Time passed slowly, and Huo Yun was already limp on the ground, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. He glanced at Huo Xi with fear and unease.
Huo Xi kept a straight face and didn't say anything.
General Zuo glanced at the two men and gave a cold snort.
Until the sky began to lighten.
The guards who had been sent out finally returned, bringing with them a topographical map. The Seventh Prince took it and glanced at it, realizing that the exit of the alleyway had been exposed.
“I remember General Huo appeared at the alley entrance a couple of days ago and gave the guards a bag of silver. Could it be that General Huo returned at that time?” General Zuo feigned surprise.
General Huo's expression changed slightly, and he stammered, "It was just a coincidence, nothing more."
Obviously, no one believed that.
The Seventh Prince looked down at Huo Xi and asked in a deep voice, "Who from the Huo family is present today?"
Huo Xi looked up: "What does Your Highness mean?"
He never asked the question, "Second Prince."
"Your Highness, I suspect that the exit was blocked by chance, and these people set fire to the neighboring house in an attempt to escape the Huo family in the chaos," said General Zuo.
"The fire wasn't started by the Huo family!" Huo Xi retorted.
General Zuo scoffed, too lazy to argue.
At that moment, the sounds of clashing swords and weapons clashing came from next door, along with shouts for help. The Seventh Prince's expression changed slightly.
"Let's go take a look!"
"yes."
General Zuo immediately led his men in pursuit.
The mansion was already in a mess, with corpses scattered all over the ground, blood everywhere, and the stench of blood filling the air. The Seventh Prince's heart sank, and he began searching the entire courtyard for anyone who was there.
"Jiahua!"
"Jiahua!"
They searched inside and out, but couldn't find Princess Jiahua. Xiushu lay on the ground, barely alive, her clothes soaked in blood.
"Where is Jia Hua?" The Seventh Prince helped the man up and asked anxiously.
Xiu Shu opened her palm, revealing a piece of black cloth. Before she could even speak, she coughed up a mouthful of blood, rolled her eyes, and fainted.
“Embroidered book…”
The Seventh Prince said coldly, "Seal the city gates immediately! No one is allowed to enter or leave!"
General Zuo accepted the order.
He personally led troops to replace all the guards at the four city gates with his trusted men and ordered that no one was allowed to enter or leave.
It was already broad daylight by then.
As the rooster crowed, people gradually came and went on the streets, and Jincheng returned to its usual bustling state, though the people were unaware of what had happened.
All that was known was that there were rows of guards at the city gate.
...
Huo family
The Imperial Guards were still at the Huo family's residence, keeping watch every step of the way. Huo Yun's eyelids twitched violently as he watched the Seventh Prince leave without returning.
"Could something have happened?"
Huo Xi bent down and helped Huo Yun up: "The Huo family has made contributions and worked hard over the years. The Seventh Prince will not put anyone to death."
Huo Yun was filled with anxiety.
"I heard commotion next door. It sounds like the Seventh Prince's Consort has gone missing. Many guards have died next door. The Seventh Prince has ordered the city gates to be sealed off, and they are now searching the whole city for the Seventh Prince's Consort." Old Madam Huo stumbled in.
The guards did not stop him from walking around in his own yard.
Old Madam Huo, trembling, pulled Huo Xi along: "I have a feeling this isn't so simple. Could it be that the Seventh Prince already knew something and deliberately took this opportunity to do this?"
Huo Xi's expression flickered slightly, unable to say for a moment how much the Seventh Prince actually knew.
News of the fire at the Huo family residence was quickly leaked to the Yan residence by General Zuo. When Prime Minister Yan passed by the Huo family residence early in the morning, he indeed saw the figures of the Imperial Guards, and his eyelids twitched even more violently.
"Enter the palace quickly."
After the carriage entered the palace, Prime Minister Yan hurried to find Empress Yan.
Empress Yan was taking her medicine when she glanced at her father, who had rushed over. She quickly put down the medicine and sent the palace servants away, asking, "Father, has something happened?"
"The Huo family caught fire last night. The Seventh Prince led troops to search the Huo family's residence, and the Seventh Prince's wife disappeared without a trace."
"Disappeared without a trace?" Empress Yan frowned, her eyes darting around, and she sneered, "Could it be that they took the opportunity to leave the Southern Frontier and went to Northern Chu?"
Prime Minister Yan shook his head: "She is all alone and has no ability to leave the Southern Frontier. The Seventh Prince sent people to seal off the four city gates. I am worried that the Huo family might be searched and found to have something."
Empress Yan rubbed her temples, suddenly recalling the threat Princess Jia Hua had made a few days ago: "It must be that Zhao Jia Hua knew something and reminded the Seventh Prince, otherwise, the Seventh Prince would never have known."
"What does Zhao Jiahua know?"
Empress Yan said, "She mentioned the Second Prince and the Huo family."
Prime Minister Yan's face darkened, and he realized something was wrong.
"Father, as long as Zhao Jiahua is not eliminated, we will be in greater danger. Now I am feigning illness, and the Seventh Prince only came briefly before leaving." Empress Yan was so angry that her teeth itched.
Now all plans have been disrupted.
"Your Majesty!"
A palace maid rushed over anxiously: "No, something terrible has happened! The Seventh Prince just announced in the main hall that he will choose a day to attack the vassal state!"
"What?" Empress Yan's vision blurred, and she almost lost her balance. She reached out to steady herself on the table, her voice icy: "Why does the Seventh Prince want to attack the vassal states?"
"Yesterday, the vassal state sent people to assassinate the Seventh Prince's wife and kidnap her. They also wrote a letter to provoke the Seventh Prince. In a fit of anger, the Prince decided to send troops to punish the vassal state."
Empress Yan clenched her fists tightly.
At this moment, another eunuch entered: "Your Majesty, General Zuo has brought the Huo family father and son to the palace to beg for forgiveness."
"The Huo family father and son?" Empress Yan's voice trembled.
"Your Majesty, it is General Huo and General Huo Xi."
As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Yan's eyes rolled back and she fainted.
Prime Minister Yan wasn't much better off; he clutched his chest so tightly he almost fainted, but gritted his teeth and managed to pull through.
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