Chapter 103
"It's not that bad. Judging from his expression, he doesn't want us to die. He just wants us to stay out of his way." Qin Sang slowly descended the steps and walked towards the gate.
She suddenly frowned, turned around and said, "Could it be that something big is about to happen outside?"
The cave was dimly lit, but even so, Xie Sui'an's exhaustion was palpable. He followed Qin Sang down the steps and stood beside her, asking, "Aren't you going to ask me how I got injured?"
Qin Sang belatedly realized what was happening and said, "Oh, right, who hurt you?"
"Crown Prince."
"The Crown Prince?"
"The Crown Prince has gathered a group of court officials, and they are currently holding a council on this island."
Qin Sang's eyelids twitched: "What kind of meeting?"
Xie Sui'an hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. He took two steps back before saying, "They are analyzing who killed my grandfather. Judging from their own people's reactions, it wasn't them. They also suspect that my grandfather was killed by the Emperor, because the Emperor still cares about the position of Crown Prince and doesn't want to cause any more court disputes."
Qin Sang continued, "But your grandfather abandoned the Crown Prince and instead supported Prince Ning'an, which touched the Emperor's sore spot, so..."
Now both sides' accounts have been confirmed: the person who ordered Xie Zhongxu's murder was indeed the Emperor himself.
A high-ranking official of two dynasties, a pillar of the nation, killed without a second thought?
Xie Suian's voice was noticeably lower: "So, judging from the current situation, they won't start an uprising. But if anything changes, they could start one in no time. It seems they're all prepared."
Qin Sang's eyes lit up: "Could it be that the Emperor knew about the Crown Prince's faction, which is why he sent someone to kill your grandfather, just to show them his stance and prevent... to prevent patricide and usurpation from happening..."
This is a reasonable guess.
The two fell silent for a moment.
"What about my fourth uncle? He's not my grandfather's biological son, so he's always been with Aunt Jiang, working for the Crown Prince?" Xie Sui'an looked intently at Qin Sang.
Logically speaking, if the Crown Prince's faction dared to openly organize such a gathering on Worry-Free Island, then the island lord must also be one of their people. Moreover, if Xie Xiao and his group wanted to restore their kingdom, it would be reasonable for them to curry favor with the Crown Prince.
The problem is that the Crown Prince's power in the court is already deeply entrenched. Not to mention that his uncle Han Sizhong holds military power, the power within the court is also deeply intertwined. Over the years, he has gradually gained control of finance, military and political power, so there is no need for him to recruit someone who is trying to restore the country.
Before the Prince of Ning'an stepped forward, he was the only confirmed heir of the Nanwu Kingdom. How could he have kept this up all along?
But if not, why do the princelings trust Xie Xiao so much?
The two discussed it for a long time, but got stuck on this point.
Suddenly, someone's stomach started rumbling, its rumbling echoing through the empty cave.
Qin Sang looked at Xie Sui'an, who smiled slightly.
"..."
After a while, the two sat back down at the stone table.
"There's only this much fruit here. I don't know if he'll bring us any more food after we finish this." Qin Sang picked up a small knife from the table and started peeling fruit for Xie Sui'an.
Xie Sui'an rested his chin on his hands and said, "If someone brings us food, we'll knock them out, and then we can sneak out."
"Yes," Qin Sang nodded, "That makes sense, but you're injured right now, and you might not be able to win even if you go out. Let's rest for a day first."
"Can you deliver the food in a day?"
"……have no idea."
"..."
***
The cave was pitch black, with no distinction between day and night. When they were hungry, they ate fruit, and when they were tired, they lay down in the tent.
Xie Suian's wounds were well cared for. Qin Sang was originally skilled in medicine, and after about a day or two, there was finally some movement at the entrance of the stone cave.
As soon as the rumbling sound rang out, the two exchanged a glance and, according to their previous plan, leaped to the door with lightning speed, one standing on each side and pressed tightly against the door.
The door was opened from the outside, just a small crack, and a food basket was quickly put in through the crack. The next moment, the stone door was about to close.
If it weren't for prior planning, the stone gate would probably have already closed by the time they realized what was happening.
Qin Sang reacted quickly, pulling a hairpin from her hair and embedding it in the crack of the closing door. Xie Suian, on the other hand, reached out to pry the door open, trying to force it to both sides.
However, the massive stone gate weighed over a thousand pounds, and even though Xie Sui'an wasn't injured, he couldn't break through it. Soon, a searing pain shot through his back, and the stone gate irreversibly closed again. Only a hair-thin gap remained, caught by Qin Sang's hairpin.
AND equals nothing.
The footsteps faded into the distance.
"Come back! I'm sick and I need to take my medicine!" Qin Sang shouted into the crack.
However, only a very slight breeze sneaked in through a tiny crack.
The two slammed their fists on the stone door in a fit of pique, and Qin Sang complained, "This door is too flexible; it opens as much as you want!"
Xie Suian had just exerted himself, tearing open the wound on his back, and blood quickly seeped through. But he held back and didn't say anything, instead squatting down to look at the food basket.
The food was quite good, with chicken, duck, fish, vegetables, and fragrant white rice. For two people who had only eaten a few fruits in two days, it was quite tempting.
But Xie Sui'an smelled it once and then put the lid back on.
Qin Sang's outstretched hand froze, her smile hardening: "?"
Xie Sui'an: "They've drugged me."
"...No way?"
"While it won't kill us, it will definitely leave us weak and unable to escape."
“Even if I don’t eat, I can’t escape…” Qin Sang stared at the vegetable basket, swallowed hard, then stood up, hands on her hips, and began to curse: “You damned Xie Xiao, get out here right now!”
Xie Xiao, of course, didn't come out; he was busy helping the Crown Prince arrest people.
Chaos erupted on the island, with martial arts masters and guards all mobilized. Xie Xiao rushed to the Crown Prince and bowed to apologize.
"Your island is starting to leak; anyone can be sent up there."
The Crown Prince sat upright at the head of the table, drinking tea. Beside him, at a lower level, sat the Emperor's brother-in-law, Han Sizhong. It was Han Sizhong who was speaking.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. Oh dear, we've already sent people to search the entire island." Xie Xiao spoke frivolously, his demeanor reverting to that of a spoiled young master, quite different from how he acted in front of Qin Sang.
“Although your father doesn’t think highly of me, we are in the same boat,” the prince said slowly, putting down his teacup. “If my big boat capsizes, your little boat will also be doomed.”
Xie Xiao hurriedly wiped his sweat: "Your Highness is right. This...this was unexpected. It was my oversight. If we find the person, we will definitely tear him to pieces!"
Zhao Bing raised his head with a smile: "Stop with the fancy words. I heard that someone caused a ruckus on the island not long ago, almost burning it down. Has anyone slipped into your island recently?"
"Ah, last time it was some ignorant hooligan who barged in like a big shot. He didn't know his own limitations and dared to trespass on my forbidden area. It's all been burned, Your Highness, don't worry."
Zhao Bing nodded, smiled at Xie Xiao, and then changed the subject after a moment: "I am sorry for the death of Prime Minister Xie."
Xie Xiao's smile froze for a moment, then he bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
“Although I had a dispute with your father in court before, I am not a petty and despicable person. I also value talent and was hoping that your father would continue to assist me in the future. Who would have thought…” Zhao Bing sighed silently, “I am also very sad. When I was young, the Prime Minister taught me a lot.”
Xie Xiao listened quietly with an awkward smile.
Zhao Bing continued, "Perhaps I am of dull talent, and thus I am even less pleasing to Prime Minister Xie..."
"Ahem..." Before he could finish speaking, Han Sizhong coughed twice, and the Crown Prince immediately stopped talking, glancing at his uncle.
Han Sizhong's voice was muffled and heavy: "Alright, Fourth Master Xie is different from Prime Minister Xie after all, and he doesn't like to get involved in court affairs. Your Highness doesn't need to say more. What's more important right now is to find the person in question. If word gets out about what happened in this council meeting today and it affects our subsequent plans, not only will we be in trouble, but Fourth Master, as the island lord... will probably be unable to continue."
Xie Xiao hurriedly put on a humble and fearful expression: "Yes, this subordinate knows the importance of this matter. It's not long since all the experts on the island have been dispatched. News will surely come back soon."
"Then go down and look for it. I'll wait here."
Xie Xiao took his leave.
Han Sizhong stared at Xie Xiao's back for a long time before finally turning around and saying, "Your Highness, it seems that the next council meeting cannot be held on this island."
Zhao Bing frowned: "Why?"
Han Sizhong: "..."
Zhao Bing: "Your uncle doesn't trust him?"
Han Sizhong said with a forced smile, "Yes, I don't trust him."
The crown prince looked completely bewildered.
Han Sizhong looked towards the door: "Everyone here has their own stance and purpose in gathering around the Crown Prince, but this person's camp is too complicated."
The Crown Prince disagreed: "Uncle, are you overthinking this? Even father and son often have differing political views. The fact that you and I are not on good terms with Prime Minister Xie does not represent his stance. I have known him since childhood, and I knew about his preparations for this island. It has nothing to do with the court."
"Just because it was unrelated at the beginning doesn't mean it's unrelated now."
“But Uncle, the reason he can stay on this island peacefully is because of me. Whether the island exists or not is just a matter of my word. How could he go against me? Besides, Prime Minister Xie doesn’t know anything about him from beginning to end. There are very few people in the capital who know that he is the famous owner of the Worry-Free Island. Hehe, in this respect, I still have some confidence.”
"Uncle, there's no need to worry. Even if he's an opportunist, he can only see our big ship right now, and he certainly wouldn't care about Prince Ning'an's dilapidated ship."
Han Sizhong remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "I hope so."
Xie Xiao used a mask of a playboy to conceal all the joys and sorrows in his heart. Just as Zhao Bing said, no one knew his story, no one knew that the fourth young master of the Prime Minister's mansion would build a debauched island here, trafficking people and wantonly killing.
It was precisely because the island was so dirty that Zhao Bing was certain that he could only rely on himself.
It was precisely because of Zhao Bing's trust that Xie Xiao was able to have influence both inside and outside the company.
He hurriedly walked out of the residence where the Crown Prince was temporarily staying, his face full of anxiety. He grabbed the person next to him and started beating him without any rhyme or reason: "What kind of thing did you do? You let just anyone in. Go find them for me. If you can't find them, I'll chop you up and feed you to the dogs!"
The man went there with a heavy heart.
Xie Xiao muttered curses as he walked away.
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