Chapter 98: Kill You with My Own Hands

Chapter 98

Yuwen Hao smelled the scent of blood on him, and his heart sank slightly.

Marquis of Huiding was moving freely, so he should be uninjured. Then whose blood was it?

Could that ugly woman Yuan Qingling have already met a tragic end?

Thinking of this, he became anxious and said, "I came today with troops from Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate the case of the missing princess. I ask that the Marquis cooperate."

Marquis of Huiding slowly retracted his piercing gaze and scoffed, "What great authority you wield, Prince. Since you've come to investigate, I certainly won't refuse to cooperate. But if you can't find anything in my mansion, then I'll have to bring charges against you in front of His Majesty."

His words were full of threat. And this threat was far beyond merely filing charges.

Yuwen Hao issued two orders in succession, "Colonel Tang Yang, take men to search the mansion. Remember, look closely for any hidden rooms, tunnels, and leave no corner unsearched."

"Xu Yi, take men to guard the front and back gates. No one leaves before the investigation ends."

"Yes!"

The troops swiftly went into action, searching in several directions.

Marquis of Huiding and Yuwen Hao still stood in confrontation, but Yuwen Hao was already feeling uneasy, lacking the certainty from when he had arrived.

He had brought troops from Jingzhao Prefecture, and Marquis of Huiding would eventually cooperate, but there was no way he would cooperate so thoroughly. Could Yuan Qingling have already been dealt with?

Seeing the unease on his face, Marquis of Huiding coldly laughed, his face hideously twisted, eyes ominous and sinister. "Prince, just wait if you can't find anything."

Yuwen Hao remained silent, his gaze also extremely gloomy.

From Marquis of Huiding's expression, he sensed the aura of a plot.

Either Xu Yi had been duped, and had not captured Yuan Qingling.

Or he had captured Yuan Qingling, but had not brought her back to the mansion.

No matter which was true, he had made a fatal mistake today.

Acting on emotions, without investigating clearly.

But there was no time for investigating. If the ugly woman really fell into his hands, the consequences were unimaginable.

He could only gamble on this, repaying Yuan Qingling's life-saving favor, though he had always been unwilling to acknowledge it.

"Do you know why I've always opposed you?" Marquis of Huiding jeered as nastily as he could, curling his lips in a cold smile, concealing the cruelty and malice in his eyes.

"Prince, only that courtyard is left unsearched." Tang Yang said, "Why don't I take men to check it out?"

Yuwen Hao pondered briefly, "I'll go personally."

Tang Yang became anxious. "Prince, it's dangerous."

"It's fine." Yuwen Hao glanced indifferently at Marquis of Huiding. "If something happens to me in the Marquis's mansion, the Marquis will feel bad too."

He couldn't afford that responsibility, as Yuwen Hao was still a prince.

Marquis of Huiding just smiled icily, sunlight filtering through the treetops onto his face, mottled and gloomy.

"I've given fair warning, Prince. If you lose an arm or leg, don't blame me."

"No matter." Yuwen Hao looked at him sternly. "As long as I have one breath left, I will remember the Marquis's kindness."

"Prince, allow me to accompany you inside." Tang Yang said.

"I will accompany the Prince as well." The Colonel also stepped forward.

Yuwen Hao waved them down. "Follow along, but don't enter the courtyard."

He looked at Marquis of Huiding. "Please lead the way."

"My pleasure!" Marquis of Huiding actually bowed.

Seeing this, Marquis of Huiding's confidants revealed cruel smiles.

These vicious dogs would have to be killed eventually. If the Prince of Chu was injured today, killing the dogs then pleading guilty to the Emperor, even the Emperor couldn't stay angry at animals. The mansion would have a reasonable explanation.

And after chasing and biting their master, the dogs would be violently beaten until in a mad frenzy. At the sight of an enemy, it would only take a gesture to sic the vicious dogs on him.

The group headed toward the dog courtyard.

From afar, frenzied barking could already be heard, the sound waves overwhelming, each bark louder than the last, deafening.

The large gate was shut, but the maddened barks seemed ready to explode out from within.

Yuwen Hao steeled himself. He had once saved his manhood from a dog's jaws, and since then had a psychological fear of dogs. If there was any other way today, he would never go in.

Yuan Qingling, you'd better still be alive.

I will beat you to death personally.