CHAPTER 527: CHAPTER 282: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MYNA BIRD AND THE SOUTHERN WEI?_2

"Compared to the Xie family and the Wang Family, the Yuan Family is even more disgusting." Zhao Yao doesn’t like aristocratic families, but he has to admit that the Xie family, the Wang Family, and the Xun Family are much better than the Yuan Family. No matter how evil the Xie family is, they would never collude with foreign tribes. However, the Yuan Family betrayed the country for their own benefit.

"The Yuan Family has been hiding well for years, not standing out." Although the Yuan Family has returned to the status of a first-class aristocratic family, they conduct themselves very discreetly and remain very obedient. Whatever the emperor commands, they do; whatever the emperor forbids, they don’t do.

"Both Grandfather and Father were deceived by the Yuan Family." Just after Zhao Yao spoke, he realized his words were incorrect and corrected himself, "No, the Yuan Family deceived everyone."

"Now that you know the Yuan Family colludes with the Xiongnu, what do you plan to do, directly tell your father?"

Zhao Yao shook his head and said, "Without evidence, I can’t tell Father."

After thinking for a while, he said, "Next, we’ll gather evidence of the Yuan Family’s collusion with the Xiongnu and then capture the entire Yuan Family."

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yao was so composed, which reassured He Lianfang.

"Then we’ll follow your lead."

Zhao Yao took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and continued to ask, "Second Uncle, have you found out anything about the Southern Wei?"

He Lianfang shook his head and said, "No, matters related to Southern Wei seem to have been completely erased, leaving no trace behind."

"Why is it like this? What exactly did Southern Wei do back then to provoke the previous dynasty into eradicating all trace of them?" Zhao Yao was puzzled over what unforgivable actions Southern Wei had committed that made the emperor of the previous dynasty resent them so deeply.

"Unclear." Like Zhao Yao, He Lianfang had once come across records about Southern Wei in historical documents, but each record contained only bits and pieces.

"Second Uncle, do you think Southern Wei has any relation to the Xiongnu?" Among the Xiongnu in the Great Zhou, that person named Wuwei is a Southern Wei person, but he has lived in Xiongnu all his life. He is also connected with the Eighth Brother.

Considering Eighth Brother’s character, he would definitely not collude with the Xiongnu to fight for the throne. Therefore, Eighth Brother’s contact with Wuwei is definitely because of the Southern Wei. But what relationship does Eighth Brother have with Southern Wei?

Zhao Yao had once suspected whether the birth mother of the Eighth Prince had any connection with Southern Wei and had secretly investigated; however, he found that the birth mother of the Eighth Prince was just an ordinary palace maid, with no relation to Southern Wei, and even less to the Xiongnu.

Afterwards, he suspected whether there were Southern Wei people collaborating with the Eighth Brother. Could it be that the Southern Wei people were assisting the Eighth Brother in vying for the throne, with the promise that once the Eighth Brother became emperor, he would help restore Southern Wei’s status, or assist them in other matters?

All information on Southern Wei was thoroughly eradicated, indicating that during the previous dynasty, the emperor sought to exterminate all Southern Wei people, although some managed to escape, biding their time and developing their forces in hiding.

Looking back now, the things Eighth Brother accomplished must have had the help of Southern Wei people; otherwise, how could an unfavored, powerless prince accomplish all that without anyone noticing?

The matters Eighth Brother was involved in were by no means simple and did not catch the attention of his father or anyone else, showing the formidable power of the Southern Wei forces behind him.

He Lianfang observed Zhao Yao’s thoughtful expression and did not interrupt him.

It stood to reason that since Southern Wei was the force behind Eighth Brother, Zhao Yao should not investigate, but the mysterious and powerful nature of the Southern Wei forces compelled him to ascertain their motives. Otherwise, if something happened to Eighth Brother, he would not be able to offer any assistance.

"Second Uncle, we have to thoroughly investigate the Southern Wei matters." Zhao Yao said with a frown, "I sense that the Southern Wei forces are very strong."

"Strong? Where does that notion come from?"

"Starting from that Xiongnu man named Wuwei, they are Southern Wei people, yet hold a high position in the Xiongnu Royal Court and are deeply trusted and relied upon by the Left Virtuous King." Zhao Yao couldn’t disclose the matter regarding the Eighth Prince to He Lianfang, "Second Uncle, don’t you find it strange why the previous dynasty sought to completely annihilate the Southern Wei people?"

"You make a valid point." He Lianfang, influenced by Zhao Yao’s words, developed an interest in the Southern Wei people, "I will send people to continue investigating the Southern Wei matters."

"Let’s have our people in Xiongnu investigate Wuwei; this might reveal some details about the Southern Wei." Currently, the Southern Wei people find the Eighth Brother useful and won’t harm him, but in the future, who can say?

"Alright." He Lianfang glanced at Zhao Yao and asked, "What do you think is the purpose of the Southern Wei people?"

"Having been purged by the previous dynasty, their first motive would be to restore their reputation and status; as for their second objective, I have no idea." Zhao Yao scratched his face and said, "I feel they are not simple."

He Lianfang nodded slightly and stopped discussing the Southern Wei people, instead shifting the conversation to the matters of the banquet tomorrow.

Zhao Yao did not stay at He Lianfang’s place for long and returned to the palace before dusk.

As soon as he returned to the palace, he was summoned by the Eighth Prince for a meal.

During dinner, Zhao Yao several times almost couldn’t resist asking the Eighth Prince if he knew about Southern Wei, but in the end, he held back.

After the meal, the Eighth Prince personally poured a cup of tea for Zhao Yao and said to him gently, "Is there something you want to say to me?"

About to drink tea, Zhao Yao’s expression turned bewildered as he asked, "What do I want to say to you?"

"During the meal, you wanted to say something to me several times but didn’t in the end." The Eighth Prince looked at Zhao Yao with concern and asked, "Did you do something, or is there something you want to ask me for?"

The Eighth Brother certainly was perceptive.

"Eighth Brother, you figured that out?" Zhao Yao feigned a look of surprise, "I do have something to ask of you." After saying that, he looked at the Eighth Prince expectantly.