Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 183: Chu Xiong’s Suspicion

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Chu Xiong’s Suspicion

Mr. Xiao’s meaning was that if Gu Qingli did not return of her own accord, Xiao Yunjing should not compel her.

Xiao Yunjing glanced back at him, understanding his father’s intent, but did not nod. He merely said lightly, "Father, rest assured. No matter what, I will find Li’er."

Mr. Xiao only sighed and waved him away.

Ever since Third married, his heart has changed, entirely devoted to his wife. Women are important, certainly, but not so important as to gamble one’s own life. Now is a prime opportunity; they should be preparing.

"Old man, why must you speak to Third that way?" Ms. Jiang, looking considerably thinner and more haggard, gazed at Xiao Yunjing’s desolate figure, her heart aching.

Mr. Xiao shot a look at Xiao Yunjing’s retreating back and said with some anger, "A woman’s shortsightedness! His entire focus is on a woman, with no thought for himself or the enemy who still lives."

Their great vendetta remains unfulfilled, yet all he cares for is romantic dalliances. Has their endurance these many years been for naught? Was his younger sister’s sacrifice all in vain? Idiot!

Ms. Jiang was rendered speechless. Indeed, everything they had striven for over the years was in hope of one day personally dispatching their foe. Third has come so far; it would be well if he found his wife soon. But if he persists in this search indefinitely and misses the opportune moment, will not all their efforts be undone? Ms. Jiang heaved a long sigh. I hope Third manages to bring his wife back this time.

「In the Red Leaf Villa」

Qingchen stared at the report he had just received.

Gu Qingli had been missing for nearly a month.

How is this possible? That damn woman, whom even he couldn’t capture, how could she have vanished?

"Secret Guard No.1."

Secret Guard No.1 leaped out. "Young Master, what are your orders?"

"Send men to investigate what exactly happened to that damn woman. It’s best to find her before Xiao Yunjing does. If you can’t bring her back alive, then bring back her body."

Qingchen’s face no longer held its usual gentle, jade-like composure; it was now a mask of resentment and madness.

Seeing his master’s expression, Secret Guard No.1 shivered. He clasped his fist in salute and said, "Yes, Young Master."

The more the Young Master cherished that woman before, the more he hated her now. His grand plan wasn’t supposed to be set in motion this soon, but for her sake, he had thrown all caution to the wind.

Recalling the Young Master’s methods, Secret Guard No.1 felt a chill crawl up his spine. When the Young Master was young, he was deceived by the current Villa Master’s wife—his stepmother—and had both his legs crippled. After the Young Master returned, he abducted that woman and repaid her tenfold for what she had done. That woman is still imprisoned in the Young Master’s secret dungeon, living a sunless existence. When the Young Master has nothing else to do, he goes to torture her. But that woman brought it all upon herself; she deserved it.

Yet Gu Qingli was a married woman and the Young Master’s savior. Secret Guard No.1 couldn’t understand why the Young Master was so fixated on her.

Secret Guard No.1 shook his head. They understood the Young Master less and less these days; he seemed to have become an entirely different person. But as subordinates, their place was to obey orders; they had no right to question their master’s decisions.

「In Qiyang County」

Chu Yan was preparing to depart for the Capital City today. This disaster relief mission, costing two hundred thousand taels of silver, was perfectly completed.

The New Year was approaching, and the Emperor had summoned him back to the Capital City.

Chu Yan knew that this return to the Capital City would likely be into a storm of blood and gore. This great achievement had rid him of his reputation as a ’useless Prince’ and revealed his extraordinary talents. Consequently, Chu Xiong fundamentally did not wish for him to return to the Capital City alive. The journey back to the Capital City was long, the weather was terrible; if some accident were to occur, it would be all too normal.

"Let’s go."

Chu Yan looked at the men following him. He hoped they could all make it back to the Capital City alive.

Everyone following Chu Yan was preoccupied with their own thoughts. They all knew that on this journey, safely returning to the Capital City would be harder than ascending to heaven.

「Capital City, Imperial Palace」

Chu Xiong stared at a memorial, his anger flaring three zhang high.

It turned out the memorial was submitted by Yun No. 2. The content stated that Beijing County was henceforth to be independent and no longer subject to the Daqian Kingdom’s governance. If Daqian disagreed, then let there be war.

The officials below, even if they had ten heads, wouldn’t dare to withhold such a provocative memorial; it was delivered to the Emperor immediately.

Such an infuriating document made Chu Xiong livid. He promptly issued an imperial decree, ordering the generals of Yanshan Pass to lead fifty thousand troops to suppress that group of rebels in Beijing.

On the very day the imperial edict was issued, officials from the Ministry of Personnel were dispatched by fast horse to deliver it to Yanshan Pass.

In the Imperial Study, Chu Xiong rubbed his temples. He had just realized that the general of Yanshan Pass had been replaced by a man named Xiao Yunjing.

These days, Yanshan Pass had been very calm, abnormally so.

Previously, memorials would be submitted from time to time, reporting that the Xichen Kingdom was stirring up trouble again.

Nearly half a year had passed without any memorials from Yanshan Pass. The only one, from over two months ago, stated that General Liang, formerly of Yanshan Pass, had died in the line of duty, and Xiao Yunjing had temporarily assumed the role of general. Subsequently, he had also issued an imperial edict, formally appointing Xiao Yunjing as the General-in-Chief of Yanshan Pass, an office of the third rank.

The more Chu Xiong thought, the more uneasy he felt. His surname was Xiao? Eleven years ago, wasn’t the general of Yanshan Pass Xiao Ce, from the Xiao Family? He had resigned in a hurry. At that time, he himself had just ascended the throne and was in the process of consolidating his own power. He had immediately accepted the military authority thus offered to him. Later, the Xiao Family had vanished from his sight. However, the Xiao Family was Concubine Xiao’s maternal family. Twenty-one years ago, the palace where Concubine Xiao resided was destroyed in a fire. Concubine Xiao and the ninth son had also perished in that blaze. Later, after he had mostly consolidated his power, he had ordered his Secret Guards to investigate all suspicious matters that had occurred during the previous and current reigns. The Xiao Family’s sudden disappearance not only baffled everyone else but also struck him as peculiar. Moreover, someone later mentioned that Xiao Ce’s youngest son bore a striking resemblance to the previous emperor. The Xiao Family had disappeared from the Capital City. He had dispatched men to search for them extensively, but no trace was ever found, and eventually, the matter was dropped. This Xiao Yunjing, appearing so suddenly, was highly suspicious.

Presently, Chu Xiong summoned Old Master Jiang, the former Grand Libationer, to the palace.

Old Master Jiang hurriedly followed the decree-bearing eunuch to the Imperial Palace, to the Emperor’s Imperial Study.

"This old subject kowtows before Your Majesty! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!" Old Master Jiang entered and respectfully performed the grand obeisance of kneeling and bowing.

"Old Master, please rise."

Chu Xiong descended from his seat and personally helped Old Master Jiang to his feet.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Be seated." Chu Xiong then called out to Liu Desheng.

Liu Desheng quickly brought a chair for Old Master Jiang.

"Many thanks!"

Old Master Jiang politely thanked Liu Desheng, and after thanking Chu Xiong once more, he took his seat.

Chu Xiong had already returned to his throne, his expression unreadable as he regarded Old Master Jiang.

Old Master Jiang kept his head bowed, awaiting the Emperor’s questions. He certainly didn’t believe the Emperor had summoned him for a leisurely chat. He was now a commoner and never meddled in court affairs. The Emperor’s summons had left him without a clue, his heart filled with uncertainty. This current Emperor was a man of capricious moods, his thoughts beyond the ken of ordinary people.