Do Not Offend the Reborn Wicked Wife

Chapter 830: Subjugation

Li Qingmu closed his eyes and did not respond.

Wang Cheng’s face turned slightly cold. He knew that the relationship between the two parties had already been torn apart. Of course, he couldn’t walk towards the mountain path because there was indeed an ambush and danger there.

Nonetheless, he still had to go.

Because he had already spoken earlier, if he didn’t go, what would others think of him?

This Regent King, his tactics are truly formidable!

After Wang Cheng left with his men, Xuan Xu returned. He came to Li Qingmu’s side and whispered, "Your Highness, the people have been allocated. As for Wang Cheng’s men..."

He paused and looked at Li Qingmu.

Li Qingmu said, "It doesn’t matter, Wang Cheng certainly won’t go, but will find a substitute to go instead. At that time, you just keep an eye on it!"

"And Your Highness, what about you?"

"I will go, but not openly."

Xuan Xu was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand, Your Highness."

Everyone is intelligent, some things are understood without needing to be spoken.

With Li Qingmu’s compromise method, the supply convoy was thrown into chaos. The soldiers seemed to prefer siding with Li Qingmu, but after all, some soldiers were aligned with Empress Dowager Li.

Thus, everyone split into two groups. One group followed Li Qingmu, planning to wait a few days for better weather before setting out, while the others followed Wang Cheng’s team, tidying up. By the third quarter of Wu hour, they ate lunch and departed.

"Did they really leave?"

The officials who didn’t go watched their colleagues depart, falling silent.

"Prince, please forgive my bluntness, but if the rebellion in the Southern Territory is quelled successfully by them and they are able to provide aid and comfort, then Your Majesty will inevitably fall under suspicion from His Majesty the Emperor."

An official from the Ministry of Industry came to Li Qingmu to express his concern.

This man was promoted during Qi Yun’s time and was very loyal to Qi Yun. Having been favored by Li Qingmu before, this was considered a kind reminder.

Li Qingmu calmly said, "No worries, some things cannot be avoided, so I’m not afraid!"

If they wished to frame him, let them come; once they arrive, he would be ready to counter their moves.

Li Qingmu returned to his residence, and Xuan Xu appeared beside him.

"Your Highness, if those people lay an ambush in the forest intending to harm you and you don’t go, they have no reason to proceed, yet they still did."

This matter seemed rather strange.

Li Qingmu replied with a cold laugh, "Previously, they said the Southern Territory had a rebellion with fifty thousand gathered troops. But have they considered how scattered indigenous people could rapidly assemble such a force? Even for us, mobilizing fifty thousand troops requires considerable time?"

Even for nearby regions, gathering fifty thousand troops would take time, let alone in the sparsely populated Southern Territory. So, tell me, how did they gather fifty thousand people?

Xuan Xu’s eyes concentrated: "Your Highness means that someone has been planning this for a while?"

The flood and rain disaster in the Southern Territory - why was there scant news before? Only recently has a series of messages appeared?

It indicates that someone deliberately suppressed these news pieces and waited for the eruption before reporting them.

"The Southern Territory is a trap! They created this trap to put me in peril!"

This is their real goal!

"Therefore, regardless of whether I take the mountain path or not, the flash flood will occur. If I go, killing me would be best, and then they can find other ways to suppress the rebellion in the Southern Territory.

If I don’t go, they could even accuse me of deliberately delaying, leading to the flood’s eruption, all to intensify the Southern Territory’s rebellion - a ploy to seize the throne. Ultimately, everything boils down to their narrative."

Xuan Xu felt a chill hearing this. Li Qingmu’s speculation was truly chilling.

So, is his speculation true?

This can be verified by following and observing.

He felt admiration for this young master once again, recalling the days when he followed Qi Yun in his youth, confidently piercing through all enemy schemes!

"Your Highness, I await your instructions!"

Li Qingmu faintly nodded and said, "Tonight, they’ll stay overnight in a small town nearby. We’ll stealthily blend in, you track Wang Cheng, I infiltrate the forest to find those hiding the gunpowder!"

"Your Highness, this is perilous. Let me handle it!"

Detonating gunpowder is fraught with danger, even for Li Qingmu with his high martial arts skills.

Li Qingmu gently shook his head, "No, I’m well aware of the risks. I can sense danger, and if I were to track Wang Cheng, he would claim I sought revenge. Thus, you must execute this task."

Xuan Xu looked complexly at Li Qingmu with admiration and said, "Then, please be cautious, Your Highness!"

"Mm!"

That night, as dusk descended, Li Qingmu and Xuan Xu led a few men, transformed into ghostly shadows, catching up with the main troops ahead.

They all possessed extraordinary martial arts, moving swiftly with impressive inner strength, reaching the troops within an hour.

"Wang Cheng is definitely still himself now, as many around him know his face well. Switching too early could raise unnecessary suspicions, so before entering the mountain trail, he’ll disappear for a bit, then his substitute will appear."

Li Qingmu watched the flickering candlelight in the inn ahead and spoke to Xuan Xu beside him.

"I understand!"

"Don’t startle the snake by hitting the grass; capture Wang Cheng and imprison him, preventing contact with anyone! Once they mourn his alleged death, we’ll reveal him..."

Li Qingmu smirked as he spoke, making Xuan Xu feel like he was working with a cunning old fox.

Those officials thought Mr. Wang died, swept away by the flood and revered him greatly, and if the substitute acted convincingly, even rescuing someone, wouldn’t people view him as a hero?

But the hero turns out to be a substitute, the real one escaped...

The fall from hero to sham is exceedingly agonizing.

This Regent King is truly sly!

"Boom..."

Outside, rain continued unabated, thunderous roars splitting the sky with occasional lightning flashes overhead.

"Your Highness!"

Xuan Xu called out as he saw Li Qingmu preparing to head into the forest.

Li Qingmu paused, "Hm?"

"Your Highness, be careful!"

Xuan Xu, initially serving under Qi Yun’s orders, had gradually grown to admire Li Qingmu’s abilities and charisma after frequent collaboration.

His cautionary words were borne from concern for Li Qingmu’s safety.

"Rest assured, I can protect myself!"

Previously, in a bout against You Su, Li Qingmu suffered severe injuries but the powerful cultivation technique he used allowed him to recover swiftly and even improve his martial prowess.

The lurking gunpowder posed a threat; however, with preparation, he could shield himself even in close proximity to an explosion.

Thus, Li Qingmu vanished into the night and rain, entering the mountain forest.