"Spectacular, my ass!
Do you know that area, where we were supposed to stay, was filled with visiting guests and disciples of the Wolong Mountain Villa?"
"Precisely because I knew, I ordered a large quantity of explosives to be buried there.
If the battle had gone unfavorably, my men would have detonated the explosives while everyone was asleep, to take them all out in one go.
It's a shame, though, that the most damnable person managed to escape."
The moon was high in the sky.
"Instead of staying in the comfortable chambers, he ran to this spacious hall right before the explosion. Truly..."
*Slap*—
Before Prince Wucheng could finish speaking, his face was violently slapped.
"Aze, how could you have become like this?"
Madam Yan struck with immense force, causing Prince Wucheng's cheek to swell visibly.
However, Prince Wucheng, whose face was now as swollen as a pig's head, did not erupt in fury or hysterics. He merely curled his lips into a mocking smile.
"This is how I've always been. Isn't this the first day you've known me?"
"Aze, how could you be so unreasonable?"
"I admit I'm not as glib-tongued and duplicitous as some people!"
"I am honored by Your Highness's compliment. Yan does not know how to express his gratitude."
As he spoke, Old Master Yan, who had approached at some point, pulled Madam Yan into his embrace, an unspoken declaration of his claim.
Prince Wucheng's expression turned unsightly for a fleeting moment before he quickly reverted to his haughty, arrogant demeanor.
"Yan Xiuping, don't think you've won just because you've captured me.
Let me tell you, besides the explosives, my artillery camp is also ambushed around Wolong Mountain Villa. You know the power of those weapons better than anyone.
If you don't release me before midnight, my artillery camp will target this place.
At that time, the entire Wolong Mountain Villa will be reduced to ruins.
And you will all accompany me to the grave!
It would be my honor to have my good nephew accompany me to my death!"
Prince Wucheng laughed heartily and glanced at Lin Moyuan, who had removed his veil nearby, revealing his true appearance.
"You're insane!"
Madam Yan, finally reacting, covered her mouth in astonishment.
"Yes, I am insane. I've been insane for a long time!"
Prince Wucheng's lips curved into a wild, unrestrained smile, completely oblivious to how horrifying his words were.
Lin Qingge looked at Old Master and Madam Yan, then at Prince Wucheng, who had transformed from a business-minded figure into a villainous yandere. He sighed heavily.
"So, Your Highness, you never intended to abide by the wager from the beginning?"
"Hmph, wagers and rules are all made by people.
And I intend to be the one who makes the rules!"
"Good heavens, so all our efforts were in vain, weren't they?
But that's not right.
If Your Highness had this capability, why would you feign flattery and agree to this wager?
As for the lingering poison, Master Xuankong would have already cleared it for you, right?"
"My lord, you've forgotten~
These guests invited to witness the wager are all wealthy and influential, and some even belong to the royal families of neighboring countries.
If they were to perish together in Wolong Mountain Villa, it would not only cause turmoil in the imperial court and the martial world, but it could also provoke conflicts between nations, leading to war.
And all the blame for this would fall upon my student, the weak and helpless Tenth Prince~
It can't be helped, as the wager was proposed under the Tenth Prince's name~"
Without looking at Hua Jinrong's disingenuous tears, Yan Tinghao asked in confusion,
"But in doing so, the Great Xia Dynasty would be severely weakened, and it might even suffer fundamental damage.
Isn't this method of killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred a bit too reckless?"
"Investigator Yan, it's precisely because ordinary methods wouldn't allow him to ascend to that position that he's resorting to such unconventional tactics, isn't it?"
Murong Bai said impatiently, then looked at Bai Yichen, who was sitting upright, and nodded. "Help me untie this."
"Oh, alright."
Seeing that the monk, whom even Old Master Yan treated with respect, was actually untying Murong Bai, Ye Shengxiao couldn't help but lean closer and say expectantly,
"Master, my brother is Xiao Zhubei. Please do me a favor and untie my ropes out of respect for my brother's face?"
"You are the second son of the Xiao family?
I didn't expect you to have grown so much in the blink of an eye."
"Master, you know me?"
"When you were just born, your eyes were jaundiced, which greatly frightened General Xiao. He then sent someone to invite me over."
As he spoke, Bai Yichen also untied Ye Shengxiao.
Ye Shengxiao, while flexing his wrists, nudged Murong Bai with his shoulder.
"I say, your father is quite good to you.
Much better than my father, who only knows how to yell all day.
It's like comparing heaven and earth!"
But Murong Bai only replied indifferently,
"If you like him, I'll give him to you."
"Give him to me?"
Ye Shengxiao, who had heard of people giving away women and servants, but never a father, was momentarily stunned. It wasn't until a wretched voice pulled him back to reality that he snapped out of it.
By then, Murong Bai and his father were no longer beside him.
"Don't listen to Bai Er's spiteful words. Father and son are enemies~
The father is soft-hearted. Ever since the Princess, Bai Er's mother, passed away, in order to prevent him from being bullied, the young Bai Er had to shoulder the responsibility of the Princess's manor~
Master Xuankong feels guilty, so he can't help but feel a bit subservient whenever he faces Bai Er~"
"Hey, what a strange family. The father is afraid of the son?"
Ye Shengxiao, who had been beaten by his own father since childhood, scratched his head, somewhat bewildered, and even dared not imagine such a wonderful scenario...
"It's not exactly fear, but Master Xuankong also has his hands tied in some matters~
Even though Master Xuankong was married to the Princess and had Bai Er, he was still deeply mistrusted by the late emperor~
Therefore, choosing to be an irresponsible idle physician could be considered a form of protection for Bai Er~"
"Does Forensic Doctor Murong know about this?"
"How could Bai Er not know the intricate details? He's just being stubborn and playing along~"
"But Master Hua, why did the late emperor suspect Forensic Doctor Murong's father?"
"This subordinate knows!"
Yan Tinghao had also joined them at some point. While gesturing for Ye Shengxiao to untie him, he gossiped,
"The divine physician Bai Yichen and the Empress Dowager were originally a match made in heaven. The newly enthroned late emperor, in order to consolidate his power, had to marry the Nalan family's legitimate daughter.
While this might be a great honor for a family, for the individuals involved, it was nothing less than a nightmare that would bury their happiness for the rest of their lives.
My mother said that although the imperial palace appears glorious on the outside, it's actually a place that devours people without spitting out the bones.
No woman who enters it can escape unscathed.
Moreover, the late emperor was not a benevolent man.
As the imperial decree could not be defied, the Empress, even for the sake of the Nalan family who had raised her for over a decade, had to marry him.
However, on the wedding day, something significant happened that only a few people knew about!"