Dugu Chen was surprised for a moment, then his eyes narrowed, and a cruel gleam flashed through them.

"Who is it?"

"Prince, the guards of the Water Prison, they’re all dead, and..." Xuan Yue, remembering the scene of dead bodies in the Water Prison, felt a chill run up her spine.

"And what?" He interrupted Xuan Yue’s recollections impatiently.

"Prince, you should see for yourself."

Seeing this, Dugu Chen’s dark eyes deepened ominously, and he quickly strode toward the Water Prison.

Upon entering the Water Prison and seeing the dry corpses on the ground, the scene was too horrible to endure.

Dugu Chen squatted down, examining each withered corpse closely. He took out a sharp dagger, sliced through the outer layer of skin, and immediately countless insects began to surge out rapidly from the inside.

"Prince, be careful, these are Poisonous Insects." Huang Yi cautiously warned from the side; once these insects enter the body, death is certain.

"Investigate, we must find out who is behind this. Be alert for any strangers in Capital City recently. Summon the Hidden Guard and the Hidden Guard, and make sure the princess is protected." Discarding the dagger from his hand, he pulled out a handkerchief, vigorously rubbing his hands back and forth.

"Yes. Should we call upon the seven major Hidden Guards?" Huang Yi asked worriedly. Since Dugu Mo had escaped, with his vengeful nature, he would surely come back to retaliate against his family’s Prince.

"Send Anhu and Anjiang to stay by the princess’s side." Thinking about Dugu Mo’s attitude towards his wife, he unconsciously furrowed his brows.

"Yes." Xuan Yue wanted to advise further, but seeing that the Prince seemed to have made up his mind, she remained silent, resolving to keep a close watch on the happenings in Capital City.

After another glance at the ground, he turned away in disgust and said as he walked to the doorway, "Burn it, completely."

"Yes." Huang Yi obeyed the command, quickly arranging for the bodies to be carried outside, piled up, and doused with kerosene. A torch was thrown down, instantly igniting the bodies. A fierce fire blazed as the air filled with the nauseating stench of decay, and the shrill cries of the insects could be heard, harrowing and piercing.

Feng Xuxu, out of boredom, paced one round after another on the ground, occasionally glancing outside. An hour had passed, and he still hadn’t returned. She strolled back to the edge of the bed and began counting her fingers listlessly.

"Prince." The voices of the maids outside interrupted Feng Xuxu, who was playing with her fingers. She heard the palace door creak open and then bang shut again.

"My husband." She ran up to him, looking up at Dugu Chen with pitiful eyes. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Dugu Chen pursed his lips into a smile, hugged his little wife, wrapped his arms around her small waist, and whispered intimately into her ear, "Why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"I can’t sleep, I slept too much during the day."

"Since you can’t sleep, why not engage in some activity? You’ll naturally fall asleep when you’re tired." He picked her up sideways, tossed her onto the bed, and immediately covered her with his body.

"Ah. You scoun... Mmm." All was said without words.

In the bridal chamber, amidst the passionate disarray of lovers, the room was filled with intimacy and tenderness.

Early the next day, before dawn had fully broken, Dugu Chen rose early, donned his royal attire, and imprinted a kiss on his cherished wife Feng Xuxu’s blushing cheeks before he silently and stealthily left the room.

In the Jinluan Hall, the Emperor sat exhausted on the Dragon Throne, incessantly massaging his temples.

"Your Majesty, it is still too early to abdicate. Please think it over," urged Song Chengji, the Minister of Justice, who was the first to try and stop the Emperor.

"Indeed, Your Majesty, you are still in the prime of your life. Why consider abdication so soon? Think it over," Song Dehou, Song Chengji’s father and the Duke of the Zhenguo, stepped forward, earnestly advising.

The Emperor on the Dragon Throne, who was fine until he cast his eyes upon the two men, was suddenly reminded of his beloved concubine’s death caused by Song Jing. His grip on the armrest tightened, veins bulging on his hand, glaring furiously at them.

"My loyal Ministers, my mind is made up. On the third day of the seventh month, I will transfer the throne to the Crown Prince and make it known to all," the Emperor decisively declared, his sharp gaze turning towards the ministers below.

"Duke of the Zhenguo, you are also advanced in years. It’s time for you to retire and enjoy a peaceful life at home. Let the young and strong struggle for power while we simply enjoy our blessings," the Emperor said with a chuckle to Song Dehou.

"Haha, indeed, I have felt quite weary lately. It may be for the best to pass on the title of the Duke of the Zhenguo to Chengji sooner so that I can enjoy spending time with my grandchildren," he said, stroking his beard with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

While they were speaking, a troop of the Iron Cavalry Army entered the Jinluan Hall, encircling the hall. Following them was a Prince dressed in an official robe with four claw marks embroidered in gold.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Emperor’s forehead vein throbbed at the sight of Dugu Chen.

"Your Majesty, Dugu Mo has enticed foreign clans to betray our nation, killing many soldiers loyal to me, and he fled last night," Dugu Chen reported with an icy demeanor.

"What?" The Emperor was taken aback, staring incredulously at Dugu Chen, and from his pale complexion, he could roughly guess the severity of the situation.

Furious, the Emperor slammed his hand down on the imperial desk and glared at the kneeling Duke of the Zhenguo, "Song Dehou, speak. Where has Dugu Mo gone?"

As soon as Song Dehou heard that Dugu Mo was colluding with foreign tribes, his face turned pale with fear, and when he heard that Dugu Mo had fled, his heart skipped a beat.

Kneeling before the great hall, Song Dehou pleaded, "Your Majesty, I am wrongly accused. Since the incident at the Prince Mo Residence, we have had no contact. Your Majesty, please discern the truth."

Seeing this, Song Chengji also prostrated on the ground, begging the Emperor for mercy, "Your Majesty, I truly had no knowledge of Prince Mo’s collusion with foreign enemies to harm our nation’s soldiers. These are all accusations made by Prince Chen. We did not witness any of it. Your Majesty, please discern the truth." His face was beaded with sweat, and he was greatly afraid of Dugu Chen. This man was undoubtedly ruthless—if you obeyed, you lived; if you resisted, you perished. Determined and merciless, Dugu Chen’s methods left no room for doubt. Today, he was risking it all on a lone gamble. Without proof, they couldn’t do anything to the Zhenguo Duke’s family. This was the thought secretly crossing his mind.

"Take them away. Lock them up in the dungeon, and seize their entire families, leave none behind," the Emperor said coldly, watching the two men struggle as his hands were clasped behind his back.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent. I know nothing. Your Majesty..." Song Dehou begged piteously. He was already being hauled away by two soldiers, one shoe lost and the other dangling half-off his foot.

Song Chengji’s son turned his head back to beg Dugu Chen, "Prince Chen, please spare our family. We truly had no knowledge. Prince Chen, Prince Chen..." But his voice faded as he was dragged away, his pleas growing fainter in the distance.

"Chen, you must personally investigate this matter and resolve it thoroughly," the Emperor said grimly, unwilling to release them until he was certain he had not missed anyone involved. The stability of the court was at stake, and he would not allow any collusion with foreign states to undermine it. His piercing eyes scanned the gathered ministers.