The Choice Queen's

TCQ 77: Evade Each Other

“What did you say? Chen Pang is dead?”

“True, Sir. The king himself executed it.”

Li Fengran lost all his words when the Supreme Court officer told him that Chen Pang was dead. Really, Li Fengran really did not expect Nangong Zirui to directly execute him.

It made him even more curious, actually what was said by Chen Pang until Nangong Zirui had to execute him himself without waiting for his opinion?

“Has the interrogation result been reported?”

The officer shook his head. “King ordered that the interrogation of suspect Chen Pang not be reported in writing. He said he himself would take care of it.”

“Then do you know what the result looks like?”

The officer shook his head again. “King himself interrogated him. We are not allowed to enter.” at all

He took a breath and asked no more. Li Fengran left the Supreme Court. He walked over nonchalantly as he continued to think about the reason the man executed Chen Pang without hesitation. Though, Nangong Zirui should have told him because Li Fengran was his main victim.

He stopped his steps in the palace garden as he accidentally passed Shen Lihua who was picking flowers with her servant. He knew he had to salute, and Li Fengran then bent his body as he did whenever he met people.

Shen Lihua gave him a quick glance, she looked calm and resumed her activities.

Li Fengran did not like to talk to unknown people or to people he disliked. Rather than looking for trouble and wasting time, he chose to continue in his footsteps. However, Shen Lihua's voice suddenly made her again stop a step.

“No result, no?”

Li Fengran was silent. He was about to take another step before Shen Lihua spoke again.

“Chen Pang, didn't the King execute him without telling you?”

Li Fengran closed his eyes and was forced to turn around. “Your Majesty the Queen, do you have anything you want to talk to me about?”

“These flowers are beautiful. Are you interested in picking it with me?”

“I don't have time. Her Majesty the Queen, please continue your pleasure. Subordinates like me won't bother you.”

Shen Lihua held back the emotions in her heart. She was sick of meeting Li Fengran, but she had to meet him.

Shen Lihua kept the knife in the tray, cleaned her hands then turned to look at Li Fengran. There was a small forced smile on his mouth.

“You asked the King for help so that he freed the five girls who came home with you. They're the daughters of honorable officials. Have you ever thought about what they would do after leaving their family? Give them a home and treasure?”

Shen Lihua then lifted up next to the corner of her lips. “It's not a long-term solution. Sword Stakeholder, you are a wise man. I know you can provide solutions for them.”

Li Fengran was surprised and felt strange. What happened to Shen Lihua today?

He was usually always hostile to her and always said many unpleasant things that ignited his emotions. Why would he care about the fate of the five girls who were kidnapped with Li Fengran when he was himself like a prisoner and often selfish?

Shen Lihua again raised her mysterious little smile. He knew it was a form of mental attack, but the goal was really not bad this time.

He wanted Li Fengran to be aware of every consequence of his actions and think carefully before acting.

“Think about it well. I'm happy to warn you.”

“I will be careful. Thank you for the warning of Her Majesty the Queen,” said Li Fengran reluctantly. He wanted to fight back, but he remembered Nangong Zirui's words the other day telling him to think about things from some side. He could not avenge the Queen directly.

“Your Majesty the Queen, you think too much. Instead of taking care of me, you better think of a way to atone for your sins. I'm not replying to you for thinking about the position of His Majesty the King. So, Queen Shen, be careful and be nice while I have patience.”

Shen Lihua gave a small laugh even though her heart felt quite a shock. It turned out that the reason Li Fengran did not retaliate was because of the King!

“Ah, I forgot that talking to you is pointless. Xiaoli, is the preparation for the selection of her concubine finished?”

“Already, Her Majesty The Queen. The Queen Mother had already ordered the girls into the palace in two days to contest the selection of concubines.”

“Good. Let's go.”

After Shen Lihua left with her servant, Li Fengran instead fell silent in his place. A concubine? The election? The girls? His heart suddenly felt empty.

Apparently, the Queen Mother wanted to make the harem even more crowded. She must have tried to strengthen her power by choosing girls from the official family to be made new concubines.

No wonder, the position of concubines in the palace is still empty. Especially after Su Min's departure, the only concubine in the harem was Fei Jia.

What could he do? Getting angry? Disappointed? Even Nangong Zirui alone might be helpless when his mother forced him to have some new concubines.

Li Fengran's position here was only as a Sword Stakeholder and in the eyes of the general, he was his minister. How could he possibly show his feelings?

Was this also one of the reasons why the man was acting strangely last night?

Li Fengran did not know the answer. He chose to look for her back to Qihua Palace. However, Wang Bi suddenly walked out of the palace and closed the door while carrying a few scrolls. When he crossed paths with Li Fengran, Wang Bi immediately stopped.

“Eunty Wang, is His Majesty inside?”

Wang Bi was a little confused. “Yes, but he's very busy today. Stakeholder of the Sword, His Majesty asked me to give this scroll of the decree to you and he said you should deliver it directly.”

“Decret?”

“Didn't you previously ask His Majesty to give justice to the five girls kidnapped with you? Your Majesty has granted it and you alone must hand it over.”

Li Fengran accepted the decrees as he continued to think. Usually he would go straight to her, but somehow his heart was against her. It would probably be best not to meet Nangong Zirui for a while. Li Fengran did not know how to behave later.

“Good. I'll send it.”

After which, he left while Wang Bi went back inside. Nangong Zirui was currently standing by the window, staring at Li Fengran's departure with a look of sorrowful eyes. There was confusion and a sense of helplessness filled the recesses of his heart.

“Your Majesty, why didn't His Majesty meet him?” ask Wang Bi. He was wondering why the King suddenly wanted to avoid the Sword Stakeholder. Last night it was obviously him who forced his way to Changsun Palace.

“Better not to meet for a while,” replied Nangong Zirui. To be honest, he did not know how to deal with Li Fengran.

She was very disrespectful to him last night. He was also confused and still angry at the fact that Shen Jinglang turned out to like Li Fengran.

Chen Pang had exposed it and that was what made him emotional. He did not like any other man craving Li Fengran, whereas he himself could not be firm and forthright in his feelings.

“Then what about the selection? Queen Shen already sent out her roster yesterday on the orders of the Queen Mother.”

His head is dizzy. His mother acted again without his knowledge. Nangong Zirui did not know his mother planned to give him a few more concubines. He was only told when the Queen Mother had already chosen a name and had Shen Lihua give the list and sort it out for another two days.

“You how else? Adding a few won't affect anything for me.”

Wang Bi nodded in understanding. Yes, it will have no effect on the King because his heart is only on someone. At most he would ignore it again like he was ignoring Queen Shen, the late Consort Su and also Consort Fei. But, what about the Sword Stake? Can the woman hold him down too?