LRAB Chapter 132 The Long-Standing Worries Spread Throughout Star Luo City
Chapter 132 The Long-Standing Worries Spread Throughout Star Luo City
Chapter 132 The Long-Standing Worries Spread Throughout Star Luo City
The White Tiger Duke's concubine and the fourth prince, Dai Luoli, went out to pray for blessings, but unfortunately encountered mountain bandits, and their carriage was destroyed, resulting in their deaths!
This devastating news spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Xingluo City.
Although the Duke's mansion tried its best to characterize the incident as an accident, Zhu Man publicly expressed his grief and claimed that he had sent troops to wipe out the bandits in the surrounding area and vowed to avenge his sister and nephew.
However, just as this news was gaining momentum and everyone was discussing it, unable to distinguish between truth and falsehood, another, even more explosive and impactful undercurrent was spreading wildly in the shadowy corners of Xingluo City at an even faster pace.
A crystal-clear photographic record was copied countless times, spreading like an invisible plague to noble mansions, restaurants, teahouses, and even some well-informed commoners.
The photograph clearly records how, in the middle of the night, Duchess Zhu Man, with a distorted face and a fierce tone, explained her wicked scheme to Dai Yueheng in the room. She explained how she used Dai Hao's orders to transfer Dai Youheng away, how she took the opportunity to invite Bai Wanning and Dai Luoli back to the Zhu family's territory to threaten and control Dai Youheng, and how she ruthlessly suppressed and bewitched Dai Yueheng's last remaining hesitation.
Every word, every sinister expression, was like the sharpest knife, tearing apart Zhu Man's facade of grief and revealing the most sordid and vicious truth beneath!
This was hardly an accidental encounter with bandits! It was clearly a complete kidnapping and persecution orchestrated by the legitimate mother against the illegitimate son's lineage!
The truth behind that so-called accidental explosion has become shrouded in mystery, sparking much speculation. Was it a cover-up, or a genuine accident? Regardless, Juman is undoubtedly the culprit!
"Oh my god, is that so!"
"How vicious! Even though she was a concubine and had a son born out of wedlock, she was still considered an older sister and the legal mother, wasn't she?"
"I knew it was such a coincidence! This happened right after Young Master Youheng left!"
"The direct descendants of the Dai family—how could they be so despicable!"
Public opinion erupted instantly, the tide turned completely, and all of Zhu Man's previous performances became a colossal joke. She was thrust into the eye of the storm, becoming a venomous woman condemned by all. The reputation of the entire White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and even its in-laws, the Zhu family, suffered a devastating blow.
Inside the palace, Emperor Xu Jiawei quickly received a copy of the photograph. After reading it, instead of showing any anger, he revealed an undisguised, politician-like satisfied smile.
"Good, good!" He tapped the table lightly. "Zhu Man's actions are simply digging his own grave. After this incident, Dai Youheng and the direct descendants of the Dai and Zhu families are locked in a deadly stalemate! He has no other way out but to rely closely on my royal family! A very useful pawn is finally about to fall completely into our hands."
For him, the deaths of Bai Wanning and Dai Luoli were not tragedies, but rather a golden opportunity to consolidate imperial power and completely control Dai Youheng, this sharp blade.
However, unlike her brother's calm calculations, Princess Xu Jiujiu's feelings were extremely complicated after learning the news, especially after seeing the photograph.
She sat alone in her palace, clutching the photograph that recorded her sins tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure. The palace was filled with the fragrance of incense, but it could not dispel the heaviness in her heart.
Admittedly, from the perspective of the royal family's interests and her original plans, this was indeed very good news. Dai Youheng had completely broken with the direct line and could only rely more on her and the royal family.
Their alliance will become even stronger, and her plan to control the Duke's mansion and, consequently, the Western Army Group seems to be on a bright future.
But at this moment, she found that she couldn't be happy at all.
The image of Dai Youheng involuntarily appeared in my mind.
After spending more than a year together, no matter how self-interested she was, she couldn't help but be moved by Dai Youheng, who was both literate and skilled in martial arts and showed that he loved her dearly.
"How desperate would he be if he came back and learned this news?" Xu Jiujiu murmured to himself, feeling as if something was clenching his heart, a strange and bitter pain rising in his chest.
She could almost imagine the man who always wore a somewhat cynical smile, how devastated and furious he would be upon learning the tragic news of his mother and brother's deaths, especially when he learned that the tragedy stemmed from his stepmother's despicable schemes!
She found herself feeling a little sorry for him.
This tenderness is rare because it doesn't stem from political calculations, but from the feelings that have quietly grown during their year-long close interaction, feelings that she herself was not fully aware of.
"How should I comfort him?" She gazed at the deep night outside the window for a long time, a touch of melancholy creeping onto her brow.
She was used to weighing pros and cons and calculating people's hearts, but she had never learned how to comfort a heart on the verge of breaking. She was even a little afraid, afraid to see him in pain and despair.
She was even afraid of the hatred and sorrow that might burn her as well. She didn't know where the evidence came from; the Zhu family wouldn't have secretly filmed her. There might be some other conspirators behind it all. But if she were a member of the Zhu family, she would definitely blame it on the royal family, saying that their aim was to sow discord between the legitimate and illegitimate children in the Dai family, so they could use hatred to better control Dai Youheng. Would Youheng then believe she really hadn't done anything?
At this moment, for the first time, Princess Xingluo felt genuine worry and helplessness for a man. Although she still regarded him as a pawn, he was more than just a pawn; he was also someone who was about to suffer immense pain, someone who stirred her pity.
She had been hoping he would come back soon, but now she was afraid he would return and face the cruel truth.
This conflicting feeling was something she had never experienced before.
A few days later, a middle-aged man who looked travel-worn checked into the hotel where Dai Youheng was staying and quietly knocked on his door.
The door opened, and their eyes met.
It was Lingya who arrived as scheduled.
"Young Master," Ling Ya bowed respectfully, his voice low, "Everything in Xingluo City has gone according to plan. I have safely delivered Madam and Young Master to the designated location as you instructed. The mountain village there is secluded and peaceful, with ample supplies and no safety concerns. Although Madam and Young Master were somewhat frightened, they are physically unharmed and their spirits are relatively stable. Madam asked me to tell you that they are all well and that you need not worry. Please prioritize your safety, and they will be waiting for your early return."
"I understand." Dai Youheng's tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Well done, Ling Ya. Thank you for your hard work."
"I would gladly die to share the burden for you, young master!" Ling Ya said, bowing his head. "Young master, this is the recording soul tool you requested. It records the entire process of Zhu Man and Dai Yueheng's conspiracy, as well as all the images they left behind when they took away the madam and the young master. I have already spread it throughout Xingluo City."
Dai Youheng took the small soul tool and applied slight pressure with his fingertips.
"Very good. I reckon the Zhu family will try to frame the royal family for the explosion later. After all, they have no reason to secretly film themselves. Zhu Man will most likely suspect the Xu family of the source of this evidence, believing that the Xu family has been monitoring them all along, which allowed them to obtain the evidence at just the right time and then kill my mother and Luo Li to frame them. Let them make a scene. Anyway, it's unlikely they'll suspect me. After all, it was my mother and brother who died. I'm the biggest victim! Let's get ready." Dai Youheng put away the recording soul tool, his tone returning to calm. "We should also set off. Let's go to the Sun Moon Empire first, and we'll talk about the rest when we get back."
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