Chapter 561: A Deal 9
The little empress looked furious and instantly rose. While she was not as tall as Li Ruoxuan, she roared angrily—like a chicken from a cockfight.
“You brought Qi Qingyao to your residence!
“State Preceptor, you’ve never been this attentive to any woman before! What’s more, this woman has three children!!!”
He had even said something before that indicated he liked this countryside girl. In retrospect, the reason for the State Preceptor liking her… was solely because of what she was!!
Li Ruoxuan did not take her anger seriously and was very calm. “She might be. She might not be. Doesn’t Her Majesty’s authority rely on the intelligence from Southern Ming?”
The little empress exclaimed, “You are challenging us!”
Li Ruoxuan paused for a moment then bowed slightly. “This servant would never question Her Majesty. This servant is willing to devote himself to Northern Liang until his death!”
“Alright alright, we know you won’t betray us.” The little empress never doubted the man’s loyalty to the country and so somewhat contained her anger. Changing the subject, she asked, “So, what do you think of this information…”
She did not ask him if he knew about it because the man in front of her was not only the State Preceptor but also one of the three grand masters of Northern Liang. It would be strange if he instead did not have any intelligence channels…
Li Ruoxuan answered, “Do you want to know the truth?”
The little empress’s gaze was stern. “Are you going to lie to us?”
Li Ruoxuan’s voice was very low, as he said slowly, “No, because there is no conclusive evidence to prove that she is indeed the Harbinger. If she is, why didn’t the Head Grand Secretariat ascend? Why would this servant have ascended when he killed her sister and her entire family? He ascended by the banks of Qingyang lake as he was watching the lake on a rainy night! Of course, if one wants to use Si Jin as an argument, it needs to be considered that he on his own is not a large enough sample. If Si Jin really is above a grand master, where is he now? Si Jin… the most important thing about him is his origin! That’s my point! To summarize, there are many doubts.”
Li Ruoxuan gave the little empress an analysis of the doubts on this matter. The little empress found it reasonable but did not want to be led by the nose by Li Ruoxuan. She said, “Why did you bring her to your residence, then?” What was the purpose!?
Li Ruoxuan calmly explained, “Your Majesty knows this servant… This servant would rather kill ten thousand by mistake than let one go. What if… she is?”
His last sentence was very light.
As light as a feather.
The little empress, “…” She knew that Li Ruoxuan’s words made sense, and considering his character, his actions were in line with who he was.
Li Ruoxuan lowered his gaze in thought. How much could the little empress trust his words?
He did not lie, he merely concealed his current personal opinion of Qi Qingyao.
Suddenly, Li Ruoxuan asked, “Your Majesty, do you really think that the Head Grand Secretariat would like a widow with several children?”
The little empress was stunned.
Li Ruoxuan coughed lightly and while feigning casualness, he said, “It’s not that this servant is a gossip but… do you think that the Head Grand Secretariat could have such hardcore taste?”
“Hmph!”
The little empress did not answer, she just exhaled through her nose.
She immediately replied, “You, step aside first.”
She added, “Invite Qi Qingyao in.”
The eunuch, Little Lizi, who was at the door immediately announced that Qi Qingyao could come into the study to meet her.
Qi Qingyao lowered her gaze and she followed the eunuch into the study while looking down. She immediately knelt in salute.
“Miss Qi.
“Rise.”
The ‘amicable’ voice sounded from above her.
This mildly surprised Qi Qingyao.
Could the empress think she was the Harbinger and thus wanted to curry her favor, or… was it something else?
Although she did not look up at the empress, she could feel very clearly that the gaze the empress had on her seemed very peaceful…
“We won’t discuss superfluous things.” The little empress let out an unprecedented smile, waving her hands as she said, “We’re sure the State Preceptor will tell you when you go back.”
Qi Qingyao, “…???”
What was going on?
She was not buttering her up.
She did not want to kill her either.
Had she just called her here to say, “We won’t discuss superfluous things”?
What the…