Da Li.
Third Prince's Estate!
Within the span of a single month, the forces controlled by Yu Lingyi, the Third Prince of Da Li, have been entirely severed!
"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Furious roars echoed from the study, Yu Lingyi's face contorted in a ferocious grimace, his bloodshot eyes glinting with chilling murderous intent.
The influence he had spent over a decade building had collapsed in an instant.
"Who is it?"
He grabbed the collar of the dark guard kneeling at his feet, hoisting the man up from the ground. The Qing Yu Pavilion in the south of the city, the Yu Quan Manor in the north, and the Qing Guan Fang in the central district – cleared out by the authorities, harassed and extorted by city gangs. In the capital of Da Li, he was rendered powerless to resist.
Heh, was it his siblings who made a move? Those fellows were truly cunning. Yu Lingyi had always believed that only his elder sister Hui An and Yu Cheng Xuan were worthy contenders for the imperial throne, but he hadn't expected that within the capital itself, there lurked such a deep-scheming, ruthless bastard.
"It… it is His Majesty!"
In the capital of Da Li, there was only one person who could effortlessly sever a prince's wings and render a dignified prince helpless – and that was the current Emperor!
"Father?"
Yu Lingyi couldn't believe it. Why would his father do this?
"No, this is impossible. How could Father interfere in our struggle?" Father always supported our struggles! The capable shall inherit the throne.
"Your subordinate does not know why, but in the capital of Da Li, only His Majesty could bring you to this point!"
"No, this is impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
Yu Lingyi recalled everything. His frantic, almost forceful denial was merely his unwillingness to believe. But rationally, even Hui An and Yu Cheng Xuan, with whom he had fought for so many years, did not possess such methods. If there truly was such a monstrously cunning individual hidden within the imperial family, he would have become the Crown Prince of Da Li long ago.
Yu Lingyi released the dark guard's collar, stumbling backward. He accidentally bumped into the desk, instinctively bracing himself with his hands on the tabletop.
Why would Father resort to such harsh measures against him? Had Father already chosen the Crown Prince and decided to preemptively eliminate rivals for his favored successor?
Father, didn't you say that the throne of Da Li belongs to the capable? You allowed us to fight for that seat, causing brothers to fall out and siblings to harm each other. Yet now, you have targeted your son for the sake of your chosen heir. Father, are you truly so unfeeling, so cold-blooded?
Yu Lingyi slowly closed his reddened eyes. When he opened them again, only a chilling emptiness remained. He lowered his voice, his tone as sharp as a blade, "Besides this Prince, whose forces have also been damaged?"
The dark guard hesitated for a second before replying, "No such news has been heard."
Upon hearing the dark guard's answer, Yu Lingyi suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha, none, none. Father, Father, what have I done to displease you so much to be treated this way!" Hahahaha…"
"Your Highness, Your Highness, speak with caution!"
…
Nan Shiying finished eating a whole orange and peeled another herself. "The ancestor of Marquis Lin Yang was a prime minister who assisted the founding ancestor. Although the family is declining with each generation, they still rely on the prestige of their ancestors. Even in decline, they remain a noble family."
Marquis Lin Yang, Hao Yi, Zi Yi Chu.
Yi Chu, meaning the beginning of unity, the renewal of all phenomena.
Detailed information about the officials and their relatives in the capital was stored in a hidden room behind the bookshelves in Ji Jinmo's study. Ji Jinmo retrieved the register of all individuals in Marquis Lin Yang's estate and their detailed information, as well as a document that thoroughly recorded various pieces of news concerning Marquis Lin Yang's estate.
Madam Zeng of Marquis Lin Yang's estate was indeed a distant cousin of Madam Wang, within three degrees of kinship. Before Nan Yuqing's death, Marquis Lin Yang's estate had been very close to the Nan estate. Madam Zeng would visit Madam Wang every few days for tea and flowers.
Later, after Nan Yuqing died and Madam Wang became bedridden due to grief, Madam Liu took control of the Nan estate's household management. Madam Zeng and Madam Wang's relationship gradually grew distant. Now that Madam Liu had died and Madam Wang had regained control, Madam Zeng and Madam Wang's relationship had finally begun to recover.
On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Madam Zeng invited Madam Wang to her estate to listen to opera. This meant that Madam Wang was not at home when Nan Chaoyin's youngest son died.
Coincidentally, Nan Yujin was also absent.
Nan Shiying looked at the information regarding Marquis Lin Yang's estate, but her mind was preoccupied with the death of the little fatty and the tidbits of news that had reached her ears in recent days.
After Lan Dieyi bit her tongue and committed suicide, and the opera troupe members escaped like cicadas shedding their shells, Nan Shiying completely dismissed Lan Dieyi's confession. But what if her testimony wasn't entirely false? What if she truly overheard those old stories from Madam Zeng's conversations with someone else?
In that case, could the person Madam Zeng was talking to in her room have been Madam Wang?
Was Madam Wang truly the murderer of the little fatty?
Nan Shiying's brows were tightly furrowed, her mind racing. It was only when a warm fingertip gently smoothed the creases between her brows that she broke away from her chaotic thoughts.
"Stop thinking."
Ji Jinmo disliked seeing her frown, as if she were clouded by sorrow, covered in frosty dust. He preferred to see her smile, whether it was bright or mischievous, or even indifferent, as long as it was better than her current state of deep contemplation.