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No one knows how these marks were tattooed. Unlike facial tattoos that can be removed by cutting away the flesh, Xiao Juesong’s followers had them inscribed over their chests, connected to the position of the heart. When the Youning Emperor dispatched coroners to examine the corpses left at the temporary palace that day, they discovered that no matter how deep the flesh was carved, traces of the mark remained. To erase it completely, one would have to remove the heart along with it.
Not only had the Youning Emperor failed to uncover how it was done, but even Xiao Huayong remained baffled to this day. As long as the person was brought before the Youning Emperor, it would compel His Majesty to personally confirm to Xiao Changyan the existence of their 'imperial uncle.'
The fact that the Pingyao Marquis’s household had dealings with Xiao Juesong was enough to plant an irresolvable knot of suspicion in the Youning Emperor’s heart. Even if it couldn’t directly prove the Pingyao Marquis’s rebellion, it would make it nearly impossible for the Marquis to regain the Emperor’s trust in the future.
With the rift between ruler and subject widening, and the Youning Emperor losing another trusted aide, Xiao Huayong deemed it a worthwhile trade.
However, since these were individuals Xiao Huayong had taken under his wing, if he dispatched them and they managed to retreat unscathed, he wouldn’t deliberately sacrifice one as evidence for the Youning Emperor. Their fate depended entirely on their own capabilities.
Shen Xihe had stationed Mo Yuan in the shadows. If anyone attempted to rescue the prisoner from the execution ground, Mo Yuan and his men would rush out. Both sides knew they were allies, so although their clashes appeared fierce and evenly matched, neither side struck to kill.
Xiao Changqing, the county magistrate, and Yu Gong’s men, however, were unaware of this. They showed no mercy to the enemy, and likewise, the enemy gave them no quarter. The men Xiao Changqing had sent were from the palace, not his own retainers, and their martial skills were far inferior to those of Xiao Juesong’s followers.
As the situation tilted overwhelmingly in the enemy’s favor and Yu Fifth Lang was on the verge of being rescued, the garrison troops stationed there arrived. Arrows flew like torrential rain, and in the end, two men were lost before Yu Fifth Lang was taken away.
As these men fled with Yu Fifth Lang, Xiao Changyan’s forces, lying in wait like the mantis stalking the cicada only to be ambushed by the oriole, immediately gave chase. However, their targets proved exceptionally sharp—it didn’t take long for them to detect the pursuit and shake off their pursuers.
“Prefect Yu, do you recognize this symbol?” Shen Xihe asked Yu Gong, who was kneeling nearby.
Yu Gong did recognize it. As a local official, he hadn’t been qualified to attend last year’s temporary palace gathering. But when the Crown Prince was abducted and the Emperor personally went to retrieve him, nearly losing both their lives to Xiao Juesong’s machinations in the river, such a major event couldn’t have been kept from him by the participating Pingyao Marquis.
This symbol was now known throughout the court. The Emperor had even sought to understand how such a mark was imprinted—as if it were an innate birthmark—and anyone who could decipher it would be credited with a great achievement. Thus, not only were all civil and military officials aware of it, but even the common people knew of its existence.
It was precisely because he recognized it that Yu Gong felt all was lost.
“From this day forth, Prefect Yu, you are to remain within the county office, not to leave without permission, and not to receive visitors. I will report everything that has transpired here in full to His Majesty for his sacred judgment,” Shen Xihe ordered, placing Yu Gong under house arrest.
The reason he wasn’t thrown into prison was that she lacked the authority to convict a prefect of his rank.
Having dealt with Yu Gong officially, Shen Xihe had Xiao Changqing draft a report detailing all the events to be sent to the capital.
Meanwhile, after Yu Fifth Lang was rescued, he was confined in a lightless place. Xiao Huayong waited there for Xiao Changyan to arrive. Yu Fifth Lang was under a spell—if Xiao Changyan wished to find him, he certainly could. Moreover, Xiao Huayong had already leaked the general location to Xiao Changyan.Xiao Huayong was certain Xiao Changyan would come, because killing Xiao Juesong would be a great achievement!
Before nightfall, Xiao Changyan had received news of what happened here. With the evidence left by Xiao Juesong's men, he had no doubts. He had even studied how this marking was achieved, as he didn't want his own people infiltrated by impostors one day.
But even now, after a full year, he still hadn't figured it out.
"This prince shall go meet this imperial uncle." Xiao Changyan made his decision immediately.
"Your Highness, this subordinate does not approve of you taking such a risk." His advisor worriedly tried to dissuade him.
He never expected that their plan to find a scapegoat and create a plausible reason for the scapegoat to kidnap a prince would actually lead to this... Though it couldn't be called mere coincidence. Perhaps Prince Yan had long harbored suspicions, which was why he didn't conceal anything from His Highness and shared all he knew. Viewed this way, Prince Yan's sincerity in pledging allegiance was no longer questionable.
No matter how hard they racked their brains, they could never imagine that Xiao Juesong was already dead, and before dying, he had handed over his men to Xiao Huayong. Xiao Changgeng was Xiao Huayong's man, and now the current Xiao Juesong was also Xiao Huayong.
With the appearance of Xiao Juesong's men, even the Youning Emperor would be utterly convinced.
"If this prince doesn't seek him out, he will come for this prince." Xiao Changyan knew this meeting was unavoidable. "Given that this prince kidnapped the twelfth brother, attempted to frame him for it, and inadvertently caused him to lose a valuable pawn, he must already be aware." Xiao Changyan had this inexplicable intuition.
"Your Highness..."
"Your Highness, someone has delivered a letter." Before the advisor could continue his persuasion, an announcement came from outside.
The advisor went out and brought back the unsigned letter, handing it to Xiao Changyan. Upon opening it, Xiao Changyan saw a single sentence: "Dear nephew, I trust you have been well since we last met."
This message baffled Xiao Changyan. When had he ever met Xiao Juesong? When the Emperor ascended the throne and Xiao Juesong fled in disgrace, he hadn't even been born. Xiao Juesong didn't reappear until twenty-one years later. Yet Xiao Juesong wouldn't send such a letter without reason—he must have genuinely encountered Xiao Changyan before, only Xiao Changyan failed to recognize his identity.
This realization made Xiao Changyan even more uneasy.
Another reason Xiao Huayong took over Xiao Juesong's men was to better understand Xiao Juesong's past. Now, Xiao Juesong's trusted aides were by his side. They had been inseparable from Xiao Juesong in the past, so they knew everywhere he had been and everyone he had met.
Indeed, Xiao Juesong had met Xiao Changyan once several years earlier—the year the Pei family fell. Xiao Juesong had appeared in Annan City, and he had played a significant role in the Pei family's devastating defeat.
All of this became clear to Xiao Changyan the moment he laid eyes on Xiao Huayong impersonating Xiao Juesong.
That year, when traitors emerged in Annan City, his maternal grandfather, eldest uncle, and several cousins all died in battle there. He rushed to Annan City to stabilize the situation, search for spies, and conduct rigorous inspections at the city gates.
It was at the gates of Annan City that he personally helped up Xiao Juesong, who had been pushed aside by the crowd and nearly fell. He personally verified his travel pass and gave the order to let him leave the city.
"Imperial Uncle!" Memories flooded back, and Xiao Changyan spat out these two words through gritted teeth, the corners of his eyes turning crimson. "Do you still remember the Battle of Annan City that year, Imperial Uncle?""Of course I remember." Xiao Huayong's slightly yellowish eyes remained sharp yet peaceful as he gazed calmly at Xiao Changyan.
Such tranquility felt more like a provocation. To facilitate your next reading, you can click the "Bookmark" below to record this session (Chapter 673: Luring Xiao Changyan to Bite). The bookmark will appear on your shelf when you open it next time!
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