"Old Nine, do you recognize this person?"

Seeing the Ninth Prince's face change dramatically, the Fourth Prince said indifferently. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Ninth Prince snorted angrily, "How could I know this person? Hmph, what are you talking about!"

"Is that so? You don't know him, but he knows you. Should we let him talk about how you and Su Xinlie taught him to poison Old General Murong with the Soulless Powder?"

The Fourth Prince became somewhat aggressive.

The Ninth Prince was stunned upon hearing this, and his gaze fixed directly on the Murong Family housekeeper, whose eyes were lifeless and who looked completely spiritless.

It was evident that this person was now completely mind-controlled.

In other words, whether or not the Murong Family housekeeper was ordered to poison, after being controlled by the Fourth Prince, he could "lie without scruple" to frame him.

Not to mention, what the Fourth Prince said was all true.

"Hmph, Old Four, you think by finding someone and controlling his spiritual power, you can falsely accuse me?"

The Ninth Prince was already completely defeated, so he had nothing to fear, saying, "If you insist on accusing me, fine, let's meet Father. If Father believes I killed Old General Murong, I have nothing to say. However, you interrogating me? You're not qualified!"

The Ninth Prince turned and left immediately, and when the Forbidden Army tried to stop him, he imitated the Crown Prince by shouting "Get lost", yet under the Fourth Prince's orders, the Forbidden Army ignored his fury and directly carried him away.

Swish!

When the Fourth Prince took the Ninth Prince away forcibly, regardless of his curses, the remaining Murong Family members were all silent as cicadas in winter.

For such a domineering person like the Ninth Prince to be taken away by force by the Fourth Prince, then they...

"Everyone, I sympathize deeply with the trouble befalling the Murong Family. However, for the sake of the investigation, the following persons, please accompany me for further inquiry: Marquis Qin Tian, Murong Fei, Murong Tianren, Murong Tiancheng, Murong Tianxiao."

"I do not wish to disturb you at this time, but the matter is significant, and I ask for your understanding. Until my investigation is complete, I urge others not to leave the Imperial City lightly, lest it be deemed an attempt to flee to avoid guilt. Please rest and stay at home, waiting for news. Meanwhile, properly arrange the funeral for Old General Murong. I have solid evidence of his death; there's no need to disturb his soul further."

The Fourth Prince spoke gently, and with a wave of his hand, the Forbidden Army moved one by one to Qin Tian and the others.

Everyone was a bit stunned; Murong Ao said, "Father, go cooperate with the investigation. I believe the Fourth Prince will handle this impartially."

Murong Tianren was helpless.

Qin Tian, who had been silently observing, glanced at the Fourth Prince and then at Murong Ao, sneering inwardly.

Could it be that I've been used by Murong Ao?

Recalling how flustered Murong Ao was when he sought me out and then seeing his current calmness after finding out the housekeeper was the traitor, Qin Tian felt the contrast in Murong Ao's behavior was too great!

Moreover, how could the Fourth Prince be so familiar with the situation when it was Murong Ao who discovered the person?

The housekeeper's spirit was utterly controlled, like a walking corpse. Murong Ao probably doesn't have that capability...

Thinking it over carefully, Qin Tian wondered if it truly was the Fourth Prince's arrangement all along?

He looked at the Fourth Prince in shock, but the Fourth Prince also looked back at him with a smile, "Marquis Qin, the matter is serious. I'm afraid I have to trouble you. Take everyone away."

Qin Tian also considered whether to resist, but at least for now, he hadn't completely fallen out with the Fourth Prince. If he opposed him now, the Fourth Prince clearly held the upper hand, and Qin Tian's chances of winning were slim.

Moreover, based on Qin Tian's understanding of the Fourth Prince, this person never engaged in anything he wasn't confident about. Arriving with more than ten thousand men, even daring to challenge the Crown Prince, he might not even regard me as a threat.

The situation gradually calmed down, and under the Fourth Prince's dominance, Qin Tian and the others were directly taken away.

On the way, Qin Tian pondered that perhaps the Murong Family incident was indeed a clever ploy by the Fourth Prince — a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

When I first visited, he didn't receive me; now, he appears voluntarily. The Fourth Prince clearly intends to remain the shadowy mastermind behind this matter, avoiding the spotlight.

Qin Tian didn't know what the Fourth Prince wanted, as he was taken to a courtyard by the Forbidden Army, and then the Fourth Prince came to inquire.

Qin Tian recounted the truth in full.

After listening, the Fourth Prince nodded, "I heard what you said aligns broadly with others' accounts."

"However, the situation within the palace needs to be explained to you now."

With no emotion visible on his face, the Fourth Prince said, "Old Nine has already reported to our father about having his martial arts crippled. You should know Old Nine is our father's most beloved prince, with the Empress backing him... You crippled his martial arts. What do you think Father's reaction would be?"

"Kill me?" Qin Tian chuckled faintly, understanding that compared to the Ninth Prince's life, his life was nothing; the Ice Emperor could easily kill him for the Ninth Prince.

The Fourth Prince chuckled faintly and nodded.

"Both Father and the Empress demand that I hand you over. I'm stalling, but I'm not sure for how long I can delay, as both the Ninth Prince and the Crown Prince are targeting me in the court, leaving me struggling."

"Heh, so the Fourth Prince means that I'm doomed," Qin Tian smiled knowingly.

The Fourth Prince looked at Qin Tian and said, "Not necessarily. I suspect Father hasn't ordered your immediate execution because he's cautious of the 400,000 troops you command in the West State."

"Oh?"

Qin Tian looked at the Fourth Prince, knowing that today's personal visit was not just to interrogate him; there must be another purpose.

His value, once used against the Ninth Prince and Crown Prince, was diminished now— the Ninth Prince was already crippled, and the Crown Prince's morale was crushed. Was there still any value?

Apart from the 400,000 troops in the West State, probably nothing holds any value now.

Thinking carefully, Qin Tian knew why the Fourth Prince had come today.

"I'm considering a proposition. If you hand over the 400,000 troops in the West State, Father might be willing to spare you this time."

Finally, the Fourth Prince voiced his objective.

"Hand over? How to hand over?" Qin Tian chuckled faintly, mentally prepared, curious about what benefits the Fourth Prince would gain from this matter.

Previously, during the war in East State, the Fourth Prince had played his cards well, making me fight against the Ninth Prince and Crown Prince, reaping benefits from both sides, and taking control of East State.

Now, with the Murong Family incident, he subdued the Crown Prince and crippled the Ninth Prince. As for me, how does the Fourth Prince plan to extract the greatest benefit from me?