Chapter 113 (1/2)

Chapter 113: Two Birds, One Stone

Jun Huang's heart started pounding as she browsed through the accounting book. Qi Chen dares to embezzle sovereign funds through the Ministry of Rites?!

Because of the investigation on corrupt officials, Qi Chen did not dare to use the money he had so boldly stolen. He wanted Jun Huang to help him produce a fake record that would quell others' suspicions. If one day the emperor decided to ask him for the accounting book, he would have something to give the emperor.

He had made up his mind. Jun Huang couldn't say no to him. However, she deliberately made a few mistakes in the record that were difficult to notice at first glance.

Qi Chen then started talking about the interrelations.h.i.+ps among the courtiers with Jun Huang. Whenever two officials appeared to have become closer, Qi Chen would try to figure out what the reasons might be. Jun Huang didn't realize that Qi Chen paid such close attention to the courtiers.

The door creaked open, interrupting their lively conversation. Wei Lanying walked in dressed in a thin layer of silk. It was obvious that she didn't expect Jun Huang to be here. The fabric draped loosely over her shoulders, revealing her fair skin. She immediately pulled her robe tighter around her body when she saw Jun Huang.

Jun Huang scoffed when she noticed a flash of annoyance in Qi Chen's eyes. She was not a man, but she knew men found nothing more insulting than seeing their wives and concubines expose their body to another person, especially when that person was a man.

Jun Huang was Qi Chen's most valued strategist. He wasn't going to put the blame on Jun Huang. Wei Lanying, on the other hand, had been poorly-behaved. She had made many mistakes during the past few days.

”Who let you in?” Jun Huang demanded in a steely voice, keeping an eye on Qi Chen's expression. ”The guards were told to not let anyone in.”

As she expected, her words tipped Qi Chen over the edge. He pointed at the door and snarled at Wei Lanying, ”Get out! You are an embarra.s.sment!”

Wei Lanying didn't expect Qi Chen to be this harsh with her. Her hands shook under the plate of snacks she was holding. She ground her teeth together with tears in her eyes, on the verge of losing her composure.

Qi Chen did not show her any sympathy. He didn't even spare her a glance. With her dignity trampled, Wei Lanying shot Jun Huang a venomous glare before stomping outside.

Frustration threatened to burst out of her chest. She threw the osmanthus cake in her hand onto the ground. It broke into pieces and scattered everywhere.

”What happened, Lady Wei?” asked Wei Lanying's maid, as if Wei Lanying's angry expression wasn't enough to deter her. She could be obtuse at times.

Wei Lanying glared at her and said, ”Nan Guyue's insults I can endure. But a mere strategist dares to speak so harshly to me?” She tightened her fists, oblivious to the fact that her nails were digging into her palms.

It didn't take long for the maid to figure out who Wei Lanying was referring to. Among all the strategists in this manor, Jun Huang is the only one who will go against Wei Lanying.

”Lady Wei should ignore lowly man like him,” the maid said with a worried frown. ”Don't let your bad mood harm your body.”

”I will not let Feng Baiyu and Nan Guyue off the hook easily,” Wei Lanying said through clenched teeth, her eyes s.h.i.+ning with malicious intents.

The maid was smart enough to know that this wasn't the place for such conversation. She helped Wei Lanying back to her room and shut the door behind them. In her rage, Wei Lanying failed to notice her actions.

Once the door and the windows were shut, the maid came to Wei Lanying's side and said quietly, ”Lady Wei must not let them walk over you again. You have tried being diplomatic, but they never showed you the same courtesy. Who knows what they have been saying behind your back? Maybe they have been mocking you for being weak!”

The maid's words stoked the fiery anger in Wei Lanying's heart. She bristled.

”Oh? Do you have an idea for me to take them out?” she asked with her eyes narrowed.

The maid broke into a smile and leaned into Wei Lanying. ”When the princess got pregnant, gentleman Feng was still living in the manor. And the first person to notice that she was pregnant was gentleman Feng rather than a doctor. Doesn't Lady Wei find it curious?”

”Go on.”

”The crown prince had been busy with work at the time. He often stayed out and didn't return until late at night…”

Wei Lanying widened her eyes. ”Do you mean…?”

”The child has not been born yet. No one could say for sure who the father is. Even if it really is the crown prince's child, we can still plant the seed of suspicion in his heart. What do you think will happen then?” The maid pulled her lips into a devious smile.

Wei Lanying wasn't convinced however. ”No, that won't work. Feng Baiyu is persuasive, and the crown prince trusts him too much. If Feng Baiyu takes the opportunity to fight back, I might lose the prince's favor once and for all.”