“Young Madam, do you wish to inform Master?” Lian Xin asked from behind.
Li Yaoqin shook her head, “Informing him would be useless. Wouldn’t Concubine Liu have already made preparations?”
Lian Xin was taken aback, her voice filled with anxiety, “Then what shall we do? Young Madam, I feel so much danger. You are all alone… I’m scared.”
Li Yaoqin smiled, “What’s there to fear? Besides, who says I’m alone?”
Hua Yun Jin had promised to help her, and for some reason, her heart trusted this man she had met less than three times.
Lian Xin was stunned; she was surprised to see a faint smile on her Young Madam’s face.
“Young Madam…”
“Let’s go. I know there will be danger, but I will definitely find the truth behind Mother’s death.”
Returning to the mourning hall, Li Yaoqin saw Li Sinian, who was heartbroken. At this moment, she felt no sympathy. She even harbored some resentment towards her father. Although she had willingly given Suo Xin to her father, what if her father had refused to accept it?
Or, if her father hadn’t doted on Concubine Liu so much, she wouldn’t have chosen to send Suo Xin over.
Why couldn’t he be like His Majesty Yun Huang? She had seduced him so much, yet he remained unmoved, his eyes solely fixed on the Empress.
Perhaps this was the difference between people.
“Yao’er, why aren’t you resting?” Li Sinian noticed her and asked in a hoarse voice.
Li Yaoqin walked forward and knelt on the cushion, saying, “Daughter cannot sleep.”
She picked up the paper money and placed it into the brazier. The flames greedily consumed the paper money she had put in.
“Father, do you have any regrets?” She raised her eyes to look at Li Sinian, the first time she had truly looked at her father.
Li Sinian paused slightly, looking at her, “Yao’er, you…”
She lowered her head and asked, “Do you regret Mother’s death?”
She felt his hand tremble slightly but heard no words from him.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Yao’er…”
“Master, why are you also keeping vigil here? This should be the Young Madam’s duty.”
Hearing this voice, Li Yaoqin looked up and saw the woman dressed in alluring white.
Concubine Liu walked over with a sway and reached out to help Li Sinian, “Master, the ground is cold, please get up.”
Li Sinian was startled and was about to refuse when Concubine Liu continued, “It would be one thing if no one saw, but what if others see? It would be improper.”
Li Sinian’s body trembled. Concubine Liu took the opportunity to help him up and said, “It is also the Young Madam’s fault for letting Master keep vigil here. If outsiders hear of it, they will laugh at Master.”
“Laugh at what?” Li Yaoqin looked up and stared coldly at Concubine Liu, asking word by word.
Concubine Liu replied, “What master keeps vigil for his wife?”
“Is that so? Since Father cannot, as a concubine, Concubine Liu, it is your duty to keep vigil, isn’t it?” Li Yaoqin said coldly.
Concubine Liu was taken aback. Before she could speak, Li Yaoqin continued, “Since Concubine Liu is so devoted to Mother, I cannot refuse Concubine Liu’s kind intentions. Today, Concubine Liu shall keep vigil!”
Concubine Liu said, “This concubine still needs to help Master back to his room to rest.”
“Lian Xin, why are you standing there? Help Father back to his room,” Li Yaoqin said coldly.
Lian Xin quickly stepped forward. Concubine Liu looked pleadingly at Li Sinian and pouted, “Master…”
Before Li Sinian could speak, Li Yaoqin said, “Concubine Liu, as a concubine, keeping vigil for Mother is only proper and fitting. Don’t you agree, Father?”
Li Sinian patted Concubine Liu’s hand and said, “Go keep vigil for Madam tonight.”
Even Li Sinian had said so, so Concubine Liu could only force a smile and nod, “Master is right, this concubine will now keep vigil for Madam.”
Li Sinian left with Lian Xin’s support.
Li Yaoqin pointed to the cushion beside her, “Concubine Liu, kneel here!”
Concubine Liu smiled obsequiously, “Young Madam, are you so at ease with Lian Xin helping Master to his room?”
Li Yaoqin looked up at Concubine Liu, “What does Concubine Liu mean by that?”
Concubine Liu hooked her lips, “Are you not afraid that a second Suo Xin will appear?”
Li Yaoqin sneered, “Suo Xin? Didn’t she already lose? If another one comes, I can send her back the way she came. I will show no mercy to anyone who tries to sow discord in this household.”
“Young Madam, you are just an unmarried young lady. Once you are married, what will happen to the affairs of the household?” Concubine Liu looked at her, her expression unreadable.
Li Yaoqin smiled enigmatically, “Then, before that happens, I will purge the household of those who shouldn’t be here.”
Concubine Liu gave a sheepish smile, “Young Madam is indeed extraordinary.”
“No, I am just an ordinary person. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have sent Suo Xin to Father, causing the household to be in such disarray, and causing Mother to leave like this. It’s all because I am ordinary.”
“Young Madam, do not belittle yourself. This concubine believes that your future is promising.”
Li Yaoqin heard this and said, “Is that so? Then, I thank Concubine Liu for your good wishes.”
“Young Madam, you don’t need to target this concubine. This concubine is not interested in anyone in this household.”
Hearing Concubine Liu’s question, she turned to look at her, “What does Concubine Liu mean? I don’t understand.”
“Young Madam will understand in the future,” Concubine Liu said calmly.
“Who knows what the future holds? What do you think, Concubine Liu?”
Concubine Liu looked at her and suddenly smiled, “That’s right. Young Madam is not wrong.”
Li Yaoqin said nothing further, nor did Concubine Liu. By the time dawn broke, Li Yaoqin stood up. Yan Xin, who was guarding outside, quickly came forward, “Young Madam, let this servant help you back!”
Li Yaoqin nodded and asked, “Where is Lian Xin?”
Yan Xin whispered, “Lian Xin has gone to do what Young Madam instructed.”
Li Yaoqin nodded, “Good.”
As they walked out of the mourning hall, Concubine Liu suddenly spoke, “Young Madam, you don’t need to see this concubine as an opponent. This concubine has no intention of becoming Young Madam’s enemy.”
“Concubine Liu worries too much. You are a member of this household, Father’s concubine. I am not that bored.”
After saying this, Li Yaoqin turned and left without hesitation.
Concubine Liu watched Li Yaoqin’s retreating figure, her expression darkening. She said to Qing’er, who was supporting her, “Have you found out what the Young Madam has been doing these past few days?”
Qing’er whispered, “Young Madam went to Chafutou yesterday, but there were people I didn’t recognize guarding the entrance. I didn’t dare to approach easily, fearing exposure.”
“And then?” Concubine Liu continued to ask.
Qing’er said, “At night, Young Madam went to the place where Suo Xin was held and stayed there for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”