CHAPTER 236: CHAPTER 236: YOU WANT TO HARM THE EMPEROR?

As night fell, the moon shone brightly amidst sparse stars, and the late spring breeze was gentle and refreshing, making one feel at ease as it blew across the face.

Long Yue and Li Qingmu had finished their dinner, closed the small window to keep out the wind, and prepared for bed. However, just as they lay down, a commotion arose outside.

"Get up, everyone up, by order of the Emperor, the real culprit behind the wolf attack must be found. All of you head to the main camp immediately, no personal belongings allowed! Disobedience will be punished by death!"

The speaker’s voice was loud and domineering, even disregarding some palace maids and princes, clearly a close aide of the Emperor.

Li Qingmu and Long Yue exchanged glances, and Li Qingmu sneered, "Tonight is destined to be sleepless, let’s go!"

The two quickly headed outside; at this time, anyone who dawdled would look the most suspicious.

Once outside, they, like everyone else, were driven towards the main camp as if they were livestock.

"Oh dear, what’s going on? Getting people out of bed like this, I was just sleeping, so sleepy..."

"Shut up, if you dare to complain again, you’ll be treated as a criminal!"

A lady from an official’s family was probably sleeping soundly and was displeased after being dragged out of bed, complaining over there, only to be harshly reprimanded by a soldier.

When everyone arrived at the main camp, Qi Yun was already seated at the head of the tent, beside him were Empress Qiao and Consort Xue, Princess Consort Zhen, and a large group of the Imperial Army in the rear, creating an imposing atmosphere.

The atmosphere in the main camp was very solemn, with soldiers gripping their sword hilts, ready to draw their swords at any sign of disturbance.

As people gathered, Qi Yun sipped his tea in leisure, while Empress Qiao took the stage.

The Empress finally made her move.

Her gaze swept over everyone, pausing deliberately on Long Yue and Li Qingmu, and she proclaimed loudly:

"Ladies and gentlemen, today’s wolf pack attack resulted in many casualties, and I am deeply saddened. I have just sent people to investigate carefully, discovering that the blood of the game we brought back from hunting was drugged, this drug reacts with blood and specifically attracts wolf packs!

Not only that, we’ve also found this drug in some water sources deep in the forest, imagine, as these animals drank the drugged water, after being hunted by us, the drug’s scent in their blood attracted the wolf pack, causing this calamity!

The culprit hides among us, taking advantage of everyone’s momentary oversight to commit such a nefarious act! How scheming, how despicable, how ruthless, unprecedented, deserving of a thousand deaths!"

Empress Qiao’s words caused the entire place to shake!

People engaged in hushed discussions, some women even screamed fiercely, nearly causing an uproar on the scene!

Who would have thought, this wolf tide wasn’t an accident, but man-made?

Then, those who died were truly unjust and pitiful!

"Empress, please see clearly, you must find this malevolent figure, avenge my husband... sob sob..."

A woman kneeled to the ground, kowtowing vigorously towards the Empress, her forehead became bruised and bloody. This person wasn’t anyone else but Mrs. Liu Wang, the wife of Imperial Censor Liu Yi!

She thought it would be an outing accompanying her husband, but it turned into a farewell forever. She had been crying all afternoon, her eyes swollen red, and just as her emotions stabilized, she was struck by the news it was man-made, causing her to collapse again emotionally.

Empress gently nodded and comforted, "Madam Liu, rest assured, I will definitely root this villain out and bring them to justice to console the lost souls of the deceased!"

"Minister’s Wife... thanks the holy grace... sob sob sob..."

Mrs. Liu Wang was crying hysterically over the loss of her husband, and people around her showed sympathy, allowing her breach of decorum in front of the court to go unchecked while several close friends went up to console her.

Li Qingmu, hearing the chaos around him, suddenly tensed, whispering, "Yue’er, this is bad!"

"Is it my medicinal powder?"

Long Yue also thought of this in an instant, her expression slightly changed.

But the medicinal powder was just a simple tonic, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

"Your Majesty, it’s found!"

At that moment, a squad of the Imperial Army burst in, the leading person holding a delicately designed embroidered pouch.

As he entered, he immediately handed the pouch to Chen Zhong.

"Your Majesty, we found this in Imperial Censor Li’s tent, inside is a box of medicinal powder!"

Imperial Censor Li? Medicinal powder?

In an instant, countless gazes fixated on Li Qingmu, with hatred, anger, schadenfreude, and confusion, but mostly hatred and anger.

He became the focus of everyone’s attention, and if looks could kill, he would be riddled with holes by now!

Long Yue, upon seeing the soldier holding her pouch, knew there was trouble, but couldn’t understand why they targeted Li Qingmu?

Indeed, they were a couple, sharing glory and downfall together; if Li Qingmu fell, she would follow!

Queen Qiao, truly formidable. When she moves, she aims to kill them!

"Ahh, it’s you, it was you, you beast killed my husband, I... I’ll kill you!"

Mrs. Liu Wang’s emotions were unstable all along; upon hearing the soldier’s words, she lost it completely, breaking free from her companions and lunging at Li Qingmu to scratch him.

Long Yue stepped forward and pushed Mrs. Liu Wang aside. Mrs. Liu Wang, a mere sheltered lady, was no match for Long Yue, and she was quickly knocked to the ground.

"Your Majesty, please make a judgment for me!"

"How dare you commit a crime right in front of His Majesty! Guards, arrest this wicked couple immediately!"

Empress Qiao didn’t need Mrs. Liu Wang to speak; she immediately gave the order!

A group of soldiers swiftly surrounded them, and Long Yue cried out, "Your Majesty, we are innocent, we have nothing to do with this!"

"Nothing to do with it? Humph, what a shameless claim! Earlier, I heard people say that after the Emperor was saved by Cai Yuanzhi, Li Qingmu was so furious he smashed his bow and arrow, is that true?"

Long Yue was stunned, her heart dropping. A Mu was furious at being plotted against by Prince Lingjiang, never expecting it would come back to haunt him!

"Indeed that happened!"

Li Qingmu said calmly, having done that, and many witnessed it, there was nothing to deny.

"Look, he admitted it himself! Nothing to deny, after all, many here saw it happen! Isn’t that right, Qiao Zizhan?"

Empress Qiao showed a satisfied smile, looking at her nephew.

Qiao Zizhan was the closest to Li Qingmu back then and surely saw it.

Qiao Zizhan, previously surrounded by over ten savage wolves, could say Li Qingmu saved him, causing his attitude towards him to change slightly. However, now, he was bewildered, still shocked by the revelation that Li Qingmu was the culprit.

He looked blankly at his aunt, then at the upright-standing Li Qingmu, nodding, "Yes, at that moment, he did smash the bow he was holding, and he was very angry... did you... did you intend to harm the Emperor?"