Consort Hua, who became increasingly uneasy with her thoughts, realized more and more that Murong Xue was not simple. If she could uncover Murong Xue’s secrets, it would be fine, but now she had both Murong Han protecting her and Shui Yixuan by her side, making the situation much more complicated.

Holy Water Manor, as the most renowned estate in the Four Countries, is not only wealthy. With its intelligence network spanning the Four Countries, Consort Hua’s forces cannot repel it. If Shui Yixuan is indeed infatuated with beauty and helps that wretched girl, their Bai Family might end up with little gain, or worse, suffer a major setback.

Most importantly, Consort Hua unknowingly had the Bai Family seek Holy Water Manor to purchase all intelligence on that sibling pair, wasn’t she just offering up evidence on a platter?

In truth, poor Consort Hua still did not know that the infamous assassination organization in Jianghu—Shengming—was founded by Shui Wuhen. Now that Shui Yixuan is the Young Master, he naturally oversees most affairs of the organization. Yet, Consort Hua sought out Shengming to assassinate the Murong siblings—what a great irony!

"Why has Beiming Yi come to Lanyue? Does the Emperor know?"

As a Prince from a rival nation, appearing in Lanyue during such a sensitive period surely involves some secretive purpose, especially since he arrives together with Shui Yixuan in their Lanyue territory, how could Consort Hua not delve deeper into the matter?

"Regardless of whether it’s Shui Yixuan or Beiming Yi, both act very conspicuously, openly allowing us to investigate. The situation suggests their visit is for official business, unafraid of our inquiries."

The more it appeared like this, the stranger it became.

Unfortunately, Consort Hua could not go out now, unable to communicate with the Bai Family at any time or place, so she entrusted Murong Ze with the matter.

"Once you return, immediately go to your uncle and inquire thoroughly. Do not take it lightly, and as for Murong Han, he’s the last disciple accepted by the Tianshan Taoist in his later years, treated differently than other fellow disciples. The longer he doesn’t return to Beijing, the more restless I become, always feeling he is plotting something."

Listening to Consort Hua’s murmurs, her face filled with anxiety, Murong Ze suddenly felt bitter—had Mother Consort really worried herself over the years like this?

To what extent had their brothers neglected her?

Reflecting on how he had questioned her just now, he bowed his head in misery, "I’m sorry, Mother Consort, I shouldn’t have thought of you like that, I..."

Seeing him this way, Consort Hua had no intention of blaming him, casually touching his head and murmuring.

"Enough, don’t say anymore, those... are not what I wished to see either. I don’t know how many people I’ve killed in my life. If heaven wants retribution, let it be upon me! From the moment I entered the palace, I knew there were things beyond my control. As Bai Family daughters, from the day we are born, we prepare for alliances by marriage. I was the most outstanding, sent into the palace with high expectations. If I couldn’t meet their demands, their ambitions and goals could not be fulfilled, and my fate would be bleak. So now we are grasshoppers tied to the same rope, forced to march forward."

Therefore, the phrase "pitiful people often have something detestable about them" is indeed derived from countless real cases since ancient times.

The apologies between mother and son improved Murong Jie’s complexion somewhat, possibly due to understanding, making her less fearful.

Murong Ze silently stood up, observing the modest decor of the room, starkly contrasting the splendor of Yong’an Palace, feeling a bit distressed.

"Has Father Emperor... ever come to see you?"

Consort Hua sneered, "Do you think he’d come to see me? With his own children, how could he possibly still tolerate me? The incident when I forced the Empress out of the palace remains a fish bone stuck in his throat, not swallowing nor spitting it out. I thought time could change everything, but I was wrong. All these years, he has never given up searching for that mother and daughter, even knowing they might never return, he persists in waiting, even diverting my attention by appointing Murong Yun as Crown Prince. Now that his biological son has returned, he pulls such a move on us. The most heartless is the Emperor, this saying isn’t wrong, I’ve seen through it."