Free Web NovelChapter 677: Chapter 677: The Law Does Not Punish the Masses
The martial artist was bewildered, and before he could ask what they wanted to do, Yin Le stuffed his mouth.
This girl didn’t even bother to knock him out, just took a rope to tie his hands.
Wasn’t she afraid he’d resist?
As if seeing through his thoughts, Yin Le slapped his blood-soaked bandage: "If you don’t want to die, cooperate obediently! My master’s ingenious plan is not something mere mortals like us can fathom. She must have her reasons for doing this!"
After Yin Le had the tightly bound martial artist "willingly" taken to the woodshed.
In the hall, Liu Ji and Ah Wang exchanged baffled looks, both turning to Qin Yao in confusion.
Qin Yao cleared her throat with a slight cough and motioned for the two to sit down.
She said first, "Exchanging a martial artist won’t get us Gongliang Liao, and it might drag our entire family down with us."
That quashed Liu Ji’s wavering heart.
She further analyzed, "If what the martial artist said is true, and Prince Feng is guilty of embezzlement and murder, according to national law, his title would at least have to be revoked."
"The Crown Prince shielding him, this matter could be either big or small. Given the current situation, the Princess Mansion would certainly not let go of such a great opportunity. Once the Crown Prince is impeached, his position could be at risk."
"Moreover, the State Preceptor and the Crown Prince have always been publicly tied together. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Sending the martial artist to the National Master Mansion now might indeed gain us temporary peace, but once the plot is exposed..."
Qin Yao looked at Liu Ji with a cold gaze: "Congratulations on achieving the full-house execution accomplishment."
Liu Ji snorted, unwilling to admit he had oversimplified things, "You only know how to scare me!"
Qin Yao suddenly smiled at him, propped her chin with one hand, and looked at him with sparkling eyes, making him feel uneasy. Then she said with a smile:
"Liu Ji, I’ve always thought you were very smart, really!"
Ah Wang’s eyes widened to the point of falling out—Madam, doesn’t your conscience hurt when you lie like that?
He glanced sideways at the old man, whose mouth could no longer hold back a grin, "Wife, why praise me so suddenly in front of outsiders? It’s quite embarrassing."
Gave Ah Wang a look, you dimwit, aren’t you leaving?
Ah Wang choked, alright, alright! I get it!
"If Madam has any instructions, please call me anytime. I’ll just go help Ah Le tidy up the tables and chairs."
With a heavy clasp of his fists, he rolled up his sleeves and left the hall, working diligently, his muscles tight, and his scrubbing made such a loud noise one might think he was torturing someone.
Liu Ji didn’t feel it at all. As soon as he was alone, he dragged the Taishi Chair along with himself closer to Qin Yao, ready for a face-to-face conversation.
Qin Yao looked at him with an appreciative smile, "Husband, in your opinion, what do you think of this matter? Do you have any solutions to resolve our family’s crisis?"
"Since you’re so smart, you should be able to resolve this small matter easily, right?"
Upon hearing the word husband, Liu Ji felt half his body go numb. But before he could continue enjoying this rare tenderness from his wife, her real intent was revealed in the next sentence.
Liu Ji’s smile froze on his face. Honestly, if anyone else tried to put him on a pedestal like this, he’d jump off for sure.
But who was this person?
It was his dear wife!
As a man, as a husband, how could he show fear in front of his wife?
Facing Qin Yao’s expectant eyes, Liu Ji took a deep breath, forcing a reassuring smile, lowered his gaze, and started pondering while staring at their knees.
Could he still retract all the boasts he’d made before?
A pair of hands "slapped" onto his knees, not too forcefully, but Liu Ji knew that if he struggled, these hands would become iron clamps, holding him immobile.
Qin Yao smiled, her eyes smiling to crescents. Her face was quite delicate, yet her sharp eagle-like eyes usually masked that bit of grace.
With bent brows and bright eyes now, Liu Ji unexpectedly fell into her gaze, feeling wrapped in warm, gentle spring water.
His body shivered instinctively for a moment, like being electrocuted, and he awoke with a start, confused.
Liu Ji took a sharp breath, turned his head away from those eyes, secretly gritted his teeth, his cheeks blushing like a boiled shrimp, feeling dizzy.
"You, you!" Liu Ji pressed down on the hands atop his knees, forcing himself to say in a low tone: "Qin Yao! How dare you use such beauty tactics, you’re too much!
"Too much?" Qin Yao lifted a corner of her mouth, flipped her hand to grab his hands over hers. "Then how about this? Is it even more excessive?"
The words "too much" rolled around on his tongue, but what Liu Ji said was: "It could be a bit more excessive..."
After speaking, seeing the person opposite wasn’t angry but smiled instead, he was startled too, quickly closing his eyes, silently reciting the Heart Clarity Spell, steadying his disordered mind.
"Let go of my hands first, give me some time to think this over, it’s not difficult, there must be a solution."
Qin Yao glanced down at her own hand that was caught, should she let go first?
Someone was still holding on, daringly brushing with their fingertips.
A hand accustomed to martial arts was surprisingly delicate, with a slight callus at the knuckle, neatly trimmed nails couldn’t help but poke at it, pressing out a cross shape, thoroughly enjoying the touch.
Qin Yao: "Open your eyes."
The person raised their eyelids slightly.
"Open them!"
A low growl that was said through gritted teeth, scared Liu Ji into opening his eyes with a start.
Qin Yao lifted her chin downward, Liu Ji followed her gaze down, ah, he was holding her hand.
But the heck, he’s not letting go!
Not until he noticed their knees’ tendency to lift did Liu Ji finally release her hands, repositioning the Taishi Chair, and gesturing to stop:
"I really need to think about it."
The timing of these words was just right, just stopping a forthcoming slap from Qin Yao.
However, that uplifted corner of her mouth was probably harder to suppress than a seesaw.
Such a rare sweet job, he really wouldn’t mind experiencing it a few more times.
After all, a secret known by only a small group is a secret.
But if everyone knows it, then it’s no longer a secret.
The law does not punish the masses. The Crown Prince Mansion certainly can’t kill everyone in Kuanzheng Square to silence them.
Moreover, let others die rather than oneself—a matter very likely to achieve full-house execution; let professionals handle it properly.
Liu Ji suddenly looked towards the eastern courtyard wall, revealing a mischievous smile, "Wife, I have a plan, come closer and let me whisper it to you in detail."
Qin Yao didn’t miss his subtle glance at the eastern courtyard wall, raising her eyebrows, it seemed her useless husband could lose the title of "useless".
Qin Yao sat still, and Liu Ji didn’t mind, spinelessly walking over to whisper rapidly in her ear.
After speaking, the two of them exchanged a look, revealing the same sinister grin.
...
Next door, in the eastern courtyard of the Qi Family.
After finishing writing the impeachment memorial to be submitted the next day, Imperial Censor Qi, who was about to put out the light and go to bed, suddenly felt a cold breeze blow past his neck, raising goosebumps all over.
A servant attending noticed the Imperial Censor’s condition and was about to ask if the master needed an extra layer.
Then came a door-knocking sound like thunder.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The pounding was as if they wouldn’t stop until they smashed through the mansion doors.
