Chapter 76: Harmless Good Boy
Xiao Yang had her reasons for using people like Xiao Lan and Xiao Jinsu. For one, they were loyal to her for the time being. For another, they were all young—and since Xiao Jinsu and Xie Liuzheng were women, people wouldn’t be overly guarded around them.
Besides, it was currently the New Year festival. Everyone was visiting relatives and friends, and gatherings were frequent. More people meant more gossip, and important intelligence was often revealed inadvertently.
Moreover, while Xiao Yang appeared to have summoned only a few individuals, she was in fact mobilizing several families.
The Pingchuan Marquis Mansion and Anyang Bo Mansion had fallen on hard times. With their children now deeply trusted and utilized by the Emperor in the imperial court, the parents had every reason to offer their support.
Thus, they would surely help their children gather information.
And it wasn’t just them. Their extended relatives, though not necessarily aware of the full truth, would all become their instruments.
This was something Xiao Yang wouldn’t teach them, but Xiao Lv would be sure to remind them.
Of course, she couldn’t forget Prince Jing. Her dear uncle was a veteran tool. As long as Prince Jing didn’t rebel, there was no escaping Xiao Yang’s servitude.
However, Prince Jing’s status was too high and conspicuous, limiting what he could do openly. But Xiao Yang believed his potential was limitless. A grand Prince like him couldn’t possibly be without his own network of contacts.
By bringing these people down, they could always find a way to get a piece of the pie when the fortunes were seized. The positions left vacant would be cushy, lucrative ones.
They might not be particularly devoted to Xiao Yang as their Emperor, but who wouldn’t want a promotion and a grasp on power?
Loyalty was never built on emotion, but on interest.
As for Xie Liuzheng, she had a system—a natural cheat code. ’If she can’t even complete the mission with that,’ Xiao Yang thought, ’then I’ll have to wonder how she ever passed her internship at the Star Emperor Group.’
Then there was the Xu Family. For now, Xiao Yang had no intention of dragging down the high-and-mighty Civil Servant Family. Mainly because such a family was too rigid and stuffy, which wasn’t much fun.
If things went south, she’d just end up with a swarm of people lecturing her.
And yet, this most dignified and proper scholarly family had somehow produced a cute little psycho like Xu Xingchen.
Making a rare show of diligence, Xiao Yang reviewed the case files with Xu Xingchen. Compared to his ability to read ten lines at a glance, she was noticeably slower. So, after he finished his stack, he set it aside and simply stared at her.
With her eyes fixed on the files, his own gaze became brazen, making no effort to conceal its pathological greed.
’How could anyone be so beautiful? I want her. I want to add her to my collection.’
’I’ll put her in the largest chest, display it in my room, and look at her every single day.’
Xiao Yang raised a hand and pressed it onto Xu Xingchen’s head. "What are you staring at me for? Did you find something?"
Xu Xingchen looked up again, his long, thick eyelashes fluttering. "I’ve finished reading."
He produced the notes he’d compiled. "Please take a look, Your Majesty."
In that moment, he looked like a harmless, obedient child.
Xiao Yang accepted the notes, her knuckles tapping lightly between his eyebrows. "Good boy. Read the rest of them too."
’Free labor is a terrible thing to waste.’
Xu Xingchen obediently took the remaining files. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Yang attentively reading his compiled notes, and a dangerous glint unconsciously entered his gaze.
He was hatching wicked schemes to steal her away.
Xu Xingchen thought he hid it well, but his petty scheming was child’s play in Xiao Yang’s eyes.
’She had no desire to provoke someone like the Regent King, but a little psycho like this? Wasn’t he completely at her mercy?’
’If he keeps staring like that, I might just make my move.’
"Your Majesty, the Regent King has arrived."
Without looking up, Xiao Yang said, "Let him enter."
Rong Yin entered, removing his snow-dusted greatcloak at the doorway to reveal the black Prince Python Robe beneath.
The dark patterns of the black cloud brocade seemed to shimmer. Perfectly tailored, it outlined his broad shoulders and narrow waist.
He wore a golden red jade crown that held his hair, fastidiously styled. Two jade ribbons hung neatly from it, their ends tipped with a pair of Blood Jade Beads. His entire being radiated an air of noble asceticism, a warning for others to keep their distance. Even the Jade Pendant at his waist seemed to emanate a chill.
And yet, the moment his eyes landed on Xiao Yang, they burned with an unconcealed aggression, a heat so intense it threatened to drown a person within it.
Ever since he had spoken those words, it was as if a switch had been flipped in Rong Yin.
His gaze would automatically lock onto Xiao Yang, enveloping her completely.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
Rong Yin bowed with perfect propriety, but his gaze was anything but.
’Xiao Yang sighed inwardly. It wasn’t Rong Yin’s fault. The blame lay with her for being too exceptional, her charm simply too potent to be contained.’
"Is there something you need, Regent King?"
Rong Yin produced a box. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for granting Prince Kang a path to life."
Early this morning, Prince Kang signed a pile of property transfer agreements and was finally granted his freedom from the Heavenly Prison.
But the moment his foot crossed the threshold of the Heavenly Prison, Prince Jing’s men were already there waiting for him.
They were there to escort Prince Kang back, and incidentally, to take possession of his assets.
Years ago, the Rong Family had used a Princess’s name to greedily amass a fortune. After Rong Yin became Regent King, even though he never returned to them, he had inadvertently become their backer. This made others afraid to cross them and allowed them to act with even greater impunity.
That this ill-gotten wealth could now buy Prince Kang’s life meant he was getting off easy.
As for Rong Yin, he wasn’t truly happy that Prince Kang was alive; he was simply looking for an excuse to give a gift.
If he had presented it as an apology for his offense the other day, he feared Your Majesty wouldn’t accept it. Besides, a part of him refused to admit he had been wrong.
"This is Bright Mirror Villa, the late Emperor’s favorite estate. It has a natural hot spring, which can soothe the muscles, invigorate the body, and nourish one’s health. With the weather so cold now, a soak would be perfect."
Xiao Yang opened the box. It was indeed the deed to an estate called Bright Mirror Villa.
"Alright, I understand."
Since it was a gift on behalf of Prince Kang, she had no reason to refuse it.
Xiao Yang accepted the gift and was about to send him away when Liang Sha rushed in. "Your Majesty, Young Master Jiang is dead!"
Xiao Yang’s head snapped toward Rong Yin.
Rong Yin said quickly, "It wasn’t me."
Given his prior conviction, he added, "It really wasn’t."
Xiao Yang went to Luoyun Hall, where Jiang Shuhuai’s body was being carried out, covered by a white sheet.
Xu Xingchen stepped forward and yanked the sheet away. Unafraid of the gore, he immediately began to examine the wound with his bare hands.
"It’s a sword wound. It pierced the heart. No signs of a struggle. A single, fatal blow."
"The blood has drained, and its color is dark red. Time of death was over three hours ago."
After examining the wound, he went inside the room.
Xiao Yang instructed Lin Yi, "Follow him. Let him investigate."
Rong Yin had also followed. Because he had lost his temper and threatened to kill Jiang Shuhuai the other day, everyone was now looking at him with a hint of suspicion.
Soon, a Palace Attendant gave his testimony. He said that this morning, before the sun had risen, he saw a very tall figure flash past. It was so fast that he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
It was obvious the person’s martial arts were profound and their Qinggong was exceptional, which was why the attendant had only caught a glimpse of a shadow.
The time mentioned by the Palace Attendant also matched Jiang Shuhuai’s time of death.
The Regent King was tall and his martial arts were superb. Most importantly, he wanted to kill Jiang Shuhuai—he had even tried to do it right in front of Your Majesty.
Therefore, he must have been the killer.
With such a massive accusation dumped on him, Rong Yin was finally tasting the bitter consequences of his own impulsiveness.