The Choice Queen's

TCQ 25: Cold-Handed Killer

A few days later, Mo Wei returned to the capital and immediately went to meet Nangong Zirui at Qihua Palace. Back then, Li Fengran's condition had improved even though his body sometimes felt tired and several times coughed up blood.

“Your Majesty, based on the results of my investigation, the person most likely to poison the Sword Stakeholder before going to the palace is Li Shiyu, the first daughter of Great Lord Li Yan.”

Hearing the words, Li Fengran who was standing to the left of Nangong Zirui immediately frowned. According to Xiang Wan, this Li Shiyu was the biological daughter of Li Yan, the Great Lord of Danchuan who raised her.

Li Yan raised Li Fengran as his daughter while Li Shiyu was not yet born. Automatically, Li Fengran was the elder brother of Li Shiyu.

But since Li Fengran had first cooled Li Yan, Li Shiyu was hostile towards him naturally. Li Shiyu disliked Li Fengran because Li Fengran had snatched away all of her father's affection.

In fact, Li Yan had always treated them fairly. The envy and envy Li Shiyu had towards Li Fengran made their relationship look good on the surface, but it was actually very bad. Xiang Wan even said that this Li Shiyue often bullied him when he was a child when Big Master Li Yan was not in Danchuan.

“Said, Li Shiyu cried and begged Big Master Li Yan and wanted to go to the capital to enter the election competition. However, this careless and spiteful nature of Li Shiyu was also known to Great Lord Li Yan, so he was worried that Li Shiyu would cause trouble and harm Danchuan. That's why he decided that Miss Li Fengran represents Danchuan. That was because even though Miss Li was not talented, her attitude was much different to Li Shiyu.”

At the end of his sentence, Mo Wei glanced at Li Fengran uncertainly. Based on his experience and observations, Li Fengran's nature was clearly very contrary to what the informant in Danchuan had said.

Can someone change their character so quickly? Or, Li Fengran was actually hiding something and this was his true face?

Nangong Zirui at the time only responded with the word ‘oh’ without any additions. He had expected that the person most likely to poison Li Fengran was a person from Danchuan himself. Physician Hong said the poison within Li Fengran's body had already accumulated and almost claimed lives, meaning Li Shiyu had long since poisoned him.

As a result of his hatred and the sense of disbelief regarding Li Fengran's sentencing, Li Shiyu could have added a large dose and knew that Li Fengran might die during the election.

If Li Fengran died, then Li Shiyu would replace him. But, he had absolutely no idea if Li Fengran died, then Danchuan would fall.

Nangong Zirui would also not make her a concubine even if it was the wish of the late Ling Sui. The decision of Li Yan who remained to delegate Li Fengran according to him was very appropriate.

“Xiao Feng, you want to expose his crime and punish him?” asked Nangong Zirui. Since this was a family matter, it was Li Fengran himself who had to decide. Nangong Zirui happily lent her a knife to kill the woman.

“Because he hates me so much and envies me, I just want to see what his expression looks like when I see me standing next to the King as a Sword Stakeholder.”

Nangong Zirui nodded in agreement. This Li Fengran was good at quibbling, a lot of sense anyway. She believes this woman has her own plan. “Good. I will give you one chance at the Four Regions banquet three days later.”

“Your Majesty, why do you want to hold a banquet? Your wife just died! I think His Majesty still wants to mourn for him,” decak Li Fengran.

“Don't you want to see how I show strength?”

“Meanour Honor, Your Majesty wants to use the banquet to reclaim special authority and control of power?”

“Ya.”

“Woah, it will definitely be an exciting banquet.”

Nangong Zirui then called Wang Bi and told him to prepare a banquet with the other eunuchs. He also sent her to spread the invitation to the Donghao noble residences. Meanwhile, Li Fengran was told to return to Changsun Palace and not go anywhere until Nangong Zirui called out to him.

At this moment, only her and Mo Wei remained inside the hall. Nangong Zirui stared fixedly at Mo Wei and showed his true color as a king. Mo Wei immediately bent his knees, handing over a document he had tucked in his shirt. It was a secret report.

“Your Highness, among the three suspected territories, Zichuan is confirmed to have the most power. A few days ago, the scouts sent a report on the military situation in northern Zichuan, a training base for the military. The number of troops trained in that place ranged up to five thousand people.”

Aside from being King Donghao's personal bodyguard, another identity that Mo Wei possessed was the Commander of the Secret Army Guards, who in addition to protecting the king, was, he was also in charge of leading an elite force and gathering information from all over Danchuan.

All reports from the secret informant would reach him and be reported directly to Nangong Zirui. Mo Wei looked stupid and careless, yet he had another side that was only shown in front of his king. Other than Wang Bi, no one else knew about it.

Nangong Zirui at that moment chuckled. He kept the secret report under his desk, then moved out of his chair. He walked towards the open window, which flowed fresh air and the scenery in his beloved fish pond.

A waiter was sprinkling fish feed as he walked around the pond, unaware that he was being stared at by the king for a while from inside the palace hall.

“The ambition of Zichuan is always that big. Even when Mother made a deal, Zichuan was the only one who asked for more profits,” said Nangong Zirui.

He recalled how his mother had united power to make his footing, and he deeply regretted it. In the beginning, if one had better qualifications than him as a future king, Nangong Zirui would voluntarily give up his throne.

However, his mother did many things without his knowledge. Nangong Zirui did not intend to get rid of the brothers who wanted to steal the throne, but instead exiled them and watched them to death for his own ambitions. However, his mother had borrowed the hands of others and had all of his brothers die not long after he ascended the throne.

That is why at the beginning of his reign, many people hated him and considered him a cruel king. Coupled with what Ling Sui had experienced, her image as a heartless king grew more and more entrenched. Nangong Zirui was only able to raise his good name after two years on the throne and the people began to feel his affection and hard work.

Nangong Zirui hates being controlled. He built up his own strength and slowly managed to break away from his mother's influence. His mother did not force to interfere, but everything that happened would definitely reach his ears and he would act.

“Then, what is His Majesty's next move?”

“The poor and ambitious fish are usually careless. He will eat the bait that I hooked on the hook,” Nangong Zirui replied as he continued to stare at the fish pond.

“So, the banquet has His Majesty arranged according to His Majesty's wishes and goals?”

Nangong Zirui nodded.

“Find out what Shen Lihua has been doing lately!”

Mo Wei finally understood. He then left the hall, leaving Nangong Zirui alone. The King was still standing in his place just like before, his memories drifting towards all the events of the past. His brother died, the Four Regions wanted to rebel, Ling Sui's death, everything revolved very clearly in his brain.

He then muttered softly, “Li Shiyu and Shen Lihua, probably going to be cold-handed killers like Mother.”