novelden Chapter 135 Good people are always blessed.
Chapter 135 Good people are always blessed.
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Consort Qiao is a lucky person, she will surely be blessed..."
Before he could finish speaking, Pei Yuanling interrupted him sharply, saying, "Good fortune favors the lucky ones! Good fortune favors the lucky ones! You keep repeating the same few words! It's been days and we haven't even found a trace of them! A bunch of useless trash!"
The servants immediately knelt down in a dense mass, none daring to step forward to dissuade them, for fear of incurring bad luck.
As an old servant of His Majesty, Chen Zhongliang knew Pei Yuanling's habits best. He carefully spoke up, "Your Majesty, the most urgent task at present is to find out who is the mastermind behind this, so that we can avenge the Empress."
Pei Yuanling took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Then send more men down and find Yinyin and Lu Zhiheng as soon as possible!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Chen Zhongliang felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly got up to make arrangements.
Pei Yuanling gazed down the cliff, his eyes growing increasingly dark.
He knew that the person behind the scenes was most likely the Wang family, but he couldn't produce any evidence. Even if he did, he probably wouldn't be able to use it to wipe out the entire Wang family.
Under the blazing sun, the mountain range below the cliff stretched as far as the eye could see, inspiring awe and fear.
He had never hated himself so much. As the ruler of a country, he was being held back by a powerful clan to this extent, and he couldn't even protect the person he loved.
After so many days, no trace of the two had been found, and the happiest person was none other than Empress Wang.
The jungle was teeming with venomous snakes and ferocious beasts. Qiao Qingyin and Lu Zhiheng were alone and unarmed. Even if they didn't die immediately after falling, their chances of survival were slim.
At first, Empress Wang did not feel any regret about Lu Zhiheng falling off the cliff.
But after a few days, she has come to a realization.
Since Lu Zhiheng is so ungrateful, ignoring the Wang family's goodwill and disregarding their reputation, insisting on being a loyal subject to Pei Yuanling, then don't blame them for kicking him when he's down!
Since they can't be allies, they can only be adversaries. However, the Wang family doesn't need a disobedient emperor, and the Daqing court doesn't need a powerful prime minister.
Let's seize this opportunity and get rid of them as soon as possible!
In the waterside pavilion, Empress Wang sat on a chair enjoying the cool air, while her maidservants carefully served her tea.
She picked up a ripe grape and put it in her mouth, her impatient expression from the previous two days completely gone.
"You mean His Majesty wants to personally go to find Consort Qiao?"
Upon hearing the new information brought back by Lin Qing, Empress Wang looked surprised. She stood up from the bamboo recliner, picked up a dish of fish food from the stone table, dismissed the serving maids, and then sneered, "Does Your Majesty really think she is Chu Qingyin?"
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Lin Qing bowed and took a palm-leaf fan to gently fan Empress Wang.
He tried every means to find out any information about the assassins imprisoned in the Zhao prison, and he didn't know where Pei Yuanling had detained them.
These people are like a thorn in the side; the Empress cannot rest easy until they are all dead.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty has not yet found Consort Qiao. Why don't we strike first?"
"What do you mean?" Empress Wang frowned slightly, picked up some fish food and threw it into the pond. She raised her slender hand and used it to shield her head from the sunlight filtering through the leaves, making her chin-colored nails look exceptionally beautiful in the sunlight.
Lin Qing made a throat-slitting gesture, his eyes sharp and ruthless. "Since Consort Qiao is His Majesty's darling, His Majesty will be heartbroken if she dies. He won't have the mind to investigate the mastermind behind it all, and the situation in the court will become even more chaotic. For us, this is actually a good thing."
A hint of hesitation flashed in Empress Wang's eyes as she paced back and forth, pondering Lin Qing's suggestion.
"This matter cannot be handled with the slightest mistake. If His Majesty finds out, we will both be in deep trouble."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will handle this matter flawlessly," Lin Qing said confidently.
"Then we'll get on it as soon as possible."
Empress Wang gritted her teeth and made up her mind, "Remember, we must not leave any evidence against us."
If Consort Qiao is lucky enough to survive, then we should go all the way and make sure she never has a chance to return to the palace!
As the sun grew stronger, the ground beneath their feet steamed with heat. The two had been walking through the jungle for half a day, supporting each other, and were already exhausted. Chu Qingyin, leaning on her cane, walked with increasing faltering steps.
Fortunately, after emerging from the cave, a man-made path could be clearly seen, which must have been diligently created by the hunters.
Chu Qingyin had a tree branch pinned to her head, which was used to tie up her long black hair. She had left the hairpin that had been used to tie her hair up in the cave.
They used other people's things, so they should leave some compensation.
The two walked down the narrow path for a long time before finally spotting a hunter's house.
The house was nestled in a mountain hollow, with a thatched roof that could be vaguely seen. A small courtyard was enclosed by a bamboo fence, where some herbs and animal hides were drying.
"Lord Lu, we're saved!"
Chu Qingyin was overjoyed. She turned around and saw that Lu Zhiheng's face was pale and his lips were cracked. He curled the corners of his lips at her, trying to force a smile, but he fainted again!
"Lord Lu!" Chu Qingyin's eyes widened, and she rushed over to help the person up.
It's so hot, I have a fever again!
That's right. After suffering such a serious injury and walking such a long distance in the mountains, even if he were strong, he would eventually give out.
The man's heavy body pressed down, slumping onto Chu Qingyin's shoulder. She struggled to lift him up and carried him toward the hunter's house.
Before they even got close, they heard a dog bark.
"Who is there!"
Accompanied by the barking of dogs, a burly, dark-skinned hunter emerged from the house, holding a wood-chopping knife in his hand, and watched them warily.
Who are you?
Chu Qingyin was overjoyed to see someone and quickly said, "Brother, we have encountered an accident and accidentally fell into the mountains. My brother was injured by a black bear and is currently unconscious. Please, brother, have mercy and save my brother."
The hunter sized them up, noticing their ragged clothes and exhausted expressions, and concluded they didn't seem like men of ill intent. He put away his machete and ran over to help, saying, "Oh dear, brother, how did you get so badly injured? Quick, quick, come inside!"
While beckoning to Chu Qingyin, the hunter called out into the house, "Amei, come out and lend a hand, we have guests."
The hunter simply carried the man on his back and took a few steps into the house.
Chu Qingyin followed closely behind the man. She saw that the small courtyard was simply furnished, with only a dilapidated wooden table and a few benches, and some hunting tools piled up in the corner.
In the courtyard, a middle-aged woman dressed in coarse linen clothes came out upon hearing the sound.
"Oh dear, what's going on?"
The woman saw that her husband was carrying such a tall man on his back, so she quickly went forward to help him and put him on the wooden bed.
"This young lady said she was attacked by a black bear! She looks quite badly injured. Go and brew some medicine quickly."
The hunter was a kind-hearted man. When he saw the wound on Lu Zhiheng's back, he grimaced as if the pain were on his own body.