Chapter 118: "You Psychopathic Tyrant...
"What... are you talking about?"
Xiao Yang’s eyes flashed, her gaze sharp. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
These past few days, she had been busy dealing with Xiao Sheng. After finally putting down his rebellion, she was occupied with managing court affairs. Now the Empress Dowager was dead, and she was busy arranging the funeral.
She had no energy to spare for anyone else, only to suddenly learn that something had happened to Xu Xingchen—and it hadn’t just happened today.
Xu Shikai hadn’t wanted Xu Xingchen to get involved in the struggle for Imperial Power. Fearing he would be implicated for standing too close to the Emperor with a clouded mind, he’d had Xu Xingchen locked up the night before Xiao Sheng made his move.
But Xu Xingchen had somehow picked the lock and escaped. Instead of entering the palace, however, he had vanished without a trace.
Xu Shikai had been sending people to search for him ever since, but they had yet to find him. He even suspected Xu Xingchen might have met with a terrible fate.
He hadn’t informed the Emperor. Instead, he’d sent someone to the Ministry of Justice to request a leave of absence for Xu Xingchen, claiming he was ill.
If Xiao Yang hadn’t seen the report from the Ministry of Justice and thought to ask about it on a whim, she would still be in the dark.
Xu Shikai had also been living in fear these past few days, and the man looked utterly haggard, but Xiao Yang wasn’t going to forgive him because of that.
"Xu Shikai, are you displeased with me?"
Xu Shikai fell to his knees with a THUD. "This subject would not dare."
’Not daring is not the same as not being.’
Xiao Yang sneered. "Your Xu Family is so noble, so independent, choosing your own enlightened lord. I cannot afford such arrogant subjects."
A roar went off in Xu Shikai’s head. He knew he was probably finished.
"Your Majesty, this subject was wrong! My thinking was rigid and muddled. This subject meant no disrespect to Your Majesty and will henceforth do my utmost to serve you."
Xiao Yang seethed just looking at him. If not for Grand Tutor Xu and Xu Xingchen, she would have told him to get as far away from her as possible.
"Assistant Minister of Rites Su Beihai will temporarily assume the duties of Minister of Rites. Xu Shikai is suspended from his post but will remain on call. Summon Grand Tutor Xu back to the capital."
"If Xu Xingchen isn’t found, you can forget about ever holding the position of Minister of Rites again."
Xu Shikai was thrown out of the Imperial Study Room. He took two steps before slumping dejectedly to the ground.
The Emperor’s disgust for him was blatant. His official career was likely at an end.
But even so, he pushed himself back to his feet. He still had to find Xu Xingchen.
Xiao Yang sent her own people out to search, but the Xu Family had already been looking for so many days. How could it be easy for her newly dispatched men to find Xu Xingchen?
When it came to saving someone, time was life.
Xu Xingchen had offended too many people because of her. If he fell into their hands, there was no way he would meet a good end.
Xiao Yang waited only one hour before she rose and walked out of the Empress Dowager’s mourning hall. Her gaze swept over to Xiao Lv. "Go bring Xie Liuzheng to the palace."
Seeing the Emperor’s all-knowing expression, the corner of Xiao Lv’s mouth twitched. He didn’t ask any questions, simply turning to fetch the person.
When Xie Liuzheng heard that Xiao Lv was looking for her, she immediately wanted to hide. Even after hearing he was carrying the Emperor’s command, she remained skeptical.
In the end, however, she came out and boarded the carriage.
Thinking about the Emperor summoning her, she asked with the guilt of a thief, "Her Majesty hasn’t found out about something, has she?"
Xiao Lv was speechless. "So what if she knows? Am I some kind of shameful secret?"
Xie Liuzheng shot him a look that said it all.
Xiao Lv let out a "heh." In the end, he didn’t argue with her. The Emperor was a woman; there was no point in arguing.
The two of them soon entered the palace. Xie Liuzheng was still filled with apprehension, panicking like she’d been caught cheating. The whole way there, she was mentally drafting a speech to explain her affair.
But as soon as they met, Xiao Yang didn’t say a word and simply snatched the system off her shoulder.
Xiao Lv: "???"
"What did... Her Majesty just do?"
Xie Liuzheng rubbed her face, affecting a calm expression. "It’s nothing. A trivial matter."
As she thought about it, she sighed, heartbroken. "I don’t think there’s any chance for me and Her Majesty anymore. She didn’t even look at me just now."
Xiao Lv was speechless. Xiao Lv fell silent. He helplessly flicked her on the forehead. "It’s not ’I don’t think.’ It’s ’absolutely impossible.’"
’Idiot!’
"AHHH! Let me go! Let me go..."
"How can you grab me? You can see me?"
"Weren’t your memories erased?"
The system struggled in Xiao Yang’s grasp, puffing itself up into a ball, but it couldn’t escape her clutches.
Xiao Yang: "Help me find someone."
System: "No way! You’re not my host. I can’t possibly help you."
Xiao Yang took out the dagger Li Wei had given her, contemplating where to make the first cut.
’How is this person just like my host, always pulling out a knife at the drop of a hat?’
’I’m a system, not a real fish. How could I possibly be afraid of a knife?’
However, Xiao Yang was a person of few words and vicious action. She stabbed down directly.
Discovering it was pinned to the wooden table and couldn’t move, the system was terrified.
"How is this possible? How can this be?"
Xiao Yang was also surprised. "It actually worked?"
The pufferfish’s already round eyes widened even more, filled with horror. "How did you do that?"
Xiao Yang opened her palm, revealing a cut that was still bleeding. "The blade was coated in my blood."
"Can you answer my question now?"
The system couldn’t remain calm. It never expected to be touched by someone other than its host, let alone be injured by them.
"Who... who are you looking for?"
"Xu Xingchen."
The system had no choice but to check. A moment later, it answered, "Xu Xingchen is currently trapped in a secret dungeon. He only has three days to live."
Xiao Yang: "Address."
The system roared, "I can only see his fate, I’m not a GPS!"
Xiao Yang cut her hand to coat the blade in blood again, preparing to slice some fish fillets.
The system was so angry it started flashing gibberish. "You psychotic tyrant..."
A moment later, Xiao Yang left the palace with her guards, heading straight for the Liu Family estate.
Ever since the Chen and Liu Families were exiled, their two estates had been sealed, and the seals remained to this day.
The gateway was covered in dust and the walls were strewn with fallen leaves. At a glance, it was clear no one had entered or exited in a long time.
But Xiao Yang was certain that pile of fish fillets wouldn’t lie to her.
"Open it!"
The seals were torn away, and the Imperial Guards poured in like a river, heading straight for their destination.
The people inside sensed the danger and began to scatter. The guards immediately split into several groups to give chase.
The Liu Family had once wielded great power, and to handle certain dirty affairs, they had built an enormous secret dungeon in their estate.
When Li Wei had ransacked the house, he had also found it. But besides prison cells and torture instruments, it was empty. In the end, he had simply placed seals on it.
Now, the seals were torn. There were obvious footprints around, and the scent of blood even drifted out from within.
The most dangerous place is the safest place. The rats were hiding here, and so was Xu Xingchen.
BANG!
A guard kicked a person aside. The people inside were already prepared, and countless hidden arrows shot out instantly.
Prepared shields blocked all the attacks. A towering guard used his shield as a weapon, crushing his way into the secret dungeon.
The ones inside were all traitors. There was no need for courtesy—kill on sight!
Xiao Yang’s Imperial Guards were all masters of martial arts. She had even implemented a last-place elimination system; those whose martial arts were even slightly lacking were weeded out in minutes, leaving only the elite of the elite.
Assassins from the martial world were certainly skilled, but few could surpass the Emperor’s personal guards.
In the face of absolute martial prowess, all resistance was futile.