Zhao Jiaqi's unasked question was the same one Huangfu Xi wanted to ask, but he had to handle it first.
This left Huangfu Xi a bit bewildered. By all rights, he was the emperor, the king of this place, and should make his own decisions without consulting others. Yet, facing Fan Zehao, it felt like something was missing if he didn't ask, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
Dawn had broken. Following the clues provided by the Regent, Huangfu Xi had arrested the two individuals selling the Immortality Paste in the town.
During the interrogation, the villagers were like a group of mutes, none willing to speak, all acting like seasoned veterans.
Huangfu Xi was furious. He slammed his table and kicked his stool, roaring, "Beat them! Beat them to death! Do I need to teach you how to make an example of them?"
After all, the evidence was conclusive. With so many villagers, a few more deaths were inconsequential. It would even save on food.
Huangfu Xi thought this with no fear, and his subordinates acted accordingly.
Zhao Jiaqi, resting comfortably in the village chief's house to nurture her pregnancy, was discussing with her husband where they would go after this matter was resolved. That's when the news arrived about several people having died during the interrogation.
Upon hearing this, Fan Zehao merely furrowed his brow, glanced at his wife's belly, and sighed faintly. "He's already a grown man. If he can't handle such a simple matter, he shouldn't be emperor."
"Don't worry about him."
Zhao Jiaqi gently squeezed her husband's hand, and they exchanged a knowing smile.
"Husband, regarding the matter of the Chu residence, how do you plan to tell Huangfu Xi?"
The Chu residence!
Upon hearing these words, Fan Zehao couldn't help but let out a cold snort through his nostrils. "How to tell him? Rather, he should be explaining to me. If he can't even control his own woman and sticks his nose that far in, I wouldn't mind chopping off his woman's hands and making specimens out of them for him."
The earlier part of his statement had sounded reasonable, but the latter part was so gruesome that Zhao Jiaqi couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Don't say things out of anger. While this incident was triggered by his concubine, the root cause lies with the local officials. If they hadn't been corrupt and cowardly, such a thing wouldn't have happened."
He nodded repeatedly at her words. His wife had hit the nail on the head. But what good method was there to curb corrupt officials?
Clearly, corrupt officials were endless, impossible to eliminate completely; at best, they could be somewhat reined in.
"Wife, you are well-informed. Give me some advice!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Jiaqi immediately put her hands on her forehead and shook her head repeatedly. "I can't. I have a headache. I didn't sleep well last night and shouldn't be thinking too hard. Uh... I'll go get some more sleep. You think about this, it's a tough job."
With that, her headache vanished, and she left with the wind at her heels, moving so quickly that Fan Zehao was stunned.
Watching her retreating figure, he chuckled. She was like a child, making excuses to slip away when she didn't want to use her brain.
He turned his gaze to the sky outside the window. It was a brilliant blue, with birds flying freely. The trees under the sun were still lush, but the people here were so malicious.
That evening, Huangfu Xi arrived with a constipated expression. Seeing Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi chatting and eating, his mood became even more sullen.
He felt a bit indignant. Why was it that all the troublesome tasks fell to him, while they enjoyed their leisurely lives? It truly wasn't fair.
The Grand Eunuch behind him lowered his head, holding a stack of papers. They appeared to be the confessions of the villagers.
The couple wiped their mouths and put down their chopsticks. The round table was quickly cleared.
Fan Zehao gestured with his chin towards Huangfu Xi. "If you have something to say, sit down."
Only after he spoke did Huangfu Xi sit down opposite the couple. The Grand Eunuch followed closely behind, placing the items on the table.
He pointed furiously at the papers. "This village chief is an utterly treacherous old scoundrel. He actually wanted to harm the soldiers of Yun Kingdom. Tell me, doesn't such a person deserve to die?"
Fan Zehao's eyebrows subtly rose as he let out a soft hum, acknowledging his words.
Seeing this, Huangfu Xi felt a surge of frustration but dared not yell at him. Hearing no response, he continued, "Regent, what do you think should be done?"
Fan Zehao glanced at the man opposite him, who looked rather timid. Where was the imperial aura? He looked more like a turtle, retracting his head.
He said earnestly, "I'd like to hear your opinion."
Huangfu Xi wouldn't dare have any opinions, of course. If he weren't in front of him, he would have plenty.
However, before the Regent, he dared not be presumptuous.
After a moment of thought, he said calmly, "To harm the nation's army is tantamount to treason. Such a person cannot be allowed to live. Kill him."
After speaking, he glanced at Fan Zehao. Seeing that he remained silent, offering neither objection nor agreement, he found it difficult to fathom.
After a long pause, still hearing no word from Fan Zehao, he asked again, "Regent, what are your thoughts?"
Unexpectedly, Fan Zehao replied lightly, "You decide."
Plop. Huangfu Xi's heart finally settled. Before he could feel happy for two seconds, he heard Fan Zehao continue, "Killing is not the best solution, but it can ensure permanent elimination. However, have you considered why Wang Yuanzhi targeted the army? Are there any underlying issues?"
He then took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Before dealing with the person, clarify this issue first. Don't let your front yard get out of control only for the backyard to catch fire as well."
After speaking, Fan Zehao helped his wife to rest, leaving Huangfu Xi sitting at the table, unable to recover his senses for a long time.
The next day, the sun shone brightly.
The Chief Executive arrived with a smile to report, "Master, Mistress, Huangfu Xi fled overnight. He left in a great hurry. He left a letter with this subordinate, instructing him to deliver it to Master without fail."
Fled overnight?
How could this be? Both Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao were stunned.
She asked, "Did he just run away by himself?"
The Chief Executive shook his head, his mouth almost splitting into a grin. "General Wang Zhen also left, but he left his wife behind, asking Mistress to look after her."
Upon hearing this, Fan Zehao paused before opening the letter. He exchanged a look with his wife, and the first thing that crossed their minds was, "Are we going to war?"
As soon as this thought was uttered, a chill ran down their spines simultaneously.
Zhao Jiaqi's mind worked faster. "Wang Yuanzhi was just captured. This news was never leaked. Logically, the other party shouldn't have been discovered so quickly."
Fan Zehao's face was also ashen. "Are you saying there's still a hidden spy here, observing us all along?"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded. That was her meaning, and the thought of being monitored without their knowledge sent a shiver down their spines.
As they were speculating, the Chief Executive volunteered, "Master, Mistress, this subordinate has already apprehended the person."
Hearing this, the couple were once again taken aback, and they both looked at the Chief Executive. "Who?"
The Chief Executive replied, "It was a waiter at the inn. He noticed something was amiss last night, which led him to spread the news."