She tilted her head back and kissed Qi Guze's chin. He gripped her soft waist tightly, lowered his head, and kissed her thin lips, deepening the kiss.
The two kissed quietly, their shadows stretching long in the moonlight, as if to forever imprint their deep affection on this land.
The next morning, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze personally went to Li Yu's residence to conduct a search.
The mansion was quiet, with only a few servants busy at work. They skillfully avoided the servants and went to the study.
The study was filled with various books and writing implements, exuding a faint scent of ink. However, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze's gazes fell on a wall adorned with paintings.
“This painting…” Xu Yuehuai stepped forward and gently stroked the painting, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.
Qi Guze also stepped forward and carefully examined the painting: "This painting seems somewhat unusual."
The two exchanged a smile, already knowing the answer in their hearts. Xu Yuehuai gently removed the painting, revealing a crack in a dark room.
Qi Guze immediately set to work, searching for a way to open the hidden room.
Soon after, Xu Yuehuai cracked the code, and the door to the secret room slowly opened.
"Ah Yue, I never expected you could crack codes, this is such a pleasant surprise." Qi Guze reached out and pinched her nose.
"Hehe, your surprise is yet to come," Xu Yuehuai smiled at him.
A chilling aura swept over them as they entered the secret chamber. There, on a table, lay a sealed letter. They quickly unfolded it, finding a detailed record of Li Yu's discussions with the envoy from Wuling Kingdom regarding border issues.
“The evidence is conclusive!” Xu Yuehuai said in a low voice, a cold smile appearing on his face.
The two men moved with lightning speed, pinpointing and arresting Li Yu. In the dimly lit interrogation room, Li Yu, his face ashen, sat on a hard wooden stool, his eyes revealing fear and unease.
"Li Yu, do you know your crime?" Xu Yuehuai's voice was like the north wind in winter, piercing and sharp. His brows were furrowed, and his gaze was like a torch, shooting straight at Li Yu.
Li Yu's body trembled, and his voice became shaky: "I...I am innocent!" He tried to defend himself, but his words revealed helplessness and despair.
However, under the relentless questioning of Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze, Li Yu's psychological defenses gradually crumbled. He finally confessed to his crimes, admitting that for the sake of that elusive power and status, he had colluded with the Wuling Kingdom, willing to betray the interests of his country. His voice was filled with remorse and helplessness.
"How did you find me?" Li Yu asked in horror, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Xu Yuehuai sneered, her eyes flashing with a sharp light: "The net of heaven is vast, its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it. Do you think your crimes can be concealed? Do you think you can escape the punishment of the law?"
Li Yu was speechless and could only lower his head and silently bear his guilt. He knew that his sins were grave and that he could no longer defend himself.
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze quickly reported this news to the imperial court.
The imperial court was shocked, and Emperor Qi, in his fury, immediately took emergency measures. He dispatched a large force to strengthen the defenses of the capital to ensure the safety and stability of the country. At the same time, he also sent an imperial commissioner to investigate the matter and find out the truth.
In a spacious and brightly lit council hall, the imperial envoy, Xu Yuehuai, and Qi Guze sat around a long table, discussing countermeasures.
The imperial envoy's expression was serious and solemn; he understood the urgency of the matter.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating everyone's faces.
Imperial Envoy Wang Yu stood in the center of the hall, his brow furrowed, his voice firm as iron: "Your Highness, Your Highness, this matter is of utmost importance. The shadow of rebellion has already loomed over the Great Zhou Kingdom. We must find out the truth as soon as possible and bring those with ulterior motives to justice!"
Qi Guze, dressed in a dark blue robe, appeared calm and composed. He nodded slightly, a sharp glint in his eyes: "Lord Wang, this matter concerns the safety of the nation, and I will do my utmost to address it."
He turned to Xu Yuehuai beside him, the Queen Consort of the Great Zhou Kingdom and his beloved, "A-Yue, what do you think?"
Xu Yuehuai's beautiful eyes were like stars, and she was dressed in luxurious clothes but not without dignity. "I am willing to fight alongside you to protect the peace of this Great Zhou Kingdom."
Over the next few days, Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze assisted Wang Yu in launching an unprecedented investigation. They ventured deep into the lion's den, infiltrating the hideouts of the rebels, dancing with the wolves, and uncovering the truth amidst the clash of swords.
One night, Xu Yuehuai sneaked alone into an abandoned manor. Under the moonlight, the manor's ruins looked particularly eerie. She moved forward quietly, when suddenly, a faint sound reached her ears.
She instantly crouched down, holding her breath. Several figures emerged from the shadows, whispering amongst themselves, seemingly plotting something.
Xu Yuehuai's heart skipped a beat, and she quietly approached. She heard someone say, "That Li Yu is a real piece of trash, he actually caused us so much trouble. It seems that those people have already caught us red-handed."
Another person chimed in, “That’s right, we have to be careful, otherwise if we’re exposed, we’re all doomed.”
Xu Yuehuai was startled. It turned out that Li Yu was just the tip of the iceberg in this conspiracy, and a much larger force was hidden behind it. She secretly memorized the characteristics of these people, preparing to return and report to Wang Yu.
Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Xu Yuehuai immediately relayed the news she had heard to Wang Yu and Qi Guze. The three of them discussed the matter at length and decided to wipe out all the rebels in one fell swoop.
They then meticulously planned and laid numerous traps. Finally, on a moonless night, the rebels gathered together, preparing to launch their final attack.
However, to their utter surprise, Xu Yuehuai, Qi Guze, and Wang Yu had already led a team of elite soldiers to surround them.
"Surrender!" Xu Yuehuai shouted. "You have nowhere to run!"
The rebels panicked and drew their weapons to resist. However, they were no match for this well-trained force, and the rebels were captured one after another.
Xu Yuehuai walked up to Liu Dong and coldly asked, "Do you know your crimes?"
Liu Dong's face was deathly pale, and he said in a trembling voice, "I know my crime."
"Who instructed you?" Xu Yuehuai pressed.
Liu Dong hesitated for a moment, but ultimately revealed the forces behind him. Xu Yuehuai was overjoyed; she had finally found the root of this massive conspiracy.
Subsequently, as planned, they wiped out the rebels in one fell swoop. The safety of the Great Zhou Kingdom was guaranteed, and the peace among the four kingdoms was maintained.
After the news reached the court, Emperor Qi Hanlin highly praised Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze for their heroic performance: "Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt, you two are truly pillars of the nation! I am deeply gratified that the Great Zhou Kingdom is protected by the two of you."
Xu Yuehuai and Qi Guze exchanged a smile, but neither felt complacent. They knew that the nation's security depended on the efforts of everyone. In the future, they would continue to silently protect the peace of the Great Zhou Kingdom and the four other kingdoms.
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