Chapter 476 - 288: A Good Show
Chapter 476: Chapter 288: A Good Show
He naturally thought of everything Zhao Liuan had.
Moreover, he deduced the mastermind’s intent: to wait and see how he would handle the hot potato that was Asutai.
’Kill him, or not?’
Killing Asutai would certainly thwart the mastermind’s scheme and temporarily clear him of any suspicion of colluding with the Barbarian Race.
But if he did, that jackal Du Cang would undoubtedly publicize the matter to protect the Peacock King Banner and the security of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.
At that point, even if he wasn’t executed, his death would not be far off.
But if he didn’t kill Asutai...
Liu Hong was deeply unwilling to let the mastermind’s plot succeed!
After wrestling with the decision, a look of grim resolve settled on Liu Hong’s face. He directly ordered Liu Taoyao to take Asutai away and place him under guard.
"To think the Barbarian Prince was actually abducted by those horse bandits and brought to Shu State. I shall immediately report this to the Imperial Court and ask the Holy Emperor for his judgment."
Liu Taoyao froze. "Father..."
"Enough nonsense. Guard him well. If he escapes, not even I can save you!"
Time was tight. The best solution Liu Hong could devise was to preserve himself while passing this hot potato to Du Cang.
Liu Taoyao understood. He stepped forward and said to Asutai in a low voice, "Follow me."
Asutai didn’t object, following him out.
Just before he left, he turned to look at Liu Hong, as if to burn the man’s face into his memory.
’I, Borergu Asutai, will wait for the day of your execution!’
Though Liu Hong could not know his thoughts, he understood the look in the prince’s eyes, and his own expression grew grim.
Zhao Liuan, standing to the side, thought for a moment. "My lord, who do you think it was?"
Previously, both he and Liu Hong had suspected Zeng Zhifeng.
But given the current situation, the person who brought Asutai to the Liu Family could not possibly have been Zeng Zhifeng.
After all, the Liu Family estate was currently guarded inside and out by Death Warriors.
Even if the Death Warriors’ cultivation wasn’t particularly high, a Martial Artist of the Middle Three Grades Realm like Zeng Zhifeng could never have slipped past them unnoticed.
Hearing this, Liu Hong lowered his head slightly, letting the rain beat down on him.
It was as if only this could calm him.
"For Asutai to have been brought here, the mastermind must have pried open Zeng Zhifeng’s mouth after abducting the prince."
"Zeng Zhifeng?"
"He... If he learned your identity, my lord, why would he send Asutai here?"
"There can only be two reasons."
"Either they want leverage over my dealings with the south, or they want to get on my good side."
Liu Hong raised his head and scanned his surroundings, as if searching for the mastermind.
"Which one do you think it is?"
Zhao Liuan already had the answer. He gritted his teeth and said, "Their methods... are truly ruthless!"
Liu Hong couldn’t agree more. Finding nothing, he turned and headed back to his study.
"But no matter what their objective is... how could I let them have their way?"
Seeing this, a hint of a smile flashed in Chen Yi’s eyes before he vanished with Pei Guanli.
Today’s "good show" was merely an appetizer, but it had given him a clear look at Liu Hong’s character.
He wasn’t a decisive strongman, nor was he a petty man. He was a cunning hegemon.
A decisive strongman would have killed Asutai immediately to solve the problem once and for all.
A petty man would have committed to the act, handing Asutai over to the Government Office for imprisonment to at least earn the Imperial Court’s trust.
Cunning hegemon was the highest praise Chen Yi could offer.
If Liu Hong hadn’t dared to raise a private army and collude with the Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race, he would be a mere treacherous court official at best.
Calling him a "hegemon" at all was a compliment.
Pei Guanli, oblivious to all this, had lost her earlier excitement. She pouted and grumbled,
"A good show? That wasn’t fun at all."
Chen Yi chuckled, but just as he was about to speak, a golden light flashed before his eyes—
[Daily Intelligence - Yellow-level Middle Grade: At 9:45 AM, outside the East Market, Yuan Liu’er will sell herself to pay for her father’s burial. A minuscule amount of Opportunity can be obtained.]