This speculation was highly plausible.
Among the dozen or so tribes in the Southern Frontier, only the Wumiao and Xuemiao shared the same origins, using poisonous insects and plants as weapons against enemies.
If anyone could secretly infiltrate the Xuemiao, it would undoubtedly be related to the Wumiao.
The elder who had spoken first raised a question: “The belief that the Seventh Prince of Zhou harmed the Clan Leader is just Elder Rong’s speculation, right?”
Elder Rong was taken aback: “Elder Bai, what do you mean?”
Elder Bai said solemnly: “If the Clan Leader sent Ashan to kill the Seventh Prince of Zhou, why did both the Clan Leader and Ashan die in this fire? Could it be that the Seventh Prince guessed the Clan Leader’s ill intentions yesterday and chose to strike first?”
“It’s not impossible,” Elder Rong said.
“Then does Elder Rong know the reason why the Clan Leader wanted to eliminate the Seventh Prince of Zhou?”
Elder Rong was stumped.
He had only gained the Clan Leader’s trust in recent years and was unclear about some matters.
Seeing this, Elder Bai inwardly smiled.
He knew the reason why the Clan Leader wanted to kill the Seventh Prince of Zhou.
When they first learned of the Wumiao Clan’s prophecy, the Clan Leader had mentioned it to him, strongly advocating for eliminating the Seventh Prince, which he had opposed.
He believed the prophecy was nonsense, and the Xuemiao were already at a disadvantage against the Wumiao. If they made enemies with Great Zhou as well, it would be even worse.
Who knew if the prophecy was real or just bait deliberately released by the Wumiao?
The Clan Leader was aggressive, while he preferred caution. Because of this difference in ideology, the two had gradually grown apart.
Until now, the Clan Leader had taken direct action without revealing a word to him.
“So, the claim that the Clan Leader sent Ashan to assassinate the Seventh Prince of Zhou last night is just Elder Rong’s one-sided statement,” Elder Bai concluded.
Elder Rong was furious: “Elder Bai, are you doubting me?”
Elder Bai smiled: “That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to rashly provoke enmity between our clan and Great Zhou. After all, with the Clan Leader just gone, it would be unwise for us to face both the Wumiao and Great Zhou.”
“Elder Bai, are you afraid of Great Zhou? Are we not going to avenge the Clan Leader?”
Elder Bai’s expression turned cold: “If the Seventh Prince of Zhou harmed the Clan Leader, of course, we can’t let it go. I’m just saying we shouldn’t jump to conclusions too hastily. Take Ashan, for example. According to Elder Rong, he went to assassinate the Seventh Prince of Zhou, so how do you explain finding his body in the burning house?”
“Elder Bai, what do you suggest we do?” the Clan Leader’s son asked.
Elder Bai felt a surge of joy inwardly but maintained a neutral expression: “Naturally, we should first uncover the truth. On one hand, we should investigate the Seventh Prince of Zhou’s whereabouts, and on the other, we need to question the Wumiao.”
“Go to the Wumiao?” Everyone was surprised.
It seemed Elder Bai didn’t agree with Elder Rong’s statement, so why this change of direction?
Elder Bai said sorrowfully: “The Clan Leader had no external injuries. One possibility is that he truly died in an accidental fire. Another possibility is that he was controlled by someone before his death and couldn’t escape. If it’s the latter, for someone to sneak into the Clan Leader’s study and suppress the insects he raised, rendering him defenseless, the perpetrator must have had help from the Wumiao, or even be from the Wumiao!”
After Elder Bai finished speaking, everyone remained silent for a long time. Finally, one elder said: “But we have no evidence. The Clan Leader had no external injuries. The Wumiao Grand Elder could easily claim that the Clan Leader died in an accidental fire.”
Elder Bai sneered: “We’ll insist that the Clan Leader was murdered. The Wumiao will have to respond somehow. Don’t worry, I will personally go to the Wumiao to seek justice for the Clan Leader.”
Everyone bowed: “Then we’ll leave it to Elder Bai.”
Below the Clan Leader, Elder Bai was the most powerful, and at this moment, naturally, no one wanted to offend him.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Elder Bai wore a sorrowful expression, but inside he was quite satisfied.
Using the Clan Leader’s death to gather the clan members and become the new leader was the priority. As for other matters, they could be dealt with later.
Seeing this, Elder Rong could only suppress his discontent, secretly vowing to speak with the young master later. They couldn’t let Elder Bai have his way.
The subsequent events – Elder Bai going to confront the Wumiao to gain advantages, some Xuemiao people investigating the Seventh Prince of Zhou’s whereabouts, and the intensifying power struggle within the Xuemiao – need not be detailed.
The carriage heading north left all this chaos far behind, getting closer and closer to the capital.
Even faster than Jiang Si was a secret letter that landed on Emperor Jingming’s dragon desk.
Seeing the signature of the Jinlin Guard spy on the letter, Emperor Jingming eagerly opened it.
At the beginning of the year, he had sent the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial and others on a diplomatic mission to the Wumiao, with Jinlin Guard spices mixed in. Later, when the Minister and others returned, a few Jinlin Guards remained in the south under ordinary identities.
Emperor Jingming was extremely wary of the mysterious Wumiao and naturally wanted to keep track of the situation there.
After reading the letter, Emperor Jingming leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a while.
Pan Hai quietly poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Emperor Jingming, wisely keeping silent.
After a moment, Emperor Jingming instructed Pan Hai: “Invite the Empress over.”
Pan Hai had just left with the order when Emperor Jingming changed his mind and stood up: “Never mind, let’s go to Kunning Palace.”
It was morning, and the room was warm from the floor heating. The Empress was holding silver scissors, focused on trimming a pot of fresh flowers by the window.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor has arrived.”
The Empress put down the scissors and quickly went to greet him: “Your Majesty, why have you come at this time?”
Emperor Jingming entered and sat down casually, his expression unreadable.
Seeing this, the Empress didn’t ask further. She waved for the palace maids to withdraw and personally poured tea for Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming reached out to take it, rubbing the fine porcelain teacup for a moment before speaking: “The spy watching the Wumiao in the south has sent a letter.”
The Empress’s relaxed expression disappeared, becoming serious: “Has there been any movement there?”
Emperor Jingming nodded: “Not long ago, there were rumors in the Southern Frontier that the Wumiao Holy Maiden was no longer in this world, but she appeared at the New Fire Festival…”
The Empress raised her eyebrows in surprise: “So, the Wumiao Holy Maiden’s years of absence were truly for secluded cultivation?”
“Whether it was secluded cultivation or not is unclear, but there’s one very strange thing.”
“What is it?”
Emperor Jingming paused before saying: “The letter says that outsiders could hardly infiltrate the Wumiao during the New Fire Festival. They hid at a high point and observed with a telescope, discovering that the Wumiao Holy Maiden… looks strikingly similar to Seventh Son’s wife…”
The Empress was truly shocked: “How can there be such an incredible coincidence?”
Emperor Jingming’s expression was complex. After pondering for a long time, he said: “Seventh Son’s wife claims to have an innate knowledge of strange arts, yet she resembles the Wumiao Holy Maiden… Oh right, Empress, didn’t you say earlier that Seventh Son’s wife was praying for Seventh Son, staying behind closed doors?”
The Empress’s heart skipped a beat, but she nodded calmly.
“By that calculation, Seventh Son’s wife hasn’t been out for quite some time, right?”
“Yes.”
Emperor Jingming’s fingers lightly tapped the table, clearly hesitant.
The Empress had a vague guess in her heart but didn’t say much.
After a long while, Emperor Jingming made a decision: “Let’s do this, send someone to check on Prince Yan’s mansion.”