The capital city.
As Mu Houchu taps his fingertips on the table, he’s unable to dispel the dark and foreboding aura that envelopes him. The servant attending to his tea can’t help but shiver in his presence.
Ever since their master returned to the capital, he has been exuding a menacing air, initially assumed to be due to Gongsun Yi’s rebellion. However, even after Gongsun Yi’s body had been thrown into a mass burial ground, his morbid mood remained. Why?
The servant dared not to question him and only shrank timidly to one side.
The door was lightly knocked thrice.
The tapping of Mu Houchu’s fingers on the table ceased instantly as he commanded coldly, "Enter."
Ling Feng quickly stepped in and bowed, "I have instructed a covert investigation into the loss of the defense layout map. Commander Feng Yan of the imperial guard didn’t have any suspicious activities during his period. Furthermore, the specific defense layout map was not in Feng Yan’s possession but in Old Man Chen’s mansion..."
While speaking these words, Ling Feng carefully observed Mu Houchu’s facial expression. Everyone in the Imperial Court knew that Minister Mu and Old Man Chen were close allies. The reputation that Old Man Chen held at court was largely due to Mu Houchu.
The defense layout map was traced back to Chen Mansion - Ling Feng naturally couldn’t dare to speak without consideration, for he didn’t know which stance his master would take.
Mu Houchu’s expression remained steely, his gaze frosty, obscuring his emotions. He stood and strode out, announcing, "To Chen Mansion."
"Yes." Ling Feng hurriedly rose to follow.
But Mu Houchu commanded coldly, "Summon three hundred imperial guards to accompany me."
Ling Feng was stunned, his complexion changed. Did his master mean to apprehend someone directly?!
All the rumors about Minister Mu being ruthless, cold, and even disowning his own kin were true.
Even if it was Old Man Chen, whom he regarded as a "foster father", if he truly stood against him, he would not hesitate to point his sword at him.
Chen Mansion.
Old Man Chen glared at Chen Yining kneeling before him, his forehead throbbing, "Did you steal the defense layout map?"
Chen Yining lifted her terrified face, "No, it wasn’t me."
Old Man Chen smacked the table in anger, "Do you know, Mu Houchu is thoroughly investigating this matter. Feng Yan has already been cleared. The only suspect is our Chen Family. Among the members of Chen Family, my most cherished daughter often enters my study and has access to the locked defense layout map kept there! Do you dare deny it?"
Chen Yining’s face instantly went pale, and she was speechless.
Old Man Chen smacked the table again out of annoyance, "Are you out of your mind! Are you trying to obliterate our entire Chen family? Gongsun Yi’s family was exterminated merely days ago, do you want us to follow suit?!" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Chen Yining quickly shook her head, "No, it can’t be. Hou Chu would never harm Father. He wouldn’t treat Father like he treated Gongsun Yi. After all, Father is..."
"Foolish! How can you not understand his character after spending so many years by his side? He only sees profits and losses, never allowing feelings to cloud his judgment. Once it is discovered that this matter is related to our Chen Family, he will certainly bury our Chen family with it!"
Old Man Chen was gasping for breath due to his anger. As he thought of that cold-blooded man, his eyes filled with fear. He was no longer the powerless child from before; he had grown into a fully-fledged, formidable figure. Mu Houchu was no longer someone that Old Man Chen could control.
The one thing that hasn’t changed are his icy eyes and heart, which have remained the same whether he was six or twenty-four years old.
Chen Yining was also terrified, tugging at Old Man Chen’s sleeve, "What should we do? Dad, what should we do?"
Old Man Chen clenched his teeth and said, "What else can we do? We brace ourselves and endure."
When Marquis Mu Houchu rode his horse to the front gate, three hundred imperial guards had already surrounded the Chen Mansion entirely.
The servant of the Chen Mansion, frightened, stumbled and hastily ran inside to announce the news.
However, Marquis Mu Houchu didn’t wait for the message to be conveyed. He dismounted and stormed into the mansion with his men.
Old Man Chen’s face turned pale as he came out to greet him. "What...what are you doing?" he stuttered.
Marquis Mu Houchu placidly said, "Old Man Chen, I suppose you can guess why I’m here. You thought you could escape by pretending to be sick to avoid attending court? The leak of the defense layout map is a big deal, do you think I would let it go so easily?"
Marquis Mu Houchu’s eyes, as cold as ice, fell on Old Man Chen, making him shudder. He quickly said, "What does this have to do with me? Marquis Mu Houchu, do you think it was me who did it? I have always been loyal, your loyal servant. You think I would hand over the defense layout map to that fool of a third prince for him? How could you suspect me?"
"The defense layout map is only held in your mansion, Feng Yan doesn’t have a copy. Moreover, my investigators have found that Gongsun Yi only had contact with the Chen Mansion before his rebellion, there was no movement from Feng Yan. I only trust evidence, not anyone," Marquis Mu Houchu’s voice fell even colder.
Scared to the point of paleness, Old Man Chen’s heart trembled. He eventually gave in and admitted weakly, "Indeed, the defense layout map leaked from my mansion."
Marquis Mu Houchu’s eyes grew even frostier. "Oh?"
Old Man Chen, sweating profusely, rattled on, "But, it wasn’t me who leaked it. It was my most trusted subordinate, Liu Yun. He betrayed me and stole the defense layout map while I was studying it. He gave it to Gongsun Yi. Even though this happened in my mansion, I have nothing to do with it! Why would I provide Gongsun Yi with the defense layout map, ruining my peaceful life?"
"Where is Liu Yun now?"
Old Man Chen quickly answered, "I had him severely tortured and he couldn’t stand it. He’s dead now, his body is in my mansion’s dungeon. Guards! Bring up Liu Yun’s body!"
He then watched Marquis Mu Houchu nervously, as if fearing that he wouldn’t believe him.
Marquis Mu Houchu glanced at Liu Yun’s dead body and spoke in a chilling voice, "After all, Liu Yun is a servant belonging to Old Man Chen’s house..."
Old Man Chen hurriedly interjected, "But it has nothing to do with me!" He wished he could kill his own unfilial daughter now!
Marquis Mu Houchu was silent for a while before saying, "This matter bears no relation to Old Man Chen, and since Liu Yun has been dealt with, I will not dwell on it any further."
Old Man Chen didn’t feel relieved at all; instead, he looked apprehensively at Marquis Mu Houchu, who was behaving unusually. He was certain there was more to come.
"However, state matters are always serious and confidential. Given your age, Old Man Chen, it seems you are not well-suited for managing affairs of the court. After all, if such a leak of defense layout map occurs again, who knows what chaos it may wreak." Marquis Mu Houchu’s words were subtle but held the implication of taking over Old Man Chen’s power.
Old Man Chen’s face turned from pale to purple, opening and closing his mouth-not daring to speak.
Was Marquis Mu Houchu showing leniency? He was merely exploiting the situation to take up Old Man Chen’s power!
Also, now he held a threatening handle against him; Old Man Chen was, in essence, turned into a puppet on Marquis Mu Houchu’s strings!
What a ruthless man!
"I raised you nevertheless, and you repay me like this?" Old Man Chen’s eyes filled with rage.
"Raised?" Marquis Mu Houchu sneered, "Old Man Chen, you might have forgotten. You didn’t raise just me. There were one hundred and three children in total, and only I managed to crawl out of the pile of corpses."
At these words, Old Man Chen instantly turned as white as a sheet, his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, unable to utter a single word.
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