Chapter 33 Qingying is awake!

Fuzhou, the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion.

Because Xie Yuanxun was deliberately ignoring him, Xie Xuansong's days at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion were not easy these past few days.

He had just come out of Qingying's room when he saw the guard Hongfeng walking towards him with a serious expression.

"Your Highness."

Hongfeng lowered his voice, "Haven't you always been suspicious about Qingying's injury? Today, I've found out that the reason those bandits turned against us was most likely because they were ordered by the Prince of Zhenbei!"

"What?"

Xie Xuansong's eyes turned cold.

He wasn't surprised at all by this answer.

Because he knew better than anyone the inside story of the rampant bandits in Tianzhao Mountain, because he knew that the bandits' backer was Xie Yuanxun!

Xie Yuanxun was like a local emperor in Fuzhou.

Although Fuzhou is not far from the capital, it is practically under the emperor's nose.

But Fuzhou is not a good place either.

This place is rife with bandits and officials protecting each other, making it a tough nut to crack for every governor!

Xie Yuanxun was clever; he didn't just value the power of the imperial court, but also made good use of these mountain bandits!

Xie Xuansong only set up this scheme for Xie Xuanyin and Shen Ruoli after consulting with him.

Unexpectedly, it was his own people who suffered the most losses in the end!

How could Xie Xuansong swallow this insult?

If Xie Yuanxun hadn't interfered, Qingying wouldn't have been injured and abandoned in Fuzhou by Shen Ruoli.

He would not be allowed to stay in Fuzhou by Xie Xuanyin!

"explain!"

Xie Xuansong gritted his teeth, his face growing increasingly gloomy and terrifying.

Hongfeng recounted everything he had investigated in detail, saying, "Your Highness, these past few days, the Prince of Zhenbei has been ostensibly suppressing bandits, but this is merely a show for the court; in reality, he has only temporarily dispersed the mountain bandits."

"When the bandits fled Fuzhou, my men captured one of them."

The bandit told him that Xie Yuanxun was behind it all!

Where is he?

"I have already secretly locked him up."

Hongfeng certainly wouldn't dare bring the person back to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

Now, Xie Xuansong's every move is under Xie Yuanxun's watchful eye.

If Hongfeng brings the bandits back to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, it will exacerbate the conflict between the uncle and nephew!

By then, things will probably be even more difficult to resolve!

Xie Xuansong didn't ask any further questions and gestured for Hongfeng to lead the way.

At the end of West Street in Fuzhou, in a long-abandoned courtyard, the bandit was tied to a pillar by Hongfeng, his mouth stuffed with a piece of wood, and blood was rubbed from the corners of his mouth.

He was rubbing his wrists together, trying to break the rope.

Before they could succeed, Xie Xuansong and Hongfeng appeared before them.

The bandits immediately stopped what they were doing and cautiously watched them.

"If you tell me the truth, I will not kill you."

Xie Xuansong was a ruthless man; without saying a word, he stabbed the bandit first!

The bandit was thin and tall, with a sallow complexion, looking malnourished like a skinny monkey.

Let's call him "Little Fatty" for now!

As Xie Xuansong plunged his knife in, Xie Xuansong felt a sharp pain in his hand. He frowned and sneered, "You bandits usually rob and plunder, aren't you rolling in money? How come you're so thin?"

He pulled out his knife with disgust.

Little Fatty was in so much pain he was grimacing and almost fainted!

Hongfeng answered for him, "Your Highness, he's the lowest-ranking member of the bandit gang! He suffers all kinds of bullying and exploitation every day! When I arrived, he was the one who was left behind to clean up the mess."

That's why when he asked questions, Little Fatty cooperated completely and told him everything.

Hongfeng said with certainty, "You can trust what he says!"

Little Fatty nodded hurriedly and replied with difficulty, "Your Highness, I dare not lie! Whatever Your Highness asks, I will answer!"

"good."

Xie Xuansong decided to trust him for the time being.

He wiped the blood from the blade onto the chubby boy's clothes. "Are you really running for your lives this time, or are you 'on orders to hide'?"

"Ordered to take cover!"

"Who is your backer?"

"It's the Prince of Zhenbei!"

"Among the Crown Princess's entourage, do you know who was supposed to be injured this time?"

"It's the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!"

"Who ordered you to severely injure Qingying?"

"It's the Prince of Zhenbei!"

Xie Xuansong asked questions very quickly, and Xiao Pang answered even faster, almost as if he was answering before anyone else!

His straightforward answer only increased Xie Xuansong's suspicions!

That little bastard answered way too decisively!

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Every word I have spoken is true, not a single lie! If I dare to deceive Your Highness, may my entire family suffer a terrible fate!"

Little Fatty immediately swore—after all, he was an orphan, his parents died when he was very young, and he survived by begging.

Hearing him say this, Xie Xuansong began to believe him a little more.

If he's willing to swear on his family's lives, this chubby guy probably isn't lying, right?

So Xie Xuansong signaled to Hongfeng to untie him.

"Then, what else do you know?"

"I know that the Prince of Zhenbei actually has several lovers!"

Little Fatty said hurriedly.

Xie Xuansong: "..."

He didn't need to know these things.

Since the death of Princess Zhenbei a few years ago, Xie Yuanxun has never remarried, saying that he wants to stay with his deceased wife for the rest of his life.

For this reason, even Empress Sun was moved by his deep affection for the Princess of Zhenbei.

I never imagined that all the affection was just a facade; in reality, Xie Yuanxun was nothing special!

Sure enough, this royal uncle's acting skills were superb, and he fooled everyone!

Xie Xuansong snorted coldly, "Besides these things, what else do you know about him? For example, who is he planning to deal with next? The Crown Prince? This King? Or... Father Emperor?"

"I wouldn't know about that!"

The chubby boy looked terrified!

He immediately knelt down, pleading, "Your Highness, I would never dare to betray you! Please don't kill me! I won't tell anyone! Please spare me!"

The chubby boy lay prostrate on the ground, trembling and incoherent.

His sudden emotional outburst aroused Xie Xuansong's suspicions once again.

The chubby boy's words didn't seem to be directed at him!

Is the "prince" he's referring to himself, or Xie Yuanxun?

But Xie Xuansong was certain that Little Fatty knew something!

It was just out of fear that my emotions were temporarily out of control.

It's alright, once he calms down, he'll definitely be able to pry his mouth open!

Therefore, Xie Xuansong instructed Hongfeng to settle Xiaopang down.

"When we return to the capital, we'll take him with us."

"But Your Highness, what if the Prince of Zhenbei or His Highness the Crown Prince discovers this..."

Red Maple dares not take the risk.

"Just don't let them know!"

Xie Xuansong scoffed, "This kid seems to know some secrets. Once he calms down, you'd better pry his mouth open for me!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Red Maple had no choice but to obey.

Xie Xuansong thought he had caught Xie Yuanxun red-handed.

Little did they know, this "little braid" of a chubby boy was deliberately placed next to him by someone!

When he returned to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, Xie Yuanxun was already waiting outside Qingying Gate with an unhappy expression.

Seeing this, Xie Xuansong's heart sank slightly.

Xie Yuanxun seems to have ill intentions.

Before he could even get close, Xie Yuanxun questioned him in a deep voice, "Where have you been so late? Isn't this maid very important to you?"

"She just woke up! Aren't you going in to check on her!"

Qingying is awake?!

Xie Xuansong paused for a moment, then quickly walked into the room.