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

Perhaps... it's really time to put someone else on that dragon throne.

Isn't Prince Yizhong, who is intelligent, filial, and considerate, the best candidate?

Prince Yizhong glanced at her out of the corner of his eye—

Good! The Emperor Emeritus's gaze towards him has changed! It now shows a level of...respect that he had never shown before!

Before the divisive tactic was even fully implemented, the scales of victory had already tipped!

"Dai Quan, go out and keep watch."

The retired emperor suddenly spoke, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Dai Quan bowed and withdrew, his mind perfectly clear—

How could a veteran servant of decades not understand?

The retired emperor originally intended to completely relinquish power, but now... the tide has turned completely.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained inside the hall.

Prince Yizhong's heart pounded like a drum. He suppressed his excitement and looked up, feigning innocence.

"Grandfather, your grandson has a question for you..."

"Do you still want to sit on that dragon throne again?"

The retired emperor stared at him for a long time, and then a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Since you want to, then get ready."

"It won't be long—Grandpa Emperor will personally help you up there."

He narrowed his eyes, his tone indifferent yet exuding domineering power:

"Don't forget, no one in this court has dared to say that I've 'left the stage' yet."

"You'd better think this through. Jia Yi only has eyes for His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Prince Yizhong felt a sudden tightness in his chest, and a layer of cold sweat quietly seeped out from his back.

Looking across the world, who doesn't know that there is no one else in the world who can control that killing god—Jia Yi?

If he wants to ascend the throne, he will inevitably have to confront Jia Yi head-on. That battle is unavoidable.

The retired emperor sat on his high throne, his gaze sharp and penetrating, having already seen through the hidden worry in the young man's eyes.

"Did you know... that your father once had a daughter?"

One sentence struck me like a thunderbolt.

Prince Yizhong stood up abruptly, his pupils shrinking sharply.

"Grandpa, are you telling the truth?!"

He has truly been alone all these years.

During festivals, when families are reunited under the glow of lights, he has no close relatives by his side except for his elderly grandfather.

In the cold palace, there wasn't even anyone to call him "brother".

Now, they've been told that they have a relative?

It felt like my heart had been hit hard, and joy surged so much that it almost burst out of my throat.

"It is true, of course." The Emperor Emeritus sighed softly. "During the palace coup years ago, a palace maid carried her, who was still an infant, out of the palace. A few years ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard found her, and seeing that she was living a peaceful life, I did not allow her to return to the palace."

She paused, then smiled slightly: "She's a few days older than you; in a way, she's your elder sister."

The retired emperor chuckled inwardly: This move was truly ingenious.

She was Qin Ye's daughter when she supported Emperor Yuankang; now, she is assisting Prince Yizhong, and she is a descendant of the former crown prince.

Most importantly—she is now Jia Yi's woman.

"My elder sister...where is she now?" Prince Yizhong's voice trembled. "Can I see her?"

His gaze was intense, much like the look his father had given the dragon throne years ago.

"Her name is Qin Keqing," the Emperor Emeritus said slowly. "She is now Jia Yi's wife."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and pressed it down again: "But you can't go see her now."

"Once I have made the necessary arrangements, I will allow you to recognize him."

The Mongol cavalry could march south at any moment, and the situation is extremely tense.

He absolutely could not allow even the slightest disturbance to affect Jia Yi—the last pillar guarding the nation's destiny.

"Good!" Prince Yizhong replied emphatically, his eyebrows dancing with delight.

Holy crap! I actually have an older sister!

And my brother-in-law is someone as extraordinary as Jia Yi?!

I instantly felt blessed with destiny and my luck was at its peak!

Father, the empire you failed to seize, I will take it back!

With light, swift steps, as if treading on clouds, he walked away with his head held high.

The grand plan, which had been meticulously crafted step by step and meticulously planned night after night, suddenly no longer seemed so urgent.

With Jia Yi around, things are going well!

Just as Prince Yizhong breathed a sigh of relief, Emperor Yuankang was on the verge of exploding on the spot.

The sudden deaths of King Chungshun and his son, along with the horrifying results of their autopsies, revealed that their lower bodies had been mutilated for a long time, making their deaths extremely bizarre.

With no clues left, the killer is like a ghost.

But the retired emperor would ask every day, "How's the investigation going?"

For a whole month, without fail.

Emperor Yuankang's head was about to explode; his temples throbbed, and he tossed and turned all night, dreaming of bloody severed limbs.

Just as he was at his wit's end, a brilliant idea flashed into his mind—

Got it!

Wang Ziteng!

That imperial brother-in-law, who had been demoted and retired for a long time, was the perfect person to take the blame!

Therefore, an imperial edict was issued, summoning him back to his post and back to the palace.

"His Majesty has entrusted me with such a great responsibility; I will serve you to the death and live up to your trust!"

Dressed in impeccable official robes, with his back ramrod straight, Prince Teng strode confidently through the palace gates, exuding high spirits.

One hour later—

He walked out of the palace gate with his head down and unsteady steps, his face ashen, as if he had been pulled out of a coffin and given a walk around.

"My lord, has His Majesty entrusted you with an important task? Judging from your demeanor, could it be something of great military importance?"

The coachman approached with a fawning smile, flattering him with an expectant expression.

Snapped!Snapped!

Two resounding slaps sent him spinning in place, his vision blurring, and blood gushing from his nose.

"Fuck your mother!!!" Wang Ziteng roared, gritting his teeth.

Just now I was fantasizing about taking charge of the Privy Council and commanding the three armies, and what happened?

Should we send him to investigate the murder of Prince Chungsun?

Are you kidding me!

Ask any child in the capital city, and they'll know that His Majesty was probably behind it!

He, a relative of the emperor, went to investigate the emperor's secrets? Does he have a death wish?

But the imperial edict had already been issued, and disobeying it meant certain death...

Just as he was frowning in worry, his gaze swept over his own carriage, and suddenly his eyes lit up—

"Huh... I can be 'ordered out of the capital' to investigate a case!"

"Once we leave the city, we'll head south and hide for three months until things calm down before returning to report for duty..."

A smart person's mind always works faster than a knife.

If I can't afford to offend them, can't I at least avoid them?

He immediately turned his sleeves, not even returning home, and set off with his entourage at breakneck speed, heading straight for Jiangnan, running even faster than when fleeing a disaster.

Meanwhile, the Xue family finally arrived in Shenjing.

Aunt Xue had barely settled in when she heard about her eldest brother, Wang Ziteng—

He had barely left when he was already "ordered to make a southern tour to handle a case".

Should we visit the Wang family again?

Not only is it embarrassing, but it can also easily lead to a lot of trouble.

She sighed, gazing at the tightly closed vermilion gates of the Prince's mansion, and said slowly, "Never mind, let's wait until my elder brother returns."

"Mom, how about we stay at Auntie's for a few days?"

"It's perfect timing, Brother Yi is here too, I can go find him and hang out!"

Ever since he had been riding on Jia Yi's coattails and swaggering around Jinling for half a year, Xue Pan had become completely in awe of his "backer" and couldn't wait to stick by his side every day and show off his power.

"Alright."

After a moment's thought, Aunt Xue nodded in agreement.

She decided to visit her sister at the Rongguo Mansion while she was there—the news was being spread in such a secretive way that she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Mother, we also need to send people to Shenjing to tidy up the mansion first."

Xue Baochai's brows furrowed slightly, her voice clear yet calculating: "The Rongguo Mansion might not be willing to make room. We need to have a backup plan, lest we end up with nowhere to stay."

"You've thought things through."

Aunt Xue sighed softly, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes—if this were a son, how could she worry about the family business having no one to support it?