Chapter 6: Where Is My Daughter-in-Law?

Chapter 6: Where Is My Daughter-in-law?

Surprised? Shocked? Thrilled?

Li Zhi dared not even breathe deeply. He sweated internally for Wu Meiniang and prayed fervently that their secret wouldn't be exposed. He had no idea how long his father intended to stay—was he just visiting, or planning a long retreat? His mind raced, frantically brainstorming how to handle this sudden crisis.

When Li Shimin heard the news, his world went black. Li Ke was the only child who truly resembled him, yet he had died unjustly, with the culprit being his own most trusted brother-in-law. Moreover, he couldn't help but suspect that Li Zhi had tacitly allowed it to happen. Struck by these successive blows, Li Shimin felt the room spinning. If Li Qing hadn't been quick enough to catch him, he would have collapsed onto the bed.

*Emotion points +1000*

The notification for emotion points kept ringing in Li Qing’s mind, relentless and unstoppable.

Li Zhi felt as if his heart were about to leap out of his chest. If Li Qing hadn't reacted with such agility, Li Shimin’s collapse would surely have landed right on Wu Meiniang’s legs. That would have been a catastrophe far worse than the debate over Li Ke’s death—at least for that, he had the best uncle in the world to take the fall for him.

After a long moment, Li Shimin looked at Li Zhi with deep, hollow eyes.

"Speak. What other sordid business is there? Tell me everything at once!"

Li Zhi dared not respond. The disappointment in Li Shimin’s eyes was clear. Adhering to the principle that saying more leads to more mistakes, he chose to remain silent.

"I told you to speak!" Li Shimin roared, his fist raised high. Yet, in the end, he couldn't bring himself to strike his son, slamming his fist into the quilt beside him instead.

The blow landed just inches away from Wu Meiniang’s leg. Hidden beneath the covers, she felt her heart skip a beat. Fortunately, she kept her wits about her and pulled her legs inward; otherwise, that punch would have certainly exposed her.

Li Zhi took a deep breath. That was too close, far too close!

*God, I never want to experience this kind of thrill again in my life...*

Meanwhile, sweat beaded on Li Zhi’s forehead, turning into a waterfall cascading down his face. Li Shimin immediately sensed that something was amiss. He narrowed his eyes and asked sternly, "Zhinu, what are you panicking about?"

"N-nothing, Father," Li Zhi stammered, wiping his brow.

"If you aren't panicking, why are you sweating?" Li Shimin asked coldly.

"It... it is too hot in the chambers," Li Zhi scrambled for an excuse. "I had two braziers lit outside just a moment ago..."

"Then why is your face so pale?" Li Qing added, suppressing a laugh, delivering a timely blow.

"It is... nerves."

Even after several years as Emperor, under the gaze of his long-intimidating father, Li Zhi was instantly reduced to his former self—looking exactly like a high school student facing a surprise inspection from his homeroom teacher.

"That’s not right, nephew. Shouldn't you be happy to see Brother Li?" Li Qing produced a feather duster from his system, handed it to Li Shimin, and said earnestly to Li Zhi, "I suggest you tell your father everything. As the saying goes, honesty leads to leniency, resistance to severity."

He was clearly just here to watch the chaos unfold.

Li Shimin took the duster, sneering at the trembling Li Zhi. He swished the duster through the air, creating a sharp whistling sound. Perhaps finding the weight to his liking, he brought it down hard onto the quilt.

The strike landed precisely where Wu Meiniang’s legs were hidden. Even through the thick blankets, the sting was sharp. Wu Meiniang was a woman of iron will; she gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound. In her heart, she was cursing Li Shimin to the heavens—why couldn't this dead man just stay buried in Zhaoling instead of returning to the palace to act like a madman? But she dared not reveal herself to confront him, so she could only endure it in silence.

Li Zhi’s heart twitched in sympathy. Every strike on the quilt felt like a strike on his own heart.

"There really is nothing else, Father," Li Zhi insisted, gritting his teeth.

"I hope so." Li Shimin patted Li Zhi’s face with the duster. "Regarding Ke’er, I understand you want to consolidate your imperial power, but I do not wish to see brothers turning against each other again."

Li Zhi nodded vigorously. He could certainly guarantee that much; his remaining brothers were all more useless than the last, and he held no personal grudges against them. As long as they didn't rebel, he couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind.

After this commotion, Li Shimin lost his appetite for further questioning. He turned to Li Qing and said, "I am tired. Let us return."

Li Zhi’s spirit soared at these words. Under the covers, there was a faint, almost imperceptible movement. *Yes, please leave.*

Li Zhi immediately knelt, offering platitudes: "Father, you have been away for so long; Zhinu missed you dearly. Why must you return so soon? Have I done something to displease you?"

"Displease me? You have done far too well!" Thinking of this made Li Shimin feel a sense of blockage in his chest; he decided that when he returned, he would have to compensate the plump Qingque and Li Ke.

"Father..." Li Zhi knew he had reached the limit; he stopped trying to persuade him and instead put on a pathetic, reluctant expression.

Hidden in the bed, Wu Meiniang couldn't help but curse him silently: *You’re satisfying your own filial piety, but if your father changes his mind and stays, you’ll be the one left stunned!*

"I do not wish to see you right now!" Li Shimin swept his sleeve and turned toward the door.

Watching his father’s retreating back, Li Zhi struggled to contain the corners of his mouth, which were twitching upward in triumph. *Go, go, just go back to wherever you came from, Father...*

But then, Li Qing spoke up again.

"Brother Li, are we really just going to leave like this?"

Li Zhi’s heart sank. *Oh no, this cheap uncle is up to no good.*

"Why shouldn't we leave? To keep looking at this unfilial son?"

"After all, tomorrow is a big day for my nephew. Let's not spoil his mood. Aren't you supposed to oversee his imperial investiture for the Empress?" Li Qing reminded him.

*It’s over. It’s all over. You are the bane of my existence...* Li Zhi felt like crying. He had been so close to ushering his father out, only for the loose-lipped Li Qing to stir the pot. *I thank you for nothing! You are purely helping by causing trouble!*

Wu Meiniang, hidden in the bed, gnashed her teeth. She swore that one day, she would make this talkative Li Qing change his name to Li Mie—no, she would force him to take the surname 'Fu' (Viper)! Li Fumie! She wasn't just daydreaming; she had a precedent. In the original history, she loved renaming people—changing the Khitan leader Li Jinzhong to Li Jinmie (Total Extermination), renaming the clan of Empress Wang to 'Python', and the clan of Consort Xiao to 'Owl'. It was the perfect definition of striking at the heart.

Li Shimin stopped in his tracks, finding Li Qing’s words reasonable. After all, while Li Zhi might be a bit of a scoundrel, his daughter-in-law was innocent.

"I was so angry I grew confused. Tomorrow is your big day; I will not pursue your faults for now... Where is my daughter-in-law? Let me take a look at her on behalf of your mother."