Just as Qi Qingyao was about to say she wanted to leave, the little empress stated, “We will issue an edict to dissolve your engagement with the Lu family.”

Qi Qingyao was delighted. She had not been expecting this matter to be resolved like this. She did not have to play out some complicated drama with Lu Yan anymore, let alone make him a divorcee…

1

The little empress said, “If the State Preceptor informed you of the rumors along the way, you should know that it doesn’t matter whether you are the Harbinger or not. If outsiders believe that you are, your head is in danger of falling off your neck. Although I don’t think you are…”

Qi Qingyao quickly bowed and said, “Those are mistruths, Your Majesty!”

The little emperor glanced at the neither humble nor haughty little lady. While she still did not like her and always felt that she did not respect her as the empress, when she thought about Li Ruoxuan’s words from before, all her grievances disappeared. As long as Jiang Yeqian did not like her, but only wanted to take advantage of the widow…

Qi Qingyao was no longer a rival in love in her eyes now but a chess piece that might be very useful.

The little empress had always been patient when it came to useful chess pieces.

She put on a soft smile and said, “We don’t think you are the Harbinger, but assassins from the other nations will try to kill you at any cost…”

“…” Qi Qingyao hung her head low, not daring to say anything. It was because she… did not really know how to respond to that.

As if reminding her, the little empress said, “You’ve been living in the State Preceptor’s residence during this time.”

Finally, Qi Qingyao could not help but look up quietly and ask a very important question, “Can this civilian not return to Qingzhou City?”

The little empress pondered for a moment before answering with a smile, “You may return if Si Jin appears.”

Qi Qingyao, “…”

She had become a chess piece in a political game.

It was likely that the little empress, to some limited extent, believed the rumors calling her the Harbinger. In other times, she was just more of a chess piece to lure Si Jin out…

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. This civilian will now excuse herself.”

Qi Qingyao did not dare linger any longer and immediately excused herself.

Upon leaving the study, Li Ruoxuan followed beside her as they walked out.

Qi Qingyao was very curious. She just felt that he had done something before and so asked, “What did you say to the little empress?”

Li Ruoxuan clasped his hands. Staring at their path ahead with only his left eye, the corners of his mouth raised, and he answered, “I just borrowed the information Daming sent to relieve you of your temporary troubles.”

“What is there for me to be troubled about…” Qi Qingyao muttered.

Li Ruoxuan did not even look at her. “In the meantime, the little empress thinks that the reason Jiang Yeqian pays attention to you is that he suspects that you are the Harbinger… Anyhow, the little empress won’t be targeting you for now.”

Qi Qingyao was silent for a moment. She looked at his back as he walked forward and said in a soft voice, “I suddenly feel like you’re not a bad person if you haven’t done anything evil.”

Huh?

She… She had praised him!!

She thought he was nice!

Li Ruoxuan was instantly so shocked that he almost lost his footing. Feigning boastfulness, he sneered, “Everything I do is for Northern Liang!” He did not care one bit for her opinion!

Zhu Shen, who was following beside them, could not help but cradle his forehead.

Oh Master, did he think he could not tell?

The entire back of the supposedly cruel and unscrupulous State Preceptor was now enveloped in joy…

Qi Qingyao and Li Ruoxuan left the palace immediately while Jiang Yeqian entered the palace after them.

After being in the imperial palace for quite some time, Jiang Yeqian then exited the upper study.

Zhao Xin noted that his master’s face, which had been locked in the frown the past few days, had loosened when he came out—his expression was seemingly lighter.

In just a sweep, his troubles from before… seemed like they had all been solved.

As they were walking out of the palace, Jiang Yeqian looked at the setting sun and said as if mocking himself slightly, “It’s just an intelligence report, yet it has relieved the little empress’s suspicion of me…”

She had even said that his taste could not possibly be that hardcore…

Jiang Yeqian did not like to hear that, but he had not bothered about arguing with the little empress at the time.

What did she mean by ‘hardcore taste’?!

Liking Qi Qingyao meant that he had hardcore taste…?

Then what did that say about Lu Yan’s conduct? He would also be considered to have hardcore taste…

Furthermore, what of Li Ruoxuan?