Chapter 109: Intriguing Identity
An intriguing chapter about an intriguing identity – Happy Holidays :)
Li Wei Yang was stunned by Li Min De. In a fleeting moment, she felt this young boy gave her a very strange illusion.
Li Min De was surprised to hear this and immediately moved closer. The bright candlelight fell onto his pale jade-like cheeks. His eyelashes quivered: “Do you really want to know?”
Li Wei Yang nodded solemnly, then glanced out the window: “Wouldn’t it be a good time now?”
Li Wei Yang felt his smile was strange. He was lively just now, but when she asked about his identity, his expression seemed forlorn. There was sorrow, even though he was still smiling. She had a strange feeling that he was about to cry.
“Dead already?” Bai Zhi stared wide-eyed in horror at Zhao Yue by her side, but Zhao Yue was a seasoned professional and was naturally not bothered.
Li Wei Yang was just as shocked as she looked at Li Min De. He killed off all of Jiang Nan’s men? How could that be?
“Just some mountain bandits. I helped clean up these catastrophes on Jing Zhao Yin’s behalf. The Imperial Court won’t investigate it.” Li Min De looked down and slowly explained.
Li Wei Yang lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out. Apart from the group of assassins in black and guards solemnly standing, no one was left alive. Jiang Nan’s forces were skilled soldiers, but these people had dealt with them so quickly… She was simply shocked.
“Don’t worry, I will naturally deal with it, so Jiang Nan won’t be able to use it as an opportunity.” Li Min De smiled and said.
Li Wei Yang frowned. “But—”
Li Min De shook his head and said: “He should be taught a lesson. As for these outsiders, I will report to Jing Zhao Yin that a private army entered the Capital. They all had martial arts skills and after battles, they came to the Capital and hid amongst civilians and robbed officials and wealthy businessmen. Today, they ran into the Li family guards. If Jiang Nan wanted to claim these bodies, then very well, his Jiang family will be accused of harboring a private army. I think he may be bold enough to try something like this, but he will not dare admit to the Emperor that he brought soldiers back to the Capital.
Li Wei Yang laughed. Although generals had many soldiers, once they stepped foot into the Capital, they were not allowed to take their soldiers with them. They could only use their household’s guards. These guards naturally could not compare with soldiers that had fought in countless battles. Many military officers privately stationed their soldiers in the Capital, disguised, but that was a private affair that could not be brought to light.
When it is done, officials will close their eyes. In any case, every household knew to compromise, but the Jiang family always had people watching them like prowling tigers. Jiang Nan will certainly not admit that his guards were veteran soldiers. Once he admitted it, he would certainly make everyone suspect that the Jiang family was no longer wholeheartedly loyal. He was not that foolish yet.
“What if someone asks why your guards were so powerful?” Li Wei Yang raised her eyebrows.
Li Min De lowered his voice and said: “The ones responsible for killing people. They’re responsible for handling the bodies. It will be nicely cleaned up soon, no traces left behind. Don’t worry, I’m just joking. I cannot hand this many bodies over to Jing Zhao Yin, otherwise this will get out of hand tomorrow. After a quarter of an hour, not even a drop of blood will be left here.”
Li Wei Yang wanted to remain calm, but she could not stay calm. Although Bai Zhi had an expression of speechless shock, Li Wei Yang’s internal state was no better than hers. She did not know when Li Min De had a group of people like this by his side. She was not even aware of their existence in the past. No, not only her, but she feared the entire Li family still knew nothing about it. Why … why did Min De recruit such people?
Li Wei Yang’s thoughts were racing and analyzing. To be able to kill Jiang Fourth’s experienced soldiers, they were certainly not ordinary guards. It was not enough to say they were assassins. How could a frightening group of people surround Min De?
It must be known that she had once tried to use large sums of gold to recruit martial arts experts. However, what she found were so-called masters who were simply after money. They were not much better than the Li family guards. Later, she realized talent had to be cultivated from the very beginning, but she did not have the time. She could not form a formidable force based on money, but today, she saw Li Min De’s army killing without mercy…
“I think you still need to explain.” Li Wei Yang felt she could not pretend like nothing happened. She was determined to find out about Min De’s origins.
Li Min De lowered his gaze and lightly said: “It’s a long story, do you want to hear it?”
Li Min De waved his hand: “Zhao Yue, escort Bai Zhi onto the carriage behind this one.”
“First off all, we must start with the previous Emperor of Yue Xi.” Li Min De calmly said with a natural expression as if he was talking about someone else’s matters. There were no expressions on his face. “He favored the young and beautiful Concubine Liu and was cold towards Empress Song. Moreover, he believed Concubine Liu’s words and thought Empress Song was using witchcraft to curse him with the intention to rebel. Not only did he investigate and confiscate Song clan properties, he also gave the order to force Empress Song to death. At that time, Concubine Qian, Empress Song’s maternal cousin, gave birth to a young princess and could not bear it, so she pleaded on Empress Song’s behalf. Concubine Liu had her beaten to death and even sent the newborn princess to the Cold Palace.
“Empress Song’s son, the Crown Prince, had turned two years old and was dragged into the Empress’ treason because of Concubine Liu. He was also imprisoned with the rest of the Song clan. The Crown Prince survived because many ministers pleaded on his behalf, but he continued to be detained, and the Song family that kept him company were one by one torn apart by horses, beheaded, cleaved, and exiled. In the end, only the Crown Prince was left. He gradually grew up but had no one to teach or guide him. No one dared to tell him who he was, leaving him alone in solitary confinement in prison.”
Li Wei Yang looked at Li Min De’s calm face and intuitively felt that the Crown Prince of Yue Xi had something to do with him.