Old Princess Consort’s eyes turned cold abruptly, staring at her son with an angry expression. She pointed at the Tiger Talisman on the table and sneered: "Look, look at this! Commander’s Seal to mobilize three armies, why was it given to an outsider? Hmph, favoring foreigners over kin, this is how Qi Yun does things!"

Long Yue was stunned, that the Old Princess Consort harbored such deep resentment against Emperor Qi Yun?

She was contemplating how to respond to this, when she heard Li Qingmu saying: "Why does the Old Princess Consort speak such words? The Emperor has constantly remembered you over the years, repeatedly inviting you to return to the capital, it’s just those family letters you chose to ignore!"