Chapter 513: He Really Wants To Kill Her
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Jiang Yeqian had deliberately siphoned some information from the Zhaixing Administration to the little empress to prevent her from thinking she was powerless. He wanted the little empress to think that she had a firm grasp on the throne so that the Zhaixing Administration could freely collect information behind the scenes.
This approach had, in the end, instilled an inexplicable self-confidence in the little empress, making her think that she possessed an unbeatable advantage and that the world was in the palm of her hand. She had even attempted to threaten him with the very same information he had deliberately leaked to her.
Jiang Yeqian’s handsome face tightened. “Your Majesty has investigated this humble servant’s whereabouts clearly, presumably Your Majesty is also clear about my purpose of going there. Is the answer to the question not obvious?”
“…” ‘You’re answering me with my own question?!’ The little empress was very unhappy.
She had consolidated all the recent intelligence reports and wondered if Jiang Yeqian was interested in the little widow.
After all, the little widow could design buildings and treat illnesses. She had even cured Heir Pei’s stubborn sickness!
In the end, her most favored servant…answered her question with another question!
The little empress took a deep breath. Then, she gently brought up something else. “You often visited the Qi Residence when you were in QIngzhou City and have become rather close with Lady Qi.”
Qi Qingyao’s breathing stopped for a moment as she thought to herself, ‘I’m just an innocent bystander. Why would he want to get close to me?’ He was someone the little empress fancied and she really did not want to become the little empress’s rival in love!
That would make her lose her head.
Hence, Qi Qingyao very quickly denied the relations.h.i.+p. “Your humble servant replying to Your Majesty, this civilian is not familiar with the Head Grand Secretariat. The Head Grand Secretariat is just a sworn enemy of the State Preceptor, and they are both fighting to make use of me. That’s why they compete with each other as they were unwilling to allow this civilian to be under the other’s command. This is why the Head Grand Secretariat often visits the Qi Residence.”
Hatred shot from the little empress’s calm gaze. “Did we ask you?”
Qi Qingyao, “…”
No.
It had something to do with her though!
How could she not hurry to clear her name when she was about to get burned?
This was gossip!!
Pure gossip!
The little empress’s gaze fell upon Jiang Yeqian’s face once again. “My dear Minister Jiang, answer us.”
Jiang Yeqian was getting somewhat impatient now. “Your Majesty, please approve the resignation letter submitted by this humble servant.”
With her naturally sharp intuition as a woman, the empress spat coldly, “Do not change the subject.”
“Your Majesty, please approve it.” Jiang Yeqian gave the little empress a dirty look. His thin figure was as refined as a statue!
The little empress slapped the armrest of the dragon throne heavily and shouted, “Answer us!!”
The atmosphere had turned a little tense.
Qi Qingyao’s heart immediately filled with dread.
‘Oh dear, Your Majesty, even if you like Jiang Bai, you’re making it look like you caught him cheating in front of Li Ruoxuan and me. It’s too awkward!
‘I really want to f*cking bury myself in a hole in the ground.’
Jiang Yeqian raised his eyes slightly. His expression was indifferent and there was an extreme sense of danger in his gaze. “Qi Qingyao has already made everything perfectly clear but your Majesty still insists on questioning this humble servant. What answer does Your Majesty wish to hear!”
The little empress tried looking for a crack in Jiang Yeqian’s expression but she only saw concealed impatience. This made her suddenly realize that she had gone slightly overboard with the coercion today. Because of that, the little empress hurriedly tried to make up for it. She softened her voice slightly and said, “It does not conform to your previous actions, which is why we are very curious! It is impossible that you would have gone to this extent just from competing with the State Preceptor…”
The echoing of her final words was profound.
Jiang Yeqian’s visage was expressionless. “That is because there has never been a chess piece as useful as her before, so it took a lot from this humble servant to battle it out with the State Preceptor over her.”
The little empress thought he made a good point, but her natural intuition as a woman still told her that this explanation was a little too simple. So, she asked, “Is there really no other reason?”
Jiang Yeqian answered, “No.”
The little empress finally dropped her suspicions somewhat. She then recalled another matter and said to Jiang Yeqian, “She refused to pledge her loyalty to us.”
Jiang Yeqian, “…”
He turned his head slightly to glance at Qi Qingyao.
Qi Qingyao was looking down but she was internally screaming, ‘Ugh, f*ck, what does this have to do with me? What does this man’s dislike of you have to do with my unwillingness to pledge my loyalty to you!’
The little empress suddenly flashed a smile with great interest. “So, now we order you to kill this girl with your own hands.”
Jiang Yeqian’s expression intensified.
The little empress was still the little empress. For a long time, she had gotten accustomed to being the superior person and giving out orders. She had gotten accustomed to allowing those who obeyed her to prosper, while having those who did not perish. She was even more accustomed to being the one and only existence.
It was likely that the little empress had only believed on the surface Jiang Yeqian’s claim that he was only trying to use Qi Qingyao.
Deep down, however, she still felt that Qi Qingyao should not exist.
So, she once again tried to test them.
As if joining in on the merriment, Li Ruoxuan glanced at Jiang Yeqian. He suddenly felt sympathy for the Head Grand Secretariat. If he heeded the little empress’s order to kill Qi Qingyao, Qi Qingyao would treat him as an enemy from now on whenever he tried anything! If he did not heed the empress’s orders, however, this would mean that the empress’s test had succeeded and it would confirm that he really liked Qi Qingyao. With that, the little empress would also kill Qi Qingyao because he liked her!
It was a dead-end without a choice.
He was actually very curious about what Jiang Yeqian would do.
Jiang Yeqian took a deep breath and said, “Your Majesty, she still has Si Jin backing her. If she is killed, Si Jin will turn against us. Do you really wish to do this?”
Li Ruoxuan, “…”
‘While this answer is a reasonable one, the little empress who is in love with you won’t take your word with all her current doubts, Head Grand Secretariat.’
A striking light flashed through the little empress’s eyes as she shouted, “We do not believe that Si Jin will go against the country for her sake. So kill her!”
“Alright.”
Jiang Yeqian turned around. Supporting himself in his crutches, he walked toward Qi Qingyao step by step. There was no trace of emotion in his eyes.
Qi Qingyao could not stop her eyes widening as she took a step back. Stumbling over her words, she stuttered, “Jiang, Jiang Yeqian, are you really going to kill me?” Qi Qingyao was unable to catch up with what was happening. In just a short moment, the situation had escalated to her going to be killed.
Jiang Yeqian’s dark eyes were filled with serenity. “I can only obey her Majesty’s orders.”
With those words,
His hand reached out toward Qi Qingyao’s neck.
Qi Qingyao, “…”
She wanted to fight back against this unexpected situation.
However, Jiang Yeqian was a rank nine powerhouse. In an instant, she felt an invisible killing intent, wrapping her up so that she could not move. She wanted to beg for mercy, wanted to remind him that she had rescued him back then and whether he had f*cking forgotten! Her mind seemed to be frozen, however, she could open her mouth at all.
His hands clasped her delicate, white neck. It was as if he only had to exert a little force and her life would be snuffed out.
Li Ruoxuan looked at Jiang Yeqian’s gradually tightening grip. In this second, he felt that the Head Grand Secretariat was truly powerful. He obviously fancied this little woman and was greatly bothered by this turn of events, but faced with the little empress’s death sentence, he chose the most appropriate path.
Which was to kill Qi Qingyao.
Although it could be said that he could only protect her by killing her.
This decision, however… He was betting on the little empress calling out a halt after considering the young grand master.
However, if the little empress did not call for a stop, would he really kill Qi Qingyao?
Just as Jiang Yeqian was about to break Qi Qingyao’s neck, the little empress, seemingly satisfied with his decisiveness, finally let go of the remaining traces of doubt in her heart. Just as she was about to call for a stop at the critical moment…
Another person could not help but shout for them to stop.
“Halt.”
The voice sounded like heaven to Qi Qingyao.
It was Li Ruoxuan’s voice.
He had no idea that the little empress was about to call for a stop. He just could not help doing it himself when he saw her face already red with blood, looking as if she were about to lose her breath from being strangled.
His mouth moved faster than his mind.
Jiang Yeqian did not move. He looked at Qi Qingyao’s gradually reddening face unblinkingly but his hands had already loosened a little.
The little empress’s gaze was directed to the person who had spoken. “State Preceptor, do you perhaps wish to beg for her life?”
Li Ruoxuan was a little stunned. After pondering for half a second, he immediately stepped up. The depths of his gaze were unusually cold and his left eye was like a dark poisonous snake as he stared at the little empress. “Your Majesty, I believe I have already informed you about Shang Li, who has already arrived in the capital.”
The little empress, “…” About that other topic, they still did not know who exactly was the person in question.
“A new grand master has appeared.”
Li Ruoxuan nodded lightly and said, “The person in question is this humble servant.”
The little empress’s eyes lit up all of a sudden. “It turned out to be the State Preceptor. How truly gratifying!”
Li Ruoxuan declared nonchalantly, “This humble servant likes Lady Qi very much, and hence, I would like to ask the empress to retract her order.”
The little empress was shocked. She did not think that the State Preceptor would have such peculiar taste. “Do you really like her? That’s why you don’t want us to kill her?”
Li Ruoxuan answered calmly, “Yes.” He did not actually like her, he just did not want to see a promising individual snuffed out because of a decision filed by the empress’s jealousy.
The little empress’s gaze instantly scrutinized Qi Qingyao whose face had turned pale from its previous reddish hue. She then looked at Jiang Yeqian who was not wearing any expression. Finally, she clapped her hands.
“Alright then, we will not have her killed for now out of consideration of your request.”
She was going to stop things anyway. She certainly did not wish to offend the young grand master named Si Jin because of one woman!
She was just testing Jiang Yeqian.
In the end, she got great results!
She even fished out the truth that Li Ruoxuan was the new grand master of the continent. She had thoroughly won this time!
All that matters was that Jiang Yeqian did not like Qi Qingyao! All would be well.
She would easily approve of whoever Li Ruoxuan liked, even if he wanted to be with the widow!
The little empress immediately waved her hand at Jiang Yeqian, indicating that he could let go of Qi Qingyao. At the same time, the little empress said to Li Ruoxuan happily, “State Preceptor, do cultivate properly after you return home. You don’t have to worry about coming to the palace to attend the court for the near future! Your number one priority now is to improve your cultivation base and become Northern Liang’s unshakeable power!”
“Understood,” replied Li Ruoxuan.
“Qi Qingyao, you may also leave.”
Qi Qingyao was still a little stunned. She did not speak, her entire body in a trance.. Li Ruoxuan looked at the pale little lady with his bottomless gaze, then supported her and helped her out.