When she sent Xing Ruolan to summon the person, Di Lingwei also moved to stand by the window in the Study Room, waiting for her arrival.
Being alone with Wang Feifei was somewhat unnerving, but fortunately, the silhouettes of many Imperial Guards could be seen outside, which provided some peace of mind.
Soon after, Wang Feifei arrived.
“Ruolan, you may withdraw first,” Di Lingwei commanded. Xing Ruolan, who had brought Wang Feifei, then respectfully took her leave.
No one else remained in the room besides Di Lingwei and Wang Feifei.
After exchanging greetings, Wang Feifei stood to the side with a demure look, appearing as if she had no ulterior motives whatsoever.
Di Lingwei remained standing by the window, gazing outside for a while before turning around to look at Wang Feifei. “Feifei, Zhen shall ask you a question.”
“If Feifei knows the answer, she will certainly tell Your Majesty,” Wang Feifei quickly said.
“Zhen asks you, do you know why your Wang family launched an attack on the Crown Prince’s Mansion last year?” Di Lingwei didn’t beat around the bush and directly posed this question.
Wang Feifei’s expression immediately changed upon hearing this. She had never expected Di Lingwei to bring up this matter.
Why ask this question?
What was this unfathomable Empress trying to do?
In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Wang Feifei’s mind, but outwardly she maintained an innocent facade.
She blinked her large eyes and said, “Your Majesty has already spoken of this matter. Back then, our Wang family fell into the Crown Prince’s cunning trap, and that’s why we launched a suicidal attack, which resulted in our own destruction. Of course, Your Majesty quickly avenged the Wang family afterward, for which Feifei is still deeply grateful.”
Di Lingwei was slightly taken aback. She had expected Wang Feifei to say that she had given the order for the Wang family to attack the Crown Prince’s Mansion, thus leading to the Wang family’s destruction. Because that was the apparent situation—without her command, why would the Wang family have courted their own demise?
Yet, based on all the information she had reviewed and the circumstances combined, the Original Host had heavily relied on the Wang family and fully intended to continue employing them after her ascension. There was absolutely no reason for her to suddenly send the Wang family to their deaths.
That Wang Feifei seemed to understand this matter so well was somewhat surprising to Di Lingwei.
‘Did I back then… hmm, did the Original Host back then, explain the situation to Wang Feifei? Indeed, Wang Feifei’s position was very important; the Original Host couldn’t have not explained it. But did Wang Feifei believe it?’
Di Lingwei sank into thought.
If Wang Feifei understood, why would she harbor intentions of regicide?
Although Wang Feifei had never outwardly displayed any intent to kill the sovereign, Mu Fuwan had, and Mu Fuwan was someone unconditionally loyal to Wang Feifei. Therefore, Wang Feifei must be the one who truly wanted to commit regicide.
So the situation was very inconsistent.
Yet, Wang Feifei showed no intention of arguing further. She simply hung her head with a meek and obedient expression.
Di Lingwei had no choice but to continue, “This matter was the Crown Prince’s Mansion’s scheme. At the time, the various parties vying for the throne hadn’t completely torn off all pretenses yet. They were all waiting for an opportunity, and the Crown Prince created just such an opportunity. Using some unknown method, he made the Wang family believe Zhen had given the order to attack the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Thus, the fiercely loyal Wang family truly acted, but they were no match for the Crown Prince’s Mansion. They were counterattacked, which led to the family’s annihilation.”
After piecing together information from various sources, this was the conclusion Di Lingwei had reached.
Wang Feifei also nodded her head, saying, “Your Majesty also explained it to Feifei like this back then, and Feifei believes Your Majesty’s words.”
Watching Wang Feifei’s cooperative demeanor, Di Lingwei felt a headache coming on.
Because she knew the other party was lying.
This wasn’t just known through Mu Fuwan’s matter confirming Wang Feifei had issues. Just a moment ago, a new development had made Di Lingwei even more certain that Wang Feifei was lying.
It was a notification sound.
Achievement Unlocked: 【Wang Feifei in the Study Room】. Wang Feifei’s Regret Trait is now viewable.
Name: Wang Feifei.
Identity: Commander of the Imperial Guard.
Personality: Carefree and seemingly thoughtless, appears easy to control but is actually sharp beneath the surface. A secret she cannot disclose is hidden deep in her heart, causing her true nature to be somewhat gloomy, though she hides it well.
Hobby: Loves to drink, drinks whenever she has free time.
Martial Power: 96.
Regret: The Wang family was destroyed because of Di Lingwei’s excessive order.
The Regret Trait clearly stated what secret Wang Feifei truly hid in her heart.
Wang Feifei still believed that the Wang family’s demise was connected to Di Lingwei!
So, without a doubt, Wang Feifei’s earlier words of agreement were entirely feigned. She didn’t believe that explanation at all.
Di Lingwei sighed inwardly and asked Wang Feifei, “Feifei, regarding this matter, there seems to be another version circulating among the common folk, right? You should have heard of it, correct?”
Hearing Di Lingwei say this, Wang Feifei couldn’t help but nod. “Feifei has indeed heard another version, but Feifei knows that one is false.”
Di Lingwei also knew of the other version; its covert circulation was quite widespread.
That version claimed that the Wang family had already become overwhelmingly powerful at the time, and she, Di Lingwei, was the strongest contender among the competitors for the throne, almost certain to secure the imperial position. Under those circumstances, fearing the Wang family might overshadow the sovereign with their achievements in the future, she deliberately issued a suicidal command, allowing the Wang family to be buried like that in the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Di Lingwei didn’t know where this rumor originated, but she felt Wang Feifei mostly likely believed this version.
“Feifei, what is your view on this version?” Di Lingwei asked seriously.
Wang Feifei blinked her large eyes and said, “That is undoubtedly just a rumor. Feifei would never believe such a thing. Feifei knows Your Majesty treated the Wang family very well. It’s only because our Wang family people were too foolish and failed to discern the real situation that we fell for the trap.”
Hearing Wang Feifei’s supplementary remarks, Di Lingwei felt no joy in her heart.
If not for the existence of the Trait information, she might very well have been deceived by Wang Feifei’s innocent exterior.
The Original Host should have also explained the situation, but even if Wang Feifei didn’t believe it in her heart, she would outwardly pretend to believe the Original Host’s words. Thus, the Original Host never made a more detailed, more substantiated explanation regarding this matter, which is why this issue persisted until now.
But Di Lingwei would not be deceived by Wang Feifei’s surface obedience. The truth had been revealed to her by her Mystic Left Eye.
Wang Feifei still believed Di Lingwei had caused the Wang family’s destruction. No matter how respectful she appeared on the surface, she certainly harbored ulterior motives deep down.
“Feifei, who do you think spread this rumor?” Di Lingwei stared at Wang Feifei and asked.
Upon hearing this, Wang Feifei blinked and replied, “Feifei doesn’t know. This is just a piece of false gossip Feifei overheard by chance; Feifei didn’t even take it to heart. Your Majesty need not concern yourself with it either.”
