I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

He had known this truth for many years: the world of martial arts is treacherous, and the imperial court is dangerous.

This is most likely because someone wants to use him as a tool to kill someone.

"The Eastern Depot..."

Xia Jiang murmured to himself, then held the note close to the candlelight in front of him.

They watched as the flames gradually consumed the note.

He suddenly let out a cold laugh.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Even if this is a scheme to kill with a borrowed knife, it might not be a bad thing if we could take the opportunity to get rid of several grandmasters of the Eastern Depot.

At this time, Zhu Houcong was completely unaware of what was happening at the Suspended Mirror Bureau.

His imperial carriage stopped in front of Zhaoren Palace.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

This palace, which represents the position of the Empress, was originally the residence of Lady Yue. However, due to the rebellion of the deposed Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan, Lady Yue was banished to the Cold Palace.

All that awaited her was the solitary lamp and the end of her remaining years.

Now that the Empress has been chosen, Consort Hui should naturally reside here.

No, she should be called the Empress now.

As soon as he stepped into the palace gate, he saw the new empress already waiting in front of the hall.

Zhu Houcong looked at the Empress and his eyes lit up.

She was dressed in a bright red brocade robe with dragon and phoenix patterns, and an outer shawl adorned with pearls.

She also wore a dragon and phoenix pearl and jade crown on her head.

It perfectly complemented her beautiful, dignified, and elegant demeanor.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

The Empress bowed gracefully, and Zhu Houcong quickly reached out to help her up.

"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities."

The more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

The woman before me had exquisite features and an extraordinary bearing; she truly possessed the demeanor of a mother of a nation.

"Today is the auspicious day of your investiture, and I have come here especially to see you."

Zhu Houcong asked gently, "Are you getting used to living in Zhaoren Palace?"

The Empress smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty's grace is overwhelming."

Then she chided him playfully, "Why did Your Majesty find time to visit me today instead of going to see Consort Xi?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong chuckled and gently lifted the Empress's delicate chin with his finger.

"What, is my Empress jealous?"

He leaned close to the Queen's ear, his warm breath entering her ear.

"I can't wait to see how you look in this phoenix robe."

The empress blushed slightly upon hearing this.

"Would Your Majesty be willing to stay overnight at Zhaoren Palace tonight?"

"Of course we'll stay."

A wicked smile flashed across Zhu Houcong's lips. Suddenly, he picked up the Empress and carried her into the inner palace.

The empress gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Your Majesty, no, I haven't changed my clothes yet."

"What's the point of changing clothes? I want you to wear this tonight..."

Chapter 167 He's Learned to Play Mind Games with Me

Before the morning mist had dissipated, a group of people had already gathered on the official road in the suburbs.

Princess Liyang, accompanied by Xie Bi and Xiao Jingrui, came to see Xie Yu off.

Zhu Houcong controlled the Vermilion Bird and stood in a corner not far away, watching their every move.

Several people were seen crying with tears streaming down their faces.

After a while, it is unclear what the two said, but Princess Liyang suddenly took out a writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone from Xie Bi's hand.

Xie Yu took it with trembling hands and began to write on it.

Zhu Houcong narrowed his eyes; he knew that what was written there was the truth about the Chiyan Army case.

Upon seeing this, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

The Chiyan case is a dark chapter in Emperor Liang's history.

An emperor intentionally massacred 70,000 of his own soldiers.

If this gets out, he will definitely be seen as a tyrannical ruler who will be infamous for all time.

Therefore, anyone who dares to make a fuss about the Chiyan case and tries to reopen an old case will die.

Moreover, he was aiming to become an immortal. If Mei Changsu used this case to force him to give up his position as emperor, causing his role to fail, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

After Xie Yu finished writing, Li Yang carefully folded the paper and hid it in his personal purse.

"Take care of yourself!"

Xie Yu uttered two words, then got up and left, dragging his heavy shackles.

Suzaku slowly straightened up and followed at a leisurely pace.

This former Marquis of Ningguo is now someone that all three forces must eliminate.

The Crown Prince wanted to kill him, Xia Jiang wanted to silence him, and Zhu Houcong would certainly not let him go.

He definitely won't live long.

All I need to do is witness his death to ensure everything goes smoothly.

As soon as Li Yang's carriage entered the city gate, before it even reached the princess's residence, it was stopped by Cao Zhichun and a group of Eastern Depot agents.

"Your Highness!"

Cao Zhichun bowed with a beaming smile: "His Majesty has decreed that you be summoned for an immediate audience."

Li Yang's heart skipped a beat, and his hand, hidden in his sleeve, unconsciously clenched the purse.

"What brings Your Majesty to summon me at this time?"

Yan Song maintained his respectful smile: "This old servant dares not presume to guess His Majesty's intentions. Please, Your Highness, accompany me."

"Please lead the way, sir."

As the carriage turned onto the familiar palace road, Li Yang felt, for some reason, that the palace was particularly eerie today.

When she entered the Wanshou Palace, she saw Zhu Houcong dressed in a black Taoist robe, meditating with his eyes closed in front of the alchemy furnace.

"Liyang greets Your Majesty."

Zhu Houcong slowly opened his eyes, a rare gentle smile appearing on his face.

"We're all family, why be so formal?"

He personally got up and pulled Liyang to sit down.

"Come, talk to me."

After Yan Song served him fragrant tea, Zhu Houcong asked, "Liyang, did you go to see Xie Yu off today?"

Li Yang nodded upon hearing this: "Yes, after all, we were husband and wife."

"We should go and see him off."

Zhu Houcong sighed softly, his tone heavy.

"Although your marriage to Xie Yu was arranged by the late Empress Dowager, your more than twenty years of marital affection are ultimately genuine."

As he spoke, he patted Liyang's cold hand.

"You should also take heart in this matter. In the end, it is Xie Yu's own fault for committing many evil deeds, which led to this disaster."

"For both reason and emotion, I cannot forgive him, and you should not blame me."

Li Yang forced a smile and said, "Your Majesty need not explain. I understand perfectly well that Xie Yu truly brought this upon himself and has no one to blame but himself."

Seeing this, Zhu Houcong gently stroked Li Yang's hair and said affectionately, "You, you pretend to be strong on the surface, but you are actually the most vulnerable."

"Now she also has to take care of Xie Bi and Jing Rui, two children. It's not easy for an orphan and a widow."

"Remember, your brother will always be here for you."

"If you need anything in the future, just tell your brother. You are my own sister, and we are the closest family."

These words seemed to shatter Kasayo's last line of defense.

Her shoulders trembled violently, and she finally threw herself into Zhu Houcong's arms, wailing like a child who had suffered a great injustice.

"Brother...I..."

"Alright, alright!!"

Zhu Houcong gently patted her back.

"With my brother here, no one will be able to bully our Liyang anymore."

After a while, Zhu Houcong spoke as if casually.

"By the way, little sister, I heard Xie Yu left you a letter before he left?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yang froze and abruptly lifted his head from Zhu Houcong's embrace.

She looked at Zhu Houcong in disbelief.

To her astonishment, her brother, who had been so gentle just moments before, was now staring intently at her.

A faint smile still lingered on her face.

But Li Yang could see clearly that it was a forced smile.

At this moment, Zhu Houcong slowly raised his hand and wiped away the tears on Liyang's face.

"What, can't even your elder brother say that?"

Upon hearing this, Liyang felt a chill run down his spine.

She clearly saw that beneath Zhu Houcong's smiling eyes, a suffocating murderous intent was surging.

Li Yang watched Xie Yu write the letter stroke by stroke, so how could he not know what it contained?

That's something that can kill people!

"Yes Yes…"

Liyang's throat bobbed, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

Zhu Houcong's hand continued to gently stroke Li Yang's forehead.

"Silly little sister, what can't you tell your brother?"

His voice was so gentle, like he was coaxing a child, yet it sent a cold sweat down Liyang's back.

Liyang then forced a smile.

"Xie Yu... he only wrote some intimate words between husband and wife. I felt sad after reading them, so... I burned them."

There is no kinship in the imperial family.

She knew this when she was forced to drink the "Love Silk Entanglement" and married Xie Yu.

Xie Yu's writing revealed the truth behind the Chiyan case from back then.