Chapter 403 - 255: Since Yi Was Born, Why Fan Too?
Chapter 403: Chapter 255: Since Yi Was Born, Why Fan Too?
"Lv Jiunan is dead, and the horse bandits under the Peacock Banner in Shu State City have gone into hiding. Do you still intend to contact King Landu?"
The General shook his head. "Let’s wait and see for a few more days."
"Lv Jiunan was King Landu’s blood brother. Whether he comes seeking revenge or not, he will surely send someone to investigate what happened."
"I’ll find a way to contact him then."
"So for now, I must trouble you to stand guard here."
"If anyone from the Peacock King Banner appears, send word to me immediately."
Lou Yuxue answered, "Yes," then asked hesitantly, "My lord, this subordinate... this subordinate does not know the purpose of your meeting with King Landu?"
The General paused for a moment, then looked at her and replied, "Fine. At this point, I won’t hide it from you."
"The reason I want to see King Landu is to complete a transaction with him."
A transaction?
Lou Yuxue was inwardly alarmed, thinking he wanted to hire those horse bandits to plunder certain people along the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.
But the General saw through her thoughts, waved his hand with a smile, and said, "It’s not the kind of transaction you’re thinking of."
"Rather, it’s about the evidence King Landu possesses—correspondence with certain ministers in Shu State."
Forgetting herself, Lou Yuxue’s expression shifted. "My lord, are you saying someone in Shu State is secretly colluding with the Peacock King Banner?"
"This... this... Aren’t they afraid the Holy Emperor will become enraged and exterminate their nine generations of kin?"
The General chuckled, turning his head to look north. He spoke with deep meaning:
"Shu State is on the frontier of the Wei Dynasty, after all. The heavens are high, and the emperor is far away. When certain people’s ambitions swell, it’s inevitable that their minds will wander."
"Especially after word of what the Ji State Trading Company has been doing up north began to spread, there has been no shortage of imitators here in Shu State."
"Selling ironware, armor, maintaining private armies... Do you think the White Tiger Guard could possibly be unaware of these things, one by one?"
Lou Yuxue’s brow furrowed slightly. "Do you have targets in mind, my lord? This subordinate can also use the Bright Moon Building to gather evidence of their crimes."
The General shook his head. "There’s no need for you to get involved."
"After this period is over, the Pavilion Master’s appointment will come through. You will then be a Golden Banner Officer, and I’ll have more important matters to assign to you."
After a pause, he said with a smile, "Besides, the Lord Pavilion Master and I intend to use that evidence to pave the way for someone."
"Under normal circumstances, why would the White Tiger Guard need to make a deal with King Landu? We can arrest people on suspicion alone."
Lou Yuxue nodded in agreement and didn’t press the matter further.
She was just curious who the Lord Pavilion Master and the Lord General were paving this path for, that they would take such a cautious, roundabout approach with King Landu.
’Are they trying to wipe away all traces of the White Tiger Guard’s involvement?’
’Or is it that they absolutely need hard evidence?’
Lou Yuxue had no way of knowing. She only knew that the situation in Shu State was likely about to be thrown into chaos.
Especially since that trouble-making bastard was still here...
Just then, a knock sounded from outside the quiet room. An Iron Banner Officer wearing a black iron mask pushed the door open, entered, and said with a salute:
"Reporting to you, my lord. We have news from the other side."
The General asked, "What have they been up to?"
"After Governor Liu finished his duties, he spent four hours in the study with Liu Taoyao and Zhao Shichang."
"The specifics of their conversation are unknown."
"But after Liu Taoyao and Zhao Shichang left, they didn’t return to their residences to rest. Instead, they left the Liu Family estate, and their whereabouts are unknown."
"And Liu Hong?"
"He has gone to bed."
The General grunted in acknowledgment and waved for him to leave.
After a moment of thought, he said pensively, "It seems Lv Jiunan and Ge Muxiao must have been in contact with Liu Hong."
Lou Yuxue’s eyes widened slightly. "My lord, are you saying... Liu Hong is involved with the Peacock King Banner?"
Recalling what the General had just said, she couldn’t help but be suspicious.
It was just that, as far as she knew, Liu Hong had been in Shu State for many years and was considered diligent and conscientious, never having shown any signs of impropriety.
How could he suddenly get mixed up with horse bandits from the Poshisu Country?
The General shook his head and said, "It’s not certain yet."
"However, judging by how decisively Liu Wu killed Lv Jiunan, that old fox Liu Hong must be up to no good."
"If I’m not mistaken, Liu Zhaoxue is using this to put Liu Hong in his place."
Hearing this, a phrase suddenly popped into Lou Yuxue’s mind.
Reversed Celestial Spirit.
Consider this: one was the Governor of Shu State, the other was the third daughter of the main branch of the Jing State Liu Family.
With such a huge gap in their status, even if Liu Zhaoxue had discovered some leverage over Liu Hong, how would she dare have Liu Wu do such a thing?
Wasn’t she afraid Liu Hong would have her killed?
The General shared her suspicion. He said pensively, "Perhaps there are details we don’t know about."
"When Simurgh Phoenix arrives later, the two of you will investigate this matter together."
"Yes..."
...
「Inside Tingyu Pavilion.」
Rainwater dripped from the roof tiles, the PITTER-PATTER sound echoing endlessly.
Amplified by Empty Bamboo, the sound traveled far.
But none of this affected Chen Yunfan in the slightest.
He held a sword in one hand, practicing in the Martial Arts Arena in the central courtyard.
His movements were fluid and free, his Swordsmanship at times agile, at times tyrannical, at times cunning, filling the courtyard with flashes of his blade.
Chun Ying held a lantern, watching quietly from the side, a little puzzled.
For some reason, she felt that Chen Yunfan was somewhat agitated today.
Ever since he returned from the Governor’s Office, he hadn’t even eaten dinner, instead spending all his time practicing his sword in the Martial Arts Arena.
From time to time, he would grit his teeth and mutter a few words.
The words were mumbled and unclear, so Chun Ying couldn’t make out what he was saying, but she knew someone must have angered him.
Even Ning Yu, who was standing nearby, had noticed.
But he was always a man of few words and would never pry.
The simple and honest Niu Mountain said even less, merely whispering praise for Chen Yunfan’s Swordsmanship.
"Brother Ning, the Young Master’s Sword Dao has improved again, hasn’t it?"
"It has... No, I’m warning you, don’t call me Brother Ning!"
"Ning... So, has the Young Master improved or not?"
"He has!"
Chun Ying ignored the two clowns. Seeing that Chen Yunfan had finished a set of sword forms, she thought for a moment before stepping forward to offer him a towel.