Chapter 245: Chapter 244: Punishing the HeartHan Mo found himself at a loss for words.


    His Mr. Jiu’s heart... was too dark.


    When it came to schemes, he couldn’t outplay him.


    And yet, he was burdened with the role of a strategist.


    "Mr. Jiu is wise."


    Then he thought of Wuya’s Emperor’s Destiny.


    He felt that Heaven was still on his side,


    as long as that woman didn’t come to influence him.


    General Mansion


    Huo Dingyuan looked at the sobbing servants in the courtyard.


    "That’s all. I can’t remember anything else."


    "The Young Master was indeed peaceful when he passed. Perhaps because the Eldest Princess was by his side. He died in the Eldest Princess’s arms."


    "Master, the Young Master has been gone for so many years now, please let it go."


    "The Young Master was most fond of the Eldest Princess. By suspecting her like this, if the Young Master knew underneath the ground, how distressed he would be."


    ...


    The servants attending to Huo Yu hadn’t detected anything unusual.


    They just felt their master had gone mad with obsession over the Young Master.


    It had been three years.


    To suddenly claim the Young Master was killed by the Eldest Princess was truly absurd!


    Huo Dinguanyuan interrogated them for half the day, getting no useful information, and was both irritated and tired.


    The old butler Li Zhongxiang brought over a chair and made him sit down.


    The wailing went on and on.


    It gave Huo Dingyuan a splitting headache.


    Just when he was about to give up—


    "Master, the Ninth Prince is here."


    A government soldier who was guarding the gate ran over with the message.


    Huo Dingyuan’s eyes sharpened as he stood up and looked towards the slowly approaching figure.


    The man was clad in plain white mourning attire, draped in a snow-white cloak, with snowy white hair hanging over his chest, and a delicate face with blue eyes and high nose, all revealing his half foreign blood.


    The late Emperor disliked his appearance,


    especially that white hair,


    thinking it was inauspicious.


    And so, inside and outside the Imperial Palace, from top to bottom in the court, naturally, they didn’t like him either.


    For twenty years, he had been so low-key among the many princes of Beiqi that he seemed to hardly exist.


    No one thought he had a chance to climb to the zenith of power.


    "Great General Huo—"


    Wuya approached him with a smile, his peripheral vision scanning the servants in the courtyard, feigning ignorance, "What happened here? Why is everyone crying like this?"


    Huo Dingyuan didn’t answer, only asking, "What brings the Ninth Prince here at this time?"


    Wuya didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, "I heard General Huo was investigating the death of Young Master Huo, so I came over to offer some advice."


    "What advice?"


    "Simple, if it was poison, there would be blackened bones. Instead of interrogating like this, it’s better to directly exhume the corpse for examination. You know, hearing is deceptive, seeing is believing. Ah, that’s my suggestion."


    Wuya said this with a slight smile, then turned to leave.


    But after two steps, he turned back, blinking his innocent-looking eyes inquisitively, "Oh, by the way, has Great General Huo heard of Jile Powder?"


    Huo Dingyuan of course hadn’t heard of it.


    But the words "Jile" already alerted him: so many servants were saying that Ah Yue was very happy during the days before his death.


    "Ninth Prince—"


    He called out to the departing Wuya, his expression twisted and in agony, but in the end, he still asked, "Does the Ninth Prince have other evidence?"


    He now suspected his Ah Yue had been murdered.


    He needed evidence.


    But Wuya had no evidence.


    Of course, he would not admit he had none.


    "Great General Huo, if I give you evidence, would you dare to believe it?"


    The question left Huo Dingyuan speechless.


    Seeing him looking foolish, Wuya really wanted to laugh, but he barely held back and then said, "Young Master Huo died abruptly, and his biological father treasures the murderer like a gem, tsk tsk—"


    He shook his head, turned around, and left with a smile.


    He was too good at striking at the heart.


    Huo Dingyuan was "killed" by his words and became dumbfounded.


    He watched Wuya leave, standing dazed for a good while before collapsing backward, as if all strength had left him.


    Fortunately, Li Zhongxiang promptly supported him and helped him sit down in the chair.


    He held his head, sinking once again into a quandary and agony.


    Li Zhongxiang watched the whole process and spoke up to advise, "Master, you mustn’t listen to his words, he just wants to ruin your relationship with the Eldest Princess!"


    Huo Dingyuan, with bloodshot eyes, feral like a beast about to attack, asked him, "What relationship do I have with the Eldest Princess?"


    Li Zhongxiang was at a loss for words.


    My son is dead, my daughter-in-law childless, only slightly better than a stranger.


    Huo Dingyuan gritted his teeth and said, "If she caused my son’s death, then she’s my sworn enemy who killed my child!"


    Qi Wuya was right; if Ah Yue had been secretly murdered, then all these years he had been scheming for his enemy...


    His tears fell.


    It hurt too much.


    He dared not think further.


    His little boy!


    No wonder he had not appeared in his dreams for so many years!


    "Quickly go to the General Mansion and call for Second Lady Huo!"


    Li Zhongxiang whispered orders to a servant.


    Seeing Huo Dingyuan like this, he believed the man was fully capable of exhuming the coffin for an autopsy!


    He must be mad!


    *


    Qi Wuya returned to the carriage.


    He saw a servant from the General Mansion running out, heading towards the Great Commander Mansion.


    Han Mo also saw it and couldn’t help but say, "At this time, he surely isn’t in the mood to call the Great Governor to discuss tomorrow’s matters."


    Tomorrow, the Eldest Princess would enter the Imperial Palace to convey the Crown Prince’s illness.


    That was likely just an excuse for an attack.


    Under normal circumstances, they would have another secret meeting tonight.


    Qi Wuya said, "Perhaps he’s going to ask for Second Lady Huo."


    Han Mo thought so too.


    Great General Huo was clearly being led by the nose by them, and it was very likely he would proceed with the autopsy.


    Someone by his side would always find someone to persuade him.


    Young Master Huo, Huo Ran, and his wife were far away on the border.


    So it could only be Second Lady Huo, Huo Yin.


    Isn’t it true that Huo Yin is married to Zhang Tai, the legitimate son of the Great Governor Zhang E?


    Zhang Tai serves in the Imperial Palace as the Commander of Imperial Army, responsible for the entire palace’s security.


    Han Mo’s thoughts circled around Zhang Tai: "Mr. Jiu, this man Zhang Tai, we should meet him."


    The carriage moved slowly.


    Heading towards the Imperial Palace.


    Qi Wuya nodded and said, "Yes, it’s time to meet him."


    In fact, they could see Zhang Tai every day.


    Zhang Tai was the legitimate son of Great Governor Zhang E.


    His noble status meant he didn’t have to fight on the battlefield.


    Otherwise, he would have died in battle like several of his half-brothers.


    Being able to serve as Commander of Imperial Army due to the shadow of his ancestors, Qi Wuya despised him.


    And he didn’t intend to leave him be.


    "Let’s return to Taian Palace first."


    He wanted to see He Hongzhao before thinking about how to remove him.


    Taian Palace Side Chamber


    After bathing, He Hongzhao lay in the warm and fragrant bed feeling comfortable, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.


    Maybe it was because her previous living conditions were too poor.


    Now that her living conditions had improved, and her mood was better, her body felt more comfortable.


    "Cough cough cough—"


    Of course, she was still coughing.


    She even coughed up blood.


    But it was no longer the kind of pain that made life unbearable.


    It was still tolerable. Sёarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, thinking about Qi Wuya being here, and felt she could endure another year or so.


    "Ninth Prince has arrived."


    The voice of a Palace Attendant came through.


    She leaned against the pillow, looking towards the door, her heart beating uncontrollably.


    She swore she hadn’t liked Qi Wuya before.


    But now, she knew she had developed feelings for this man.


    "Hongzhao—"


    Qi Wuya walked in, a smile on his lips.


    He was draped in a snowy white cloak, enveloping his figure, holding a hot water bottle in his hand now, his features delicate, lips a deep red, all radiating a refined and precious air.


    In the past, he was the unremarkable Ninth Prince.


    Now, he was the powerful Ninth Prince.


    Power and status always nourished a man.


    He Hongzhao stared blankly at him, and for some reason, she thought of Sang Yan, her heart filled with jealous bitterness.