Did he trick the young marshal into becoming sworn brothers and then go south to Huangpu Military Ac

After learning the results of the Special Higher Police's investigation, Du Yisheng breathed a long sigh of relief.

The task assigned by Lin Qi was completed perfectly and cleanly, leaving no loose ends.

He immediately put on a sorrowful and regretful expression and personally went to the Astor House Hotel to give Fujiwara Heiji a thorough apology and comfort.

At the same time, Du Yisheng, quite naturally and openly in front of the two of them, sent a telegram to Lin Qi, who was far away in Guangzhou.

The content of the telegram perfectly matched Du Yisheng's persona as the host in charge of receiving guests, and even more so as his persona as Lin Qi's underling.

[To Mr. Lin: The Fujiwara prince's entourage was ambushed and assassinated by fleeing soldiers at the Shiliupu Wharf. The two gentlemen, deeply saddened by this tragedy, need to handle the aftermath and calm their emotions; therefore, their journey south to Guangzhou is temporarily postponed. Yuesheng, deeply apprehensive about the inadequate protection, hereby urgently sends this telegram to apologize.]

The telegram literally means to apologize and to inform the recipient of the travel itinerary.

But in Lin Qi's eyes, who was thousands of miles away, it was a completely different story; this was a victory report disguised as a fact.

It clearly conveys a message: the mission is accomplished, the hidden dangers have been eliminated, and an ironclad case has been established.

After watching Du Yisheng leave with the telegram draft, Fujiwara Heiwa sat on the sofa with the Special Higher Police investigation report in his hand, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

They knew that there was no point in staying in Shanghai any longer.

Ono is dead, the mission is a complete disaster, and I must rush back to Tokyo as quickly as possible to personally explain everything to Hirohito and try to get leniency.

Otherwise, if Hirohito learns of this news through other channels, they will face his wrath.

The two bought tickets for the next ship back to Japan overnight and fled Shanghai in a panic, like stray dogs.

On the dock, Du Yisheng smiled and waved goodbye to Fujiwara Heiji on the ship, appearing reluctant to part.

Fujiwara Heiwa stood on the deck, feeling down, as the situation after returning home was still unknown.

However, the two of them reached the peak of their feelings for Du Yisheng and felt that he was a friend they could make.

Fujiwara sighed, "Mr. Du is a good man, but I wonder when we'll meet again!"

Taira shook her head and said, "We can only pray to Amaterasu Omikami for protection, and pray that His Highness the Crown Prince will investigate thoroughly. Ono's death was an accident, and has nothing to do with you or me!"

As they talked, they waved goodbye to Du Yisheng, unaware that their predicament was a trap set by the Green Gang leader.

It's just like that old saying goes: you sell them and then help them count the money.

……

A few days later, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, in the Imperial Study.

Fujiwara no Heiji knelt on the cold tatami mat, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Their foreheads were pressed tightly against the ground, and their shirts were soaked with cold sweat.

Before them, on a low sandalwood table, lay two detailed investigation reports issued by the Shanghai Special Higher Police and the military.

Hirohito, dressed in a black kimono with his hands tucked into his sleeves, stared expressionlessly at the two powerful young masters kneeling before him.

The air in the study seemed to freeze; this oppressive atmosphere, held back yet unleashed, was more terrifying than a sudden storm.

"Is this the gift you brought back for me?"

Hirohito's voice was calm and emotionless, but the word "gift" sounded particularly jarring.

However, to Fujiwara no Heiji, the words sounded icy cold, as if each one had been pulled from an ice cellar. The two men lowered their heads even further, not daring to argue.

"Ono-kun, the Empire's most outstanding bodyguard. Stabbed to death in the street by two defeated Chinese soldiers with cleavers on the docks of Shanghai? Was this an accidental robbery?"

Hirohito's words remained calm, as if he were asking an ordinary question.

Fujiwara's body trembled violently. He desperately pressed his head down and explained, "Your Highness! It's absolutely true! The head of the Special Higher Police personally investigated this case, and all the evidence and eyewitness testimonies indicate that it was indeed an unforeseen accident! Shanghai is now full of Lu Yongxiang's defeated troops, and the situation is chaotic. It was our negligence that prevented us from protecting Ono-kun. Please punish us, Your Highness!"

Taira followed suit, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Highness, please understand! Ono-kun was killed while protecting our belongings. We are willing to take full responsibility and commit seppuku to atone for our sins!"

Hirohito looked at them quietly without saying a word.

In later media portrayals, Emperor Showa was often depicted as a puppet figurehead controlled by the military, a figurehead without any independent thought.

But in reality, Hirohito, who was able to remain calm and collected amidst the brutal power struggles, possessed a depth of mind and ruthlessness far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Moreover, he was not someone who was easily blinded by anger. His keen intuition told Hirohito that the matter was not as simple as the report stated.

A trained colonel would fight two thugs over so-called luggage, only to be killed by a single blow.

This defies common sense.

However, faced with two top-tier aristocratic heirs who were terrified and had committed seppuku to atone for their sins, Hirohito knew that now was not the time to lose his temper and hold them accountable.

He needed the support of these two families in the cabinet and the military, and he couldn't afford to break ties with the Fujiwara and Taira families over the death of a guard.

"Accidents are inevitable."

Five minutes passed before Hirohito slowly uttered those four words.

He picked up the teacup on the table and took a small sip.

"Shanghai is a quagmire, full of all sorts of uncontrollable factors. Ono's death can only be attributed to his fate; he was loyal to the empire, so you can't be blamed."

Upon hearing this casual pardon, Fujiwara no Heiji felt as if he had been granted a pardon, his tense nerves instantly relaxing, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"

The two were moved to tears.

Hirohito smiled, and for the first time, stood up, walked over to the two of them, helped them up, and wore a gentle smile on his face.

"You two must have been frightened in Shanghai. Please rest and recuperate in China for now. We can meet with Lin Jun another time. Go ahead."

Under Hirohito's magnanimous attitude, Fujiwara no Heiji was flattered and withdrew from the Imperial Study, fully believing that this catastrophic disaster would be easily forgotten.

however.

The moment the sliding door to the study closed!

The gentle smile on Hirohito's face vanished without a trace in an instant.

Instead, there is a twisted, demonic form, a ferocity and violence!

"Bang!"

Hirohito turned around and kicked the low table in front of him to the ground, scattering tea sets and investigation reports all over the floor, and spilling tea everywhere.

His gloomy eyes shot out a palpable killing intent and fury.

"An accident?! To hell with accidents!"

Hirohito roared hysterically in his study, like an enraged beast.

He didn't believe it was a coincidence!

There is absolutely no such perfect coincidence in the world!

Ono Shinzo, carrying the most important mission and the bargaining chip for the Dragon Kingdom, died in a flawless robbery at the crucial moment when he was about to go to Guangzhou!

"This is absolutely a meticulously planned assassination plot! Someone doesn't want the Empire to interfere in southern affairs! Someone is deliberately severing my connection with Lin Qi!"

Hirohito's chest heaved violently.

He didn't know who was behind it all.

Are they the Wang family and Hu family, those politicians who fear Lin Qi's potential seizure of power?

Or were they British and American intelligence agencies jealous of the empire's expansion in China?

Or perhaps those old warlords of the Beiyang period?

He never suspected Lin Qi.

In his mind, after being brainwashed by the "theory of sea power" and the "three-year agreement," Lin Qi was a peerless genius who was persecuted, ostracized, and waiting for him to save him in despair.

"Whoever did it, I will not let your conspiracy succeed!"

Hirohito turned his head and, facing the empty, dark space, gave the order in a cold voice:

"Shadow! Immediately select capable personnel! Don't go through official channels! Infiltrate Shanghai directly!"

"I want you to find out who's behind Ono's death! I need to know the whole truth!"