Chapter 26

TRANSLATED BY MYPEN_22

"What did you say?" Yan Shi's voice rose abruptly as he thought of the disappearances in the imperial city and a boundless fear spread through his heart. He suddenly hated himself for not finding out who was responsible for the disappearances earlier, and if something happened to Hu Jia, he would never forgive himself.

    Qingji hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, don't be anxious, Princess Huijia may have simply disappeared, there is no connection with the disappearance in the Imperial City." Qing Ji had been with Yan Shi for many years and naturally knew what was on his mind, so he quickly spoke to comfort him.

    Hua Ling was also startled and tugged at Yan Shi's sleeve, "Brother, let's go then."

    Qingji stopped him and said, "Your Highness, the emperor has only declared that the Prince will enter the palace alone." So, you cannot enter.

    "Why don't you wait for me here until I return, I will go to the palace first." Yan Shi instructed, "If there is anything, you can go to Qing Yue to discuss it."

    Without delay, Yan Shi hurriedly got into the carriage prepared by Qingji and went to the palace.

    Seeing that he had gone far away, Hua Ling pushed open the door and walked out, coming outside a compartment and knocking lightly on the door a few times. The mute sister opened the door with yawns, her face full of complaints, and the words she were about to say was blocked back by him.

    "Huajia is missing." Hua Ling said as he did.

    Mute Sister sleepiness immediately disappeared without a trace: "What's going on?"

    Hua Ling shook his head, "I don't know. When she went back tonight, my brother and I clearly took her to the palace gate and saw her enter the palace before returning to the house again."

    Sister Mute raised an eyebrow, "Did she disappear from the palace?"

    "It must be," Hua Ling's expression turned sinister, his innocence long gone, "Brother Fang has already entered the palace, send a message to the palace and ask them to keep an eye on him. Ask them what has happened since Hu Jia entered the palace. Also, that Sang Yu seems to be highly skilled in martial arts, so in the future, you must be careful not to reveal any hints in this house."

    If it were any other day, Sister Mute would have fought with him, but today the matter was so important that Sister Mute was ordered to get dressed and leave the house.

    Yan Shi was so anxious that just as he entered the palace gate, there was an old eunuch waiting there, none other than the Emperor's new personal eunuch, Eunuch Le. Eunuch Le bowed, "Your Highness is here, the Emperor is waiting for you in the imperial study."

    Yan Shi followed him to the imperial study and waited for a few more moments before he was allowed to enter.

    "This son pays respects to Father, Long Live Father, Long Live Long Live." Yan Shi knelt and worshipped.

    Emperor Chongzheng finished the last stroke of his pen on the folders and looked up at him, "Where did Huijia go?"

    Yan Shi remained in his kneeling position, "I don't know, it was this son and the royal wife who personally sent Huojia back to the palace this evening, and I saw her enter the palace gates with my own eyes."

    "Don't know?" Emperor Chongzhuan hummed through his nose and nudged his mouth towards Eunuch Le, "Bring all the people up."

    The Eunuch Le went down, and in a short time several guards in armour came in, and the Emperor said, "Tell me."

    One of the guards said, "We are the guards who are guarding the palace gate today, Princess Huajia left the palace at the quarter of an hour and has not yet returned."

    Yan Shi knew that he was lying, but his troubled heart was calmed by his words. It seemed that Princess Huajia had nothing to do with the three disappearances in the imperial city, and that nothing had happened to her yet. At the same time, Yan Shi figured out that those who could buy off the palace guards must be from the palace. He also happened to have a recent feud with the Queen Mother, so she had something to do with it.

    When the guard had finished speaking, Emperor Chong Zhuang looked at Yan Maki and said, "What else do you have to say?"

    Yan Shi asked, "Why should this son do this?"

    The Emperor sneered and said, "You know what you are asking." During the first years of the death of Empress Yuan, Yan Shi was young and did not know how to restrain himself, so he repeatedly contradicted Emperor Chong Zhonghua. He had even said many times that if he ever left the palace to build a residence, he would take Princess Huijia with him.

    Now that Princess Huijia has disappeared, it is exactly what he said back then.

    Yan Shi clenched his fist: "If I really wanted to take Huojia out of the palace, it wouldn't be today, I'm not stupid enough to do so." In the current situation, if Princess Huojia disappeared, the first person Emperor Chongzheng would suspect would be Yan Shi. If Yan Shi really wanted to take her out of the palace, he would have thought of a more secure way.

    When the Emperor stalled, the guard said, "Your Majesty, everything I said is true. If Your Majesty does not believe me alone, do you not believe the many pairs of eyes present?"

    Emperor Chongzhuan hesitated again, and Yan Shi's expression turned gloomy; this man thought he was the emperor and simply thought that no one dared to deceive him. Dictatorial and unable to listen to other people's advice. This was the case with what happened to Queen Yuan back then, and this was the case again with what happened to Huojia now.

    "Father, the only time to find out what happened to Huojia is today." He could no longer sulk with these people and miss the time to rescue Huojia. One more moment of delay would put Huojia in danger, "I beg Father to let this son come and find out Huojia to clear this son's name."

    The Emperor thought for a moment, but agreed: "If Huojia is not back by tomorrow at 6 o'clock, don't blame me for being ungracious. Eunuch Le, you follow him."

    Yan Shi knelt in peace and went out, he did not go to Ganquan Palace. He could not move the Queen Mother now, but he could move her son.

    Because of the three disappearances, there were even fewer people in the imperial city at night, so Yan Shi had to hurry to the palace.

    The concierge yawned at the sound of his door slamming and impatiently opened the door from inside: "Who is it?

    When he opened the door and saw Yan Shi's angry face, this complaint went up a few notches: "I say, Your Majesty, why are you here when you're not sleeping at midnight?" Everyone knew that King Zhaoge was likely to inherit the throne, and even the servants in the house felt superior to him, so naturally they didn't take Yan Shi into account.

    Yan Shi asked in a cold voice, "Where is your prince?"

    "My prince has long since rested," said the concierge, who was impatient, "If you have any business, come back tomorrow."

    Yan Shi was so angry that he slapped the concierge across the face.

    Yan Shi grabbed another servant: "Take me to see your prince."

    "Yes ... Yes ..." The servant who witnessed the whole process trembled all over and bowed his spine as he busily led the way at the head.

    Within a short time, they arrived outside Prince Zhaoge's bedchamber, which was still lit up.

    "Prince, Your Highness." The servant knocked on the door, "Prince Ruiying has come to see you."

    After receiving permission from inside, Yan Shi opened the door and entered, catching a glimpse of Prince Zhaoge, who was still pouring himself a drink.

    There was still some uncertainty in Yan Shi's mind, but when he saw King Zhaoge sitting there fully dressed, all doubts were dispelled.

    Yan Shi sneered, "You're in good spirits."

    King Zhaoge poured a cup of wine into another empty cup, "Eldest brother, it seems that we have never drunk together before. Since we are here today, why don't we sit down and have a drink."

    Yan Shi opened the door, no longer making false pretences with him, "Where is Huojia?"

    "Huajia?" King Zhaoge gave a surprisingly light laugh, "Please don't worry, Eldest Brother, she is safe, she is still my sister."

    "It really is you." Yan Shi clenched his fist, as if he could punch him in the face the next moment.

    King Zhaoge took a sip of wine: "Eldest Brother has been wise since he was young, since you have guessed it, I can only admit it painfully."

    Yan Shi could not bear it any longer and grabbed his lapel: "What do you want?"

    King Zhaoge did not show any fear, but instead revealed a small smile: "Eldest Brother, do you really not know what I want? Marshal Wei is already old, and the military power in his hands ..."

    What King Zhaoge needed most was military power, as long as he had military power in his hands, coupled with his status, the two little fleas, King Ding and King Mu, could be out of his sight and the throne would be in his pocket.

    Yan Shi looked at him with a gloomy gaze: "How can you be sure that the military power will definitely fall into your hands?"

    Marshal Wei was indeed very old, and someone in the imperial court had long ago written to him to hand over the military power, but Marshal Wei was hesitant to hand over the military power because of Yan Shi. Although the Wei family has now fallen, Marshal Wei's residual power is still there and he is far away from the imperial city, so even though Emperor Chongzhuan is dissatisfied, there is nothing he can do.

    However, Marshal Wei is getting old and will not be able to hold the military power for several years, so sooner or later he will have to hand it over. The King of Zhao, the King of Mu and the King of Ding are all interested in this piece of meat.

    The king of Zhaoge hooked the corner of his mouth: "I don't need to bother my elder brother with this, I just need him to put in a few good words for me in front of my father. Also, I'm going to send someone in a few days, so I hope you can help me put in a few good words in front of Marshal Wei."

    Yan Shi slammed King Zhaoge into his chair, "Even if I promise you now, aren't you afraid that I will renege later?"

    "Naturally, I am not afraid." King Zhaoge said, "Huojia can soon reach the age of trial marriage, this marriage ..."

    The Emperor now favoured the Empress and King Zhaoge, so if they wanted to give Huojia a bad marriage, it would be easy to do so, and Huojia's life would be ruined.

    He suddenly hated himself, why he hadn't gotten rid of these eyesores until now.

    Yan Shi stared hard at King Zhaoge, "I promise you."

    "That's right." King Zhaoge got up from his chair and took a step towards Yan Shi, "Eldest Brother, you must be careful when doing things again in the future, I can take Huojia away without a sound today. In the future, if you are restless again, I can't guarantee that I will do something to Huojia again."

    He meant what he said, referring to Yang's case. Although it was not done by Yan Shi, it was also done by Yan Shi people.

    Yan Shi said in a stern voice, "Where is Huojia?"

    King Zhaoge did not sell the lawsuit again: "You can see her now when you return to the palace."

    Yan Shi's clenched fist could no longer control itself as it punched King Zhaoge in the face.