"How could that be? You're my younger imperial brother, and you'll always be," Xin Zizhao said. He knew that Xin Yeheng didn't mean to oppose them on purpose. Xin Yeheng wasn't an unreasonable person. Meanwhile, Wei Shuxuan was holding Xin Yeheng and saying, "Yongheng, should you tell me about what's been going on recently? I think you owe me an explanation."
"....I know. I'll tell you everything in detail," Xin Yeheng replied.
He told Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan everything, from the moment he was captured, to his reunion with Sima Tianhai, and then to Sima Tianhai's having Qi Ha'er control his mind.
"So you're really Sima Tianhai's grandson!" Wei Shuxuan didn't seem too surprised, but she still had a hard time accepting it. "I have to say, your mother really raised you well. It was your luck that you didn't grow up with your grandfather at first. Otherwise, Sima Tianhai, that bad guy, would surely have forced you to do things you didn't like."
"He's already forcing me to do things I don't want to do. He even tried to use the mind - control technique to control me for the rest of my life and make me his puppet to control the Kingdom of Yulong," Xin Yeheng said.
Wei Shuxuan thought for a while and asked Xin Yeheng curiously, "Yongheng, what exactly is this mind - control technique you're talking about?"
"It's using silver needles to control a person's brain. I don't really understand the details. Anyway, when I woke up, I had a really bad headache, and there were several silver needles on the ground."
This mind - control technique piqued Xin Zizhao's great interest. He remembered that he had once read in a medical book that when a person is first born, essence is formed first, and then the brain and spinal cord are born. The brain controls a person's wisdom, memory, and other mental functions. So, by finding the right positions on the brain that control various functions and then using silver needles, one could achieve the goal of controlling a person.
However, Xin Zizhao thought that just using silver needles was not enough. There might be some tricks they didn't know about. He wanted to capture Qi Ha'er and interrogate him about the specific method of this mind - control technique.
"Zi'an, have you captured Qi Ha'er?" Xin Zizhao turned to look at Ge Zian.
"I'm very sorry, Your Majesty. I haven't. I couldn't find any trace of him. I guess he must have hidden somewhere. So, I beg Your Majesty to give me some time to find Qi Ha'er," Ge Zian replied.
Just as Xin Zizhao was about to agree, Xin Yeheng stopped him. "Brother Emperor, please leave this matter to me. It's my fault that I wasn't ruthless enough and didn't take strong action against him, which allowed him to escape."
Suddenly, Wei Shuxuan remembered the bloodstains left on the cyan floor tiles. "So it was you who stabbed Qi Ha'er. No wonder he was injured."
"Yes, Sister Xuan. I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. If you hadn't come to surround the whole palace, I wouldn't have taken action. Moreover, I thought you wouldn't come back..."
"How could that be? We won't let Sima Tianhai's plot succeed, and we won't let you bear all this alone. By the way, how did you break free from Qi Ha'er's mind - control technique?" Wei Shuxuan was very interested in this.
"I have to thank Brother Xin Shang's slap. It knocked out the silver needles controlling my brain. Otherwise, I might never have regained my senses," Xin Yeheng said.
As he spoke, Xin Yeheng looked at Xin Shang beside him with a very grateful look. Xin Shang was still looking confused. "When did this happen?"
"Brother Xin Shang, don't you remember? It was the time when you fought with me and Qi Ha'er in the back garden. You gave me a hard slap that woke me up!" Xin Yeheng quickly reminded Xin Shang of what had happened.
Xin Shang thought for a while. It seemed that there really was such a thing. "I remember. It was because you and some other ministers were bullying my master. I was so angry at that time that I went to teach you a lesson. I didn't expect..."
"So it was Xin Shang who was the biggest hero! Xin Zizhao, you should reward Xin Shang well!" Wei Shuxuan joked to Xin Shang.
"Very good, very good..."
However, this matter wouldn't end with Qi Ha'er's defeat. There was still Sima Tianhai, who was far away in the Kingdom of Qiangfeng. He had anticipated this situation long ago. So, he had asked Hong Ying and Lan Huaze to transport their death - squads to Baiyang Town and hide them there, just waiting for this moment.
Sima Tianhai crumpled the letter in his hand and cursed angrily, "This Qi Ha'er is really useless. He was defeated so quickly. And that silver - needle mind - control technique is not that good either. It allowed my good grandson to regain his senses so soon, and he even wants to help those people in the Kingdom of Yulong against me! No way!"
Sima Tianhai was really angry. He packed his luggage. "Someone, prepare the supplies for the journey. We're setting off for the Kingdom of Yulong!"
He was going to find that unfilial grandson and deal with him. How dare he try to sabotage his plan? He wouldn't give anyone this chance! Never!
"Yes, General!"
After Hong Ying in Baiyang Town found that Wei Shuxuan, who had been trapped in the room, was missing, she pointed the finger directly at Bai Yue. Bai Yue smiled slightly. "What evidence do you have to prove that I did it? Don't just wrongly accuse people. Isn't it possible that the emperor came with his men and rescued that girl? And the guards here are not as good as the emperor's men."
Bai Yue explained himself calmly. Hong Ying was very angry because she had no evidence. She whipped the table in the main hall with a flick of her whip and broke it. Just then, a young servant came in from outside with a letter. "Miss Hong Ying, Young Master Bai Yue, the general has sent someone with a letter. Please take a look!"
"Bring it here!" Hong Ying scolded the young servant and told him to bring the letter.
"Yes, Miss Hong Ying!"
Hong Ying quickly scanned the contents of the letter and showed a smile. "Great! The general is finally going to lead his troops to attack the Kingdom of Yulong!"
After she finished reading, she gave the letter to Bai Yue. Bai Yue glanced at the contents of the letter and slightly raised his eyebrows. The general wanted him and Hong Ying to lead the death - squads to attack the imperial palace, and then he would come with a small troop of soldiers. To avoid causing a commotion, he would pretend to be part of the Ge family's army and sneak into the palace.
After Bai Yue finished reading the letter, he pondered for a moment. Hong Ying looked at him, narrowing her eyes. "Don't you even think about doing anything sneaky. I'll find evidence and tell the general what you've done. Let the general deal with you, the traitor."
But Bai Yue wasn't afraid of Hong Ying's threat. "Nonsense."