She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 23 She likes to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 She likes to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight

All of it happened too suddenly.

The tender woman broke free from Qin Wu’s grasp and ran towards the large fire at the back mountain without looking back!

Everyone’s ears were bursting with the Empress’s command, "Stop her!"

But it was too late.

The woman ran into the flames, and in plain sight of everyone, she struggled fiercely, becoming a human torch amidst her hoarse screams, until she finally fell... never to rise again.

"To choose such a way to die by self-immolation..." Qin Wu covered her face, unable to suppress her sobs, as tears constantly fell from her eyes.

No one had imagined that this woman could be so resolute; after suffering in silence for so many years, vindicated at last, she resolutely sought death, going to join her husband in the world below.

And the mastermind behind it all was none other than this insatiable Lin Pingzhi!

"Prince, what are you standing there for? This man is guilty of the most heinous crimes, the truth is now clear, punish him immediately!" Seeing that Xiao Hongshen did not act, Qin Wu grabbed a bucket of water beside her, marched forward and poured the remaining water all over Lin Pingzhi, and spitting viciously, "Scum!"

The elderly man fell to the ground, his body soaked and tears streaming down his face, but no one felt pity for him, only feeling revulsion to the utmost.

Lin Pingzhi could not fathom how the plum blossom banquet had turned into his undoing.

Xiao Hongshen felt even more troubled and frustrated, and he couldn’t be bothered to stop Qin Wu from dousing Lin Pingzhi.

The matter was now settled; he had intended to take Lin Pingzhi back to the Capital City, to stall for time and see if he could make amends, perhaps even save Lin Pingzhi, but who would have thought that the woman would self-immolate right before everyone’s eyes.

At this moment, Lin Pingzhi realized that Xiao Hongshen had abandoned him, yet he was not resigned to this fate.

He had followed Xiao Hongshen for years, quietly doing all the dirty and foul deeds for him; it was nothing more than taking liberties with civilian women, seizing some money and killing a person — whose hands amongst those present did not have a few lives on them? Why was it that when it came to him, Lin Pingzhi, it was unforgivable?

"Prince, you must save me!" He seemed to have grasped a lifeline, his voice growing louder as he stared fixedly at Xiao Hongshen, the threat in his eyes overt.

Xiao Hongshen’s already somber face darkened further.

This ignorant creature dared to threaten him at this moment!

"According to Dawei’s laws, murder is paid for with life; even if the Emperor were here, he would mete out the same punishment, what face do you have to beg for your life?!"

Upon hearing these words, Lin Pingzhi snorted coldly, slowly getting up from the ground, noticing that nearly everyone looked at him with contempt and loathing.

"Who doesn’t want to live?" For the first time in his life, Lin Pingzhi looked directly at Xiao Hongshen, this prince who had once been insignificant, who had now grown powerful enough to contend with the Crown Prince — surely, he had Lin Pingzhi to thank for some of that.

Now, just because of a minor difficulty, he was prepared to abandon him?

Ridiculous!

Hate filled Lin Pingzhi’s eyes, "Prince, I do not accept this—!"

"Shick!" In an instant, a gleam of cold light flashed, and the sharp tip of a sword sliced across Lin Pingzhi’s neck; the next second, blood spattered on the ground, and many women in the crowd screamed out loud.

Prince Xiao Hongshen had actually killed Lin Pingzhi in front of everyone!

A stroke at the throat!

Lin Pingzhi fell to the ground, his eyes wide open in death, with blood gushing from his neck, quickly forming a dark red river on the stone pavement...

"Younger brother!" Xiao Pingfeng’s face turned cold as he scolded.

Xiao Hongshen inserted the sword back into the scabbard of his guard, knelt on one knee on the ground, "I thought this rebel was attempting assassination, hence I took drastic measures. I apologize for alarming everyone here; I hope my brother will forgive me. Upon returning to the Capital, I will confess my actions to the Emperor."

After speaking, he directly ordered the guard, "Clean this up quickly; don’t dirty everyone’s sight."

The guards swiftly covered Lin Pingzhi’s body with a white cloth, then carried it out quickly, taking care to clean the ground along the way.

"Such grand authority he wields, the seventh Prince," a bewitching female voice came from behind the crowd, "to kill a fourth-ranked official of the Imperial Court as if it’s nothing. How impressive!" The crowd quickly parted, revealing the Empress descending from the pavilion.

As she walked in, she seemed to detect the scent of blood and covered her nose with her hand. Her gaze fell upon Xiao Hongshen.

"The Empress is right to chastise. I will seek punishment from the Emperor once I return to the Capital," Xiao Hongshen said expressionlessly. The subtext was clear: no need for your concern.

Zhang Lanyi was unbothered. By now, the first light of dawn was breaking and the mountain fire from the night before had mostly been extinguished. The faces around her bore expressions of fatigue and horror.

It was time for her, the Empress, to step in and uphold justice, to say what needed to be said.

As for whether now was the time to kick an enemy while they were down, that was for the Crown Prince’s Faction to decide.

She, on the other hand, relished watching from the sidelines as the fight unfolded.

After tonight, the conflict between the Crown Prince’s Faction and the seventh Prince’s Faction was guaranteed to escalate into yet another storm of violence and bloodshed.

Just the thought was exhilarating.

Zhang Lanyi feared she might burst into laughter and quickly cleared her throat to speak.

"You all have toiled through the night and must be exhausted. I have ordered the Palace Attendants to prepare breakfast; it has been delivered to your rooms. You are excused from this morning’s formal greetings. Please rest, and this afternoon the Abbot Xun Wu from Nanshan Buddhist Temple will personally conduct a ceremony to transcend the soul of the valiant woman who just perished..."

Upon hearing that Abbot Xun Wu would personally oversee the ceremony, a renewed energy sparked among the crowd.

Who didn’t know that Southern Mountain Temple housed a living Bodhisattva of great effect? His insightful eyes were said to see through a person’s past life, though he rarely made public appearances.

"It must be the Empress who, in an effort to comfort us, has personally invited Abbot Xun Wu to come," someone said.

"Yes, yes, who else has such influence? I want to ask about my marital prospects..."

"And I want to inquire as well..."

Discussions buzzed in the air, and Yan Wanqing’s eyes too shimmered with interest.

Abbot Xun Wu, eh...

She was interested, not because he was accurate, but because he was quite the actor.

Yet she wondered if the Abbot would be willing to see her.

Having not slept all night, once the Empress had finished speaking, everyone dispersed. Just before leaving, Yan Wanqing noticed Xiao Hongshen hurrying away, his face a deathly pale.

"What are you looking at?" A sudden voice came from beside her, and Yan Wanqing retracted her gaze to see the Crown Prince.

Following her line of sight, a mocking smile appeared on his handsome face, "Do you enjoy watching that much?"

Was that young fool more handsome than him?

Yan Wanqing nearly rolled her eyes. Considering the daylight and their status difference, she demurely said, "Greetings, Crown Prince."

"Hmph." He saw her dutifully lower her head, as meek and proper as a doll, and Xiao Pingfeng snorted disdainfully, "Boring."

With that, he turned and left without another word.

Yan Wanqing knew she must have vexed him, but she had no desire to placate him.

It was all unexpected; she didn’t feel at a loss, so whatever was afflicting the Crown Prince was beyond her.

Yan Wanqing yawned, her eyes welling with tears from fatigue. After the long night without sleep, it was time to rest properly.

She strolled back slowly, unaware of the woman standing under a tree, casting a meaningful yet inscrutable look her way.

That gaze was deeply cold and sorrowful, yet hesitant.