Chapter 334: Think Carefully

In the imperial study, the Emperor glared at him with a sullen face.

"Speak up—what immoral deeds have you done lately?"

"Am I being wronged, Your Son?"

"Shall I have people list all the things you've done over the years?"

"Your Son truly hasn't!"

"You must confess truthfully, or I will depose you."

"Father Emperor, Your Son truly hasn't offended anyone."

"Think carefully."

Li Wang painfully recalled, insisting that over these days he has been perfectly honest and has done nothing wrong nor offended anyone.

As he thought, he suddenly remembered something, and stared at the Emperor with a strange expression.

"You summoned my wife only to suspect whether my wife is the murderer."

"You!"

Dealing with this Old Emperor is a matter of minutes, and when the Guifei entered and saw Qiao Mai, she first paid her respects to the Emperor, then stepped forward, took her hand and became warm.

"Last night Li Wang and his wife had their legs broken by someone, and their family wealth was completely stolen, that matter."

"You are truly bold!"

Otherwise, how could the homes of several imperial princes be repeatedly robbed, and why wouldn't he uncover what they have done?

Qiao Mai's words pierced the Emperor's heart; just as he was about to lose his temper, Qiao Mai continued.

"Yes."

In the imperial study, the Emperor smiled, invited Qiao Mai to sit, and then had tea served.

"Has the revenge been taken? No? If you don't properly discipline him, see? Just like today's outcome—how many times has such an incident occurred in Jingcheng, and who uncovered it? Do you think that because the world bears the surname Li, you can do as you please? Talented and extraordinary people are as numerous as cattle hairs across the realm."

"Fine."

"You are the Emperor, with golden words; whatever sentence you wish to impose, it only takes a single word from you."

"Your Majesty, although this world belongs to you, there are far too many talented and extraordinary beings, many of whom you cannot afford to offend; by setting an example, the realm can remain stable forever."

"You fool, what virtue does your son have, still eyeing the Tianshui Princess? I would gladly send the best imperial grandson to marry her, yet you are a worthless Playboys, trying to marry a daughter as precious as a pearl. You, what are you?"

Is he disciplining his own son? Or does he simply dislike them? Or have they offended him?

The Emperor couldn't help but speculate, and waved his hand at that person; a bounty of grain materialized out of thin air, surely the work of that immortal.

"No, Lady Qiao, please enter the palace."

He sat before the dragon‑carved desk, rhythmically tapping the table with his fingers.

"Your Majesty, my wife, in her capacity as a mother‑in‑law, wishes to tell you a fact."

"You say it yourself?"

Could that person be Lady Qiao? The Emperor overlapped the two figures in his mind.

"Your Son had someone investigate Master Yuan's lineage, learned that the Tianshui Princess was adopted, and tried to find a suitable couple to acknowledge her, but the acknowledgment failed."

"You must be very angry now, aren't you? My wife told the truth, and you get angry? And the common folk? They are being fried daily in a cauldron of oil."

"Father Emperor, what should we do?"

Yubao was startled, received the order, and left.

"Servant, shall I wait for you together?"

"Naturally, in the capacity of a mother‑in‑law."

The Emperor said nothing, and had someone send him back; the reason he forcibly brought this fifth son was to ask what really happened, seeking a breakthrough from the matter.

Lao Huli spoke while carefully watching Qiao Mai, as if trying to discern something.

"Yes, yes, asking about Master Yuan's matter."

When he arrived at the Qiao Family, Qiao Mai had just woken, was wearing Sleepwear and sipping cold tea, and Yubao arrived outside her bedroom.

"Who repeatedly condones this? Is it Li Wang? No, it's you, you lofty Emperor; whenever it concerns members of the royal family, you turn a blind eye, allowing them to be reckless. Your Majesty, do you know that a thousand‑mile dam can be destroyed by an ant's nest? My wife's words may be harsh, but each is wise—you love the people as your own children, and the royal members should love the people even more, yet they idle all day, either plotting how to drain the commoners' blood or how to eat their flesh. You have disguised yourself and met such scenes on the streets many times; have you ever intervened?"

"Today you must not slip away; come to my palace, and I will have the imperial chefs prepare some of their signature dishes."

Qiao Mai changed into a new outfit, brushed her hair into a casual bun, wore a hair accessory, and followed Eunuch Yu into the palace.

When the Emperor used the word "please," it was not a command but a courteous suggestion, so he dared not act rashly.

"Lady Qiao is straightforward and seems to harbor great hatred toward Li Wang."

"Lady Qiao, the Emperor invites you to the palace for a visit?"

"Announce Lady Qiao's entry into the palace."

"You—are you trying to anger me to death?"

"You also know that Lao Jiu has his eye on her; Lady Qiao refused, so the marriage was arranged by her biological parents, betrothing her to Lao Jiu. Even if the marriage recognition fails, they still want to trouble Lady Qiao."

"Father Emperor, Your Son was also momentarily foolish; even if Lao Jiu is not good, he is still your imperial grandson, and Your Son is his father‑king. With his son injured, how can Your Son and the princess be indifferent? They ought to avenge this grievance."

"Yubao!"

Qiao Mai locked eyes with the Emperor; the Emperor had never been as trapped as today, and at that moment Guifei Niangniang arrived.

"Father Emperor, Your Son did something, though I'm not sure if it was a bad deed."

"Accumulate virtue and the people will love you; accumulate evil and the people will be eliminated!"

"Your Majesty, are you speaking to my wife as a sovereign or as a mother‑in‑law?"

It seems so, yet not quite— is it really her?

"Hmm, will you go back first, or wait for me a while?"

It is unlikely that she broke the fifth son's legs, for Li Wang has skilled men by his side; to silently take a couple's two legs is unimaginable.

If Li Wang were not already wounded, the Emperor would have smashed him to death with the inkstone on the table.

This Lady Qiao had sent people to investigate; she knows martial arts, has connections, but her skill hasn't yet become so subtle that she can act unnoticed—a single person stole the whole Li Wang manor.

Could it be him? He has been living in Jingcheng all along, constantly observing the royal family?

"You admit it?"

"When I heard you were coming, I happily ran over."

"Then the lady will speak plainly: you are a wise ruler, why punish only the court officials? Why not punish the rot within the royal family?"

"The Emperor asked me about Xianggong's matter."

"What do you want by acknowledging kinship?"

This inevitably reminded him of that night, the immortal clad in black, wearing a brimmed hat.

"Y‑you!"

"Your Majesty, please speak."

The Old Emperor's face flushed bright red from Qiao Mai's words, "I have already reprimanded them."

"Your daughter‑in‑law still has many estates; you won't starve to death. Figure it out yourselves. From now on be honest, and get out!"

"Your Majesty, I am here!"

Qiao Mai chuckled, "Well stolen, wonderfully stolen, ha ha."

Only then did the covert contest between the two break, though it wasn't really a contest—Qiao Mai simply didn't want to expose herself.

"Speak quickly!"

"I am your in‑law; some things need not be beaten around the bush."

"As a member of the royal family, one should restrain one's own children, set a good example for the people and the court officials. Yet he spoils his child, letting him commit misdeeds outside, even daring to go to the lady's daughter's shop to harass, causing my daughter humiliation. The lady lacks that ability; if she had it, she wouldn't have just broken their leg, hum!"

The Emperor watched the two women walk hand in hand, wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead.

Lady Qiao is no ordinary person; he had always known, but didn't expect she would dare offend this Emperor.

People like her are usually either mentally ill, blunt‑tempered, or extremely confident, not fearing the royal family at all. But where does her confidence come from?

In this clash with Qiao Mai, the Old Emperor classified her among the unfathomable.

He summoned two Golden Dragon Guard, "Observe Lady Qiao covertly from a distance; do not let her notice you. Report immediately if anything abnormal occurs."

(End of chapter)