Xin He stared at him calmly, waiting for him to continue.
Only then did Mu Houchu speak seriously: "The young master of the Song family suddenly contracted a severe disease, and even the Imperial Physicians in the palace were at a loss. It is difficult to determine exactly what kind of disease it is, but the official statement from the physicians is that the young master of the Song family is just weak. However, the spy I placed in the palace reported that the young Master Song has actually been poisoned."
Xin He’s expression grew solemn: "Who poisoned him?"
"The young master of the Song family is staying in the Eastern Palace with the Crown Prince as his companion, and all the servants there are personally chosen by the Emperor’s inner court. Naturally, they all belong to the Emperor. And the people who take care of the young Master Song’s meals and daily life are also like this. Who could enter the heavily guarded Imperial Palace and the Eastern Palace to poison the young Master Song?"
Mu Houchu’s voice grew slightly chilly as he spoke.
"You mean, the biggest suspect is the Emperor?" Xin He’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyebrows furrowed: "Why would the Emperor do this? The Song family is currently enjoying great favor, and although the young Master Song is technically a hostage in the palace, it’s unlikely that the Emperor would try to kill him so easily. Wouldn’t that force the Song family to rebel?"
Mu Houchu scoffed: "Yeah, the Emperor has no reason to do this now. The young Master Song can be a bargaining chip for the Emperor, but if he rashly kills him at the wrong time, the Song family won’t be so easygoing."
The Emperor’s own sons are being poisoned while they are diligently defending the country for the Emperor. No matter how cold-hearted the Song family may be, even the courtiers would be filled with resentment, right?
So Mu Houchu didn’t entirely believe in this conclusion.
Xin He narrowed her eyes, sensing that this matter was anything but simple. It seemed as if a massive net had been cast, but she couldn’t tell in which direction.
"If it were really someone else trying to frame the Emperor, then this setup would be too simple. The Song family isn’t stupid; how could they easily believe that their son was killed by the Emperor in such a foolish manner? Killing the Song family’s son benefits the Emperor in no way." Xin He said coldly.
However, Mu Houchu paused and looked at Xin He: "But I found out one more thing."
"What?" Xin He asked in surprise.
"There is also a spy placed by the royal family in the Song family."
Xin He was startled: "You mean, a spy like Lady Sun in Le Yuanhou’s mansion?"
"Yes, it’s the honored concubine of Patriarch Song, who has a son with him. Moreover, that son is the eldest illegitimate child."
Xin He had a general understanding of the situation in the main branch of the Song family. Patriarch Song had only one wife and one concubine. Initially, he took a concubine only because his wife, madam Song, gave birth to a daughter, who later became Imperial Noble Consort Shu. Since then, she did not have any other children. Patriarch Song took a concubine to ensure the continuation of the family, and that concubine did not disappoint, quickly giving birth to a son. However, the patriarch’s affection for his wife was deep, so he lost interest in the concubine after she gave birth to a son.
It wasn’t until six years ago that madam Song became pregnant by chance and gave birth to a young master.
The patriarch was overjoyed and cultivated this young son in the hope that he would inherit the family business. Despite not being the eldest son, the young master was deeply adored by Patriarch Song since he was born of a legitimate wife.
The internal affairs of the Song family seemed simple compared to other aristocratic families, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
However, Mu Houchu claimed that that honored concubine of Patriarch Song was a spy for the royal family...
Xin He’s eyes flashed, and she suddenly looked up: "If it’s really the Emperor who did this, then after getting rid of the youngest son of the Song family, the Song family’s business will inevitably fall into the hands of the eldest illegitimate son from the honored concubine, meaning... in the end, the Song family’s legacy will still be tightly controlled by the Emperor?"
Mu Houchu raised his lips: "Naturally."
Xin He could hardly believe it: "Is the Emperor actually capable of placing so many spies in the homes of his courtiers?"
Not to mention the cultivation of these spies, but also the fact that such a large network could be easily created.
"It wasn’t the handwriting of the current Emperor, but of the late Emperor. These spies hidden in the homes of the courtiers are loyal to the royal family, and whoever inherits the throne is entitled to control them." The current Emperor doesn’t have the ability to pull off such a large-scale operation.
Xin He was puzzled: "Why did the late Emperor make such arrangements? Was he so distrustful of his own courtiers that he had to plant his own spies around them, monitoring their every move in order to feel secure?"
Mu Houchu’s eyes grew colder, and a sarcastic smile played at the corner of his mouth: "It’s a case of casting one’s own disloyalty onto others."
The land of the Leng family was acquired through deceit and treachery, something the world may have forgotten, but he hadn’t. With their wolfish ambition, treacherous ministers colluding with foreign enemies, seizing the throne through trickery, the stolen kingdom was still securely held till today.
Xin He noticed the sudden surge of icy coldness in Mu Houchu’s eyes, shuddering, not knowing what caused his mood to change so dramatically.
"Ah Chu." Xin He couldn’t help but hold his hand.
Mu Houchu’s cold aura gradually dissipated, and he turned his hand to hold hers, whispering: "Hmm?"
Only by looking at the young woman in front of him could the anger in his heart subside, and the cold, brutal heart that had been tormented by hatred all his life could feel some warmth.
It was time to let go of everything. He had spent the first half of his life living for revenge, but now, for the rest of his life, he wanted to live for her, for himself, and for their unborn child.
Mu Houchu hugged her in his arms, murmuring: "Xin He, do you know how grateful I am to have met you?"
Xin He curled her lips, nestled in his embrace and looked up at him: "Why are you suddenly saying this out of the blue?"
Mu Houchu lowered his head and pecked the corner of her lips: "I just felt like saying it."
Xin He struggled out of his embrace, then continued to ask: "Don’t try to change the subject. Based on what you found just now, does this mean that the Emperor could really have done this?"
Mu Houchu said in a calm tone: "It’s only a possibility. The intrigues and deceptions in the imperial court have never been simple. When one mantis is catching a cicada, an oriole is behind it; who knows who the final winner will be? At the moment, there’s not much to go on in this case. Overthinking it is useless."
Xin He frowned: "That’s true."
At this point, the situation was a tangled mess, and anyone could be the real culprit.
"Instead of looking for the person who is really manipulating the chessboard behind the scenes, we might as well think about who this matter is really targeting." Mu Houchu’s voice grew much colder.
Xin He felt her heart pounding, as if she had a bad premonition.
It seemed that Mu Houchu saw her concern, so he stroked her face, saying, "Don’t worry. Leave everything to me. Just focus on taking care of the baby."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
