HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 673: Luring Xiao Changyan to Take the Bait

Chapter 673: Luring Xiao Changyan to Take the Bait

No one knew how these marks were made – unlike facial tattoos, which could be removed by cutting away flesh.

Xiao Juesong’s men had marks on their chests, connected to their hearts. When Emperor Youning sent coroners to examine the bodies left at the traveling palace, they discovered these marks remained traceable no matter how deep they dug. To completely erase them would require removing the heart itself.

Not only had Emperor Youning failed to understand how it was done, but even Xiao Huayong hadn’t figured it out. As long as the people were brought before Emperor Youning, he could personally confirm to Xiao Changyan the existence of their “Imperial Uncle.”

The Pingyao Marquis household’s connection with Xiao Juesong was enough to plant an unresolvable doubt in Emperor Youning’s mind. Even if they couldn’t directly prove the Marquis’s betrayal, it would be nearly impossible for him to gain Emperor Youning’s trust in the future.

Creating discord between ruler and subject, making Emperor Youning lose another confidant – Xiao Huayong felt it was worth it.

However, since these were people Xiao Huayong had taken charge of, he wouldn’t deliberately kill one to leave as evidence for Emperor Youning when he sent them out. As long as they could retreat safely, everything would depend on their abilities.

Shen Xihe had sent Mo Yuan to hide in the shadows. When someone attempted the prison break, Mo Yuan would lead his people to charge out. They all knew each other were on the same side, so while their fighting appeared fierce, neither side struck fatal blows.

Xiao Changqin, the county office, and Yu Gong’s people were unaware of this and showed no mercy to their enemies, who likewise showed them none. The men Xiao Changqin brought were from the palace, not his own, and their martial skills were far inferior to Xiao Juesong’s men.

As the situation became one-sided and Yu Wulang was about to be rescued, the stationed military guards arrived. Arrows flew with the rain, and two men were lost before they managed to take Yu Wulang away.

As these people fled with Yu Wulang, Xiao Changyan’s men followed like mantises hunting cicadas, unaware of the oriole behind them. However, they hadn’t expected their targets to be so alert, quickly discovering they were being followed and managing to shake them off.

“Governor Yu, do you recognize this mark?” Shen Xihe asked Yu Gong, who knelt beside her.

Yu Gong did recognize it. Last year, as a local official, he hadn’t qualified to participate in the traveling palace incident, but when the Crown Prince was kidnapped and the Emperor personally went to rescue him, they nearly both lost their lives in the river because of Xiao Juesong. For such a major event, how could the Pingyao Marquis not have informed him?

This mark was now known throughout the court. The Emperor still wanted to know how it was made, as it seemed like a birthmark. Whoever could figure it out would earn great merit, so not only did all court officials know about it, but even common people knew.

Because he recognized it, Yu Gong felt all was lost.

“From today, Governor Yu will remain in the county office, restricted from moving freely or receiving visitors. I will report everything that happened here to His Majesty for his judgment.” Shen Xihe ordered Yu Gong’s house arrest.

She didn’t throw him in prison because she lacked the authority to convict a regional governor.

After officially placing Yu Gong under house arrest, Shen Xihe had Xiao Changqin write a complete report to send to the capital.

Meanwhile, the rescued Yu Wulang was being held in a dark place where Xiao Huayong waited for Xiao Changyan. Yu Wulang was under a spell – if Xiao Changyan wanted to find him, he definitely could, and Xiao Huayong had already revealed the general area to him.

Xiao Huayong was certain Xiao Changyan would come because killing Xiao Juesong would be a great achievement!

Before darkness fell, Xiao Changyan received news of what had happened. Because Xiao Juesong’s former men served as evidence, Xiao Changyan had no doubts. He had also studied how these marks were made, not wanting his men to be infiltrated by imposters.

To this day, after a full year, he still hadn’t figured it out.

“I shall meet this Imperial Uncle,” Xiao Changyan immediately decided.

“Your Highness, I advise against taking such a risk,” his advisor anxiously objected.

He hadn’t expected that their search for a scapegoat, creating a reasonable scenario for kidnapping a prince, would accidentally… though it wasn’t accidental. Perhaps the Prince of Yan had already sensed something, which was why he didn’t conceal anything from His Highness, revealing all he knew. Viewed this way, the Prince of Yan’s loyalty seemed less suspicious.

No matter how much they wracked their brains, they couldn’t have imagined that Xiao Juesong was already dead, having entrusted his men to Xiao Huayong before dying. Xiao Changgeng was Xiao Huayong’s man, and now the role of Xiao Juesong was also played by Xiao Huayong.

With Xiao Juesong’s men appearing, even Emperor Youning would believe without doubt.

“If I don’t seek him out, he will come looking for me,” Xiao Changyan knew this meeting was inevitable. “I kidnapped Twelfth Brother and tried to frame him, and accidentally cost him a pawn – he must know about this.” Xiao Changyan had this inexplicable intuition.

“Your Highness…”

“Your Highness, someone has delivered a letter,” before the advisor could continue, an announcement came from outside.

The advisor turned to receive the unsigned letter and handed it to Xiao Changyan. Upon opening it, he saw just one line: “Nephew, I trust you’ve been well.”

These words left Xiao Changyan bewildered. When had he ever met Xiao Juesong? When His Majesty ascended the throne and Xiao Juesong fled, he hadn’t even been born. Xiao Juesong didn’t reappear until twenty-one years later. But Xiao Juesong wouldn’t write such a letter without reason – he must have met Xiao Changyan without revealing his identity.

This realization made Xiao Changyan deeply uneasy.

Another reason Xiao Huayong took charge of Xiao Juesong’s men was to better understand Xiao Juesong’s past. Now Xiao Juesong’s confidants were by his side, those who had never left Xiao Juesong’s side, knowing where he went and whom he met.

Xiao Juesong had indeed met Xiao Changyan once several years ago, during the year of the Pei family’s downfall. Xiao Juesong had appeared in Annan City and had played no small part in the Pei family’s devastating defeat.

All this became clear to Xiao Changyan the moment he saw Xiao Huayong disguised as Xiao Juesong.

When traitors appeared in Annan City that year, his maternal grandfather, uncle, and several cousins all died there. He had rushed to Annan City to stabilize the situation, searching for spies and strictly examining everyone at the city gates.

It was at Annan City’s gate where he had personally helped steady Xiao Juesong when he was nearly pushed over by the crowd, personally checked his travel papers, and personally ordered him to be let out of the city.

“Imperial Uncle!” As memories flooded back, Xiao Changyan spat these words through gritted teeth, his eyes rimmed with blood. “Do you still remember the battle of Annan City?”

“Of course, I remember.” Xiao Huayong looked at those slightly yellowed but still sharp eyes, appearing calm as he quietly watched Xiao Changyan.

This calmness seemed more like a provocation.

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