The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 238 Only you can intervene in this matter.

Upon hearing that it would take six months to convict Li Sheng, Shen Hanyu clenched her fists. Six months—she could afford to wait that long.

It's a pity that so much time has been wasted; Shen Yanzhi probably doesn't have a complete body anymore.

They stole and destroyed the body so that no one else would discover anything amiss.

It's regrettable that neither Liang Fangrong nor Shen Hanyu noticed anything amiss during the encoffining.

Previously, Shen Hanyu, a servant of the prefect's mansion, had been sending people to search for them. If any of these people knew anything and were still alive, they could provide them with some assistance.

Time is the least cost they've paid.

"Let's wait and see how things develop."

Now is a critical moment, and no one can afford to cause trouble.

The Empress Dowager had been staying in Cining Palace for a long time without going out, but she met someone today.

"When did Prime Minister Zhao start acting so furtively?"

When she saw Zhao Wanfu take off his hood and come in, the Empress Dowager looked up, her expression unchanged.

Zhao Wanfu knelt down and went straight to the point: "Your Majesty, only you can intervene in this matter now."

His deal with the Empress Dowager was conducted in private, unknown to Li Jiangui. Zhao Wanfu only came here as a last resort.

The Empress Dowager glanced at him and said, "I know the situation very well. What you've been doing is about to be exposed. At this point, I should protect myself and not get involved with you."

To be honest, she only did what they did at the girls' school. She knew about it and tacitly approved of it, but she didn't interfere.

Zhao Wanfu had known all along that she was this kind of person, and he gritted his teeth in resentment.

"As long as the Empress Dowager can get rid of Jiang Fengxiao, I am willing to do anything, even die for her, including destroying the entire girls' school."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes.

Girls' schools were something she didn't want to see, but Yongning insisted on doing it and has maintained it ever since.

Zhao Wanfu had previously said he would help her, but there had been no progress. When she was pushed to the brink, she finally agreed.

The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Jiang Fengxiao is in the Dali Temple, under the supervision of Yu Qi. You know Yu Qi, he's a rising star promoted by the Emperor, a very popular figure. Can't you even get one person into the Dali Temple?"

It was fine before, but it's definitely not so easy after Yu Qi took over. Yu Qi is Li Huaijiang's man, and Zhao Wanfu has never met anyone who is so meticulous in their work.

The Dali Temple was like an iron barrel. After Yu Qi took office, he used various excuses to dig out all the people they had buried inside. He came prepared.

Li Jiangui became suspicious of Zhao Wanfu's faction, and the only person outside Li Jiangui's sight was the Empress Dowager.

Zhao Wanfu's secret meeting with the Empress Dowager was also a way to get rid of Jiang Fengxiao as soon as possible, so that they could proceed with their plans later.

“Jiang Fengxiao hasn’t revealed everything. There’s still a chance for things to turn around, so he has to die now.”

Zhao Wanfu's eyes revealed a vicious look.

Jiang Fengxiao was the key to their survival. Zhao Wanfu never expected that this guy would be so lucky to be found alive by Li Jiangui.

Li Jing gave instructions, so this matter must succeed.

Zhao Wanfu made a promise, and the Empress Dowager was somewhat moved, nodding slightly: "I can help you, but you must also show me your sincerity."

"I understand."

Zhao Wanfu withdrew and left through the side door.

The Empress Dowager rested her forehead on her hand. These two had calculated that Li Jiangui hadn't noticed her yet, so they made her take action.

She beckoned someone over with her finger and whispered a few instructions.

To avoid suspicion of this matter, Li Jing stayed inside the Eastern Palace and did not go out.

Zhao Yu was still under house arrest, and Zhao Jiahe was the only one by Li Jing's side.

Zhao Jiahe was unaware of the uproar outside, and she didn't connect it to the matter between Li Jing and Li Sheng.

All she knew was that Li Jing now had time to spend with her, and she was determined to seize the opportunity.

"Why does Your Highness want to avoid suspicion?"

Zhao Jiahe looked at Li Jing, her eyes full of doubt.

Li Jing put down his book. “My brother was demoted to a commoner back then, and I later became the crown prince. Now that this old matter has been brought up again, it’s inevitable that some people will be suspicious and distrustful. Naturally, I must avoid suspicion.”

Zhao Jiahe pursed her lips. What's the point of avoiding suspicion? It wasn't Li Jing who caused it. Wasn't it the eldest prince's own fault?

But then Zhao Jiahe suddenly remembered what Zhao Yu had said.

Zhao Jiahe felt inexplicably uneasy. She shook her head and dismissed the thought.

Zhao Yu looked like she was acting crazy; how could anyone believe what she said?

"what happened?"

Li Jing grasped Zhao Jiahe's hand; her palm was icy cold.

"It's nothing, I just remembered what my sister said."

Li Jing's eyes flickered slightly: "What did Yu'er say?"

Zhao Jiahe sighed: "My sister said that His Highness is terrifying, but His Highness is so gentle. I wonder what kind of trauma she suffered."

Li Jing smiled and said, "She's not in good health, so she's thinking a lot. Don't worry about her. And don't go to see her there. She's under house arrest at the Emperor's request; she's a criminal."

Zhao Jiahe nodded obediently, unaware of the sharp glint in Li Jing's eyes.

This Zhao Yu is really good to her sisters from her own clan, subtly and overtly offering them a reminder.

Unfortunately, Zhao Jiahe didn't appreciate it.

Li Jing looked at Zhao Jiahe and said, "I can't go out right now, so can you do something for me?"

Zhao Jiahe leaned closer to whisper in his ear.

As usual, Yu Qi finished checking the documents and was flipping through them when a palace maid from Li Huaijiang's side came over.

"My lord, His Highness has asked me to inform you that there is some activity at Cining Palace."

Yu Qi closed the file. While others forgot about the Empress Dowager, Li Huaijiang would not let such a trivial matter go unnoticed.

"Leave the Dali Temple to me. Go and deliver a few words to Princess Yongning."

Yu Qi was prepared and wasn't afraid of her coming.

The palace maid noted it down and hurriedly went to Princess Yongning's residence to deliver the message.

On the day Zhao Wanfu left Cining Palace, Princess Yongning went to Cining Palace and sat down.

The Empress Dowager almost lost her smile when she saw the person who had arrived.

"Yongning, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

Princess Yongning smiled and said, "I felt guilty for not visiting my grandmother in a long time. I've had some free time these past few days, so I've decided to stay here to keep her company. I hope my grandmother will grant me this filial wish."

The Empress Dowager pressed her temples.

"Since you are so filial, why don't you go and help your father, the Emperor, and have him investigate the matter in Lizhou thoroughly?"

“My father is wise and has made his own decisions; I don’t need to do anything.”

Since everyone had arrived and seemed determined not to leave, the Empress Dowager couldn't very well send them away. She could only leave Princess Yongning in Cining Palace, feeling uneasy and unable to understand Princess Yongning's intentions.

The person she sent out didn't reply, and with Princess Yongning present, she couldn't do anything to let her find out.

The Empress Dowager lowered her head and pondered, wondering whose side Princess Yongning was on.

She didn't believe that he was trying to show filial piety now, after the ugly argument over the marriage and the girls' school.

When Li Huaijiang received the news that Princess Yongning had gone to Cining Palace, a great weight was lifted from her heart.

"With obstacles from all sides, as long as Jiang Fengxiao lives, the case in Lizhou will surely clear my brother's name."

Judging from the information Yu Qi gave, Jiang Fengxiao did not intend to die.