Looking at the cold corpse of Ma Shaoxing in front of him, Song Huan was shocked and stunned.
"Huo Qi, how could this happen?"
"When you came back earlier, you told me that Ma Shaoxing was still alive..."
Huo Qi's usually calm face was now full of grief.
"Ma Shaoxing..."
"His right hand was chopped off and his face was slashed."
"Perhaps it was due to excessive blood loss. When my subordinates returned, his whole body was already cold and he had been out of breath for a long time..."
There were tears in Huo Qi's eyes, but he still held it back and did not shed any tears.
"When my subordinates found him previously, his condition was not very good."
"But if he hadn't desperately told his subordinates the news, His Highness might not have had enough time to inform General Cheng to take action!"
"he is……"
Huo Qi didn't finish his words, but Song Huan already knew it.
In order for Huo Qi to bring the news to him, Ma Shaoxing delayed the final treatment opportunity and died of excessive blood loss.
From the death of Cuimei, Song Huan had already been prepared for the sacrifice of someone around him.
But when all this really happened, Song Huan still felt so caught off guard!
Especially I didn't expect that Ma Shaoxing would pass away in such a miserable way...
If he hadn't found Ma Shaoxing and asked him if he was willing to take a risk for himself, maybe he would still be living an ordinary life with his old mother in the old house in the suburbs, plowing the land and herding cattle...
Seeing Song Huan's annoyed look, Huo Qi rubbed his red eyes: "Your Highness, you don't have to blame yourself!"
"Ma Shaoxing has expressed his gratitude to you more than once for your kindness."
"He said that if it weren't for your appreciation, he would still be living an anonymous life and would never be able to realize his ambition!"
"I believe that although his life can only go so far, he will not regret the decision he made!"
"Besides, His Highness's preferential treatment of his old mother can be regarded as settling his last worry!"
This person has passed away, and whatever you say now is in vain!
Song Huan sighed silently.
"pity……"
"I have always wanted to have a long chat with Ma Shaoxing over wine."
"But now, there is no such opportunity."
"Huo Qi, you and I will bury him under the crabapple tree behind the yard!"
"The begonias will bloom and bear fruit next year, and I will know that he is back."
Huo Qi's eyes heated up and he nodded to Song Huan: "Yes!"
The west wind, which had been raging crazily for several days, finally stopped its noise.
Song Huan and Huo Qi each had a shovel and dug in the soil in silence.
It was freezing cold, and the frozen soil in the backyard was particularly difficult to dig.
After a while, Song Huan's tiger's mouth was scratched by the shovel, drawing blood.
Huo Qi said: "Your Highness, just ask your subordinates to dig it!"
Song Huan shook his head: "No!"
"Just think that this king is sending him on his last journey."
A warm current flowed through Huo Qi's heart, and he was once again in awe of the man in front of him.
Prince Rong occupies a high position, and it is natural for his subordinates to die for him one after another.
Let alone an unknown civilian scholar like Ma Shaoxing, even if he is an official of the imperial court, his life is not worth pitying!
But now, Prince Rong can actually take Ma Shaoxing's death so seriously.
At this moment, Huo Qi completely realized that the master he chose to follow was not wrong!
With such a master, even if he sacrifices his life for him, so what?
The two of them dug, buried, and filled the hole in silence.
When all this was done, a snowflake finally fell from the sky.
Looking at the flying snow, Song Huan was stunned.
Although Song Yu and Song De had been removed, at this moment, Song Huan felt an unspeakable sadness and confusion in his heart.
The biggest hidden dangers around him have been eliminated one by one.
It stands to reason that the position of prince is already within his grasp, and Song Huan can easily get it without having to do anything.
However, at this moment, Song Huan was not as ecstatic and excited as he had imagined!
Ma Shaoxing's death made Song Huan feel a little heavy.
And just now in the Yangxin Hall, Emperor Liang's almost crazy behavior made Song Huan even more uncomfortable!
He couldn't help but ask himself, was that stern yet loving father the real Emperor Liang?
Song Huan had no clue!
"Huo Qi, get some wine."
"Let's have a drink with Ma Shaoxing!"
Huo Qi brought wine, and Song Huan each held a glass and stood in front of the crabapple tree.
"Ma Shaoxing, I have only known you for a short time, and I haven't even had time to drink a glass of wine with you."
"This cup is what I owe you!"
Song Huan raised his neck and drank a bowl of drunken Taiping in one gulp.
The white wine stuck to his throat and rolled into his intestines. The spicy heat made Song Huan's eyes turn red.
Well, his eyes must be red from the wine!
Huo Qi put down his wine glass and raised his hand to Song Huan.
"Your Highness, I would like to go to the palace to pay homage to the Holy One..."
Huo Qi hadn't finished speaking, but Song Huan understood Huo Qi's hidden intentions.
"It doesn't matter, you go ahead."
"I will have a few more drinks with Ma Shaoxing!"
Huo Qi nodded and mustered up the courage to speak to Song Huan: "Your Highness, after my subordinate comes back, there is something very important that I must tell you!"
After saying that, Huo Qi flew and disappeared into the endless night sky.
Huo Qi has walked this road from Prince Rong's Mansion to Ouchi Palace countless times.
The road was familiar every time, but this time, Huo Qi's figure felt a little heavy.
Inside the Yangxin Hall.
There was only a bean-like flame on the table, swaying from side to side.
Huo Qiqing came to the couch and knelt down towards Emperor Liang.
"My subordinates pay their respects to Your Majesty!"
Emperor Liang's figure was hidden in the half-dark candlelight. Huo Qi did not dare to look up and could not clearly see the expression on Emperor Liang's face.
"Shiwei Huo, why didn't you tell me what happened today in advance?"
"If the third prince hadn't reminded me, I still don't know when the second prince would take action!"
Huo Qi lowered his head and said, "It's because my subordinates are not doing things right!"
"My subordinates only know that the Second Prince has frequently been in and out of South Camp recently, but I don't know when the Second Prince plans to take action..."
Emperor Liang lowered his head and looked down at Huo Qi: "Does the Second Prince really come in and out of the South Camp frequently?"
Feeling the gaze above his head, Huo Qi's heart tightened!
Huo Qi knew that under normal circumstances, Emperor Liang would never repeat the same question a second time.
Unless he already has doubts about this!
Huo Qi was a little frightened, but he gritted his teeth and said, "The second prince passes through the Suzaku Gate every time he comes in and out. There are all the general's cronies there, so naturally no one will inform him."
Emperor Liang did not comment on Huo Qi's words. He just picked up the tea cup and took a sip of hot tea.
After a long time, Emperor Liang finally spoke to Huo Qi.
"Guard Huo, don't forget that I sent you to the Fourth Prince in the first place to monitor him and report his movements to me from time to time."
"It's unlikely that by now, Guard Huo has completely forgotten who should be the master that Guard Huo follows, right?"
