Son-in-law Heaven Emperor Xiao Yi

"Have you heard? The massacre of entire villages in the past few months was committed by these people!"

"I heard it already, apparently, it was the Crown Prince who found the evidence. I never expected such heartless deeds could be done by a prince and the director of the Xiaoshanhe Institute!"

"This just goes to show that appearances can be deceiving!"

"It's said that Yang Ling was even thinking of fighting for the Crown Prince's position. If such scum becomes the Crown Prince, what kind of days can we expect to have in the future?"

The discussions among the crowd were vehement.

Leaving Xiao Yi, Yang Ling, and the others looking at each other, utterly bewildered, "What the hell? We did it?"

"We just arrived at Northern Bing City today, how could we possibly have done these things?"

"This is a goddamn frame-up..."

However...

Nobody was listening to their explanations.

Shen Mo looked despairing as he turned to Xiao and Yang Ling, "Xiao, Your Highness, what should we do now?"

Yang Ling's face was grim, "They said it was my eldest brother who implicated us, it seems we can only wait to see General Yan to prove our innocence!"

But Xiao Yi's eyes narrowed, showing a trace of cold and chilling light.

The vice-commander, losing patience, urged them, "Stop whispering to each other and move it!"

Inside the city lord's residence.

Yan Wei sat upright with a serious demeanor, and at the highest seat to his left sat the Crown Prince Yang Kun.

Sun Yao stood behind Yang Kun, watching with a peculiar gaze as Xiao Yi and his group were escorted by the city guards into the great hall. His smile became more radiant, and he said in a taunting tone, "Well, well, isn't that our Xiao Yi, the director of the institute? After committing such unconscionable acts, how can you still have the face to appear before General Yan?"

Yang Kun pretended to be angrily scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about? We don't have conclusive evidence to prove that they did all this. How can we treat them as prisoners? Perhaps there's some misunderstanding?"

Sun Yao exaggeratedly objected, playing the aggrieved party, "Your Highness, there's no need to justify their actions anymore. We have irrefutable evidence. We found the personal item of Yang Ling at the Teng Family Village. Isn't that enough to prove everything?"

"Shut up! I don't believe my younger brother would do such a thing!"

Yang Kun feigned a look of heartfelt pain, and turned to the seated General Yan, with righteous indignation, "General Yan, although I too find it hard to believe that all of this was done by my younger brother. But the dead villagers, numbering over a hundred thousand, also require justice. If it indeed was his doing, I hope General Yan can enforce the law impartially!"

"Rest assured, Your Highness, I know what to do," General Yan nodded, his gaze sharp as a blade's edge, falling upon Xiao Yi and the others.

"General Yan, I..." Yang Ling began to speak.

General Yan shook his head at him, and asked, "Your Highness, have you been to the Teng Family Village?"

"Indeed, I have!"

Yang Ling nodded, then realizing something, he frowned and asked, "What happened in the Teng Family Village?"

With a stern face, General Yan said, "The entire Teng Family Village was annihilated, no one was spared. Nearly a thousand villagers were brutally murdered, their deaths very similar to the previous massacre in the Wen Family Village. The Crown Prince found the murderer's personal item at the scene..."

"What? The Teng Family Village has been wiped out?"

Their expressions changed drastically, for they had not caught the latter part of General Yan's words.

In Xiao Yi's mind appeared the image of Teng Qingqing, with her braided hair, who called him 'Xiao Yi brother' in her crisp voice, and Teng Qingshan, who was a little shy yet bravely protected his sister.

They were all dead?

Whirr!

Xiao Yi's body uncontrollably burst out with a wild surge of elemental energy, his eyes narrowed into slits, his gaze spitting icy sharpness.

This chill surprised everyone.

"Xiao Yi!"

With a low shout from Yan Wei, Xiao Yi snapped back to his senses.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to regain his calm and said in a deep voice, "General Yan, please continue."

Yan Wei glanced deeply at Xiao Yi and then took out a jade pendant from his chest, saying, "Do you recognize this jade pendant?"

Yang Ling paused, frowning, "Isn't this my personal jade pendant? How did it end up in your hands?"

"It is indeed you!"

"Brother, I have been telling myself it must be a misunderstanding. You couldn't possibly do something so cruel. But I never imagined, this jade pendant really is yours... How could you be so heartless? Not a single soul left in the Teng Family Village, even the children were not spared, you..." Yang Kun suddenly clutched his chest, letting out a pained and aggrieved sigh.

Yan Wei's face was somber as he gazed at Yang Ling and Xiao, "Your Highness, Head Xiao, this jade pendant was found in the Teng Family Village. You had better explain clearly how this came to be."

"The jade pendant is always on me, never leaving my side. I don't know how it could have ended up in the Teng Family Village..." Yang Ling said, his face full of confusion.

Sun Yao rebuked, "Your Highness Yang Ling, with matters as they are, do you still intend to argue? Why it was in the Teng Family Village is obvious – you must have dropped it incidentally while massacring the village. This is ironclad evidence; the Teng Family Village was wiped out by you. I even suspect that the other destroyed villages were also your doing!"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Shen Mo glared angrily, "We just arrived at the Northern Ice Plains today – the village massacres started happening two months ago. Moreover, the corpses of the villagers from the Wen Family Village were clearly killed by beasts. What basis do you have to say we did it?"

Xiao Yi remained silent, but his gaze fell upon Bai Xue.

Bai Xue trembled all over, not daring to lift her head.

Sun Yao sneered repeatedly, saying, "With Your Highness' status, why would you need to act personally? Besides, aren't you from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect best at controlling beasts?"

Yang Kun shook his head and sighed, "Brother, if you truly did this, please just admit it. I can assure you that I won't let this leak out. Otherwise, when I report this to father and he orders a thorough investigation, none of you will be able to escape..."

Yang Ling said angrily, "I didn't do it!"

Shen Mo gritted his teeth, "It has nothing to do with us!"

Xiao Yi remained silent.

But at that moment, Bai Xue finally timidly raised her head, hesitating to speak.

Yang Kun's lips curled up slightly, "Bai Xue, do you have something to say? If you know the truth, just speak up. As long as you reveal the culprit, I will plead for you!"

Gathering her courage, Bai Xue pointed at Xiao Yi and Yang Ling, "They did all this... They threatened me not to tell anyone. I just can't bear my conscience anymore, and now whenever I close my eyes, I see them slaughtering the villagers. Your Highness, it has nothing to do with me; I was forced..."

"What?"

"Bai Xue, what the hell are you talking about? When did we ever threaten you?"

"Fuck you, Bai Xue, how can you make up such lies? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"

Shen Mo completely lost it.

He never expected Bai Xue would stab them in the back so ruthlessly at this moment.

With a triumphant smile, Sun Yao stared coldly at Xiao Yi, accusing, "Xiao Yi, with the situation as it is, the proof and testimonies at hand, what more do you have to say?"

All eyes were on Xiao Yi.

Yet Xiao Yi's lips curved slightly, and he slowly uttered four words: "Speak your fucking mind!"