Chapter 888: Chapter 40: Doubt and Confusion
"What, you say the Ruyi Bow has been anonymously bought? What kind of work are you doing!" Qing Qiang asked and found out that the Ruyi Bow was anonymously purchased.
She immediately disregarded Qing Mengâs injuries and flew into a rage.
Qing Qiang is a Martial Artist, but the weapon she excels at using is the bow.
On the continent, bows and arrows arenât mainstream weapons, so famous bows are rare.
For years, Qing Qiang searched tirelessly for suitable bows and arrows, and finally learned that Moyin recently crafted a new bow and arrow.
If she knew who got the Ruyi Bow, it would be easy â with the Qing Residenceâs influence, Qing Qiang believed she could reclaim the bow. But now, Qing Meng doesnât even know who bought the Ruyi Bow, leaving her frustrated.
"Hey, sister, donât be mad. Not only do I not know, but nobody else knows either. Itâs all that old Moyinâs fault for insisting on bartering. I bid up to nine hundred thousand gold coins but still couldnât buy the Ruyi Bow," Qing Meng tried to appease his infuriated sister.
"You could at least investigate who bought it. You buy so many things at the Beidou Auction but canât find out this one thing," the more Qing Qiang thought about it, the more useless she found her brother.
"I guarantee once my hand heals, Iâll invite the auction steward for some wine and get him to spill the beans," Qing Meng was just about to promise, but accidentally triggered his wound, wincing and crying out in pain.
Seeing her brotherâs condition, Qing Qiang was torn between anger and amusement as she sniped, "I donât know how your brain works, daring to drink wine; youâll end up dead by a womanâs hand someday. Now tell me, why target Donghuang Sheng? She seems delicate but isnât easy to deal with."
Li Huali underestimated Donghuang Sheng, and consequently, Mrs. Cheng became a scapegoat, kicked to death by Dugu Xiu.
Qing Qiang realized Donghuang Sheng is trouble, and when it came to her, Dugu Xiu shows no mercy.
"Oh, my dear sister, you must speak up for me this time. I wouldnât have targeted her if I knew sheâs the Crown Princeâs new love. I thought about it all night and itâs so bizarre; the Crown Prince Consort looks exactly like a female slave from the Sky Fox Clan at Beidou Auction."
Qing Meng was utterly spooked by Dugu Xiu at the Heavenly Pavilion.
Upon returning to the General Mansion, he recalled barging into the room with only two women inside.
Even the clothes the two women wore were clearly not what he saw earlier.
But the Crown Prince Consortâs face is unquestionably that of the Sky Fox Clan woman. After pondering, only two possibilities occurred: either the Sky Fox Clan woman used disguise, or there exists some connection between the Crown Prince Consort and that Sky Fox Clan woman.
"Sky Fox Clan? Brother, you canât say things like that. Matters related to the Eight Desolate Beast Clan have the continent on edge; theyâre sworn enemies of our Human Clan. The Crown Princess Consort is a princess of the Donghuang Dynasty; accusing her of being a descendant of the Heavenly Fox could lead to execution," Qing Qiang glared at her brother.
She worried heâd say something rash.
The Dutian Blood Seal issue left many nations anxious.
In recent years, nations intensified their search for Eight Desolate Divine Artifacts to prevent the Dutian Blood Sealâs collapse.
A female slave from Sky Fox Clan is nothing, but if a Sky Fox Clan woman became the Crown Princess Consort of Post Qin, it would be significant.
"Sister, donât you trust your brotherâs intuition with women? Moreover, that Crown Princess Consort... hehe, sheâs really beautiful; such a woman is unforgettable for men after one glance. If you donât trust me, ask others who attended the auction that night; they witnessed it," Qing Meng said while observing his sisterâs expression.
Qing Qiang is confident in her looks and Martial Arts, but to be honest, Donghuang Sheng is indeed prettier, no wonder the Crown Prince favored her.
Qing Qiang was unsure, but she would investigate the truth.
However, one thing was certain, Qing Sheng dared to sow discord between the Qing Family and Crown Prince Cousin; she wouldnât let this matter rest.
"Brother, Iâll handle this matter. Mind your hand for a few days; thereâs the palace azalea banquet in two days. When the time comes, enter the palace with Mother," Qing Qiang calculated how to teach Donghuang Sheng a lesson.
"Oh, sister, really? My handâs like this; how can I enter the palace? Iâll be mocked," Qing Mengâs face alternated between red and white.
Palace banquets of Post Qin arenât easy to attend; men show combat skills, women flaunt beauty. If word spreads it was because I teased the Crown Princess Consort and got my hand broken by Prince Dugu, where would I hide my face?
"Youâre meant to be mocked. You know how much Empress Qing values her honor; her son maimed her nephew for a woman, and if sheâs aware, who do you think sheâll punish first?" Qing Qiang retorted with a sharp tone.
Previously, when Li Huali lost a maid, the Crown Prince Mansion was full of ridicule.
Li Huali couldnât even lift her head in Qing Qiangâs presence.
This time, her brother was directly disabled. Remembering Lady Chi Biâs mocking demeanor, Qing Qiang clenched her jaw.
Qing Meng might afford to lose face; Qing Qiang couldnât.
The Crown Prince Cousin acted harshly towards her brother, so if she troubled Donghuang Sheng at the banquet, the Crown Prince would disagree.
If she couldnât act, then Empress Qing should intervene.
Qing Qiang, being Empress Qingâs niece, frequently visited the palace, and understood Empress Qing well.
Empress Qing, once the most beautiful in Post Qin, though in her forties, retained her youthful looks. Upon becoming Empress, she feigned grace and dignity but was narrow-minded and envious.
Especially in these years, Emperor Dugu Sheng accepted numerous concubines, and Empress Qing harbored intense hatred towards more beautiful women while protecting the Qing Family.
Previously, Dugu Xiu spared Qing Meng for Empress Qingâs sake.
Donghuang Shengâs arrival certainly disrupted the Qing Familyâs dominance.
Hence, Empress Qing surely wouldnât stand idly by.
"Brilliant, Qiangâer, youâre truly clever. Letâs do it, and Iâll act pitiful," Qing Mengâs eyes gleamed at the thought of revenge.
The siblings schemed until before dawn when Qing Qiang returned to the Crown Prince Mansion.
Passing Taxue Garden, she smirked, thinking: Donghuang Sheng, let you be smug for a few more days; I bet you wonât remain Crown Princess Consort for long.