Palace Fighting Naive Concubines’ Ascent to Power Chapter 595: His Majesty, Hu Miaomiao Has Returned

The letter also claid they would keep mum about the matter, a bunch of ignorant thieves—did they take him for a three-year-old child?

In this world, only the dead keep secrets, which is why he planned to turn the tables and send those bandits to et Lord Yama, to ensure they would truly keep their mouths shut.

However, he indeed feared the skilled ones among the thieves, and that’s why he didn’t kill the old thief, but kept him alive as a bargaining chip, to play with slowly. If they couldn’t finish playing tonight, they would just continue another day.

He was also gambling by sending one of the Dead Soldiers to deal with that adept person, betting that the Dead Soldier was capable of handling him.

After dispatching the Dead Soldier, only one remained by Guo Neng’s side. To prevent any incidents, he specifically left the Guo residence and ca here, where only the Dead Soldier he had sent out knew how to find him.

At this mont, he was pleased with his own scheming but was unaware that his cleverness would soon lead to his own undoing. If he knew what would happen in a few Shichen, he would certainly regret this clever decision...

Inside the Guo residence.

Guo Shun’s face was fraught with urgency as he grabbed the steward: "Didn’t the young master say where he was going?"

The steward of the Guo residence shook his head vigorously, shivering as he spoke: "I... I don’t know, as you know, the young master never discusses his whereabouts with us servants; I wouldn’t dare to ask too much..."

In the Guo residence, the steward feared the unpredictable Guo Neng the most, followed by this taciturn Guo Shun.

As the saying goes, the dogs that bite don’t bark, and in his eyes, that’s exactly what Guo Shun was.

Guo Shun imdiately released the steward and stopped paying attention to him, his expression inscrutable.

At this crucial juncture, a single minute’s delay added a minute’s danger.

They could be certain they were the last to enter the city; when the city gates closed, those n in Black hadn’t returned.

Once the gates of the Capital were closed, they weren’t easily opened again, especially after the rebellion of the Rebel Prince. Even the nobility, who previously had special permissions, had seen them revoked, and they had to wait for the gates to open just like ordinary citizens.

To open the gates at night, one needed either an express courier’s urgency, the Son of Heaven’s special permission, or a special token—without one of these, it was impossible.

In theory, there was still ti before the gates opened at dawn.

But he felt uneasy. The strength of those n in Black was too formidable, their origins unknown. He didn’t want to take the risk—what if they truly had the clout to knock open the city gates?

He needed to find the young master as soon as possible.

Guo Shun thought this and instructed the steward to send people to wait at every intersection, and if they saw the young master’s carriage return, they were to inform him imdiately.

After giving his orders, he led his n briskly towards the dungeon.

He had heard that a new prisoner had been taken into the dungeon after much effort, and since the young master had taken most of the residence’s guards with him, it might be related to the remnants of that person’s group. By prying open that person’s mouth, there should be a clue to where the young master was.

On the way to the dungeon, a man stumbling drunkenly approached, with delicate skin and heavy makeup, his features resembling Guo Neng sowhat.

Guo Shun ignored him and walked straight past.

The drunken man steadied himself and upon seeing Guo Shun, beca angry: "How dare you, Guo Shun, to ignore because you rely on my son. You... stop right there."

Guo Shun stopped and turned back with an icy gaze.

The drunken man imdiately shivered, his tone softening slightly: "It’s nothing much; I just wanted to ask where the matriarch went. She didn’t go out to enjoy herself, so why hasn’t she returned? And where did Neng’er go? Tell him, the monthly allowance he gives isn’t enough—I need more."

A sneer crossed the depths of Guo Shun’s eyes, but he ignored it and continued moving forward with his n.

The old master of the Guo family let out a burp from the alcohol, grumbling discontentedly: "Even a servant dares to show disdain. I’m the master of the Guo residence, Guo Neng’s father; I can spend all the money of the entire Guo residence..."

...

In Canglan Court.

The Emperor, as usual, read a book passage to Lian Hua, and quickly lulled her to sleep.

His broad palm gathered on her belly, caressing lightly, and he couldn’t help but curve his mouth upwards, feeling very satisfied.

Lately, his Little Concubine had been in high spirits, visibly cheerier by a lot, swinging that rattan around everywhere, even sporting a silly smile when lost in thought, and on occasion, when the mood struck her, she would sweet-talk him, very sweet indeed.

He closed his eyes and, with her in his arms, he felt at ease and drifted off to sleep.

In a state between sleep and wakefulness, noises from outside the door reached him, and the Emperor opened his eyes.

After a mont, Zhang Qing’s voice ca, muted, "Your Majesty, Hu Miaomiao has returned..."

The Emperor’s spirits lifted, and he imdiately got up and went out.

Just as he left the side hall, he was greeted by Hu Miaomiao’s jubilant smile, "Your Majesty, this servant has brought the n back, alive as charged. They have been taken for interrogation. Neither are tough nuts to crack, so the truth should co out shortly."

This ti upon returning, he was unusually sober and did not indulge in idle banter or jests. Underneath his words surged a tumultuous, bloodthirsty emotion.

Seeing the Shadow Guard wounded and dead inflad his desire to kill. Slaughtering a few dead soldiers at Ma Xiapo station was far from enough.

No sooner had he returned than, worried about delay breeding complications, he sent the two n for questioning and imdiately ca to report; managing both ends at the sa ti, he wasted no ti at all.

The Emperor felt a surge of gratification, "Good, very good, tell about the events of this trip."

With these two n, the grievances of his Little Concubine’s family could be cleared, and brighter days seed ahead, finally, he could be at ease.

Hu Miaomiao acknowledged, ready to speak.

The Emperor thought for a mont, glanced back at the side hall, and then changed his mind, "Let’s talk about it on the way to Star Palace instead."

Hu Miaomiao glanced over, aware that this was not the place for conversation, and responded, "Yes."

In the darkness, he made a gesture, and a Shadow Guard in the distance understood and imdiately leapt into action.

Zhang Qing stayed behind to guard Canglan Court, arranging for Xiao Qing to watch the side hall.

The Emperor followed Hu Miaomiao with large strides toward Star Palace.

Along the way, Hu Miaomiao detailed the ins and outs of the recent journey.

When the subject of the arson attack at Ma Xiapo station ca up, the Emperor was furiously enraged, "For personal gain, they harm the innocent, it’s utterly unforgivable!"

Hu Miaomiao’s smiling face hid cold glints in his eyes, "These dead soldiers, once they left the Capital, turned into rabid dogs unleashed. They also killed quite a few people in the south. That He family kid let sothing slip along the way, said it was the Guo family orchestrating their deaths."

"The Guo family?" The Emperor frowned in deep thought, without slowing his pace.

Amongst the Guo family court officials in the Capital, none held high positions. Who would dare such audacity?

Hu Miaomiao replied, "That’s right. On the road, the He family brat said the Guo family wanted to exterminate his whole family. The old Head of the He family is incredibly sly, all along the way he thought of how to bribe the Shadow Guard, never uttering a word of truth, slick as an eel. It seed he wouldn’t shed tears without seeing a coffin. Assessing the situation, I figured there wasn’t much ti to slowly interrogate them upon return, so I brought them back in a cage, letting the wind blow at them en route, to grind their spirits down a bit first. Right now, we’re giving them so food to regain strength, and then we’ll get the news."

He had instantly recognized that the old one was the key to this mission, but the old one reeked of the stench of money, exceedingly cunning. Once assured of his life, he began to concoct sches, it was as though he needed a good thrashing, not appreciating the face given to him.