Chapter 488 - 294: No Greater Sorrow Than Parting in Life
Chapter 488: Chapter 294: No Greater Sorrow Than Parting in Life
At this, Elder Master Xiao’s voice grew grave. "Since you know it was him, you must also be clear on why he came to our Xiao Family."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, his eyes on the darkening sky as he spoke softly.
"He came to Shu State for me, but I am only one of his targets."
"Besides me, he also needs to bring the Barbarian Prince, Asutai, back to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road."
"I suspect someone from the Barbarian Race went to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road to pressure King Landu, which is why he dispatched Du Cang."
"I just didn’t expect him to make a move against the Xiao Family."
Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jing exchanged a confused look.
"How do you know all this?"
"And is the Barbarian Prince truly in Shu State? I had previously assumed that was just a rumor deliberately spread by the city’s grain merchants."
"It’s a long story. I will explain it to you later, Marquis."
Chen Yi paused. His gaze fell upon Elder Master Xiao, and he continued in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Right now, there are two more important matters that I need you, Marquis, to handle."
Before Elder Master Xiao could speak, he continued, "First, there is the matter I brought up during my previous visit."
"Today, I had men disguise themselves as horse bandits from Poshisu Country and as Barbarian Race scouts. They are positioned outside the Ancient Tea-Horse Road to ambush and kill passing merchants."
"By tomorrow at the latest, news will have reached everyone in the city. I hope you, Marquis, will make preparations to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to stir up trouble."
Upon hearing this, Elder Master Xiao’s worried expression turned to sheer astonishment. "You—what did you say?!"
"You sent men to impersonate horse bandits from Poshisu Country, and—and even impersonate the Barbarian Race’s Scout Army?!"
"You... you are unbelievably audacious! How could you... How dare you..."
At this moment, even though Elder Master Xiao needed Chen Yi’s help, he desperately wished he could have him court-martialed.
An invasion by the Barbarian Race had never been a small matter, not at any point in history.
Forget him—even his ancestors, the successive Dukes Dingyuan for the past two hundred years, had never encountered such a thing.
If anything went wrong, alerting the Imperial Court and the Holy Emperor, then no matter how exceptionally talented Liu Wu was, he would undoubtedly become a wanted man.
At that point, there would be no place left for him in the entire world.
More importantly, Liu Wu had told him everything, essentially dragging him and the entire Xiao Family into this mess.
Xiao Jing, standing to one side, felt much the same. He also couldn’t understand why Chen Yi would do such a thing.
Chen Yi, in contrast, remained perfectly calm. "My apologies, Marquis. I will explain everything after I bring the Young Lady back."
Elder Master Xiao’s expression was stormy. He tremblingly clenched his old fist.
In the end, for Xiao Wan’er’s sake, he chose to trust Chen Yi. He asked through gritted teeth, "And the second matter?"
"Liu Hong!"
Chen Yi uttered the name, his face turning icy. "I hold evidence of his collusion with King Landu and the Barbarian Race."
"Er..."
Elder Master Xiao was stunned. Even the shock and anger on his face froze as he stared blankly at him.
If he hadn’t just learned of the earth-shattering thing Chen Yi had done, hearing now that Liu Hong was colluding with the enemy would have made him even more furious.
"Are... are you talking about Liu Hong, Liu Gongmo, the Left Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office?"
"Yes."
"It was because of the matter concerning the Barbarian Prince, Asutai, that I discovered Liu Hong’s involvement with Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race."
"In fact, Lv Jiunan appeared in Shu State at Liu Hong’s request. His objective was to rescue Asutai, who had been taken as a barbarian slave."
"However, I interfered. Lv Jiunan was killed, forcing Liu Hong to temporarily halt his plan to send Asutai back to the Barbarian Race."
"Du Cang came this time to resolve this very issue."
After briefly explaining the situation with Asutai, Chen Yi took several sheets of paper from his robes and placed them in Elder Master Xiao’s hands.
"Marquis, indecisiveness breeds disaster."
"You... have lain dormant for far too long. It’s time to draw your blade."
With that, Chen Yi took a few steps back, offered a cupped-fist salute, and turned to leave.
Elder Master Xiao snapped back to his senses. Ignoring the papers in his hand, he shouted at Chen Yi’s retreating back.
"You must save Wan’er! I... I will reward you handsomely!"
"I... will!"
Chen Yi’s figure vanished over the horizon, leaving only his words behind.
His voice was soft, but the resolute certainty within it was unmistakable.
Elder Master Xiao’s expression relaxed slightly, but after he finished reading the papers, his face turned ashen.
"Liu Hong! Liu Gongmo, you treacherous dog!"
"You... death is too good for you!"
It took a long moment for Xiao Jing, who was standing beside him, to recover. He asked gravely,
"Marquis, this matter is of the utmost importance. That... that Liu Wu is right."
Elder Master Xiao took a deep breath, his gaze turning in the direction of South Street. His expression was glacial as he said,
"This time, I will see him, and the entire Liu Family, reduced to ashes!"
His Dingyuan line had fought bloody wars against the Barbarian Race for two hundred years. The two sides had long ago become mortal enemies.
When it came to hating the Barbarian Race, if the Xiao Family claimed to be second, who in the entire Great Wei Dynasty would dare claim first?
Therefore, the ones he hated most were those who colluded with the Barbarian Race.
Any such traitors the Xiao Family discovered—every last one of them—had to die!
"However, this matter cannot be rushed. Allow me to consider it carefully."
He paused, then said, "Send a message to Jinghong at once. Tell her to return as soon as possible."
"After I’ve discussed this with her, we will decide how to deal with Liu Hong."
"Yes, sir," Xiao Jing replied, then vanished in a flash.
「Once Qingjing Residence grew quiet.」
Elder Master Xiao steadied himself, carefully put away the papers, and his thoughts returned to Xiao Wan’er.
’Liu Wu... Chen Yu...’
’No matter who you are or what your plans may be, as long as you can save Wan’er, I... I will promise you anything... Anything!’
The figures of Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing surfaced in his mind, and a look of sorrow inevitably crossed his face.
’If anything happens to Wan’er... how could I ever face my son again!’