lcionline Chapter 812: Why Did You Do This?
Chapter 812: Why Did You Do This?
Lixiu Palace.
Empress Dowager Li, who was Consort Li back in the day, still resides in this palace.
From the moment she entered the palace, she has been living here. Everything is so familiar, yet so detestable.
She doesn’t like it here.
It’s not that the place is bad; on the contrary, it’s quite nice.
Because she is the biological mother of the current Emperor and the Emperor respects and is filial to her, Empress Dowager Li holds a very high status in the Imperial Palace, almost commanding the six palaces, even surpassing that of Empress Dowager Xue.
As such, Lixiu Palace has long been renovated to be incredibly luxurious, grand and magnificent. Truly, not a single palace compares to it, even the Supreme Emperor’s Sanqing Palace is simple and unadorned, yet here is all grandeur.
But, she just doesn’t like it!
She wants something better, she wants to become the Empress Dowager, to be properly positioned!
In the future, to even become the Grand Empress Dowager!
In truth, she is also an ambitious woman. Previously, her appearance was ruined, and her ugly face prevented her from harboring ambition.
But now it’s different; she has everything. Why can’t she take a step further?
People are like this, it’s difficult to be content with the status quo. There really aren’t many who are content and at peace with their circumstances.
Those who seek extravagance generally aren’t happy, because once they get something, they want something else, endlessly, in a never-ending cycle.
Now, though Empress Dowager Li holds such a prestigious position in the harem, she still feels unhappy because her ambitions are too great, and she is too unsatisfied.
"Deng deng deng..."
Outside the palace gate, came a flurry of hurried footsteps, followed by the voices of the palace maids and eunuchs saluting: "Greetings, Your Majesty, long live, long live, long, long live!"
Entering was Qi Junlian.
The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground. Qi Junlian wasn’t usually a harsh person; ordinarily, he would say "at ease," but this time, he didn’t, hurriedly making his way inside.
"Mother, why? Why would you do this?"
Qi Junlian appeared very angry, and even as he spoke, his voice trembled with strong disapproval.
Empress Dowager Li was sipping tea, but seeing her son rebuke her, her pretty face turned cold: "Son, is this how you speak to your mother, hmm?"
Qi Junlian took a deep breath and said, "Mother, the Imperial Brother and his wife have finally returned from Liang Country, we should be welcoming them, but why, why would you instead plot against them?"
Empress Dowager Li’s eyes froze, looking at her disobedient son, she said coldly: "Everything I do, is for you, don’t you understand? When Li Qingmu died before, didn’t you feel a huge weight lifted from your heart? As long as he lived, your throne would never be secure, you don’t understand?"
Qi Junlian’s face turned slightly pale. He naturally understood his mother’s words, but... after all, Li Qingmu was his brother, how could he do such a fratricidal thing?
This went against his beliefs.
"Junlian, it’s not that I’m saying this to you, but you’re too gentle by nature, which has led to your indecisive personality. Such a character really isn’t suitable for being an Emperor! These past two years you’ve been Emperor, it’s been your mother supporting you from behind, without me, those ministers would have long taken advantage of you!"
Qi Junlian remained silent, acknowledging this.
The presence of Empress Dowager Li, her decisive and decisive tactics, kept those restless ministers somewhat obedient, yet, even so, there were still some ministers who were reluctant to heed his words.
This is what’s known as the ability to control subordinates, something Qi Junlian is not particularly good at.
"Take this assassination attempt for instance, it was orchestrated by me, what does it have to do with you? Why do you question your mother? Pretending to be deaf and dumb as if you’re unaware, isn’t that good enough? Sometimes playing dead is a skill in itself! But you, you have nothing! You say, how am I supposed to have faith in you?"
Qi Junlian still didn’t speak, allowing Empress Dowager Li to scold him.
"To be honest, Jingyu is much better in this aspect than you, at least he’s smarter, more ruthless, more decisive in his actions! What he has in his heart he shows in his actions, unlike you, who clearly can’t wait for Li Qingmu to die, yet still put on an appearance of brotherly love. Who are you pretending for, hmm?"
Qi Junlian’s face turned pale, Empress Dowager Li had hit the nail on the head.
How many times he asked himself, in truth, he didn’t like Li Qingmu either—this man was too bewitching, too smart, his tactics surpassed his own. Most importantly, he enjoyed the Emperor’s affection.
If he himself didn’t wish not to be Emperor, Qi Yun would have long passed the throne to him, not even considering the opinions of ministers.
In the face of absolute imperial power, ministerial words seemed feeble.
Thus, the Supreme Emperor was the mountain weighing down on him, while Li Qingmu was the temple on the mountain, the mountain protecting this temple, and who knows, one day, this temple might thrive again.
When it was said that he "died" back then, he indeed felt relieved, but now...
He shook his head, said flatly, "Mother, I understand your intentions, but... have you ever wondered why he was able to return from Daliang?"
Empress Dowager Li was slightly taken aback, falling into silence.
This question, she hadn’t even thought of!
Indeed, earlier when she inadvertently learned that Li Qingmu hadn’t died while in Daliang Country, she was thoroughly shocked, then, to be safe, she dispatched Fei Luan Pavilion’s forces to the border, planning to ambush and kill him upon receiving news of his return.
This explains why the black-clad assassins earlier blindly went to be killed, unaware of Li Qingmu’s prowess.
This is the consequence of asymmetrical information!
Fei Luan Pavilion’s capabilities paled in comparison to Yulong Pavilion, even those from Yulong Pavilion couldn’t infiltrate Daliang Country, let alone Fei Luan Pavilion. They were unaware of what Li Qingmu was doing in Da Liang Palace, and certainly didn’t know his martial arts skills had become so formidable.
In fact, they were still under the impression that he was a weak scholar.
Empress Dowager Li, reminded by her son, realized something was indeed amiss. Li Qingmu had gone to Daliang, so why was he back?
Could there be more to this?
"Master, news just came in, almost half of those who went for the assassination... are dead. Li Qingmu’s martial arts have grown exceedingly strong, beyond what they can imagine!"
Shi Qin suddenly walked in, reporting the latest news in detail, then glanced at Empress Dowager Li, noticing her expression was very grim!
"You’re saying his martial arts are high, surpassing yours?"
"Yes, not only surpassing me, but also surpassing Qingming and Zifeng, to a terrifying extent, you must know, those assassins were top-notch experts, yet they were..."
Shi Qin hesitated for a moment, still said, "Killed by him within moments..."
"Clang—"
The teacup in Empress Dowager Li’s shaking hand dropped to the ground, making a crisp sound.