Chapter 171 Yuwen Hong was given a grand funeral

Yuwen Hong coughed up another mouthful of blood, struggling to raise his upper body, staring intently at Yuwen Che, his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred and a stubborn desire for confirmation:

"Yuwen Che! I've returned... just want an answer! Back then, when Father died... did you... participate in his death?!"

Yuwen Che still held Su Luoxue firmly behind him. He looked down at the disheveled Yuwen Hong on the ground, his gaze calm and unwavering, as if he were simply stating a fact:

"Fourth brother, Father... cannot protect the Great Zhou dynasty."

He paused, his tone carrying an almost cruel calmness, each word striking Yuwen Hong's heart with clarity:

"And you... can't handle it either."

Upon hearing him admit to his father's affair, Yuwen Hong's pupils constricted sharply. Then, as if grasping at a last straw, he pressed on with a voice filled with even deeper despair and madness:

"What about my mother?! Imperial Noble Consort Roujia... did she really just die of illness back then?!" He stared intently at Yuwen Che.

Trying to find a flaw in his expression, she said, "If she really died of illness, why would Father Emperor take such a risk and secretly send me away?! Tell me!"

Yuwen Che continued to look down at him coldly. He didn't answer directly, but instead, in a chillingly calm tone, slowly asked:

"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"

This seemingly casual remark, like the sharpest dagger, pierced through the last layer of paper, shattering the last vestige of hope in Yuwen Hong's heart.

His mother's death was not due to illness at all! And his elder brother, this cold-blooded man before him, is one of the murderers!

"Ah—!! Yuwen Che!! I'm going to kill you!" Yuwen Hong let out a beast-like howl, his eyes bloodshot, struggling to pounce on him.

But Mo Ying pressed his foot firmly against his chest, rendering him unable to move. He could only roar in vain, his eyes filled with boundless hatred and utter madness.

Yuwen Che never let go of Su Luoxue's hand, keeping her firmly in his arms the whole time.

Han Ying understood immediately, turned around with her sword, and stood guard closely behind the Emperor and Empress, vigilant against any possible changes.

After ensuring that there was no trouble at home, Yuwen Che released Su Luoxue, slowly squatted down, and looked at Yuwen Hong, who was being held down by Mo Ying and looked like a madman.

His gaze was no longer the cold, condescending look of before, but carried a calm that was more terrifying than anger:

"Fourth brother, if you were only targeting me, if you hadn't laid a hand on Xue'er, hadn't poisoned Hao'er..."

He paused slightly, and a faint, genuine hint of elder brotherly regret appeared in his voice, but it was instantly replaced by a chilling killing intent:

"Perhaps I... will spare your life out of consideration for that last bit of blood ties, allowing you to eke out a living."

His gaze suddenly sharpened like a knife, and every word he spoke carried an undeniable resolve:

"But...you shouldn't have touched them, you absolutely shouldn't have. Xue'er is my bottom line."

"Those who touch it—die."

Seeing Yuwen Che standing so close to Yuwen Hong, Su Luoxue's heart tightened, and she quickly bent down to grab his arm: "Ache! Don't get so close to him!"

Yuwen Che stood up following her lead, pulled her tightly into his arms again, and patted her back reassuringly: "Don't be afraid, it's alright now."

Then, he looked at Yuwen Hong on the ground again, his eyes as if he were looking at a clown whose tricks had been seen through.

"I'm telling you, Yuwen Hong," Yuwen Che's voice was icy and all-knowing.

"I noticed something was wrong with Nightshade a long time ago... but I never expected that you would be hiding under that skin."

He slowly revealed Yuwen Hong's scheme, as if recounting a pre-written script: "I know exactly what you're planning next. It's nothing more than poisoning, framing, or even... treason. You want to kill Cheng'an, kill Ning'er, and you also want to..."

His gaze suddenly turned icy and chilling, filled with a murderous intent capable of destroying the world: "You still want to harm Xue'er? You want me to taste what it's like to lose all the people I cherish, don't you?"

Yuwen Hong was stunned for a moment as he listened to the man's incredibly precise revelation of all his vicious plans. Then, he let out a low, sinister laugh, which grew louder and louder, filled with twisted pleasure and a kind of almost perverse appreciation.

"Haha...Brother...you really haven't changed at all...you're still so good at...reading people's hearts, without the slightest error..."

Yuwen Che looked at Yuwen Hong with the same gaze one would give a dead man: "I also know that you secretly colluded with Nanzhao, promising them great benefits and using their power to carry out your plans."

He leaned slightly forward, each word striking Yuwen Hong's face, which had suddenly changed color: "But don't worry, all the spies and contacts you placed inside and outside the Nanzhao royal court... have been wiped out by my men. Not a single one... remains."

The sinister smile on Yuwen Hong's face froze instantly, replaced by utter shock and disbelief. He roared in a trembling voice, "No... impossible! How could you..."

"Fourth brother," Yuwen Che interrupted him, his voice devoid of any emotion, only a cold, deathly stillness.

"May you rest in peace."

He said no more, raised his hand and hugged Su Luoxue in his arms even tighter, burying her face completely in his chest, blocking out any possible bloodshed.

"In the next life, if there's another chance... don't be so foolish again."

The moment the words left his mouth, Mo Ying moved. His long sword, like a silent lightning bolt in the dark night, pierced Yuwen Hong's chest with precision and speed.

Yuwen Hong suddenly opened his eyes wide, made a "hoarse" sound in his throat, and finally his head tilted to the side, and he fell silent completely.

Yuwen Che didn't even look back. He simply held Su Luoxue, who was trembling slightly in his arms, tightly and instructed Mo Ying and Han Ying, "Clean it up."

"Yes," the two replied in unison.

Su Luoxue was trembling uncontrollably, her hands gripping Yuwen Che's shirt tightly.

She buried her face deep in his chest, as if only in this way could she draw a sense of security.

Yuwen Che sensed her fear, tightened his arms around her, and gently patted her back, whispering in her ear again and again, "Don't be afraid, Xue'er, it's alright... The traitor has been eliminated, everything is over, it's alright..."

Once she calmed down a bit, Yuwen Che raised his head, his gaze returning to its usual cold and stern imperial expression. He instructed Han Ying, "Han Ying, you personally lead men to thoroughly search the entire palace for me. No corner should be overlooked! I want to ensure that there are no more hidden dangers."

"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!" Han Ying clasped his hands in a fist salute, immediately turned around, mustered his men, and sprang into action.

Yuwen Che looked at Mo Ying again, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Mo Ying, you are responsible for... handling Yuwen Hong's funeral. Give him a grand funeral with the honors due to a prince."

Mo Ying nodded slightly, without any doubt: "Yes, my lord."

Yuwen Che said no more, picked up Su Luoxue, whose legs were still a little weak, and strode towards the Sizheng Hall.

Su Luoxue wrapped her arms around Yuwen Che's neck, looked up at his cold, hard jawline, and asked softly, "Ache... the other day, you were so worried, and even had me stay in the Sizheng Hall, were you... wary of him?"

Yuwen Che did not deny it, his arm around her was as firm as a rock, but his sharp gaze swept across both sides of the palace road. After confirming that it was safe, he spoke in a low voice: "Yes. I at least know that Yuwen Hong is still alive, and I have also noticed the unusual activity inside the Shadow Pavilion. Night Shadow... is acting a little strangely, but I didn't expect... it would be him."

He frowned slightly, a hint of barely perceptible sneer in his eyes: "But back then, I overestimated him. I thought he would at least secretly collude with some disloyal old ministers in the court, or simply join forces with Nanzhao to launch an invasion. I never expected..."

He paused, his tone turning chillingly contemptuous: "He is so foolish, or rather... so impatient. He only thinks of using these underhanded methods to assassinate, set fires, and harm my wife and children, trying to make me suffer unbearably."

Su Luoxue sensed the murderous intent in his words and involuntarily shrank closer to him.

Yuwen Che noticed this and immediately suppressed his emotions. He lowered his head and rubbed the top of her head, his tone softening: "However... it's also possible that it wasn't that he was stupid, but that Hao'er's incident today made me discover him, so I cut off his henchmen in advance, preventing him from carrying out the next more elaborate plan."

He carried her as he stepped through the threshold of the Hall of Thought and Politics, his voice low and firm: "No matter what, he is no longer a threat. Xue'er, don't be afraid, it's all over now."