Chapter 114: The Scabbard

Dazed by wine, Li the playboy managed a rare moment of clarity. After mulling over the meaning behind Her Majesty’s words, he hastily knelt to offer his thanks.

His family, who had been worrying themselves sick over the dandy, let out a collective sigh of relief when they saw the Empress did not intend to punish him.

The situation was far less optimistic for the Lin family. They had never expected Prince An to completely disregard their blood relation, even going so far as to favor an outsider. Nor did they expect that a single banquet would cost them a daughter they had raised so meticulously.

Giving that playboy a chance to “woo” her—how was that any different from giving their daughter to the Li family for nothing? Not to mention, that dandy was utterly beneath their station.

Yet, since the Empress had given her approval, they could only bow and offer their gratitude, no matter how unwilling they were. After all, be it lightning or morning dew, all were the grace of the Sovereign.

With that little interlude over, the music and dancing resumed.

Shangguan Liqian, who had been sharing a drink with Luo Wushuang, let her gaze wander over the crowd below before finally withdrawing her eyes. Luo Wushuang was keen enough to notice something was off. She leaned in slightly and whispered, “Sister, what is it?”

Shangguan Liqian shook her head slightly, her voice equally low. “Why haven’t I seen the Prince of the Western Regions today?”

Even though Wushuang had already given up on collaborating with him, the Prince himself shouldn’t have known that. Given his personality, he wasn’t the type to miss a Flower Viewing Banquet. Was he perhaps plotting something in the shadows?

At that thought, Liqian’s brows furrowed slightly.

Hearing her mention that eccentric Prince, a flash of cold malice flickered in Luo Wushuang’s eyes, followed by an instinctive twitch of her lips.

Thanks to the Prince of the Western Regions, those court officials who were so worried about her lack of heirs had recently been pestering her with portraits of “handsome men” that no ordinary person could appreciate. They all carried themselves with a look that said, We understand Your Majesty’s unique tastes, there’s no need to be shy, which annoyed her to no end.

The worst part was that she couldn’t even explain herself. If the court found out she was using a foreign prince seeking a marriage alliance just to please her sister, there was no telling how much more annoying they would become.

However, thinking of the Prince’s current predicament, Luo Wushuang couldn’t help but feel a sense of smug satisfaction.

“The Princess of the Western Regions broke his legs a few days ago. He probably can’t even get out of bed right now.”

Luo Wushuang spoke with an unmistakable smile and a hint of schadenfreude. Of course, she had been the one to orchestrate his downfall.

Ever since the marriage alliance party entered the capital, Luo Wushuang had ordered her people to monitor their every move. She wasn’t just aware of Prince Baili’s indifference—whether it was genuine or feigned—she also knew everything the Princess of the Western Regions did within Luo Yunjin’s Manor.

Most importantly, she knew that the Prince had been secretly trying to bribe people in the palace. At first, Luo Wushuang thought the man simply hadn’t given up on her, so she didn’t take it to heart. But once she heard from her Secret Guards that his target was actually her sister, she was instantly enraged.

That sickly Prince actually dared to set his sights on her sister? In her territory? He truly had a death wish.

Luo Wushuang had originally planned to have him eliminated directly, but then she remembered the “shameless” Princess of the Western Regions who had demanded rewards from her. She changed her mind. Since the Princess had taken so many benefits, it was time for her to show some sincerity.

Breaking his legs was just the start of the game. After that…

Perhaps imagining some entertaining scene, Luo Wushuang’s smile grew more radiant. However, as her gaze swept over the person beside her, the false mirth transformed into something genuine, filled with dependence and contentment.

No matter the time or place, she would protect her sister. She would never let anyone harm her.

Her sister only needed to be well… to stay by her side. To stay by her side forever. She would help fulfill her sister’s wishes and do whatever her sister wanted at any cost—except letting her leave.

Her sister’s joy, anger, and sorrow should all stem from her. Her sister’s tears should only fall upon her… whether those tears were from happiness, or from a pleasure that was too much to endure.

Just as Luo Wushuang’s thoughts began to drift further afield, a soft, clear voice pulled her back.

“Was this your doing?”

Without much hesitation, Luo Wushuang nodded. She leaned toward Shangguan Liqian’s ear, whispering her denunciations of the Prince’s “evil deeds” as if she were still indignant. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, feeling that merely breaking his legs was far too lenient. Later… she would make sure that Prince regretted ever thinking of her sister!

Anger burned in her chest, and the chill in her eyes seemed ready to freeze into frost. Just as the fury peaked…

A warm, soft hand slipped under the cover of their wide sleeves, quietly grasping her hand that was trembling slightly from rage.

“Alright, don’t be angry anymore.”

Shangguan Liqian paused, a soft, warm smile appearing in her eyes. “Wushuang has protected her sister once again.”

Hearing the dependence and praise in her sister’s tone, the anger in Luo Wushuang’s heart dissipated by more than half, and the corners of her lips curled up instinctively. Her sister was praising her, and she was even holding her hand in public… It was hard not to be happy.

The officials below were almost becoming immune to their Empress’s smiles. She had been smiling far too frequently today.

They began to vaguely realize that when Miss Shangguan was present, the Empress’s smile didn’t have to be blood-drenched. If Her Majesty was a sharp blade, then Miss Shangguan was the scabbard that could sheath that lethal edge. With Miss Shangguan there, the Empress would have reservations; she would act somewhat more like a normal person.

Realizing how different Miss Shangguan was to the Empress, these “old foxes” immediately raised their estimation of Shangguan Liqian’s importance by several levels. They thought to themselves that upon returning home, they must warn their juniors to be extremely cautious in their words and deeds. They must never gossip about the Empress’s Miss Shangguan again, lest disaster befall them.

Yet, there were those who could not see the situation clearly. For instance, Shangguan Qinglan, whose heart had long since become twisted.

She blamed the rift between her and her husband, as well as her family’s neglect, entirely on Shangguan Liqian. Seeing the most noble woman in the world treating her illegitimate younger sister with such distinction, the imbalance in her heart grew even more extreme.

Why was she sinking into the mire while this person, whose birth was inferior to her own, could sit among the clouds?

She would pull her down! She had to pull her down from the clouds. A seed struggling in the mud, even if it bloomed into a beautiful flower, should be despised and looked down upon! She wanted Shangguan Liqian to see the person she relied on become disappointed in her. To even loathe her, to abandon her…

Thinking of the fate awaiting the person she hated, a sinister smile crept onto Shangguan Qinglan’s face. Wasn’t this illegitimate sister of hers just relying on her “vixen-like” body to bewitch the Empress? What if that body was taken by someone else? What if she were no longer “clean”? Would the Empress still protect her then?

The smile on Shangguan Qinglan’s face deepened.

Beside her, the Heir of the Marquis of Dingyuan happened to turn his head. Encountering her malicious expression, the disgust in his eyes could no longer be hidden, and he quietly moved further away from her.

Unaware of her husband’s revulsion, Shangguan Qinglan beckoned her maid and whispered a few instructions. She then began to plot how to lure her sister out.

Because of her wicked intentions, she was hyper-focused on Shangguan Liqian’s every move. Noticing Liqian lean over to say something to the Empress before rising to leave, Shangguan Qinglan quickly stood up and followed.

As Shangguan Liqian left the banquet, only two palace maids followed her. However, there were people protecting her in the shadows, invisible to others.

Seeing Shangguan Liqian “alone,” Shangguan Qinglan cast aside all other concerns and rushed to catch up.

“Sixth Sister!”

Shangguan Qinglan called out with forced sincerity from behind. Thinking of the ordeal Shangguan Liqian was about to face, Qinglan suppressed her internal excitement and struggled to maintain a calm facade.