Elderly Prince: My Spirit Increases by 1 Point Daily

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Scared Witless?

After several days of investigation, Liu Yiqing had a few theories. First, the killer was desperately in need of money. The targeted Princes and Princesses had been robbed blind, their palaces stripped of anything valuable.

It was highly likely the killer urgently needed Cultivation Resources or had some other goal requiring vast sums of money.

Second, the killer was extremely skilled in the Concealment Dao and knew the layout of the Imperial Palace like the back of their hand.

To be able to move freely through the heavily guarded Imperial Palace, undetected by even Second Grade Grandmasters and First Grade Grandmasters, meant the killer’s concealment abilities were nothing short of terrifying.

Third, the killer possessed a technique similar to the Nether Acupuncture Needle—or perhaps had even cultivated the art itself—allowing them to kill silently and without a trace.

Fourth, the killer likely held a grudge against the Princes and Princesses who were robbed, had gone missing, or were killed...

As she summarized her findings, the pool of suspects shrank. Yet, when she surveyed the entire Imperial Palace, no one seemed to fit the description.

Just as Liu Yiqing was conducting her investigation, the killer, Xia Wuyang, was in Wenhua Hall of the Eastern Palace, drinking with a group of Fox Girls.

Fragrant incense smoke curled through the hall, and the crisp jingle of Qiuci Dancers’ foot bells filled the air, painting a scene of utter extravagance.

"Beauty, I just love your sweet words. Let me have a taste."

"Your tail is so soft and fragrant. I love it."

"Quick, quick! I’m going to catch you, my little lovely."

...

But before Xia Wuyang could catch his little lovely, a crimson figure swept into the hall like a whirlwind.

"Xia Wuyang, answer for the lives of my two sons!"

With a piercing shriek, Consort Chen lunged at Xia Wuyang, her red palace gown and its gold-threaded phoenix shimmering in the candlelight.

Her hair was in disarray, her phoenix hairpin hanging askew. A few strands of dark hair clung to her tear-streaked face, making her stunning beauty all the more heart-stopping.

She was the mother of Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang, one of the Emperor’s more favored consorts. With both her sons dead, her future security was gone. How could Consort Chen not be driven to madness?

At this sight, Xia Wuyang appeared startled. His wine cup fell to the floor with a SMASH, its contents splashing the Fox Girl’s sheer gauze robes.

He immediately scrambled backward, his face a mask of panic. "Auntie Chen, what is the meaning of this? What do my two younger brothers’ deaths have to do with me?"

His voice was filled with terror, as if he were truly frightened. He scrambled pathetically to hide behind a jade pillar, and Wenhua Hall descended into chaos.

Consort Chen didn’t answer. Her longsword struck like a viper’s tongue, stabbing toward the vital points of his chest and abdomen, scaring Xia Wuyang into crying out in pure panic.

The blade, however, grazed past Xia Wuyang’s ear, severing a few strands of his white hair without piercing his vital points.

Xia Wuyang smelled Consort Chen’s cool fragrance. She was inches away. As he activated his Mental Force Field, he clearly perceived that while she looked crazed, her grip on the sword was perfectly steady.

Through the Language of the Heart, he had long known that Consort Chen had been acting this way for some time. She had harassed every Prince and Princess who had a grudge against Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang. Her apparent madness was just a ploy to find her sons’ killer.

Xia Wuyang was one of the suspects, so it was no surprise she had come to his door.

Wenhua Hall was now in utter chaos. Palace Maids screamed and scattered, the Qiuci Dancers’ foot bells lay strewn across the floor, and not a single person moved to shield him from Consort Chen.

Xia Wuyang, now looking "deathly pale," fled wildly in all directions.

"Auntie Chen, spare me! I don’t even have the strength to truss a chicken. How could I possibly kill my two younger brothers? Please, Auntie Chen, you must see the truth!"

"My two brothers sent me so many skilled and stunning beauties. I couldn’t have been more delighted, so why would I ever turn on them? Auntie Chen, you’ve accused the wrong person."

"I only have a few months left to live. I just want to spend my remaining time drinking and making merry. Why would I dare cause trouble? I have neither the strength nor the influence for it."

...

Consort Chen stayed right behind him, her longsword falling again and again, slicing off piece after piece of his clothing. Several strikes even passed over his vital points; a single slip of her hand could have ended Xia Wuyang’s life.

But Xia Wuyang was completely unable to fight back. He truly seemed to be just a frail, dying old man, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Consort Chen’s suspicion began to wane. It seemed Xia Wuyang really had nothing to do with her sons’ deaths after all.

’Just as this old thing said,’ she thought, ’he doesn’t even have the strength to truss a chicken. He can’t even fend off a Lower Third Grade Martial Artist like me. How could he possibly have killed my two sons?’

"Help! Somebody, quick! Won’t anyone save me!"

Just then, Xia Wuyang managed to flee Wenhua Hall, screaming to the Guards outside, his voice as shrill as a lamb to the slaughter.

When the Guards outside saw it was Consort Chen chasing Xia Wuyang, they exchanged helpless glances, unsure how to act. Someone quickly ran to inform Emperor Xia, as this was clearly a matter beyond their authority.

Consort Chen’s red robes flowed like fire, her movements as graceful as a swan in flight. Each sword thrust was like a dance, the blade always grazing Xia Wuyang’s body by a hair’s breadth, at most leaving a shallow gash near a vital point.

Even this was enough to have Xia Wuyang "crying for his mommy," his clothes reduced to rags. Finally, seeing he had no more strength to run, he spun around, grabbed Consort Chen’s thigh, and began to "wail." "Auntie Chen, spare me! This really has nothing to do with me! Please, Auntie Chen, let me go!"

The seemingly crazed Consort Chen stopped, pressing the tip of her sword to Xia Wuyang’s throat. They were so close he could clearly see the grief and anger on her exquisite face—as well as a faint, almost imperceptible trace of scrutiny. But the suspicion was gone.

With his clothes in tatters and hugging Consort Chen’s thigh, Xia Wuyang’s posture was quite suggestive, leaving much to the imagination. It looked less like a deadly pursuit and more like some sort of risqué game.

"Tell me. Was it you who harmed Chenhua and Chenguang?" Consort Chen’s voice was hoarse, her warm breath brushing against Xia Wuyang’s cheek.

Looking "scared to death," Xia Wuyang frantically shook his head. "Auntie Chen, you must understand! At my age, I can’t even lift a sword. I have to rely on the Dragon and Tiger Elixir just to favor my beauties. How could I possibly have harmed my two incredibly powerful brothers?"

His hands trembled, and his face was a mask of someone desperate to live and terrified of death. With his stark white hair and extreme weakness, he looked as though he might faint at any second. No matter how you looked at him, he did not seem like someone capable of murdering his two brothers.

After all, Xia Chenhua and Xia Chenguang’s skills were formidable. Whoever could kill them both so silently was no ordinary person.

During the stalemate, a group of eunuchs and Maids rushed in from outside, led by none other than Wang Zhong, one of Emperor Xia’s most favored senior eunuchs.

"Your Highness, stay your hand!"

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