Chapter 786

Weichi Chong waited outside Tianfu Palace for a full half hour before being granted entry to see the emperor. He slowly walked up behind Xue Shengkang, knelt on the ground: "Your humble servant Weichi Chong pays respects to Your Majesty! Long live the emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!"

Xue Shengkang did not turn around, still facing away from Weichi Chong, and said calmly: "Old beloved minister, why have you entered the palace at this late hour? Has something urgent happened?" Not immediately letting this veteran marshal of great military achievements rise already politely expressed his displeasure.

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, have come because of the incident at the Red Mountain Hall."

Xue Shengkang nodded, then slowly turned around. His sharp gaze, like a blade, fixed on Weichi Chong, the imperial presence pressing so hard that Weichi Chong felt his breath catch. Xue Shengkang coldly said: "Do you know your crime?"

Weichi Chong calmly said: "I, your servant, do not know what crime I have committed."

Xue Shengkang gave a heh heh laugh, took a step toward Weichi Chong: "The fourth prince of the Black Hu, Waniyan Chixiong, has been killed; everyone in the Red Mountain Hall can attest that this was done by Huo Shengnan! Do you know or not?"

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, am not aware!"

Xue Shengkang said: "The killing of Waniyan Chixiong has caused an uproar, yet you claim you know nothing? Just now you said you came for the Red Mountain Hall affair—are you just an old fool?"

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, know that Waniyan Chixiong was killed, but Your Majesty saying that Huo Shengnan killed Waniyan Chixiong—I have neither heard nor seen it myself." The implication is that seeing is believing, hearing is false; although you are the emperor, you cannot speak so irresponsibly, blaming Huo Shengnan for Waniyan Chixiong's death without cause.

Xue Shengkang said: "Everyone in the Red Mountain Hall can attest to it—how could there be a mistake?"

Weichi Chong said: "The Black Hu people are by nature deceitful, using any means to achieve their ends. Over these years, Shengnan has followed me in campaigns in Bei Jiang, killing who knows how many Black Hu soldiers. They bear a deep hatred for Shengnan, so the words of the Black Hu cannot be trusted; in my view, they say this only as a scheme to sow discord."

Xue Shengkang nodded and said: "Good! Indeed, as Huo Shengnan's adoptive father, you truly dote on her!"

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, have always respected the facts and will never let personal feelings affect my judgment."

Xue Shengkang said: "Let me ask you: why is Huo Shengnan not in the Ministry of Justice?"

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, am also quite muddled—Shengnan ought to be in the Ministry of Justice, so why did she suddenly leave? Why has she been framed as the true culprit who murdered Waniyan Chixiong? What is the reason behind this?" Actually, he had already figured it out in his heart: it was because the Seventh Prince, Xue Daoming, spoke up, and the maternal nephew of Consort Dong Shu, Dong Tianjiang, personally went to the Ministry of Justice to find Huo Shengnan to investigate the Qixing Palace matter, so the Ministry released her; but facing Xue Shengkang, he could not speak the truth. Given Xue Shengkang's abilities, he should have long understood these circumstances; if more people were involved, things would only become more troublesome. Involving the imperial family would only provoke the emperor.

Xue Shengkang gazed at the fearless Weichi Chong, suddenly sighed and said: "Please rise."

After thanking the emperor, Weichi Chong rose to his feet.

Xue Shengkang said: "You should know the consequences of Waniyan Chixiong's killing."

Weichi Chong respectfully said: "Your Majesty should also know. Shengnan has no reason to do such a thing."

Xue Shengkang said: "Da Yong and the Black Hu have with great difficulty reached this alliance; with Waniyan Chixiong dead, all our previous efforts have come to nothing—how could I not be angry?"

"The deed is done. Even if Your Majesty grows angrier, it won't help; we must face reality promptly and devise a countermeasure." At this moment Weichi Chong had already guessed the emperor's thoughts; at least for now he would not take any excessive action against him, just as he had earlier told Huo Shengnan, Da Yong's Bei Jiang frontier cannot do without him; dealing with the Black Hu also cannot do without him. As long as he still has utility, he will be safe for the time being.

Xue Shengkang said: "Tell me your thoughts."

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, am willing to immediately lead troops to Bei Jiang to garrison, ensuring the seven northern cities are completely secure."

Xue Shengkang sighed and said: "Even if war breaks out, it would be unavoidable; Waniyan Chixiong's killing was an accident, and I will send envoys to the Black Hu to explain the details, hoping to clear up the misunderstanding. Although I am not afraid of war, we should avoid it if possible."

Weichi Chong said: "How does Your Majesty intend to negotiate?" The killing of Waniyan Chixiong means the Black Hu will not let it rest; unless Da Yong offers extremely generous compensation, this war is inevitable.

Xue Shengkang said: "Hand over the culprit and give compensation!"

Weichi Chong said: "Does Your Majesty consider Shengnan the culprit?"

Xue Shengkang said nothing, but his gaze had already given the best answer.

Weichi Chong said: "Has Your Majesty considered that first the Qixing Palace had an incident, then Dakang's Princess Anping was assassinated, then the Red Mountain Hall had an incident, and the Black Hu's fourth prince Waniyan Chixiong was killed—are these events connected at all? Why does each point to Shengnan? Who behind the scenes is pulling the strings?"

Xue Shengkang said: "You ask me, but I also want to ask you: why is your adopted daughter involved in both matters?" He took a breath and added: "The deed is done; the urgent priority is to eliminate the danger, not to find the answer."

Weichi Chong said: "I, your humble servant, believe these events are aimed at me; Your Majesty would be better off handing me over, then these matters would surely be completely quelled."

Xue Shengkang instantly felt some displeasure; Weichi Chong's remark was clearly leaning on his age, boasting of his merits, the old coot had calculated that I dare not move him lightly, so he threw out such words. Xue Shengkang said: "Both matters involve Huo Shengnan; it seems she has long been plotting—truly the heart of a wolf cub."

Weichi Chong had long anticipated that Xue Shengkang would likely push all blame onto Huo Shengnan; seeing that it was indeed so, he whispered: "I, your humble servant, have failed in my teachings; I earnestly beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Xue Shengkang said: "I believe you would not betray me or harm Da Yong, but Huo Shengnan is after all your adopted daughter; failure to educate is the father's fault, and since she has done such a thing, you also bear an inescapable responsibility. If I do not punish you, how can I convince the masses?"

Weichi Chong bowed deeply and said: "Your humble servant submits to whatever the emperor decides."

Prince Yan Xue Shengjing jolted awake from sleep, sitting up from between the legs of the two concubines entwined, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, his whole body soaked in sweat; looking again, the two concubines were still deep asleep, not awakened by his movement. Xue Shengjing lifted his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, rose intending to get a drink, but discovered a white figure had appeared in the room, standing there, eyes fixed unmovingly on him.

Xue Shengjing trembled for no reason, then quickly composed himself, and whispered: "When did you arrive?"

The white-clad person gave his deep, unfathomable eyes a casual glance: "Can a mere Prince Yan's manor stop me?"

A chill rose from Xue Shengjing's heart; fortunately she was not his enemy, for if they were opposed, his life would be in peril. He turned his gaze to the bed, only then realizing the two concubines were not merely sleeping deeply—they had been tampered with.

The white-clad person said: "You need not worry; I did not kill them!"

He whispered: "I have done what you asked me to do."

The white-clad person nodded and said: "Hu Xiaotian sneaked into the Red Mountain Hall to steal the Stabilizing Spirit Pearl, and Waniyan Chixiong is already dead!"

"What?" Xue Shengjing exclaimed in shock, his fists clenching tightly from nervousness.

The white-clad person said: "Are you afraid? Worried that someone will find out it was you who sent Hu Xiaotian to the Red Mountain Hall to steal that Ice Soul Stabilizing Spirit Pearl?"

Xue Shengjing shook his head: "This has nothing to do with me; I had no idea that the Stabilizing Spirit Pearl was in the Red Mountain Hall." He seemed to grasp something, then slowly nodded: "So you deliberately had me propose this condition, thereby letting Hu Xiaotian and others infiltrate the Red Mountain Hall to divert the Black Hu's attention? Eliminate Waniyan Chixiong, then pin the blame on Hu Xiaotian."

The white-clad person gave a heh heh cold laugh: "Indeed, nothing can be hidden from you."

Xue Shengjing said: "By doing this, aren't you pushing me into eternal damnation?" Thinking of the possible consequences, his clothes were instantly soaked in cold sweat.

The white-clad person said calmly: "Hu Xiaotian made it out unscathed; even if he were captured, it would cause you no loss at all. You have many good qualities, but you are simply too selfish."

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian had escaped unharmed, Xue Shengjing breathed a sigh of relief; indeed, the white-clad person spoke truly—he only sought the Ice Soul Stabilizing Spirit Pearl, had not sent him to assassinate, and even if captured, it would have no connection to him. He secretly inhaled a cold breath, reminded himself to stay calm, and whispered: "With Waniyan Chixiong dead, the alliance between Da Yong and the Black Hu is utterly impossible; worse, the Black Hu might invade our northern border under the pretext of punitive expedition."

The white-clad person said: "Are you afraid?"

Xue Shengjing let out a long sigh: "Things have come to this point; what use is fear now?"

The white-clad person threw him a sack of something.

Xue Shengjing exclaimed in astonishment: "What?"

"What you need; inside are some evidences of Da Yong officials colluding with the Black Hu."

Upon hearing this, Xue Shengjing felt a surge of joy in his heart.

The white-clad person said: "I already told you, cooperating with me will not leave you at a loss."

Xue Shengjing nodded and said: "Thank you!"

The white-clad person gave him a cold look and said: "Don't forget what you promised me."

The killing of Waniyan Chixiong has put the entire Yongdu city on edge, everyone in peril. According to the current information, all suspicion points to Huo Shengnan; although the Black Hu claim that Dong Tianjiang is also involved, the Dong family has already issued a public statement that Dong Tianjiang never left the Minister's residence last night, and many in the household can attest, deeming the Black Hu's alleged accusations pure fabrication. At the same time, the Da Shuai Fu has made clear one matter: the Heaven-Shaking Bow used by Grand Marshal Weichi Chong was stolen, and it is undoubtedly the very bow that shot Waniyan Chixiong. Everything proves that Huo Shengnan's death is inseparably linked to Waniyan Chixiong's. (To be continued~^~)