Chapter 173: If It’s Not Him, Then Who Could It Be?

If Hu Ao had a secret passage, it would most likely be in his room or his study—places he frequented.

Hu Yan had already investigated. This was where Hu Ao stayed most often whenever he left the Imperial Palace but remained on the Main Star, making it the most likely location for a secret passage.

If he was truly colluding with the Insect Clan, given his personality, he would most likely keep Bai Zhi in a secret passage, one that was close by and completely unknown to anyone else.

Hu Ao’s study was very large. Hu Yan spread his spiritual power to every corner of the room and closed his eyes, sensing for anything unusual, but he found nothing.

He then used a few tricks to unlock Hu Ao’s Light Computer and check his recent records, finding three anomalous calls.

He sent the details of these three calls to the relevant personnel to trace their origins.

Meanwhile, Hu Yan received a report from his adjutant.

Adjutant: "Third Prince, there were many Evolution Species among the Insect Clan forces we attacked, but our advance preparations prevented them from succeeding. The insects seemed to have received a summons from the Insect Mother and have retreated. Per your orders, we did not pursue. Instead, we planted trackers on a few of them and found they’ve all converged on a single location. It’s highly likely the Insect Mother is there. She was previously poisoned by the giant spider and should be weak right now. Should we press the attack and seize the opportunity to eliminate her?"

After thinking for a few seconds, Hu Yan replied, "You may proceed. Bring the item I left with you and use it as instructed if necessary. Take extra weapons. The Space Bracelet I gave you contains spare armaments, medical supplies, and a mecha. If anything seems wrong, do not get bogged down in combat. Retreat immediately and wait for me to return."

After sending his reply, Hu Yan received the results of the trace on the three anomalous calls.

"Third Prince, these three virtual calls didn’t originate within the Federation. Two of them appear to be from other star systems. Should I investigate further?"

Hu Yan read the message, a cold glint flashing in his light-blue eyes. ’Hu Ao had better not be the one behind this!’

’If he really took Bai Zhi and plans to do something against the Federation and the Empire...’

’If that’s truly the case, I won’t hold back.’

Meanwhile, Lang Qiu and the others had made a new discovery.

There was someone lying in the Eldest Prince’s Treatment Pod!

It was a female!

She seemed to have suffered ’very serious injuries.’ Her eyes were closed and her face was deathly pale. Her serene posture gave off the impression that she was dead, yet for some unknown reason, she was in a Treatment Pod and appeared to be very well cared for.

Zelda watched for a moment, then frowned and said in confusion, "This female looks somewhat familiar, yet I feel like I’ve never seen her before. It’s strange. Normally, if I’d met someone, I wouldn’t forget them."

Still puzzled, he and Lang Qiu went downstairs to regroup with the others.

Yue Junxiao and Yan Yichen shook their heads. "We’ve searched every guest room on the first floor and found nothing unusual."

Zelda and Lang Qiu had searched the third floor. "We did, however, find a female on the second floor," Zelda said.

At the word ’female,’ everyone turned to look at them.

Seeing all eyes on him, Zelda realized they had the wrong idea and quickly explained, "It’s not Bai Zhi. I don’t recognize her, but she looks vaguely familiar."

"Judging by the room’s decor and the female’s condition, she’s clearly very important to him. The room is even connected to Hu Ao’s own."

Yue Junxiao blurted out, "If even you don’t recognize her, she must be incredibly important to the Eldest Prince. That’s why he’s kept her hidden from everyone. Isn’t she his weak spot?!"

Yan Yichen frowned. "If we kidnap this female, she can’t even fight back. She won’t even be aware of it. Wouldn’t that make us no different from the Eldest Prince? Or even worse?"

Although he was anxious to save his wife, the female was already in such a bad state that she needed a Treatment Pod. If they took her, and it turned out the Eldest Prince wasn’t the kidnapper, what would happen if something went wrong with her?

Sang Mo tsked. "This is no time to be picky about schemes and plots. If it works, it’s a good plan. The fact that you have the luxury to worry about someone else means you’re not concerned enough about Bai Zhi."

Yan Yichen explained, "I’m not unconcerned about my wife. I want to find her immediately, too. But isn’t this all based on the assumption that the Eldest Prince is the one who kidnapped her? Right now, he’s only a suspect. The Enchanting Heart Worm hasn’t been any help, so we have to find her ourselves. But we can’t drag innocent people into this just to find my wife."

Feeling unjustly scorned, the Enchanting Heart Worm sulked in its bottle.

Hu Yan cut their argument short. "Let’s go see for ourselves."

’He was also curious. Just who was this female for whom Hu Ao had connected his own room, and who he seemed to care for so diligently?’

They all went to the room on the second floor with the Treatment Pod.

When Hu Yan saw who was lying inside, he froze.

It was Hu Ao’s mother, who had passed away more than ten years ago.

So many years had passed, yet she hadn’t changed at all. Just as Zelda had said, it was clear she was regularly cared for.

When Hu Ao’s mother died, Hu Ao was just a teenager, not yet of age. Hu Yan himself had only been a little over ten at the time, so he still had some memory of her passing.

’But I remember her being buried, don’t I? How could she be here?’

Yue Junxiao tilted his head and glanced at the woman. "She looks a lot like the Eldest Prince."

Hearing that, Zelda clapped his hands together. "That’s why she looked so familiar!" he exclaimed. "She looks just like the late Consort Mingxiu."

Then, looking puzzled, Zelda added, "But Consort Mingxiu died more than ten years ago. How could a body remain preserved as if she were still alive for over a decade?"

Because of his close relationship with Hu Yan and his family being one of the four great houses, Zelda had frequented the Imperial Palace since childhood. Combined with the frequent banquets held there, he had naturally known the late consort. He hadn’t recognized her at first simply because it had been so long, and he never would have imagined someone would preserve a body for so many years.

Zelda’s words plunged the room into silence for several seconds.

’In other words, the female in front of them was actually a corpse?’

Just then, a voice came from outside. "Eldest Prince, you’ve returned?"

The Enchanting Heart Worm had slightly altered the guards’ memories when it mesmerized them, so they were still standing guard as usual.

Hearing the title "Eldest Prince," the group exchanged glances.

They quickly scrambled for cover.

The first thing Hu Ao did upon his return was walk to his mother’s Treatment Pod. He didn’t do anything else, just stood there, speaking softly.

Like a child coming home and happily telling his mother about his day.

Hu Ao’s voice was soft. "Something came up today, so I’m back a little late. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Please, just wait a little longer. I’m on the verge of success. You’ll soon see me take that throne."

Just then, the spot where Zelda and Yue Junxiao were crammed together, overburdened by their weight, let out a faint CREAK.

Hu Ao’s sharp gaze shot toward the source of the sound. "Who? Who’s there?"

Yue Junxiao and Zelda froze instantly.

A flash of killing intent crossed Hu Ao’s eyes. He instantly adopted a threatening stance and warned, "You’d better come out on your own. Otherwise..."

Just as Yue Junxiao and Zelda were debating whether to reveal themselves...

Just then, Hu Yan stepped out from the side. "It’s me," he said, his light-blue eyes devoid of emotion.

The moment Hu Ao saw him, his eyes grew several shades colder. "Hu Yan? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at war with the Insect Clan?"

He immediately went on the offensive. "You’ve abandoned your post. Aren’t you afraid of what Father Emperor will do when he finds out?"

"Or are you afraid Father Emperor will find out about your collusion with the Insect Clan and your plot to usurp the throne?" Hu Yan’s normally gentle, light-blue eyes were now piercing, pinning Hu Ao with a gaze that left no room to hide.

It wasn’t clear if he was bluffing or genuinely felt framed, but Hu Ao immediately snapped, "Who’s colluding with the Insect Clan? You can’t just throw accusations like that around! The crime is too great for either of us to bear."

Hu Yan’s gaze remained locked on him. "Is that so? I overheard something during the battle with the Insect Mother."

He advanced on Hu Ao slowly, one step at a time.

Hu Ao stared back. "And what was that?"

But Hu Yan suddenly said, "You seem a little nervous."

Hu Ao frowned, his disgust palpable. "You’re too close. It’s making me want to punch you."

After staring at him for a long moment, Hu Yan abruptly changed the subject. "Why is Consort Mingxiu’s body here? What method did you use to keep it perfectly preserved for over a decade without any decay?"

Hearing this, the color drained from Hu Ao’s face. He immediately moved to block the Treatment Pod. "Hu Yan, what are you planning?"

"Nothing. I’m just curious." After speaking, Hu Yan gestured to Yue Junxiao.

The next second, the Enchanting Heart Worm mesmerized Hu Ao. He stood there, dazed, as his recent memories were slightly altered.

"Let’s go," Hu Yan said.

The group quickly departed from Hu Ao’s residence.

After they left Hu Ao’s residence, Yue Junxiao asked, puzzled, "We still haven’t found Bai Zhi, so why are we leaving?"

Zelda, however, understood Hu Yan well. "He’s not the one who took Bai Zhi, is he?"

Hu Yan grunted in agreement. "When I accused him of colluding with the Insect Mother, he only showed anger, no guilt," he said calmly. "When I mentioned overhearing a conversation, he just seemed impatient. His micro-expressions suggest he isn’t the one working with the Insect Clan. Of course, we can’t rule out the possibility that he was prepared for it."

Hu Yan continued, "But my appearance was a surprise, and the location clearly had an effect on him as well. Considering all those factors, his reaction has temporarily cleared him of suspicion. I just didn’t expect that the one colluding with the Insect Clan wasn’t him. That’s what I find surprising."

Zelda asked pensively, "If it’s not him, then who could it be?"