"Grand Tutor." The prince knew very well how soft-hearted the Grand Tutor was. He called out dryly but didn't know how to comfort him.
"I will avenge them." Hua Zhi raised her head and turned around after a moment, "I will go to Prince Ling's mansion."
The prince hurriedly stopped him, "No, if the Grand Tutor wants to see someone or do something, I will order someone to do it."
Hua Zhi knew her physical condition. Every bit of strength she had saved was for emergencies, so it would be best if it was not wasted. "Then please ask the Crown Prince to bring the Xiao mother and son back. Oh, and please ask Prince Ling to come to the palace as well. Send more people to follow in the dark and see if it is possible to lure the wise man out."
"I understand."
In fact, Hua Zhi was overthinking it. Those people seemed to have disappeared and no trace could be found. Prince Ling and his men were sent into the palace unimpeded.
According to Hua Zhi's idea, Xiao's mother and son were locked up in a room, while Prince Ling was tied up tightly and held outside with a cloth stuffed in his mouth. Yan Xi and Shaoyao had suffered a lot because of him, and now that she had the chance to repay him, she would of course repay him well.
The prince was still a little worried, "The Grand Tutor is injured, I will accompany you in..."
"Aren't there secret guards here? Don't worry, I won't gamble with my life." Hua Zhi bowed, pushed open the door without waiting for the prince to say anything, and closed it with her backhand in front of everyone.
Xiao was pouring water for her son. When she saw her come in, she sneered, "It turns out to be Master Taifu. I have heard of your great name for a long time."
Hua Zhi found a seat that was not too far away and not too close, trying to save as much energy as possible. She watched Xiao finish feeding her son some water before she spoke, "I didn't know that Madam Xiao could be so loving and caring."
Xiao sat down next to her son, looking at the woman who had ruined their plans without any hesitation, "As a mother, isn't it your duty to love and protect your son?"
"Forgive my poor eyesight, I didn't see it before." Hua Zhi held her chin with her hand, looking relaxed, "The young master is ten years old this year, but now his mother is just a lady who is not worthy of being on the stage and has no legitimate status, and he is just a son of a concubine, a bastard who is not even qualified to compete with Yan Xi."
Gu Yanze started coughing violently. Hua Zhi lowered her eyebrows. Very good, this young master actually had that idea in mind. Then she could make use of it. She didn't intend to use any fancy tactics today. She just wanted to use the psychological tactics. It would be great if she could get some information. If she couldn't do it, it would be enough to provoke Prince Ling.
"Hua Jingyan was such a hero back then, but his descendants resorted to such tactical tactics to deal with a child. Don't you feel ashamed of your ancestors, Master Taifu?"
"Madam Xiao, what you said is wrong. If our ancestor were still alive, he would only regret not exterminating the Chaoli tribe at that time, which gave you the opportunity to kill my soldiers and invade my land!" Hua Zhi smiled coldly, "Madam Xiao said that he is just a child, but he is a child of the royal family. Half of his blood is from Daqing, and the other half is from the Chaoli tribe that is invading Daqing. Madam Xiao, do you want the young master to stand on the side of Daqing and stab you, his mother, or stand on the side of the Chaoli tribe and stab Prince Ling?"
"Master Taifu keeps saying that I am a beautiful woman. May I ask what evidence do you have?"
"I think you are, so you are." Hua Zhi stood up. "A wise man's daughter, Madam Xiao, are you proud of your identity? To be honest, Madam Xiao is also a princess of the Chaoli tribe. Unfortunately, you are just a prisoner now. In front of the great cause, your wise father probably won't care about you. If the Chaoli tribe can succeed, how many daughters can't have it? Maybe you can even have a son to inherit the family business!"
Xiao had a cold face and didn't respond.
Hua Zhi didn't care and continued to add fuel to the fire, "Mrs. Xiao, you got a promise, right? If I didn't give you a promise to put your mind at ease, how could you bring your son into this game? I wonder if the young master knows that he is just a chess piece that has been abandoned?"
"It's easy to find a pretext to accuse someone of something, why do you have to do this, Master Taifu?" Xiao sneered, "I know you feel sorry for the prince and want to vent your anger on him, so I'll let you beat me here, but why do you have to vent your anger on my son? Master Taifu, aren't you afraid of damaging your reputation?"
"What's the use of a heroic name to me? I'm just a girl. Why should I be so upright? It's enough to achieve my goal." Hua Zhi said righteously, "The prince is too upright that he didn't touch a woman like you, giving you the opportunity to become so powerful. I think you are probably very proud that the prince can't do anything to you, but what can the commander of the Seven Constellations do to him even if he assassinated you, Prince Ling? Isn't it the prince's uprightness that you rely on? And the young master."
Hua Zhi looked at Gu Yanze with a smile, "You really want the position of the crown prince, right? Isn't it always Madam Xiao who tells you to wait a little longer, because the opportunity has not come yet? Now is the opportunity she has been waiting for, but unfortunately, she is not doing it for you, but for the future generations of the Chaoli clan."
Even though Gu Yanze was full of cunning thoughts, he was still young, and he was doted on in Prince Ling's Mansion. Occasionally, his plots were directed at Gu Yanxi. Hearing this, he felt uneasy. He had indeed mentioned this to his mother more than once. He wanted to be the legitimate heir to Prince Ling's Mansion and did not want to be the son of a concubine. However, every time, his mother behaved as Hua Zhi said, asking him to wait a little longer. When he asked why he should wait a little longer, his mother was always vague and unclear. It was really suspicious at this moment.
But he was not an ordinary child after all, so he would not show it even if he had doubts.
Xiao came over and hugged her son to block Hua Zhi's sight, "Master Taifu, this method is really low-class."
"Inferior?" Hua Zhi laughed. "Young Master is the beloved young master of Prince Ling's Mansion in Daqing. If Daqing is destroyed, does he think he can survive? As long as one person from the royal family survives, Daqing will not be completely destroyed. Can you, who has half royal blood, tolerate Chao Li? Or is Madam Xiao so naive that she thinks your wise father will abandon his great cause and leave your son behind? Madam Xiao said I am inferior. Dare to ask which of my words are not true."
Gu Yanze clearly felt his mother's body stiffen for a moment, and she even tightened her arms around him. Just from these little details revealed unconsciously, he was sure that what Hua Zhi said was the truth. He could be rich and prosperous in Daqing, and even if he could not inherit the throne of the crown prince in the future, he would still have his share. If it was true as Hua Zhi said that he had half Chaoli blood, he would not be able to survive!
Lowering his eyes, Gu Yanze had already made up his mind.
"Zer, don't be fooled by her. She said all this just to alienate the relationship between us mother and son. You are my son, and I will never harm you even if I harm anyone else!"
"I believe mother." Gu Yanze looked up. "Since we were wronged, then as long as the problem of grandpa is solved, right? Mother, where did grandpa go? Why didn't he show up?"
Hua Zhi smiled, "Young Master is very smart. Madam Xiao, why didn't your father show up?"