Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

"Even if we were one family for hundreds of years, so much time has passed, the Liu family has multiplied and scattered to various places, and we have no connection with each other anymore. This... this really is just a coincidence."

"Oh, if that's the case, then I'll just consider it a coincidence. But some things can't be explained away with just the word 'coincidence'."

Xiao Lie glanced at the bewildered Wu Fugui and spoke leisurely.

"Liu, you have to think about your own son too. He's still young. It would be such a pity if he died like this, wouldn't it?"

Liu's eyes reddened, her lips trembled, and she could no longer hold back, throwing herself onto Wang Fugui and wailing.

"It's all my fault, it's all my fault, I'm so sorry."

Wang Fugui trembled, his fear growing. "Mother, what are you talking about? Xiao Lie's isn't real, is it?"

But Liu just touched his face and kept apologizing with tears streaming down her face.

Wang Fugui paused for a moment, but he already had the answer in his heart.

"Then...who exactly is behind this?"

"I can't say..."

Wang Fugui became agitated. "If you don't tell, we'll both die. Mother, I beg you, think about your own life, then think about mine. I beg you, please tell me."

"But...but..." Liu stared at her son, took a deep breath, and made up her mind.

"Your Highness, this matter is solely my responsibility and has nothing to do with Fugui. If you must blame someone, blame me. I only beg you to save Fugui after I die."

Hearing him say that, Xiao Lie already had the answer in his heart.

Who else could possibly frighten the greedy and cowardly Liu family so much, besides the one on the dragon throne?

Although Liu was of questionable character, she was absolutely willing to go to any lengths for her son.

Xiao Lie felt somewhat irritated. He had come to get answers, not to watch their tragic drama of separation and death.

"Forget it, just pretend I never asked. You don't need to say anything."

Xiao Lie turned and left, but he didn't notice that his movements had already been spotted by a lowly jailer and secretly reported into the palace.

"Did Xiao Lie go to see Liu and her son?"

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing within them. He sighed softly and waved his hand wearily.

"These two are truly unlucky. Deshun, go and deal with them."

He had originally intended to spare Liu's life, but now it seemed that keeping her alive would only become a hidden danger.

That night, the imperial prison unexpectedly caught fire, and Liu and her son were unable to escape and were burned to a crisp.

Xiao Lie stopped rubbing his forehead and looked up in a daze.

"Sixteen, is everything you're saying true? Are you sure about those two charred remains?"

Sixteen nodded heavily. "It's confirmed. The height, size, and scars all match."

Xiao Lie pursed his lips, his face slightly pale.

He had intended to spare the lives of Liu and her son, but his actions in going to the imperial prison ultimately harmed them.

This is the majesty of the emperor; with just a hint of suspicion, he can eliminate two lives as easily as dusting off clothes. If it weren't for his grandfather, who held immense power and firmly controlled the northern border, putting real pressure on the royal family, he might have disappeared quietly all these years, just like dust being brushed away.

"The Crown Prince?"

"I'm fine. Quickly send someone to prepare the carriages and horses. I want to see it with my own eyes."

Sixteen didn't understand what he meant. What was so interesting about two charred skeletons? But since his master had given the order, he could only obediently carry it out.

The incident of the fire at the imperial prison not only alarmed the Duke's mansion, but also a number of noble families in the capital. Many people sensed something was amiss, but no one knew what had happened.

Among them, the Kang Prince's Mansion caused the most commotion.

"The Liu mother and son died just like that? And on the very day Xiao Lie went to the imperial prison?"

The informant bowed and reported, "That's right. Although Xiao Lie dismissed everyone, the crying inside was so intense that it could be heard from a great distance. Xiao Lie and Liu and her son probably didn't have a good time."

Jiang Heng narrowed his eyes slightly, then clapped his hands and burst into laughter.

"Very well, very well. In a moment of anger, they hired someone to kill, disregarding propriety and human life. This kind of drama is far more exciting than anything I could have orchestrated."

He quickly gave his informant a few instructions, telling him to return to the prison and make preparations as soon as possible. After hearing that Xiao Lie had already gone there, he also ordered people to prepare carriages and horses immediately.

The two groups arrived almost one after the other. Xiao Lie lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the sandalwood carriage that had slowly come to a stop not far away. He couldn't help but frown.

"Third Prince, you are well-informed."

"I can't compare to the Crown Prince. Such a major incident occurred at the Imperial Prison. I rushed here as fast as I could, but the Crown Prince still arrived first. However, the Imperial Prison is always heavily guarded. How could a fire have broken out for no reason?"

The young man frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Lie meaningfully.

"Could this be a man-made disaster?"

"I heard that the Crown Prince Bai Ri just went to the Imperial Prison and apparently had a disagreement with Liu and her son. Now, Liu and her son have just been burned to death in the fire. It's quite a coincidence."

Xiao Lie narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.

"What does Your Highness mean? Does Your Highness believe that I was responsible for this?"

"I didn't say that. Everything must be based on evidence. However, the coincidence in the timeline makes people wonder."

Xiao Lie laughed angrily, "What good would it do me to kill them? Besides, His Majesty has already promised to seek justice for me. With the Ministry of Justice and others taking care of it, why should I interfere? Am I just bored and looking for trouble?"

Jiang Heng smiled but didn't say anything. However, her calm and composed demeanor made Xiao Lie feel a little uneasy.

Could it be that Jiang Heng did something underhanded?

He beckoned Sixteen over and whispered a few words in his ear. After a moment, Sixteen nodded and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, carefully left.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lie and Jiang Heng had already gone inside.

The fire spread quickly but was extinguished just as fast, leaving almost no damage except in the area where Liu and her child were located. Immediately after the fire was put out, the coroner rushed to examine the body, and officials from the Ministry of Justice also came to investigate the matter.

The reason was simple: the jailer felt the fire was suspicious, and some alcohol and grease that could help it burn were found nearby. The jailer suspected that someone had deliberately planned this.

After listening to their analysis, Jiang Heng frowned and said coldly.

"Just suspicion? With so many of you, didn't a single one see anyone suspicious? Or is this not some deliberate scheme by a few people, and some of you are simply neglecting your duties?"

"Fine, you've been lazy and negligent, yet you dare to make excuses. I'm going to report you to the Emperor."

A group of people immediately begged for mercy. In order to clear themselves of any involvement, the jailer immediately conducted a thorough investigation of the guards on duty at the time, demanding that they corroborate each other's statements and explain the situation. After a thorough screening, several people stammered, glanced at Xiao Lie with difficulty, and then knelt down in front of the jailer.

"Your Excellency, I... I'm willing to tell the truth."

"Shortly before the fire, the Crown Prince sent someone over, saying he wanted to deliver some things to Liu and her son, and then... shortly after, the prison caught fire, and the person who sent the fire disappeared without a trace."