novelraw Chapter 631: Tearful Eyes!
Chapter 631: Tearful Eyes!
Li Qingmu arrived at the Liang Imperial Palace. Though most of the time You Su would supervise his practice and incidentally monitor his every move, everyone needs their own time.
So it is with him, and so it is with You Su.
If You Su followed Li Qingmu around all day, wouldn’t that suggest he had a penchant for Long Yang? Unfortunately, he didn’t!
Therefore, whenever Li Qingmu had free time, he would ponder the affairs within the Liang Imperial Palace and discovered that the court was divided into two factions: one supporting the Princess and the other composed of important ministers backing the young emperor.
Of course, those who supported the Emperor might not be truly loyal; perhaps they valued the benefits brought to them after Rong Zhuo assumed power.
Moreover, the Princess’s faction was powerful, occupying nearly seventy percent of the court’s speaking power, while Rong Zhuo held less than twenty percent, with some remaining neutral.
Li Qingmu habitually stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes in thought.
The political situation in the Kingdom of Liang seemed far simpler than when he first went to Shengjing City, Dazhou, being merely a power struggle between the Princess and the Emperor.
But in reality, it wasn’t; mixed within these two forces were several other dark forces, silently watching, ready to take a slice of the pie.
Thus, consolidating the fragmented factions, now it was a straightforward struggle between the Princess and the Emperor on the court.
Rong Si’s faction was too large, and since all her people were on that side, it was hard for him to penetrate. So, how about starting with the Emperor?
This idea was just a temporary thought; without absolute certainty, he wouldn’t act rashly.
Until just now, when Rong Si told him the news of Long Yue’s mother and child’s death, Li Qingmu’s spirit nearly collapsed, and he fell into overwhelming self-blame!
It was his uselessness, his inability to escape this devil’s cave and protect them, that led to their murder.
He knew he could no longer sit back and wait but must take action.
The timing was very coincidental; a beautiful palace maid actually tried to seduce him, and coincidentally, Li Qingmu remembered this palace maid was the niece of the Emperor Rong Zhuo’s wet nurse.
If previously he was a little reluctant to harm the innocent, now, after losing Yue’er and Rui’er, he felt he had nothing, so what could stop him from leaving?
Just killing a few palace maids, what of it?
He mercilessly ordered that the palace maid be beaten to death, angering and implicating several other pleading palace maids. Just like that, he stirred a hornet’s nest, and next, he would see the response from the young emperor Rong Zhuo.
That little emperor was only ten years old, but Li Qingmu found him uncommon.
For some reason, perhaps because when he looked into his eyes, he always felt a sense of familiarity.
This familiarity told him that the little emperor now exhibited only self-protection.
Indeed, he remembered.
Qi Jingyu!
Every time he saw Qi Jingyu, that youngster had eyes like that.
Bright and filled with cunning, not something ordinary people could fathom easily.
This interesting little fellow, perhaps, was his greatest collaborator?
"The Emperor has arrived—"
Simultaneously, a loud voice rang out; the little Emperor had arrived!
Li Qingmu’s pupils slightly narrowed, but he only smiled softly, still resting his head, half asleep and half awake.
Complete disregard for imperial power!
"The Emperor has arrived—"
The eunuch outside shouted again, and at the same time, the palace maids and eunuchs here knelt and kowtowed: "Long live the Emperor, long live, long, long live!"
Such a grand scene, but unfortunately, Li Qingmu seemed as though he hadn’t heard it, continuing to doze off.
Until the emperor Rong Zhuo slowly came in, and seeing the man sleeping soundly on the couch, the little emperor slightly bowed: "Brother Mu."
Rong Si was the sister of the late emperor, so in terms of seniority, Li Qingmu was indeed considered Rong Zhuo’s brother, but of the same generation.
Rong Zhuo, when saluting, was earnest and gave Li Qingmu face, so he slowly opened his eyes, showing a look of surprise: "Your Majesty? Why are you here?"
Rong Zhuo’s small face slightly wrinkled, clearly a bit frustrated, what did "why are you here" mean? Didn’t you hear the people shouting just now? Were you sleeping too deeply?
He really had no sincerity, but what could he do?
He was Rong Si’s son, although whether this son was real or not was uncertain, but whether from force or seniority, he was above them.
Rong Zhuo thought for a while, possibly organizing his words, and after a moment, he said, "Brother Mu, you just returned not long ago. Are you accustomed to living in this palace?"
Hmm, this style doesn’t match? Shouldn’t there be an inquiry about punishment?
Li Qingmu’s deep gaze slightly shifted, this little emperor had an interesting way, not directly asking why he killed, instead, speaking suggestively.
He smiled faintly: "It’s still quite accustomed, thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern!"
"As long as you’re accustomed, brother, all the palace attendants here are under the control of female officials, the next time someone offends you, you may simply tell the female officials, and they will harshly punish them!"
Li Qingmu squinted: "Is Your Majesty reprimanding me for previously beating that palace maid to death?"
His voice suddenly turned cold, gloomy, as if hiding a blaze of anger.
Rong Zhuo raised his head, meeting a pair of eyes dark as ink, his heart slightly panicked, and bowed his head: "Brother Mu, you’ve misunderstood, I didn’t mean that."
"Hmph, then Your Majesty came by this time just to show concern for me?"
"Brother Mu, I... I really just came to show concern for you..."
Rong Zhuo seemed frightened by Li Qingmu’s intimidating appearance, his small face creased, and his eyes filled with mist, as if tears were about to fall.
Li Qingmu remained indifferent, brushing his sleeves: "Since the Emperor merely came to visit me, and now I am well, please return to the palace! Someone, escort His Majesty back to the palace!"
"We respectfully send off His Majesty!"
The palace maids and eunuchs all said again.
The little emperor Rong Zhuo glanced at these palace maids and eunuchs who turned on him without any hesitation, knowing that they were actually used by Rong Si to monitor Li Qingmu.
Although they merely had a dry conversation, and Li Qingmu even scared him, there was already a mutual understanding.
Rong Zhuo, with a face full of grievances, gave Li Qingmu one look and then left in a huff, his eyes slightly red, as if he would cry.
Upon leaving, he saw Rong Si, right as she came from this side, he sniffled, cried "Aunt," and hurried away.
Behind Rong Si was You Su, both of them entered Changming Palace together.
Li Qingmu came out to greet them: "Mu’er greets mother, greets master."
"Mu’er, this time you really went too far; no matter what, that palace maid was the niece of the emperor’s wet nurse, you shouldn’t have just killed her so rashly!"
Rong Si, overlooking propriety, scolded him the moment she saw him.
Li Qingmu raised his head and said, "Mother, it’s precisely because I knew she was the emperor’s wet nurse’s niece that I ordered her execution! Moreover, I thought beating to death was merciful; I originally intended to flay her alive, to set an example!"
Once he said this, Rong Si wasn’t angry but rather curiously asked: "Why do you say so?"
If something seems unusual, there’s likely more to it, and if the method is so ruthless, there must be an inner reason.
"Mother, that palace maid was one of the emperor’s faction, coming to seduce me, what was her intention? Hmph, it was clearly to use beauty to drive a wedge between us!
Not knowing, beneath this sky, there are countless beauties, but I have only one mother, how could I be foolish enough to fall out with my mother over a woman?"
Rong Si was slightly taken aback, followed by an unprecedented sense of happiness welling up!