Zu An felt his head go blank. The emperor seeking him out at this type of time was definitely not anything good!
He didnât ask Eunuch Wen further about what the emperor wanted. He was already grateful that he told him these things, so he shouldnât trouble this man any more.
Furthermore, he probably didnât know what the emperor was really thinking either.
The two of them arrived at the imperial study. Eunuch Wen went ahead to report his arrival first. He quickly came back out and told Zu An, âHis majesty invites Sir Zu inside.â
After saying this, he gave him a âbest of luckâ look. Zu An released a bitter chuckle. Now that things were like this, he could only brace himself and go in.
When he arrived inside the Imperial Study, he saw that it was no longer the bronze mirror, but rather the emperor himself reading over a report.
When Zu An entered, the emperor didnât react at all, as if he was just empty air.
Zu An stood to the side and bowed. âThis subject pays his respects to your majesty.â
The emperor still didnât respond. Zu An gulped. Iâm finished. The reason this guy is unhappy is probably because of me!
He stared straight down and didnât say anything, remaining silent to prevent this situation from getting any worse.
A while later, the emperor raised his head to give him a look. When he saw how he was acting, he laughed out of anger. âNormally, those court officials are all shaking in fear and reverence, yet youâre standing there like nobodyâs business.â
Zu An replied, âI was scared that I would disturb your majesty from reading your report.â
âYouâre just as slick as always.â The emperor harrumphed. âHow is the investigation I assigned you going?â
Zu An thought over his words, and then slowly said, âI already found some clues. The Left Guard General Cheng Xiong colluded with the assassins through his son Cheng Gang. He exchanged information with the government brothelâ¦â
The emperor declined to express anything after hearing his explanation. âThen what about the motive?â
Zu An replied, âCheng Xiong is an important member of King Qiâs faction. I believe he wanted to use the assassination to get rid of the crown prince so King Qi can succeed to the throne.â
The emperor gave him a cold look. âAre you accusing my own younger brother, a respected and wise king! How brazen?!â
You have successfully trolled Zhao Han for +444 Rage points.
Zu An snorted inside. Is this emperor really going to put on this type of appearance even in this situation? Everyone in this world knows that you and King Qi are already like water and fire, that youâre itching to get rid of him. Who are you putting on this performance for?
Of course, mockery was mockery. Heâd be courting death if he said any of this out loud. He could only continue based on the situation and say, âThis subject does not dare vainly guess whether or not King Qi is really the one behind it all, but this is the most suitable deduction.â
His majesty tossed the report in his hands onto the table. âYouâve found an excellent reason, and youâve even told me a reasonable motive. If it was anyone else, they might believe what you are saying. Unfortunately, I know that King Qi would never do something so stupid.â
Zu An was stunned. Wouldnât King Qi receive the most benefits if the crown prince dies?
The emperor seemed to have guessed at his thoughts and said, âI have many sons, and there is no lack of sharp and powerful ones among them. Why then, did I choose the crown prince?â
Zu Anâs head began to move quickly. He quickly recalled what he discussed with Chu Chuyan on the way to the capital.
Because of who the late emperor was, King Qi indeed had right to succession. The only thing the emperor could fight back with was his oldest sonâs right to succession. The crown prince is the emperorâs oldest son, which is why he is the heir apparent to the throne. He has the law on his side as well, so King Qiâs faction has no choice but to acknowledge this fact as well.
But if the emperor didnât go this path and instead chose to have his sons compete in brilliance and wisdom, who could compare to King Qi?
The emperor said coldly, âYou are a smart person, so I believe you understand. That is why if something happened to the current crown prince, then I have a justifiable reason to switch to a more intelligent genius to serve as the new crown prince, because he is the next in line. Do you think King Qi would do something so foolish?â
Zu An immediately broke out into cold sweat, because he also understood what was going on now. King Qi likely doesnât wish for the current crown prince to die either.
It was precisely because of this stupid crown prince that the so many knowledgeable and experienced members of the court were worried about their future. This was the foundation for why they chose to side with King Qi.
If the crown prince became someone intelligent⦠No, even if he was only an ordinary person, as long as he had the ability to preserve the work of his predecessors, then why would so many of the courtâs subjects brace themselves to clash against the most powerful emperor? Why would they side with King Qi?
It now seems like Yun Jianyue miscalculated as well. Regardless of how she tried to frame King Qi, the emperor knew that it was definitely not done by King Qi.
Zu An quickly said. âHis majesty is wise and brilliant. This subject will continue searching for the culprit.â
âHeh, you are going to continue searching?â The emperor put away his smile. âYouâve colluded with the Devil Sect to take down the Left Guard General, who are you planning to frame with the Devil Sect next?â
Zu Anâs heart stopped. Cold sweat soaked through his clothes.
The emperor knows everything!
Wait, calm down first. Maybe he is just testing me?
As such, he pretended to be completely innocent. âWhat does your majesty mean? This subject is slow-witted and does not understand.â
The emperor instead nodded in praise. âYour temperament is not bad. Your mind has not collapsed even at this point.â
Zu An sighed in relief, but the emperorâs expression became completely cold. âUnfortunately, the proof is undeniable. All excuses will only seem even more laughable.â
He tossed the accounts book he was reading over. âTake a look for yourself.â
Zu An gulped. He opened the document in front of him. This was clearly a confidential document, yet when he saw the contents on the surface, an explosion went off in his head. Every single cell in his body was quivering.
His dealings with Qiu Honglei in Brightmoon City were written in detail. There was even the matters of how Qiu Honglei took the initiative to marry herself to him.
Later on, on their way to the capital, the Devil Sectâs experts tried to seize Zu An. The one in the lead was precisely Qiu Honglei.
According to various sources, Qiu Honglei was the saintess of the Devil Sect.
Furthermore, the long haired female grandmaster was the Devil Sect Master Yun Jianyue, and Qiu Honglei was her direct disciple.
There seemed to be a girl who looked like Qiu Honglei coming in and out of Zu Anâs baron residence during these past few days. Later on, Zu An headed into the government brothel and Cheng Gang was crippled. The case of Cheng Gang colluding with the government brothel followed right afterâ¦
One could make reasonable deductions from all of this information even without seeing it for themselves. Furthermore, the deductions were practically the same as reality.
He could tell from a single glance that this was Zhuxie Chixinâs handwriting. Motherfucker, that guy called me a brother to my face but stabbed me right in the back.
But he knew that blaming Zhuxie Chixin was meaningless. It was probably the emperor who had him investigate him. Damn it, theyâre all ruthless old foxes.
âLooks like Cheng Xiong wasnât wrong previously. It was you who sent out an assassin after all.â The emperorâs cold eyes surrounded him, as if he was looking at a dead person.
In this instant, his aura erupted. Zu An felt as if the air around him became incredibly viscous, and he couldnât even move a finger. It was as if he would be blown to ashes with a single thought from the emperor.
Zu Anâs brain moved quickly, trying to find a way to deal with this. His first reaction was to deny it to the very end, because there was no conclusive proof recorded.
But he immediately rejected this idea. Investigation and proof were only used to convince the common people. For the emperor, as long as he believed something happened, would he let you go just because there wasnât any proof?
Wait, I didnât seem to have received much Rage points from the emperor in the backend?
Furthermore, why is he telling me all of this? If he really wanted me dead, he could have just killed me. Is there a need to talk so much?
When he thought of the mission he was given, he suddenly thought of something and immediately said, âThis subject has committed a mortal crime! But I didnât collude with the Devil Sect, it was all because I just happened to run into Qiu Honglei! She saved my life before, so I couldnât just watch her die without doing anything. That was why I let her live!â
He spoke half truths. Of course, he couldnât talk about how he saved Yun Jianyue. The emperor would never permit a grandmaster to slip through his grasp.
The emperor gave him an expressionless look. âOh? So you were just repaying a past gratitude. Then should this emperor reward you for that?â
Zu An quickly said, âThis subject doesnât dare! I should die by a thousand cuts. Iâll let your majesty decide how this situation should be dealt with.â