She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 168: Returning to Beijing Privately is a Serious Crime

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Returning to Beijing Privately is a Serious Crime

Wa Chengnan’s corpse, hung under the scorching heat, emitted a foul odor; maggots faintly squirmed in the wounds on his limbs, creating a horrifying sight...

Li Chengxiang still couldn’t restrain herself and sneaked out alone to look.

She stood beneath the dense forest, watching from a distance.

The once intimately familiar bedfellow had ultimately met such a fate.

To say she wasn’t sad would be a lie.

Even if they could no longer be husband and wife, even if she couldn’t forgive what he had done before, she definitely didn’t want to see him meet a grisly end...

Li Chengxiang couldn’t let Wa Chengnan just hang there.

She had to think of a way.

Li Chengxiang saw a guard sitting nearby dozing off. She looked at the stones on the ground, picked one up, and weighed it in her hand.

Then, tiptoeing, she was about to move forward when suddenly a hand covered her mouth from behind.

Li Chengxiang was terribly frightened.

The person suppressed their voice, "It’s me."

"I’ll let you go; don’t scream."

Li Chengxiang nodded, and after being released, she turned around to see Yan Wanqing.

"Don’t do these meaningless things," Yan Wanqing stated plainly.

Li Chengxiang shook her head, "How can it be meaningless? I just want to take him home for a proper burial."

"He was a rebel. Do you know the consequences of your actions?" Yan Wanqing didn’t comfort her but made clear the severity of the situation, "The Li Family could be exterminated because of this action."

Li Chengxiang was instantly silenced in terror.

Her eyes rimmed red, bloodshot.

Then she helplessly collapsed to the ground, the stone from her hand dropping as she covered her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice hoarse and unpleasant.

"So... he should just stay up there?"

Yan Wanqing looked up at the body hanging above, feeling desolate.

"I’m sorry."

Li Chengxiang sat on the ground, feeling angry at her helplessness, and it took her a long time to calm her emotions.

"Commandery Princess," she looked up at Yan Wanqing, her voice firm, "I want to know the full story, to understand what exactly led him to make such a grave mistake."

Thinking of Wa Chengnan’s final wishes, Yan Wanqing frowned slightly, "You would be better off not knowing; the more you know, the worse it is for you."

"...After all, until his dying breath, he was thinking of protecting you," Yan Wanqing added.

"That’s exactly why I want to uncover the truth—I, I want to find the culprit who caused his death!" Tears filled Li Chengxiang’s eyes, and her voice, pressed down, sounded like a little beast about to go mad with rage, startling Yan Wanqing.

"So, Commandery Princess, please, tell me the truth, tell me why he died..." Li Chengxiang knelt on the ground, pleading.

Yan Wanqing stepped forward, grabbing her hand, "Stand up, come back with me, and I will tell you everything."

Hiding the truth might rather have the opposite effect.

After Li Chengxiang returned with Yan Wanqing, they stayed in a room for an afternoon until Yan Lingzhen came in to change a dressing, finally concluding the topic.

When she walked out of the courtyard, something about Li Chengxiang had clearly changed.

There were still a few days left until the departure.

Yan Wanqing worked through the night, writing several letters to Hong Wu, instructing her to send them after she headed west.

Upon hearing this, Hong Wu immediately knew her master was not planning to take her along this time.

Hong Wu was somewhat anxious, "My lady, can this task of delivering the letter be given to someone else—"

"I need you to stay here to protect someone," Yan Wanqing said as she sat in front of the chessboard. Having just bathed, she was dressed in a thin white robe, her dark hair flowing down to her temples, giving her an appearance of immense ease and comfort.

Hong Wu very much wanted to accompany Yan Wanqing to the frontline.

"This person is very important to me, Hong Wu, you must understand, I only trust you," Yan Wanqing said soothingly.

Only then did Hong Wu nod, "Please, my lady."

"Imperial Consort Sun Lianyi is due to give birth soon, and many do not wish for the child in her womb to be born. Thus, I want you to disguise yourself as a palace maid and stay close to her to protect her," Yan Wanqing pointed to the letter in her arms. "After I leave, take this letter and find my mother; she will arrange an identity for you."

"Understood," Hong Wu accepted the order.

Yan Wanqing continued to study the chessboard in front of her, the board was very complex with its interlocking lines. She held a black piece, constantly rubbing it between her fingers, not daring to place it lightly on the board even deep into the night.

The day to depart soon arrived.

They needed to return to the Capital City first, carrying the Emperor’s Imperial Edict to take command of the army, then march west.

Yan Wanqing had initially suggested the Emperor return to the Capital City with them, but the Emperor said that it was extremely hot in the Capital City at the moment, and he preferred to stay where he was.

Not only Yan Wanqing found this inappropriate, but the ministers at the Imperial Court also sensed danger.

However, the Emperor trusted his Ironclad Army deeply, and he was particularly fond of the newly appointed general of the Ironclad Army.

Xiao Hongshen did not ride a horse today. Instead, he sat in a carriage just like Yan Wanqing, one in front of the other, accompanied by a bodyguard team, ready to set off.

Li Chengxiang stood in the courtyard, watching Li Chengyuan, who was disguised as a maid, and asked expressionlessly, "Where are you going?"

Li Chengyuan was startled.

"Could you not walk silently?!" She was almost scared to death.

Li Chengxiang asked again, "Where are you going?"

Seeing his lifeless face, Li Chengyuan was infuriated, "What does it have to do with you? Mind your own business and stay away."

As she spoke, she tried to walk past.

Li Chengxiang stretched out his hand to stop her, "Returning to the Capital City without permission is a serious crime."

Li Chengyuan sneered, "Which eye of yours saw me returning to the Capital City on my own? Besides, if father doesn’t care, it’s none of your business." She pushed him forcefully, knocking Li Chengxiang to the ground, then fiercely warned, "Only you know about this, and if word gets out, it’s on your head."

She stepped forward feeling uneasy, turned back, and kicked Li Chengxiang.

"Keep your mouth shut. You should know what I’m capable of."

After saying that, she walked away without looking back.

Li Chengxiang sat in the courtyard, his wrist bleeding profusely from the friction of being pushed against the stones.

But he seemed to feel no pain as he slowly got up from the ground.

He wiped his wrist on his robe.

Watching her fading figure, Li Chengxiang gave a cold smile.

Don’t worry.

Not only will she not speak out, but she will slowly deal with it herself.

The battlefield is rife with sudden changes and ruthless killings.

No matter how capable Li Chengyuan is, at the frontline, she’s just a pawn for others to exploit.

"I really hope you can make it back alive, little sister."

After all, the death of Wa Chengnan is inseparably linked to you and your seventh prince.