Su Muxi was too lazy to talk to Qiao Ziming anymore, so she handed Qiao Ziming over to the brothel woman.
She then went to see Hu Zhi.
Hu Zhi saw Su Muxi and a hint of resentment in his eyes.
Su Muxi asked in confusion, "Do you have a grudge against Qiao Ziming?"
If Hu Zhi is neither Qiao Xiuyuan nor the Emperor's man, then the only remaining possibility is that he has a grudge against Qiao Ziming.
Hu Zhi's lips curled into a cold smile. "Many people have grudges against the Marquis of Anyang's family, and I'm just one of them. Take the Prince of Yong'an, for example; he should also have a grudge against the Marquis of Anyang's family. I never expected that you, as the Princess Consort of Yong'an, would actually go to save the son of your enemy!"
Su Muxi immediately recognized the voice, "You're one of Prince Yu's men?"
Hu Zhi did not answer, but said coldly, "If you still have any sincerity towards Prince Yong'an, then kill me!"
Hearing this, Su Muxi was so angry that she laughed.
"Ha! What does my sincerity towards Prince Yong'an have to do with killing you?! Do you think this is avenging Prince Yu?"
If you truly want revenge for Prince Yu, then you should be thinking about exonerating him, not killing a useless Qiao Ziming!
Hu Zhi looked at Su Muxi, his eyes flashing, and after a long pause, he finally spoke: "How easy is it to exonerate His Highness Prince Yu?"
Upon hearing this, Su Muxi was certain that Hu Zhi was one of Prince Yu's men.
“The Prince of Yong’an has never given up on the matter of exonerating Prince Yu. The reason I went to save Qiao Zimo was only because Qiao Xiuyuan wanted to kill him. So if you kill Qiao Zimo, you will be helping Qiao Xiuyuan!”
Hu Zhi shook his head in disbelief, "How is that possible?! Qiao Ziming is Qiao Xiuyuan's biological son!"
"You don't need to know that much. Just tell me everything you know, and I, the princess, will consider whether or not to spare your life."
This is a critical moment. Even though Hu Zhi is a former subordinate of Prince Yu, if he is someone who is prone to causing trouble, he must be dealt with.
Hu Zhi remained silent for a long time before slowly recounting everything he knew.
"I was originally just a servant in Prince Yu's mansion. Ordinary servants, let alone being able to read and write, would be severely reprimanded if they were caught slacking off by their masters. But His Highness Prince Yu saw that I was eager to learn, so he specially assigned me to serve him with writing materials."
His Highness Prince Yu rarely returns to his residence and spends most of his time in the military camp, leaving me, a servant who attends to his writings, with nothing to do.
But His Highness Prince Yu told me to read more books in my spare time, and said that if I succeeded in my studies, he would change my household registration and let me participate in the imperial examination.
You may never know what it means for a slave to be freed from slavery and have the opportunity to embark on an official career!
I initially thought His Highness Prince Yu was just saying it casually, until he gave me a contract of indenture and removed my status as a slave, and I realized that His Highness Prince Yu was serious!
So I studied day and night, and finally passed the imperial examination nineteen years ago. But before I could repay His Highness Prince Yu, he was accused of treason!
His Highness Prince Yu would never rebel, so all of this was a setup by Qiao Xiuyuan! Qiao Xiuyuan used a few fabricated letters to obtain the title of Marquis of Anyang. Such a traitor who sells out his master for personal gain and is disloyal and unjust deserves to be torn to pieces!
Over the years, I have always wanted to get close to Qiao Xiuyuan, hoping to have the opportunity to kill him and avenge His Highness Prince Yu.
But I am of mediocre talent. It is already a rare achievement for me to pass the imperial examination. It is simply impossible for me to catch Qiao Xiuyuan's eye!
However, I have never given up all these years, and I have always been looking for opportunities to get close to Qiao Xiuyuan!
Su Muxi picked up where Hu Zhi left off, "So you plundered the people's wealth in Anping County and used that money to bribe your superiors, just to get a chance to get close to Qiao Xiuyuan?"
"If Prince Yu knew that you had become an official and instead of working for the benefit of the people, but instead had become a corrupt official, he would definitely regret canceling your status as a slave and allowing you to enter officialdom!"
"...But all I wanted was to avenge His Highness Prince Yu. Is that wrong? His Highness Prince Yu won't blame me! Waaah..."
After Hu Zhi finished speaking, he covered his face and burst into tears. He cried for a long time before choking out, "I was wrong. I have disappointed His Highness Prince Yu..."
The following day, news spread that the heir of the Marquis of Anyang had died in Anping County from his serious injuries.
The people listened but then went back to their busy lives, struggling to make a living.
Because of Qiao Ziming's death, Su Muxi and her group did not return to the capital immediately, but set off two days later.
At the very back of the procession was a vehicle carrying a coffin, and the person lying inside was, without a doubt, the deceased Qiao Ziming.
Anping County is not far from the capital, only a day's journey away. However, a hundred miles outside the capital, Su Muxi coincidentally encountered Ye Zeyu and his group, who had just returned from Ganzhou and were also heading to the capital.
Ye Zeyu jumped off his horse and went straight into Su Muxi's carriage.
"Xi'er, you must be tired from your journey. Let's go home."
"Okay, let's go home."
There are no coincidences in the world. The reason we were able to meet was only because of the message delivered by the secret guard.
News of what happened in Ganzhou and Jinzhou had already reached the capital, but when Prince Yong'an and Princess Yong'an returned, no officials greeted them at the city gate.
Only Qiao Xiuyuan, riding on horseback, blocked Su Muxi and her group's path.
"What does the Marquis of Anyang mean by this?"
Ye Zeyu lifted the carriage curtain, stood on the carriage, and stared coldly at Qiao Xiuyuan.
Qiao Xiuyuan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Ye Zeyu.
"Greetings, Prince Yong'an. I have come here only to take my son home."
Ye Zeyu sneered, "The death of the Marquis of Anyang's heir is suspicious and involves the matter of Fukang County, so the body of the Marquis of Anyang's heir cannot be returned to the Marquis yet. After I have met with my father and the Empress, I will personally lead a team to send the body of the Marquis of Anyang's heir back to the Marquis of Anyang's residence!"
But Qiao Xiuyuan curled his lips into a cold smile and said indifferently, "Your Highness does not know, just now, the former Second Prince Ye Zerui and the prince in Consort Shu's womb passed away one after another. His Majesty is in grief and probably has no mind to see Your Highness!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Ziyu's heart sank.
Ye Zerui is dead?!
He clearly sent people to protect the Second Prince's residence, so why did Ye Zerui still die?!
If Ye Zerui is dead, where would he have hidden the letter that Qiao Xiuyuan presented to the Emperor, accusing Uncle Yu of treason?
As for the child in Murong Qing's womb, it's gone, it's gone...
wrong!
Now that his father is unable to have children, he and his third brother are the only two princes left.
The child in Ye Zerui and Murong Qing's womb suddenly died at this time...
Could it be that Qiao Xiuyuan intends to make his third brother the crown prince?!
Although Ye Zeyu was unwilling to believe this conjecture, Qiao Xiuyuan was never one to sit idly by and wait for his fate.
Therefore, Qiao Xiuyuan must have already made plans for himself.
Therefore, he must go to the palace immediately!
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