Chapter 162 The Emperor's Brother Who Came Back from the Dead

Holding Cheng'an and Ning'er in his arms, Yuwen Che felt the children's reliance on him and his heart was filled with happiness.

However, amidst this warm atmosphere, he keenly sensed a familiar, hidden aura belonging to Han Ying flashing by on the outskirts of the Imperial Garden.

If Han Ying didn't have something important to say, she would never try to attract his attention at this time and place.

He gently put the two children down without making a sound and said softly, "Alright, go play by yourselves first, and eat your food obediently."

He then turned to Su Luoxue, his tone gentle yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible seriousness, "Xue'er, you two play here for now, I have some matters to attend to."

Su Luoxue looked up, met his gaze, and nodded gently without asking any further questions: "Okay, go ahead, we'll wait for you here."

Yuwen Che glanced at Bai Xiao, who was busy pouring himself wine to calm his nerves, and instructed, "Bai Xiao, keep an eye on them."

Bai Xiao waved his hand listlessly: "I know, I know. Go and come back quickly, don't keep me from drinking."

Yuwen Che said no more, turned around and strode towards the exit of the Imperial Garden. Seeing this, Li Dehai quickly jogged to keep up with him, wondering to himself what had alarmed His Majesty this time.

After leaving the Imperial Garden and entering the secluded palace path, Yuwen Che asked in a deep voice, "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

A dark figure appeared silently beside him as if blending into the night; it was Han Ying. He knelt on one knee and reported in a low voice, "My lord, there's... unusual activity from Nanzhao."

Yuwen Che frowned: "Nanzhao? What are they up to now?"

Han Ying stood up and approached with extreme caution, her voice so low that only her breath brushed past Yuwen Che's ear: "My lord, our people, while investigating the recent unusual activities in Nanzhao, discovered something... concerning the palace coup the day before the late emperor's death."

He paused, his tone becoming even more solemn: "Before his death, the late emperor seemed to have used his last strength to secretly send the then twelve-year-old fourth prince, who was also your younger brother, out of the palace. The direction of their escape was... Nanzhao."

Yuwen Che's pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly turned his head to stare at Han Ying, his voice tense with disbelief: "What did you say? My imperial brother... Yuwen Hong?"

Han Ying lowered his head, his speech quickening: "Yes. Although we were certain the poison came from Nanzhao, we couldn't figure out how they breached the defenses to attack you."

"Until this recent border disturbance, our people went deep into the area to investigate and discovered that one of the people in the opposing camp... bore a striking resemblance to you. They dared not delay and immediately drew a portrait and sent it back."

He raised his head, his gaze sharp: "Your Majesty, you have been on the throne for nine years. If the Fourth Prince had not died back then, he would be twenty-one years old now."

Yuwen Che stood still, his hand slowly clenching in his sleeve. Nine years ago, in the bloody palace coup, his father died suddenly, and he ascended the throne over piles of bones. All these years, he had believed that all potential threats had been eliminated.

Unexpectedly, one fish escaped the net and had been hiding in Nanzhao for many years!

His eyes instantly turned icy cold, and his voice was low and dangerous: "So, the poison in my body, the repeated dangers my empress and children have encountered... are all the work of this good imperial brother?"

"Is he trying to use the power of Nanzhao to reclaim the Great Zhou empire?"

Han Ying immediately lowered his head: "This subordinate dares not make a rash judgment, but... all signs point to the Fourth Prince."

Yuwen Che stretched out his hand, his voice cold and deep: "Portrait."

Han Ying quickly took out a roll of drawing paper from his bosom, carefully unfolded it, and presented it with both hands: "My lord, this is a person in the Nanzhao army who looks like you. Our people will draw it and send it back immediately without delay."

Yuwen Che took the portrait and examined it carefully. The young man in the painting had handsome features and a high nose bridge. His profile... did indeed resemble himself by about five or six points, especially his tightly pursed lips and the way he looked at people.

It carried a familiar, cold and stern air that belonged to the Yuwen royal family.

“It really is… similar.” Yuwen Che’s fingertips traced the young man’s eyebrows and eyes in the portrait, his tone devoid of emotion.

Han Ying whispered from the side, "My lord, if the late emperor really sent the fourth prince to Nanzhao back then, and the fourth prince has survived in Nanzhao to this day, and even holds a certain amount of power... does that mean that the late emperor had already had contact with Nanzhao... or even... made a deal with them when he was alive?"

Yuwen Che's gaze remained fixed on the portrait, his voice calm yet tinged with coldness: "You mean, before the late emperor passed away, he had already secretly colluded with Nanzhao?"

Han Ying cautiously replied, "I believe it's not impossible. Back then, the late emperor was hampered by powerful families and could hardly protect himself. If he wanted to leave a way out for his most beloved prince... colluding with foreign powers might have been... a risky move when he had no other choice."

Yuwen Che slowly rolled up the portrait, raised his eyes to look at the deep night, and his memory was pulled back to nine years ago: "If I remember correctly, Yuwen Hong... should be the son of the late emperor's most beloved concubine, Consort Roujia?"

Han Ying hesitated for a moment, then respectfully replied, "Yes. Back then, Imperial Noble Consort Roujia... was indeed defeated by the late Empress Dowager, and only the bloodline of the Fourth Prince was preserved."

He paused, lowering his voice even further, with a touch of calm as if analyzing the past: "Back then, the late emperor had already been sidelined by the Empress Dowager and the powerful families, becoming a mere puppet. Given the Empress Dowager's methods and determination at the time... if the fourth prince had remained in the palace, he would have certainly met his end. Perhaps the late emperor knew this well, which is why he had no choice but to take a risky step and send the fourth prince to Nanzhao in order to preserve the only bloodline of Consort Roujia."

Yuwen Che stood with his hands behind his back, the night wind ruffling his dark robes. He recalled his mother's iron-fisted methods from years ago.

To clear the way for him, no cost was spared. If Yuwen Hong had remained in the palace, he would have had no chance of survival.

He sneered, "So, my good father, in order to protect his beloved concubine's son, didn't hesitate to betray the country and bring wolves into the Great Zhou? And... perhaps he even left some contingency plan to help him make a comeback in the future?"

Han Ying lowered his head: "I believe that this possibility is extremely high. Otherwise, it is difficult to explain how the Fourth Prince could establish himself in Nanzhao, how he could mobilize the power of Nanzhao to carry out such a vicious attack on Your Majesty, and even repeatedly plot against the Empress and the princes. His intentions are obvious."

Yuwen Che's eyes flashed with murderous intent: "What a fine display of paternal love and filial piety, what a deep brotherly bond! Since he has chosen to return and choose to be my enemy, then don't blame me for... disregarding that meager blood ties!"

Yuwen Che's gaze was sharp as a knife as he gave Han Ying a deep order: "You will personally take charge of the palace's defenses, and triple the number of elite guards. At night... dispatch Shadow Pavilion experts to secretly take turns guarding the Empress, Crown Prince, and Princess's sleeping quarters, and there must be no slackening."

He paused, his tone growing even colder: "As for Yuwen Hong's matter... leave it to Ye Ying. Tell him to use all available resources to find out the truth for me! I want results as quickly as possible—I want to see him alive or dead!"

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts deepening: "If the person in the portrait is indeed Yuwen Hong... since the late emperor went to great lengths to protect him back then, it's hard to guarantee that he didn't plant other unknown schemes within the court, the army, or even within these palace walls. Dig carefully for me, and don't overlook any clues that might connect him to the late emperor, to Consort Roujia, or to Nanzhao!"

Han Ying's heart tightened, and he immediately bowed and clasped his hands in a fist: "Yes! Your subordinate understands! I will certainly not fail your trust, sir!"

Yuwen Che waved his hand: "Go, be quick and discreet."

"Yes!" Han Ying accepted the order and quickly disappeared within the palace walls, as if she had never been there.

Yuwen Che stood alone under the eaves, watching the faint lights and laughter coming from the Imperial Garden in the distance, his eyes frozen in cold despair. The once warm family dinner was now shrouded in a heavy shadow by the sudden news.