Chapter 485: One Wave Subsides, Another Rises (7)

Chapter 485: One Wave Calms, Another Rises (Part Seven)

"Father, Honorable Princess Ronghua harbors the pain of a fallen nation. She instigated the war between Zhu Xian and Yun Lang due to the wrongful death of the Su family, seeking revenge for them. Now, with the sudden appearance of the five sons of the Su family, could this not be the same tactic?"

After kneeling to report, Rongfeng spoke again.

Who is Honorable Princess Ronghua? She is the princess of the former dynasty. This morning, just as Father had V General arrested, the five sons of the Su family appeared in the Fengya Residence.

"Father, consider this: if V General is a remnant of the former dynasty and under Su Rao's command, why would she choose this moment to cause chaos? V General is one of Father's trusted aides. Once he is removed, who would benefit the most in the current situation?"

"Your Majesty, I concur with the Prince's words."

The Minister of Punishments, who entered the prison a step behind the Chief Eunuch, immediately knelt and said:

"Your Majesty, the Flower Street and Willow City have always been under V General's jurisdiction. Once something happens, V General would be the first to be suspected. Last night, the Fengya Residence was discovered, and early this morning, the long-missing five sons of the Su family appeared there.

This way, Your Majesty would surely think that V General is not on their side; otherwise, the former princess would be sending her own people to their deaths.

However, there is a strategy called 'going against the grain.' If Your Majesty believes that V General is not a remnant of the former dynasty, then Your Majesty will inevitably link the theft of the medicine to V General. In this case, V General is certain to die, while the remnants of the former dynasty can smoothly escape Your Majesty's suspicion."

The Minister of Punishments analyzed the situation logically.

Firstly, if V General is indeed a remnant of the former dynasty, she has severed the connection between the Fengya Residence and Freedom Pavilion, sacrificing herself to protect the others. Even if Your Majesty interrogates V General and learns about Freedom Pavilion, it would only be V General lying.

Secondly, if V General is not a remnant of the former dynasty, she uses Your Majesty's hand to remove her own ally. Given Your Majesty's suspicions, you would rather wrongfully execute than let go.

The former princess has gauged Your Majesty's thoughts with great precision. Her move is truly a double-edged sword.

"Your Majesty, this general... this general is willing to die on the battlefield, but... but will never accept a wrongful death."

General Wu, who had been holding his breath, finally spoke with difficulty after the Minister of Punishments' analysis, and then fainted again.

Silence fell over the prison after Wu Yang's final words, a silence that felt cold and desolate.

"Phew..."

It was not until this heavy breath was heard that the gloomy prison of the Ministry of Punishments came to life again. The Dan Liang royal family had taken in the Minister's analysis.

For the Dan Liang royal family had always harbored doubts about whether there was a connection between the medicine thief and the Freedom Pavilion.

If it were only the direct descendants of Lord Ding acting, how could they have escaped so cleanly and without a trace? There must have been a significant force aiding them to flee the imperial city.

"Lord Ding, what is your take on this matter?"

Asking Lord Ding, the Dan Liang royal family gestured for Rong Feng and the Minister of Punishments to rise.

Lord Ding, momentarily stunned by Rong Feng's arrival, now regained his senses.

His eyes bulging, he looked at Rong Feng for a moment before walking to the side of the Dan Liang royal family.

Rushing in like that, it was not the right time for such concern.

The previous actions of His Majesty did not reveal any connection between the direct descendants and the Freedom Pavilion, yet the remnants of the former dynasty acted in such a manner.

And with the secret weapon of the drug rat unknown to anyone, the remnants of the former dynasty could respond so quickly, which meant only one thing: the direct descendants of the family were indeed colluding with the Freedom Pavilion.

"Your Majesty, this old man believes..."

"Report..."

Ding Lao had barely begun to speak when another incident occurred.

A soldier from the Ministry of Punishments rushed in, his body stained with blood and his injuries severe.

"Your Majesty..."

The soldier stumbled into the prison, supported by others, bypassing the chief eunuch to report directly.

Not long after the Minister of Punishments left the Fengya Residence, a group of black-clothed men appeared and broke into the residence. They claimed to follow Minister Xun and attempted to assassinate Honorable Princess Ronghua once again.

The soldiers from the Ministry of Punishments were all brutally killed by these black-clothed men. He managed to escape only because Honorable Princess Ronghua saved him, holding off the attackers while he fled to seek reinforcements.

...

At noon, the warmest part of the day, the sun reached its zenith, casting brilliant light.

The Fengya Residence was now drenched in blood, the soldiers from the Ministry of Punishments lying dead, each killed with a single blow. The fierce black-clothed men, as described by the soldier who reported to the Dan Liang royal family, quickly shed their black clothes after killing all the soldiers, revealing ordinary peasant clothing underneath.

Following Su Rao's instructions, Yinyin led the black-clothed men to swiftly set up the scene, bringing in a batch of corpses from outside, all dressed in the uniforms of the Capital Prefecture Office guards.

"Minister Xun, before you die, this princess will present you with this grand gift."

The physically powerful Minister Xun, who had just clashed with Su Rao, now lay at her feet, subdued by Su Er.

Su Rao acted with Su Er by her side, Yun Ji being absent at the moment.

"That day, you devised a series of intricate plans against this princess, one after another. Today, I return the favor. Your Dan Liang royal family is well aware of the truth but remains powerless against me."

In a swift motion, under the watchful eyes of Minister Xun, Yinyin and the others quickly dressed the corpses in the black clothes they had shed, leaving the uniforms of the Capital Prefecture Office guards intact, brazenly framing Minister Xun as a remnant of the previous dynasty.

The eyes of Minister Xun, now filled with a deep crimson, gradually began to seep blood, as if all his strength had been drained from him.

Without any further attack, he was already on the brink of death.

Su Er’s single strike was not enough to kill him, yet after that one blow, he lay there lifelessly. Such an abnormal condition, upon examination by Su Rao, revealed that it was a side effect of some kind of drug.

Recalling what Xiao Mubai had mentioned about the changes in Minister Xun over the past few months, and considering Mr. Bamboo’s theft of the medicine, as well as Yun Ling’s severe injuries and the unknown situation with Mr. Bamboo, it could be deduced what the Dan Liang royal family and Old Ding were secretly doing.

They must have been researching a highly toxic drug that could rapidly enhance human muscle power within a short period, and Minister Xun was the test subject for this drug.

Seeing that Minister Xun died with his eyes open, and with Yi Ying’s plan fully in place, Su Rao instructed Su Er to take Yi Ying and the others out through the back door of Fengya Cottage.

She would return to the Host Office with Su Wu.

From this moment on, her brother was found, and found within Fengya Cottage. As for the relationship between Fengya Cottage and Freedom Pavilion, and her connection to the remnants of the previous dynasty, there was no evidence. What could anyone do to her?

And since her brother was found in Fengya Cottage, how could it possibly implicate her? It naturally had nothing to do with her.

After another thorough inspection, confirming that no living beings remained except for her and Su Wu, and ensuring that Fengya Cottage was nearly destroyed, leaving no trace that could connect it to the old Cloud King, Su Rao left with Su Wu. She wouldn’t wait foolishly for Rong Ke to bring troops.

Because her brother was severely injured, she needed to take him back for treatment first. If the Dan Liang royal family wanted to confront her, they could come to the Host Office; she would be waiting there.