The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 136: The Damage of Daoist Heart Is Insignificant

Chapter 136: The Damage of Daoist Heart Is Insignificant

Therefore, the previous offspring of Emperor Muwu either suffered miscarriages or died at an early age, undoubtedly not due to Empress Xie’s doing.

Upon hearing this, Xie Beihan became particularly agitated.

"Little sister, have you spoken to the Emperor about this?"

"If I were to speak of these words, it would only invite further scrutiny," Nanli said.

Thus, sometimes she refrained from speaking unnecessarily.

If she wanted to prove Empress Xie’s innocence, she could only find new evidence.

She looked at Ye Siheng and asked, "You came early in the morning, is there any news?"

"Mammy Gui has a son, but he went missing several years ago, and there are no substantial leads," Ye Siheng said.

Nanli was not surprised by this.

"In that case, it is highly likely that Mammy Gui was coerced long ago. However, she has yet to take any action, indicating that the mastermind behind this is incredibly patient, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."

Ye Siheng nodded in agreement.

Since the person is already dead, it will be difficult to uncover the mastermind.

Xie Beihan still worried and anxiously asked, "Doesn’t this mean that Aunt’s grievances cannot be cleared?"

"No need to worry. The Emperor still holds some affection for her as his wife. Although your aunt has been returned to the imperial registry, the decree to depose her has not been issued yet, so there is still room for maneuvering," Ye Siheng said.

"She is currently residing in the Fengxi Palace. Although there are fewer attendants serving her, it is relatively peaceful."

Xie Beihan clenched his teeth, feeling that their family has had a string of unfortunate events this year, with one person after another encountering troubles.

Fortunately, his father has not held any significant position in the court, so they cannot be implicated for the time being.

However, because of this, their family is unable to speak up for Aunt and his cousin in the court.

He didn’t dare to ask for anything from Ye Siheng, only hoping that they would be safe during their confinement and not fall victim to any harm.

Ye Siheng readily agreed, saying, "I have already stationed people in the Fengxi Palace and the Crown Prince’s residence. We won’t give anyone an opportunity."

The people he sent were all highly skilled in detecting poisons.

Nanli finally realized that Ye Siheng had so many capable individuals under his command.

Ye Siheng looked at her, a faint smile in his eyes.

"The two maids who were sent during the betrothal are not only proficient in managing accounts and social connections, but they are also skilled in poison. Not to mention their martial arts prowess."

Nanli blinked in surprise. "Really? They have never mentioned it to me."

"Perhaps because everything has been peaceful in your courtyard, they had no chance to showcase their abilities, so they didn’t mention it to you," Ye Siheng said, taking a sip of tea.

Nanli felt a bit embarrassed.

These two maids were so capable, yet they were only assigned to manage accounts and the storeroom in her courtyard, which seemed like a waste of their talents.

Xie Beihan couldn’t stay for long and left after a while.

Chu Hanlin happened to be at the residence and, upon learning that Ye Siheng had arrived, invited him to have a meal together.

Ye Siheng’s thoughts stirred.

Since the passing of his mother, he had mostly dined alone throughout his life.

Loneliness had long become his accustomed state.

Seeing him lost in thought, Nanli reached out and held his hand, saying, "Come, don’t be polite."

Her hand was delicate, smooth, and warm, instantly bringing Ye Siheng back to his senses.

He smiled, resembling a deity. "Alright."

In the hall, the servants had already set the table with food.

Except Chu Ye, who led troops and not yet return, everyone gathered together.

Although Ye Siheng held a high position of power, he was still considered a junior due to his betrothal to Nanli.

Moreover, he was destined to stick close to Nanli, so the seat at the head of the table naturally belonged to the Dowager.

Chu Hanlin and Shen were accustomed to their favored positions and remained calm, as if it were an ordinary day.

Chu Shuo and his other brothers felt somewhat restrained and didn’t dare to look at Ye Siheng.

But Chu Hanming was different.

He had a servant bring a bowl of black chicken soup to Ye Siheng and said, "Ninth Prince, this is a soup personally made by my wife. Please have a taste."

Ye Siheng thanked him, "Thank you, Second Uncle."

"Ah!" Chu Hanming immediately beamed with joy.

The Ninth Prince actually called him Second Uncle.

He must boast about this in front of his friends when they go out for drinks.

The Dowager wore a cold expression and said, "Hanming, eat more but with less words."

Chu Hanming felt somewhat embarrassed and could only put on a smiling face while drinking the soup.

The black chicken soup was indeed delicious, and Nanli also found it quite good.

In their household, they always gathered for a meal on the first and fifteenth day of each month.

Previously, it was Shen who decided the menu and supervised the servants in preparing the dishes.

After Tian was promoted to the position of the legitimate wife, she took the initiative to take over this task.

The soup was personally prepared by her, and everyone always praised it.

Nanli glanced at "Tian" but quickly averted her gaze, continuing to lower her head and drink the soup.

She always felt that this Second Aunt was acting a bit differently, but she couldn’t figure out why.

——

The Mansion of Prince Qing.

The first snow of winter arrived, adorning the world in a pristine white.

Within the octagonal glazed pavilion, prince Qing engaged in a game of chess with a man of a slightly graying beard.

Several charcoal braziers were placed around, warding off the bone-chilling winds and filling the pavilion with a warmth akin to spring.

Prince Qing, holding the black pieces, surveyed the chessboard.

Though he found himself with no viable moves, a gentle smile graced his face. "Your mastery of talismans is truly remarkable, sir. That Chu Nanli’s true incantation talisman proved utterly futile," Prince Qing returned the black pieces to their box.

"I concede."

Xuan Lianzi bowed in response.

"Your Highness is too kind. However, it was but a trivial feat. If not for the timely demise of Mammy Gui, Chu Nanli might have uncovered the truth."

Prince Qing waved his hand, his mood quite pleasant.

"In any case, this success owes much to your assistance, sir. Without it, my plan would have struggled to succeed."

Xuan Lianzi made no attempt to decline.

"To be able to aid Your Highness is an honor for this humble Daoist."

Prince Qing’s lips curled slightly.

"Hmph, my imperial brother will understand that Chu Nanli is both the cause of his rise and the cause of his downfall. However, they have already aware of something amiss and suspect hidden motives. My ninth brother has gone to investigate. If there is another attempt, it may not be as easy to succeed."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness." Xuan Lianzi fixed his gaze on a particular chess piece on the board. "Throughout this entire game, the most crucial factor has been Chu Nanli herself. Once we remove her from the chessboard, she will no longer pose a threat."

Prince Qing glanced over. "Indeed, but Chu Nanli possesses not only formidable Daoist skills but also considerable martial prowess. It won’t be easy to pluck her from the chessboard."

The people of the Anyang Marquis Mansion are meticulous in their actions, making it difficult to find any flaws.

Even if one is discovered, there is still Ye Siheng.

It is an arduous task to make a move against the Anyang Marquis Mansion.

Xuan Lianzi remained composed. "Despite her impressive Daoist skills, she is still a mortal being. My junior sister has set a trap, and soon the Anyang Marquis Mansion will be uprooted entirely. Chu Nanli is nothing more than a young girl of fifteen. How could she withstand such a blow? By then, her Daoist heart will surely be damaged, rendering her harmless."

Prince Qing listened, his brows dancing with delight. "Then I shall eagerly await good news from you, sir!"

Once Nanli becomes ineffective, what storms can his ninth brother possibly stir?

That so-called God of War is hardly worth a mention in the presence of a true Daoist master!