Dream of the Red Chamber: After being exiled, I went on a killing spree in Liaodong.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened—King Chungshun…his entire family…has been slaughtered!!"

Xia Shouzhong wanted to reprimand the servant for his lack of manners, but the words caught in his throat and he froze.

His Majesty had barely left the palace when the Prince Zhongshun's residence was massacred...

If the Emperor Emeritus found out, wouldn't he think you personally carried out the deed?!

"What?!"

Emperor Yuankang's face suddenly darkened, his eyes flashing like knives.

"Has the assassin been caught yet?!"

"We caught him... but... he committed suicide by poisoning himself," the little eunuch replied in a trembling voice.

With a loud crash, the porcelain bowl in Emperor Yuankang's hand slammed to the ground, shattering into pieces.

"Where are the Imperial Guards?!"

"Are the guards at the Prince's Palace just for show?!"

"Your Majesty... the assassin... was wearing the armor of the Imperial Guard... and infiltrated..."

The air froze instantly.

Emperor Yuankang's eyes sharpened, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

Oh no! This is getting complicated!

If the retired emperor were to learn that Prince Zhongshun had died suddenly the night he left the palace, and that he had committed the murder while still wearing the uniform of the Imperial Guard... he would probably immediately conclude that Prince Zhongshun was a ruthless character who had murdered his brother to seize power!

"Jia Yi!"

"Follow me!"

Calling Jia Yi isn't just about trust; it's also about saving your life!

With this highly skilled and cunning national hero by his side, assassins? They're nothing more than easy prey.

"yes!"

Jia Yi rolled his eyes inwardly.

What did I do to deserve this? We were drinking and discussing marriage at home, and then the emperor showed up, turning the dinner into a crime scene!

But he could not disobey the emperor's command, so he had no choice but to follow a group of dark figures and rush out, heading straight for the Prince Zhongshun's residence.

At this moment, even the retired emperor, who had not left the palace for many years, rushed over in a black robe, his white hair disheveled and his eyes bloodshot.

The two groups of people met on a narrow path in front of the Prince's Mansion.

"My son," the Emperor Emeritus stared at Emperor Yuankang, his voice hoarse like rust scraping against metal.

"What... is going on?"

Suspicion was written all over their faces.

"Father, you are wise!" Emperor Yuankang immediately cupped his hands, looking completely innocent.

"Your subject was drinking at Jia Yi's residence just now, and was not outside the palace at all when the incident occurred."

Jia Yi immediately added insult to injury: "Your Majesty is wise. His Majesty was indeed at my house, and he even personally knocked Uncle Niu unconscious."

Emperor Yuankang's lips twitched—Why did you bring him up?!

The retired emperor's gaze flickered slightly as he gave Emperor Yuankang a deep look. Without a word, he simply turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

"Come on, let's go inside and see your brother."

Upon entering the inner hall of the Prince's Mansion, the stench of blood assaulted the senses.

King Chungshun lay face up in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open and his mouth twisted, as if he had experienced great pain before his death.

The Emperor Emeritus's steps faltered, and he staggered forward, his trembling hand touching his son's cold cheek, tears streaming down his face.

The coroner, kneeling to the side, trembled like a withered leaf in the autumn wind, his forehead pressed tightly to the ground, not daring to utter a single word.

Emperor Yuankang frowned: "What? Are you afraid to see me?"

No one knew that this coroner wasn't afraid of the emperor.

It was during the autopsy that he discovered that King Chungsun and the Crown Prince's lower bodies had been gouged out with a sharp weapon!

Seeing this kind of thing means certain death!

"My son...how did he leave us?"

The retired emperor asked, his voice breaking with emotion.

"Did he suffer before he died? He was afraid of pain since he was a child..."

The coroner lay prostrate on the ground, trembling, his lips shaking, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"The Emperor Emeritus, Prince Chungshun, and the Crown Prince... were all killed with a single blow."

"He died without suffering; it was a clean and quick death."

"But...but..."

The coroner stammered, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his words stuck in his throat as if a knife were pressed against it.

Murder methods are varied and bizarre, but in this situation—how could he dare to open his mouth and say anything carelessly? If he uttered a single wrong word, he would be torn to pieces!

"Why are you stammering!"

The retired emperor's gaze darkened, and Emperor Yuankang also stared coldly at him, creating an atmosphere so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The coroner dared not utter a sound, and with trembling hands raised, he pointed to the area beneath King Chungsun and the Crown Prince.

Upon seeing this, Dai Quan's heart tightened—the Emperor Emeritus's patience was wearing thin, so he quickly stepped forward to take a look.

Upon seeing this, my soul almost flew out of my head!

His legs went weak, and he almost knelt down on the spot.

My goodness! Who did this?! That's incredibly cruel!!!

Emperor Yuankang frowned and waved for Xia Shouzhong to go and take a look.

Xia Shouzhong braced himself and stepped forward. He only glanced at the object, but his face turned ashen, and he froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

That thing...it's gone?!

Emperor Yuankang's heart skipped a beat when he saw his father's expression. He was about to dissuade him, saying, "Father, you'd better not look..."

"I want to see it."

The retired emperor's voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority as he stepped forward.

Where the gaze fell, the bloody and mangled remains of the son and grandson's naked corpses were starkly visible.

In an instant, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his whole body trembled violently, and his feet were rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Emperor Yuankang finally couldn't help but take a look.

The next instant, his eyes widened in shock—

What's going on??

The item... was cut up?

"who!!!"

The retired emperor suddenly raised his head and roared, his voice like thunder that shattered the palace, "Who!!! Who dared to cut off the roots of my son and grandson!!!"

The roar echoed through the sky, and the entire palace trembled.

Jia Yi stood with his head bowed, outwardly grieving, but inwardly he was already laughing so hard his abs were bulging.

Hehe, didn't expect that, did you? It was me! Wasn't it great?!

The retired emperor staggered backward, tears streaming down his face, his roar turning into sobs, and it took him a long time to calm down.

After a moment, he slowly raised his hand, his voice as cold as frost:

"Dai Quan, kill everyone who knows about this."

"Save every single Imperial Guard—to be buried with my son's family!"

His murderous intent was overwhelming, leaving no room for retreat.

Dai Quan's gaze swept over Jia Yi and Xia Shouzhong.

"Keep them both."

The retired emperor spoke calmly.

One was the emperor's trusted close advisor, and the other was the true "national treasure" of the Great Qian Dynasty. Only someone with a brain full of water would touch them.

He turned coldly to Emperor Yuankang, his eyes like knives:

"My son, I hope—it's best that you weren't the one who did it from behind."

After speaking, he turned and left, his back view desolate and resolute.

Emperor Yuankang stood there, his heart almost breaking.

It's over! I've already placed Prince Zhongshun under house arrest, why the rush to kill him? Why bother?!

The news spread swiftly throughout the capital city as the sun rose.

The entire Prince Zhongshun's family was slaughtered, their bodies barely cold, yet the secrets of the palace spread like wildfire.

The whole city was in an uproar, and everyone's eyes were drawn to the depths of the palace.

Who benefits the most? It's obvious!

But the truth... is far more outrageous than any guess.

When Prince Yizhong heard the news, he almost laughed until he cried.

It's done! Heaven has helped me!

As soon as the palace gates opened, he rushed into the Emperor Emeritus's bedroom, his hair disheveled and his face streaked with tears.

"Grandpa! Your grandson is scared—"

He knelt down abruptly, grabbed the Emperor Emeritus's leg, and sobbed uncontrollably, "I'm afraid that one day I'll end up like my uncle... just gone like that!"

Every word is written in blood, every sentence pierces the heart.

The retired emperor listened, his heart breaking.

Looking at the only grandson in her arms who was still willing to be close to her, and recalling Emperor Yuankang's relentless pressure, a chill ran down her spine.

If he can kill one brother's entire family, he can kill a second and a third!

He dares to do this while I'm still alive. What will happen the moment I close my eyes? He'll probably massacre the royal family!