She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 234: Cao Man is Dead, the Clue is Lost

Chapter 234: Chapter 234: Cao Man is Dead, the Clue is Lost

Xie Qun had taken the antidote and looked at Yan Lingzhen with a face full of curiosity.

But on the other side, his counterpart stared at him like a little adult, with a teasing smile, "Mr. Xie, after so many years of serving in court, do you not know the saying, ’The more you know, the faster you die?’"

Xie Qun almost couldn’t catch his breath.

Yan Lingzhen jumped down from the chair.

"The antidote will be delivered in batches, I will personally come every mid-month to deliver the medicine to you, Mr. Xie. And to add one more thing, if the antidote is not taken on time, you will dissolve into a pool of blood and evaporate from this world."

As she mentioned turning into a pool of blood and evaporating, Yan Lingzhen’s expression was as casual as if she were talking about eating an extra bowl of rice tonight.

By the time Xie Qun realized that what he had taken was not an antidote, but a poison, Yan Lingzhen was already gone from the room.

Xie Qun: "..." Truly a member of the Yan Family!Indeed, none of them are good natured!

This Cao Man is a staunch supporter of the seventh prince, controlling half of the Capital City’s wealth; the assertiveness of Yan Wanqing impressed him greatly.

However, he wondered how she was doing now in Xiliang City, and whether she had won any battles.

Yan Lingzhen hopped from the eaves of Dali Temple, unaware of the shadow following behind her.

"Is everything taken care of?"

Yan Lingzhen stopped, "Sister Five, don’t you trust Xiaoliu to handle matters?"

Dressed in black, Yan Hongzhao’s entire body was enveloped, with only her eyes visible, making her appearance very stern.

"As our sister is alone in Xiliang City facing the Japanese Pirates and Xiao Hongshen, we in the Capital City must do everything we can. Only in this way can we ensure she has no worries," said Yan Hongzhao slowly.

The evening breeze fluttered the sisters’ hair, and as Yan Lingzhen looked up at Yan Hongzhao, she couldn’t help but say, "Sister Five, the smell of blood on you is overwhelming me."

Yan Hongzhao stepped back, "You should have been accustomed to it by now."

"Ever since our sister went to Xiliang City, you’ve been leaving home every day, leading those grassroots to fight everywhere. I heard that the mountains outside the Capital City are all swept by you," sighed Yan Lingzhen. "If sister were in the Capital City, she definitely wouldn’t want to see you become like this."

"Do you know, Xiaoliu?" Yan Hongzhao looked towards the direction of the Imperial City from a distance. "Ever since the day our aunt was killed, I swore to become strong, as only strength can protect the ones we love... After our fathers and brothers were brought back from the battlefield, one night I saw our sister crying in the snow and that strengthened my resolve even more."

"No one knows what our sister has sacrificed for this family," said Yan Hongzhao, unable to hold back. "She could have found a suitable family in the Capital City to marry into, or found a place to escape far away, but she didn’t. She carries much more than we can imagine."

The corners of Yan Lingzhen’s lips turned cold, and a bitterness spread, "Sister Five, Xiaoliu is well aware of all that you speak."

"If you were aware, you shouldn’t have secretly met with Xie Qun," Yan Hongzhao sighed as she looked at her. "It’s too dangerous. If Xiao Hongshen’s people had seen you, your future would be even more perilous."

"Is it me who is in danger, or them?" Yan Lingzhen argued, unconvinced.

Yan Hongzhao shook her head helplessly, "Enough, it’s getting late. Let’s go back quickly. Mother won’t sleep until she sees us return."

The two sisters jumped down from the eaves onto the stone pavement, casting long shadows on the ground.

"Sister Five, when our sister returns from Xiliang City, will everything be over?" Yan Lingzhen couldn’t help asking, "What do you want to do then?"

Yan Hongzhao thought for a moment.

"To carry a sword to the ends of the Earth and leave the Capital City far behind."

Yan Lingzhen smiled, "That’s exactly what I want. The Capital City is a curious place; outsiders desperately push to get in, while those inside want to flee. Once sister returns and everything settles, let’s withdraw from this muddy water."

Hopefully by then, all will be well.

Xie Qun had received no visitors from the Cao Family entering to see Cao Man, and he ran to the prison cell without even putting on his shoes.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Cao Man had hanged himself inside the cell.

There was a piece of paper on the ground with a handprint signed as a confession of crimes.

"Who allowed people to come in!" Xie Qun grabbed the clothes of the person nearby.

The man, visibly scared, said, "The person on duty is also dead, sir; found dead in his quarters."

Xie Qun gritted his teeth, "Investigate this!"

Beneath this vine of Cao Man were tied half of the Capital City’s evil forces; his death could not settle everything!

He Xie Qun couldn’t believe it; under the heaven, who could really cover the sky with one hand in the Capital City!

...

"Cao Man is dead?" Zhang Lanyi’s teacup fell to the ground as she heard the news, shattering into several pieces.

Laifu hurried to wipe the tea stain from her hands with a cloth. "Imperial Consort, were you burnt?"

Zhang Lanyi stopped Laifu’s movement, "Is he truly dead?"

"They say there’s a mole in Dali Temple. After someone from the Cao Family visited, he hung himself. Before dying, he even wrote down all his crimes and signed it."

As Laifu spoke, he saw tears uncontrollably falling from Zhang Lanyi’s reddened eyes.

"Imperial Consort... Are you alright?"

Zhang Lanyi, leaning on the coffee table with her knuckles turning white, said.

"How could Cao Man just die like this?" she suddenly scoffed, "I have wanted to kill him for a long time, but how could he just die like this?"

Laifu looked at the Empress, feeling an emptiness inside.

"He’s dead, but the things I wanted to know haven’t been clarified yet," Zhang Lanyi clenched her teeth, the malice in her eyes almost overwhelming her: "What exactly happened back then!"

Zhang Lanyi flipped everything off the table to the ground: "I must know why my father died back then!"

"Imperial Consort, please calm down!" Laifu looked at the frenzied Zhang Lanyi with great concern.

Zhang Lanyi suddenly calmed down, "Cao Man is dead, but there’s someone else who is not."

Laifu felt uneasy, "Empress, it’s not possible; His Majesty has ordered that no one is to see the Empress Dowager, especially not at such a critical time. Please, you must not make any mistakes."

Zhang Lanyi, with tears in her eyes, said, "I can’t bear this resignation; I’ve lived with this humiliation just for an answer. Now how can you expect me to endure!"

"Imperial Consort—! Before the Commandery Princess left, she instructed me repeatedly, to reconsider everything during critical moments. If uncertain, go and see Noble Consort Sun."

Zhang Lanyi stopped, her lips trembling, "Sun Lianyi?"

Seeing her emotions somewhat stabilize, Laifu quickly said, "Noble Consort has already allied with you, Empress. The one involved may be confused, but watchers see more clearly. Moreover, she sent the evidence over this time; perhaps she knows something."

"You are right, I’ll go see Noble Consort Sun now," Zhang Lanyi extended her hand toward Laifu, "Help me dress."