CHAPTER 243: CHAPTER 243: THE TRAGIC OLD PRINCESS CONSORT

Prince Lingjiang’s Princely Heir personally came to apologize!

Not only Long Yue was taken aback, but Li Qingmu was also a bit stunned.

But soon, he regained his composure, smiled faintly with a hint of sarcasm: "No need! A visit from the Princely Heir deserves good wine and food, this act of apology is far too much for us!"

"Uncle Mu, please don’t be like this. I know I was wrong. You can hit me as long as you are willing to forgive me. You can hit me however you want!"

"No need!"

Li Qingmu remained expressionless, still repeating those two words.

"Uncle Mu..."

Qi Jingyu became anxious, attempted to grab him, but was suddenly pushed away by Li Qingmu, causing Qi Jingyu to fall to the ground!

"My lord!" Shi Qin was annoyed, reached out to support Qi Jingyu, and glared angrily at Li Qingmu, "Mr. Li, my lord sincerely came to offer his apology, why are you being so unreasonably harsh towards him?"

"Unreasonably harsh? Ha, Miss Shi Qin, that’s quite a label, I wouldn’t dare accept it! I am injured and in severe pain, unable to entertain you two, please feel free!"

After finishing, Li Qingmu limped inside with Long Yue’s assistance.

"Mr. Li, my lord was merely following orders, the matter has nothing to do with him, he even argued with the master over you, left home in anger! If you still blame my lord, that would be rather lacking in righteousness!"

Li Qingmu’s steps slightly paused.

Long Yue could tell he was swayed, after all, the bond between them was genuine. During those over three months of his bedridden illness, the Young Prince often accompanied him, this should not be forgotten.

Thus she said: "It’s hard to discuss here, let them come in and talk."

Li Qingmu did not refuse, implicitly agreeing.

The group moved to the side hall.

There, it was quiet and secluded, with a rock garden and lotus pond in the back, not easy to hide people, convenient for conversation.

Long Yue brought a soft golden cushion for Li Qingmu to sit on, and instructed Huanhuan to brew tea.

When Huanhuan entered, his tall and sturdy figure left Qi Jingyu and Shi Qin dumbstruck, suspecting he might lay hands on them.

Though Huanhuan was brawny and solid, he was well-trained, proficient in serving tea and water, no less competent than those petite maids.

"Huanhuan, leave!"

"Yes, master!"

Watching Huanhuan’s departing back, Shi Qin could not help but comment, "Mrs. Li, your taste is indeed... unique!"

Long Yue smiled, "Just alright, ordinary. Having such a maid around does prevent many troubles."

Shi Qin was stunned, sheepishly nodding, "Indeed."

Li Qingmu, drinking his tea, remained expressionless, "No one is here, speak your mind!"

If silent, leave, this was about to issue the guest dismissal order!

Qi Jingyu showed some anxiety on his small face, shifting in his seat: "Uncle Mu, I know this matter wasn’t discussed with you beforehand, you’re very angry, but we truly didn’t intend to harm you..."

"Young Prince, your intent to harm me, that’s not of concern, after all, you are the masters, I am merely a minister, when a ruler demands a minister’s death, the minister cannot refuse, this is a well-known saying.

But the mistake is, to achieve your goals, by any means, you even let a wolf pack attack the Emperor!

Filial piety is paramount, the Emperor, after all, is Prince Lingjiang’s biological father, doing such a thing—isn’t it too chilling? If one day you succeed, will you then cook the hare once caught, and kill the hound once the hunt is over?"

Li Qingmu’s words were sharp, bloodstained, leaving Qi Jingyu ashamed and unable to show his face, pitifully looking at Li Qingmu, then at Long Yue.

Shi Qin, unable to bear it, said: "Mr. Li, you truly misjudged the Prince and the Princely Heir here, this entire matter was orchestrated by the Old Princess Consort, they were unaware until it was too late!

For this, the Young Prince even disputed with the Old Princess Consort, Mr. Li can blame anyone, but should not blame the Young Prince!"

Li Qingmu was silent.

"Moreover, this matter, hadn’t we informed you long ago, isn’t it true? Qingming and Zifeng had already explained, that during this spring hunting event, no one could win, given Mr. Li’s intelligence, wouldn’t you have guessed?"

Li Qingmu remained silent.

Indeed, the two black-clad men who appeared previously actually had given him hints, but he was too emotionally invested, believing Qi Junlian and his son would not do something so heartless, thus he ignored it.

Reflecting now, Prince Lingjiang did not technically breach the agreement.

But he still felt deeply displeased!

Shi Qin glanced at Li Qingmu’s injuries, gently shaking her head: "Mr. Li, why bother? For a bit of dissatisfaction in your heart, you want to destroy our agreement, even at the cost of personal suffering?

Forgive my bluntness, the setbacks Mr. Li faces now are trivial, merely due to a momentary oversight, being deceived, why go to such lengths?"

Li Qingmu raised his head, finally speaking: "Then, in your view Miss Shi Qin, what constitutes a setback?"

"Does Mr. Li know why my master competes for the Emperor’s throne?"

"For power?"

"No, not merely for power... my master, the Old Princess Consort, was once a stunningly beautiful lady, no less than Princess Consort Yun, back then Princess Consort Yun hadn’t yet entered the palace, her imperial favor was at its peak!

However, that wretched Empress Qiao! She envied my master’s beauty, during a banquet, schemed against her, leading to her being scorched by a raging fire, leaving her flawless face utterly disfigured!

Mr. Li should know, how important appearance is to a woman? That fire not only destroyed my master’s looks but also her profound imperial favor!

My master fell from heaven to hell, from a favored concubine to a despised ugly woman! Do you know how much my master hated back then? Ah?"

Shi Qin’s emotions became nearly frantic as she spoke!

Li Qingmu was astonished, truly unaware of Qi Junlian’s mother’s story since he was only familiar with Qi Jingyu, this lad had never mentioned the Old Princess Consort in their three months’ acquaintance, nor her story.

"After the fire, my master narrowly survived but fell into endless torment, the burnt areas inflicted daily pain, rendering her life worse than death! She was determined to avenge, she’s long..."

Shi Qin’s emotions collapsed, suddenly choking back tears.

"Later, to avoid the Emperor’s disdain and further persecution from Empress Qiao, she left Shengjing City with the three-year-old Ninth Prince, moving to the secluded and desolate Jiangling County, so Mr. Li, should understand the hatred in my master’s heart?"

Li Qingmu slightly nodded, this resentment, fear it could not be cleansed even by the waters of the vast rivers.

The side hall was silent for a long time, Li Qingmu suddenly asked: "All these years, why haven’t you sought opportunity to expose Empress Qiao’s true colors?"

"Can it be done?" Shi Qin smiled bitterly, "Mr. Li, you might not realize, Empress Qiao is formidable, whatever she does is watertight, she prefers to strike with precision, yet manages to extricate herself in the end, her methods are remarkable!

We have been collecting evidence of her crimes all these years, unfortunately, to no avail!"