Chapter 554: Does She Want to Die At My Place?
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Hao Bailian’s lips were so dry that they were about to crack. Su Ying instructed Zhou Qing to get some warm water to rub on her lips and moisten her throat so that she would feel more comfortable. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to speak clearly.
Hao Bailian gulped nervously. “Thank you, thank you, Your Imperial Highness…”
Hao Bailian, you were shot at outside the government office. If it wasn’t for the Empress, you would have died by now. I advise you to tell the truth, or else you will suffer the consequences!” The Minister of Justice berated icily.
Hao Bailian looked at the Minister of Justice whose forehead was so badly swollen and was stumped for a moment. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly said, “They… they used the lives of those children to threaten me, so I didn’t dare to tell the truth.”
“Children?”
Hao Bailian pursed her lips and nodded. She had been swindling and cheating all these years to stay alive, but she had also met many children like herself in the city. Though she was used to the harsh vicissitudes of life and society, when she saw those children with bright and clear eyes, her heart still softened.
Hao Bailian had adopted a group of homeless children and housed them at a dilapidated temple in the suburbs. Technically, she did not adopt them. She simply went out to cheat and swindle so that she could get some food and money back to ensure they didn’t starve to death.
After those people found her, they took those children away and threatened her, saying that if she did not do as they said, they would kill those children.
“I was worried, but I also didn’t want to be threatened by them. I tried to escape once, but the next day, they sent me the decapitated head of one of the children named Dog Head!” When she recounted this sad tale, Hao Bailian’s eyes turned red-rimmed.
“Dog Head followed me the longest, and he was also the oldest. He even said that when he grew up, he would help me earn money. That way, we would have a lot of meat to eat…”
The death of Dog Head had greatly upset her. She did not dare to run away again, so she lied to the followers according to those people’s requirements. When Hao Bailian raised her eyes, she noticed that Su Ying’s jaw was tensed up, and a layer of frost seemed to be covering her clear face.
“What do you have in your hands that made them want to silence you at all costs?”
Hao Bailian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked pleadingly at Su Ying and said, “I beg… I beg Your Imperial Highness to save those children. They’re already pitiful enough. They didn’t do anything wrong…”
A sharp glint flashed across Su Ying’s eyes. “Hao Bailian, don’t negotiate with me. You don’t have the right. As for the innocent people you mentioned, I will do my best to save them.”
Su Ying’s words weren’t pleasant to the ears, but to Hao Bailian, it was the most powerful promise she could ever hope to hear.
“I… I still don’t know who they are. But once, I found something in the abbot’s room. I thought it might be very important to him, so I hid it secretly.”
“Where is that thing now?”
Hao Bailian gave Su Ying an address and a specific location.
Su Ying glanced at the Minister of Justice, who understood and immediately sent someone to look for the item.
While waiting, Hao Bailian fainted again.
“Your Imperial Highness, is she alright?” Zhou Qing had heard Hao Bailian’s tale and felt that she was just a pitiful person. Swindling and cheating were indeed detestable deeds, but these crimes did not warrant death sentences.
“Her blood vitality is too depleted and her body can’t take it. When she wakes up later, make some sugar water for her.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
Su Ying waited at the Ministry of Justice’s government office the whole time until the officials returned with a palm-sized lacquered wooden box.
The Minister of Justice had already excused himself to wash up and changed into a set of clean official robes. He did not look so pathetic anymore, but even so, it was still impossible to ignore the swelling on his forehead.
The Minister of Justice carefully presented the box to Su Ying. “Your Imperial Highness, please have a look.”
The Minister of Justice had already checked through the item and only dared to present it to Su Ying after confirming that there were no problems.
Su Ying opened the wooden box and frowned deeply when she saw what was inside.
When he saw Su Ying’s reaction, the Minister of Justice asked with a puzzled expression, “Your Imperial Highness, do you recognize this object?”
Su Ying slowly closed the lid of the box. She recognized the Fire Token, of course. This was the token that gave one the authority to command the assassins of the Red Demon Sect.
Ordinary people would not possess such an item normally. Only the Red Demon Sect’s branch leader held it.
After Su Ying returned to the capital city, she had also contacted the people from the Red Demon Sect’s branch. At that point, she hadn’t detected anything unusual, so how did this token end up in the hands of the Trinity Breeze Temple’s abbot?
Su Ying packed up her things and stood up. “Spread the word that Hao Bailian is not dead.”
Since the other party wanted to silence her, they naturally had to eliminate her completely. If they knew that Hao Bailian was not dead, they would definitely come again.
Su Ying looked at the Minister of Justice. “It wasn’t easy for you to climb to your current position, Minister. You should cherish it.”
The Minister of Justice’s face tensed up. He understood what Su Ying meant. She wanted to lure the assailant into the trap and she wanted him to handle this matter.
“Don’t worry, Your Imperial Highness. I will do my best to bring him to justice.”
“It’s best if you can do that.”
After Su Ying left, the Minister of Justice summoned two trusted aides and immediately relocated Hao Bailian elsewhere. He couldn’t let anything happen to her again.
Su Yun went to the Imperial Garden after returning to the palace. Mo Tu said he was coming to the capital city. She didn’t know where he was now as he had not sent any news all this while.
She checked through the messenger eagles and only returned to the Conjugal Phoenix Palace after confirming that they had not brought back any news.
She wasn’t sure if there was a mole in the Red Demon Sect, so she didn’t take the initiative to send a message.
“Your Imperial Highness, the General’s wife is outside the palace requesting an audience,” Zhou Qing reported as she entered the hall with some snacks.
“The General’s wife?”
“She’s the one who wanted to self-immolate at the Ministry of Justice’s government office,” Zhou Qing explained.
Su Ying frowned. “She didn’t die in the Ministry of Justice’s government office. Don’t tell me that she wants to die in my Conjugal Phoenix Palace?”
“Your servant will go and answer her now.”
“No, let her in. I want to see what she wants.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”
When the General’s wife walked in, Su Ying saw that she was dressed plainly. Those who didn’t know better would think that she was here for a funeral.
After the General’s wife entered the hall, she bowed to Su Ying with the proper decorum. “Greetings, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Mistress, no need for formalities. Please rise.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”
The General’s wife had a good reputation, and even the former Empress would extend her some courtesy. However, Su Ying didn’t even offer her a seat after she stood in the hall for quite some time. She was truly too arrogant!
Mistress, you entered the palace to seek an audience with me just to stare at me?”
The General’s wife frowned. The Empress was really as rude as the rumors said.
She simply blurted out anything!
“Your Imperial Highness, please put your mind at ease. I entered the palace today to plead with Your Imperial Highness.”
Plead for the Great Immortal White Lotus? Then you don’t have to look for me.
Just approach the Minister of Justice.”
The General’s wife said, “That’s not it. I am here to beg Your Imperial Highness to allow me to meet the Great Immortal White Lotus. Previously, I had asked the Great Immortal White Lotus some questions. Now, I want to personally ask if what the Great Immortal said back then was true or false..”