Lin Qingyuan’s eyes brightened hearing that. “Yes, you’re right.”
Lu Liangwei could not bear to give her any further blows, but she continued, “The people I’m referring to from the Duke Chen Family do not include Chen Xuping. Chen Xuping may not be the mastermind but he did commit a lot of crimes. When the time comes, he would be beheaded. You have to be mentally prepared for it.”
The look in Lin Qingyuan’s eyes dimmed, but she nodded. “I understand. He deserves it. There’s no blaming anybody for that.”
Lu Liangwei did not console her any further.
She would need to come to her senses herself, otherwise, no one would be able to talk her through anything no matter how they tried.
Jiuhua Temple.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing received the box from the man in black. She opened the box to take a look and said indifferently, “Destroy it. Don’t leave any traces.”
“Yes.” Matron Chen took it from her and burned the account book in front of Empress Dowager.
It was not long before the book was burned to ashes.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing pinched the Buddhist prayer beads in her hands and asked, “Did you snatch this from Lu Liangwei?”
The man in black nodded. “Yes.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing’s voice did not betray any emotions, but her words revealed murderous intent. “I have indeed underestimated her. If It wasn’t for the fact that I was still worried and sent someone to the Duke Chen Mansion to search for any evidence linking to this, everything would have been ruined in her hands this time.”
It was nothing to lose one Lu Yunshuang. However, Lu Yunshuang was now bound to Chi’er. If anything were to happen to Lu Yunshuang, Chi’er would get into trouble as well.
That was why she had to protect Lu Yunshuang.
“Your Imperial Highness, do you want her to stay alive?” The man in black asked as his eyes flashed murderous intent.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing glanced at him.
This man was her personal bodyguard, and just like Matron Chen, he was an old-timer that has been with her for a long time.
“Didn’t you say that the Emperor assigned a covert guard to protect her? If we were to do anything to her, it would alert the Emperor for sure. If that happened, it would only bring us trouble. Forget about it. We’ll let her off for now,” Empress Dowager Xiaojing said after pondering for a while.
She suddenly remembered something and a sharp look flashed in her eyes. She turned to Matron Chen and said, “Is Madam Zheng in White Cloud Temple?”
Matron Chen replied, “Yes, she is.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing stopped pinching her Buddhist prayer beads. “We may not be able to do anything to Lu Liangwei for now, but we can still create trouble for her. At the very least, it would stop her from poking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”
Matron Chen immediately understood. “I’ll arrange for it now.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing nodded. She closed her eyes and continued her prayer with the beads. Her lips moved as she recited something, giving an impression of benevolence.
It was not long before Matron Chen returned.
Empress Dowager Xiaojing opened her eyes and glance at her. “What? Is something wrong?”
Matron Chen replied with a strange expression on her face. “Madam Zheng is critically ill. The way I look at it, she might not have long to live.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing stopped pinching her beads. “She’s very ill?”
Matron Chen nodded. “According to the temple nuns, she has been ill for quite some time. They got a physician to treat her, but her condition did not improve. I’ve seen for myself how Madam Zheng looked. She won’t have long.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing turned her Buddhist prayer beads once more as she gave careful thought about this. She said, “Madam Zheng looked quite healthy when I met her before. How did she fall so ill for no reason?”
Matron Chen nodded. “I heard from the temple nuns that Madam Zheng made a lot of fuss and went on a hunger strike when she was sent there. After a while, she stopped but her health was alright, and then suddenly she fell very sick.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing sighed. “By the looks of it, Madam Zheng’s illness is not a simple occurrence.”
Matron Chen frowned. “This would mean that someone doesn’t want her to live.”
Empress Dowager Xiaojing continued to turn the Buddhist prayer beads in her hand and said meaningfully. “Someone doesn’t want her to return. Once she’s dead, everything is resolved.”
