Chapter 29: Betrayed by Schemes

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"You think the murderer is Third Princess Qin Qiong?"

After listening to Yu Houwen's detailed explanation of the royal power structure of Qin, Yang Tian finally voiced his own guess about the mastermind behind the scenes, expressing his surprise.

Wang Fu had never mentioned the Third Princess Qin Qiong.

Yet, according to Yu Houwen, Qin Qiong hid herself extremely well. On the surface, she appeared no different from the other weak princes and princesses, but in truth, she secretly controlled a formidable force.

Yang Tian could understand such a situation.

Whether it was the royal family or any great clan, there were always those who concealed themselves deeply, stirring up trouble from the shadows.

Still, to remain hidden for so long, known by so few, and yet thrive so effortlessly—such a possibility was truly slim.

After all, the others were not fools; it was unlikely that no one would have noticed anything amiss.

"You don't believe it? Do you feel that Qin Qiong is too inconspicuous, that she couldn't possibly have the capability to plot against my Yu family, or even your Champion Marquis household?" Yu Houwen saw through Yang Tian's doubts. "I didn't believe it at first either, but the facts are what they are. The most likely suspect is her. If you want me to produce evidence, I have none. I don't even know why she would plot against us. Sooner or later, she will reveal her true colors—you'll see."

Whether he believed it or not was not a matter Yang Tian cared much about.

From the moment he crossed into this world, everyone had fallen under his suspicion. He would never be swayed by someone else's words.

Just like the night he withdrew from the capital of Qin, when he was ambushed by the guest of the Second Prince, the True Man of Qingfeng, Wang Qifeng. Yang Tian didn't conclude right away that the Second Prince Qin Ke was the mastermind; indeed, the murderer wanted him to make just such an inference. Perhaps Qin Ke himself had been framed.

Now, with Yu Houwen's certainty, Yang Tian maintained the same skepticism.

He would discover the identity of the murderer himself. In the end, everything depended on strength.

With sufficient power, he wouldn't need evidence. Once he made up his mind, he would kill.

Without strength, even solid evidence would be of little use—it might sway public opinion, but ultimately, public opinion was controlled by those in power. In this world, might made right.

"In this Desolate City, I imagine you have a way to escape if you tried. Why didn't you?" Yang Tian asked, putting aside the matter of the murderer for now.

He was curious. Yu Houwen did not seem the type to wait for death.

If Yu Houwen had been imprisoned in the capital or any other city, perhaps he could only await his fate.

But this was the Desolate City.

Yang Tian suspected Yu Houwen had a means of escape.

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"I could indeed escape, but leaving would be even more dangerous. I don't know why she hasn't killed me yet…" Yu Houwen clutched his hair in anguish. He didn't want to wait for death either, but with his cultivation sealed and his body weaker than an ordinary person's, what could he possibly do if he left?

Yang Tian shook his head. "You want revenge. Why not try? Even if you fail, at least you've made the attempt—far better than waiting passively for death."

If it were him, he would never rot in a cell, enduring endless suffering.

Though it is said that a miserable life is better than a good death, it is only when one is alive that hope remains.

"That's why I told you who the murderer is, hoping you would help me. Had I escaped earlier, I wouldn't have had the chance to meet you now," Yu Houwen replied, a flash of shame and humiliation in his eyes. Perhaps it could be called enduring humiliation for the sake of vengeance, but it also revealed his own impotence.

"Heh, pinning your hopes on me is a poor choice. My appearance here is purely accidental—your plan is laughable," Yang Tian sneered without any attempt to conceal his disdain.

"Forget it. I have no right to question your decisions. Since you're afraid of the danger outside, why act as you do now? Whether you escape or I let you go, it makes no difference," Yang Tian mused, suddenly noticing Yu Houwen's mocking smile. A chilling thought flashed through his mind.

"Could it be that you want me to bear the crime of releasing a prisoner, forcing me to stand on your side?"

"But how can you be sure I'll let you go?"

"No—whether I release you or not, you've achieved your goal."

"By having the soldiers bring me to you, you've already set a trap. As long as I come to see you, there will be traces. If the real culprit is paying attention, they'll suspect me, no matter what we say..."

"I suppose even if I hadn't come at all, you would have found a way to use me."

"What a scheme. Whether you die, escape, or live, you've managed to implicate me…"

As Yang Tian followed this line of reasoning, Yu Houwen stared at him as though he'd seen a ghost, shocked that Yang Tian had seen through his intentions so thoroughly.

Yes.

The moment he learned that the new governor of Desolate City was Yang Tian, the second son of the Champion Marquis, Yu Houwen had devised this plan.

He had no hope of vengeance on his own.

It was completely unexpected that Yang Tian had come to Desolate City because of trouble that had befallen the Champion Marquis; with the household's power broken, how could there be any hope of revenge?

Yet, Yang Tian had managed to leave the capital and had been appointed city governor. Even if it was only Desolate City, his chances were still greater than Yu Houwen's—most importantly, Yang Tian would surely seek revenge.

Their goals aligned; one could hardly call it a conspiracy.

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Now that Yang Tian had seen through him, Yu Houwen was startled but also pleased. The more intelligent and resourceful Yang Tian was, the better his prospects would be.

"Don't say it like that—we share a common enemy. Even without me, the enemy wouldn't spare you. By telling you who the enemy is in advance, at least you won't waste time and effort in vain."

Yang Tian smiled.

Never underestimate anyone.

Of course, he hadn't underestimated Yu Houwen. He simply hadn't expected to be drawn into a scheme so imperceptibly, with no way to guard against it.

The water in this world ran too deep; everyone, human or ghost, seemed to be playing their own game.

"Think carefully about what value you still possess. Trying to use me comes with a price," Yang Tian said coolly.

The enemy's existence was a fact.

Yet, whether the Qin Qiong Yu Houwen spoke of was another piece of the puzzle, or whether the one who destroyed the Yu family was also the one who targeted the Champion Marquis...

All Yang Tian knew was that Yu Houwen had made use of him.

And he was not one to forgive easily.

He repaid every grudge.

Unless circumstances temporarily made it impossible, dealing with Yu Houwen would be no problem.

Yu Houwen fell silent.

After a while—

"If I said I had no value, would you kill me?"

"Oh, in that case, you can die," Yang Tian pronounced, expressionless.

"Wait—"