The sudden turn of events left Mingzhu completely at a loss until the handmaiden behind her reminded her, "20??" 20??， Mingzhu hurriedly agreed.
After leaving the main residence, Mingzhu was still a little dizzy. She couldn't understand why things had suddenly turned out this way.
On the other hand, the two handmaidens' eyes glowed with excitement. If this matter was confirmed and the Old Master of the Ming family arrived, they would definitely be handsomely rewarded.
After watching the three of them leave from a corner, Yang Zhaoqing gestured to Lin Pingping to return … Miao Yi was afraid that Yun Zhiqiu would do something rash, so he had Yang Zhaoqing pull Lin Pingping back. If anything happened, she would be able to calm Yun Zhiqiu down.
"You two, what are you doing sneaking around?"
Just as Lin Pingping turned around, Yun Zhiqiu's cold laughter came from behind.
The couple turned around and saw Yun Zhiqiu standing at the entrance of the main hall, staring coldly at them.
Feeling a little awkward, the couple quickly went over to greet her. Yun Zhiqiu didn't appreciate the gesture at all, and said to Lin Pingping, "Keep your man in check. He doesn't need to worry about His Highness's women. If this happens again, I don't mind adding more sisters to your family!"
"Yes!" Lin Pingping nodded awkwardly.
Yang Zhaoqing lowered his head, not daring to look. He didn't try to explain either, knowing that the more he tried to explain, the more unlucky he would be.
Fortunately, Yun Zhiqiu didn't harp on it. With a cold snort, she turned around and left, leaving Miao Yi feeling relieved.
After learning about Yun Zhiqiu's punishment for Mingzhu, Miao Yi also heaved a sigh of relief.
Xue Er, who was reporting from the opposite side, added, "Her Highness wants His Highness to go to Madam Mingzhu's place tonight and see if she's settled down. That way, no one will worry that Her Highness is too harsh on her."
Miao Yi kept a straight face and said, "I know what to do. I don't need her to teach me."
Xue Er bowed and excused herself.
Meanwhile, Yang Zhaoqing was grumbling to himself, 'Say it to Her Highness's face if you dare. Why are you putting on an act in front of us?'
He had already been lectured by Lin Pingping. Women were always disgusted by such things.
Miao Yi quickly shifted his thoughts away from this matter. Leaning back in his chair, he picked up the Star Bell and chuckled coldly, "Cao Man sent a message! I thought he would really turn a blind eye to it. He's really able to keep his cool. "
Shaking Star Bell replied, "Mr. Cao, what can I do for you?"
Cao Man really couldn't hold it in any longer. There was no news of Wei Shu and his entourage, and they couldn't be contacted at all. After a secret investigation, it seemed like nothing had happened at King Bull's manor. But now, they couldn't even find a trace of Wei Shu. After thinking about it, they could only ask Miao Yi for an explanation.
Cao Man: What did you do to Wei Shu?
If he could find out Wei Shu's whereabouts from Miao Yi, then so be it. If he couldn't, then it didn't matter if Miao Yi was the culprit or not. After all, the Blood Lotus had already disappeared, so he had nothing to worry about. Miao Yi had already made him feel threatened, so he wanted to strike while Miao Yi's Southern Army was still under his control!
Miao Yi: 'This prince doesn't understand what Mister Cao is saying.'
Cao Man: Wei Shu has not returned from His Highness's place. Do I still need to say more? Is Wangye not going to give me an explanation?
Miao Yi's brows twitched as he realized something. He asked, 'Is Mister Cao deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?
At the same time, he waved his hand at Yang Zhaoqing and said, "Call Yang Zhaoqing over."
Cao Man insisted, 'Wei Shu went missing within the Southern Army's territory. I can't think of anyone else in the Southern Army who would be capable of such a feat other than His Highness.'
Miao Yi: 'Mister Cao, are you sure Wei Shu has gone missing and not gone to Old Almighty Xiahou's place?'
Cao Man: 'Does Wangye mean that you've already killed Wei Shu?'
Miao Yi: 'Cao Man, don't give me that. Your father, Xiahou Ta, is faking his death and hiding behind the scenes. Don't think I don't know about it. If you want to cause trouble, I'll be more than happy to oblige. Do you think I'm afraid of you?'
Standing beside the rocking chair under the tree, Cao Man was stunned. To be more precise, he was shocked. 'Xiahou Ta faked his death? Father isn't dead? '
Beside him, Qi Jue noticed the change in his expression and asked cautiously, "Master, what's wrong?"
Cao Man couldn't care less about his question. She shook the Star Bell again and asked anxiously, 'You said my father isn't dead?'
Miao Yi: 'What are you playing dumb for? How can you not know if he's dead or not? I'm warning you. Don't push me too far. If worse comes to worst, I'll join forces with the demonic monk!'
As soon as he finished speaking, he disconnected the call and ignored Cao Man. He looked up at Yan Xiu, who had just entered, and nodded slightly.
Yan Xiu immediately summoned the muddle-headed Xiahou Tuo and waited.
Miao Yi also leaned back on the chair and closed his eyes to rest.
In the deep courtyard, Cao Man paced back and forth, his mind a mess. He didn't know if Miao Yi was telling the truth. However, Miao Yi's confidence made him a little suspicious. There was one thing he could be sure of, and that was that his father had not reached the end of his lifespan back then. In addition to that, Niu Youde's words were indeed a possibility. In the end, he stopped and took out a Star Bell. He stared at it blankly for a long time. This was the Star Bell he used to contact his father, Xiahou Ta. It had been a long time since he had used it.
After struggling for a while, Cao Man finally invoked his arts and shook the Star Bell in his hand. However, there was no response from the other side.
As a result, he continued to shake the Star Bell, desperate to get an answer.
When the Star Bell finally responded, Xiahou Ta replied, 'Little Brother, you know everything?'
Cao Man immediately felt like he was struck by lightning. His face turned pale. 'Father is really still alive!'
Cao Man's mouth was filled with bitterness as he replied, 'Father, you kept it from me for so long!'
Xiahou Ta: 'How did you know? Wei Shu didn't tell you. '
Cao Man: 'I just found out from Niu Youde.'
Xiahou Ta: 'How did he find out?'
Cao Man: 'I don't know. When I asked him about Wei Shu's whereabouts just now, I pressured him a little, and he became a little anxious. Only then did I find out that Father is still alive.'
Xiahou Ta: 'Wei Shu brought something to me. I have my own plans.'
'So that's how it is!' Cao Man smiled bitterly. The one Wei Shu truly obeyed was still his own father. He couldn't control himself at all. He looked up to the sky and sighed. Then, he shook the Star Bell and asked, 'Father, where should I go to visit you?'
Xiahou Ta: 'It's enough that you keep those thoughts in your heart. It's not appropriate for me to show my face anymore. Since the family's affairs have been handed over to you, you just have to manage them well. Wei Shu will stay by my side. He won't be going back for now. As for Niu Youde, don't touch him. Just focus on your own matters. I have my own plans for the rest! '
After the father and son ended their communication, Cao Man slumped on the chair with a dejected look on his face. His father had clearly said that he would hand over the family's affairs to him. He should be happy, but he couldn't bring himself to be happy at all. He knew very well that no one could surpass his father's control over the Xiahou family. His father could casually say that it was given to him, and then he could casually take it back. He didn't have the ability to resist at all. If his father really wanted to hand over power, he should have handed over the Family Elder Council as well. However, his father hadn't mentioned anything about the Family Elder Council.
The moment he said that he would visit Xiahou Ta, he even had the intention to kill Xiahou Ta. He wanted to seize the opportunity to get rid of Xiahou Ta and seize power in one fell swoop! However, this thought only flashed through his mind for a moment. After Xiahou Ta said that he wasn't going to see him, he quickly extinguished that ambition. In the end, Xiahou Ta's deterrence prevented him from acting recklessly.
"Master, what's wrong?" Qi Jue asked again.
Cao Man weakly waved his hand. He didn't want to say anything, and slowly closed his eyes …
In the study, Miao Yi let out a cold laugh and said, "He still wants to touch me? Cao Man wouldn't dare even if he was given a hundred guts!" He then waved his hand at Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu put Xiahou Ta away and disappeared once again.
Yang Zhaoqing smiled and said, "With Xiahou Ta in our hands, the Xiahou family's power is already under Your Highness' control!"
Miao Yi was silent for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed, saying, "We have to take care of the Xiahou family's affairs now. It's not a good idea for Xiahou Ling to keep skipping the imperial court. Let's spread the news that Xiahou Ling has passed away due to illness, and that Cao Man has already taken over the position of Patriarch of the Xiahou family!"
'Passed away due to illness?' Yang Zhaoqing couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I'm afraid the term 'passed away due to illness' is very tempting."
Miao Yi also revealed a smile. It was indeed tempting. How could someone with Xiahou Ling's level of cultivation die from illness? Anyone would suspect that Cao Man had murdered Xiahou Ling by usurping his power. He smiled faintly and said, "There are some voices of dissent. It's not a bad thing for Cao Man to clean up the Xiahou family. It will make it easier for me to use the Xiahou family. It's time for Cao Man to surface, lest Xiahou Chengyu thinks that I'm lying to him. "
"Understood!" Yang Zhaoqing replied with a smile. He guessed that His Highness had already set his sights on the Heavenly Empress and her son.
Under the large tree, Yang Qing quietly looked at the graveyard across from him.
Perhaps time could really change many things. The mournful music would no longer ring out from time to time. Perhaps the longing would still be there, but the emotions would calm down, and not be as heartbroken as they were at the beginning.
Before Yun Zhiqiu was placed under house arrest, he had temporarily sent Su Yun back here.
When the white-robed figure once again appeared in the graveyard to clean the surroundings of the mausoleum, Yang Qing dashed across the river and landed at the entrance of the graveyard. This was the first time he had crossed this river since he met Su Yun.
Su Yun quickly turned around and stared at the person walking in. She didn't stop him, for she had always been curious about his identity.
Walking up to the tombstone, Yang Qing cupped his fists towards Hao Defang's tombstone, then turned to Su Yun and smiled faintly, "Her Ladyship invites you over."
Su Yun nodded and said, "If Her Ladyship has any instructions, she can just send a message. Why would she trouble Sir to personally come?"
"I wanted to come and take a look." Yang Qing spoke the truth, then extended his hand and made an inviting gesture.
The two of them left the graveyard together. On the way back to the prince's estate, Su Yun silently sized up the man beside her who had never revealed his true appearance.
In Su Yun's residence in the prince's estate, Yun Zhiqiu sat in a pavilion and waited, with only Xue 'er by his side.
"Her Ladyship!" Su Yun came to pay her respects, and Yang Qing also cupped his hands.
Yun Zhiqiu smiled at Su Yun and said, "Something happened a while ago, so I asked Sir to temporarily leave. I hope Sir won't think too much about it."
Su Yun smiled but said nothing. Since Yun Zhiqiu didn't say anything, she didn't ask what had happened.
Yun Zhiqiu then looked at Yang Qing and said, "Sir Yang said he would personally invite you over. You've already met, so you must know each other."
Su Yun looked at Yang Qing meaningfully, "So it's Sir Yang! Sir Yang is unfathomable. I've only just learned his surname and haven't even seen his true appearance, so I can't say I know him. "
Yang Qing was silent.
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