Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 531 - 342: Suffering_2

Chapter 531: Chapter 342: Suffering_2

After speaking,

he pushed the door open and left. The ghostly voice of Li Zhaoyuan came from behind:

"You too, take care on your journey back to the Imperial Capital."

...

...

All fell silent,

Even when alone, Li Zhaoyuan’s posture remained meticulous.

He sat quietly, his calm gaze fixed on the white fox fur left on the desk.

[Li Zhaoyuan, I... owe you a favor.]

[What? Then why did you save me?]

[Is this your pity, which has nothing to do with me?]

[Your sanctimonious appearance is really annoying.]

[....]

[....]

[Your injury was caused by the greed of our human race.]

[My injury has healed, and I’m leaving. Don’t you have anything to say?]

[You’re as obnoxious as ever. When I return to Ancient Abyss, I will transform.]

[Vain man, it’s not because of you, I’m out for revenge.]

[....]

[....]

[If I die on this trip, would you be sad?]

There was no sigh, no complex gaze, only a calmness like a serene lake or a quiet pool.

Li Zhaoyuan looked up at the sky, slowly raised his hand, and then gave a firm squeeze, followed by a soft chuckle.

His figure disappeared from the attic, the breeze he stirred gently ruffling the supple fur of the white fox.

"I won’t."

...

...

Stepping out of the attic, Xu Yuan looked up at the pitch-black sky, watching the chaotic flurry of falling snow.

After standing still for a few moments, he moved on, passing the main house’s entrance just as the door was suddenly pushed open from inside.

A figure clad in a python robe emerged, smiling and waving languidly:

"Yo, finished so soon?"

"Yo, all done so quickly?"

Xu Yuan replied with a smirking smile, "What’s the point of waiting around for me here?"

"...."

Li Junqing ignored Xu Yuan’s suggestive tone, stepped into the snow with hands behind his back, and glanced toward the attic:

"How did it go with Second Brother?"

"Not bad."

"Don’t be so evasive. Give me some details."

"I told him to devour your Imperial Sister-in-law."

"..." Li Junqing.

After a moment of silence, Li Junqing subconsciously glanced back inside the room.

Xu Yuan glanced behind him, where he saw an enchanting, snow-white delicate body lying on the bed, the curves of her waist and hips under a thin silk cover provocatively enticing.

Withdrawing his gaze, they looked at each other for an instant.

Xu Yuan glanced again inside the room.

Li Zhaoyuan inconspicuously closed the door:

"What ’eat’ are you referring to...?"

As he said this, he gestured toward the room behind him.

Xu Yuan shook his head straight away, giving a gesture for eating food.

Li Junqing’s lips twitched slightly,

And he gave a thumbs-up.

But it was unclear if it was meant for Xu Yuan in front of him or for Li Zhaoyuan in the attic above.

Xu Yuan gave a slight smile, and asked teasingly:

"Ha... Yunqing, since you don’t plan to get involved, why ask about all this?"

Li Junqing, having composed himself, didn’t ask who the "Imperial Sister-in-law" was, and murmured in complaint:

"I have to ask, just in case the conflict escalates and Elder Brother decides to take you out. Then, I would have to die with you."

"You’re pretty straightforward," Xu Yuan chuckled, "aren’t you afraid your Elder Brother will hear?"

Li Junqing spread his hands wide, nonchalantly saying:

"I haven’t spoken of anything significant. There’s no issue of principle involved; even if he heard, it wouldn’t matter."

Xu Yuan said meaningfully:

"So you knew he could eavesdrop, which is why you refused me just now, in case your Elder Brother heard?"

"....."

Li Junqing inwardly cursed, ’Damned rogue,’ and said in a low voice:

"I’m warning you, don’t stir up trouble. I am utterly loyal to my Elder Brother."

"Boring, I’m leaving."

Xu Yuan patted his shoulder, ready to take his leave.

Slap.

Li Junqing grabbed Xu Yuan’s wrist.

Xu Yuan glanced back.

Li Junqing managed to squeeze out a smile on his face:

"Older brother, if you’re going back to the Imperial Capital, could you take me with you?"

Xu Yuan’s expression was strange.

Li Yunqing smacked his lips and glanced up at the loft before transmitting his voice softly:

"The Northern Frontier is about to descend into chaos, and now with the Emperor hesitating in his decisions, as his eldest brother’s right-hand man, if I were assassinated, it’s unlikely that it would be thoroughly investigated."

Xu Yuan chuckled softly:

"With such a large commercial enterprise in your hands, don’t tell me you don’t have even one strong person under you?"

Li Yunqing gave a light "tch" sound:

"I manage the Imperial Family’s commercial affairs; if I dare involve soldiers, do I not want my head? Not to mention my imperial brother, even the Emperor might not tolerate me."

Xu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That Emperor and his old man were indeed comrades who had walked together for most of their lives, even the power structures they established were so similar.

Whenever old Hua Hong needed manpower, he generally had to spend money to hire people from Tian’an Martial Hall or the Black Scale Army.

With that thought, Xu Yuan stroked his chin, staring at the "little third brother" in front of him:

"Then why don’t you ask your elder brother? Li Yucheng, as the Crown Prince, should have quite a few strong people around him; just have him send someone to pick you up, wouldn’t that be good?"

If the Crown Prince could protect Li Yunqing, he would surely do so.

To ignore such a loyal and dedicated younger brother, to lose a strong arm, would not only cause disappointment but also chill people’s hearts.

Currently, Li Yunqing’s cultivation level was on par with his.

One at Fourth Grade Integration Body, and the other at Fifth Grade Soul Condensation.

In the event of a high-ranking cultivator’s assassination, Xu Yuan might not be certain of survival, given that he had his little sister beside him, whereas Li Yunqing would almost certainly not make it.

Li Junqing’s face showed a touch of embarrassment as he sighed:

"It’s because my imperial brother said he can’t spare any hands right now."

"Can’t spare any hands?"

Xu Yuan’s eyes held a hint of strangeness, and then he realized something, squinted his eyes and smiled:

"So it’s that your father won’t allow it?"

If there were strong people accompanying him, the outcome might not be definite; even if he were ultimately assassinated, the strong ones accompanying him could glean some clues and evidence from the assassin’s cultivation technique and the skills they used in combat, which could be used to settle scores later on.

"..."

Li Yunqing didn’t dare to respond to Xu Yuan’s words,

For he was very clear about what could be said and what could not.

Sometimes he felt truly pitiful; to ensure his survival, he had to seek help from an outsider again.

In response to Li Yunqing’s eager gaze, Xu Yuan didn’t immediately answer his request.

Although the ancestral system of Princes establishing their own manors and forming their own forces could compete to select the relatively best heir to the throne, it also inevitably led to turbulence during the handover of power from the old Emperor to the new.

Li Yaoxuan’s days were numbered, and as his death approached, he would certainly need to pave the way for the new Emperor, a path filled with bloodshed.

Whether the Crown Prince would sit idly by, Xu Yuan wasn’t certain, but logically, he should not, and neither should Li Zhaoyuan.

He quite liked Li Yunqing’s personality, but the problem was that if Li Yunqing died, it would be even more beneficial to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

The more tumultuous the power transition within the Imperial Family, the more opportunities the Prime Minister’s Mansion would have to maneuver.

As he pondered, Xu Yuan looked at the face before him, which bore some resemblance to Li Qingyan, and sighed:

"Yunqing ah....."

"I’m here," Li Yunqing immediately responded.

"I will take you with me before my departure."

Li Yunqing’s face lit up with joy: "How much silver?"

"...." Xu Yuan.

With a wave of his sleeve, Xu Yuan chuckled softly:

"No need for silver, just consider it that you owe me a favor."

Li Yunqing’s expression was odd, his eyes scrutinizing.

Has this kid... changed his nature?

Hisss... Could it be that he has bigger plans?

Xu Yuan noticed the other’s gaze and smiled, showing his teeth:

"Accepting money means I have to do the job, and I’m not even sure if I can make it back alive, let alone you."

Li Yunqing’s heart sank, he glanced at the loft, and transmitted softly:

"Did negotiations break down? With my second brother’s nature, enduring the loss of an imperial sister-in-law shouldn’t be intolerable..."

"Who knows? Anyway, before he left, he said the road to the Imperial Capital is long and told me to be careful."

"..." Li Yunqing smacked his lips.

Xu Yuan spread his hands, then recalling the words of Li Zhaoyuan, he asked softly:

"By the way, are there slaves in your Imperial Family’s harem that would bully their masters?"

"Ah?"

Li Yunqing was startled, then his eyes showed a trace of hesitation: "It can’t be something my second brother told you, can it?"

Xu Yuan didn’t answer, just looked at him.

Li Yunqing smacked his lips and looked up with a hint of reminiscence:

"I was mother’s third child and never got bullied, but my second brother had a pretty tough time when he was young."

Xu Yuan’s expression was odd:

"A Prince... could suffer?"

"You think not?"

Li Yunqing looked at Xu Yuan with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile:

"Changtian, the struggles within the harem are no more relaxed than those in The Imperial Court.

"Most of my siblings either died in our mother’s womb or passed away in childhood. There were many, and there are thirteen that I know the names of alone."