"Has Your Highness made any progress on the traitor that Vice General Yang mentioned?"
He actually caused His Highness to be in danger and almost lose his life. I will definitely not let him off the hook when I return to the capital!
"It must be Gu Yi."
Xiao Ziwu lowered his voice, but his tone revealed his firm conviction.
Tianyun's sleepiness subsided slightly. "It was him?"
She widened her almond-shaped eyes slightly in surprise.
But didn't he value His Highness highly and want to marry Gu Beiye to him? Besides, it was Gu Yi who personally recommended His Highness to lead the troops into battle this time.
Xiao Ziwu said calmly, "News has come from the capital that Gu Beiye has been betrothed to Xiao Ziran as the Crown Prince's wife."
This is not surprising, after all, both of them are of marriageable age, so it is not surprising that they could become husband and wife.
She frowned in confusion. "But what does this have to do with Gu Yi's treason?" she asked, puzzled. "At most, it just shows that he no longer places his hopes on His Highness and has instead taken a liking to Xiao Ziran?"
Their adorable behavior was truly endearing. Xiao Ziwu pecked at those peach blossom lips, and after a long while, he chuckled contentedly, "Gu Yi is colluding with the Prince of Qi, plotting a rebellion."
These words were like a bombshell, leaving Tianyun stunned.
"Does Your Highness mean that Prince Qi is colluding with the Western Huan, deliberately diverting his army away from the capital, and intending to rebel while the Great Liang is facing external threats?!"
Xiao Ziwu nodded slightly, his deep eyes revealing obvious appreciation for this quick-witted young woman.
"How did Your Highness learn that the Prince of Qi intended to rebel?"
King Xiao Limin of Qi was renowned for his virtue and was regarded by the people as a wise and virtuous sage. Any wrongful case brought to him could be overturned.
Could it be that beneath this facade of integrity lies an endless wolfish ambition?
“I personally laid the bait, and he took the bait.”
The foolish palace maid was a flaw he deliberately created. Prince Qi had been coveting his mother's belongings for years, and as long as even the slightest clue was revealed, he would be like a rat smelling blood, eagerly taking the bait without even setting a trap.
Xiao Ziwu's eyes darkened for a moment, and he said in a cold voice, "Prince Qi is the murderer who killed my mother."
A great reputation is hard to live up to.
Beneath the impeccably dressed exterior of the King of Qi lay an ugly and ambitious heart!
Xiao Ziwu had suspected many people of all kinds, but he never suspected Xiao Limin.
Was he too good at disguising himself?
The person she helped at the teahouse turned out to be the prince's mother's killer.
Tianyun's face was pale, and he stammered out through his teeth, "If I had known, I wouldn't have saved him..."
Xiao Ziwu Ningshuang's expression instantly thawed. She was amused by her cute words and chuckled silently. Her shoulders trembled as she gently kissed the tip of her nose.
"Don't blame my darling, how could you know he was a beast in human form?"
Xiao Limin had endured all these years, and if it weren't for the evidence in his hands, Xiao Ziwu would never have believed that the person who had harmed his mother was him!
"But……"
She bit her lip lightly, looking somewhat conflicted.
“The day before I set off, two groups of assassins came. One of them was Xiao Limin’s men. He used a feint to abduct the mentally challenged palace maid who had served my mother.”
"Those assassins all had black moon tattoos on their faces; they were Turks, the same group who tried to harm you in that dead-end alley and steal the prescription."
"The group that hijacked the grain supplies were also scattered Turkic soldiers. Not only that, the Hundred Flowers Banquet and the Burning Gold Cave were also his means of accumulating wealth. The Burning Gold Cave also held considerable leverage over many officials, and they abused and tortured women for their own amusement. Countless women died from their abuse, and Shi Juan was one of them..."
He paused, seeing the sorrow on the young woman's face, and couldn't bear to say any more: "Xiao Limin has been planning for many years, accumulating wealth to support the Turkic army and prepare for his future usurpation of the throne. In this way, when Xiao Limin usurps the throne, many officials will be held hostage by his weaknesses, submit to him, and support him as the new emperor."
His Highness's words were devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet they utterly shocked Tianyun.
She murmured, "What a terrifying person..."
Xiao Limin was too good at pretending!
These words completely dispelled Tianyun's sleepiness. Nestled in his warm embrace, she eagerly asked, "Since he has been hiding for so many years, why did he choose this critical juncture to rebel?"
A cryptic glint flashed in Xiao Ziwu's eyes.
“Naturally… someone gave him a push.”
"?.?"
She grumbled impatiently, "Stop beating around the bush, just tell me!"
Xiao Ziwu breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled a few times. His arm, which had been resting on her head, felt slightly numb, but he found it all quite pleasant.
Unable to tease her any longer, he smiled and said, "Lin Ruhong is already impure. If the emperor finds out about this, with this corrupt Consort Lin in the harem, Xiao Ziyan's chances of becoming the crown prince will be as impossible as trying to break free from fire."
"After I was transferred away from the capital, the only person who could rightfully inherit the throne was Xiao Ziyan. Naturally, Lin Ruhong would not let such a good opportunity pass by. She put a slow poison in the imperial meal. At present, the emperor is mentally unstable and bedridden. The backlog of memorials are being reviewed by Xiao Ziyan and Mu Chengye."
"And Mu Chengye is Xiao Limin's man."
Xiao Ziwu let out a soft snort, "They're fighting like dogs. The situation in Kyoto has long been turbulent."
He even knew that Consort Lin had poisoned the imperial meals?
It seems His Highness has many spies in Kyoto.
Tianyun stared at him with bright eyes, her gaze filled with admiration, and a smile as sweet as honey played on her lips.
"Your Highness has a comprehensive view of the whole situation and a clear understanding of everything. I am truly impressed!"
"You really admire me?" "Words alone don't count."
"That little sycophantic look of hers." Xiao Ziwu's heart stirred, and an almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips. He couldn't help but lean down and kiss the soft, smooth face of the little woman in his arms again and again.
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