Seeing Lin Mo's expression, the old man spoke slowly, his voice filled with helplessness and sighs, as if he were unveiling a heavy piece of history. "Your Highness, this matter cannot actually be entirely attributed to His Majesty."

"This..." Lin Mo frowned, hesitant to speak, his mind filled with a jumble of questions.

Constantine had been in the capital for half a year, and Lin Mo could hardly imagine the torment and suffering that Fatty Zhao Shu had endured during those long six months.

Upon learning that Xiang Yu was disregarding the safety of the Xia emperor and insisting on attacking the city...

What crazy ideas did Constantine have when dealing with Zhao Shuguang?

"Ah, Your Highness, you may not have seen it, but His Majesty, who has just turned forty this year, already looks like a frail old man in his sixties." The old man recounted with deep sorrow, as if every word and sentence carried profound worry.

"Your Majesty, he is so worried about poison in his food that he can't eat, and his body is getting thinner and thinner, and his face is as haggard as a withered leaf."

His Majesty's hair was now a tangled mess, like untrimmed weeds, long past his shoulders. His fingernails were even more astonishingly long, seemingly over a foot long.

His fear of anything with a sharp edge was ingrained in his very being; even the tools used to trim his hair, beard, or nails were seen as a deadly threat.

She has become someone with a bad temper and unpredictable mood swings...

Lin Mo felt dizzy and disoriented, as if his head was filled with chaotic thoughts. He couldn't help but wave his hand to interrupt the old man, "Alright, I know, stop talking!" he interrupted.

The old man sighed softly, took a deep breath of the air that carried the scent of time, and stared intently at Lin Mo. "Then, Your Highness, where have you been for the past three years? Why have you been completely out of contact?"

Lin Mo shook his head helplessly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "I don't even know how to answer that!"

"Old sir, may I request an audience with His Majesty?" Lin Mo raised his head, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Some things can be resolved by talking about them face-to-face!

However, the old man shook his head repeatedly, his brows furrowed. "Seeing His Majesty is not difficult, but... but this matter involves many things and cannot be resolved in a few words." His words were full of worry and helplessness.

"But what?" Lin Mo pressed, "Go on!"

"His Majesty is now obsessed with burning at the stake and enjoys watching people burn alive with his own eyes..." the old man said. "Moreover, His Majesty once said that the cruelty and heat of burning at the stake can ignite the desires deep within him, as if the raging fire is burning in his heart as well."

Therefore, every time he burned a prisoner to death with wildfire, His Majesty would find a concubine to share a room with.

Without exception, all these concubines suffered abuse at the hands of His Majesty.

According to the Imperial Guards in the palace, they could clearly hear the cries of the concubines as they were being abused.

Meanwhile, many palace maids were certain that the concubines' bodies bore various marks—swellings, bite marks, scratches, and, most disturbingly, whip marks.

"Holy crap!" Lin Mo was completely shocked. "This fat guy is insane!"

He realized that Zhao Shuguang was gradually sliding towards madness.

If I ever meet him, he'll definitely catch me and burn me alive!

"Sir, um, where are my wives?" Lin Mo remembered the purpose of his visit.

"Your Highness Regent, rest assured, the three princesses and your mother are all safe! There are still many former officials in the court who remember your kindness!" the old man assured him. "However, it will be a little difficult for you to take them away now!"

Lin Mo frowned, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. "So you summoned me here today? Just to tell me about His Majesty's ordeal?"

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze profound. "No, what I want to know is, Your Highness, how do you plan to deal with this after learning about it? Will you go along with the mistake and rebel against His Majesty?"

This question stumped Lin Mo.

To be honest, when Lin Mo learned that Zhao Shu had accused him of treason, he really wanted to play along and turn the tables on this fool.

But after hearing about Zhao Shu's experience today, I felt a little sorry for him.

Things have now spiraled out of Lin Mo's control, and Zhao Shu is no longer the naive fool he once was.

He will no longer allow Lin Mo to manipulate him; the path of a puppet regime has come to an end.

"Right now, I just want to bring my mother and wife back!" Lin Mo deliberately avoided the topic.

"Alas!" the old man sighed. "Very well. I dare to say this, whatever the outcome, Your Highness, please put the well-being of the Great Xia people first!"

"Definitely!" Lin Mo nodded.

“Your Highness, your wife is not in the capital! You should go to Jidong!” The old man stood up. “I should also return now. Please forgive me, farewell.”

Since the other party meant no harm, Lin Mo naturally wouldn't choose to be his enemy.

But, not in the capital?

Lin Mo was skeptical.

The road back to the inn seemed longer than the way there, perhaps because of Lin Mo's mood.

It's quite obvious that he won't see his three wives anytime soon.

The old man told him that Sun Ruoxi and the others were in Jidong. If that was the case, the task of rescuing them would become even more difficult.

Jizhou, which has been plagued by war for many years, is now in complete chaos.

"Annoying!"

The moment Lin Mo stepped into the Hourglass Inn, the lobby was already bustling with noise and excitement.

Four weary men sat around a fire, their robes stained with the dust and mud of their journey.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!