“Investigate!”
Xiao Ao’s aura erupted in an instant, like that of an angered divine dragon.
It made everyone present feel their breathing pause for a moment.
He turned his head and only then saw that “Huo Ci” was still kneeling on the ground with his men.
“Minister Huo, no need for formalities. Please rise.”
Jiang Xingyan clasped her fists and bowed respectfully, then spoke to confess her fault:
“Your servant led men into the palace without permission, which is already an act of disrespect. I beg Your Majesty to punish me.”
Xiao Ao’s expression was dark and unreadable as he looked at “Huo Ci.”
He truly wanted to punish “him.”
But seeing the looks of indignation on the faces of the military captains behind “him,” he could only hold back.
After all, Beiluo was watching like a hungry tiger, and Great Xia’s attitude was ambiguous.
At this time, he really couldn’t afford to create any more trouble.
If he chilled the hearts of the Huo family army, it would only bring grief to his own side and delight to his enemies.
The only thing was, losing control of the military power was ultimately his biggest worry.
“Minister Huo pleaded for justice for the soldiers, so what crime could there be?
If you do not rise now, then it would mean you blame me for punishing Deputy General Xin.”
“Your servant would never dare!”
Jiang Xingyan rose to her feet along with the captains.
She truly admired Xiao Ao’s ability to bend and stretch as circumstances required.
It’s just that, when the world eventually became peaceful and calm, then old and new grievances would probably be settled together.
Su Sheng worked efficiently and quickly brought over all the personnel from the Punishment Department.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the disciplinary staff is nowhere to be found. There are no other abnormalities in the entire Punishment Department.”
Jiang Xingyan secretly observed Shangguan Luoyue’s expression. She noticed that although the woman wore a mask, she still appeared solemn and respectful, with no hint of anything amiss.
Jiang Xingyan found this strange: Could it be that this person has nothing to do with it?
As she was pondering, a scorching gaze landed on her face.
It startled Jiang Xingyan back to her senses, and she instinctively looked up to see.
She saw a guard standing behind Shangguan Luoyue, staring at her with piercing, intense eyes.
Jiang Xingyan was speechless.
Shangguan Hanshan’s disguise skills were indeed good.
But these eyes of his were just too easy to recognize!
Shangguan Hanshan was feeling puzzled.
He clearly should have wrung that brat’s neck long ago, so why was it that whenever he looked at “him,” he involuntarily felt humbler?
As if he owed “him” a great deal.
It must be because he still hadn’t seen his precious darling girl.
He’d let this brat live a few more days.
If his darling said even half a bad word about “him,” he could take “his” life in an instant!
Xiao Ao sensed a presence, an aura even more pressing than his own, surging around him.
His heart leaped, and he quickly looked around to find its source.
Not wanting to arouse suspicion so soon, Shangguan Hanshan could only lower his gaze and conceal his sharpness.
The moment the aura vanished, Xiao Ao felt lost.
He glanced at the two corpses covered with white cloth, and suddenly a chill shot straight from his feet to the top of his head.
It seemed that a martial artist so skilled that even the Imperial Guard couldn’t detect them had infiltrated his palace.
If they had intended to assassinate the emperor, would he still be alive?
In an instant, Xiao Ao broke out in a cold sweat.
But after all, he was a monarch who had weathered many storms, and he quickly calmed down.
These anomalies had only appeared after the arrival of the Great Xia envoy. Could it be them?
“Your Majesty of Western Zhou, such an extraordinary incident has occurred in the palace. Huai Wan has been well taken care of here and cannot stand by and do nothing.”
Huai Wan brought twelve personal guards with her on this trip, all of whom are highly skilled in martial arts. I will assign four each to protect Your Majesty of Western Zhou and the Empress until this matter is completely resolved.”
After saying this, she suddenly seemed to remember something and gave a slight bow with a fearful look:
“Please do not be offended, Your Majesty of Western Zhou. I have overstepped my bounds.
The capable people under my command are, of course, at Your Majesty’s disposal.”
Xiao Ao’s gaze was heavy, but his tone was quite gratified and grateful:
“Thank you for your kind intentions, Princess Huai Wan.
If I need to request your Highness’s assistance, I certainly will not stand on ceremony.”
Xiao Ao brushed past the matter in a couple of sentences and turned to issue an order to Su Sheng:
“Transfer this case to the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice for joint handling.
Within seven days, if the murderer is not captured, come see me with your heads!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Jiang Xingyan thought to herself with feeling: Minister Liu is probably going to have insomnia again.
“Since there are important matters to attend to, Huai Wan will not disturb Your Majesty any longer.”
Xiao Ao nodded in agreement: “I apologize for making a spectacle of myself before the Princess.
Please also be careful these next few days. If the scoundrels disturbed the Princess, I would be inexcusable.”
Shangguan Luoyue, under Xiao Ao’s suspicious gaze, managed to maintain her composure without the slightest slip. After a graceful curtsey, she left first with her entourage of guards.
Jiang Xingyan frowned as she stared at Shangguan Luoyue’s retreating back.
Hadn’t Shangguan Hanshan said he was coming to the palace to settle scores? How come he ended up personally escorting and protecting his adopted daughter?
Hah, as expected, the bond from raising a daughter for so many years was indeed a bit more important than her, a biological daughter he had never even met.
Shangguan Hanshan suddenly felt as if someone was poking him in the back.
He turned his head, only to see “Huo Ci” looking at him with a mocking and sarcastic gaze.
His first instinct was to explain his plans to “him.”
But then he thought, who did “he” think “he” was?
Why should he need “his” approval for anything he did?
That brat should just be buried in the ground and be gone from this world!
He fiercely turned back, ready to give “him” a warning glare.
Unexpectedly, “Huo Ci” had already looked away and was following the crowd as they carried Xin Zhui towards the Imperial Hospital.
Shangguan Hanshan’s glare met empty air, leaving him feeling oddly unsettled.
Would that brat go back and talk nonsense to his darling girl?
The poor man still didn’t even know his darling’s name.
Maybe he should still find time to go over and explain things to “him” tonight?
It wasn’t that he was afraid of “him”!
It was to avoid his darling girl getting the wrong idea!
Yes, that was it.