571: Chapter 571 Scheming Against Situ Jun

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Li Fu's back. He knew His Majesty's temper; saying anything at this moment was useless.

However, Jiang Wanlian's reputation in the Tianqi Royal Capital was too good—virtuous, kind, and from a pitiable background. If she were forcibly abducted, he feared it would draw condemnation from the people of the world.

“Your Majesty,”

Bracing himself, he cautiously advised:

“This servant understands your intentions, but Lady Jiang is, after all, the widow of the late Marquis of Zhengdong. The Marquis sacrificed his life for the country back then and achieved great military merit. Lady Jiang herself is innocent, has remained chaste her whole life, and is known throughout the Dynasty for her virtue. If she is forcibly sent to the Ascension Realm, I fear... I fear it will be condemned by the world and damage Your Majesty's holy name.”

“Condemned? Innocent?”

Li Xuan turned around abruptly, his gaze like sharp blades piercing straight at Li Fu. A violent aura of hostility surged around him:

“Was my Empress innocent? Were my Noble Consorts innocent? They were members of my harem, yet were they not still forcibly taken by Situ Jun? That Situ Jun has the ambitions of a wolf; he forcibly occupied the Emperor's concubines, yet has he been condemned by the world even once? Has anyone ever punished him for his crimes?”

“Now, I am merely emulating his methods, paying him back in kind. Where is the fault in that? Furthermore, I am doing this for Jiang Wanlian's own good! Being sent to the Ascension Realm to serve a great immortal cultivator is an Opportunity that countless women would break their necks to obtain; it is a heavenly blessing! It is a hundred times better than staying here in the Tianqi Royal Capital, guarding a dilapidated Marquis's estate, lonely and alone for the rest of her life!”

Li Xuan spoke these words with high-sounding gravity, whitewashing his personal revenge as something perfectly reasonable.

Li Fu trembled all over from the scolding. Daring not to say another word, he quickly bowed his head to the ground and said respectfully:

“This servant is dull-witted. Your Majesty is wise; I will go and handle it immediately.”

Seeing his submissive appearance, Li Xuan's expression softened slightly, though his tone became sinister and cold again:

“Rise and handle it quickly. I have heard that this Jiang Wanlian values loyalty and affection above all else and cares deeply for the Marquis's Family and her relatives. Use her kin to threaten her; give her a bit of a warning and intimidation, then promise her that as long as she obeys, you will guarantee the Jiang Family's prosperity and stability for generations. I do not worry that she will refuse.”

He gave specific instructions, his eyes ruthless:

“Remember, this matter must be handled cleanly and in total secrecy. Not a single breath of news must leak. If anyone is alerted and ruins my great plan, I will hold you solely responsible!”

Li Fu was scared to the point of his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. He kowtowed repeatedly:

“This servant understands and will certainly not fail Your Majesty's trust!”

Li Xuan waved his sleeve:

“Begone!”

Li Fu scrambled out of the room, and the Imperial Study returned to a deathly silence.

Li Xuan slowly sat back on the Dragon Throne. After a long while, he muttered to himself:

“Situ Jun, oh Situ Jun.”

He whispered to himself, a sinister smile curling at the corners of his mouth:

“Jiang Wanlian, this flower, will ultimately fall into the mud of the Ascension Realm. I just don't know if you will pluck her yourself, or watch her wither... or perhaps you can only watch helplessly as others pluck her. Hehe... Hahaha...”

...

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high. The streets and alleys of the Tianqi Royal Capital were so quiet that only the sound of the wind remained.

In the south of the Tianqi Royal Capital, deep within a quiet alley, sat a small but extremely clean and elegant residence. Although the vermilion gates were somewhat old, they still carried the solemnity of a general's house. This was the residence of the late Marquis of Zhengdong, now left only to his widow, Jiang Wanlian, to maintain alone.

Jiang Wanlian was thirty-six years old, the age when a woman's grace is at its peak and her aura most gentle.

She was exceptionally beautiful, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn ripples. Her skin was as lustrous as snow without a trace of time, and her figure was graceful and slender, dignified and elegant.

Even though she usually wore only plain cloth dresses without a touch of makeup, she could not hide that refined, ethereal, and gentle temperament, like a secluded orchid in a valley, noble and moving.

What was even more rare was that she came from a Family of generals and had been well-read since childhood, being knowledgeable, polite, and virtuous.

Since her husband died on the battlefield, she had single-handedly supported the large Marquis's estate as a woman, managing the internal affairs of the household in an orderly fashion and dealing with external social obligations with dignity.

In the entire Tianqi Royal Capital, whenever the wife of the Marquis of Zhengdong, Jiang Wanlian, was mentioned, no one failed to praise her as virtuous, chaste, and upright.

At this moment, the lights in the inner hall of the Marquis's residence were dim. Jiang Wanlian sat under the lamp, her fingertips holding a silver needle as they flew over an embroidery frame.

On the frame was a twin lotus on one stalk; the pinkish-white petals were unfurling, complemented by emerald green lotus leaves, looking lifelike.

Her fingertips were slender, carrying a faint scent of silk thread, and there was a hint of gentle melancholy between her brows.

Suddenly, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, breaking the silence of the courtyard. Before Jiang Wanlian could stand up to check, the tightly closed courtyard gate was kicked open with a loud 'bang.'

A squad of cold-faced soldiers dressed in black filed in, holding sharp blades with murderous expressions, instantly surrounding the entire courtyard. Leading them was the sinister-faced Li Fu.

Jiang Wanlian was startled by this sudden commotion and stood up abruptly. The embroidery frame and needle fell to the ground, and her face instantly turned pale. However, she was the widow of a general after all; even though she was terrified, she forced herself to remain calm, straightened her back, and stared at the intruders with a wary and cold gaze, shouting sternly:

“Who are you? Do you know the crime of trespassing into a Marquis's residence?”

Li Fu raised his hand to signal the soldiers to stop, then spoke with a shrill, mocking voice, without a hint of respect:

“Lady Jiang, congratulations. His Majesty has issued a decree summoning you to the palace to discuss matters. Let's go; do not keep His Majesty waiting.”

Jiang Wanlian's heart sank abruptly, and a strong sense of unease instantly swept through her body.

She had never had any interaction with Emperor Li Xuan. Having remained chaste for many years and living in seclusion, why would Li Xuan suddenly summon her late at night? Her intuition told her that this matter was definitely not as simple as discussing business in the palace, nor was it a good thing.

She subconsciously backed away, wanting to retreat into the inner hall, but two black-clad soldiers had already stepped forward quickly. They grabbed her arms from both sides with a force so great it almost crushed her bones, leaving her completely unable to move.

“Let go of me! I am the widow of the Marquis of Zhengdong, how dare you be so insolent!”

She struggled hard, her fingertips turning white from the effort, but it was ultimately to no avail.

Seeing this, her voice trembled slightly but still carried an unyielding tone:

“I want to see His Majesty. I want to ask His Majesty personally why I am being summoned without cause!”

Seeing this, the smile on Li Fu's face vanished instantly. He snorted and said:

“Marquis of Zhengdong? That is an old story from many years ago. Now the Marquis's estate has long since declined; who would care about the widow of a fallen house? Lady Jiang, if you are smart, you will come with me quietly to avoid physical suffering. When that time comes, not only will you be unable to save yourself, but even your Jiang Family relatives will suffer along with you!”

These words hit Jiang Wanlian's weakness. Her whole body stiffened, and her struggling movements stopped instantly.

She was not afraid of suffering herself, but she could not involve her Family and kin.

Before she could speak again, the two soldiers half-dragged and half-carried her out of the residence, all the way to the entrance of the alley, and stuffed her into an unmarked black carriage that had been waiting there.

The heavy carriage curtain fell with a thud, completely cutting off all light and sound from the outside world. The interior of the carriage was pitch black, with only the cold wooden boards pressing against her skin, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.

Her hands were tightly bound with ropes, making her unable to move. Greivance and despair instantly flooded her heart, and tears silently slid down her cheeks, hitting her plain dress and blooming into a small wet stain.

The carriage sped through the night, its wheels rolling over the bluestone road with a 'gulu gulu' sound.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally stopped. The curtain was lifted, and a piercing light shone in.

Jiang Wanlian was helped out of the carriage. Beneath her feet was a level bluestone path.

Looking up, she saw a hidden manor with high walls and soldiers guarding the entrance, exuding a stern aura.