"Who is the murderer?" the Emperor asked in shock. To be able to kill Xiao Zhen, one must not be an ordinary person!
"The murderer has not been apprehended."
"Issue an imperial decree, ordering the Ministry of Justice to quickly investigate the truth and apprehend the culprit!" The old Emperor, regaining his composure, added, "Also, bestow one thousand taels of silver upon the General's mansion and instruct the Ministry of Rites to perform the sacrifices."
"Yes."
After Hu Wan withdrew, the old Emperor felt a headache coming on. With the envoy from Yunqi still present and the envoy from Lanyue having just arrived, it was at this critical juncture that Xiao Zhen was murdered. Was the perpetrator from Yunqi, Lanyue, or perhaps someone within the court?
"I have a feeling that a storm is brewing."
At the Qin King's mansion, Nangong Yu's complexion was pale. As he coughed softly, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Nangong Yu merely wiped it away casually with his sleeve.
Wen Ruyu arrived in haste. Seeing him sitting in his room, lost in thought, she said, "What are you still daydreaming about? Something has happened at the General's mansion; Grand General Xiao has been murdered."
Nangong Yu calmed his mind and looked at Wen Ruyu. "I know."
"What do you mean you know? Hurry and go offer condolences! You have no idea, Wen Mohan is already acting as a son-in-law, assisting with the funeral arrangements at the General's mansion. If this continues, your future Princess Consort will be snatched away!"
Wen Ruyu grabbed Nangong Yu's sleeve, only to notice bloodstains on his clothes. "Why is there blood on your clothes?"
Nangong Yu glanced at the bloodstains on his chest, a scene flashed through his mind, and he quickly pulled back his sleeve. "I'll go change my clothes and then I'll be there."
"Oh, alright, I'll wait for you. Hurry up." Wen Ruyu paced anxiously. The murder of Xiao Zhen at this time was no trivial matter. Lanyue and Yunqi were likely to make a move against Yunqi. Xiao Luo was currently far away in Yunzhong City. If he knew of the General's demise, he would likely rush back, and then Yunqi might attack amidst the chaos... He couldn't bear to think about it!
Nangong Yu changed into a simple white robe and, with Wen Ruyu, headed to the General's mansion. The mansion was filled with sorrow. Even though it was late at night, mourners continued to arrive without end.
Wen Mohan, clad in mourning clothes, was receiving guests in the outer courtyard, with Dugu Mingyu and others assisting. After all, Wen Mohan was Xiao Man's nominal fiancé. With Xiao Luo at the border, his acting as a son-in-law to keep vigil was in accordance with protocol.
Nangong Yu watched Wen Mohan openly acting as a son-in-law and keeping vigil. His already unpleasant expression turned even fouler, as if everyone owed him a hundred thousand taels of silver and hadn't repaid it.
"Fourth Brother, you've arrived." Prince Chu, Nangong Yan, greeted Nangong Yu as soon as he saw him.
Nangong Yu withdrew his gaze. "Third Imperial Brother."
"I never expected the Grand General, a hero of his time, to fall victim to treacherous hands. I saw Yongning looking extremely unwell in the mourning hall earlier. Fourth Brother, you haven't offered your condolences yet, have you?"
"Not yet," Nangong Yu replied in a low voice.
"Allow me to escort Prince Qin inside," Wen Mohan immediately said.
Before Wen Mohan could lead the way, Nangong Yu walked in on his own. Xiao Zhen's coffin was placed in the center of the room. He Qingyi, leading the sisters Xiao Man and Xiao Ling, knelt before the coffin. He Qingyi's face was filled with grief, Xiao Ling sobbed intermittently, while Xiao Man shed not a single tear, kneeling beside the coffin like an automaton.
Nangong Yu felt a suffocating ache in his chest. "Xiao Man."
Xiao Man seemed oblivious, staring blankly at the brazier before her, mechanically throwing paper money into it. She didn't even notice when the flames licked at her sleeve, continuing to throw money into the brazier. The flames suddenly leaped high, scorching Xiao Man's hand, yet she didn't retract it.
"Man'er," Wen Mohan rushed forward, grabbing Xiao Man's hand. "Be careful, look, your hand is burned. Let me help you rest for a while, alright?"
Xiao Man shook her head numbly. Wen Mohan's brow furrowed. He asked for medicine, carefully applied it to Xiao Man's hand, bandaged it, and moved the brazier away from her.
"Eldest Sister, please pull yourself together." Xiao Ling, seeing Xiao Man's lost and disoriented state, burst into tears. If Xiao Man were to collapse now, the General's mansion would truly be without anyone to manage affairs.
When Steward Lu returned, everyone in the mansion breathed a sigh of relief. "Steward Lu, you're finally back. The mansion..."
"I know already." Steward Lu changed into mourning clothes, ordered food to be sent up from the kitchen, and welcomed guests in and saw them out. Seeing this, Wen Mohan finally relaxed and stayed in the mourning hall to accompany Xiao Man with peace of mind.
At the envoy's guesthouse, Lan Qin's face turned ashen upon receiving the news. "Xiao Zhen is dead, murdered. Did you have anything to do with it?"
The hidden guards repeatedly shook their heads. "Third Princess, we don't have that kind of capability!"
"It's good that it wasn't you." Lan Qin immediately felt a wave of relief. "Xiao Man must be like a rabid dog now, hunting for the murderer everywhere. You all keep a low profile, don't fall into her hands."
The hidden guards nervously rubbed their hands. "Third Princess..."
"Is there something else?"
"We... went to the scene of the crime."
Lan Qin shivered, sitting up abruptly. "Why did you go to the scene of the crime?"
"We received information that Xiao Zhen had left the city alone, so we wanted to make a show of it, lest Prime Minister Yao find fault with us. But we didn't expect..."
Lan Qin felt her hair stand on end. "You mean, you made a move?"
"We did make a move, but we weren't successful and were driven out, and it was Xiao Zhen himself who drove us out," the hidden guard explained urgently. "Later, Little Six discovered his waist token was missing, and it's possible his waist token was left at the murder scene. We tried to retrieve it afterward, but the area was sealed off, and we couldn't get in."
Lan Qin felt a chill run down her spine and wished she could strangle her foolish hidden guards. Going to assassinate Xiao Zhen was one thing, but why bring a waist token? Were they afraid others wouldn't know it was them?
"Third Princess, what should we do now?"
"Pray. Pray that the waist token did not fall into Xiao Man's hands, otherwise, not only you, but I will be in mortal danger." Lan Qin's eyelids twitched violently. "Increase the patrol guards, no, triple them. Ensure not even a fly can get into the courtyard."
"Yes, Third Princess."
Yao Ran noticed the increased number of guards around Lan Qin's courtyard and a cold smile curved her lips. "Such a dignified Third Princess is actually so cowardly, truly disappointing."
"Prime Minister, news has come from outside that the Guardian General of Yusheng, Xiao Zhen, has been murdered."
Yao Ran swirled the glass of glazed wine in her hand. The wine in the glass was as red as blood. "I haven't even made a move, and he's already dead. How unexpected. Do you know who the perpetrator is?"
"Unknown, however, the Third Princess's people have been closely monitoring Xiao Zhen's every move. Perhaps the Third Princess is responsible?"
"She... she doesn't have that capability. If she had the ability to kill Xiao Zhen, she wouldn't fear Xiao Man like a tiger." Yao Ran drained the wine in her cup. The crimson wine on her lips made her appear even more enchantingly demonic.