Huang Dou and Ling Hu, ready to set off, didn't understand what was happening?
Shao Ping Bo, it turned out, had killed his stepmother and brothers at a crucial moment? They didn't know if it was true, so they decided to send someone to the palace. That person returned and reported that misfortune had indeed struck the palace.
Shao Ping Bo pointed to his chest:
“I! In Beizhou, I am now the only son. If you kill me, the Shao family will be left without an heir!”
He said this and appeared calm. Huang Dou and Ling Hu narrowed their eyes.
Huang Dou asked unhappily: “You killed them?”
Shao Ping Bo: “That's impossible. The true killer is in the palace!”
Ling Hu's expression turned cold: “Do you think that just because you're the only heir, we wouldn't dare kill you?” He gripped his sword.
Shao Ping Bo, remaining calm, continued:
“You are only carrying out orders. And there's nothing that truly frightens you. Your only concern is the impact this will have on Dachang Mountain. Perhaps even Beizhou will slip from Dachang Mountain's influence. Would Dachang Mountain ever agree to that!”
Huang Dou placed a hand on Ling Hu's sword and said:
“The eldest young master is trying to survive!”
He pointed towards the street:
“I think you don't want to die in this place. Come, let's find a more suitable place for you. We will try not to harm you and find a suitable place for you.”
Shao Ping Bo, however, paid no mind to this, calmly continuing:
“The deaths of Ruan Shi and the others have nothing to do with Dachang Mountain. However, even if you didn't personally kill them, to a certain extent, it could be said that Dachang Mountain brought this about! Father might hate me, but he will also face reality. After all, I am the only one left alive. And if you kill me, then it means you will have killed all the sons of the Shao family! Then consider, what kind of situation will that create? Will Father still treat you well after that?”
As soon as he said this, Huang Dou and Ling Hu froze.
Shao San Sheng's eyes gleamed. He looked at the proudly standing Shao Ping Bo.
“Of course, Dachang Mountain can kill me and Father, and install another person as head. But would Dachang Mountain dare to do so? All the officers in Beizhou are loyal to Father. All officials were appointed by the Shao family. Now, Beizhou is governed by the Shao family. Who would dare to sit in the ruler's seat? You can try to change the ruler. Then see if chaos will erupt in the province? If you forcibly change the ruler, you will have to carry out a purge of all positions. Would Dachang Mountain dare to act this way when Beizhou is caught between a hammer and an anvil? From the north, the Han Kingdom watches ravenously, and from the south, the Yan Kingdom wants to reclaim its lands. If they exploit the turmoil, how will Dachang Mountain resist them?”
Huang Dou and Ling Hu secretly felt a chill.
“Dachang Mountain would kill all the heirs of the Shao family and still hope that the Shao family would serve Dachang Mountain? How many such generous people would there be in all the world? Hmph... I boldly say, after this, Father will hate you. Then all the matters that Dachang Mountain has meticulously managed will collapse. These will be the consequences of my death.”
“But if I survive, Father won't hate Dachang Mountain, he'll only hate me! And I don't want to stir up chaos in Beizhou. I myself have poured so much heart and effort into Beizhou. Beizhou will still be Dachang Mountain's Beizhou. And everything can still be controlled. It only requires the Shao family to govern Beizhou. Then it won't affect Dachang Mountain!”
Huang Dou and Ling Hu fell into thought. They looked at Shao Ping Bo with puzzled expressions.
Ling Hu said seriously:
“If you don't die, Niu You Dao will summon the Ice and Snow Palace. And then Dachang Mountain will certainly be in deep trouble.”
Huang Dou nodded: “Even if everything is as you say, even if Dachang Mountain withdraws from Beizhou, at the very least, we will still have a chance to rise again. But if we provoke the Ice and Snow Palace, Dachang Mountain will be completely destroyed!”
“You are mistaken, profoundly mistaken!” Shao Ping Bo replied calmly. When he heard Niu You Dao's name, his expression immediately changed, and waving a trembling hand, he said:
“That scoundrel is just bluffing. He wouldn't dare bring the Ice and Snow Palace upon you! Cough, cough...”
He coughed again and couldn't stop. He was coughing blood.
Shao San Sheng, standing nearby, stepped forward and began patting his back, helping him clear his throat.
Huang Dou and Ling Hu exchanged glances, waiting for Shao Ping Bo to finish coughing, then asked :
“How do you explain that?”
When Shao Ping Bo's breathing stabilized, he asked:
“Do you think he has connections with the Ice and Snow Palace? Then why didn't he immediately tell the Ice and Snow Palace? Why does he take such circuitous routes? Why does he target only me? Why not destroy the entire Shao family? Why does he do this? Because he doesn't dare! If everything is blown up like this, the Ice and Snow Palace will investigate everything thoroughly. And just as I set this trap using the Ice and Snow Palace, so too did Niu You Dao use the influence of the Ice and Snow Palace. What's the difference then?”
Huang Dou and Ling Hu pondered.
“That's why he only dared to scare Dachang Mountain. He built all of this on a bluff, merely using the influence of the Ice and Snow Palace. He simply wanted to force you to kill me. And if Dachang Mountain doesn't kill me, he will simply be forced to furl his banners and won't dare to blow things up too much.”
After hearing this, Huang Dou and Ling Hu froze. Although they understood that Shao Ping Bo was now saying anything to save his life, there was still truth in his words. And the consequences of Shao Ping Bo's death would not be good for them.
The two men realized that they should first go and seek a decision from their elders. They could not be their own masters in this matter.
Shao Ping Bo continued to persuade them:
“Killing me is very simple. I won't run away anyway! If Dachang Mountain doesn't believe me, they can observe the situation. See if that cunning deceiver dares to pass word to the Ice and Snow Palace or not. If he dares, you can simply hand me over to the Ice and Snow Palace. It's no big deal!”
Huang Dou and Ling Hu trembled. Would Dachang Mountain play such a gamble?
Shao San Sheng stood there, wiping the sweat from his forehead. However, he also understood why his master had killed Ruan Shi and the others. He was simply trying to survive at any cost!
In this matter, Huang Dou and Ling Hu were indeed not their own masters and could not decide on their own. They exchanged glances, then one left to consult with their mentors and to verify if everyone had indeed perished...
In the ruler's palace, in Ruan Shi's courtyard, Shao Wu Bo had not yet received news from his mother and younger brother when his body turned black, and black blood flowed from his nose.
Outside the courtyard, Shao Deng Yun paced like a furious lion beneath the eaves. His eyes were red with rage. In his hands, he held a zhanmadao, the sword carried by the warriors of the Wuli and Yinyan Guards. He roared furiously:
“Who did this?! I'll kill themmm...”
Zhong Yang Xu, standing by the door, understood that the person who had killed the mother and sons was most likely from the inner circle. An ordinary person would not have been able to reach them at all.
Very quickly, a servant arrived and reported:
“Master, an assailant has been found. They have already taken their own life!”
Shao Deng Yun, sword in hand, went where he was led. A crowd followed behind him. Zhong Yang Xu was also among them.
The group arrived at a room where a maidservant was hanging. The maidservant swung from the rope.
Shao Deng Yun recognized her. Indeed, the household staff wasn't overly large, so many recognized this maidservant.
Zhong Yang Xu reached out and touched her. Her body was still warm, meaning she had only recently died.
The maidservant was lowered and examined. No wounds were found on her body. This meant she had indeed taken her own life.
Soon, news of another matter arrived. In two different locations, the bodies of a man and a girl were found. The girl was also hanged, and the man had taken poison.
When they were identified, it was noticed that all those who had taken their own lives were close servants of Shao Deng Yun.
Shao Deng Yun felt a chill, and goosebumps appeared on his skin. He had, after all, seen this girl recently. When he stood with Ruan Shi, it was this very maidservant who had brought him tea.
All this pointed to only one thing. The person who poisoned his kin was someone close to him. Others could not have achieved this.
He held the zhanmadao and breathed heavily. It seemed he had guessed something!
Ling Hu rushed over and approached Zhong Yang Xu, who was standing beneath a tree. He whispered something to him.
As soon as Zhong Yang Xu heard him, his expression immediately changed. He realized how ruthless Shao Ping Bo was!
Watching the servants bustle to and fro, he understood the true reason for Ruan Shi's death. Shao Ping Bo was clearly hinting to him that if Dachang Mountain wanted to kill him, they should just kill everyone. Could Dachang Mountain really kill everyone?
“I once thought that Niu You Dao employed ruthless methods. But Shao Ping Bo is even more ruthless than Niu You Dao. Shao Ping Bo is simply merciless evil!”
“These two fellows are worthy opponents for each other. Both use people as they please. Only, they're also using Dachang Mountain. What in the hell!!! Two talents have appeared in the world, and these talents have met each other. It seems I've grown old, to witness all this!” Zhong Yang Xu said with a sigh. He hadn't thought Shao Ping Bo would go to such lengths. He truly wants to survive at any cost.
If Shao Ping Bo hadn't threatened them in such a way, he truly would have killed him.
However, he could also understand him. Shao Ping Bo had nowhere left to turn.
Ling Hu asked:
“Uncle, what should we do? Should we get rid of the eldest young master?”
“Not yet. First, take him into custody. Let's ask the teachers for advice. We need to convene a council!” Zhong Yang Xu shook his head.
In this matter, he could no longer make a decision alone.