Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

Xie Jingxing felt the intimidating aura emanating from the emperor, and even his subtle movements were enough to show that his father was now dissatisfied with him.

He sat there with his hands on his lap and continued, "But the men under my command who were guarding outside the mourning hall were knocked unconscious. However, we have no evidence, so we can't do anything about it."

Besides Xiao Wen, there was no trace of anyone else who had been to the mourning hall, so there was nothing I could do.

Your subject has searched carefully and found no one hiding in the mourning hall.

Emperor Wenchang narrowed his eyes: "According to you, that means someone from the Prime Minister's residence came and met with Xiao Wen?"

"Exactly."

However, I find it strange that Xiao Wen did not take the opportunity to escape.

Your subject cannot understand whether Xiao Wen does not want to lose the pride of a scholar or if he has some other scheme!

A brief silence fell over the Hall of Peace, broken only by the soft ticking of the water clock.

Emperor Wenchang's knuckles unconsciously tapped on the armrest of the dragon throne, producing a dull thud.

He then said, "Xiao Wen is unwilling to leave. Firstly, he doesn't want to be a fugitive who has to hide and run. His former identity and pride wouldn't allow it."

Secondly, it's very likely that he's afraid of implicating those who come to see him, so he refuses to leave.

Xiao Wen was a pillar of society, a very capable person. It's truly a pity that such a person died!

At this point, Emperor Wenchang's eyes revealed murderous intent, and the cold light in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.

Xie Jingxing was taken aback. He noticed something vaguely in the emperor's eyes, but couldn't quite put his finger on it: "Father, what do you mean...?"

A chill ran down my spine. Could it be that my father, the emperor, also had designs on killing Xiao Wen?

But didn't he repeatedly forbid Xiao Wen from being killed?

Or perhaps I've misunderstood?

"My intention is that if he can..."

Forget it, there's no point in saying all this now.

In short, you can't do anything to him now; it's not the right time.

By the way, did you find what I asked you to look for at the Xiao family's place?

Has Xiao Wen done anything strange?

Who is Xiao Wen?

He was a key minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and once served as the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. He experienced more than ten years of trials and tribulations in the court and had countless disciples.

The crown prince has fallen, and he seems to have lost his support, but is he really willing to offer his neck for execution?

"Father, I am incompetent. I found nothing suspicious in the Prime Minister's residence, and it has been reduced to ruins."

As for Xiao Wen, he did not do anything that aroused suspicion.

Moreover, my men are watching him all the time, even when he goes to the toilet, someone follows him.

Aside from chanting sutras to pray for the souls of Old Madam Xiao, he would only drink water occasionally.

"Father, I still think the bandits of Jingmeng Mountain..."

Emperor Wenchang sneered, "Third brother, don't even think about attacking the bandits of Jingmeng Mountain!"

You don't have that ability!

Even if Xiao Yi, the young general of the Xiao family, were still alive, it might not be possible to succeed.

That place is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It has been suppressed for many years but has not been eradicated. If someone can really drive them to cause trouble in the capital, that person has considerable power.

The person behind it will be a very capable and powerful individual.

It's also possible that they framed him!

Perhaps I'm wrong!

It's also possible that the person behind it is killing two birds with one stone, disrupting your plans, or perhaps...

What message was conveyed to Xiao Wen?

Li Defu stood in the shadows with his hands hanging down, his eyes looking down at his nose and his mind, like a clay or wooden sculpture.

He thought to himself, "The emperor is indeed the emperor; his thoughts are truly unfathomable!"

Xie Jingxing was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat: "Father is wise!"

Your humble servant is foolish and did not think of this!

"Then...should we strengthen surveillance of the Prime Minister's residence, or intensify external investigations?"

Emperor Wenchang raised his hand to stop him, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, "No need to alert the enemy."

Xiao Wen is too stubborn; no matter how closely you keep an eye on him, it won't make a difference.

You removed the personnel, leaving only the necessary guards on the surface.

secretly……

Li Defu…”

"This old servant is here." Li Defu stepped forward.

Send the shadow guards to keep a close eye on the Prime Minister's residence, especially those who used to be close to Xiao Wen.

I want to see what kind of live fish are hiding beneath this stagnant pool.

Remember, I need living leads; don't alert the enemy.

"And as for that thing, let's leave it at that for now. Stop looking; it might no longer be on Xiao Wen."

"This old servant obeys the decree." Li Defu bowed and withdrew, his figure disappearing silently behind the curtain at the corner of the hall.

The Imperial Shadow Guards were the most mysterious and unpredictable secret guard force under the emperor's command. They were directly subordinate to the emperor and were responsible for monitoring secrets.

The fact that they were mobilized shows that the Emperor attaches great importance to this matter to an extraordinary degree.

Watching Eunuch Li's disappearing figure, Xie Jingxing asked anxiously, "Father, are you saying that we don't need to look for the important thing you want?"

And do you mean Xiao Wen hid it or gave it to someone else?

"Well, let's stop looking for now and see what happens!"

Emperor Wenchang waved his hand and said.

It's highly likely that it was handed over to someone else, but to whom?

Xiao Wen couldn't possibly give something this important to someone else so easily.

This is a treasure left behind by the old patriarch of the Xiao family.

Emperor Wenchang couldn't think of a solution for the time being, which is why he sent his shadow guards to keep an eye on things.

"Father, if what you say is true, Xiao Wen has already handed over the items, do you think it's possible that he gave them to the Crown Prince's people?"

Your subject believes this is highly likely.

Perhaps I should send some people to search the Crown Prince's residence.

Your subject will not make a big fuss and let everyone know. We will act secretly at night, so that even if we don't find anything, it won't affect my elder brother, the Crown Prince.

If it really was that old scoundrel who gave the things to the Crown Prince, then the Crown Prince will surely make a comeback.

The fact that his father, the emperor, actually allowed him to frame the Prime Minister's family for that thing shows how important it was.

Unfortunately, he still doesn't know what that thing is.

That old man was very shrewd; he wouldn't tell him, only that it was a parchment scroll, but he wouldn't tell him what good things were on it.

Could it be a secret about the previous dynasty?

Or what?

It is said that this thing was left behind by the retired emperor.

This retired emperor is really strange. Why didn't he hand the things over to his father, but instead gave them to the old master of the Xiao family? It's really suspicious.

Not many people know about this...

"You bastard!"

You actually want to search the Crown Prince's residence?

Is it not enough that you confiscated the Prime Minister's residence? Do you also want to confiscate the property of your Crown Prince brother?

The Crown Prince has not been formally deposed yet, and I have not issued the decree to depose him, and you are already so impatient?

With the Crown Prince confined to his residence, do you think he has any chance to meet with Xiao Wen?

In such a critical time, to do something so risky right under my nose?

Unless he's hopelessly stupid!

Emperor Wenchang was furious and grabbed an inkstone from the desk, smashing it over his head.

Caught off guard, Xie Jingxing was struck on the forehead, and bright red blood immediately flowed out.

"Father, please calm your anger. Your son would not dare to do it again..."

Xie Jingxing endured the pain, his legs immediately gave way, and he knelt down.

"The Crown Prince is not like a fool like you. Would he not realize that it is inappropriate to see Xiao Wen at this time?"

The Crown Prince will definitely not go, nor will he send anyone.

Someone else went to see Xiao Wen today.

If I'm not mistaken, that person should be...

Just then, a guard's voice rang out from outside, "The Imperial Noble Consort has arrived..."