Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife-Chapter 389: Celebration! Zhao Zhao Is Dead!

Chapter 389: Chapter 389: Celebration! Zhao Zhao Is Dead!

Pang Wenzheng frowned and said, "It is said that it was because Long Yue and her husband saved her life in the past, and in order to repay them, she wanted to save him. She said that even if the other party only had a corpse left, she would take it away so that she wouldn’t feel guilty."

"Oh, conscience? Tsk tsk, that Nianxi was not a daughter of the Liang Country’s imperial family, yet she could become a princess of the Daliang Country and be sent as an envoy to our Dazhou. How could she be an ordinary person? Gratitude, repayment? Such naive words, you actually believe them?"

Empress Qiao slowly turned around, came in front of Pang Wenzheng, and gently hooked her hand on his shoulder, "Pang Wenzheng, have you become arrogant lately? So you take everything for granted?"

Pang Wenzheng’s pupils suddenly shrank, and he said in astonishment, "Do you think there’s something fishy about it?"

"I just feel that things are very strange. That Princess Nianxi wouldn’t be so irrational unless Li Qingmu was extremely important to her. But even if he was important, isn’t he too damaged now to be of any value? Or is Li Qingmu valuable in himself?"

Pang Wenzheng’s expression became gloomy. She hadn’t thought of it before, but now that she mentioned it, something indeed seemed off.

"The New Year is almost here, and after the year, Qi Yun will select the new General Xiping. You should be ready, right?"

"Hmph, of course, as long as I get the Tiger Talisman..."

At this point, Pang Wenzheng revealed a deep and cold smile!

He already had no less than three sources of power in his hands. As long as he obtained the commanding rights of the Southwest Border, he would truly be accomplished!

He looked down at the woman beside him, sighed deeply, "You are in the prime of your life at thirty, yet you follow this old man. It’s truly a pity. Rest assured, once I succeed, I will give you an explanation!"

"An explanation?"

Empress Qiao looked at him and gave a meaningful smile.

...

The Fan Building, known as the most prosperous restaurant in Shengjing City, offers exquisite and delicious dishes that are elegant and visually pleasing, attracting a gathering of the powerful and wealthy. Ordinary people cannot enter the Fan Building to enjoy these delicacies.

Today, the Fan Building is full of honored guests, noble families gathering, and many private rooms are filled with the sound of singing and dancing, creating a lively atmosphere.

"Come, cheers!"

In a private room, several noble youths gathered together, with beautiful women playing music beside them, people serving wine and dishes, living a very merry life.

"Brother Xiang, drink, drink!"

A man handed a wine cup to Xiang Yin, tilted his head back to drink it down, and slammed the cup heavily on the table, sighing, "Who would have thought that Li Qingmu was such a person, slaughtering over six hundred people in Qingshui Village over a trivial personal grievance with the Seventeenth Prince. He’s truly ruthless!"

"Yes, I used to be on good terms with him, but thinking back now, it’s truly embarrassing! Huh, Brother Zizhan, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Today there were more than a dozen people at the table, including Qiao Zizhan and Xiang Yin.

Xiang Yin was merely the son of an ordinary merchant and logically couldn’t enter the circle of nobility, but who could resist money? The Xiang Family had money, and Xiang Father was good at socializing. Over time, the Xiang Family entered the circle of powerful but was among the lowest ranks.

These days, Xiang Yin’s mood was very low because of Qiao’er’s brother’s matter.

A few days ago, Chai Tieniu returned and Qiao’er asked him if things were true as he said. Chai Tieniu just nodded blankly, and instantly, Chai Qiao’er cried her heart out.

She couldn’t care for others, but those were her parents who suddenly just died like that...

Qiao’er cried the heavens down, and Xiang Yin tried hard to comfort her, but he still couldn’t console her, as she cried every day.

Because of this matter, Xiang Yin didn’t know what to do, nor how to face Long Yue and Li Qingmu. Thus, after Li Qingmu was imprisoned in the Death Prison, they never went to see him.

Xiang Yin was aware of the grievances between Qian Yi and Li Qingmu, and knew Li Qingmu was ruthless, so whether he did it or not was really hard to say.

Today the nobles gathered, he was invited, so he came to relax.

As for Qiao Zizhan, being noble himself, he also came along.

Everyone gathered together drinking and making merry while discussing current affairs, and Li Qingmu was obviously a hot topic of debate.

Even though it had been several days since his beheading, the interest had not diminished.

After all, the massacre in Qingshui Village was too horrific. Forgetting it in a short time was too hard.

Qiao Zizhan finished the wine in his cup in one gulp, speaking coldly, "He wouldn’t do that."

"Shhh—"

Someone quickly gestured for silence, and winked at him, signaling him that he was wrong and should take it back.

Specifying that Li Qingmu didn’t murder the villagers of Qingshui Village was, by extension, accusing the Seventeenth Prince of slander, wasn’t it?

Do you not want to live anymore? 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Besides, aren’t you not that close to him?

Qiao Zizhan remained expressionless, taking another sip of wine. He was a proud and aloof person, and disliked being swayed by others. In some areas, he shared a similar understanding with Su Shi that once he believed something was logical, no one could persuade him otherwise.

He didn’t like Li Qingmu, but to be fair, this person didn’t seem so extremely evil. There was something fishy about that massacre case.

However, now the person was dead, so further investigation was impossible. Moreover, doing so would offend the Seventeenth Prince, which wasn’t worth it.

Qiao Zizhan had a scale in his heart, knowing the importance of matters. So, after saying that one sentence, he fell silent.

"Hey, a generation of favored ministers has fallen!"

Some sighed, others lamented, but all displayed a sense of schadenfreude.

Li Qingmu didn’t have good relationships with the nobles because when he was at the Imperial Censorate, Qi Yun tasked him with impeaching ten people a month, and he specifically targeted the nobility, uncovering evidence of their tyranny and misconduct, leaving many disgraced.

The so-called nobles referred to those from noble families whose ancestors had held high office and had been protected for generations. These individuals formed cliques, and, in court, slowly organized factions that challenged the Emperor’s authority.

They banded together, and criticized the Emperor’s policies, actions, and even private life. Throughout history, some weaker Emperors had been overruled within the Central Palace.

Throughout various dynasties, nobles and noble families have always been targets for the Emperor to suppress (as was the case in the Tang Dynasty), so some quickly sensed this Imperial Censor’s unfriendly attitude towards them.

If you simply didn’t like nobles, that was one thing. People from humble backgrounds inherently held grudges against nobles, but to gain the Emperor’s favor on top of that was a mistake!

It’s the same principle as the saying, "an innocent man treasuring a jade ring becomes a criminal."

If someone unfriendly to nobles was allowed to continue rising, wouldn’t we be doomed?

Therefore, when they saw Li Qingmu beheaded, many people celebrated.

This banquet tonight held an element of celebration.

The guests drank with enthusiasm, some becoming inebriated, tapping bowls and tapping rhythms to sing songs, while others composed poetry, reflecting a decadent and hedonistic lifestyle.

At this moment, a servant rushed in, whispered a few words in the ear of one young gentleman, whose face suddenly changed.

"Everyone, quiet down..." He murmured, and people immediately stopped singing, some frowning, "What happened?"

He said, "The son of the Capital Governor, Zhao Zhao, is dead!"