Chapter 12 Suspicion

Early the next morning, Li Wu entered the palace to cry to her imperial brother, Li Shen, about the attempt on her life.

She was never afraid of stirring up trouble, nor did she like sweeping things under the rug.

So Li Shen promised he would get to the bottom of it and give her an explanation.

General Xi Mingzhong, who had “rescued” Li Wu, also received rewards.

Thus, that very day, news spread quickly: Princess Pingyang had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, saved only thanks to the intervention of General Xi.

Along with it, countless rumors spread wildly.

Though Li Wu was unharmed, the matter only grew bigger, leaving Lü Xueying increasingly uneasy.

The previous day she had already learned that those men had not managed to hurt Li Wu.

But she had thought Li Wu would brush it off lightly—for making it public would not benefit her at all. Who would have thought it would turn out like this?

Would the investigation lead back to her?

Lü Xueying did not believe Li Wu could find any evidence.

Those men had never met her, nor did they know they were acting under her orders.

The servants involved had already left the capital the previous day to lay low elsewhere. Li Wu could not possibly have proof.

And yet, unease gnawed at her.

Li Wu was the sort who, once she went mad, proof or no proof would no longer matter.

Lü Xueying regretted being too impatient, wanting too badly to see Li Wu humiliated.

Anxious and frustrated, she could not even smile when her brother Lü Zhang brought her an exquisitely carved white jade rabbit figurine.

Seeing her so downcast, Lü Zhang asked, “Why do you look so unhappy?

“Do you not like this piece? I thought you would—I had it sought out just for you.”

She shook her head. “No, brother, I like it very much.”

“Then why so unhappy?” he asked with a smile.

Lü Xueying hesitated, unable to answer.

Thinking over recent events, Lü Zhang tested carefully: “I heard the Princess was attacked outside the city yesterday. If not for General Xi, there might have been disaster.”

Lü Xueying pressed her lips tight.

He went on: “The Tatars wish to negotiate peace with Great Jin, demanding that the Princess be sent in marriage. At present, all is waiting on their envoy’s arrival. Once he enters the capital, the marriage will likely be formally set. If the Princess were to meet misfortune before that, it could spark war between the two nations. Whoever stirred up this trouble clearly had other intentions, but this is not something that can end well.”

Already nervous, Lü Xueying was shaken by his words.

“N-no, it won’t go that far…”

But seeing her evasive gaze, Lü Zhang understood.

He sighed helplessly: “Perhaps not. But still, you were reckless and rash. You should not have stirred things up.

“I know you dislike her.” He reached out to stroke her hair gently. “But can you not bear it a while longer?

“Once she is married off to the Tatars, she will no longer be an eyesore.”

At his doting words, her nose stung with sudden heat.

She did not deny her involvement, but whispered, “Brother, will I be in trouble?”

“No.”

He smiled calmly. “Rest assured, little sister.”

Looking up at him and seeing his composure, she too smiled faintly.

“All right. I believe you, brother.”

…

Meanwhile, Ling Yue, turned away the previous day, rushed to the Princess’s residence upon hearing news of the attack, desperate to see her.

But again, the guards barred his way.

More worried than before, his desire to force his way inside grew stronger.

So, when Li Yingxi arrived, supported by her maid, she immediately saw Ling Yue trying to push through, only to be stopped roughly by the guards.

His back looked familiar.

She tilted her head, asking her maid softly, “Who is that gentleman?”

“He is the young master of Minister Ling of the Ministry of Revenue,” the maid explained, lowering her voice to add his name.

Li Yingxi realized why he looked familiar.

After Li Wu’s return from the frontier, the one she had tangled with was precisely this Ling family young master.

But… what was he doing here?

Perplexed, she frowned and walked forward.

Standing behind him, she asked bluntly: “Young Master Ling, what are you doing?”

Still frowning in frustration, Ling Yue turned at the sound of her voice. He hurriedly saluted: “Greetings, Princess Yun’an.

“I wish to see Her Highness the Princess.

“But she refuses to see me.” He gave a bitter smile.

“Why not?” Li Yingxi asked, puzzled.

Caught off guard by her frankness, he admitted, “Because I wronged Her Highness.”

Wronged Li Wu?

Her curiosity piqued, Li Yingxi pressed: “What did you do?”

Lowering his voice, he confessed honestly: “The other day, I took my cousin out on the lake to cheer her up. When Her Highness found out, she grew angry and no longer wished to see me.”

Li Yingxi recalled hearing rumors—how Li Wu had even struck him across the face.

Yes… she had slapped him, hadn’t she?

But then why beg so hard for just one meeting? Did he not feel humiliated?

“My elder sister doesn’t want to see you. Why force it?” she asked.

“I heard she was attacked yesterday,” Ling Yue said earnestly. “I cannot rest easy until I see for myself that she is safe.”

Li Yingxi grew inexplicably angry.

“She slapped you, and still you neither resent her nor hate her, but beg to see her? Young Master Ling, where is your pride? Where is your dignity?”

The memory of being slapped did make him blush, but he truly could not understand why she was angry.

Yet he still defended Li Wu seriously: “It was my fault first. I cannot blame Her Highness, nor should I resent her for that.”

“…,” Li Yingxi was speechless.

She began to suspect he was addle-brained.

She also recalled He Xianzhiu, who had denied harboring vengeance against Li Wu.

That, she could still make sense of. But Ling Yue—what was he after?

“You do know my sister has a child, don’t you?” She looked at him with open disdain, unable to stop herself: “That child may well be Lord He’s. You don’t mind? You’d be willing to be stepfather to her child?”

He had heard rumors.

But instead of anger, her words brought a faint smile to his lips.

“Why are you smiling?” she asked crossly.

He restrained it, saying softly, “Your Highness is still young, so perhaps you don’t understand. When one truly loves someone, none of that matters.

“Her Highness’s daughter must be as clever and beautiful as she is.

“To have such a daughter is a blessing beyond asking—why mind it?”

She looked at him as though at a fool.

With a huff of laughter, she decided to leave him to his foolishness and went inside.

Only belatedly did Ling Yue realize he might ask her to pass along a message. He hurriedly called out.

But she only turned back with a mocking smile: “Young Master Ling, you should leave. My sister does not like fools.”

He had no recourse, and could only watch as she disappeared inside.

After a long pause, he muttered to himself: Wasn’t Princess Yun’an supposed to be demure? Why today did she seem so different from what he’d heard?

…

Unlike Ling Yue, Li Yingxi was free to enter and leave the Princess’s residence.

But like him, she too had come because of the attack.

She saw Li Wu in her outer chamber.

Li Wu lay reclined on her couch, a thin blanket over her, eating a bowl of sweet soup.

After greetings, she sat. Recalling Ling Yue outside, she said, “Elder sister, when I arrived, I saw Young Master Ling outside, barred by the guards. He seemed desperate to see you.”

Li Wu smiled faintly: “Yun’an is very concerned with me and Young Master Ling, is she not?”

Not close with him, Li Yingxi had only mentioned it casually. At Li Wu’s words, she dropped the matter.

Instead, she offered the pastries and century-old ginseng she had brought.

Hearing they were to replenish her health, Li Wu laughed.

Setting aside her spoon, she took the handkerchief Qingzhi handed her, wiped her lips, and raised her gaze to Li Yingxi.

With a curl of her lips, she said, “These days, I suspect everyone. You aren’t afraid I’ll suspect you?”

Li Yingxi lifted her teacup calmly.

“Elder sister, I walk upright and sit straight. What need have I to fear? I had no knowledge of yesterday’s affair.”

Li Wu sipped her osmanthus tea. Its fragrance lingered. She smiled: “Weren’t you planning to team up with Lord He against me?”

Li Yingxi’s body froze.

The teacup slipped, shattering on the floor. Shocked, she stared at Li Wu as if at a monster.

“If you wish no one to know, then do not do it.”

Li Wu’s voice was gentler than usual. “Yun’an, you disappoint me.”

Her face burned hot with shame.

How could Li Wu know what happened that day? Did Lord He tell her? Why? To curry favor?

Lord He, I am disappointed in you as well! she thought bitterly.

But Li Wu already knew. Denying it was pointless—besides, Lord He had not agreed anyway.

“You must know he refused,” she muttered. “Yesterday’s affair truly had nothing to do with me.”

Li Wu smiled. “If not you, then who?”

Glancing at her, Li Yingxi said softly, “You’ve offended many. There are plenty of suspects.”

“Oh? Have I?” Li Wu asked sincerely. “For example?”

“For example, Lady Lü.” Li Yingxi puffed her cheeks. “How could you forget? Back then…” She paused, then added in defense of Lü Xueying, “You should not have humiliated her before the man she liked. Anyone would find that unbearable.”

Li Wu appeared to think. “I don’t remember.”

“…,” Li Yingxi was speechless.

“But yesterday, I did see her.” Li Wu mused. “So she is also suspect.”

“…,” Li Yingxi again.

“Without evidence, elder sister, it is irresponsible to accuse so freely,” she quickly protested, realizing she might have implicated Lü Xueying.

Li Wu echoed her earlier words indifferently: “If one walks upright and sits straight, there is nothing to fear.”

Li Yingxi had no reply.

Uneasy at perhaps dragging an innocent into trouble, she soon excused herself.

After she left, Li Wu ordered Qingzhi: “Send someone to follow Yun’an in secret. See if she goes to the Lü household.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Qingzhi bowed.

Within half an hour, word came back: after leaving, Li Yingxi had gone directly to the Lü residence.

Lounging lazily on her couch, Li Wu smiled faintly.

In Li Yingxi’s eyes, Lü Xueying was a good person.

In Lü Xueying’s eyes, Li Yingxi was her ally against the Princess.

Li Yingxi’s words, Lü Xueying would believe.

And when she learned suspicion had fallen on her, how would Lü Xueying react?

Li Wu very much looked forward to it.