Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?

The blood on Lou Yingxiong’s forehead flowed down, along the corner of his mouth and into his mouth. As he opened his mouth, it was full of crimson, like a man on the verge of blood coughed dying, struggling to say: "I—"

He also realized that Yu Wenye’s words earlier were adding to his culpability. Although there was no room for rebuttal, he still hesitated, not responding to Yu Wenye’s words.

Yu Wenye then turned his head and said: "Mr. Lv."

Lv Qianfeng seemed surprised that he’d been called upon, saying: "What are Prince Qin’s instructions?"

Yu Wenye asked: "How did you find General Lou’s estate? Could there have been some misunderstanding?"

"...!"

Lv Qianfeng widened his eyes in surprise looking at him, but seeing Yu Wenye’s calm look of puzzlement, it seemed he realized something. Yu Wenquan also said: "That’s right, I also haven’t had the chance to ask. Why was it that after searching the city for so many days without a clue, you suddenly found the estate last night?"

Lv Qianfeng immediately turned to Yu Wenquan, saying: "Emperor, it was precisely because I couldn’t find those people in the city, and discovered bodies silenced outside the city, that I concluded the assassins attacking Vice Minister Pei came from outside the city."

"Oh?"

"However, the scope outside the city was too large, making the search more difficult."

"Then how did you find that estate?"

"I thought, people living in this world require food, clothing, shelter, and travel. No matter where they come from or who supports them, eating and dressing are imperative. The only clue I had were those bodies and the clothes on them, so I had people take the fabric from those bodies’ clothes to the city’s cloth shops and tailoring stores for inquiries and comparisons. But because Changa An City is so large, with too many shops, I went several days without results. Luckily yesterday, we finally found a lead."

"You found the shop that made clothes for those assassins?"

"Exactly. And through the dimensions, sets, and destinations of the clothing delivered each season, I was able to determine the number and location of the assassins, leading my troops to surround that estate last night and capture them."

At this point, Lv Qianfeng looked at Yu Wenye again: "And these people all confessed they were guards privately kept by General Lou, and the accounts between them and the General Mansion were also thoroughly investigated."

Yu Wenye sighed lightly and said: "Indeed, Mr. Lv is astute. I admire you."

Lv Qianfeng immediately replied: "Your Highness overpraises."

Yu Wenquan said to Lv Qianfeng: "It’s rare for you to handle matters so diligently. Bring me the decree to promote Lv Qianfeng to Left Commander of the Imperial Guard and reward him with a thousand taels of gold."

Lv Qianfeng was both shocked and pleased, originally feeling uneasy after reporting this confession. Although the matter was part of his duty, he also understood that having exposed Lou Yingxiong, he had thoroughly offended the Crown Prince, making future prospects bleak. But unexpectedly, a few questions from Prince Qin brought his credit to light, and Yu Wenquan instantly gave him a promotion.

Furthermore, the lead originally came from Mu Xian...

Thinking of this, Lv Qianfeng immediately knelt and bowed: "Thank you, Emperor, for your grace!"

Yu Wenquan nodded. Although Lv Qianfeng indeed executed his task astutely, at this moment his heart was not very joyful. He waved him off to withdraw, Lv Qianfeng internally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and retreated. But as he passed by Yu Wenye, he lightly nodded his head toward him.

Once he left, the hall returned to silence.

Yu Wenye sighed again, looked at Lou Yingxiong with a helpless expression: "It seems there is no misunderstanding here."

"..."

"General Lou, you really shouldn’t have!"

Yu Wenquan looked deeply at Lou Yingxiong, who was prostrate on the ground, not even daring to lift his head, and then said: "Prince Qin, what do you believe should be done about this matter?"

Yu Wenye hesitated for a moment, then raised his head to look at Yu Wenquan, saying: "This matter is of great importance, your son dares not presumptuously speak."

Yu Wenquan said: "I asked you to speak; whatever you say is not presumptuous."

At this moment, Lou Yingxiong’s face turned deathly pale, trembling like one awaiting execution while watching him. Yu Wenye thought for a bit, then said: "General Lou privately kept Death Guards, plotted rebellion, and attempted to assassinate a court official. According to the law, he deserves execution!"

Yu Wenqian glanced at him.

Yu Wenquan seemed a bit surprised that he would straightforwardly say "he deserves execution," but before he could respond, Yu Wenye quickly added: "However—"

Yu Wenquan asked: "However what?"

Yu Wenye said: "However, the reason Vice Minister Pei ended up imprisoned is due to the Hot Spring Palace incident, and General Lou was the one who captured him. Though he encountered an assassination attempt, luckily he was saved. This case ultimately has a day when the truth will come to light. Therefore, I believe that anyone involved in this case must not die or be easily let go."

"..."

"Otherwise, the truth of this case will be difficult to ascertain."

Yu Wenquan’s gaze suddenly became deeper.

Previously, his doubt about Lou Yingxiong’s motive to assassinate Pei Xingyuan was centered on the conflict between the Crown Prince and Prince Qin. As the Crown Prince’s father-in-law, Lou Yingxiong might take risks to eliminate his opponent’s key ally. But Yu Wenye’s words reminded him—this matter also involved the Hot Spring Palace case.

Was it really to eliminate Pei Xingyuan or to ensure this case’s truth never emerged?

After all, Jiang Xian and Liang Youying had fled; Jiang Yu couldn’t reveal the truth, and Su Qinglan was misled. If Pei Xingyuan died, this truth might be forever buried!

If it was really for the Hot Spring Palace case, what exactly was the truth—

Yu Wenquan’s hand resting on the imperial table gradually clenched into a large, black fist, the knuckles constantly crackling, each sound like thunder in people’s ears. The hearts of those in the hall gradually became tense.

After an indeterminate time, Yu Wenquan finally spoke, asking: "Lou Yingxiong, do you have anything to say?"

By this time, Lou Yingxiong’s face was paper-white, his entire body only supported by a little strength in kneeling, unable even to lift his head, tremblingly saying: "My lord, my lord—"

"Guards!"

Hot Spring Palace not waiting for his words to finish, Yu Wenquan suddenly shouted: "Lock Lou Yingxiong in the dungeon, watch him closely!"

"Yes!"

Two guards instantly entered the hall, dragging Lou Yingxiong, already weak as mud, out.

Yu Wenqian remained bowed in his spot, until Lou Yingxiong exited Xuanzheng Hall and the doors closed tightly behind him, then slowly raised his head, meeting Yu Wenquan’s sharp gaze. He heard him somberly say: "Raising talents for the country is the duty of a minister and a child, but as Crown Prince, you have neglected this—"

Yu Wenqian said: "Your son is deserving of a thousand deaths!"