Afterlife Department

Chapter 196 – Margaret

Gu Xingfeng parked his car on the roadside and looked at his watch. He is ten minutes early. Will this make him look too eager? However, he doesn't need to worry about it since the gates of Hao Baiyun's villa opened and Hao Baiyun's car drove out.

Gu Xingfeng followed it after a second. After watching Hao Baiyun for a long time, he found out his habit of returning home during lunch. Even in dinner, if he didn't have any appointments, he would eat at home. This time, Hao Baiyun has just finished eating lunch and is about to return to his company.

After driving for a while, he saw Hao Baiyun's car parked on a secluded road. Gu Xingfeng immediately parked his car right behind Hao Baiyun's car and went out of his car. Then, he walked towards Hao Baiyun's car and knocked on the window.

The window rolled down and revealed Hao Baiyun's face. "Get in.." he told him.

Gu Xingfeng nodded and opened the door of the passenger's seat. Hao Baiyun didn't say anything, so Gu Xingfeng spoke first. "Tell me everything that Huo Ling told you at that time." He said, referring to the time when Huo Ling told Hao Baiyun that he will be killed by someone from the royal family.

Hao Baiyun nodded. "It was one week ago. Xiao Ling called me, his voice was very heavy. He is obviously depressed." He started. "You may have already investigated, but xiao Ling was disliked by his father. He and aunt Meiying were antagonized by the Huo family. Then, there's the royal family." his face darkened.

Gu Xingfeng understood. For someone to continue to live this kind of life, having his sanity kept intact is already a miracle. "The royal family…" he muttered.

"There may only be two people on the surface – Margaret and Kale, but there are the council of elders in the shadows." Hao Baiyun told him. "They are the greatest support a monarch could have. The late King, Kale's father, has the council of elders' support. However, when he died, the despised Margaret was being controlled by them. Between the mother and son, those old people naturally would side with the son since he will become the king. However, if Kale would have been weak, the power of the monarch will fall in their hands. It will never be Margaret's turn." He explained.

Gu Xingfeng nodded in understanding. Hao Baiyun had already told him about Margaret and the Wills family last night, so he immediately understood what Hao Baiyun had just said. "So, you mean, Margaret will avenge herself." He said.

Hao Baiyun nodded. "She was born to never receive anyone's love." he sighed. "She was unfavored by her family, and after her marriage, she wasn't loved by her husband even a bit. And when she gave birth, her son grew up liking another mother than her." he said. He is referring to Huo Meiying.

"The matter about her family isn't her fault, but the matter with her husband – the King, and her son, is hers." Gu Xingfeng said. Margaret chose the wrong way to approach the late King, and formed an estranged relationship with her son.

Hao Baiyun shook his head. "One doesn't look at the process, but only on the result." He told him.

Gu Xingfeng fell silent.

Hao Baiyun continued. "It can only be her." he said, referring to Huo Ling's murderer. His brows gathered as his eyes narrowed. "Among everyone that I know, only she hates Huo Ling the most."

Gerard Jackson's enemies are countless, but they won't reach the point of killing their enemy's son. Some of them, although involved in the underworld, still has principles. For example, that mysterious overlord named 'Lewis'.

The Huo family, Huo Chengyi, Huo Xuaner and Huo Zhansan, as well as their wife and children, are just bark but no bite. They might antagonize Huo Meiying, and Huo Ling in the process, but Huo Meiying and Huo Ling have their biggest backer in the family: Huo Dakuan.

The one who has the most hatred towards Huo Meiying is Margaret Will. Huo Meiying, who has an emotional disorder since birth, shouldn't have provoked her. Thus, the hatred Margaret has towards Huo Meiying stemmed from envy.

Compared to Margaret who was unfavored by her family, excluding the former queen, Huo Meiying is treasured by Huo Dakuan. She is also dearly loved by her half-brother, who is the late king and Margaret's husband, thus adding on to Margaret's hatred, and envy, towards Huo Meiying.

Because of the late king's blatant affection towards Huo Meiying, there were gossips about Huo Meiying and the late king that eventually became scandal. There's no need to guess who did this. It could only be the queen – Margaret, who is envious of Huo Meiying. Of course, no one believed her. Not only because they know her twisted personality, but also they know that the late king cherishes his younger sister ever since she was born. They also speculated that the late king was affectionate towards Huo Meiying out of guilt because of their mother tossing Huo Meiying to China.

Margaret's anger subsided after Huo Meiying's marriage to Gerard Jackson, which is her idea. She thought Huo Meiying would finally become miserable. However, out of her expectations, Gerard Jackson is a man of interest, not emotions. Added to the fact that their child is a boy, she felt an impending crisis.

Well, it was her. The council of elders only acknowledge the legitimate heir, Kale Gabriel, and not Huo Ling, who, although could be a contestant to the throne, but he is only of one-fourth blood of a royalty. Instead, because Huo Ling is the son of an underworld lord and the grandson of a famous and wealthy business tycoon, the council of elders sees him as a pillar of support of Kale.

Yet Margaret is blinded by her envy. Humans, when focused on only one thing, would lose sight of everything around them. Margaret is the prime example. She only sees Huo Ling as a threat to Kale, and didn't see anything other than it.

Hao Baiyun blinked as he snapped back to his senses. He turned to Gu Xingfeng who was silently pondering. "I know, the police can't reach the royal family, unless it is a national case." He said. Which it is, since Huo Ling is a prince of England.

Gu Xingfeng turned to face Hao Baiyun. "But – " he said.

Hao Baiyun's brows raised when he saw Gu Xingfeng hesitating. "You've already talked with xiao Ling's families on both sides." He said, referring to Gerard Jackson and the Huo family. "The only remaining is the royal family, in which aunt Meiying has half of their blood. Although xiao Ling is just a quarter of a royalty, but we can't ignore it." he explained before he paused. "How about this. You can hold your investigation for a while and just do it secretly after you have made contact of the royal family on the guise of delivering the news of one of their family members' death." He suggested.

"That…" Gu Xingfeng muttered.

This time, Hao Baiyun's brows knitted and he frowned as he looked at Gu Xingfeng in discontent. "What are you hesitating for?!" he is now mad.

This is about Huo Ling. He can't have anyone half-ass everything!

He sharply looked at Gu Xingfeng. "How can you lose your spine after all these years?!" he hissed at him and grabbed the front of Gu Xingfeng's uniform. "I have always thought you're straightforward and decisive, but you disappoint me." he said as he pushed Gu Xingfeng.

Gu Xingfeng was taken aback because of Hao Baiyun's sudden outburst and he was still shocked. However, he immediately recollected himself. "No, no. That wasn't what I mean. I am serious, okay?" he said, making his voice softer to coax this kitten who has his fur raised up after his tail has been stepped on.

"Then, what?!" Hao Baiyun snapped.

Gu Xingfeng held back his smile, or else it'll just make Hao Baiyun angrier by thinking he was not taking Huo Ling's matter seriously. "His Highness the Crown Prince Kale Gabriel has arrived." He answered.

"Huh? What does it matter…" Hao Baiyun said before his voice slowed down until it faded. He stared at Gu Xingfeng in shock. "Kale is here?!" he asked.

Gu Xingfeng nodded. "Yes." he answered. "He arrived in the country two hours ago, and directly went to the station." He explained.

Hao Baiyun's eyes lit up. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's pick him up!" he said as he started his car.

"Wait." Gu Xingfeng caught Hao Baiyun's hand to stop him.

"What?"

"He secretly went here." He told him.

"What?!"

"Without his mother, the queen's knowledge… as well as his bodyguards." Gu Xingfeng grimaced.

"WHAT?!" Hao Baiyun's voice filled the car.

"I already sent two of my trusted subordinates to protect him." Gu Xingfeng immediately said.

Hao Baiyun. "…" damn crazy Kale. He paused when he thought of something. "Wait. Where is he now?" he asked, his voice tinged of anxiety. His face suddenly looked panicked.

Although Gu Xingfeng was puzzled by Hao Baiyun's reaction, but he nonetheless answered. "Xiao Ke sent a message, saying the direction they are going to is Tianxing – " he answered. He still wasn't finished speaking when he was cut off by a loud curse from Hao Baiyun.

"F*CK! He will kill Lei Shan!" Hao Baiyun shrieked. Without waiting for Gu Xingfeng to react, he stepped on the accelerator.