Prompted by Shangguan Liqian’s reminder, Luo Wushuang finally recalled the several large chests of jewelry the Secret Guards had seized from the Shangguan Manor a few days prior.
The items had naturally been brought back. With the Empress herself intervening, Shangguan Qingyun wouldn’t have dared to feign compliance while secretly defying her orders.
However, she found the items loathsome because they had been handled by the Shangguan family. Refusing to let her sister wear such “contaminated” things, she had ordered her servants to toss them into the storehouse to gather dust.
Hearing Liqian ask about them now, Luo Wushuang spoke in a consultative tone. “Sister, I’ve already commissioned the Imperial Palace Workshop to craft a new set of jewelry with the latest designs. The finished pieces will be delivered over the next few days. Could you wait just a little longer?”
Liqian was momentarily stunned. She wasn’t actually asking for new jewelry. She simply wanted to know if Wushuang had helped her reclaim the belongings that had been held at the Shangguan Manor.
And, more importantly…
Recalling her true objective, Liqian’s eyes flickered slightly. She asked with feigned nonchalance, “The Shangguan family has been plagued by one ‘accident’ after another lately…”
Liqian had originally intended to ask if Wushuang knew anything about it, but seeing the Empress’s expression immediately shift into one of smug pride, the words died in her throat.
Fine, no need to ask. These events were undoubtedly orchestrated by her.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that every single person who suffered misfortune was a member of the Shangguan family who had crossed paths with her and Wushuang on the day they left the palace?
In truth, what Liqian didn’t know was that the string of bad luck extended far beyond those few individuals. Luo Wushuang had merely restrained the Secret Guards’ frequency of intervention to make the “accidents” look more convincing.
Now, however, it seemed she might have acted a bit too hastily.
While Luo Wushuang was silently reflecting on her lack of composure, Liqian spoke up with a hint of uncertainty. “Aside from these things, are you hiding anything else from me?”
Luo Wushuang’s heart skipped a beat. Did Sister guess that I did all of this?
Unsure of where she had slipped up, Wushuang stole a glance at Liqian’s expression and said cautiously, “There’s also Shangguan Qinglan. She ‘accidentally’ fell into a pond yesterday. I expect you’ll receive a letter from the Shangguan family regarding it by this evening.”
Liqian: “…”
There really was more?
She knew, of course, that Wushuang had done all of this to vent frustrations on her behalf. Although she felt a slight pang of regret that she hadn’t been the one to exact this revenge personally, Wushuang’s intentions were pure. It wouldn’t do to criticize her.
Otherwise… this girl would likely start overthinking things again.
Still, the thought of a reigning Empress resorting to such petty, behind-the-scenes maneuvers for her sake left Liqian feeling a mix of deep emotion and wry amusement.
If this story ever got out, likely no one would believe Wushuang was responsible. After all, what kind of Emperor would use such “childish” methods to settle a score?
Liqian sighed helplessly and followed along with the Empress’s narrative. “You’re right. How could that whole family be so incredibly careless all of a sudden?”
Luo Wushuang observed her sister’s face, her heart thumping nervously. What did that mean? Was she being blamed for hurting her family, or was she angry again?
“Not only that…” Thinking about the aftermath, Wushuang hesitated, unsure if she should continue.
Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Liqian pinched the bridge of her nose and said resignedly, “Go on, tell me.”
Wushuang swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. “Since Shangguan Qinglan had only recently miscarried and hadn’t fully recovered, falling into the frigid water like that… I’m afraid it has severed her chances of ever having children in the future.”
In other words, Shangguan Qinglan was now barren.
Knowing that Liqian had been very close to Shangguan Qinglan in the past, Wushuang worried that her sister would be angry at her for taking such drastic initiative. Even worse… she feared Liqian’s previous claims of hating them might have been a lie.
Upon hearing that Shangguan Qinglan had fallen into the water, Liqian’s brows instinctively furrowed.
She remembered that in her past life, Shangguan Qinglan had indeed become unable to conceive because she fell into water while recovering from a miscarriage, allowing the “palace cold” to settle into her body.
If Wushuang had ordered it this time, what about the past life?
Could it be that in her previous life, Wushuang had also been secretly punishing the Shangguan family without her knowledge?
However, in that life, the Shangguan family hadn’t sent frequent letters detailing the manor’s affairs, so she couldn’t be certain if Wushuang had interfered then. But then Liqian remembered that in her past life, around this same time, Wushuang had bestowed a large number of dancers and songstresses upon the Marquis of Dingyuan’s Manor. Her suspicions deepened.
“Were you also thinking about bestowing some beautiful concubines upon the Heir Apparent of the Marquis’s Manor?” Seeking to confirm her theory, Liqian looked at the person beside her.
Hearing this, Luo Wushuang’s eyes instantly lit up. “Can I?”
She had indeed thought of doing exactly that, but she hadn’t had the chance to implement it yet. She hadn’t expected her sister to be on the same page! Could this be the legendary “connection of two kindred spirits”?
Seeing Wushuang’s excited expression, Liqian thought to herself: I knew it!
It seemed Wushuang had done a great deal for her in the shadows during her past life, too. It was a pity she had been so blind to people’s true characters back then, leading to such a tragic end…
Thinking of Shangguan Qinglan’s fate in the previous life—losing her husband’s heart and having no children to rely on—Liqian felt, from the bottom of her heart, that the woman deserved every bit of it.
Beside her, seeing that Liqian hadn’t answered, Luo Wushuang couldn’t resist reaching out and poking her in the waist.
Liqian looked down, meeting Wushuang’s expectant gaze. After a moment of silence, she asked, “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a great idea! During the pacification of the Western Tribes, the Marquis of Dingyuan was at the front lines, fighting bloody battles that damaged his health, which is why his lineage is so thin. Since the Heir Apparent’s wife is now struggling with fertility, for the sake of the Marquis’s family line, it is only natural that we should…”
Wushuang started tentatively, but the more she spoke, the more righteous she felt, her voice rising with enthusiasm.
However, once she noticed the half-smile on Liqian’s face, her voice gradually dropped until it disappeared entirely.
Just as Wushuang was convinced her sister would never agree, Liqian suddenly buried her head in the crook of Wushuang’s neck and whispered, “I think you’re right. Let’s do as you suggested.”
Wushuang froze, then carefully wrapped her arms around Liqian’s waist. “Sister isn’t angry?”
Liqian shook her head, her tone calm. “You’re doing this to avenge me. Why would I be angry?”
She glanced at Wushuang, who was still cautiously monitoring her face, and continued, “I just intended to take my revenge personally, but I didn’t expect you to do it for me.”
Hearing this, Wushuang’s energy returned instantly. “Then Sister needn’t be disappointed! That Chancellor Shangguan has plenty of other children. We can sit down and discuss what kind of ‘accidents’ might happen to the rest of them.”
Looking at her enthusiastic expression, Liqian smiled helplessly.
“Alright, let’s have breakfast first. You still have many memorials to review later.”
Wushuang’s bright little face dimmed instantly.
[Shangguan Liqian: Let’s do something bad.]
[Luo Wushuang: Hehe!]
[Shangguan Liqian: Time to review the official reports.]
[Luo Wushuang: Not hehe…]
[Xiaobai: Hahaha!]
