Shi An's face instantly darkened. They had been so covert in their actions. How did this man manage to find out?
As if sensing his thoughts, Lan Xi parted his lips slightly. "You did a really good job of covering your tracks. I'm the only one in the Western Regions who discovered it, and I did so by sheer chance."
As long as no one else had found out, that was fine. Shi An pursed his lips. "Now that you've discovered such a big secret, you can't be allowed to live."
Hearing this, Lan Xi pushed against the sword at his neck. Blood slowly trickled down, contrasting sharply with his disheveled face and revealing a more wild kind of beauty.
Shi Muwǎn suddenly caught his eye and blushed slightly, embarrassed that she had just been so entranced.
What had gotten into her these days? Ever since Lan Xi had appeared, there seemed to be something about him that drew her in. This wasn't the first time she had lost herself in a daze.
She was a modern person who had seen so many handsome men and celebrities. How could she be so easily tempted?
She felt she needed to reflect on herself. Lan Xi, of course, didn't miss any of her reactions. His initial interest in the Empress Dowager had stemmed from the King's mission, but now it was genuine.
His curiosity grew stronger, and he began to urge the people in front of him.
"General, what's your decision? Don't worry. I haven't told anyone about your arrangements. This deal is beneficial for both of us."
Shi An thought it over carefully. It seemed that Lan Xi was right. But whether he would agree or not ultimately depended on his younger sister's opinion.
"Empress Dowager, what do you think of the envoy's proposal?"
"It's not that I can't agree. But, big brother, can you really get the antidote back? If not, then the envoy can just stay here."
Lan Xi twitched the corner of his mouth. If they were going to give it a try, it meant they were already allies. Was this how one treated an ally?
He gritted his teeth and quickly spoke up, afraid that the Empress Dowager would reject him the next moment.
"Empress Dowager, rest assured. I can help you obtain the antidote. No one knows better than me what the King does all day."
"Heh. If you know so well, then why haven't you managed to get the antidote after all these years?"
Hearing himself portrayed as so useless, Lan Xi gritted his teeth. "Before, I was alone, so I couldn't get the antidote. But with the general's men to assist me, I'm sure I can get it smoothly. Then I won't have to be at the King's mercy anymore."
Seeing how confident he was, Shi Muwǎn, who had long wanted him to pledge allegiance to the Great Liang, naturally wouldn't turn down this opportunity.
"Big brother, cooperate with the envoy this time. If it succeeds, the Great Liang will gain another worthy official."
Since his younger sister had spoken, Shi An returned the sword to the guard. "I'll go and contact the people in the Western Regions right away."
The matter was thus settled. Shi Muwǎn sent someone to arrange for Lan Xi to stay in his previous residence, still with Qin Feng.
When Qin Feng saw him appear again, his eyes were filled with disdain.
"I don't know what tricks you used to get the Empress Dowager to release you. But I'll keep a close eye on you. You'd better not cause any trouble here, or I'll be the first to catch you and torture you."
Lan Xi wasn't the least bit afraid of him. "General, you'd better take care of yourself. You've been here for so long, but the Emperor doesn't seem to have any plans to give you a position. It seems he doesn't think much of you."
Qin Feng was deeply hurt by these words. He gritted his teeth. If it weren't for the people sent by Shi Muwǎn standing nearby, he would have thrown this man out.
"My business is none of your concern. Anyway, as long as you're here, I'll watch you like a hawk."
This meeting between the two ended on a sour note. The palace maid beside them scurried away in a hurry. She felt that if she stayed any longer, the two men might start fighting.
...
Shi Muwǎn went straight to the imperial study and began to discuss with the young emperor what to do next.
Prince Lian had already committed a serious crime before, and they had shown mercy by not punishing him. Now he was pushing his luck. It seemed that he needed to be taught a lesson.
"Mother, how do you think we should handle this matter?"
"Prince Lian is no longer suitable for officialdom. Why don't we send him back to his hometown in Luolin to be with his son?"
Indeed, the ancestors of the Great Liang royal family had once lived in Luolin. It was only because they had later risen to become the royal family that they had come to the capital, Changjing.
In recent years, few royal relatives had been willing to return there. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they wouldn't send anyone.
And this so - called "absolutely necessary situation" meant being demoted. Only when a royal relative committed a serious crime would they be sent there to guard the ancestral land.
The young emperor thought this was a good idea. Just as he was about to issue an imperial edict, he heard that Prince Lian had entered the palace.
Ji Heng looked at him in surprise. "How could he enter the palace without my permission? This is a violation of the law."
Shi Muwǎn helplessly rubbed her forehead. She had almost forgotten what she had done.
"I sent someone to summon him before. I originally planned to convict him based on that letter, but now that we have other plans with the Emperor, we can just have him come and receive the imperial edict."
"That's fine too."
After the two of them discussed it, Prince Lian was brought to the imperial study. He had thought he was going to the Shoukang Palace but suddenly found himself in the imperial study. His heart grew more and more uneasy.
"Greetings to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. May I ask why you've summoned me?"
"Prince Lian, do you know your crime?"
The young emperor slapped his hand on the table. The loud noise made Prince Lian tremble and kneel on the ground.
"I'm terrified. I don't understand what the Emperor means. I've never done anything to betray the Great Liang."
"Heh. You're still stubborn even at this point. We have evidence. Take a look at these letters and then talk."
Prince Lian was suddenly hit by a stack of letters. He was completely bewildered. But after he read the contents, he quickly knelt beside the young emperor's legs.
"Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with me. I was just pretending to cooperate with the envoy on the surface. I haven't done anything yet. I just wanted to stall for time and tell Your Majesty when the time was right."
This sounded like a joke to Shi Muwǎn, and she laughed without restraint.
"I wonder how thick - skinned the prince must be to say such things. It has nothing to do with you? When the time is right? Then tell me, what exactly does 'when the time is right' mean?"