Chapter 163 Hopefully, Bai Xiuming didn't bring his brain with him when he went out today.

By this time, it was completely dark, and the wind had picked up outside, its howling sound like the wailing of ghosts.

Oil lamps had already been lit in the distant farmhouses, but no one approached this place; this little haven had long been isolated from the outside world.

Shang Yin stood in front of the wooden frame where the Dowager Consort hung, watching her body sway in the wind.

The once arrogant and powerful Princess Dowager of the Northern Wilderness died so easily before his eyes. It turned out that, stripped of the halo surrounding her, she was just an ordinary person.

"How much longer are you going to stay there?" Achan's voice came from behind.

Shang Yin turned around, looked at A Chan who was wrapped in a cloak, and smiled: "You're awake."

Just now, Ah Chan felt too tired from sitting, so she went back to her room and took a nap.

"Hmm." Achan walked over and stopped a few steps away from Shang Yin, reminding him, "The Dowager will probably feel that she died unjustly, so remember to deal with her soul. Although you only learned the basics of the Shang family's ghost-controlling techniques, it shouldn't be a problem, right?"

“No problem.” Shang Yin raised his hand, and a blue mist overflowed from his palm. The mist sank downwards and spread towards the corpses of the Empress Dowager and Zhao Xun and his son.

Soon, three blurry human figures appeared in mid-air. In the blue mist, the figures gradually melted away until they disappeared.

Now, no one can find out what happened before their deaths through ghosts.

"Your family's ghost-controlling techniques are very powerful," Achan exclaimed.

Shang Yin gave her a strange look, then, as if remembering something, said, "I almost forgot, Huang Wu also chased after you."

Huang Wu was also a fourth-realm cultivator from the Northern Wilderness Royal Palace. She learned the Shang family's Ghost Control Technique and then broke through to the fourth realm.

“Yes, the ghost she controls is very fierce,” A-Chan commented objectively, then asked, “Do you know what her weakness is? Did your mother really tell them about her ghost-controlling techniques without any reservations?”

Even if you knew, you couldn't hurt her.

"So it really exists." Achan was a little surprised; she had only asked casually.

"Yes, when you reach the third level of Ghost Control Technique, a ghost eye will grow on your body. Huang Wu's ghost eye is on her right shoulder. As long as the ghost eye is destroyed, it will sever her connection with Ghost Control, causing Ghost Control to backfire." Shang Yin explained in detail.

When fighting others, the backlash from a fourth-tier Ghost Control skill is equivalent to having an enemy close to the fourth level, which is fatal.

He had always known this secret, but it was no use. He couldn't even get close to Huang Wu. Even if he did get close, what difference would it make?

Achan nodded in satisfaction: "I can give it a try if I have the chance."

Seeing Achan's eager expression, Shang Yin laughed and said, "The King of the Northern Wilderness should already know about the Empress Dowager's death, right? Aren't you worried?"

When the Dowager Consort died, the golden page that Chen Hui had taken suddenly burst into flames. That thing was clearly connected to the Dowager Consort's life, and Shang Yin guessed that the Northern Wilderness King, who possessed the Earth Spirit Book, would immediately notice the anomaly.

What are you worried about?

"The Empress Dowager died in the capital, and the Prince of Northern Wilderness will not let this go. He will definitely find out about you." He didn't know why A-Chan seemed so calm. Was it because of Bai Xiu's life?

Achan looked at Shangyin and smiled at him: "Why do you think I should be the one worried? He's the one who should be worried now."

"What's the meaning?"

Instead of answering the question directly, Achan countered with, "Did you feel good after killing the Dowager Consort?"

Shang Yin fell silent, and finally shook his head.

At first, it was satisfying, but seeing her dead left only a sense of loss. Because, the one who turned him into this state, the one who caused the extermination of the Shang family, was not only the Dowager Consort; she was the culprit, but not the only one.

Ah Chan said slowly, "The death of the Empress Dowager is enough to shock the court. Even if you bury the body and flee far away, you will be caught soon. You can't escape."

"I know." So he didn't intend to escape at all; he just wanted to clean up the place in a while and not let this matter involve Achan.

He knew this ending from the beginning, and he never thought he could survive after killing the Empress Dowager.

His plan was to return to the Zhao family before they discovered the Empress Dowager's misfortune, perhaps then he could take the opportunity to eliminate Zhao Qi. But then he was discovered, killed—his fate was predictable.

Achan saw the killing intent gathering in his eyes and immediately knew what he was thinking.

She disagreed, saying, "Don't always think about fighting and killing. It's such a waste to risk your life."

Shang Yin's lips twitched involuntarily. Wasn't it her who first woke him up and tempted him to kill the Dowager Consort?

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

"Why don't you try to find a solution from a different angle? Why do you think the King of the Northern Wilderness needs the Shang family's wealth?"

"With such immense wealth, who wouldn't be tempted?" Shang Yin felt there was nothing more to say, and besides, so much time had passed, there was no evidence, and under the power of the Zhao family and the Northern Wilderness King, the truth was destined to be buried.

Achan held up a finger and shook it: "No, he needs so much money, he must be planning... a rebellion, right?"

Shang Yin opened his eyes wide. The Northern Wilderness King's Mansion was constantly growing stronger, but it shouldn't have reached the point of rebellion. He felt that both generations of Northern Wilderness Kings were rational and wouldn't be so overconfident as to overestimate their abilities.

Before he could think it through, Achan continued, "What about the Zhao family? They've been secretly colluding with local princes, harboring ill intentions. Were they involved in the late emperor's death?"

"Is...is it true?" Shang Yin felt a bit confused, something seemed off, but what A Chan said seemed to make sense.

"Of course."

"What does this prove?" Shang Yin asked, puzzled.

"This proves that you are not the one who did evil. You are a pitiful person who was persecuted by the Northern Wilderness Prince's Mansion and the Zhao family. You were forced to kill the Dowager Consort because you had no other choice. You will use your own life to expose this conspiracy to the world."

"Am I that kind of person?" Shang Yin began to have doubts.

"Of course you are. You were abused and oppressed by the Dowager Consort since you were a child, and you watched your birth mother being killed by them. You didn't mean to kill anyone."

After she finished speaking, Achan asked him, "Did you do that on purpose?"

Shang Yin looked at A Chan, unconsciously shook his head, and said, "I didn't mean to."

“That’s right. You killed them out of necessity. You did it not only for yourself, but also to reveal the truth to His Majesty.”

"So what should we do next?" Shang Yin now looked at A Chan with a sense of awe. A year ago, A Chan was never interested in or cared about the scheming and intrigue among humans.

In just one year, things have changed so much. What exactly did she go through in Beijing?

"Next, we just have to wait for the government officials to come looking for us. If the Dowager Princess doesn't return for a long time, the Zhao family will definitely choose to report such a big matter to the authorities, and then the opportunity will come."

"With the Zhao family's connections, even if someone comes, they won't listen to me." Shang Yin felt that if the Zhao family knew that the Empress Dowager had died at his hands, they would probably be eager to silence him.

"There will always be someone willing to listen."

Perhaps because Achan seemed too certain, Shang Yin hesitated for only a moment before abandoning his plan to return to the Zhao family to kill someone and choosing to stay.

The curfew had already passed. At this time of day, the masters of the Zhao family's various courtyards should have already finished their evening meal and returned to their respective residences to rest.

However, the Dowager Consort has not returned since she went out during the day. The old master of the Zhao family is worried, and his two sons naturally dare not pretend that nothing has happened.

They simply assumed that the Dowager Princess might have gotten carried away with her travels and planned to stay overnight, and they couldn't understand their own father's concerns.

However, Zhao Qi always felt uneasy, as if something bad was about to happen.

"Father, it's curfew now. Why don't you rest first? If we still don't hear from the Dowager Consort by tomorrow morning, we'll send servants out to search for her, shall we?"

Looking at the deep night outside, Zhao Qi finally gave up the idea of ​​sending someone to look for the person right now.

After being comforted by his two sons in turn, he finally nodded and said, "Okay."

The next morning, the Zhao family sent out servants to inquire about the whereabouts of the Dowager Princess, but after a whole morning, she still hadn't returned.

At this point, not only the Zhao family felt something was wrong, but even the personal maidservant left in the mansion by the Dowager Consort began to feel uneasy.

Three maids were taken to Zhao Qi's courtyard. Before Zhao Qi could ask any questions, one of the head maids told him everything she knew: "Master, the Dowager Princess's trip was only to contact the Prince. If nothing unexpected happened, she should have returned yesterday."

Zhao Qi narrowed his eyes: "Really?"

"This servant would not dare to lie."

"She hasn't returned yet... Could something have really happened to her?" Zhao Qi murmured.

"Master, what should we do next?" Without the Dowager Consort by their side, the maids could only hope that the Zhao family would find her.

"Eldest son." Zhao Qi looked at his eldest son, Zhao Hongliang, who had taken leave from the government office today because of the matter of the Dowager Consort.

"Father, what are your orders?" Zhao Hongliang knew that his younger sister's safety was of utmost importance. Since none of the Zhao family's servants could find her, something must have really happened to her. He dared not be negligent any longer.

"Go to the Military Command and find Commander Liang Yan. Tell him that the Dowager Consort has not returned from the city overnight. Ask him to take his capable subordinates out of the city to search for her."

Zhao Hongliang's heart stirred. Liang Yanming never interacted with his family on the surface, but he knew that this man was a hidden pawn that his father had planted years ago.

Liang Yan was able to climb to this position thanks in no small part to his father's secret help.

He hesitated for a moment: "Father, if we disturb Lord Liang with this matter, I'm afraid it will attract the attention of those with ulterior motives."

Zhao Qi closed his eyes: "Your sister's safety is of utmost importance, go and take care of it."

"yes."

Zhao Hongliang dared not delay and rode his horse with his family guards toward the military command post.

He didn't notice that someone was following him from a distance, watching him enter the military command headquarters, and then seeing Commander Liang Yan leave with a group of people and Zhao Hongliang.

After everyone had walked away, Chen Hui turned and walked in another direction. Next, she needed to go to the Mingjing Division to report a case; her daughter, Achan, had been kidnapped by thugs, and only Lord Bai could save her now.

Reaching the entrance of the Mingjing Division, Chen Hui sighed. A Chan's plan worked fine against others, but it was full of flaws when facing Bai Xiuming.

Two days ago, the four realms couldn't do anything to her, but today a third realm cultivator kidnapped her. Can Bai Xiuming believe this?

But since Achan had told her to say it like that, Chen Hui had no choice but to hope that Bai Xiuming hadn't brought his brain with him when he went out today.

Chen Hui gave A Chan's name and specifically asked to see the commander. The guards of the Mingjing Division did not dare to delay and quickly relayed the message.

Before long, Chen Hui was brought before Bai Xiuming.

At this moment, besides Bai Xiuming, there were several officers of the Mingjing Division dressed in official robes in the hall. They all stood to the side with their hands at their sides, not making a sound to disturb him.

"You said Ji Chan was looking for me, where is she?" Bai Xiuming looked at Chen Hui, who looked somewhat disheveled.

Her hair was disheveled and her clothes were torn, suggesting she had been in a fight.

Chen Hui lowered his eyes, not daring to meet the other person's gaze: "My lord, please forgive me. It was I who borrowed Achan's name to request an audience with you. Achan was being held hostage by someone who was very powerful. I was no match for him, so I had no choice but to ask you for help."

Bai Xiuming raised an eyebrow: "Being held hostage?"

Feng Yang and Jiang Kai, standing among their colleagues, wondered: Had they misheard? Shouldn't it be Miss Ji holding someone hostage?

They saw it with their own eyes: she was wearing their master's ring, which contained a dragon soul!

Who would dare to risk their life to take her hostage?

Chen Hui nodded reluctantly, "Yes."

"Where did the thief abduct her?" Bai Xiuming asked again.

"It's in the village."

What are you going to the estate for?

Chen Hui lied and said, "Achan was frightened these past two days, so she wanted to go out and relax."

Bai Xiuming smiled faintly: "You were frightened..."

Chen Hui lowered her head.

Bai Xiuming twitched the corner of his lips and looked up at Jiang Kai.

Jiang Kai immediately understood his master's meaning, cupped his hands in greeting, and quickly left.

The room fell into a deathly silence. Chen Hui still remembered the last time when A Chan was captured by the tiger demon. She found Bai Xiuming and told him that A Chan was in trouble. He went to save her immediately. At that time, their relationship was just ordinary.

Bai Xiuming and A Chan have a close relationship now, yet he remained as calm as a mountain after hearing her words, showing no sign of worry. Clearly, her hopes were dashed; Lord Bai's mind was still stuck in its old ways.

Soon, Jiang Kai returned. He glanced at Chen Hui, then quickly walked to Bai Xiuming's side and whispered, "My lord, Liang Yan from the Military Command just led troops out of the city. I heard he went to search for the missing Princess Dowager of the Northern Wilderness."

A dark glint flashed in Bai Xiuming's eyes, the Northern Wilderness King's Consort...

His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair. First, the assassination attempt in Sijing failed and he was captured. Then, the Empress Dowager left the city and did not return overnight. Finally, Achan was taken hostage, and Chen Hui came to report to the authorities.

This play was truly a series of interconnected events; the ladder was already set up, waiting for him to take the stage.

You really can't underestimate Ah Chan's ability to cause trouble. She used to know to avoid him, but now she's not hiding it at all.

"Sir, should we get involved in this mess?"

Jiang Kai wasn't stupid. He was involved in the disappearance of the Northern Wilderness King's Consort. If she was alright, that would be fine, but if something happened to her, it would be difficult to clean up the mess.

That's the Northern Wilderness King's own mother. If anything goes wrong, any government department involved could be held responsible. Although my master might not be afraid, it's better to avoid trouble.

Bai Xiuming glanced at the worried Jiang Kai and said in a calm tone, "Select people."

"Yes." Jiang Kai agreed without hesitation and turned to walk out.

Then Bai Xiuming stood up and said to Chen Hui, "Lead the way."