Above the Galaxy

Chapter 1047 - 676: A Blunder in the Game

Fengming Palace.

Dongguo Chenxi committed suicide, Zhong Tianque was beheaded.

Blood flowed like a river in Dong’an Hall, staining the luxurious and beautiful cashmere carpet, making it look mottled and ugly, like the scar on a neck missing its head.

First, there was a deathly silence, then it erupted with piercing screams and cries.

"Chenxi... Chenxi..."

"Chenxi, wake up, wake up..."

"Why are you so stupid? Why so foolish?"

Zhao Yuzhu rushed over frantically, cradling Dongguo Chenxi’s fallen body in her arms.

This was her daughter, a piece of flesh dropped from her body.

They say that noble families are often heartless, but seeing her own daughter slit her throat in front of her, this mother still experienced an enormous shock.

"Sister... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it... I’m really sorry..."

Dongguo Zhuohua’s eyes were red as well, unable to hold back her tears.

She was Dongguo Chenxi’s most cherished younger sister, yet she betrayed her sister’s trust, leaked secrets, attracting the enemy...

She felt like she was an indirect... accomplice in her sister’s death.

Dongguo Siqi’s face was pale, as if he had aged ten years overnight.

He always thought Dongguo Chenxi was wise, tolerant, and skilled at handling situations.

When she was designated as Crown Princess Consort by the former emperor Zhong Daolong, he had high hopes for his daughter.

But... how did it turn out like this?

Shen Que watched the scene with a blank expression and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Dong Guo, please accept my condolences."

The murderous intent flashed quickly in Dongguo Siqi’s eyes, but raising his head, he had already restored his sad and bitter demeanor, gently shaking his head and said, "This was her own choice, no one else is to blame."

"I didn’t expect that Ms. Chenxi and Zhong Tianque had such a deep bond," Shen Que sheathed the blood-stained long knife in his hand, offering an explanation and a doubt: "However, Zhong Tianque betrayed his master and the country, he had to be killed. I, Shen, had no choice."

Dongguo Siqi nodded, agreeing, "I understand, I understand, in the officialdom, we’re often forced."

The world is absurd, a father who just lost his daughter is comforting the enemy who killed his daughter, as if he is more saddened than himself.

Shen Que nodded, looking at Dongguo Zhuohua and asked, "Ms. Zhuohua, those videos... they haven’t been backed up, have they?"

"No, no, absolutely not," Dongguo Zhuohua shook her head desperately, quickly explaining: "Sister gave it... that to me, and I handed it to father..."

Seeing Shen Que cut off Zhong Tianque’s head frightened her terribly.

He was once the Crown Prince...

She dared not provoke this killer god.

Shen Que’s gaze shifted to Dongguo Siqi’s face, ’sincerely’ reminding him, "Mr. Dong Guo, you should know, the nature of this matter is extremely serious, with a very bad impact. If accidentally spread... the Military Minister would be furious, the Dongguo Family could hardly bear it."

"You and I have known each other for some time, and I sincerely hope nothing unexpected happens to the Dongguo Family. You also know, there are fewer and fewer old friends now..."

Isn’t it getting fewer? Some are killed, some escape, some are imprisoned, there are very few people left to drink with.

When a society makes everyone feel insecure, that society is very abnormal.

Dongguo Siqi certainly understood what Shen Que meant, he was threatening him, the video must not be spread, once spread... regardless of whether the Dongguo Family did it or not, it would be assumed that they did.

All the blame would fall on the Dongguo Clan.

Dongguo Siqi’s face turned red with embarrassment and anger, he said fiercely, "General Shen, you know, our Dongguo Family is the most loyal ally of the Military Minister, from beginning to end, we’ve always stood firmly with the Military Minister. We share glory and loss, how could we do anything against him?"

"Moreover, when I found out the Pseudo Crown Prince wanted to send information outside, I intercepted it immediately and handed him over to General Shen, my own daughter lost her life because of it... yet now we’re the villains?"

Shen Que looked at Dongguo Siqi, knowing he was acting, he knew Dongguo was acting, just as he was also acting.

"Mr. Dong Guo, please calm down, I’m saying this for your own good, for the good of the Dongguo Family... better safe than sorry. If that kind of thing does happen, could you escape the blame?"

Dongguo Siqi’s emotions calmed a bit, he said deeply, "I know, General Shen is looking out for us, but... sigh, seeing my daughter die in front of me, a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one... this pain in my heart is like being stabbed, so painful, it’s killing me."

"I understand." Shen Que nodded, looking at Dongguo Siqi, said, "To be safe, Ms. Chenxi will need to temporarily ’reside’ in Fengming Palace... After Mr. Dong Guo and madam return, don’t show any abnormalities, act as if nothing happened."

"I understand." Dongguo Siqi nodded, he also wanted to bring his daughter’s body back for burial, but he knew it was impossible.

If he were allowed to bring Dongguo Chenxi’s body back, and if news accidentally leaked, some could deduce from it that there was an earth-shattering change inside Fengming Palace.

Though Zhong Tianque was called the Pseudo Crown Prince, he still carried the Zhong name...

Before Shen Wuxiang formally usurped the throne, the de facto monarch of this country was still Zhong Daolong.

There were still some elders loyal to the Zhong Royal Family.

"I have some cleaning work to do here, I won’t send you back personally, Mr. Dong Guo." Shen Que said.

Dongguo Siqi glanced at Zhong Tianque’s headless body, then said, "General Shen, focus on your work."

"However, I will have someone escort you." Shen Que called out, "Shen Nan."

"Here."

A young general with a steady demeanor stepped forward, he was Shen Que’s younger brother, and also the Assistant of the Palace Guard Army.

"Escort Mr. Dong Guo and his family for me."

"Yes."

Shen Nan replied, bowing.

Dongguo Siqi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Thank you, Mr. Shen Nan."

Shen Que noticed Dongguo Siqi’s anger and resentment but didn’t mind. Anyone would feel uncomfortable being monitored and confined.

This is the reaction a normal person should have.

If he were pleased as pie, then I’d have to ponder his motives.

After the Dongguo Family left, Shen Que quietly looked at the bodies of Zhong Tianque and Dongguo Chenxi, organizing some words in his mind before dialing the Military Minister’s number.

Because of his special position, he had the responsibility of guarding the court and the Empire’s foundation, and could personally report all matters, big or small, to the Military Minister.

One ring, two rings, three rings, no answer.

Given the gravity of the situation, he didn’t dare easily reveal to others that the Pseudo Crown Prince had been beheaded.

Dialed again, still no answer.

After a moment of contemplation, he dialed Shen Xinglan’s number.

As everyone knows, Shen Xinglan is cultivated by the Shen Family as the ’True Crown Prince’ and the future Emperor of the Empire.

He personally killed the ’Pseudo Crown Prince’ for the True Crown Prince, this merit could only be understood as... Whatever the case, the Crown Prince had to be informed immediately and asked for his decision.

Once, twice, three times...

No answer from Shen Xinglan’s phone either.

Shen Que’s expression instantly turned serious, glancing at Zhong Tianque’s body on the ground...

He suspected he had made a blunder.

------

The Dongguo Family. Qingfeng Courtyard.

After Shen Nan left, Zhao Yuzhu started crying loudly, pointing at Dongguo Siqi and cursing, "Do you even act like a father? Our daughter is dead, and her body is still held in the palace... You don’t even dare to say a word for her?"

Dongguo Siqi’s face was sullen, suppressing the anger in his heart, he spoke, "Foolishness, what use is there in having the body at a time like this? Besides, if we ask for it, will they give it?"

"Do you know how much is at stake in all this? Do you know... With the slightest mishap, our Dongguo Family would be erased from history..."

"The Dongguo Family, one of the Nine Great Families, is less than the Sheng Family; Sheng Jing faced off against Shen Wuxiang to protect his daughter..."

"Now look, where is Sheng Jing? Where is the Sheng Family?"

Zhao Yuzhu was just filled with resentment and wanted a channel to vent.

Seeing she couldn’t argue with her husband, she cried out, "My poor Chenxi, how miserable her life is... As her mother, I can’t even set up a shrine to mourn her..."

"Shut up!" Dongguo Siqi’s eyes looked as if they would burst into flames, he shouted angrily, "Why are you yelling? Did you forget what Shen Que said? If this gets out... who will bear the responsibility?"

"..."

Zhao Yuzhu.

Her daughter died, took her own life.

As a mother, she couldn’t even cry, feeling even more aggrieved and suffocated, as if a massive stone was crushing her, making it impossible to breathe.

Her vision went black, and she fainted.

Dong Guo Zhuohua saw his mother collapse and screamed, "Someone... hurry, call a doctor..."

The servants quickly gathered around.

------

Security Bureau. Director’s office.

Bai Xingjian was lying comfortably on the ergonomic smart chair, with a pair of mechanical hands gently massaging his temples.

This was specifically replaced for him after becoming the Director of the Security Bureau.

Guo Nu, that idiot, didn’t know how to enjoy life, using those hard wooden tables and chairs that looked imposing but were terribly uncomfortable to sit in.

Imposing isn’t something that can be piled up with material from desks and chairs.

"You mean... Dongguo Chenxi is dead? The Dongguo Family dares not speak up? Dares not to request the body?"

"Yes, the informant we planted in the Dongguo Family heard Zhao Yuzhu’s cries... also heard Zhao Yuzhu arguing with Dongguo Siqi..."

Lin Yongxing, the Director of the Information Office, stood respectfully in front of the large Moon Gold Stone desk, reporting in a low voice.

In ancient times, the Security Bureau and the former Monitoring Bureau were like the ’Eastern Factory’ and ’Western Factory,’ responsible for monitoring the conduct of all officials.

Of course, the two had mutual jurisdiction. The Monitoring Bureau mainly monitored government officials, while the Security Bureau primarily targeted the military system.

During the Phoenix Palace incident, Tang Fei took Director Yan Wenli of the Monitoring Bureau and a group of executives to the Old Land, causing the entire bureau to collapse.

Even if the institution still existed, Shen Wuxiang did not dare to use it easily.

Yan Wenli served as the Director of the Monitoring Bureau for many years, and it was his base of loyalists.

As a result, the Security Bureau extended its reach, taking over the responsibility of monitoring officials from the Monitoring Bureau.

This is, of course, temporary; once the resistance is cleared, the Security Bureau must share power, and the monitoring system needs to be re-established...

But hasn’t the insurgency been cleared?

Bai Xingjian, the Director of the Security Bureau, now wielded immense power, with informants scattered across various officials’ residences, all as his pawns.

"Something big happened in Fengming Palace." Bai Xingjian mumbled.

He paused and asked, "Can you bring out Dongguo Siqi?"

"Director, Dongguo Siqi is the head of the Dongguo Family and has close ties with the military... Moreover, Shen Que has stationed his younger brother’s people in the old residence of the Dongguo Family..."

"If the Security Bureau wants to take someone, it might lead to a clash with the Palace Army and displease the Military Minister."

"Has Dongguo Siqi committed any act of collusion?"

"Nothing found so far."

"Then fabricate one for him," Bai Xingjian said indifferently.

"..."