They stood side by side by the campfire, gazing at the stars in the night sky, as if making a vow to the unknown future.
As night deepened, the campfire gradually died down. Only then did Xu Yuehuai go to her tent to rest.
At this moment, the night on Wutong Mountain appears exceptionally peaceful and serene.
Within this tranquility, a powerful force is quietly gathering, awaiting the moment of dawn to embrace new challenges and opportunities.
As the first rays of dawn touched the earth, Xu Yuehuai stood before the crowd, her voice firm and resolute: "Everyone, quickly pack your things, we'll continue our search for the Prince."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qing immediately sprang into action. He led his guards to busily tidy up the camp in the valley, carefully hiding everything that might leave a trace.
Their movements were swift and orderly, and in no time, the entire valley returned to its original state as if no one had ever been there.
Xu Yuehuai held Qi Hanlin and Tie Chunsheng's hands, and the three of them walked with firm and powerful steps, carefully searching every corner along the mountain path.
Her eyes were sharp and focused, as if she could see through every inch of the land, searching for Qi Guze's whereabouts.
Qi Hanlin and Tie Chunsheng followed closely behind her, their faces filled with worry and anxiety, but even more so with confidence and hope.
However, after searching for a long time, they still could not find Qi Guze.
Suddenly, Qi Zi'ang's exclamation broke the silence: "Look, there's a corpse over there!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately gathered around and saw a corpse lying in the grass. The clothes on the body were tattered and the face was unrecognizable.
When Xu Yuehuai saw the shoes on the corpse, her body trembled violently. She covered her mouth, a look of horror flashing in her eyes.
She recognized those shoes all too well; they were the very shoes Qi Guze usually wore. A strong sense of unease welled up inside her, as if a heavy weight was pressing on her chest, making it hard for her to breathe.
Qi Hanlin and Tie Chunsheng also saw the shoes. Their faces turned pale instantly, and their eyes were filled with fear and despair.
They couldn't imagine how they would face this cruel reality if the corpse really was Qi Guze.
Yan Qing frowned and squatted down to carefully examine the corpse's wounds.
Judging from the condition of the wounds, the body was clearly brutally murdered, and the face was so disfigured that it was impossible to identify the perpetrator.
A flash of anger and murderous intent crossed his eyes. If anyone dared to lay a hand on the prince, he would make them pay a terrible price.
Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She knew that the most important thing now was to determine whether the corpse was indeed Qi Guze.
She turned to Yan Qing and said, "Immediately send someone to inform the others and tell them to get here as soon as possible."
Then she said to another guard beside her, "We can't stay here any longer. Let's find a place to hide the body and make plans when the others arrive."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately sprang into action. They quickly hid the body in a secluded spot and waited for the others to arrive.
Throughout this process, Xu Yuehuai silently prayed that the body was not Qi Guze's.
Soon after, the others arrived at the scene. Seeing Xu Yuehuai and the others' anxious expressions and the hidden corpses, they understood what was going on.
They immediately split up, with one group continuing to search for Qi Guze's whereabouts and the other group investigating the identity of the corpse.
Xu Yuehuai stood to the side, her heart filled with anxiety and unease. She kept praying silently, hoping that Qi Guze would return safely.
At the same time, she silently vowed that if the corpse really was Qi Guze's, she would find the murderer and make him pay the price.
During this tense and long wait, Xu Yuehuai and the others felt extremely heavy-hearted.
Xu Yuehuai stood in the dimly lit cave, her face appearing exceptionally resolute in the flickering candlelight. Her eyes, like two brilliant stars, shone with an indomitable light despite the darkness of the night.
She clutched a blood-stained jade pendant tightly in her hand; it was Qi Zi'ang's keepsake.
Qi Ziang stood beside her, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety.
However, his voice was firm and strong: "Mother, this corpse is definitely not Father." His words were like a warm current, soothing Xu Yuehuai's inner fear.
Tie Chunsheng nodded at that moment, his eyes filled with agreement. He knew that Qi Ziang's words were not unfounded, and they had to remain calm and not be deceived by the illusion before them.
Just then, the coroner who performed the autopsy walked over. His face was full of exhaustion, but his eyes were unusually bright.
He gave Xu Yuehuai a deep look, then said in a deep voice, "The prince has suffered from severe internal injuries for many years, and this corpse is clearly not as skilled in martial arts as the prince, so this is not the prince's corpse!"
Upon hearing the news, Xu Yuehuai's tense nerves finally relaxed. She took a deep breath, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.
She turned to Qi Zi'ang and Tie Chunsheng, her eyes gleaming with wisdom: "It seems someone is trying to confuse us and make us think the Prince is dead. Let's play along and return to the capital first."
As soon as she finished speaking, the guards cheered in unison, "Your Highness is wise!" Their faces were full of admiration and respect. They knew that at this crucial moment, Xu Yuehuai's decision would determine their fate.
So, they took the fake corpse and embarked on their journey back to the capital.
As the night fell, their figures faded into the distance, leaving no trace.
On the way back to the capital, Xu Yuehuai sat in the carriage, her thoughts in turmoil.
She felt both worry for Qi Guze and vigilance towards an unknown enemy. She knew that this incident was no accident and that a powerful force was definitely behind it.
The carriage moved slowly through the night, and Xu Yuehuai looked out the window at the night scene.
Her gaze was firm and profound; she knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead, she had to persevere. Because she was the Regent's Consort, Qi Guze's strong support.
Upon returning to the Regent's Palace, Xu Yuehuai immediately summoned all her secret guards and loyal ministers to discuss countermeasures. She sat in the main seat, facing the assembled crowd, her gaze firm and resolute.
"This incident is clearly a conspiracy." Xu Yuehuai's voice was clear and powerful. "We must find the mastermind behind this as soon as possible, find the Prince, and avenge him!"
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. They knew that Xu Yuehuai was not only an exceptionally intelligent woman, but also one with unwavering conviction and determination. Under her leadership, they were certain they would uncover the truth and seek justice for the prince.
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