Li Changle frowned, showing a hesitant expression, “These past ten days, we’ve tried every method, but Father insists on confining you for a full month.”

“How is that possible!” Li Minfeng laughed coldly and loudly, “I’m Father’s most beloved son—how could he treat me this way!” Perhaps even he himself didn’t know that though his gaze was sharp, it also contained deep unease, like a leaf about to fall, trembling incessantly.

Li Changle said, “Elder Brother, Father is truly furious. Recently everyone has been discussing what happened that day. Father has always valued reputation—you caused too much of a scene.”

“No matter what you’ve heard, I must tell you, it’s all lies! It was clearly already a corpse—how could it run to hang itself under the plum tree! It’s that little wretch Li Weiyang causing trouble behind the scenes. I’ll deal with her soon enough!”

He grabbed Li Changle’s shoulders, shaking her forcefully and shouting at the top of his lungs. That appearance of a carefree noble young master had completely vanished without a trace.

Li Changle was completely stunned. She felt extremely frightened. This appearance of Li Minfeng reminded her of a beast on the verge of extinction—he had already lost his calm and composure.

The First Madam rushed forward and fiercely slapped Li Minfeng across the face, “Clear your head! If you act so impulsively, you’ll only fall into Li Weiyang’s schemes. She must be hiding in the shadows right now, watching us suffer, watching us go mad!”

Li Minfeng was suddenly stunned. He stared blankly at the First Madam for a long while, then suddenly revealed an extremely embarrassed and ashamed expression. In vain he was a man who considered himself a talent capable of stabilizing the nation, yet at this moment, he wasn’t even as mentally firm as a woman skilled in managing the inner quarters.

On his face slowly appeared an expression of shame and guilt, and he dejectedly released his grip.

Then he discovered with surprise that the First Madam actually showed signs of aging—not only had silver threads appeared at her temples, but wrinkles had emerged at the corners of her eyes and forehead, filled with anxiety.

So Mother was worried after all. He felt shaken once again. That such a small thing as Li Weiyang could force Mother to this state—what exactly was going on?!

Li Weiyang’s face surfaced in his mind. Li Minfeng’s eyes burst with scorching sparks, even killing intent. Then his gaze quickly dimmed, and a helpless yet resentful smile appeared at the corners of his mouth, “Mother, how could I lose to a little girl?”

The First Madam said coldly, “I’ve always warned you—that little wretch Li Weiyang is extremely cunning. Either don’t move against her, or it must be a killing blow. But you two refused to listen to me!” Seeing the killing intent in Li Minfeng’s eyes, she couldn’t help but sigh, “Never mind. It’s because I’ve been too indulgent with you. You’ve lived smooth-sailing lives for too long and can’t withstand storms.”

“But she’s harmed me so terribly!” Li Minfeng said furiously, his expression like that of an injured wolf. You must know, he thought himself greatly talented and that with a small scheme he could deal with Li Weiyang, but never expected the one dealt with would be himself.

A trace of a smile appeared on the First Madam’s face, but that smile made people shudder, “At this moment, if you make a fuss about going out, you’ll only make your father increasingly weary of you. Moreover, the entire capital is currently discussing this matter. If you go out, you’ll only invite humiliation. Better to stay here and think carefully about exactly where you went wrong!”

Li Minfeng’s expression showed a trace of confusion.

Li Changle said coldly, “Elder Brother, your heart is too soft. If you had dealt with Ziyan early on, none of this would have happened.”

Li Minfeng felt somewhat embarrassed and ashamed. Yes, he had indeed developed some interest in Ziyan, but it wasn’t Li Changle’s place as his younger sister to lecture him.

The First Madam glared at Li Changle, “Wasn’t it you who incited your elder brother to get a perfectly good man involved in these matters!”

Li Changle’s face paled. Under the First Madam’s stern gaze, she had almost nowhere to hide, “Mother, if we’re all suppressed by Li Weiyang, that won’t be good for Elder Brother either.”

“You two! To discipline Li Weiyang, we can only wait slowly for an opportunity. She’s now County Princess Anping—we can’t move against her easily!” the First Madam said coldly.

“Mother, you always say to wait for the right timing—exactly when will that be!” Li Changle frowned.

At the First Madam’s lips appeared an indescribable smile, “Very soon.”

Both Li Minfeng and Li Changle’s faces showed confused expressions. The First Madam glanced at Li Minfeng, “You reflect quietly. I’ll naturally find ways to get you out early. As for you, Changle, recently don’t have conflicts with that wretch. Mother will soon make her completely disappear from before our eyes!”

Coming out from the ancestral hall, Li Changle couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, have you thought of some method?”

The First Madam smiled mysteriously without speaking.

Li Changle had tremendous interest in the matter of putting Li Weiyang to death, “Do you need daughter’s help?”

The First Madam looked at her lovingly, “You don’t need to concern yourself with anything—just dress beautifully.”

Li Changle’s face reddened, “Daughter is already very meticulous daily.”

The First Madam smiled, “No matter whether Li Weiyang becomes a county princess or a princess, there’s one thing where she can’t catch up to you even if she tried. Did you notice how many noble young masters were watching you at that day’s banquet, especially that Fifth Prince? Yesterday your father told me the Fifth Prince has intentions to propose marriage to you.”

Li Changle frowned, “Father agreed?”

The First Madam shook her head, “The Fifth Prince’s mother, Noble Consort Mei, has been favored for many years, so the Fifth Prince has risen along with the tide. But your father said the ones most likely to ascend to the great position are the current Crown Prince and His Majesty’s most beloved Seventh Prince. As for the Fifth Prince, he’s still lacking somewhat—”

The implication was that they had long ago placed their bets on either the Crown Prince or the Seventh Prince… Li Changle was somewhat disappointed. Somehow, the handsome face of the Third Prince, Tuoba Zhen, surfaced in her mind.

The First Madam patted her hand, “You must dress beautifully and seize opportunities well. Understand?”

Ever since the First Madam visited Li Minfeng at the ancestral hall and repeatedly admonished Li Changle, Li Weiyang discovered that not only did no more reports come from the ancestral hall about the eldest young master refusing to eat, but Li Changle also maintained her usual composure and appeared much more compliant. Moreover, when seeing this eldest miss again, she paid even more attention to her appearance than before. Li Weiyang vaguely guessed—firstly, the First Madam was preparing to deal with her, and secondly, this eldest sister was probably planning to use her beauty as a weapon to accomplish something remarkable.

A month later, Li Minfeng was released from the ancestral hall. On his face could be seen not the slightest trace of resentment toward Li Weiyang, not half a clue, yet beneath the calm surface, there were always turbulent undercurrents.

The disaster victims’ riots quickly passed. Gradually, Dali recovered its calm. But this calm didn’t last long. After every disaster, epidemics would spread. Especially in some areas, disaster victims, fearing this epidemic, simply buried infected people, horses, cattle, and sheep in the ground. Such actions inadvertently contaminated water sources, causing more people to contract the disease. The Emperor dispatched large numbers of imperial physicians to treat the epidemic in disaster areas. The situation there was quickly brought under control, but because many officials assigned there returned to the capital later, the epidemic was transmitted back to the capital with the returning forces. Common people persisted in their labor daily and, receiving medicine distributed by government officials, recovered quite quickly. But it was hard on the group of high officials and nobles—these people who normally neither worked with their limbs nor distinguished the five grains. Once ill, they found it very difficult to recover. Three or four ministers in succession died at court, causing tremendous shock throughout all levels, with everyone in danger.

Prime Minister Li was utterly overwhelmed by this, unable to sleep well day or night.

The First Madam observed this and slowly felt—the opportunity had arrived.

That night, Li Xiaoran tossed and turned, unable to sleep at all. Just then, the First Madam suddenly sat up, covered in cold sweat.

Li Xiaoran was startled, seeing the First Madam with an appearance of panic and unease. He couldn’t help but press, “Madam, what’s the matter with you?”

The First Madam’s expression was dazed, as if somewhat anxious, stammering and unable to speak.

Li Xiaoran was somewhat impatient, “What exactly happened!” By candlelight, Li Xiaoran noticed that the First Madam, whose face was usually plump and round, had become so thin it was deformed—her chin pointed as if it could pierce someone, shadows of blue-black under her eyes. Suddenly he felt somewhat anxious.

The First Madam’s hands gripped tightly, her whole body trembling, “I had a nightmare—so terrifying, Master!”

It was just a nightmare. Li Xiaoran lay back down, clearly not taking her words to heart.

The First Madam was annoyed inside but forcefully suppressed her anger, “I suddenly dreamed of countless wooden figures holding wooden clubs, striking at you from all directions, Master—”

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoran’s face immediately changed, and he said very seriously, “What kind of dream is this!”

The First Madam showed a troubled expression. After a long while, she tentatively said, “Does this dream have some omen…”

Li Xiaoran said nothing, but in his heart was a feeling of unease.

He suddenly recalled twenty years ago, when the Emperor had just ascended the throne. That summer, a great drought occurred. Sorcerers and shamans in the capital used evil methods to deceive the common people. Some even caused chaos in the rear palace, teaching the concubines witchcraft and curse techniques. The concubines in the rear palace were jealous of each other, cursed each other, accused each other, falsely charging one another with using witchcraft to curse His Majesty. His Majesty in fury ordered a city-wide search. In the residences of rear palace concubines and in commoners’ homes, many implements used for witchcraft were discovered. Palace maids and concubines under severe torture confessed, admitting they believed in ghosts and spirits and employed witchcraft to curse His Majesty and other palace maids and concubines. This matter also implicated a group of innocent ministers—several hundred people died at once. Therefore His Majesty issued strict orders—once anyone in the city was discovered practicing witchcraft, regardless of gender or age, all would be executed or exiled. Now the First Madam had this dream—did it portend something?

Li Xiaoran thinking this way naturally thought of the recent epidemic spreading in the city, and naturally couldn’t sleep. The First Madam dreamed of these wooden figures striking at him—could some misfortune be about to occur? This speculation made his nerves even more taut.

In the middle of the night, the window suddenly made a loud sound. Li Weiyang immediately woke with a start.

Bai Zhi immediately checked and hurriedly said, “Miss, it’s just the wind blowing the window open—nothing’s wrong. This servant has closed it.”

Li Weiyang’s forehead somehow bore some cold sweat. She gently wiped it, then lay back down. For some reason, she had a feeling that disaster was about to arrive—an ominous premonition…

This night, storm clouds were gathering.