256: Inquisition

Inquisition

Although the search in the capital city was ended the night before. The Emperor was still not convinced that they were out of his reach. So he had messages sent out to every city as well as sent out wanted posters of Chun Hua and a few of the others they had managed to get good enough glimpses of that night.0

Until he found the answers, he would keep searching. They were obviously here for a reason and considering they dared to infiltrated so deeply into his country and life, their ambitions were great and could remain a threat.

Therefore, he could not ignore it. He had to at least know who this enemy was. He did try calling out for his voice to see if he could get answers but as usual, he received no response when he wanted it.

He also ordered a few hundred men from the army camp to enter the palace to increase the level of security. He had actually been considering doing this since that incompatibility nonsense came up but was hesitating because of the message it would send to his people.

But now with this "invasion", he had just cause for it. Not only would this serve as a reminder of his power to any lingering enemies of the state, but it would also remind those troublemakers within his state not to test his patience. 

The one thing his father had done excellently in his time was to make every person fear and respect his power as he never hesitated to cut down anyone who stood in his way. The Emperor as his son and as a military commander himself naturally inherited that legacy. Even though he has been trying for a peaceful approach to things so far, he still was open to employing tactics of fear. After all, they were most useful. 

And now, the Emperor was at the Chen manor scrutinizing the prisoner who was now awake, just as Doctor Lou had assured.

The prisoner was awake but refusing to speak or even look at the Emperor and Commander An.

"My previous offer still stands, cooperate and I will let you live. Your colleagues have already abandoned you and escaped the city so there is no rescue coming for you..." The Emperor calmly said,

After a while of the prisoner still not responding, the Emperor ordered, "Throw him in prison, let him rot there until he is ready to speak..."

"Your majesty, the physicians said he cannot be moved for now. He may not be able to survive the journey if w-"

"He cares nothing for his life, therefore, I have no reason to care...Move him." The Emperor coldly ordered and turned to leave but then just as he was about to exit the doors, the prisoner suddenly found his voice, "W-wait..." He said warily looking at the Emperor, "Will you - will you really spare me...no prison?" The man asked. 

The Emperor turned back to him and appraised the young man. He looked much younger than him, probably a new recruit who got dragged along this perilous mission with no idea what lay ahead. He looked terrified of the idea of going to prison. It seems they had made a mistake and left behind a weak link.

The Emperor nodded and reassuringly said, "You have my word."

The prisoner scrutinized him for a bit and then nodded. Then he proceeded to answer the question the Emperor had asked earlier, "Bao Zhun...General Bao's son -"

"Zou?" The Emperor asked with a frown and the prisoner carefully nodded but then quickly added, "We weren't sent by the king or anyone actually, it was -" He paused hesitating, if Bao Zhun knew he said this part, he would definitely kill him later, but if he did not talk he would definitely die now.

"Was what?" Commander An asked, putting his hand on his sword in threat. The man looked at the sword and quickly continued, "It was Miss Chun Hua, we came because of her. I am not really sure exactly what her mission was, but Bao Zhun brought us to protect her..."

"And what is this Chun Hua's identity to warrant a General's son protecting her?" The Emperor asked.

"Nothing special from what I know...Ah, she's apparently Haiyan's sister. We only found this out after he came to join us later on...but Prince Houyi didn't send him, he was just here for his sister -!" The man promptly added, going into a coughing fit.

The Emperor glanced at Commander An and their expressions were the same. There was no way Haiyan's sister and Haiyan himself were here causing havoc without Prince Houyi's knowledge. Haiyan was his close aide, so naturally, his sister was definitely affiliated with Prince Houyi. This man clearly was a simple minion who did not know much of anything, but at least now they knew who the enemy was and they could now derive a motive. 

For example, a reasonable assumption could be that Prince Houyi had sent his own people here to ensure that Princess Nalan entered the palace to gain the position of Empress. And Lei Xing's drug incident was simply a way to get rid of Lei Xing, who may have been perceived to be "clouding" the Emperor's judgment.

In this case, it was possible that the Zou representatives were privy to this plan as well. After all, it was Princess Nalan who insisted they left their servants behind that evening at the merchant festival. If the servants had been there, it would have been much harder for anyone to approach Lei Xing.

And although Chun Hua did arrive much earlier than the Zou representatives, it was possible she was sent here to lay the groundwork ahead of their arrival to ensure a smooth victory. Regardless of what it was, Prince Rui had some explaining to do. So as soon as they left the room, the Emperor turned gave the order for Prince Rui to be brought here. 

While he waited for Prince Rui's arrival, the Emperor went to talk with Chen Bo for a while. Chen Bo happily informed that Madam Chen was now awake and looking better. It seemed Chen You did not inform her father of Doctor Lou's words.

Perhaps she herself did not want to believe them and so she did not bother to share them with her father. The Emperor inwardly sighed, perhaps it was better for him not to know these things.

Regardless, it was not his place to share the information. So he released Chen Bo to go back to look after his wife and then spent the rest of the time discussing the progress of things with Commander An. 

Commander An shared with him that glimmer of light he believed he had seen in Prince Yi's bedroom. Commander An could not be sure if he truly saw what he did as none of the other men had seen it but he still thought to inform the Emperor. The Emperor was skeptical as well of the information and so was not sure what to think. So he simply ordered for Prince Yi to be watched more closely. 

Prince Rui arrived and bowed in greeting but received nothing in response. He glanced at Commander An, who was not looking his way. The atmosphere was definitely strange. After all, why invite him to a random minister's manor rather than the palace. There was also the issue going around the city, even his manor was searched this morning so Prince Rui knew to tread carefully and simply waited for the Emperor to speak.

The Emperor finally said, "Follow me..." as he turned and led the way back to the room where the prisoner was. The man was still awake and as soon as he saw Prince Rui, his eyes went wide and he immediately lowered his head.

The Emperor leisurely went, "You...Do you know who this is?"

Prince Rui knit his brows and scrutinized the man, the man hesitantly glanced up at him again and quietly responded, "Prince Rui..."

"Good. Now repeat everything you have told me..." The Emperor ordered and the man hesitantly complied. As the man spoke, the Emperor closely watched Prince Rui and watched as his face contorted into a disgruntled frown. 

"Prince Rui...What do you think of this?" The Emperor casually asked once the man was done. 

Prince Rui promptly turned to the Emperor, cupped his hands and bowed, "Your majesty, this is the first I am hearing of Haiyan or Bao Zhun's presence here. I will inform my father immediately and I assure you that we will get to the bottom of this." He stayed like that with his head bowed and waited with bated breath for the Emperor's response. 

Although the Emperor kept a calm demeanor, this situation could easily escalate and result in him and Princess Nalan being in danger. He also did not need to be told that the Emperor probably suspected they had something to do with Lei Xing's drugging incident now. After all, they were right there with her and the suspected party, Chun Hua was from Zou.

If the Long Emperor decided to go to war right now, he and Princess Nalan would become hostages, or worse he could simply kill them to kick off the war and easily say it was retaliation for Zou people plotting and attacking his mother the night before.

After all, the Empress dowager was carried off from the scene and her condition was serious enough that she needed to go into confinement. 

This was a very serious situation. 

Rather than respond, the Emperor simply turned and left the room. Prince Rui glared at the prisoner on the bed and then swiftly followed behind.

Prince Rui exited the room to find the Emperor waiting outside in the courtyard. Prince Rui promptly went over to him but before he could continue to try to clarify the situation, the Emperor turned to him and calmly, "Prince Rui, do you know why I called off the war?"

Prince Rui knit his brows and was not sure how to respond. The Emperor faced forward and then let out a sigh and said, "I was hoping to begin an era of peace..."

"It is a noble aspiration..." Prince Rui commented. The Emperor snorted and then turned to Prince Rui and his smile was gone as he said, "I don't believe in coincidences but for the sake of "noble aspirations", I shall give you the benefit of a doubt...this time. I expect the same level of consideration in return..."

"I will inform my father of this and due justice will be meted out." Prince Rui reassured, cupping his hands and bowing again. 

The Emperor smiled and said, "That is good then...You may leave." Prince Rui bowed again and then left the Chen manor with a deep frown. The Emperor had just given an indirect threat of war. But the fact that he did not ask for the runaway group to be returned to Long country for him to punish them himself meant that he was still being lenient.

But if they failed to give him a satisfactory answer, then that would be disrespecting him and if that happened, war will be inevitable and Zou will be finished. They truly could not handle an all-out war at the moment. So Prince Rui raced back home to write his father and inform him of his brother's meddling here.

Frankly, he was thinking it was time for him and Princess Nalan to return home. 

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