Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 584 Sorry to Disappoint

He returned to where he had lain and swept away every trace before continuing his run.

Uncle Ma’s life hung by a thread because of his greed, and he could not afford to leave such negligence behind, to lead people to his brothers again.

Wang San strode out with long legs, exerting all his strength, running faster and faster as if he was running for his life.

Meanwhile, accompanied by Qian Chen, Lian Bao had already met with Liu Xianzhang.

Disguised as Mr. Wu, his expression was cold, and he advised in a clear voice, "Elder Liu, don’t rush, this matter is probably not so simple..."

Liu Xianzhang interrupted him directly, speaking with fierceness, "Not so simple? Mr. Wu, you said the same thing last time, that the Internal Guard Bureau was staging a sword dance, with its intent on the Duke of Pei, and that a major move was imminent. Is this the major move you spoke of?"

The decline of the Xu Family, the rise of the Xue Family as if fish into water, is this the major move?

It is truly a joke!

Lian Bao watched him with a cold eye, a slight smile on his face, and without further persuasion, stood silently with his hands behind his back.

Liu Xianzhang gasped for air, his breathing like a broken bellows.

Receiving no response, his words were even more vehement, "A minor skirmish by the Internal Guard Bureau, all thunder and no rain. Not only did Xue Ping escape unscathed, he even gained vast momentum, hiding behind the scenes to ally with other noble families to doom the Xu Family. Xu Hu and his men have all been cornered, the Xu Family is finished, Consort Xu De is finished, the Favored Concubine is now crippled, who else in the Harem could restrain that poisonous wretched woman, who else?"

The louder he questioned, the heavier his breathing became, as if rage was attacking his heart, his deteriorating body shook, nearly falling, and he leaned on a nearby pillar to stabilize himself.

All for naught—his return to the capital, his scheming, missing the opportunity, allowing the Xue Family to seize the initiative!

Just thinking about it made him unable to control his anger anymore, desperate to vent it out.

Lian Bao’s smile deepened, watching Liu Xianzhang with detached coolness, showing no intention to help.

Hearing that the Favored Concubine was crippled, murderous intent filled his eyes, and a violent aura seeped from his being.

He had confirmed from this old fool what he wanted to know, that his younger sister had been harmed to near death, and this old fool’s daughter was still trying to squeeze the last bit of value out of his sister, inciting her to take on a hopeless fight!

The Xue Family certainly deserved death, and so did this old fool’s daughter!

It took all his strength to restrain the rage in his heart and not kill this old fool on the spot.

Liu Xianzhang steadied himself, suppressed his panting, and focused his sharp eyes back on Lian Bao, "Mr. Wu, is this the major move you spoke of? You have stopped me several times, causing me to lose the initiative. How do you explain this?"

Lian Bao’s expression remained unchanged, still smiling, though the smile did not reach his eyes, "Elder Liu may think as he likes, I shall not accompany you, farewell."

He flicked his sleeve and walked away.

Liu Xianzhang’s face was a mix of emotions; he couldn’t see through this man. This act was merely to anger him, to make him lose his composure and reveal his weaknesses so that Liu could control the situation afterward and act more freely.

Yet, to his surprise, this man was able to keep his composure completely, not taking the bait, turning hostile in a blink of an eye.

As the man was about to leave the garden, a nearby old servant thought to come over and help him, but he waved his hand to prevent him.

He called out loudly, "Mr. Wu, don’t go. It was my confusion, my concern for my daughter made me speak rashly, and I was hasty. I hope you can forgive me and not blame an old man."

While saying this, he urged his broken body to go and stop the man.

Lian Bao, upon hearing these words, stood still, his face as cold as ice, his lips curling into a sneer, yet he did not turn his head.

Liu Xianzhang hurried over, slowly making his way as the old servant rushed to support him.

He walked while panting, uttering in sorrow, "Mr. Wu, it’s truly before my very eyes that Consort Xu De has fallen from grace, my daughter’s status as a mere servant becomes ever more stable, and that old brute thrives in court like a fish in water. Yet my daughter languishes in purgatory, neither human nor ghost..."

At this point, he was overwhelmed by tears, so grieved that he could not speak, noticing that Lian Bao was still silent.

He wiped away his tears and continued, "Mr. Wu, I know you have meticulous thoughts and leave no strategy unconsidered, but my daughter’s life is nearly at its end. How can I possibly wait?"

Lian Bao turned back to glance at him, as if he already knew that his daughter’s life was in peril, and laughed lightly, "If you think your daughter’s life is too long, then make a move. Why say more?"

Liu Xianzhang paused, inwardly sighing that his intimidation and pleading had been entirely seen through.

He approached Lian Bao, no longer uttering false words and bowed deeply, his tone now imbued with several degrees of sincerity and solemnity, "I have been impolite, Mr. Wu. Please do not take offense."

He bowed deeply.

Mr. Wu was known to be exceedingly clever, and he had invited people over tonight simply because he had received news from the palace that his daughter could no longer bear it.

He, who could not see clearly the current situation, hoped to seek reassurance from Mr. Wu as well as seek a secure plan.

If Mr. Wu assisted, the matter his daughter sought would surely come into her hands easily. Even if they were to fail, he could ensure his daughter could withdraw intact.

His life would not be long, and before his death, he wished only to fulfill his daughter’s desire: to cast the one who had harmed her into the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Beyond that, he cared for nothing else.

Lian Bao turned around to face the frail Liu Xianzhang, once the Libationer of the Imperial Academy and a man of high integrity, yet also someone who could bend and stretch when necessary.

Numerous thoughts welled up in his heart, and finally, his tone softened somewhat, "The Noble Lady in the palace has let hatred cloud her judgment. Elder Liu, if you truly wish her well, you should consider the long-term consequences."

Liu Xianzhang couldn’t help but rise, smiling bitterly, "What is there to consider when one is about to die?"

Lian Bao looked at him with an ambiguous smile, "What about after death? Is it to be despised by thousands or to be mourned with honor?"

Liu Xianzhang’s heart jolted, his cloudy eyes widening.

These words struck right at the heart of another of his concerns.

No matter the course of action, he still wished to protect his daughter’s reputation, to ensure she departed this life unblemished. He was willing to bear any sin for her, hoping that in the afterlife, she could enjoy the honor due to one of the four consorts, be buried within the Royal Family, and receive the offerings and veneration due to the royal dead, rather than becoming a lonely, wandering ghost.

He knew Mr. Wu was right, when the palace sent a message to him, they nearly caught on to his current location.

In these tense times, it is better to stay still than to make a move.

He feared his daughter, in her confusion, might expose herself, anger the Emperor, and not meet a good end.

Consider Xu Family, father and daughter both, who had the Emperor’s favor, yet due to the Favored Concubine incident, fell under the Emperor’s suspicion. Right now, the Emperor has yet to decide their fate, which is only because he hasn’t made up his mind yet. With Xue Ping stirring the pot, it won’t be long before they meet a miserable end.

He sighed deeply and bowed once more, "I have taken your valuable advice to heart, Mr. Wu. Thank you. Within the palace, I will seek an opportunity to send a message and try to persuade her once more. It’s just that... alas..."

No one knew better than he, her father, how obstinate Lingyi was. From her childhood, she acted recklessly just to win an argument.

When it came time for her to marry, Lingyi pleaded with him, claiming she was enamored with the Crown Prince and wished to marry into the Royal Family. At that time, it just so happened that the Former Empress Dowager had secretly selected Xue Wanjun as the Principal Consort.

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