Chapter 225: Beginning to Fear

The news quickly reached the Peach Blossom Pavilion as well, and Gu Jiu Ling hurriedly sat up from the bed.

Jiu Yue and Yun Duo stood before her; Jiu Yue had not intended to deliver the news, but the master was clearly restless tonight, seeming to be waiting for some information.

Later she could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep.

Gu Jiu Ling gave Jiu Yue a glance; Jiu Yue hurried out of the Warm Pavilion, stood at the doorway, and worked with needle and thread.

She lifted her eyes to the dark clouds in the sky, as if a blizzard were about to fall.

Near the year's end a great snowstorm always comes; timely snow heralds a bountiful year!

But at this moment Jiu Yue felt no hope of a bountiful year; instead a panic of an approaching storm.

She couldn't articulate the feeling, only that something seemed about to happen.

In the Warm Pavilion, per Gu Jiu Ling's order, only a palace lamp was lit, casting a dim amber glow.

Yun Duo hadn't spoken yet, but the excitement on her face betrayed her; she forced herself to stay calm, looked at Gu Jiu Ling and said, "Your servant reports, master!"

Yun Duo lowered her voice: "Xiao Wei was assassinated tonight at the Phoenix Tower; the information I gathered says he was gravely wounded, likely turned into a eunuch."

"Hmph! Truly, those who commit many evils bring about their own ruin! The wronged souls of Fu Yu Guo I have mourned can finally rest."

"I don't know which righteous person acted, but I, Yun Duo, am willing to set up an eternal memorial tablet for them at home, offering daily prayers!"

Gu Jiu Ling slightly furrowed her brows: "Xiao Wei didn't die?"

Yun Duo's expression flashed with regret: "He didn't die, but became a eunuch, which is worse than death."

Gu Jiu Ling nodded, realizing Xiao Wei was probably already incapacitated; such a prince would no longer have supporters.

Without his own offspring, how could anyone support him?

One cannot support a eunuch to ascend, right? There has never been a eunuch emperor in history; this is absurd!

But in the end she didn't intend to take that grandson's life; she was even more worried about one person.

The earlier plan was that Princess Yalan would, while Xiao Wei was confused and infatuated, assassinate him and then flee through a window.

Outside the Phoenix Tower she had already ordered a soft ladder to be set up; when Xiao Wei died, Princess Yalan would descend the ladder, escape across the river, with allies waiting at the riverbank.

But that was under the assumption that Xiao Wei became a corpse; now Xiao Wei hasn't died at all…

Gu Jiu Ling's heart raced instantly; if Xiao Wei hadn't died, something must have gone wrong during the assassination.

She hurriedly sat up: "Go to the medical hall and deliver a letter to Zuo Feichen for me, as quickly as possible!"

The next morning, the incident of the third prince being stabbed and turned into a eunuch spread instantly throughout Shang Jing, and everyone buzzed with talk.

Even the previously sensational case of General An's alleged fake daughter was ignored; all eyes turned to this public case.

The person was the third prince Xiao Wei!

Xiao Wei was accustomed to ruling tyrannically, but today was different.

Pressed by royal authority, the common folk who secretly felt satisfaction dared not show it overtly, yet they couldn't hide the amusement in their eyes when looking at each other.

The scoundrel finally received his comeuppance, and it was not pleasant!

Xiao Yin rode the carriage from Rui Wang Fu to alight outside the Eastern Sima Gate, then followed the eunuch Wang Gonggong forward.

The pitch‑black night shrouded the massive palace complex, while a crowd hurried along the corridor.

The midnight summons indicated that the Emperor was truly angry this time.

Xiao Yin had taken only a few steps when he encountered Crown Prince Xiao Ting, whose gaze toward Xiao Yin carried extra meaning.

"Imperial Uncle, are you well!" Xiao Ting formally saluted Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin nodded, and Xiao Ting then asked, "Imperial Uncle, have you heard about the third brother's matter?"

Xiao Yin's face showed a trace of deep sorrow as he said slowly, "Such evil deeds incite both men and gods! Where does this leave the royal face?"

"As the leader of the Imperial Guard, I must fully assist the Five Cities Military Office in capturing the culprits; it is my duty."

Xiao Ting, listening to Xiao Yin's flawless statement, couldn't help but flash a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, then leaned close and whispered, "Imperial Uncle, are you happy?"

Xiao Yin was startled, gave a faint smile, and said, "Oh? The one who's happy is the Crown Prince, right?"

Xiao Ting froze there, his gaze chilled a few degrees, then let out a light laugh, slowly turned away and said nothing more.

Soon the other princes arrived, each with a solemn, sorrowful expression, acting with great immersion, as if their lineage had been severed, yet that sorrow never reached its depth.

Xiao Yin's lips curled into a hint of mockery as he headed toward the Hall of Nurturing the Heart.

Before reaching the Hall's doorway, he heard a series of thuds of things falling inside, along with Concubine Duan's heart‑wrenching cries.

Outside the Hall, a scent of blood lingered; the palace staff bowed their heads, washing the floor's bloodstains with clear water, not knowing which unlucky soul was beaten to death in a fit of anger.

Xiao Yin, wearing cloud‑patterned gilt‑soap boots, stepped over the blood‑soaked floor into the Hall; Concubine Duan had already fainted from crying, just now being helped by palace staff out of the Hall, merely to demand Emperor Longqing's severe punishment of the murderer.

Grand Minister of the Great Justice Temple, Deputy Minister of Punishments, and Chief Commander of the Five Cities Military Office…

They all knelt on the cold bluestone floor; the Hall was silent, only the restrained, tense breaths of the ministers remaining.

Xiao Yin stepped forward and knelt before Emperor Longqing: "Your servant brother sends his respects!"

Emperor Longqing suddenly turned, staring intently at the Xiao Yin lying on the ground, his expression inscrutable.

He clearly knew the scheme was orchestrated by this scoundrel before him, yet he had no means to deal with him.

With so many patrol offices in Shang Jing, the third prince's incident could not be blamed on Xiao Yin.

It must be him, it must be this beast!

Back in Wuzhou, the third brother almost sent him to his death; this is his revenge!

He stared coldly at Xiao Yin, for a long time refusing to let him rise, as if he hadn't heard his words, then turned and sat back on the dragon throne.

"Three days! I decree you must catch the culprit within three days, or else the black silk hat on your head will be taken away!"

Everyone's spines trembled slightly as they all bowed in salute.

After a short while, the court officials left the Hall, but Emperor Longqing did not allow Xiao Yin to rise.

Until everyone around had left, Xiao Yin still knelt on the ground, kneeling for the length of an incense stick, watching the sky turn pale as fish belly.

Only Xiao Yin and Emperor Longqing remained in the Hall; Wang Gonggong guarded cautiously outside, peering through the crack at the two elders, wondering why they both seemed so frantic.

Emperor Longqing suddenly grabbed the inkstone on the Dragon Desk and smashed it fiercely at Xiao Yin; Xiao Yin didn't have much, his forehead was smashed open, and blood seeped out from his forehead.

"Xiao Yin! You have such a vicious mind!"

Emperor Longqing lost some control; this person is moving against his son, he began to attack his son!

He...... was afraid!