Wu Shuangxu's words shocked everyone in the room.

All eyes turned to Ji Su. If these guards were all affected by the Flame Palm technique, it wouldn't be surprising for them to be killed by Ying Wuji.

Ji Su was completely stunned, trembling as he stood up. "Wu Qianhu, are you sure your judgment is correct? He might have accidentally corrupted his meridians while cultivating, don't falsely accuse him!"

Wu Shuangxu remained calm, her short knife dancing in her hand. She dissected the meridians of the guards' bodies, revealing the abnormal parts inside.

Then she said, "Without exception, all the guards have only a portion of their vital meridians corroded. Does Young Master Su mean that all these guards were affected by the Flame Palm technique at the same time? Some were injured in the heart meridian, and some in the lung meridian? And the injuries were so concealed, only damaging a small section, as if they were afraid that we, the investigators, would notice?"

Ji Su: "..."

Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, and he fell into a state of shock. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't know what to say.

The Flying Fish Guards surrounded him, and in the blink of an eye, four or five swords were pointed at his neck.

Wei Huan's voice was filled with anger. "Young Master Su, explain yourself!"

Wei Meng even stood up and would have torn Ji Su to pieces if it weren't for the Flying Fish Guards restraining him. "Why did you approach my younger brother Teng and bring the valuable Cat Girl? So you were waiting here! I'll kill you..."

Ji Su was completely stunned, his lips trembling as he struggled to explain.

Suddenly, he looked at Han Xie.

Han Xie was startled, wondering why Ji Su was looking at him when he was the one secretly using the Flame Palm technique to harm others. What did he have to do with it?

He wanted to scold Ji Su, but scolding him now would only be self-incrimination.

Zhao Ning was ecstatic in his heart, but his tone was sharp. "Young Master Su! Speak up, what exactly happened?"

Ji Su's lips trembled, unable to say a word.

His current situation was too similar to Ying Wuji's yesterday. The incident happened too suddenly, and even if he thought quickly, he couldn't find a reasonable explanation.

He was speechless!

Truly speechless!

Ying Wuji found himself in such a predicament. The Wei family, the Minister's Mansion, and the Qian Kingdom embassy had investigated all night, but there was no breakthrough.

Whether he admitted it or not was irrelevant. It was just a matter of whether one person would take the blame or both.

Wu Shuangxu arched her hand. "Reporting to Your Highness! The Deer House is privately owned by Wei Teng. Anyone who wants to enter the Deer House must have Wei Teng's permission. Yesterday, we investigated the people who had entered and exited the Deer House in the past few days. Only Ji Su was capable of using the Flame Palm technique."

"Shut up! Shut up!"

Ji Su suddenly went mad. His teeth were almost crushed, and he didn't care about anything else. "Han Xie, you wanted to use me to provoke the relationship between the Wei family and the Minister's Mansion..."

"Shut up! Don't spout nonsense!"

Han Xie couldn't let him talk nonsense and immediately threw a poisoned needle at him.

But among the Flying Fish Guards surrounding Ji Su, Wu Shuangxu had already arranged experts. They immediately blocked the needle with their swords and quickly restrained Han Xie.

Ji Su laughed bitterly. "The Han family wanted to provoke a conflict between the Wei family and the Qian Kingdom, and they wanted to use me! Now that someone is dead, they're afraid I'll expose their secrets, so they want to kill me?"

Han Xie angrily said, "Don't spout nonsense. The Flame Palm technique is unique to your Ji family of the Flame Kingdom. How can you blame it on me?"

Ji Su chuckled. "As long as I kill Ying Wuji, I'm the one who harmed the Wei family's guards. I'm not stupid! Wei Teng's abnormal behavior was influenced by the Cat Girl's charm. I gave the Cat Girl to Wei Teng, but she was switched. She must have learned the Flame Palm technique in advance, specifically to frame me!

Yes! I wanted to provoke a conflict between the Wei family and the Qian Kingdom, but I'm not an idiot. I can distinguish who benefits the most from Ying Wuji and Wei Teng's deaths!

Wei Teng's abnormal behavior was caused by the Cat Girl's influence, and I gave the Cat Girl to Wei Teng. But I got her from the Han family!"I just need to sit back and watch the show. Why do I have to use the Fiery Palm Technique and put myself in danger?

If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can check the black market accounts of the Han family. If that doesn't work, go to the place where the Cat Girl is sold. You will definitely find some clues there!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Han Xie also became anxious. Without the Fiery Palm Technique, this case would remain unsolved until the Cat Girl's body decomposed.

But unfortunately, the Fiery Palm Technique?

Ji Su was already on the verge of desperation, and being pushed like this, he couldn't help but speak recklessly.

But with just one reckless remark, the Han family was completely exposed!

Why is that?

Where did this Fiery Palm Technique come from?

My mother, Gan Lin!

Which step went wrong?

Zhao Ning, in a high position, coldly said, "Gongsun Su has revealed so many details about the case. The logic is sound and doesn't sound like a fabrication. Flying Fish Guards, follow my orders and immediately bring Captain Han here, along with the records of Han family's major transactions, including the shady ones. Also, inform Captain Han that even if he wants to hide something, Your Highness has a way to find out."

Captain Han is naturally the current head of the Han family, Han Zhe.

"Yes!"

Commander Chen Wei obeyed and immediately left the main hall with a pair of Flying Fish Guards.

For a while, the atmosphere on the scene became extremely tense.

Originally, it was just an ordinary murder...

But this murder case was not ordinary at all. It involved the three major forces of Kingdom Qian, the Wei family, and the Minister's Mansion.

But when they investigated further, they found that the Flame Kingdom and the Han family were also involved, and from the sound of it, the biggest mastermind was the Han family.

Although Han Xie vehemently denied it, Ji Su revealed so many clues that it didn't seem like something he could fabricate in a hurry.

It became a big mess!

The members of the Wei family present all had gloomy expressions. If the fire in their hearts could be spewed out through their eyes, Ji Su and Han Xie would have been burned to ashes.

Although Zhao Ning's expression was serious, she felt much more relaxed in her heart.

Suddenly, Luo Yan, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up, "In that case, both Wei Teng and Ying Wuji are victims of this case. It is reasonable for Ying Wuji to act impulsively.

Your Highness, the prison is filthy and filled with negative energy. Young Master Wuji is seriously injured. If he continues to stay in the prison, it may harm his foundation.

Therefore, I request to temporarily release Ying Wuji and let him stay in the courtyard of the Flying Fish Guards to recuperate!"

Zhao Ning was slightly surprised, but still smiled and said, "Approved!"

"Hold on, Your Highness!"

Wei Meng suddenly stepped forward, "Your Highness! Regardless of whether Ying Wuji is a victim or not, he is the one who slaughtered twenty-seven members of my Wei family with his own hands! After attacking the guards, he already had the power to protect himself, but he still mercilessly killed the young members of my Wei family! Such behavior is extremely despicable. If we easily release him like this, won't the laws of the Great Li Kingdom become a joke?"

At this point, Ying Wuji had indeed taken off the hat of the main culprit.

But the Wei family could tolerate the deaths of more than a dozen Nascent Soul realm guards, but the deaths of the young members of the Wei family and Wei Teng afterwards were a direct slap to the face of the Wei family.

If Ying Wuji was released so easily, the morale of the Wei family would definitely be greatly reduced, and their prestige in Jiangcheng would also be greatly diminished.

"A joke!"

Luo Yan was furious, "My daughter suffered an unjust disaster, and Ying Wuji was unjustly trapped in a life and death trap. All of this was given to us by your Wei family. Although Wei Teng is also a victim, he attempted to defile my daughter and tried to kill someone. He died at the hands of others, and the law cannot be applied to him.

But the sins of the son should be borne by the father, and the sins of the evildoer should be borne by the clan. With so many people from your Wei family present, at least you should kneel down and receive twenty lashes before making this request!"

Wei Meng was so angry that his eyes turned red, "Luo Yan! You..."

"Outrageous!"

Luo Yan angrily shouted, "I am a minister of the state! Even if your father is here, you should still address me as Minister Luo! You, a mere captain, where do you get the courage to call me by my name?"

Wei Meng: "..."

Gongsun Di also stepped forward, "A friend is being humiliated, and I myself will be killed. If you have a bit of courage, even if you are just an ordinary man, you should kill all the evildoers! Moreover, our young master has the qualifications to inherit the title of a prince. What's wrong with killing a villain with the surname Wei?

If your Li Kingdom's laws restrict righteous and just people and protect evildoers who rob and rape, then you should throw away your Li Kingdom's laws as soon as possible. They are like cesspools, only breeding maggots and emitting an unbearable stench!"

After he finished speaking, Ying Shisan finally spoke up, "Your country's internal affairs are truly chaotic. The struggles among the nobles have ensnared our young master. As long as our young master is tainted with a little bit of infamy, I will report it to our country's emperor. Although Kingdom Qian is financially tight, our military is not weak. Your Li Kingdom's laws cannot protect the reputation of our young master, so let our Qian Kingdom's soldiers protect him!"

Gongsun Di: "..."He looked at Ying Shisan in confusion. Although he had a strong presence, the emperor did not say such things!

He thought this in his heart but did not say it out loud.

Wei Meng was also shocked by these words. He was furious, but when he turned around, he saw no one supporting him, only Wei Huan's gloomy eyes.

He knew that he couldn't force the issue and could only snort and leave.

Zhao Ning smiled warmly, "The Kingdom of Qian and the Kingdom of Li have always been friendly. Minister Wei has never had any objections. Supervisor Ying, please don't get angry over the words of a young man. Since that's the case, let's bring Young Master Wuji to the backyard for treatment!"

"Yes!"

"Phew..."

Li Caimei breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the Flying Fish Guards head towards the prison. She heard that Wuji was seriously injured, and although he had not been completely cleared of charges, at least he could receive proper treatment.

Wuji's matter temporarily came to an end, but the trial was far from over.

Ji Su and Han Xie had already been restrained, and it was clear that they couldn't escape unscathed.

At this moment, both of them had a defeated look on their faces, not knowing what awaited them.

Inciting conflicts between noble families was a serious crime.

After some time, a voice came from outside.

"Han Captain is here!"

Then, Han Zhe, with a clear and thin face, walked in with measured steps.

He appeared calm and showed no signs of nervousness. In the face of Ji Su, Wei's family, and the murderous gazes of the others, he smiled and bowed to Zhao Ning, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Zhao Ning calmly said, "Captain Han, no need for formalities! I believe you already know about this matter, right?"

Han Zhe shook his head and sighed lightly, "I heard some things just now. Although I'm not entirely clear, I have a general understanding. Regarding this matter, I was unaware, but since the Han family has been implicated, I specially brought all the account books of the Han family here by carriage. Please review them, Your Highness!

If it is found to be related to the Han family, I will personally execute the traitors!

If it has nothing to do with the Han family, it will be an opportunity for the Han family to clear their name!"

All the account books?

Brought here by carriage?

Everyone present sneered. The account books contained almost all the secrets of a noble family. How could he possibly present them?

There was no need to even look. There definitely wouldn't be what everyone wanted inside.

Wei Huan coldly snorted, "Captain Han's meaning is that even if the Han family orchestrated this, they are still innocent?"

Han Zhe looked puzzled, "Naturally! Minister Wei's meaning is that just because one member of the Han family is guilty, the entire family should be held responsible?"

Wei Huan slammed the table and stood up, "What a joke! By inciting conflicts between the Wei family, the Minister's Mansion, and the Kingdom of Qian, how could Captain Han possibly be unaware?"

"The joke is what Minister Wei said!"

Han Zhe's words were meaningful, "Wei Teng kidnapped Hua Chao, which would either offend the Luo family or forcibly swallow them. According to Minister Wei's logic, isn't this matter also orchestrated by Minister Wei behind the scenes?"

"You!"

"Hmph!"

These two men, both over sixty years old, were still at the peak of their cultivation and political power. They openly confronted each other without any reservations.

The powerful aura of their martial cultivation and their long-standing positions made it difficult for many people to breathe.

Zhao Ning, however, became angrier the more he watched. He slammed the table and stopped their confrontation, "Enough! Since Captain Han has brought the account books, let's thoroughly examine them! This matter is of great importance and will not be resolved in a short period of time. Detain Ji Su and Han Xie, and let Wuji continue to recuperate in the inner courtyard until the truth is revealed!

Our Great Li Dynasty is prosperous, and no other lords can compare! Yet, you all not only lack unity but also harm the state and intimidate the lords.

Instead, you are fighting against each other and engaging in such despicable acts, which is a disgrace to our Great Li Dynasty!

Let's disperse for now. Within three days, I hope you all can thoroughly investigate the corruption within the clan and give me a satisfactory explanation!"

"Yes!"

Wei Huan and Han Zhe bid farewell with clasped hands.

As Zhao Ning walked towards the door, he suddenly turned his head and looked at Zhao Qi.

Zhao Qi felt a chill run down his spine as he was being stared at. "Your Highness, is there something you need?"

Zhao Ning smiled faintly, "Yesterday, I saw one of Wang Xiong's subordinates claiming to have mastered the Soul-capturing Technique. Now that the testimonies of the two suspects conflict, since Captain Han has already decided to prove his innocence, he shouldn't mind using this Soul-capturing Technique. Within three days, I hope Wang Xiong can give me a reply!"

After speaking, he left hand in hand with Li Caimei.

Leaving behind a group of people with extremely unpleasant expressions, frozen in place.

Han Zhe's face was extremely unsightly. He had actually forgotten about the Soul-capturing Technique. The key was that Zhao Ning's words were difficult to refute because he had already presented the "entire account books." How could he still care about a mere Soul-capturing Technique? If he denied it in public, it would be no different from slapping himself in the face.

Even Pingling Jun looked as if he had eaten shit. Wasn't this just lifting a stone and smashing his own foot?

Fortunately, there were still three days.

These three days were enough for many things to happen....

Inner courtyard.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The sound of knocking on the door rang out.

Hua Chao's voice was weak, but her tone was firm: "Lord Xiang, don't come. I won't see you until Wuji escapes!"

Wuji's voice sounded from outside the door: "Hua Chao, I'm out!"

Hua Chao's breath hitched, followed by an indescribable joy.

She quickly ran towards the door, her steps unsteady and almost falling, but she managed to open the door and saw the person she had been worried about all night.

Just one night apart, and she felt like it had been a lifetime. Tears streamed down her face.

Wuji gently wiped away the tears on her face and smiled: "Don't cry, I'm back... Hiss!"

The fragrance of warmth and softness embraced him, and his wounds burst open, but he couldn't bear to push her away.

After a long time.

Hua Chao raised her head and stared at Wuji's eyes intently. Her originally pale and beautiful face blushed slightly, her vermilion lips opened and closed, but she didn't speak for a long time.

Wuji smiled and hugged her into the room, then closed the door: "No one can hear us now, Hua Chao, what do you want to say?"

Hua Chao's eyes were moist, hesitated for a long time, but still lowered her head and buried it in Wuji's embrace: "I was so afraid that I would never see you again!"

This sentence summed up the six hours of sleepless tossing and turning for Hua Chao last night.

Wuji didn't say anything, he just held her quietly.

Hua Chao gently sniffed and felt a damp and slightly foul smell lingering at the tip of her nose.

She knew, this was the smell of a prison cell.

When she was young, she had the privilege of staying in a prison cell when she came to Jiang City with her mother to find Luo Yan. Since that day, the smell had often appeared in her nightmares.

She thought she would never smell it again in her lifetime, but she didn't expect to smell it again from Wuji's body.

Wuji didn't stay in the prison cell for long, so the smell was faint, but it was enough to make her shed many tears.

She had never longed for Wuji's embrace like she did at this moment, but in this embrace, she seemed to understand Wuji's intentions.

Everyone was forced.

Including Wuji.

Even someone as intelligent as him could easily fall into a murder case.

He needed a marriage to give him protection and slowly gain the power to protect himself.

She couldn't provide this protection.

Hua Chao was an extremely intelligent woman, she couldn't pretend not to understand the look in Wuji's eyes when he looked at her. So when Wuji told her about the marriage, she had some grievances in her heart, even though she knew that Wuji's choice was right for both him and herself.

Now she understood, he was just an extremely rational person.

But...

She raised her head: "Before breaking into the Deer House, did you know what you were facing?"

Wuji grinned: "I had a rough idea! When I saw Ji Su, that dog, I guessed."

Hua Chao was a little anxious: "Did you come up with a plan at that time?"

Wuji shrugged: "I'm not a god, how could I come up with a plan so quickly?"

"Then did you think about the consequences?"

"I definitely thought about it!"

"Then why did you..."

"As soon as I thought that you would be bullied, I couldn't wait to kill them all!"

"You're really irrational this time."

"If you're going to be bullied, how can I be rational?"

"..."

Hua Chao slightly averted her gaze and suddenly felt that the "one lifetime, one pair" that she had yearned for before didn't seem necessary. Instead, it was this kind of irrational protection that made her more addicted.

There were many things she didn't understand, but she didn't intend to ask.

She only knew that if Wuji could always treat her like this, even if she never married in her lifetime, so what?

She gently pounded Wuji's shoulder: "Take off your outer garment quickly, I'll apply medicine for you. It's not good to leave scars."

"Okay!"

Wuji grinned and took off his outer garment, obediently lying on the bed.

If it weren't for the Non-Attack Sword Technique this time, he might have been stabbed to death long ago.

The Non-Attack Sword Technique truly lived up to its reputation as one of the rare defensive sword techniques in the world. Faced with more than a dozen experts slightly stronger than himself, he was able to defend against them, and the consumption of true energy was not particularly severe.

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In just a few breaths of time, he suffered such serious injuries when he switched from defense to offense.

This battle made Wuji extremely frustrated.

It made him crave power. Unfortunately, reaching the Embryonic Breathing Realm was a process of accumulating strength, especially for him, the longer he held back, the more he would erupt.

Question: How can one increase combat power under the limited conditions of cultivation progress?

Answer: Pretend to be a victim! Mine for opportunities!

Being able to counter-kill this time was entirely thanks to the invisibility of the Earth Shattering Seventy-Two Techniques. Without its hidden aura and attacks, his Fiery Palm Technique would not have been able to touch those people at all.In the future, he would definitely have to make a strong impact and dig deep.

As for the case itself, he was not very clear about the situation outside, but since he had already been released from prison, Ji Su should have already suffered.

He willingly put himself in danger this time, and his first thought was indeed for Hua Chao.

After killing more than a dozen guards, he still chose to forcefully kill Wei Teng, partly because of Hua Chao.

But the bigger reason was to completely expose Ji Su.

High-end conspiracies only required the simplest way to crack them.

Even though he didn't know what kind of tricks Ji Su had played, since he had caused trouble, he must have had various motives. As long as he presented seemingly irrefutable evidence and let the Flying Fish Guards investigate, all the dirty secrets would be exposed.

He didn't know if Ji Su had a big boss behind him, but as long as there was, it would be difficult for Ji Su to escape punishment.

So at that time, even though he could have stopped fighting and waited for someone to break in from outside, he still chose to kill Wei Teng and the others.

Certainly, even if he only did that, he could ensure his own safety, but he couldn't completely absolve himself of guilt.

To completely absolve himself, it still depended on how the Crown Prince's faction would handle it.

If they were unwilling to help with this favor, then this alliance itself would be a joke.

If that were the case, he would rather go back and fight to the death with Ying Wuque than stay in the Li Kingdom's royal family as a son-in-law.

First, settle the accounts with these despicable people.

Then, wait for the final decision of love.

...

This day seemed to pass by quickly, yet also slowly.

Zhao Qi felt like time was passing slowly. He spent the whole day at home with the servant who could capture souls, waiting for Han Zhe to come.

But Han Zhe clearly had no intention of looking for him.

Capturing souls, especially capturing the souls of core members like Han Xie, could easily expose many secrets of the Han family. How could Han Zhe agree to that?

But Zhao Ning asked him to produce the results of capturing souls within three days, and of course, he didn't want to.

But not producing them...

When you were so enthusiastic about searching for Ying Wuji's soul, why are you hesitant when searching for Han Xie's soul? Do you have something to hide?

This move had indeed backfired.

Zhao Qi couldn't capture souls, so he had been looking for a way to regain his dignity, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find one.

Damn it!

Ji Su, what are you doing with the Liefire Palm Technique when you have nothing better to do?

Damn it, it's all Ji Su's fault!

...

At the Han residence, things were not going well either.

Han Zhe never expected that things would be exposed so quickly. Even though he had arranged everything perfectly, he never expected that it would end up like this.

Although there was no conclusive evidence to prove that the Han family was the mastermind, when shit hits the fan, no one would think it's not shit.

Moreover, this was not just ordinary shit, it was a pile of shit!

Now Wei Huan's most beloved youngest son was dead, and he knew it was caused by the Han family. How would he treat the Han family in the future?

The Han family ranked among the top three in the Li Kingdom's prestigious families, but their actual strength was not as good as the Wei family's. After all, they didn't have an elite force of tens of thousands like the Wei Guards.

Now they had provoked the Wei family...

Damn it, it's all Ji Su's fault!

Not only did he want Ying Wuji to die, but he also wanted Wei Teng to die with him. What kind of Liefire Palm Technique did he use?

Now the Crown Prince publicly announced that he wanted the results of capturing souls within three days. How could he provide those results?

This young man was so reckless. Do I really have to admit that it was our Han family who instigated the relationship and caused the death of Wei Teng, almost killing Ying Wuji? Should we start a fight with the Wei family?

By then, would the stable situation that the Zhao royal family had worked so hard to maintain still exist?

"Three days, three days..."

Han Zhe muttered to himself, feeling that this might be an opportunity given by Zhao Ning.

Although the Crown Prince was young, he had always been capable. He wouldn't let his anger disrupt the surface stability, especially with the Hundred Families Gathering approaching. It would be a disgrace to their royal family.

Three days!

It was an opportunity left by Crown Prince Ning.

Han Zhe was already 60% certain in his heart and immediately said in a deep voice, "Bring out the account book of the Cat Girl and Han Xie's personal account book!"

Hearing this, everyone in the Han family subconsciously looked at each other, understanding the countermeasure for this matter.

The wise elders had already started drafting a confession: Han Xie, as an illegitimate child, believed he was talented and had tried several times to make the main wife of the family his mother in order to become a legitimate heir. But after Han Juan returned, his plan was thwarted, which made him resentful and think that he could gain the family's recognition by instigating conflicts between the Qian, Wei, and Xiang families. Little did he know, the Han family valued peace and despised such despicable acts.In just an hour, the account book was completed. The heavenly robe... had a small seam, but it could pass as acceptable. The confession letter was also well-written, enough to save face.

Han Zhe checked it and called Han Xie's birth mother over, handing her the letter. Then, he pointed to the food box beside him and said, "The child is hungry. The food in the Flying Fish Guards' prison is not good. Hurry and bring him something to eat!"

Han Xie's birth mother burst into tears after seeing the letter, but she solemnly put the confession letter in her pocket and walked towards the headquarters of the Flying Fish Guards.

However, when she mentioned delivering food, she was stopped by the prison guard of the Flying Fish Guards and told to wait for the captain.

While waiting, Han Xie's birth mother felt both sorrowful and anxious.

She was sorrowful because her most outstanding son was about to be sent to the underworld by her own hands.

She was anxious because her most outstanding son might not be sent to the underworld. If he couldn't be sent there, all of her sons and daughters might be implicated.

In her sorrow and anxiety, a tall female captain walked over.

Wu Shuangxu glanced at her and spoke in a cold tone, "Han Xie is a serious offender of the court. No one is allowed to approach him. The prisoners have their own food in the prison. No food delivery is allowed!"

Han Xie's birth mother choked, about to say something.

But Wu Shuangxu lowered her voice and added, "Unless, what you're delivering is not just food!"

Han Xie's birth mother gritted her teeth and took out the confession letter from her pocket. "Captain, there's also this!"

Wu Shuangxu opened the letter and frowned slightly. "Just this is not enough!"

"Then, Captain, please..."

"Ying Wuji has a strong character and doesn't easily lose control and kill. Han Xie did it himself!"

"..."

"Can it be added?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Han Xie's birth mother quickly added. Before leaving, Han Zhe had instructed her that as long as it didn't involve the Han family, all requests could be agreed to.

Wu Shuangxu placed the food box on the table and pointed to the prison cell. "Go! When you go in, bring Han Xie's handwritten confession letter and exchange it for his last meal!"

"Thank you, Captain!"

Han Xie's birth mother expressed her gratitude and then walked into the prison. Soon, she came back with tears in her eyes, holding a confession letter. She exchanged it for the food box and went back into the prison.

Soon, the conversation between two people could be heard from inside.

"Han Xiong, Han Xiong, your last meal smells so good! Can I have a bowl too?"

"Ji Su, you're still mocking me?"

"No! I really want to die. It's boring to be alive!"

"Hehe! Just keep waiting like this, watching father eat meat while you can't even have a bite... Wuwuwuwu!"

Wu Shuangxu remained expressionless and watched Han Xie's birth mother leave before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Ying Wuji.

You really don't make people feel at ease!

...

After Han Xie's birth mother returned to the Han Mansion, Han Zhe finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, Crown Prince Ning still prioritized the overall situation.

However, Han Zhe didn't expect Crown Prince Ning to value Ying Wuji so much.

In this case, Ying Wuji was indeed implicated, but after killing the guards, he chose to kill Wei Teng, which was a bit excessive and would definitely affect the attitude between the Wei family and Kingdom Qian.

The grudge of Kingdom Qian would be taken up by the Wei family, and the Zhao royal family would be in a position to uphold justice and gain the most benefits.

But unexpectedly, Crown Prince Ning personally intervened and completely cleared Ying Wuji.

Why?

Han Zhe felt that something was not quite right, but he couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong.

At this moment, a servant hurriedly arrived at the door. "Master! The Marquis of Pingling has sent someone to invite you for a meeting at the Drunken Immortal Tower."

"Zhao Qi?"

Han Zhe sneered, "Could it be that he wants to discuss the Soul-capturing Technique with me? Let him go, tell him I won't go!"

The servant nodded, "Yes!"

"Wait!"

Han Zhe called him back.

The servant stopped in his tracks, "Master?"

Han Zhe furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment. Regardless of whether it was about the Soul-capturing Technique or not, he felt that he should go and see.

Because Zhao Qi's reaction to this matter was also not right!

This incident involved the Wei family, the Han family, Kingdom Qian, and Flame Kingdom, but it didn't implicate him, the Marquis of Pingling.

However, at the very moment this incident occurred, Zhao Qi sent his men to the Flying Fish Guards with Wei Meng, as if this quagmire would not be complete without him.

So, what exactly was Zhao Qi after?

Did he want Ying Wuji dead? Highly unlikely!

Did he want to use the Soul-capturing Technique on Ying Wuji? That was possible, but what was his purpose?

Han Zhe couldn't tolerate Zhao Qi's character, but he didn't dare to underestimate his background.

After thinking it over, he waved his hand, "Prepare the sedan chair!"

Regardless, he should go and see what Zhao Qi wanted to do before making any decisions.After a quarter of an hour, the sedan slowly stopped at the Drunken Immortal Tower.

As soon as Han Zhe got off the sedan, a servant hurriedly approached him and said, "Master Han, Pingling Jun invites you!"

"Lead the way!"

He had no expression on his face and followed the servant directly to the top floor. The servant opened the door and made a gesture of invitation.

Han Zhe nodded and walked in with big strides, regardless of Pingling Jun's feelings. He could remain calm even in the face of any situation...

But as soon as he saw the person inside, he immediately regretted it and just wanted to leave the Drunken Immortal Tower as soon as possible.

However, his steps had already entered, and there was no turning back.

His face turned extremely ugly for a moment.

Zhao Qi stood up and smiled, clasping his hands. "Captain Han, long time no see!"

"What do you mean, Zhao Qi?"

Han Zhe's face darkened, and his gaze shifted to another person on the table. Although the person had gray hair, he had an extraordinary temperament. There were probably not many people in the entire Kingdom Li who had the same noble demeanor as him.

This person was none other than the head of the Wei family, Wei Huan.

Although in terms of strength, he was not inferior to Wei Huan, if the two forces really clashed, it might not necessarily be the Han family that would lose.

But after all, he had just killed the other party's son. Even if he was not convicted, everyone's hearts were as clear as a mirror. How could he not feel guilty? Han Zhe definitely felt guilty.

He didn't understand why Zhao Qi wanted to stir up trouble between the two major families of Li Kingdom. Did he think the situation in Li Kingdom was not chaotic enough?

Wei Huan sneered, "What's wrong? Is Mr. Han feeling guilty?"

Han Zhe put on a smiley face and said, "I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I feel guilty? I'm just here to find Pingling Jun and discuss the Soul-capturing Technique."

As he spoke, he sat down opposite Wei Huan with a smile.

Wei Huan coldly snorted, "Discussing the Soul-capturing Technique? I don't think so. Han Xie's mother went to the Flying Fish Guards earlier. When she left, the lunch box was heavy, but when she came back, it was as light as a feather. Perhaps by tomorrow, someone will write a confession and commit suicide out of fear!"

Han Zhe raised his eyelids slightly and said nothing.

Both of them were old foxes who had lived for thousands of years. Many things didn't need to be explained at all.

Now, because of Ying Wuji's matter, the relationship between the Wei family, the Han family, and the Kingdom Qian would deteriorate significantly. The Wei family's territory was adjacent to Kingdom Qian, so they would definitely be more affected. Therefore, the Wei family did not want to make a big fuss about this matter.

Han Zhe glanced at the food on the table and already had a rough idea. This meal would be very uncomfortable, but it probably wouldn't escalate into a fight.

Wei Huan was a little impatient. "Zhao Qi! Han old dog is already here. Just say what you want!"

In this incident, he felt that he was even more innocent than Ying Wuji. His beloved son had died for no reason.

Although the case would be closed soon, various forces had already intervened, and the whirlpool might continue for some time.

But he really didn't have the mood to continue getting involved. He just wanted to rest for a while and settle everything after the Hundred Families Gathering.

This included Zhao Qi.

At such a sensitive time, with someone who mastered the Soul-capturing Technique, instigating his eldest son to forcefully break into the Flying Fish Guards and use the Soul-capturing Technique on Ying Wuji, it seemed like they thought the Wei family was too peaceful!

Zhao Qi stood up and smiled apologetically. "I know it's a bit presumptuous to invite you two here today, but there is a great opportunity right now. If we don't seize it today, we might regret it in the future!"

Wei Huan's expression remained indifferent. "Are you suggesting that we unite the Wei family and the Han family to seize this so-called great opportunity?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Qi answered straightforwardly.

"Heh..."

Wei Huan didn't say anything, but his laughter already showed his attitude.

He knew Zhao Qi's background very well. Although Zhao Qi's background made him unable to ignore him, it was still a bit too forced to make him pay attention to this person.

Zhao Qi, the son of Pingling Jun Zhao Ji and the concubine of the Li family, was now closely related to the Li family. However, his true background was not the Li family, but the descendant of the Martial Saint of City Jing: Nangong Ling.

In simple terms, Nangong Ling's mother was also from the Li family, the aunt of the current head of the Li family.

Zhao Qi's actions were clearly using the shell of the Li Kingdom to revive the declining Zhou royal family.

So although Zhao Ji disliked this son, he couldn't do anything to him.

The Wei and Han families also looked down on Zhao Qi. The three families of Zhao, Wei, and Han were already fighting fiercely over the territory of Li Kingdom. What was the Zhou royal family doing here? Even if Zhao Qi had gained some reputation among the people, in Wei Huan's eyes, it was just an empty name.

Seeing that Wei Huan was so disdainful, Zhao Qi was not angry. He just smiled and said, "Mr. Wei must be angry because of Wei Meng's matter. But do you know why I got involved in this mess?"

"But it doesn't hurt to say!"

Wei Huan seemed a little uninterested.Zhao Qi did not answer immediately, but instead shifted the topic to another matter: "Do you two know how the royal family views Ying Wuji?"

Upon hearing this, both of them fell silent for a moment, as they both had some understanding.

Ying Wuji's bookstore was almost sealed by Luo Yan, but in the end, it was saved by the jade pendant from Qingjiang Palace.

During the literary meeting, Zhao Qi made a work with implied meaning, suggesting that he was the future wise ruler of Kingdom Li. However, he was countered by Ying Wuji's remark, "Those covered in silk are not silk farmers."

It can be said that Ying Wuji's relationship with the royal family is quite ambiguous.

Zhao Qi's expression became serious. "If I were my father, I would probably want a son-in-law like Ying Wuji. I'm not sure what Ying Wuji thinks, but he may be extremely confident and unafraid to compete with Ying Wuque in Kingdom Qian. However, after this incident, even if he has the highest confidence, he will have to come back down to earth."

"Are you suggesting a marriage alliance?"

Wei Huan narrowed his eyes, his expression slightly unfriendly. "A marriage alliance would be beneficial for Ying Wuji, but it may be an exaggeration to say that His Majesty wants such a son-in-law."

Although Ying Wuji's reputation has been growing in Jiangcheng recently, it is only in the fields of bookstores, poetry, and drama. It is unlikely that he has caught the attention of the King of Li. After all, even the most valuable bookstore is just a drop in the ocean compared to the big families.

If both sides of the marriage alliance have extremely high status, the Wei family would naturally be wary.

But as for Ying Wuji... let's not talk about Ying Wuji. After all, he has obtained the official seal, so he has some status.

Which princess should Kingdom Li choose?

Which princess has a higher status?

With this kind of marriage alliance, how can the interests of the two royal families be more closely tied?

Han Zhe also thought of these things, but his attitude was somewhat different. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Just now, Wu Shuangxu asked Han Xie to add a sentence to the confession, stating that the reason why Ying Wuji killed people was because he was secretly plotted against, which caused him to lose his sanity."

Now, the three of them fell into silence.

This is to wash away all of Ying Wuji's stains. Is it because a son-in-law cannot have any blemishes?

Wei Huan's expression turned gloomy. "So, is it certain that they want a marriage alliance?"

Han Zhe's expression also became unpleasant because Han Xie is almost dead now, and the confession should have fallen into the hands of the Crown Prince Ning. This matter...

However, Zhao Qi smiled and said, "Actually, whether there is a marriage alliance or not is not a big problem. Because as long as another matter is accomplished, its significance may be even greater."

"What matter?"

Wei and Han finally became interested in his words.

Zhao Qi hinted, "Do you two still remember how long my father has been in seclusion?"

"Seven years and six months!"

"And the most recent time in seclusion?"

"One year and three months!"

Both of them answered promptly, as they have been observing the King of Li's every move.

In fact, Zhao Ji had placed Zhao Ning in the position of regent seven years and six months ago, but it was only from that day onwards that he frequently went into seclusion. However, the duration of his seclusion at that time was relatively short, and he would appear intermittently, with his strength improving each time.

But this time, one year and three months is really too long.

Zhao Qi smiled. "You may not understand the blood-igniting technique of my Zhao family. The more blood is ignited in the early stages, the faster the strength will improve, but the more lifespan will be lost. However, as long as one reaches the Saint realm, the lost lifespan will be replenished."

The two of them exchanged glances, as they had some understanding of this situation.

However, it has been a common practice for the King of Li to go into seclusion throughout the generations. It's just that there have been few cases as extreme as Zhao Ji's, mostly when his lifespan is nearing its end, he will pass the throne to the Crown Prince and then go into seclusion to break through the realm. However, no King of Li has ever reached the Saint realm before.

Moreover, Zhao Ji is only fifty years old, in the prime of his life, which is quite a bit shorter than the average lifespan of the previous Kings of Li, which is sixty.

So they only thought that this was to cultivate Zhao Ning's prestige and make his ascension to the throne smoother.

Zhao Qi suddenly laughed. "Everyone says that Ying Yue is the strongest among the lords, but they don't know that my father's talent is not inferior to Ying Yue's. Otherwise, he wouldn't have attempted to break through the realm at the age of fifty. You two might as well think about it. On the day Ying Wuji died, who resolved the matter? And in this incident that has caused such a big commotion, who has been absent the whole time!"

His words awakened them.

Ying Wuji's death was a major diplomatic incident.

This time, it also involved the Wei, Han, Minister's Mansion, and Kingdom Qian.

But from beginning to end, the King of Li, who should have appeared, never showed up.

Did he not want to appear, or...

is he simply unable to leave seclusion?

Wei Huan narrowed his eyes. "So you attempted to use the soul-capturing technique on Ying Wuji..."

Zhao Qi smiled. "I also want to see if my father can resist coming out in the face of such a diplomatic incident!"

Han Zhe also asked, "Why did the Lord of Pingling summon us today..."Zhao Qi bowed his hands and said, "This matter is not yet settled. Such a major issue, only King Li is qualified to handle! I implore both of you to accompany me to the palace tonight, to request His Majesty to come out of seclusion!"

The room fell silent for a while, no sound was heard, but it seemed as if a tide of anger was surging beneath the surface.

After a long while.

Wei Huan asked, "What if His Majesty cannot come out of seclusion?"

Zhao Qi laughed, "Zhao Ning is young, I'm afraid he may find it difficult to shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing the country. I ask both of you to support me in ascending the throne!"

"Between Prince Pingling and Crown Prince Ning, who would be the wise ruler of the country, we can't tell!"

"What benefits would we, the Wei and Han families, gain from supporting Prince Pingling to ascend the throne?"

Facing the questioning gaze of the two.

Zhao Qi laughed, "Have both of you ever thought about... dividing Li among the three families?"

~~~~~

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(End of this chapter)