Within the Xiao manor, Xiao Meng blankly stared at the secret letter in his hand and did not speak for a long time.
After a long while, Xiao Meng finally let out a long sigh. He raised his head and looked in the direction of the Main Halls of the imperial palace. His eyes were filled with sorrow and indescribable grief.
"Father, what happened?" Xiao Yanyu asked worriedly with a frown as she looked at Xiao Meng's sorrowful expression.
Xiao Xiaolong was also puzzled as he looked at his powerful father. Xiao Meng had forbidden them from leaving the manor since morning. This caused the siblings who were planning to go to Fang Fang's Little Store to be extremely shocked.
Compared to the carefree Ouyang Xiaoyi, Xiao Yanyu was more perceptive. She could guess that the reason her father forbade them from leaving the Xiao manor was to protect them.
If they needed protection even within the imperial city, then there could only be one explanation. The imperial city was no longer safe, or in other words … it was no longer safe for the children of important officials like them.
"The imperial city is in chaos?" Xiao Yanyu asked Xiao Meng with a voice that was like the chirping of an oriole in an empty valley.
Xiao Meng glanced at Xiao Yanyu as the muscles on his face slightly trembled before he slowly opened his mouth.
"His Majesty … has passed away."
When Xiao Yanyu and Xiao Xiaolong heard this, their bodies trembled. Then, their eyes abruptly widened...
Not only the Xiao manor, but all of the influential officials within the imperial city also received the news. The news of the emperor's death instantly swept through the entire imperial city like a tsunami.
The emperor of a generation, Emperor Changfeng … had passed away.
This was an earth-shattering event for the entire Light Wind Empire.
The situation within the imperial city was already obscure to begin with. Following the emperor's death, the imperial city suddenly surged like an undercurrent. The struggle between the crown prince and the second prince for the throne also began to move from the shadows to the light.
This was evident from the fact that the influential officials within the imperial city ordered their children to obediently stay in their manors.
Once the struggle for the throne began, they would need to rope in helpers and require the support of the officials. This support would need to be earned by themselves. In order to make the officials submit and fight for their support, they would need to use some shady methods, such as threats, kidnappings … They would resort to any means necessary.
On this day, the news of Emperor Changfeng's death spread. The crown prince, Ji Chengan, hurriedly entered the palace. King Yu also sped up his horse and entered the Main Hall.
After about an hour or so, the crown prince and King Yu left the palace respectively. They prepared their carriages and started touring the residences of the various ministers, trying to rope them in.
The battle between the crown prince and King Yu was finally a complete showdown.
…
Zhao Mansion, Left Minister Zhao Musheng's mansion.
As the Light Wind Empire's Minister of the Left, Zhao Musheng's status was highly respected. Even the princes had to show him respect when they met. This was enough to show his status in the Light Wind Empire. It could be said that he was second only to the empire's guardian, Xiao Meng.
Zhao Musheng was not considered old, and he looked rather robust. However, his black and white hair gave him a sense of vicissitudes.
He sat on the armchair, narrowed his eyes slightly, and patted his lower abdomen with his palm.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door, and a figure stepped into the room.
"Father! I'm back. " Zhao Ruge, who was wearing a brocade robe, elegantly stepped into the room and respectfully saluted Zhao Musheng, who was sitting on the armchair.
"How did it go?" Zhao Musheng narrowed his eyes and indifferently asked.
"Everything went smoothly and we did not fail. However … why did father send people to capture Ouyang Xiaoyi? Aren't you afraid of angering that lunatic, Ouyang Qi? " Zhao Ruge puzzledly looked at Zhao Musheng. He did not know why Zhao Musheng wanted to get involved in this mess under such circumstances.
"Ji Changfeng is dead, he's dead. The soup in the imperial city is finally going to boil. In order to make this soup more flavorful, of course, some adjustments are needed …" Zhao Musheng opened his eyes. His eyes were deep and peaceful, as if they contained an aura that could calm one's heart.
The reverence in Zhao Ruge's heart became even more intense.
"You can leave now. Don't mistreat that little girl. We only caught her to take the lead. If she gets injured, that Ouyang Qi might really come after us. That old fart really treasures his granddaughter," Zhao Musheng said with a chuckle.
"Let him cause a ruckus with the crown prince and King Yu first. Let him stir up this pot of soup …"
Zhao Ruge was slightly startled. Then, as if he understood something, the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile as he nodded and left.
Zhao Musheng once again chuckled as he watched Zhao Ruge's departing figure.
After Zhao Ruge left Zhao Musheng's room, he walked around the Zhao Manor for a while and soon arrived in front of a room guarded by two fifth grade Battle-Kings.
"Keep an eye on that girl. She's very clever, don't let her get away with it," Zhao Ruge solemnly said.
The two Battle-Kings solemnly nodded.
Zhao Ruge looked at the quiet room and the corners of his mouth curled up. "I'm really curious. If Owner Bu found out that you were kidnapped … how would he react? Would he bring that iron lump of his and directly charge out? That would be interesting. "
...
Inside the crown prince's palace, the crown prince had a bitter smile on his face as he looked at the overbearing old master Ouyang who was standing in the middle of the hall. He really could not bring himself to be angry at this doyen.
"Old master, I swear on my life that I definitely did not touch a single hair on Ouyang Xiaoyi!" Ji Chengan solemnly made a gesture of assurance toward the old master Ouyang.
"Motherf * cker! Who else could it be if it wasn't you? If even a single hair on my darling Xiaoyi's head is harmed, I'll f * cking demolish this crown prince's palace! " The old master Ouyang did not have a good temper. He pointed at the crown prince's nose and fiercely scolded him, causing the crown prince's expression to fluctuate.
However, the crown prince had no choice but to smile apologetically as he watched the old master Ouyang swagger away.
Similarly, after leaving the crown prince's palace, the old master Ouyang directly went to King Yu's manor and scolded King Yu. However, he still did not receive any news about Ouyang Xiaoyi.
However, after the two of them were scolded by the old master Ouyang, their originally hostile actions became slightly sluggish. Their confrontation was no longer as brazen as before.
When the old master Ouyang returned to the Ouyang manor, his expression was no longer as domineering as it was when he scolded the crown prince and King Yu. Instead, it had become somewhat unsightly.
If King Yu and the crown prince did not capture Xiaoyi, then who was the one who captured her?
In the imperial city, who would have the guts to capture his, Ouyang Qi's, granddaughter?
The old master Ouyang pondered. Finally, a name appeared in his mind … Zhao Musheng?!
...
For three days in a row, the number of customers in Fang Fang's Little Store became extremely sparse. It was so sparse that Bu Fang was bored to death every day. He could not feel the changes in the imperial city. The only thing he could feel was the decrease in customers.
It had already been three days since Ouyang Xiaoyi last visited the store. She learned from Fatty Jin, who came to eat on time every day, that the current situation in the imperial city was extremely grim. All the major families were carefully choosing which side to support.
That was because the emperor had passed away and the crown prince and King Yu had started a battle for the throne.
Bu Fang was completely baffled by what he heard. He did not have the slightest idea about the so-called battle for the throne. After listening to a few sentences, he walked away in a daze. However, the news of the emperor's death still made him feel rather emotional.
However, he was very concerned about the news of Ouyang Xiaoyi being kidnapped. After all, the little girl was his server and a member of Fang Fang's Little Store. Since she was Bu Fang's employee, he could not allow himself to be easily bullied.
Bu Fang was curled up on a chair as he admired the continuously falling snow. The pure white snow had already begun to wrap the entire imperial city in a layer of silver, making it appear extremely beautiful.
"Owner Bu, you seem to be quite free. It seems like I came at the right time," a familiar gentle yet slightly domineering voice rang out.
Zhao Ruge was standing at the entrance of the store with a smile on his face as he looked at Bu Fang.
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