Phoenix Beak Saber is not a long blade; it resembles a dagger, forged from hematite mined near volcanoes, with a blade that glows red.

The larger the range of the red glow, the higher the saber's grade, and the higher the user's cultivation level.

It is said that the Vermilion Bird Lord's Phoenix Beak Saber is entirely fiery red, like a dagger burning with flames!

The wounds left by the Phoenix Beak Saber show distinct burn marks.

Huo Zinan frowned and asked, "Could it be a weapon made from hematite, just similar to the Phoenix Beak Saber?"

The Vermilion Bird Bureau is responsible for intelligence inside and outside of Qian Country; it makes sense for there to be Vermilion Bird Guards in Wu'an County.

The Vermilion Bird Guard does not have a fixed office location, nor do they have an obvious symbol like the Cyan Dragon Armor.

They are scattered throughout Qian Country; they could be anyone in any city, their identities hidden, and they generally operate alone.

A group of Vermilion Bird Guards appearing in Wu'an County is nearly forming a squad; it is genuinely unusual.

Tan Wujiu said, "It's just a wound, of course, it doesn't explain anything. But some traces left at the scene should have been left by a Vermilion Bird Crossbow. This type of crossbow is only equipped by Vermilion Bird Guards."

Huo Zinan's face was somber, deep in thought.

Phoenix Beak Saber, plus Vermilion Bird Crossbow, indeed only Vermilion Bird Guards possessed them.

How could the Vermilion Bird Guard not know that Huo Ziyi is a young master of the Huo Family?

Since they know, yet they still came to kill without any scruples?

It doesn't make sense.

If, indeed, my third brother's death was due to trying to snatch a woman and thus drew disaster upon himself, then this woman couldn't be Chen Tang's cousin.

Who is this woman?

Who deserves to have so many Vermilion Bird Guards protecting her?

Even an average member of the royal family typically doesn't receive such treatment!

Huo Zinan asked, "Who is that cousin of Chen Tang?"

Tan Wujiu nodded silently.

This Crown Prince is certainly smart, having quickly grasped the key point.

Tan Wujiu said, "The current Emperor has been missing for over ten years, and along with him, a sister by the same father and mother also disappeared."

"Exactly."

Huo Zinan nodded and said, "This princess is named Yuan Qingmu. If she were alive, she should be referred to as the Eldest Princess. Lord Tan's point is..."

Tan Wujiu said, "As far as I know, in the documents of Chen Tang's cousin, the name written is Chen Qingmu."

The Eldest Princess is in Wu'an County!

That explains everything.

Huo Ziyi set his sights on none other than the Eldest Princess, and he even tried to seize her, a truly doomed venture!

Father has long said that Huo Ziyi's habit would eventually be his downfall.

Unexpectedly, this time he hit an impregnable wall and lost his life.

"Truly, he deserved it, my brother died not unjustly."

Huo Zinan laughed at himself.

Though he said "deserved it," Tan Wujiu could detect the anger in his heart.

Tan Wujiu said calmly, "Actually, there's no rush in getting revenge, now that the Crown Prince knows her identity, you should understand the significance of this Eldest Princess to you."

Huo Zinan nodded.

He always remained calm and wouldn't lose his head over such hatred.

Even if it were Marquis Wu'an who died today, he would remain calm.

Tan Wujiu was right.

Huo Ziyi, with his death, has brought back a significant piece of information!

The Eldest Princess may well be a crucial piece for them to achieve great success!

This vendetta isn't impossible to settle.

Even with a group of Vermilion Bird Guards around her, in the face of a massive army charge, they would be unable to resist!

However, for the sake of the bigger picture, there is no need to provoke her now.

Simply monitoring her movements to ensure she always remains in Wu'an County, within my control, would suffice.

But today's events cannot be left unresolved!

The Huo Family isn't so easily trifled with.

Killing a member of the Huo Family requires someone to pay with their life!

Huo Zinan thought for a moment, then asked, "Does this Chen Tang have any other identities?"

"No."

Tan Wujiu said, "This person is the son of a hunter. He has an uncle at home. This uncle's identity has not been investigated, but it doesn't look like he practices martial arts, so there's no threat."

"Thank you, Lord Tan."

Huo Zinan nodded, then turned to order his men to clean up the scene and carry away the bodies of Huo Ziyi and his men.

"Today's events have caused great disturbance. Everyone should leave now; leave everything to Lord Han to handle."

Huo Zinan slightly cupped his hands to the crowd present, then turned and left.

Is this it?

The crowd looked at each other, puzzled.

Just moments ago, Huo Zinan was brimming with killing intent, clearly not intending to let it go.

Yet suddenly, it passed lightly just like that.

With Huo Zinan gone, there was no reason for the crowd to linger here.

"Who did it?"

"Not sure, anyone could be the culprit."

"Ha, with the Huo Family's means, someone in Wu'an County is going to suffer next, just wait and see."

The crowd buzzed with discussion and soon dispersed.

Marquis Wu'an's Mansion.

Huo Zinan dismissed the attendants and guards around him and went straight to his father's bedroom.

"Who is the killer?"

A hoarse, old voice sounded.

"The Eldest Princess, Yuan Qingmu, surrounded by a group of Vermilion Bird Guards."

"The Eldest Princess is in the city?"

"Yes."

"Do not act on her yet, so as not to alert the enemy."

"Father, that Chen Tang seems to have a complicated relationship with her; we can kill him to avenge Third Brother. However, since this person has entered the Cyan Dragon Bureau, it would be a bit tricky to make a move."

"Don't use our people. Take this token to the First Grade Teahouse at the North Gate West Alley, find a limping servant, and have him take care of Chen Tang."

"Is this person reliable?"

"Rest assured, Chen Tang is already a dead man."

...

On the way back, Cai Yin occasionally glanced at Chen Tang but remained silent.

Chen Tang, not knowing the reason, also didn't ask.

Only upon reaching the doorstep, Cai Yin cautioned, "Be more careful from now on, Huo Ziyi is dead, and the Huo Family will not let it go easily."

"Ah?"

Chen Tang was taken aback and said, "I killed Duan Zhao; Huo Ziyi's death has nothing to do with me. Is the Huo Family a bunch of mad dogs, biting whoever they catch?"

"Really no problem?"

Cai Yin glanced at him, thinking to himself, "This kid is still pretending with me."

Chen Tang looked innocent.

He truly didn't know anything.

When he first heard that Third Young Master Huo was dead, he thought it was that chubby old man who did it.

When he arrived at Baihua Tower and heard it was a group of people who did it, that was definitely unrelated to him.

Cai Yin said, "Third Young Master's death should be the work of the Vermilion Bird Guard. Go home and ask around, if the Huo Family can't touch your household, they might vent their anger on you."

Vermilion Bird Guard?

Chen Tang was shocked.

After bidding farewell to everyone, he entered the courtyard, and gazed thoughtfully at Qingmu's room.

The 'one' Cai Yin referred to couldn't possibly be the chubby old man, nor Zhiwei.

The only possibility was Qingmu!

Chen Tang couldn't help but recall what Qingmu had said when they first met.

About reaching great heights, ascending smoothly.

Given today's event, with a group of Vermilion Bird Guards protecting her...

Could it be she really is going to enter the palace as an Imperial Consort?

Chen Tang was startled.

The more he thought, the more it seemed highly possible.

Thinking about these days, living in the same room with an Imperial Consort, lying on the same heated bed, occasionally getting tangled up under the covers...

Chen Tang felt a chill down his spine.

Could it be that all this was seen by the Vermilion Bird Guard?

Chen Tang wandered the courtyard for a long time, not daring to enter Qingmu's room, and instead ran back to the room of the chubby old man and Meng Liangyu, planning to make do for the night.

Putting a green hat on the Emperor might sound exciting but if the matter is exposed, it's anything but exciting.

Currently, Chen Tang is just an Eighth Grade, not even a formal Cyan Dragon Guard, and doesn't want to offend the Emperor just half a year after arriving here and be on the run.

Next morning, Chen Tang went out to buy some breakfast and returned.

The chubby old man, Qingmu, and Zhiwei were already awake.

Meng Liangyu hadn't slept well last night, his mind replaying the scene of a group holding crossbows, shooting the Huo Family's attendants.

Chen Tang first changed Meng Liangyu's dressing, then called everyone over for breakfast.

They sat around the table eating in silence, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

But it was Qingmu who first broke the silence, glanced at Chen Tang, and asked casually, "Why didn't you go to Zhiwei's last night, she had nightmares again."

Zhiwei blinked, somewhat innocent.

Actually, she didn't have nightmares, slept quite soundly...

But she wisely didn't point that out, just burying her head to eat.

Chen Tang cleared his throat, saying, "It was too late last night, I didn't want to disturb you."

"Oh."

Qingmu responded.

"Did someone from the Huo Family come last night?"

Chen Tang hesitated for a while, but decided to ask clearly.

Qingmu nodded.

"Did your people kill them?"

Qingmu nodded again.

"And then your people killed Third Young Master Huo?"

"Yes."

"The ones guarding you were Vermilion Bird Guards?"

"Mm."

Upon hearing this, Chen Tang had a good idea of the situation.

Looks like his guess was right.

Vermilion Bird Guard?

Meng Liangyu was shocked, his pupils shaking.

No wonder that group of people had such terrifying combat power!

"Brother Chen, she's not your cousin, is she?"

Meng Liangyu guessed from all Chen Tang's questions that their identities weren't just cousins.

"No."

Chen Tang said, "She's someone from the palace."

No wonder.

Meng Liangyu smacked his tongue in astonishment.

Qingmu looked at Chen Tang with some surprise and asked, "Oh, you guessed?"

"Actually, it wasn't hard to guess."

Chen Tang said lightly, "If I'm not mistaken, you're about to enter the palace as an Imperial Consort, right?"

"Pfft!"

The chubby old man sprayed out a mouthful of soy milk.

Meng Liangyu, sitting across, with his mouth wide open in shock, caught a mouthful of warm soy milk.

Qingmu glared at Chen Tang, clenched her fist and said, "My name is Yuan Qingmu!"

Huh?

She actually shares a surname with the Emperor.

If you're related, you mustn't mess around...

A flash of insight struck Chen Tang, and he suddenly remembered something.

More than ten years ago, there was a princess who disappeared along with the current Emperor!

Yuan Qingshan, Yuan Qingmu...

Chen Tang blurted out, "You're the princess who went missing over ten years ago!"

"Hmph!"

Qingmu rolled her eyes at him.

Chen Tang then looked at the chubby old man and said in realization, "You said you once snuck into the palace twice to rescue people, and the last time, you rescued the current Emperor and the princess?"

"Hehe, that's right."

The chubby old man laughed smugly.

Chen Tang let out a long breath, feeling relieved.

Last night scared him.

He thought he somehow put a green hat on the Emperor.

Turned out she was a princess.

That's good, he'll still sleep there tonight...

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