Chapter 46

“That thing is actually in Yun Yanyan’s room. No wonder I couldn’t find it anywhere. Yun Liang will definitely keep putting on an act in front of the Emperor’s people later, so I’d better retrieve it now!”

Li Nantong dusted the dirt off himself and slipped quietly out of the room.

The entire Yun Manor was bustling over Madam Yun’s suicide and death, so Li Nantong easily sneaked into Yun Yanyan’s room.

Sure enough, he found a rosewood box beneath the bed. Inside were several porcelain bottles.

Li Nantong wrapped the powders inside in separate pieces of paper, then scraped some dust from the wall and put it back into the bottles.

Only after closing the rosewood box did he rise with satisfaction.

“Little sister, let these wonderful things shine in Big Brother’s hands!”

Li Nantong snuck back to his own side room and began packing his belongings.

Now that Madam Yun was dead, the Li family would certainly no longer receive much protection from Yun Liang. They might even earn his resentment.

The Emperor had just sent people to the Yun family to investigate Madam Yun, which meant she must have gotten herself into serious trouble!

No, he couldn’t stay in the capital any longer. He would go home in the next few days, have his father gather up the family’s money and valuables, and return to their hometown!

As for his cooperation with that handsome young gentleman, it would have to end as well.

That handsome, fair face surfaced in Li Nantong’s mind again, and he couldn’t help swallowing.

He was truly captivated by the man’s face and figure. Then, thinking of the aphrodisiac powder he had just obtained, an evil idea arose in his heart.

Why not sleep with him before leaving?

A pretty boy with such beauty, who had even personally come to recruit him, couldn’t possibly be someone of noble status.

If he lured the man out and enjoyed him, he could immediately board a carriage and leave the capital. Surely nothing would go wrong!

With that thought, Li Nantong left the Yun Manor and hurried toward Duying Gambling House.

Sure enough, not far from the gambling house’s entrance, he spotted a disheveled beggar with a loop of hemp rope tied around his hand.

This was the messenger the pretty boy had arranged to pass along messages.

Li Nantong walked up to the beggar and crouched down, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“I have a deadly piece of evidence against Yun Liang. Tell the person who met with me before to come alone to a private room on the third floor of Shengrong Restaurant three days from now. And have him bring one thousand taels of silver!”

After saying this, Li Nantong casually scooped the copper coins the beggar had begged for out of his bowl and stuffed them into his own robes before swaggering away.

Dragon Shadow Guard: “???”

Damn it! Those were the coins he had spent an entire day pretending to be a beggar to collect!

Inside Yunning Palace, Guan Wanyu and Ning Ying stood respectfully below the dais, waiting for the person seated above them to speak.

“Imperial Guard Deputy Commander Dong Guang bullied you so outrageously. Do you wish to take revenge?” Tu Shanjin asked, taking a sip of tea.

“Your Highness, Deputy Commander Dong holds a high position and great authority. This subordinate wouldn’t dare think of such a thing. I only wish to carry out my duties properly.”

After spending some time honing herself in the palace, Guan Wanyu had long since mastered the art of official empty talk.

Ning Ying couldn’t discern the other party’s intentions either, so she added, “This subordinate agrees.”

“If you dare not think of it, then you must be thinking of it. Dong Guang abandoned his post and bullied female officials. Eliminating such a man is not only this palace’s intention—it is also His Majesty’s.”

Tu Shanjin set down his teacup, his gaze falling upon the two women.

This time, he did not merely intend to eliminate Dong Guang and the others. He also meant to bring the Imperial Guards entirely under his control and conduct a thorough purge of all those harboring treacherous intentions.

Guan Wanyu and Ning Ying were both part of the plan.

Upon ​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‍hearing this, the two women raised their heads in astonishment.

Guan Wanyu’s heart filled with gratitude. His Majesty was usually so busy, yet he could still stand up for the female officials. She truly had not chosen the wrong person to follow! Consort Miao might appear cold, but she was kind at heart and equally worthy of respect!

Ning Ying, meanwhile, was shaken. Her Highness had helped her out of trouble that very morning, and by afternoon had already joined His Majesty in deciding to eliminate Dong Guang. Such decisiveness, and such devotion to her subjects, made her truly worthy of serving!

The two women bowed respectfully and spoke in unison.

“Your Highness, what must we do?”

Tu Shanjin explained everything they needed to do next. The two women nodded repeatedly as they listened to the plan, and the admiration in their gazes grew increasingly intense and syrupy.

After finishing his explanation, Tu Shanjin suddenly met their utterly worshipful eyes and froze.

What was wrong with the officials these days?

It was one thing for them to write such nauseatingly sentimental words in their memorials. But why were they just as clingy and saccharine in person?

Tu Shanjin wanted to darken his expression and reprimand them for overstepping their station, but then he remembered Yun Yaoyao’s way of handling matters.

Forget it. He ought to learn from Yun Yaoyao. These two still had great use.

“You two have performed outstandingly since entering the palace. As female officials, you have devoted yourselves to every task. You will be rewarded.”

A collection of precious jewelry was bestowed upon them. The two women were utterly won over by this cold-faced yet kind-hearted Consort Miao, who was so generous with her gifts.

“Thank you, Consort Miao!”

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the third floor of Shengrong Restaurant, Yun Yaoyao, dressed in plain clothes, sat facing Li Nantong.

“You said you obtained deadly evidence against Yun Liang. What is it, and where is it?” Yun Yaoyao asked quietly.

Li Nantong patted his bulging chest. “It’s all hidden right here. Where’s my one thousand taels of silver?”

Yun Yaoyao took out a banknote.

Li Nantong’s expression changed. “Didn’t I say I wanted silver? Why are you giving me a banknote?”

“Silver is too heavy. A banknote is more convenient. What? You don’t want the banknote—are you planning to run?” Yun Yaoyao’s gaze was clear and penetrating, as if she could see straight through him.

“What a joke. I’m living quite comfortably in the capital. Why would I run?” Li Nantong snatched the banknote. “Fine, a banknote it is!”

“Come, have a drink with me.”