Chapter 555: Giving The Game Away
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“I am aware that although the case is handled by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Justice still has to act in accordance with Your Imperial Highness’s wishes. If Your Imperial Highness does not give your approval, I will not be able to see the Great Immortal White Lotus.”
Zhou Qing’s expression changed at once when she heard these words. Wasn’t she clearly mocking Su Ying for interfering in the Imperial Court’s affairs?
Su Ying wasn’t angry, however, and even agreed to the General’s wife’s request. “In that case, Zhou Qing, follow the General’s wife to the Ministry of Justice. Mistress, you have to clarify everything once and for all. Otherwise, I don’t know if you’ll be able to see this Great Immortal White Lotus again.”
The General’s wife’s expression brightened up slightly when she saw that Su Ying had given her approval. “Thank you, Your Imperial Highness. I understand.”
When the General’s wife went out to wait, Su Ying told Zhou Qing to come up to her and she gave her a few instructions. Zhou Qing acknowledged them and excused herself.
Zhou Qing walked up to the General’s wife. “Mistress, please follow me.”
The General’s wife followed Zhou Qing to the Ministry of Justice and she explained her intentions to the official. The official recognized Zhou Qing as the personal maid serving the Empress and did not dare to be negligent. He invited the two to the waiting room at once.
The Minister of Justice did not dare to close his eyes for the past two days. He was worried that there would be more slip-ups in this case. He stayed in the government office of the Ministry of Justice and did not go anywhere.
When he heard that the Empress’s staff had arrived, he immediately invited her to the study.
The General’s wife frowned in displeasure when she saw that the official only allowed Zhou Qing to go over.
“Mistress, please wait a moment. I will be back soon.”
Zhou Qing was not gone for long before she returned. “Mistress, the Minister said that because of the Great Immortal White Lotus’s special identity, it was not suitable for her to be locked up in prison. He had already transferred her out yesterday.”
A strange expression flashed across the General’s wife’s face. “Where did they move her?”
“There is a courtyard house in the city. Mistress, please follow me there.”
The General’s wife nodded. She had the expression that she must see the Great Immortal at all costs.
The official brought them to a private house a certain distance away from the Ministry of Justice. The house was too ordinary and would not attract anyone’s attention at all.
The official opened the courtyard gate and led the General’s wife in.
“That person is inside. Mistress, you have fifteen minutes. Just ask whatever you want to ask.” The official retreated to one side after saying that.
When the General’s wife entered the room, she realized that Zhou Qing was following closely behind her. She said in displeasure, “The things I want to ask the Great Immortal White Lotus involve my personal privacy. Please excuse yourself, Miss.”
Zhou Qing’s smile did not waver. “Mistress, the Empress has stipulated that no one is allowed to come into contact with the Great Immortal White Lotus alone. If Mistress is not willing to let me follow you, you can go back with me.” Since she was already here, how could the General’s wife be willing to leave?
She glared at Zhou Qing before walking to the bed.
The Great Immortal White Lotus was awake. When she saw the General’s wife, she did not show any odd expression on her face. However, she did appear slightly surprised.
“Great Immortal, do you still remember me?” the General’s wife asked.
The Great Immortal White Lotus was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. “You are General Weimeng’s wife.”
The General’s wife glared at her sharply. “Those things that Great Immortal said to me in the past… are they true?”
The Great Immortal White Lotus’s face turned pale slightly. “They are… are true.”
“Great Immortal, you didn’t tell anyone about my personal private matters, did you?”
The Great Immortal White Lotus shook her head.
The eyes of the General’s wife were fixed squarely on the Great Immortal White Lotus all this while. She did not miss any expression on the other party’s face.
As if she had gotten the answer she wanted, the General’s wife smiled faintly.
“That’s good. I have already asked what I wanted to ask. Let’s go.”
Zhou Qing glanced at the Great Immortal White Lotus and did not miss the look of conflicting emotions in her eyes. Then, she turned around and left with the General’s wife.
After leaving the courtyard, the General’s wife left in the horse carriage without even saying thanks.
As night fell, a few black figures silently appeared outside the private house where the Great Immortal White Lotus was staying and observed the place.
After avoiding the patrolling officials, they poured the tung oil they had brought outside the room where the Great Immortal White Lotus was staying and set fire to the tung oil.
However, before they could retreat, a flurry of footsteps erupted in the darkness. Those people turned around and saw that the courtyard had been surrounded by officials.
“Arrest them!”
With this order from the official, both sides started fighting.
The other party was outnumbered and the group was eventually captured by the officials, but one of them still escaped.
The official immediately informed the Imperial Guards, who began searching the city at night to capture the fugitive.
The commotion in this corner did not cause too much of a stir. After daybreak, the commoners woke up and began their daily lives as usual.
However, General Weimeng’s Residence was not peaceful at this moment.
The night before, the General’s Residence was surrounded by officials.
When Su Ying saw the General’s wife again, she was already locked up in the prison of the Ministry of Justice.
She had changed from her plain long dress into a prison garb, but even so, her indifferent face was still calm. However, the resentment that occasionally flashed across her eyes revealed the grievous hatred in her heart.
“Your Imperial Highness truly lives up to your reputation. When did you discover the telltale sign?” The General’s wife slowly raised her head to look at Su Ying.
Su Ying told the official to bring a low bench to her and she sat down in front of the General’s wife. “When you entered the palace to look for me, it showed that you were anxious.”
The General’s wife gave a scornful sneer. “Of course I’m anxious. This is because it’s going to be my husband’s death anniversary soon. I’ve said before that I will avenge him!”
Su Ying frowned slightly. “Avenge him? If I remember correctly, the Great General Weimeng died on the battlefield back then. Even if you want to avenge him, it shouldn’t be in the capital city.”
“Those people caused his death!” The General’s wife suddenly shouted in agitation.
This incident started way back 20 years ago. Back then, the Great General Weimeng was undoubtedly a top-ranking general of the Chu State. Once, when the Qiang Tribe invaded, the Great General Weimeng led his troops to fight them. However, in the final battle, a spy appeared in the army and the Great General Weimeng was killed on the battlefield. All his military merits were divided up among those people who ranked below him. He was even accused of leading his troops poorly and rushing into battle to claim credit!
“I’ve known him since I was young. He had always been a reliable and unflappable person since he was young. Every time he mentioned the battlefield to me, he would tell me everything. It was impossible for him to lead troops to take risks just to fight for military merits. Moreover, the war was coming to an end, so he should have considered the overall situation first.”
However, that year, no one was willing to believe the words of a woman like her. As she looked at all those people who stepped on her husband’s bones to climb upwards, she hated them to the core!
Later, she learned by accident at a banquet that it was not her husband who had rushed into battle at all. It was his men who had secretly led troops to attack in order to gain credit but were surrounded by the enemy. Her husband had no choice but to send troops in to rescue them.
“They took advantage of him and still wantonly slandered his reputation. How can I swallow this!”
Su Ying’s expression changed slightly. “So, what exactly do you want after lying low for so many years?”
The General’s wife said with a sneer, “I created the White Lotus Cult to make those people believe in the existence of this immortal thing. Step by step, I will lure their families into the trap I have set up.. I want them to fall into the abyss of eternal damnation!”