The Female Lead Decides to Act Wickedly

Chapter 62: Chapter 062 I am the Evil Sister (Seventeen)

Kang Mo escorted Grand Madam and He Tiantian all the way back to Capital City and personally carried He Tiantian into the main courtyard. After ensuring that Nanny Seo and others had properly settled in, he ordered someone to bring his name card to summon the Imperial Physician, then hurried into the palace.

Although it was he who had been the target of the assassination, it did not appear to be closely related to the Emperor himself.

However, Qingyun Temple was located in the capital jurisdiction, a place of significance, and yet over a dozen assassins with bows and arrows had infiltrated it. In broad daylight, they audaciously attempted to murder the First-Rank Duke himself.

This matter was of extremely vile nature.

Not to mention, the mastermind behind the assassination was the remnants of the Previous Dynasty, Kang Mo felt it was imperative to report to the Emperor at once.

”... Summon the Imperial Guard and the Capital Governor for me, and also call the Jinlin Guard Commander!” the Emperor commanded.

”In broad daylight, assassins reached the walls of Capital City, how audacious, how reckless?”

”Openly attempting to murder a distinguished First-Rank Duke, my Great General, they are utterly reckless and bold!”

The Emperor was indeed infuriated, and he immediately summoned all relevant officials into the palace.

Once everyone had arrived, Kang Mo recounted in detail his encounter with the assassins and the subsequent interrogation. At the end, he also brought out the confessions and the prisoners.

As for which office would take charge of the case, the Magistrate Mansion or the Jinlin Guards, Kang Mo no longer concerned himself.

He stood by modestly, calmly observing the proceedings.

The Emperor loudly admonished the officials, with the Capital Governor and the Imperial Guard, who were officials of the Inner City of Capital City, faring somewhat better.

Since Kang Mo had been attacked in the suburb of the capital, technically still under the jurisdiction of Capital City, they had some room to argue their case.

The Jinlin Guard Commander, on the other hand, was struggling to maintain his dignity.

The Jinlin Guards were known as the Emperor’s ears and eyes, omnipresent and omniscient.

Yet, when the remnants of the Previous Dynasty reached their doorstep, they caught none of the Wind Sound.

Without the Emperor even needing to scold him, the Commander found it hard to stand his ground.

In the end, he nearly vowed a military decree: ”... I will definitely solve this case thoroughly!”

Without capturing the Snow Lotus Saint, that Old Witch who deceives by feigning holiness, he might as well not continue as the Jinlin Guard Commander!

After venting his anger and sending the officials away in cold sweat, the Emperor’s rage subsided a bit.

”Boqing, how is your wife? Have you sent for the Imperial Physician?” the Emperor asked.

Boqing was Kang Mo’s courtesy name; he was the Emperor’s study companion. They had grown up together, and their relationship was extremely close.

Privately, the Emperor would affectionately call him by his courtesy name.

”Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but alas, Lady He has always been frail, and those villains even laced the arrow with snake poison—”

Kang Mo looked desolate, lightly shaking his head.

The implication was clear: his wife’s condition was dire.

The Emperor pondered; Kang Mo’s assassination attempt could also be considered collateral damage.

The Emperor would wager that if those remnants had any way, they would infiltrate Capital City, sneak into the Imperial Palace, and then assassinate him, the Emperor.

But the defense in the Inner City of Capital City was strict, and with the infamous Jinlin Guards, those people dared not act rashly.

So, they simply made Kang Mo their scapegoat.

Though it is considered a duty, and even an honor, for ministers to shield the Emperor from disasters, the Emperor was not a heartless, incompetent ruler, and he could not bear to see Kang Mo wronged, given their close bond.

”... How about this, I will grant her dignity, and the imperial decree you requested for her title as First-Rank State Duchess that you submitted recently, I approve it!”

”Moreover, Lady He has borne you a legitimate eldest son, hasn’t she? I will also grant him the title of Princely Heir!”

Three years ago, the Old Duke passed away, and Kang Mo inherited the title.

That year, Kang Mo had submitted a petition for his wife to be conferred the title of First-Rank State Duchess.

But it just so happened that there was a rebellion plotted by Prince Li, causing chaos in the capital, and it took several months to completely settle the matter.

Afterwards, Kang Mo was ordered to deploy troops to the Southwest.

Two years later, he was finally able to return to the capital.

Less than a month after his return, the Empress Dowager fell ill, and Kang Mo did not dare to act rashly at this time, so he decided to wait a bit longer.

However, within two months, Lady He miscarried and became severely ill.

Looking at his wife, who was lying on the bed barely clinging to life, Kang Mo felt extremely guilty and once again wrote a memorial to request an imperial decree for his wife.

The Emperor also felt somewhat embarrassed, as it was originally a simple approval, but it had been delayed for two or three years.

Now that Lady He had made the self-sacrificing act of saving her husband, not only did the Emperor grant her the decree, but he also conferred the title of Princely Heir on her son.

Although it was all as it should be, appointing Brother Yuan, who was only five years old, as the Duke Wei’s Princely Heir was definitely a form of reward.

The Emperor, being a stern man, knew that Lady He’s greatest concern at the moment was her son.

By making her son the heir of Duke Mansion, Lady He would be able to rest in peace beneath the Nine Springs even if she died.

”Minister thanks Your Majesty for your immense grace!”

Kang Mo quickly knelt down and expressed gratitude on behalf of his wife and son.

At this moment, his heart was full of deep affection and guilt towards his wife, so he didn’t overthink.

Perhaps in the future, if his new wife bore him sons who were smarter and more endearing, he might regret that the position of Princely Heir had already been occupied.

But in this moment, he truly didn’t think too much.

Instead, he could understand the Emperor’s intentions: His Majesty probably wanted Lady He to be able to pass away peacefully!

Realizing this, Kang Mo was even more grateful to the Emperor, so his expression of thanks was exceedingly sincere.

”Alright, it’s the reward that should have been given anyway, it’s just that there were too many matters that caused the delay!”

The Emperor, seeing Kang Mo so grateful, was quite pleased and thought for a moment, then said, ”How about this, go to my private storeroom and select a few of the finest medicinal materials for Lady He!”

Although knowing it would be futile, it was still a little grace from him as the Emperor.

Kang Mo knelt down once again to give thanks.

Thus, when Kang Mo returned from the palace, he brought back two decree books and precious medicinal materials including the thousand-year-old ginseng.

Nanny Seo was overjoyed, and she deliberately arranged the decree books, the First-Rank State Duchess’s ceremonial dress, and the medicinal materials in the most conspicuous place in the bedroom.

”Madam, please have a look, all these are yours!” Nanny Seo said while wiping away tears.

He Tiantian was extremely weak; she had also taken a great risk this time.

She chose the angle and direction to face the arrow, but she did not expect the arrowhead to be poisoned.

However, she did not take the risk blindly; when she faced the arrow, she thought about Master Hui Tong here who specialized in treating difficult and complicated diseases.

Fortunately, the master had not gone out and did not let He Tiantian lose her wager, allowing her to regain her life.

Since she had not died on the spot, no one could take this life from her.

After she regained consciousness, He Tiantian began to devise medicinal diet recipes to nourish and regulate her body.

Now seeing the medicinal materials bestowed by the Emperor, she felt even more like everything she needed was coming her way.

”...His Majesty’s grace is boundless, I, your humble servant and wife, am unspeakably grateful!”

He Tiantian, barely sustaining her energy, nodded slightly, making a gesture as if she wanted to kowtow.

The humble and respectful demeanor pleased the eunuch who had come to deliver the decree.

The eunuch was also surprised to see that in Mrs. He’s previously somewhat unfocused eyes, a sudden vigor emerged.

How to describe it—it was as if a person on their deathbed had suddenly been inspired and burst forth with a great will to live.

Indeed, the eunuch then heard He Tiantian’s faint murmur, ”With such profound kindness and great virtue from His Majesty, I, I certainly must not fall short. And those medicinal materials, they are imbued with His Majesty’s Dragon Energy...”