Chapter 56: Full-scale Investigation
As the "powerless" Dying Crown Prince, Xia Wuyang’s Eastern Palace was naturally a target of Xia Wushang’s search—and one of the very first places on his list.
A large group of Guards from the Gold and Silver Palace descended like a pack of wolves, tearing the Eastern Palace apart and showing absolutely no respect for the elder Crown Prince, Xia Wuyang.
They didn’t even spare Wenhua Hall. If Xia Wuyang hadn’t still been in his Sleeping Palace, lying in bed with women on either arm, they likely would have ransacked his bedchamber too. Even so, the commotion caused the many Palace Maids, Fox Girls, and Qiuci Dancers to turn pale with fright, and in turn, Xia Wuyang "roared like thunder" with rage.
The outcome, however, was predictable. They found nothing, and no one would ever suspect Xia Wuyang.
How could an elder Crown Prince on the verge of death possibly steal from the Gold and Silver Palace?
The one who made the least effort to hide his feelings upon learning of the incident was the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen. He and Xia Wushang had never gotten along, and upon receiving the news, he couldn’t help but clap his hands and laugh heartily.
"Hahaha! Excellent! This is just excellent! That stingy, miserly fifth brother of mine finally got what was coming to him!"
"Your Highness, should we take this opportunity to cause some trouble?" the old eunuch at his side inquired.
Xia Wuchen nodded. "Of course. Send out the order. Take all those jumbled clues we have and ’appropriately’ leak them to our fifth brother’s men. Let them run around a bit. Give them some exercise."
As he spoke, he picked up his teacup and took a leisurely sip.
’If I can’t get the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, then I’ll make sure my fifth brother can’t get it either. If I muddy the waters a little, I might even be able to fish in the chaos and get a chance to obtain the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit myself.’
’Still, that fifth brother of mine is truly rich. To think he could even get his hands on something like a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit. It’s truly unexpected.’
’In all his years, he had only ever obtained a single Special Miracle Treasure, and it couldn’t even compare to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit.’
If one could consume another, their Talent and Qualification would improve immensely, bringing them a huge step closer to the next realm.
Other Princes and Princesses were even more open in their mockery, saying that Xia Wushang’s Guards were useless. They guarded the Gold and Silver Palace like an impenetrable fortress, yet in the end, they couldn’t even watch over a single piece of fruit.
Hearing these rumors and whispers, Xia Wushang grew even more enraged, but he had no time to deal with them. The most important thing now was to find the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit; everything else could be set aside.
However, amidst this turmoil, one person was all smiles.
"Another unlucky soul. Compared to a Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit, the things I lost are nothing."
When Princess Ling Yi learned of the news, she was eating in her dining hall. Her mood lifted so immensely that she ate enough food to last several days.
Xia Wushang had also sent people to question her, wanting to know if she had discovered anything. However, ever since Princess Ling Yi had learned of the murders of Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang, she no longer dared to investigate the matter, so naturally, she had found nothing.
She also didn’t tell Xia Wushang’s men that the deaths of Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang might be related, as she wasn’t even sure about it herself.
’I don’t understand why the thief killed Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang but not me. My Power is less than either of those two brothers.’
’Could they be different people? Perhaps the one who stole my treasures was just a common thief, while the one who killed Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang was an assassin who just happened to steal their belongings afterward. That’s also a possibility.’
’Forget it. I’m not thinking about it anymore. Whatever the case, I’m definitely not getting involved. I don’t want to end up like Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang. It’s better to just focus on my Cultivation and hide my things better in the future.’
Princess Ling Yi was thoroughly frightened and no longer dared to get mixed up in the affair.
The Fifth Prince, Xia Wushang’s, rampant searches inside and outside the Imperial Palace finally provoked a reaction from Emperor Xia.
Early one morning, before the sun had fully risen, an old eunuch who served Emperor Xia arrived at the Gold and Silver Palace. He told Xia Wushang to restrain himself and to stop his wanton searches from disturbing the other palaces. He also ordered the Prince to reflect on his actions in seclusion for three days.
Xia Wushang had no choice but to abandon his search of the Imperial Palace, but his investigation into the matter did not stop.
"Your Majesty, the Fifth Prince has ceased his searches of the various locations in the Imperial Palace," the old eunuch reported to Emperor Xia immediately upon his return.
In Yangxin Hall, Emperor Xia stood before a window with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the sprawling palaces with fury in his eyes. "First, Yun Shu and Qing Ling were murdered. Then the brothers Chenhua and Chenguang. Ling Yi’s entire fortune was stolen. Now, even Wushang, who is protected by a Second Grade Grandmaster, has lost a valuable treasure. What is this person trying to do? Are they specifically targeting the children of the Royal Family?"
"This old servant wouldn’t dare to jump to conclusions, but this series of events is indeed too strange," the old eunuch said with a bow.
A cold glint flashed in Emperor Xia’s eyes. His fingers tapped unconsciously on the window lattice, each soft tap causing the air in the hall to stagnate. "They dare to lay a lethal hand on my own children. What won’t they do? It is time for a thorough investigation. Find a suitable Divine Constable and have them investigate this matter completely. The priority is to track down the murderer of Yun Shu, Qing Ling, Chenhua, and Chenguang. Even if it involves other Princes and Princesses, show no mercy."
"This old servant obeys." The old eunuch bowed respectfully.
Emperor Xia remained standing at the window, his gaze turning colder by the second. He could tolerate the open and hidden struggles among the Princes and Princesses, but he would never allow someone to so brazenly harm the Royal Family’s bloodline right under his nose.
In the Eastern Palace’s Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang’s Spiritual Power had reached one hundred and ten points. Although he had not awakened a new Companion Talent, it had brought about an epiphany.
Both his Stealth Technique and Shadow Escape Sword Technique reached Minor Achievement, and they could now be used to considerable effect. He was quite satisfied with this.
’I wonder when I’ll awaken my next Companion Talent, and what it will be. The thought alone is exciting.’
Before long, using the birds and other small animals that roamed the Imperial Palace, Xia Wuyang received news that Emperor Xia was preparing to launch a full investigation into the recent events, with a focus on the deaths of Princess Yun Shu, Princess Qing Ling, Xia Chenhua, and Xia Chenguang.
Even the disappearance of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Fruit was a lower priority.
’It seems I’ve killed a few too many Princes and Princesses recently. Four of them dead in just over three months—that’s more than one a month. Even Emperor Xia can’t sit still any longer.’
’But these people wanted to take my life. I was merely giving them an eye for an eye, blood for blood.’
"It seems I need to change my strategy."
Xia Wuyang muttered to himself. Since he couldn’t go on a killing spree, he might as well spare their lives. At worst, he could cripple their Cultivation or turn them into vegetables. As long as they didn’t die, it would be fine.
Besides, for a Prince or Princess in this Imperial Palace, losing one’s Cultivation or even ending up in a vegetative state was a fate far more painful than death.
It was time for these people to have a proper taste of the pain he had once experienced.
As Emperor Xia’s comprehensive investigation began, the atmosphere within the Imperial Palace gradually began to change.
Eunuchs, Palace Maids, and attendants loyal to Emperor Xia began to methodically sift through every suspicious detail. Unlike Xia Wushang’s ostentatious search, they were like an invisible net, silently enveloping the entire Imperial Palace.