บท 137: A Growing Web Of Betrayal 2

The Summer palace, the Imperial study.

"What!" Emperor Xiang jumped out of his seat and clamped his hand behind him and began to pace the room.

"Has the messenger sent to Duke Shenxiu returned?" 

The soldier's face fell, and he sent a nervous gaze to Deng Lin the Commander of the Emperor's secret guards, who stood by the Emperor's side.

Only a few of them were aware of what happened to the messenger, based on his majesty's question, he was also left in the dark. 

Emperor Xiang's brow furrowed at the interaction between the commander and the guard. 

"Commander, are you hiding something from me?"

The commander exchanged a gaze with the Crown Prince before stepping forward, "forgive me, your majesty. I was only just informed minutes earlier. The messenger was found hanging from a tree in the woods at the south of the summer palace, Your Majesty".