Chapter 1977: Chapter 1915: Stubbornly Refusing to Repent

If Empress Song were to overhear the exchange between Wufu and Ah Jiu, she would probably sigh, thinking that every one of their guesses hit the mark.

At this moment, in a small mountain estate on the outskirts of the city, Empress Song looked at the man before her, her expression unspeakably ugly. Her gaze settled on the man with the drooping mustache standing in front: "Li Kui?"

Li Kui, Junior Minister of the Guanglu Temple. She hadn’t expected that Lu Shenxing could still plant a man in an official post among the civil bureaucracy, and one of the fifth rank at that.

"Your Ladyship." Li Kui bowed respectfully to Empress Song.

Empress Song let out a self-mocking snort: "I am a Deposed Empress; what right have I to be called ’Your Ladyship’? Call me Madam."

"Yes, Madam." Li Kui said, "Madam, this estate bears the name of a steward in my retinue. Small, yes, but the surroundings are decent, and it won’t attract notice. Madam should remain here for now to recuperate, and give birth to the child..."

"Leave that aside. How many people do we still have?" Empress Song cut him off.

Li Kui replied, "This unit that the master left behind, including myself, numbers only twenty men. But Madam may rest assured, we will certainly ensure that Madam and the young master remain safe and sound."

"Only twenty?" Empress Song’s voice sharpened and rose in pitch. With so few, how was she to take revenge and wash away her hatred?

Li Kui gave her a look and said, "Madam, these twenty are all picked elites, and they are what the master left you for safeguarding your life!"

Empress Song said, "And money?"

"Madam may set her mind at ease regarding money. We will make sure Madam and the young master are clothed and fed without worry."

"Li Kui!" Empress Song fixed her gaze on him. "Brother Xing is dead."

Li Kui froze for a moment; a trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes. He said, "Madam, we have already snatched the master’s remains back from the Mass Burial Mound and given him proper burial!"

"He died wretchedly, torn apart by five horses. I hate them so much!" Empress Song’s hands clenched into tight fists. "I must avenge Brother Xing."

Li Kui’s heart sank slightly. What was bound to come would come; the master had foreseen it all. She was still stubbornly lost in her obsession.

"Madam, the master said, if he died, there was no need to avenge him. His sole wish was that Madam and the young master live on, and live well!" Li Kui said with difficulty.

Empress Song’s eyes turned sharp. "You’re afraid?"

Li Kui held his tongue.

"I don’t know how you came to follow Brother Xing, but since Brother Xing trusted you enough to make you the leader of this unit, and since he died so miserably, shouldn’t you take revenge on his behalf? The one who killed him is still living in carefree pleasure!" Empress Song said coldly. "On the Yellow Spring Road, Brother Xing should not walk alone; he will not go in peace. On that road, he ought to have a companion."

Bitterness welled up in Li Kui’s heart as he said, "Madam, with the small number of men we have, if we try to take revenge, it will only be throwing our lives away. When that time comes, we won’t even be able to protect Madam; I would have no face left to meet the master!"

"We can’t clash head-on; we can use our wits." Empress Song fixed her gaze on him. "You are Junior Minister of the Honglu Temple; are you unfamiliar with another palace? If you are not familiar, I am. With your status, how hard can it be to place some men inside?"

Li Kui fell silent.

Seeing that he was wavering a little, Empress Song coaxed him patiently: "It’s not that I’m saying we must act at once. I am well aware of the phrase ’wait for the opportune moment’."

"What does Madam mean?"

"Isn’t Empress Dowager Mo’s Thousand Autumns Festival almost upon us?" Empress Song said. "That tyrant’s half-dead body likely won’t return to the main palace; the Thousand Autumns Festival will be held in another palace. That is our chance—the chance to avenge Brother Xing and wash away this hatred!"

Was it for Lu Xing’s sake that she sought revenge, or for her own? Only Empress Song herself knew.

Li Kui opened his mouth, but seeing her face full of venomous resentment, he knew she must have calculated this for a long time, and would not be swayed.

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