Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Let’s Burn Down the Crown Prince Mansion

They have been officials for many years, astute and profound.

Their first reaction was, could it be that someone is targeting the Crown Prince? Trying to use them as pawns?

But the results of their investigation were indisputable and concrete.

The other party merely led them to uncover the truth, and the truth just happened to implicate the Crown Prince.

Besides, didn’t the Crown Prince’s reaction show that he indeed did those things?

They had been busy since last night and hurriedly came to the Crown Prince Mansion. Thinking of what they were about to face next, they felt overwhelmed. They couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful toward the Crown Prince.

As the Crown Prince, shouldn’t one be thinking about the peace and prosperity of the people, the stability of the court, and the nation’s flourishing? But him, does he think his position as Crown Prince is too secure?

Assassinating the Princely Heir, setting fires in the street, attempting to destroy evidence.

How could a Crown Prince commit such acts? Does he have any boundaries left?

Is such a person worthy of being the Crown Prince? Worthy of being the ruler of a nation?

Thinking about how they had already presented the complete evidence to the Emperor, but now the Emperor’s decision hadn’t been made and might be withheld, their mood was far from cheerful.

When they first arrived at the Crown Prince Mansion, they clearly saw the gloom in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

Because they were the ones who investigated and brought forth the Princely Heir’s case. Although it was their duty, and the Crown Prince said nothing about it, they couldn’t fail to see the resentment deep in his eyes.

If this time the Emperor did not punish the Crown Prince, or merely gave him a light reprimand, they could already foresee their dismal futures.

The Crown Prince would surely retaliate in the autumn.

Right now, they didn’t want to think so much; they just needed to get their work done.

When the Emperor learned of the chaos in the Capital City last night, he was already furious. The only solace was that those disturbances, while causing property loss, didn’t involve any loss of life.

But even so, the impact was too detrimental, and the circumstances too severe. If they couldn’t present a detailed dossier before the Emperor the next morning, they could be charged with dereliction of duty.

They were already busy enough, and now they had to send out personnel for the missing Prince’s son.

Leaving the Crown Prince Mansion, on the way back, Pei Yichang sighed, "Now I almost hope the Ninth Young Master was abducted by Prince Cheng."

Wen Yuanting’s face changed dramatically, exclaiming in shock, "Commander, why would you say such a thing?"

Pei Yichang said, "If it really was Prince Cheng who acted, the Ninth Young Master still has a chance of surviving. If it was someone else, then that may not be the case."

Wen Yuanting shook his head, "That may not be the case, after all, it’s the enmity of killing one’s child!"

Pei Yichang said, "Even if it’s enmity over a killed child, Prince Cheng wouldn’t kill innocent people. The Ninth Young Master is just a ten-year-old child; Prince Cheng wouldn’t vent his anger on him."

"But isn’t there also a Concubine Cheng, who is not easy to deal with!"

Pei Yichang chuckled, "Concubine Cheng is an extraordinary woman of Jianghu and wouldn’t do that either."

Compared to the tumult in the Crown Prince Mansion, the Cheng Prince Mansion was much quieter.

Not many truly knew that Huangfu Jingchen was all right.

Servants unaware of the truth mostly appeared distracted.

The spies and hidden plants sent by the other residence knew they would soon be called back since the Princely Heir was dead, and there was no use in them staying.

The newly bought servants knew that once their master was dead, they would most likely be resold, leaving them no mood to work.

Some honest people looked sad; the master this time had been lenient and generous, and they thought they had found a good employer and were happy, only to have the master harmed by others. This job surely couldn’t last, where could they find such a good employer next time?

Moonlight Pavilion.

The side courtyard of Cheng Prince Mansion, where Huangfu Jingchen stayed.

Uncle Chen and others were analyzing whom they chose to take action at the same time with.

First of all, according to the news they got at the time, it was indeed the "seventh night" for the Young Master. Would that person also be avenging the Young Master?

After all, they knew the Young Master was alive; others did not.

The Young Master had just arrived in the Capital City, unfamiliar with the place. Someone avenging him, at the very least, must have shared life-and-death friendship. Who could it be?

Even Huangfu Jingchen himself didn’t know.

His good friend across the age gap, Gu Hanmo.

This one was the Dean of the Wenbo Academy, a civil servant, disciplined and courteous. Not to mention he wouldn’t partake in behavior beyond the law’s bounds. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have the ability.

After all, it wasn’t something just talked about; it needed proper planning and execution, requiring manpower.

Yesterday, arriving in the Capital City, Jiang Ning and Yan Nan exchanged a glance. Jiang Ning speculated, "With such skill, such capability, such secrecy, why do I feel like this is our Princess’s method?"

Huangfu Jingchen looked at Uncle Chen, "When did you send the news about my assassination to Yunzhou?"

Uncle Chen said, "We sent the message back at the earliest opportunity."

Huangfu Jingchen smiled, saying, "My mother wouldn’t come to the Capital City, would she?"

Uncle Chen said, "Not so soon, I suppose?"

Huangfu Jingchen smiled again, yet facing a direction, he made a bow, eyes full of joy, "Father, Mother!"

At home in Yunzhou, the three siblings of Huangfu Jingchen referred to their parents as such directly, and only referred to them as Father King and Mother Princess in front of outsiders. At this moment, in excitement, the most intimate address came naturally.

As Uncle Chen and others were in a daze, a gentle breeze stirred at the window sill, and two more people appeared in the room.

The man, around forty, had eyes bright as stars, handsome and robust, with broad shoulders and a slim waist. The stone-blue long robe he wore, though a dull color, emanated an elegant and sophisticated aura.

The woman’s age was indeterminable, perhaps twenty-four or twenty-five, or maybe older. Her snowy brocade light attire, with a slight smile in her eyes and brows, if one were to meet her gaze, it felt like falling into a clear and profound lake.

There was no aggressive sharpness, nor the gloom of icy snow, quite the contrary, there seemed to be sunshine in her eyes, making one feel warm and comfortable, as if bathed in the spring sunlight.

Since Huangfu Jingchen called them father and mother, evidently, these two were Prince Cheng, Huangfu Yi, and Concubine Cheng, Lu Qianxue.

Having an eighteen-year-old son, Concubine Cheng certainly did not appear just twenty-four or twenty-five. In fact, she was already thirty-eight, but with the art of retaining youth, if one claimed she was a young maiden of adolescent age, someone might actually believe it.

Huangfu Jingchen said, "For the sake of this son, Father King, Mother Princess, you have traveled arduously to the Capital City. It’s been quite the journey!"

Lu Qianxue gently laughed, "It wasn’t all that arduous. Just too long without such a distant horseback ride, feeling a bit dizzy. Chen’er, with Father and Mother here, no one in the Capital City will dare to bully you!"

Prince Cheng patted Huangfu Jingchen’s shoulder, then turned to look at the Princess, "Even with good medicine and renowned doctors, so many days have passed, and he’s still not recovered! Chen’er really was hurt badly this time! Otherwise, shall we burn down the Crown Prince Mansion again?"