Chapter 300: Who is the Adulterer?

Chapter 300: Who’s the Secret Lover?

This was truly a case of dropping a bombshell.

"Is it?"

"Grand Tutor Qin?"

"Assistant Minister Qin?"

"General Qin the Younger?"

"Which one is she looking at?"

"Could the one who had an affair with Xiang Rongyue really be General Qin the Younger?"

"Enough nonsense!" Grand Tutor Qin bellowed like thunder.

Princess Qingyu shot back a defiant glare.

What’s it to her if he was a big shot?

Even the biggest shot was still under the Emperor’s thumb.

In the end, the only person Princess Qingyu truly feared was the Emperor himself.

"How is this nonsense?"

"Grand Tutor Qin is furious—who knows if it's from embarrassment?"

"Besides, this princess was talking about Qin Erlang, not Grand Tutor Qin. Why is Grand Tutor Qin so eager to throw a fit?"

"As for whether it's nonsense, just send two groups—one to search Xiang Rongyue's bedroom and the other to Qin Erlang's courtyard."

"If there was indeed an affair, we’ll find proof."

"Handkerchiefs, hairpins, jade combs, sachets, pouches, lucky charms..."

"Isn’t this the stuff lovers trade?"

Empress Dowager Xie thought: Today, Qing Yu is on fire.

Had she grown a brain?

"Qing Yu makes a good point," Empress Dowager Xie said calmly.

With a full retinue—guards, eunuchs, matrons—there were plenty of people to spare.

Grand Tutor Qin stepped forward, hissing. "This is the Qin residence!"

Princess Qingyu hiked up her skirts and hurried over, stepping in front of Empress Dowager Xie.

Empress Dowager Xie nudged her back and looked at Grand Tutor Qin, her words ice-cold. "Yes, this is the Qin residence."

"But first and foremost, this is Daqian."

*This One* is the Empress Dowager of Daqian.

"When will the Qin family ever rise above Us, only then may you threaten Us."

"Yapping like a mutt—just pathetic noise."

"Xiao Fei, Xiao Fu, the two of you personally lead the search of Qin Er’s residence."

"Qing Yu, We recall your horsemanship is exceptional. Take a squad to the Xiang estate and search Xiang Rongyue’s chambers."

Princess Qingyu proudly accepted.

So what if she offended Grand Tutor Qin?

She had already won favor with Empress Dowager Xie. With her praise, she would remain the Emperor’s most beloved daughter.

Who cares about him!

*Grand Tutor Qin couldn’t do anything to her anyway!*

Princess Lerong County eagerly volunteered, "Your Majesty, Le Rong wishes to go as well."

Princess Pingning blinked. ???

She had barely loosened her grip, and Le Rong had already spoken up.

Empress Dowager Xie’s gaze warmed imperceptibly. "You are a County Princess, your rank’s too low to raid the residence of the Minister of War."

Princess Qingyu lifted her chin slightly, casting a smug grin at Princess Lerong County.

"But—"

Before Princess Lerong County could finish, Princess Pingning swiftly pulled her back and shoved a pastry into her mouth.

Princess Qingyu strode off like a preening peacock, selecting her team with pride before departing in high spirits.

Xiao Fu grinned shamelessly at Grand Tutor Qin and shrugged, all innocence. "Grand Tutor Qin, the Emperor specifically ordered that my royal brother and I must act according to Her Majesty’s wishes."

"Otherwise, we’ll face a caning upon returning to the palace."

Prince Duan smiled gently. "Same goes for this prince."

"Our apologies, Grand Tutor Qin."

Prince Duan and the Second Prince left together.

Grand Tutor Qin turned purple with rage, gasping for breath.

If he’d known it’d come to this, he would never have hosted the Winding Stream Banquet.

Empress Dowager Xie cleared her throat. "It has been over three years since We last summoned you all. For a moment, I hardly recognized you."

The head maid understood the implicit command. "Greet Her Majesty one by one."

The bloodstains by the vermilion pillars had yet to be washed away, and the reek of blood still lingered in the air.

Many timid officials’ wives barely kept their composure to avoid discourtesy.

Some whispered behind their hands—hadn’t Empress Dowager Xie been praying to Buddha day and night? How could she kill without flinching?

Some Buddha she worships!

"This subject, County Princess Le Rong, pays homage to Her Majesty."

County Princess Le Rong wolfed down the pastry, washed it down with tea, and hurried to the center of the open space, where she performed the deepest ceremonial bow with utmost seriousness.

County Princess Le Rong believed that Empress Dowager Xie in her former majesty, who had ruled as the mother of the nation, was worthy of homage from all.

With County Princess Le Rong taking the lead, the others knew what was expected.

Silently and unanimously, they stepped forward to pay their respects by order of their family's rank.

Empress Dowager Xie appeared benevolent and kind, her earlier sharpness gone.

The consequence of this arrangement was that Lu Mingchao ended up last.

"This humble woman, Lu Mingchao, pays homage to Her Majesty."

"Long live Her Majesty."

Her pregnancy wasn't too far along, so the grand ceremonial bow posed no difficulty for her.

The moment Lu Mingchao knelt, a brief tension showed in Empress Dowager Xie's eyes, and her fingers nervously sped up as they rubbed the jade bracelet on her wrist.

This was A Yan's wife.

The wife A Yan chose of his own will.

Lu Mingchao.

The Lu Mingchao who had grown up in the Yongning Marquis's household.

Apart from the scandal of her once-unwavering devotion to Gu Huai, she was above reproach.

Empress Dowager Xie knew full well what had happened to Lu Mingchao after she left the Yongning Marquis's household.

She was a decisive, strong-willed, clear-minded, and fearless woman.

The very night she returned to the capital, she had thrown the Yongning Marquis's household into chaos.

Such a woman was full of life and freedom.

And for the same reason, she was not one to be controlled.

Empress Dowager Xie felt conflicted.

"Look up."

No one batted an eye.

After all, Empress Dowager Xie often made small talk, and Lu Mingchao was no exception.

Lu Mingchao obeyed and looked up.

"You have a lovely face."

Gu Huai's heart jumped.

The last person Empress Dowager Xie had complimented on their looks had become a corpse whose eyes wouldn't close.

Clenching his jaw, Gu Huai silently resolved to keep A Chao safe no matter what.

"This lowly woman thanks Your Majesty for the kind praise," Lu Mingchao spoke faultlessly, her words impeccable.

Empress Dowager Xie gestured lightly, "Since you are pregnant, you may rise while speaking."

In Lu Mingchao’s womb carried the Xie family bloodline.

Back then, everything happened too fast. She used every resource to save her second son’s child, Ru'an.

From the entire Xie clan, apart from her father and A Yan in the distant north, she had only managed to rescue Ru'an.

Her elder brothers, younger brothers, nephews—were all dead.

Yes, her own son was dead too.

But thankfully, the Xie line would survive.

It would survive!

Empress Dowager Xie's voice caught with emotion. After a brief pause to compose herself, she wanted to ask something—yet she didn’t know what she most wished to ask, nor where to begin.

Words rose to her lips several times, only to be swallowed back.

Finally, she waved her hand and said indifferently, "You may leave."

What did she want to ask?

About A Yan?

About Hang Er?

Or about Ru'an and Jingyi?

Jingyi could have had her mother’s company.

Xiao Yao would have welcomed them, mother and daughter.

"Hasn't the Winding Stream Banquet begun yet?"

"We have long heard of the unparalleled elegance of the Qin family’s Winding Stream Banquet, praised by all, and We have longed to see it."

"Let it begin."

"Let me see for myself."

The guests: Once again marveling at Empress Dowager Xie’s remarkable poise.

"You go too far!" Grand Tutor Qin gritted his teeth, he growled.

Empress Dowager Xie smiled mockingly. "Too far?"

"We have not."

The Qin family—they're not even human!

"Three men vying for one wife."