As Jun Mo entered the fasting chamber, he saw the Emperor, dressed in coarse cloth robes, sitting with his back to him.
"Imperial Father, are you all right?"
The Emperor didn't turn his head, his voice deep. "Get out."
Jun Mo walked around to the side, trying to see the Emperor's face.
"Imperial Father, last night your son dreamed of Imperial Grandfather. In the dream, Imperial Grandfather seemed displeased with your son. Your son thought that Imperial Grandfather,
who loved your son so dearly in life that he didn't even blame your son for trimming his eyebrows, would surely be more pleased if your son also fasted alongside Imperial Father for him, to show sincerity."
"There's no need to enter the fasting chamber. It's enough that you possess such filial piety; your Imperial Grandfather would be pleased. During this fasting period, no outsiders are allowed to disturb me. Get out!" The Emperor remained seated, unmoving.
Jun Mo continued, "Does Imperial Father still remember that Imperial Grandfather once told us juniors, before he passed away, that he wished to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum, watching over Tianqi's prosperity?"
The Emperor seemed to be reminiscing. "Yes, your Imperial Grandfather was always like that, dedicating his entire life to Tianqi."
"Why are you saying all this now? I told you to get out! After my fasting is complete, I will definitely punish you!"
Jun Mo's eyes turned cold. He cupped his hands and said, "Your son takes his leave."
The 'Emperor' seemed to relax slightly. Suddenly, a gust of wind grazed his face, followed by a sharp pain.
"Who are you? How dare you impersonate my Imperial Father!" Jun Mo's gaze was icy as he looked at the person whose human skin mask had been torn off.
The person seemed to still be in shock, unsure how their disguise had been seen through.
"How did you figure out I wasn't the Emperor?" His title, Thousand-Masked Saint Hand, meant he had never failed in imitating someone before.
Their stature, appearance, voice, and tone—he could imitate them so perfectly that even the person themselves would be confused.
Jun Mo scoffed coldly, approaching him. "Thousand-Masked Saint Hand Huang Yang? Speak! Where is my Imperial Father?"
All the nonsense he had spoken earlier was to confirm his suspicions: it wasn't he who had trimmed Imperial Grandfather's eyebrows, but his Third Imperial Brother.
And when Imperial Grandfather passed away, he had said he wished to be buried in Jiangdu, a place with mountains, water, and his beloved.
Therefore, the Imperial Mausoleum contained only a tomb for his clothes and hat; Imperial Grandfather truly resided in Jiangdu.
Huang Yang turned, intending to flee, but how could Jun Mo allow him to succeed?
He flew forward and immediately engaged in a fierce battle with him.
The Thousand-Masked Saint Hand's first ultimate skill was his ability to change a thousand faces in an hour. His second notable skill was his lightfoot technique.
But good lightfoot technique didn't necessarily mean good combat skills.
In front of a true master, his lightfoot technique was no match.
Thus, within ten moves, Jun Mo sealed his martial arts.
"Speak! Where is my Imperial Father? Who sent you?"
Huang Yang said with a bitter face, "I don't know where your father is! You can kill me, but I still wouldn't know!"
Jun Mo's face was grim, his eyes cold as he stared at him.
"I truly don't know! I swear! I just owed someone a favor and agreed to do this."
The imperial family was truly troublesome. He thought he could escape after acting for three days, but he hadn't expected Prince Jing to be so formidable.
Outside, the fight raged fiercely. Jun Mo pushed Huang Yang out.
"Stop!"
Everyone paused, splitting into two factions.
The Imperial Guard Commander pointed his sword at Jun Mo. "Prince Jing, how dare you defy an imperial decree and force your way into the fasting chamber, allowing your subordinates to fight us? This is a crime of treason!"
Concubine Yun looked at Huang Yang behind Jun Mo and exchanged a glance with the mammy beside her.
The mammy shook her head at her.
Their imperial scion had shown this person kindness; he wouldn't expose them.
Jun Mo glanced at him, then said coldly, "You were ordered to protect Imperial Father, yet you didn't even know he had vanished. See if the person you're protecting is truly His Majesty!"
Commander Zhang looked at the person dressed in plain robes, who, apart from his face, looked exactly like His Majesty, and his expression instantly changed.
"You said His Majesty is gone?!"
Jun Mo made a swift decision. "If we waste time here, Imperial Father will be in greater danger. Guards, escort Concubine Yun back to her room and keep her under strict supervision!"
"Jun Mo, how dare you! You're trying to put this consort under house arrest! Once the Emperor... once these few days pass, this consort will make you pay dearly! What are you doing! Let go! How audacious!"
Jun Mo watched coldly as the guards escorted Concubine Yun away, then spoke. "Seal off Protector Nation Temple! Strictly prevent any news from leaking!"
"Yes!"
"Detain Eunuch Sun, his apprentice, and all of Concubine Yun's servants separately. This Prince will interrogate them personally!"
Commander Zhang could only obey him now. With the Emperor missing, he would be to blame even if he died ten thousand times over.
"Yes, your subordinate will go at once!"
Jun Mo looked at Wei Yuanling. "I'll leave this Huang Yang to you. Although his martial arts have been sealed, he's difficult to find once he blends into a crowd. Be careful."
Wei Yuanling nodded solemnly. "Don't worry!"
He then found a piece of hemp rope as thick as a pinky finger and walked towards Huang Yang.
"Hey, what are you doing? I'm not running away, you don't need to tie me up, do you?"
Wei Yuanling pretended not to hear, expressionlessly tying the man up like a zongzi.
Huang Yang despaired. This time, he was truly done for.
Jun Mo looked at Moyang. "Send all the Mo Guards out to search. Jun Hui is a major suspect; investigate him thoroughly. Don't cause a stir, investigate discreetly."
"Yes!"
If news of the Emperor's disappearance spread, it would surely cause widespread panic and create opportunities for others.
"Your Royal Highness, everyone has been apprehended, except for Eunuch Sun, he's gone missing!" Commander Zhang rushed over to report.
Jun Mo pondered for a moment. "Eunuch Sun has served Imperial Father for a long time; he would not betray Imperial Father. He must have been murdered. The Eunuch Sun who appeared later must have been an impostor. Take your men and search the secluded areas of the temple."
"Yes!"
Wei Yuanling looked puzzled. "There are Shadow Guards and imperial guards at the entrance. How did this person vanish right under their noses?"
Jun Mo glanced at Huang Yang, who flinched and lowered his head guiltily.
"It's simple. They killed Eunuch Sun, then the Thousand-Masked Saint Hand disguised himself as Eunuch Sun, creating the illusion that he had sprained his ankle. Then, naturally, his apprentice, who had already been bribed, would assist him in delivering the fast meal daily.
The Thousand-Masked Saint Hand entered the fasting chamber, subdued Imperial Father, disguised Imperial Father as Eunuch Sun, while he himself impersonated Imperial Father.
To outsiders, his apprentice escorted Eunuch Sun out, unaware that it was actually Imperial Father," Jun Mo analyzed, layer by layer.
Huang Yang's eyes widened in astonishment as he listened. Prince Jing was truly divine; he had guessed everything!
Wei Yuanling secretly felt a chill. This scheme was cleverly laid out.
If it were him, he might not even expose it when the Emperor returned to the palace.
Indeed, in less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Commander Zhang returned to report: "Your Royal Highness is a divine calculator. We found the deceased Eunuch Sun in the abandoned well in the backyard."
Jun Mo said coldly, "First, properly inter the body. After this critical period passes, give him a proper burial."
Eunuch Sun had served Imperial Father his entire life, yet unexpectedly met such a tragic end.
Jun Hui, it's best if Imperial Father is unharmed, otherwise!
He used to hold onto a sliver of brotherly affection, but now you've dared to go utterly insane to such an extent, daring to lay hands on Imperial Father. Don't blame me then!
Xiao Quanzi was bound hand and foot in the room, his heart filled with dread.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and Jun Mo walked in.
"Your Royal Highness Prince Jing?"
Jun Mo sneered. "You, a mere servant, are quite bold, and heartless enough to kill your own adoptive father for fame and profit!"
Xiao Quanzi froze, disbelieving. "What?"
"Speak, who is the person behind this?"
"This servant does not understand Your Royal Highness's meaning."
Jun Mo said coldly, "Even if you don't speak, this Prince knows. It's Concubine Yun!"
Xiao Quanzi's face turned pale.
"It seems this Prince was right. Speak! What is their objective?"
"This servant... this servant..."
"No matter what they promised you, this Prince advises you not to be so naive. From what this Prince knows of him, those who know too much don't live long!"
Xiao Quanzi's eyes widened. "What did Your Royal Highness just mean? What happened to my adoptive father?"
"He's dead."
Xiao Quanzi collapsed to the ground. "Dead? How could he be dead?"
"How could he be dead? You don't know?" Jun Mo retorted.
"They promised me they wouldn't take my adoptive father's life! Just lock him up for a while! And then they would give Caiyue to me as a paired partner, and we would both serve our adoptive father!"
Jun Mo watched with cold eyes. Another one deluding himself.
"What is their objective?"
"This servant doesn't know! This servant truly doesn't know!"
Suddenly, Xiao Quanzi's eyes lit up. "Oh, that's right, this servant overheard them saying that as long as His Majesty wrote something down, the matter would be accomplished. As for what it was, this servant truly doesn't know."
Jun Mo frowned. Write something down?
Suddenly, his eyes brightened. An Imperial Edict of Succession!
So, that was Jun Hui's scheme.
Jun Mo let out a breath of relief. Imperial Father's life was safe for now.
Jun Mo turned and exited the room, telling Moyang at the door, "Deal with him."
"Yes!"
Jun Mo mounted his horse and galloped back to the capital.
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update