Chapter 381: with translation of chapter title

Zuo Feichen's strength was a bit greater; the box containing the skeleton, after such a fall, cracked open directly, and the skeleton was exposed outside.

Xiao Yin's eyes flickered, his expression remained calm as usual, he coldly looked at Zuo Feichen and said slowly: "You should understand, just for the fact that you conspired with my Princess Consort to leave Shang Jing, my not killing you is already giving you great face."

"The skeleton was someone I had summoned; along the way it was wrapped in red cloth, and I had a monk chanting sutras constantly; it was nothing more than taking your father on a tour of Southern Qi's magnificent landscapes—what else could you be dissatisfied with?"

Zuo Feichen wished he could draw his sword and stab him to death, but his martial prowess was inferior to this beast, so he dared not move rashly.

The anger in his chest could no longer be suppressed; he bent over and tore off the red cloth wrapping the corpse, revealing a section of leg bone, already weathered with no flesh left, only a bone segment.

Xiao Yin's hand holding the tea cup paused there, his face slightly startled.

He slowly sat upright and looked toward Zuo Feichen.

Zuo Feichen angrily stared fixedly at Xiao Yin, raised his hand and pointed at the tibia of the skeleton, saying word by word: "I heard my adoptive father mention that my biological father was the garrison commander of Yanbei Pass, thirty li north of Qi Sha Gu."

"In earlier years of battle, his left leg was wounded by Bei Di people; that time's treatment was personally administered by my adoptive father to heal my father's injury."

"My adoptive father said that my father fought with extraordinary bravery, in battle almost disregarding his life, sustaining wounds big and small continuously."

"The injured part of his left leg was especially severe; that section of the tibia was almost chopped to pieces, so my adoptive father had no choice but to find a special piece of black iron to replace the bone and nail it into the tibia."

"Even though my biological father has been dead for seven or eight years, his body may have rotted away, but that special piece of iron in his tibia could not have rotted."

"Prince, just look!"

Xiao Yin sprang to his feet, walked over to Zuo Feichen's side, and stared intently.

Yet seeing the skeleton on the ground, the left leg bone was extremely smooth—where was there any sign of injury or damage?

Not to mention finding any iron objects inside it.

His face slightly changed and he shouted loudly: "Ling Feng!"

Ling Feng, who had been worried outside about the Prince, heard Xiao Yin's call and hurriedly stepped inside.

"Prince!"

Ling Feng saluted Xiao Yin, who pointed at the skeleton on the ground and said: "Who is responsible for this skeleton? Has it been swapped along the way?"

Xiao Yin was also feeling uneasy at this point; having previously searched for Gu Jiu Ling frantically, he naturally resorted to any underhanded means.

But after all, General Shi Hu of Yanbei Pass was also a loyal minister of Southern Qi; he certainly would not have sunk to such a depraved level.

This matter has truly blown up.

Ling Feng, not understanding what had happened before him, hurriedly said: "Your Prince, General Shi's skeleton was excavated by me personally with the guard troops; even during transport I was personally responsible, and there was no mistake."

As soon as Ling Feng finished speaking, Xiao Yin and Zuo Feichen simultaneously looked at each other, their faces instantly changing slightly.

Although Zuo Feichen did not like Ling Feng, he disliked everyone on Xiao Yin's side.

Not liking them did not mean he doubted the abilities of those around Xiao Yin.

Especially Ling Feng; when Xiao Yin's power was at its peak, he had the Seven Tiger Generals of the Azure Dragon Army by his side, and Ling Feng ranked third.

In the battle of Hui Feng Gu, only he survived; following the Prince, he escaped death and lived on.

Xiao Yin this time frowned deeply, looking at Zuo Feichen, his expression becoming solemn.

"Zuo Feichen, yes, I, the Prince, have handled this matter in an underhanded way, but if I hadn't done so, how could you have told me the location of Peach Blossom Island?"

"However despicable I may be, I would never replace your father's skeleton with someone else's."

"Many brothers died in battle at Qi Sha Gu, and those who died at Yanbei Pass were also good comrades of our army! Ling Feng said there was none, so there is none!"

"Unless..." Xiao Yin's eyes flashed, he stared fixedly at the skeleton on the ground, and involuntarily sucked in a breath: "This skeleton is not your father's, which means the person originally buried in the grave was not your father at all!"

Zuo Feichen suddenly lifted his eyes and stared fixedly at Xiao Yin, instantly becoming at a loss.

Xiao Yin's brows knotted tightly into a shape like the Chinese character for 'river'; first Yanbei Pass fell, then Qi Sha Gu suffered an ambush by Bei Di forces.

Although Yanbei Pass is not a particularly important place, for Qi Sha Gu it is extremely important.

Since this skeleton is fake, where did the real General Shi Hu go?

Initially many saw him struck by several arrows, bleeding to death—but where is the person?

Since he was not buried in the tomb, could he still be alive? If he is alive...

Xiao Yin's face suddenly turned grim; back then, letting the Bei Di people into Qi Sha Gu was precisely the Yanbei Pass letting them in.

His eyes narrowed slightly; Zuo Feichen, too, is exceptionally clever—how could he not think of this?

He then sucked in a breath, yet still dared not believe his own judgment.

At this moment Zuo Feichen felt both startled and delighted—could his father still be alive? But being alive would mean betrayal!

Xiao Yin slowly straightened up, coldly looking at Zuo Feichen and said: "Zuo Feichen, I will get to the bottom of your matter."

"However, in these troubled times, you had better stay in Shang Jing and take good care of your clinic!"

Zuo Feichen's heart instantly leapt to his throat—Xiao Yin was restricting him the city.

He also wanted the truth, wanted an answer!

Ling Feng brought Zuo Feichen away from Xiao Yin's cabin; only Xiao Yin remained inside.

His complexion at this moment grew even uglier—what exactly was hidden behind Qi Sha Gu back then?

Could it be that the truth he sees now is still not the truth?

If so, the person who set up the scheme back then is truly formidable.

Why do all leads pointing to Qi Sha Gu end in dead ends, only for a certain Old Master Du to suddenly appear—could Old Master Du not be the culprit, with some deeper meaning behind him?

If that is the case...

Xiao Yin's thin lips were almost pressed into a straight line, the corners drooping, showing he was very displeased at this moment.

The feeling of being led by the nose is truly unpleasant; whose slippery hand is behind it?

Emperor Longqing? No, with his pigbrain he could not devise such interlocking schemes.

Empress Dowager Ning'an? Or someone else entirely?

All along things have been peaceful; Gu Jiu Ling's food, clothing, and daily needs are the best, and she has suffered no hardship.

Xiao Yin brought Gu Jiu Ling ashore at Quanzhou, avoided the welcoming officials, left Ling Feng there to handle things, and took a small road back to the capital with Gu Jiu Ling.

The two finally returned to the manor in the capital's suburbs; the sky had already grown dark, and with so many people entering the city together, it was inevitable to attract much criticism.

Xiao Yin chose to stay at the manor in the capital's suburbs for a few days, waiting until the next day when the crowds would be thick to enter the city, so as not to draw too much attention.

The two also accepted Xiao Yin's earlier explanation; Gu Jiu Ling had fallen from Chongwen Lou into the river, lost her memory, and was then rescued and taken to reside in a courtyard west of the city.

The party had just arrived at the manor and was already utterly exhausted.

Xiao Yin came to Gu Jiu Ling's carriage, raised his hand, and looked at her.

After all, he was the child's biological father, so Gu Jiu Ling handed the two treasures over to Xiao Yin.

But Xiao Yin, after taking them, immediately handed them to the wet nurse nearby, flicked his hand in disdain, then stretched out his long arm, hooked Gu Jiu Ling's waist, and lifted her down from the carriage.