“This is all thanks to Young Master Lan,” Qian Qi said. “If Lan Tingyu hadn’t been so enamored with beauty, how would he have fallen into my trap, and how could I have controlled his life?”
Gu Yan responded, “So that woman, Su Bi, is one of your people?”
“Su Bi is indeed a very useful person. She hasn’t let me down,” Qian Qi continued. “Thanks to her, I had the chance to poison Lan Tingyu. If it weren’t for my antidote, he would have exploded and died instantly.”
Qian Qi laughed cruelly, “It’s surprising that, while General Zhen Guo doesn’t like this troublesome grandson of his, when it comes down to life and death, he can’t bear to see Lan Tingyu die.”
Gu Yan smiled at Feng Guang, “General Zhen Guo is protective of his kin, Your Majesty. It seems you were not wrong to lose.”
Feng Guang pursed her lips and snorted. She knew she wasn’t good at court politics, but now that she was caught, did Qian Qi have to speak so leisurely and sarcastically?
“I’ve already taken the imperial seal,” Qian Qi said confidently. “If I announce tomorrow that Your Majesty is gravely ill and I am to monitor the kingdom, I believe no one will dare oppose me.” He spoke as though success was already guaranteed. “Having served the Xia family for decades, today it’s time for me to take the high position.”
Feng Guang gritted her teeth, “The imperial seal is in the secret vault. How did you find it?”
“As long as Miss Su Xu is around, no secret vault is truly secure,” Qian Qi replied, full of pride.
“What do you mean by that?”
Qian Qi, looking pleased, continued, “Miss Su Xu from the Su Ling Xuan helped me with divination and told me that I am the true emperor. Naturally, she also predicted the location of the secret vault and helped me acquire the imperial seal.”
“That witch!” Feng Guang was furious. Could it be that Su Xu could divine the future? She alone held the key to the secret vault!
Qian Qi enjoyed watching her fume with anger, then turned his gaze to Gu Yan, saying with calm arrogance, “Prince Qian, the world praises your remarkable talent, as wise as a deity. But after seeing the arrangements and schemes I’ve set up, do you still find them lacking?”
“One can’t help but admire it,” Gu Yan replied, his black eyes flashing briefly.
Qian Qi nodded and then said, “In that case, Prince Qian, why don’t you begin by incapacitating your right hand?”
Feng Guang’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you want to do, Qian Qi?”
“Your Majesty doesn’t need to worry. I’ll only disable the prince’s right hand. He’s skilled in martial arts, and that’s a trouble. Only by disabling one of his hands can I be at ease.”
“Gu Yan, don’t listen to him!” Seeing that Gu Yan wasn’t objecting, Feng Guang cried out in panic. But just as she shouted, Qian Qi’s hand tightened around her neck.
Qian Qi slowly increased the pressure, and her face grew pale. She desperately tried to pry his hand off, but it was no use. Qian Qi was a martial general, and with her small frame and weak strength, she couldn’t compete with him.
Qian Qi said to Gu Yan, “Prince Qian, have you thought this through? The empress has been pampered all her life. If you don’t act quickly, this fragile neck might snap any moment.”
Gu Yan replied calmly, “General Qian, didn’t you ask me to disable a hand? I’ll do as you say.”
“No…” Feng Guang managed to gasp out the word as Qian Qi tightened his grip, and she could barely speak.
Gu Yan drew a sword from one of the Imperial Forest Guards. With no change in expression, he maintained a calm smile and, without hesitation, stabbed the sword through his arm. In an instant, blood spurted out.
He quickly withdrew the sword, and his right hand hung limp at his side, blood staining his white clothing. If not for the cold sweat on his forehead, others might have thought he didn’t feel the pain at all.
“General Qian, can you release the empress now?”
His actions were so nonchalant that anyone witnessing them was left speechless, frozen in shock.
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 43.2