TPATTHU Chapter 63
by VolareShen Zhejiang hadn’t finished speaking when a soldier ran into the room outside.
“Reporting to His Majesty, General Wang has ordered me to report that a charred corpse was found near Yang Shihui’s residence. It resembles Zhao’s youngest child. Does His Majesty wish to go and inspect it?”
Zhao Jianji turned his head sharply, his face filled with disbelief. “What did you say?!”
Shen Zhejiang, after all, had a three-year teacher-student relationship with Zhao Xiao Si, and immediately stood up, saying, “I’ll go.”
Xiao Zhinian followed him.
The fire at the Yang residence hadn’t been completely extinguished and there was still a risk of explosions. The surviving residents living nearby had already been evacuated by soldiers to a safe distance.
When Shen Zhejiang and Xiao Zhinian arrived, they saw collapsed houses, scattered rubble, and a yellow sand swirling over the pitted ground.
Some soldiers were relaying water to put out the fire, while others were rescuing people buried under the sand and soil, creating a scene of utter chaos.
“Your Majesty, this way, please follow me.”
The soldier led them to a house not far from the Yang residence. There were too many casualties, so they had temporarily cleared out a room to place the bodies, waiting for relatives to claim them later.
Shen Zhejiang immediately recognized a corpse placed in the very center. Almost without hesitation, he walked over. A white cloth covered the head, and there was no longer any breath.
Shen Zhejiang stood beside it, his head lowered, so no one could see his expression.
Xiao Zhinian put his arm around Shen Zhejiang’s shoulders and said, “I’ll do it.”
The white cloth was lifted.
The person underneath had a completely disfigured face, the skin and flesh burned away. But it was easy to tell that it was indeed the form of a child. Only a longevity lock hung around his neck, stained with soot, but surprisingly undamaged by the explosion.
“It’s Xiao Si.”
Shen Zhejiang recognized the longevity lock, his voice slightly choked.
Words were pale and powerless now. Anything he said would be futile.
Xiao Zhinian covered the body again, stood up, and hugged Shen Zhejiang, letting him lean on his shoulder.
The sky was bright, and they stood in the midst of the swirling smoke and fire, embracing each other.
Shen Zhejiang paused for a moment when another soldier arrived with an urgent message.
“Your Majesty, Zhao Jianji tried to kill himself by running into a wall. This subordinate couldn’t stop him in time. He’s already dead.”
“Your Majesty, Yang Shihui was shot through the heart with an arrow. He’s dead.”
“Your Majesty, Vice Envoy Wang has captured the assassin in black. He requests Your Majesty’s presence for interrogation.”
Xiao Zhinian finally reacted.
Shen Zhejiang said, “Go.”
–
They rushed to Wang Chengming’s location and found a man in black being held.
The hood of the black-clothed man was taken off, revealing a handsome face, a little aged, but one could glimpse his former elegance.
However, his eyes were like those of a hawk, revealing a fierce light. Even though his hands and feet were bound by chains, he still stood ramrod straight, as if he were not the one who had been reduced to a prisoner.
“Xiao Jing (Prince Shen).”
Shen Zhejiang had once seen Xiao Jing.
It was indeed him.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jing turned around and looked at the two who had arrived with a rather arrogant gaze.
Xiao Zhinian wasn’t particularly familiar with this royal uncle, and said in a low voice, “Royal Uncle Shen.”
The feeling was strange. A nephew interrogating his uncle. Xiao Zhinian didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Instead, Xiao Jing candidly said, “That’s right, all of this was done by this Prince.”
“Why?”
Xiao Zhinian couldn’t understand.
Xiao Jing’s gaze shifted from Shen Zhejiang to Xiao Zhinian, looking him up and down before suddenly scoffing coldly, “Why? Do I need your permission to take back what belongs to the Xiao family?”
Xiao Zhinian asked, “You and I are related by blood. What exactly does Royal Uncle mean by this?”
Xiao Jing ignored him and looked at Shen Zhejiang beside him, his eyes growing even colder. “As for you, colluding with a traitor, hateful.”
Shen Zhejiang frowned slightly, feeling that there was something more to his words.
“Hahaha! The success or failure has been decided. This Prince has nothing to say, and no regrets! Kill me or dismember me, do as you please!”
Xiao Jing gave Shen Zhejiang a deep look before he was taken away.
Shen Zhejiang looked at Xiao Jing’s figure with puzzlement, and couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.