Chapter 1051

His hatred for Xu Lie Wu was even more overwhelming.

He muttered viciously:

"Xu Lie Wu! This debt will be settled with you sooner or later!"

Gu Gu Hanyuan saw this.

With a mind to guiding Li Qiu into sharing the same enemy, he said in a deep voice:

"Li Yuanhao also died at the hands of the Mongol Yuan."

Li Qiu, hearing this, said in astonishment:

"Even Your Majesty is dead?"

Li Liangzuo's death could still be attributed to insufficient protection.

But Li Yuanhao was within the inner palace of Shengong.

Though the guards tasked with his safety were not particularly powerful,

their numbers were extremely great.

After all, Li Yuanhao was innately suspicious by nature.

He killed his mother, his uncle, his wife, his brother, his son, and his ministers.

Therefore, Li Yuanhao was on guard against everyone, no matter who.

How could he possibly neglect his own safety?

Gu Gu Hanyuan informed Li Qiu of the cause of Li Yuanhao's death.

Li Qiu heard that Li Yuanhao had been killed by Hua Hua Jieyu disguised as the Crown Prince's consort.

A look of mockery immediately crossed her face.

She and Li Yuanhao could hardly be said to share any conjugal affection.

After their wedding, her appearance had already been ruined by Wu Wu Wu Xingyun.

Although she had relied on various means to prevent the disfigurement from being exposed,

the two of them never again had any marital interaction.

This greatly dissatisfied the lecherous Li Yuanhao.

Li Qiu's present status in Western Xia was largely due to her own exceptional political skill.

In fact, when her faction grew too powerful to rein in,

Li Yuanhao suppressed her several times.

Now, hearing such an absurd cause of death,

Li Qiu not clapping and cheering was already considered giving Li Yuanhao face.

In the end, she still had Gu Ji's feelings in mind.

She said with hidden mockery:

"Your Majesty was once wise and brilliant in his youth, yet in his old age grew muddled to this extent. Even in death he left behind a legacy of curses."

Gu Gu Hanyuan did not comment further on Li Yuanhao.

Just a dead man, that was all.

No matter how remarkable he had been in life,

he was not worth Gu Gu Hanyuan's attention.

What he needed to do now was to take over Western Xia Shun Li Cheng Zhang.

Han Yuan Looks Solemn said:

"Although the Mongol Yuan have now been repelled by me, they have left behind a pile of messes."

Li Qiu heard Gu Gu Hanyuan say that he had already repelled the Mongol Yuan.

Though she did not know the specific details,

she instinctively thought of that heaven-rending, earth-splitting bolt of heavenly thunder.

The feeling of awe and stirring she had experienced at the time welled up in her heart once more.

Li Qiu's beautiful eyes rippling, she looked toward Gu Gu Hanyuan.

In a soft, gentle voice, she asked:

"Does Young Master Gu have some idea in mind?"

Gu Gu Hanyuan was slightly surprised by Li Qiu's attitude.

A turn of his thoughts, and he had already guessed most of it.

His gaze immediately took on a somewhat playful look.

For him, this was actually a good thing as well.

Not only would it save him time in conquering Li Qiu,

controlling Western Xia would also become easier.

After slightly adjusting his plan in his heart,

Gu Gu Hanyuan said in an oddly toned voice:

"The direct male line of the Western Xia imperial house is nearly wiped out; the Imperial Consort must step forward to take charge."

Li Yuanhao had long ago found excuses to kill off the two brothers who posed the greatest threat to him.

Therefore, the imperial house consisted solely of Li Yuanhao's line.

Now, having been wiped out in one fell swoop by the Mongol Yuan,

one could say Western Xia was already in a state with no master and no heir.

If it were not stabilized soon,

Other nations would seize the chance to bite off a piece.

When that happens, it would be Gu Gu Hanyuan's interests that suffered the loss.

Li Qiu's eyes flickered at those words.

Years of open rivalry and covert struggle with Li Yuanhao.

Had given her an extremely sharp sensitivity to the state of affairs.

In almost an instant she grasped the predicament Western Xia found itself in.

Li Qiu and Gu Gu Hanyuan exchanged a glance.

Although she could not confirm Gu Gu Hanyuan's thoughts.

She had nonetheless vaguely sensed his ambition.

Li Qiu did not dislike such ambition.

Obediently playing along, she asked:

"Is there anything you need this concubine to do right now?"

Gu Gu Hanyuan saw that Li Qiu was cooperating.

And grew ever more satisfied in his heart.

He said with a light smile:

"The Imperial Guards at the palace gate are still fighting the Iron Pagoda cavalry of the Yeli brothers, and Mochan Epang's whereabouts are unknown. Without the Tiger Tally in hand, the deployment of the Imperial Guards is a serious problem."

Li Qiu understood at once.

She said with a mocking tone:

"This sworn brother of mine has always been sly as a ghost — not finding him for a while is perfectly normal. He must be plotting right now to be the oriole behind the mantis. As for where he's hiding, this concubine does have a few guesses."

The truth was exactly as she had guessed.

When Mochan Epang vaguely sensed something was amiss.

He keenly detected the opportunity to seize power by usurpation.

And so had hidden himself away very early on.

Gu Gu Hanyuan's eyes flickered as he said:

"Yun'er is also searching for traces of Mochan Epang. The Imperial Consort may take Li Li Qinglu and rendezvous with her." B.