Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Deceitful Words and a Malicious Heart

Liang Wan was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook her head and smiled. "Your Majesty is mistaken."

"Mistaken?" Gao Qian raised an eyebrow.

The corners of Liang Wan’s lips curved up, her smile exceptionally gentle, and her dark eyes shone like stars. "Such a fine opportunity... how could we not leave it for the Lou Family?"

Gao Qian’s voice deepened. "The Lou Family?"

Guanglu Doctor Lou Xiao and Lu Ying, the Empress Dowager’s younger sister, had two sons and two daughters together.

The elder daughter, Lou Xu Ru, was married to Wang Yansheng, the eldest son of Wang Su. The second daughter, Lou Yunchu, was married to Prince Guangping, Gao Yi, as his concubine.

The Lou Family naturally supported Prince Guangping, Gao Yi.

If Lu Xiu hadn’t yet picked a side before, the Lou Family might have harbored hopes of winning him over. However, Gao Qian obstinately appointed Lu Xiu to the rank of Great General, which undoubtedly showed that Lu Xiu had already chosen to support him.

Lu Xu held political power and was loyal to the Empress Dowager. Lu Huai commanded military power but remained neutral. Everyone knew, however, that Lu Huai and Lu Xiu were the closest of brothers. Since Lu Xiu had chosen Gao Qian, Lu Huai’s stance was now uncertain.

’If I cannot use such a force for my own ends, I must eliminate it as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will become an enemy and threaten me.’

Wasn’t this also why Gao Qian had chosen Lu Xiu?

Gao Qian was having an affair with Lou Xu Ru. Who could say it was purely a matter of love between a man and a woman?

No matter how he obtained the throne or how he chose to rule—even if he defied heaven, acted unscrupulously, and did as he pleased—it was ultimately his. Anyone who dared to covet it deserved to die a thousand deaths.

Within the Imperial Family, what did parents and children or brothers and sisters truly mean?

The world is a bustling crowd, all coming for profit; a chaotic mess, all scrambling for it.

Let alone imperial power.

Liang Wan looked into Gao Qian’s eyes. "Whether Lu Xiu is a spy for Beizhou is still questionable. Yet, while the war was at a stalemate, the Lou Family presented a letter from Beizhou addressed to Lu Xiu. Their intentions are worth pondering."

"The Lou Family knew full well that Your Majesty was the one who resolutely insisted on promoting Lu Xiu. If they were truly loyal, why not secretly inform Your Majesty and let you investigate and decide? Instead, they presented it openly in the great hall. Not only did this humiliate Your Majesty, but it also forced you into a passive position. This shows their ill intent and malicious motives."

"And that Duke Wei, Lou Jing, is even more detestable. He clearly knew that the poem about destiny was— yet he allowed the Lou clan to twist the facts and use rumors to bewitch the common people. Their only goal is to undermine Your Majesty so they can seize power for themselves. As for where the Lou Family’s true allegiance lies, Your Majesty should be very clear in your heart..."

Gao Qian was silent, his eyes darkening as he stared at her.

How could he not know what was on Gao Yi’s mind?

Liang Wan’s lips curved into a smile. "Since they have plotted so meticulously, why doesn’t Your Majesty simply grant them their wish?"

In an instant, Gao Qian’s eyes turned bloodshot. "What did you say?" he snarled.

Liang Wan blinked, a mysterious smile on her face. She leaned in close to his ear, her breath warm and alluring.

Gao Qian sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes growing darker and darker.

Before Liang Wan could pull back after speaking, a pair of hands wrapped around her waist, and she fell into his lap.

His somber disposition was cold, and even his embrace was frigid.

The hands on her waist were like shackles, locking her firmly in place.

Gao Qian raised an eyebrow and grinned. "You truly are a fascinating creature."

Liang Wan wrapped her arms around his neck. "I do not care what kind of person I am, as long as I am not useless to Your Majesty."

At her words, Gao Qian immediately burst into hearty and delighted laughter.

"What reward do you desire, my lady?"

Liang Wan tilted her head to look at him, her voice soft. "It is enough that Your Majesty does not find me useless."

He lowered his head and sniffed at her temple. "You look beautiful in plain colors. I hope you will stay in Taiji Palace forever."

Liang Wan rested her head on his chest and gently closed her eyes. "I’m only afraid Your Majesty will soon grow tired of me."

Gao Qian laughed. "I’ll have to find that out for myself."

He truly loved the scent on her body. When he could smell it, his mood would lighten. When he couldn’t, he would become unbearably agitated.

’She really has changed so much.’

’It’s as if she’s been meticulously crafted to meet my every need.’

’Unbelievably perfect for my tastes.’

’In the past, she was so unyielding...’

Gao Qian’s thin lips pressed together slightly. He raised a hand as if to strip away her clothes, his tone suggestive. "I can’t bear to part with you already."

A cold palm touched her back, and an overwhelming wave of nausea washed over her again, so strong she almost vomited uncontrollably.

But her stomach was already empty, save for the medicinal brew.

Liang Wan urgently threw her arms around his neck, desperate to prevent Gao Qian from seeing the expression on her face.

’So eager?’ Gao Qian noted, and couldn’t help but smile. "Are you in a hurry, my lady?"

The woman in his arms nodded obediently and hummed in agreement.

He laughed, picked her up, and headed toward the back. The West Hall was his bedroom.

Liang Wan lay over his shoulder, her eyes wide open, coldly staring at the mess and the dead bodies on the floor.

"Your Majesty, I like to hear you play the flute."

’Like a dirge.’

The man holding her gently stroked her back and chuckled softly. "I know how to do many things. If you like playing the flute, my lady, I could teach you."

Liang Wan let out a soft laugh, her gaze turning cold enough to form frost.

He couldn’t wait until they reached the West Hall. Coming to a dark corner, he tore down a hanging curtain embroidered with a lotus pattern in gold and silver thread.

The lotus is often offered to the Buddhas and is considered a sacred object.

Daqi revered Buddhism.

Yet now, Gao Qian had carelessly pulled it down beneath him.

Liang Wan watched him, her eyes curving into a smile.

Gao Qian laid her flat, grasped her shoulders, and stared at her intently.

Liang Wan lowered her eyes, her lips curling into a smile as she reached up to hook her arms around his neck.

...

Liang Wan put the small fragrance ointment back into her sachet, pulled up her slipped clothes, and used her sleeve to wipe her shoulder with a look of disgust.

She took a moment to compose herself, then quickly peeked outside. Fortunately, when Gao Qian was in one of his frenzies, no one dared to approach without his command.

Liang Wan stood up and nudged the unconscious man on the floor with the tip of her foot.

’Killing him now would be easy, but I’d have to be buried with him.’

’I used to think there was no point in living, but not anymore.’

Liang Wan looked at the man on the floor and shook her head. ’Women truly are fickle.’

’After all, that was then, and this is now.’

’I have to live a good life.’

Liang Wan bent down, picked up a corner of the curtain, and kindly covered him with it. She then stepped over the corpses and walked through the wreckage toward the palace exit.

She rubbed her stomach. ’Everything else is fine, it just upsets my stomach.’

The guards at the door were still kneeling. Seeing someone emerge, they all looked as if they had seen a ghost. Then, noticing her disheveled hair and rumpled dress, they quickly lowered their heads, a thousand thoughts racing through their minds.

Liang Wan ignored their strange looks and said calmly, "Your Majesty has fallen asleep. You may go in to attend to him in a little while."

「South Garden Residence.」

After her bath, Liang Wan sat upright before a mirror while Bai Lu combed her hair.

Gu Yu stood to the side, her head bowed. "Please punish me, my lady. The Lou Family avoided us and brought Cao Luyun into the palace to secretly meet with their master."

Liang Wan’s eyes sparkled. "It’s fine. The important thing is that they got into the palace."

Gu Yu looked up in astonishment.

Liang Wan smiled. "Entering the palace isn’t what’s important. What’s important is who entered first."

If forging that letter from Yuan Shaoyu hadn’t been so taxing, why would she have needed to delay for so many days?

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