Shen Jin didn’t care about the consequences of her words at all.

Her expression remained unchanged.

"Those Imperial Army soldiers who rushed in, some died and some were injured. Many have burns so severe that their bones are exposed. I ask the Holy Emperor to properly reward them for their meritorious rescue."

Does she really care whether others live or die?

She was merely thinking about the Daoist invited into the palace by the Holy Emperor.

She just wanted to make things difficult for the Ying Family.

In just a few light words, she sent Emperor Ying’s heart sinking to the ocean’s depths.

Did Mr. Tu die?

Then why didn’t the fifth prince die?

Others were so severely injured.

Why did the fifth prince only have a few blisters?

Look at him, lying on the couch, unwell.

Emperor Ying suddenly thought of what Bao Pu had said.

Was it because the fifth prince was protected by Dragon Energy?

When he suffers, the fifth prince thrives?

Indeed, after today, the fifth prince’s virtuous name might spread everywhere.

Emperor Ying’s face suddenly turned gloomy.

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes: "Speaking of, today’s fire is indeed peculiar. It’s still burning now, no amount of water can extinguish it and it burns even more fiercely. I’m afraid the entire Yangxin Hall will need to be rebuilt."

Wasn’t it the same with the fire at the Yu Family back then?

The purpose was to burn everything down, leaving no trace.

He initially wished for the Yu Family to perish without a trace, yet today, someone wants him dead.

Who?

Wei Zhao or Gu Fuju taking revenge?

But it didn’t seem like it.

They are smart people who wouldn’t recreate a fire scene intentionally. Wouldn’t that make them the prime suspects!

Otherwise, why would the Empress Dowager mention it directly in front of him?

Was it the fifth prince?

Ying Yin always had deep thoughts, and he couldn’t be ruled out. Using such a method to deliberately draw suspicion towards Wei Zhao and Gu Fuju?

Allowing death before rebirth?

Of course, it could just as well be the second prince.

He has always acted without regard for consequences.

Otherwise, that fool wouldn’t be lame.

After all, if not the second prince, Black Shadow would act.

Emperor Ying’s eyes grew darker, filled with increasing coldness.

He felt that none of them were good!

Once the Empress Dowager returned to the Cining Palace, her face turned cold.

She looked at Shen Jin.

"Did you see who rescued the Emperor?"

Empress Dowager: "When did they appear, and when did they leave?"

"When did someone like this appear in Yangxin Hall?"

Only to save the Emperor.

If not for Ying Yin’s great fortune, he might have been in trouble too.

"Didn’t see the person’s face."

Shen Jin: "But I did recognize the design on his clothing."

The Empress Dowager signaled her to speak.

Shen Jin paused for a moment, her voice slightly hoarse: "Once, General Jing Yuan was injured, and the mark left on his wound was identical."

This was significant.

The Empress Dowager quickly instructed her confidant to find a way to get this news to the Grand Tutor Mansion.

But at that moment.

"Which injury was it?"

"The one in Shangjing."

The Empress Dowager nodded, with something on her mind, feeling unsettled, suddenly turned sharply.

"No, wait."

"If I remember correctly, that injury was on his back, and the late Emperor was still alive at that time, quite anxious upon hearing of it, and specially called for the Imperial Physician."

"How come I’ve never heard of such a mark? How did you find out?"

Shen Jin remained silent.

Of course, it was because she had secretly entered the Duke Mansion, directly checked by removing his clothes under the guidance of Wei Fengyuan’s confidant.

Yes, it was the first time she saw a man’s body.

Very powerful.

————

Elsewhere.

"Are you crazy."

Xiao Huaian angrily pointed at Wei Zhao.

"I know with your skills, you can come and go freely in the enemy camp, and can even break into the Imperial Palace. There are people supporting us in the palace, and you have people in the Imperial Hospital, and the Fourth Prince Ying Cheng is willing to cooperate, but there’s a risk involved. It’s one thing to give the Dog Emperor the medicine from Elder Ge, but why did you also burn down Yangxin Hall?"

Wei Zhao replied listlessly: "I’m feeling quite upset too."

Xiao Huaian: ?

Wei Zhao: "What if they make me pay for the reconstruction costs."

Xiao Huaian: ...

"No way, he can’t possibly be that shameless."

Wei Zhao: "He woke up quite quickly too."

Xiao Huaian: "Yeah, didn’t lose an arm or a leg. This damned thing has such a tough life." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Wait...

Who was discussing this with you?

"What if those people in the dark had dragged you out on the spot, what would you have done?"

It’s just the start of the war now, not yet time to tear faces off openly.

Wei Zhao was indifferent.

"They won’t."

"I scouted ahead before acting, there was no trace of Black Shadow in Yangxin Hall."

"The other day when tidying up the ancestral hall, I actually found a journal left by an ancestor of the Wei Family. Black Shadow isn’t a force cultivated by the Dog Emperor, nor by the late Emperor; it’s left behind by Emperor Kai Zu."

"Generation after generation, they only pledge allegiance to the Emperor."

So, Black Shadow only saved Emperor Ying, not caring about Ying Yin’s life or death.

"But Emperor Kai Zu was afraid that his descendants would forget the path paved by their ancestors and ministers during the founding of the country, amid the prosperous views. Sharing hard times but not the good ones. Their minds with ulterior motives, monopolizing power, like eagles soaring high, disregarding dust below. Orders like thunder, not allowing dissent. The tower of power rising high into the clouds, but if the base decays, the foundation of the nation shakes."

Very foresighted.

"Black Shadow pledges allegiance to the Emperor, rarely showing up unless necessary, and certainly won’t help do heinous things."

Wei Zhao: "I don’t know how the late Emperor made Black Shadow harm my little uncle."

But he had to admit, the late Emperor’s skill in managing people was really deep.

At least Emperor Ying couldn’t achieve that.

Wei Zhao: "Without a trace, these years I’ve frequently entered the palace to meet the Dog Emperor, and never detected anything unusual around. So, I tested it."

"Sure enough."

Those people didn’t appear immediately, hence didn’t protect closely.

So the Dog Emperor got lightly injured.

Elder Ge’s poison was burning wildly in the firelight. Everyone present, more or less, inhaled some.

The poison was his doing.

Of course, the main reason Wei Zhao did this was to force out Black Shadow.

"Tested it?"

Xiao Huaian was frightened, applying medicine to stop the bleeding on Wei Zhao’s blood-soaked arm: "The Dog Emperor was saved by Black Shadow, Ying Yin didn’t die, yet you turned around and fought a Black Shadow that caught up with you? And ended up like this?"

Wei Zhao: "Why don’t you say, I also cut him?"

However.

Afraid of exposing his identity.

Xiao Huaian: ...

Yes, yes, you’re impressive, you’re aware.

You also went easy.

You deliberately used the fighting style of people around the Second Prince, Ying Zhi, in the fight.

You also dragged Ying Zhi into the water too.

However, as more Black Shadows appeared, their blows deadly, Wei Zhao struggled and no longer tested, finding ways to escape.

Xiao Huaian was furious, growing more apprehensive about the strength of those Black Shadows.

But thinking that Wei Zhao would soon be dealt with by Yu Tingwan, he felt better.

He started asking: "I know you calculated that Ying Yin would save people, but how did you ensure he’d be unharmed?"

"Is it that difficult?"

Wei Zhao scoffed: "Do you really think he’ll risk his life to save people?"

It’s just a show.

Probably stayed a little while in a safer place where the fire was weaker. If Black Shadow hadn’t saved quickly, maybe Ying Yin would have come out feebly in time too.

No matter if something happened to the Dog Emperor, it would be advantageous for him.

He certainly wouldn’t let himself suffer too much.

"Aren’t you afraid the Dog Emperor will blame the Yu Family for the fire disaster and pin this matter on you?"

Wei Zhao’s expression was indifferent, understanding human nature: "The Dog Emperor has a flaw; he overthinks."

Too many twists and turns in his mind. Too much suspicion.

Xiao Huaian: ...

He has a point.

Wei Zhao looked complacent: "Next up, it depends on Ying Fuyan."

Right.

It’s none of his business now.

Xiao Huaian could relax for a few days.

He was in high spirits.

"Wei Zhao, I’m getting married, you know."

Xiao Huaian sighed deeply.

"These days, I’ve been so busy I barely touch the ground, seeing mostly you and Ying Fuyan. If I see more, I’m going to throw up!"

"I want to find Shen Zhiyi, to cultivate feelings with her."

His eyes and expressions were flying, shamelessly: "I’m this kind of person, wanting to be mutually in love with her."

Wei Zhao thought of what Yu Tingwan had told him about Shen Zhiyi going crazy these past few days in the Shen Family.

He didn’t really want to pour cold water on Xiao Huaian.

But Wei Zhao felt, people have to be realistic.

"Save it."

He sighed: "In her state, it’s good she isn’t taking a liking to anyone, let alone stabbing someone."