Chapter 585 - 332: The Emperor’s Mind is Hard to Guess!
Chapter 585: Chapter 332: The Emperor’s Mind is Hard to Guess!
The Chess Dao’s deduction was not omnipotent. It relied on using the "known" to calculate the "unknown," rather than relying on abstract and mystical fortune-telling. Therefore, while Chen Yi could figure out many things, there were just as many he couldn’t predict.
For instance, Yan Fusha of the Five Poison Sect suddenly abducting Pei Guanli. Or "Jackal" Du Cang tracking his scent to the Xiao family’s home and subsequently kidnapping Xiao Wan’er. Or Liu Hong setting up a grand scheme involving the disaster refugees.
Chen Yi could, at most, deduce that Liu Hong was plotting something major, but he couldn’t figure out exactly what it was. He simply lacked the necessary clues.
However, regarding Liu Hong’s visit to the Xiao family’s home tomorrow, Chen Yi could roughly guess his intentions. The reason was simple. Currently, Liu Hong had no path left to take other than death or fleeing. For him to visit the Xiao family under such circumstances, it definitely wasn’t to offer himself up to be mocked and humiliated by Elder Master Xiao. That didn’t match Liu Hong’s temperament.
After mulling it over, only one option remained: finding a way to land a punch on the Xiao family. It wouldn’t do much physical harm, but the insult...
Chen Yi tipped up his bamboo hat, gazing at the several Government Offices in the distance on South Street. Rain fell like a curtain. Outside the offices, flickering torchlights dotted the darkness. Through the gloom, he could faintly make out dozens of Imprisonment Officers wearing raincoats and bamboo hats setting out into the night. General, Lady Tiger, and Simurgh Phoenix wore golden and silver tiger-patterned masks, each leading a squad of Imprisonment Officers to strike at various parts of the Prefecture City.
The sound of splashing footsteps echoed in quick succession. Chen Yi retracted his gaze and shook his head thoughtfully.
"Liu Hong is indeed at the end of his rope and powerless to salvage the situation, but for him to have risen to the position of Governor of Shu State, his character and tactics are evident," Chen Yi murmured.
Therefore, the punch Liu Hong intended to throw at the Xiao family tomorrow would be no child’s play; it was bound to be calculated. Whether it was a hidden scheme or an overt plot was hard to judge. But Chen Yi was certain of one thing: Liu Hong was prepared to die.
He thought, "They say ’when a man is near death, his words are meant well’?
"Heh, that depends entirely on the person."
Chen Yi’s gaze swept over the myriad twinkling lights of the city before he silently returned to the Xiao family’s home. Compared to when he left earlier, the return trip took a bit longer, as he deliberately bypassed several Martial Artists whose Cultivation was clearly in the Upper Three Grades. Moreover, he wiped away some traces within the Purple Bamboo Forest to prevent certain individuals from noticing them upon their return.
Approaching the hour of the Ox, Chen Yi finally returned to his wing room. He changed into a lightweight long gown and sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate the Four Symbols Skill.
Five days had passed since he broke through to the Fourth Grade, and his Cultivation had improved significantly. The "God" within his Forehead Acupoint grew stronger as his True Essence circulated, wrapping in thin strands around the Four Divine Positions. This not only heightened Chen Yi’s five senses but also made the Spiritual Power possessed by the Four Divine Positions increasingly formidable.
However, not long after entering a meditative state, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He quickly snapped awake and laid down flat on the bed. The Black Tortoise Concealment Technique rapidly retracted all of his aura, simultaneously smoothing out the slightly disturbed Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism around him.
Faint snoring soon followed.
Just as Chen Yi settled everything, a beautiful silhouette descended from the north, stepping on a long sword. It was none other than Xiao Jinghong, returning from Guangyuan County. She merely cast a glance in the direction of the Spring Lotus Garden before dropping straight down into the Qingjing Residence.
Naturally, the entire Xiao Mansion was alerted by her arrival. Without needing orders, dozens of Armored Warriors took up posts around the Qingjing Residence.
Mr. Liu Si’er stood guard near the Martial Arts Arena, staring straight toward the front courtyard. Xiao Jinghong had returned right after the chaos in Shu State subsided. He couldn’t help but wonder how much of those events had to do with her. And then there was the Old Marquis...
A myriad of thoughts churned in Mr. Liu Si’er’s mind, but he didn’t dare avert his gaze, standing as still as a statue.
Inside the Qingjing Residence.
Elder Master Xiao had naturally been alerted as well. Throwing on an outer coat, he leaned on his cane and made his way to the main hall to take a seat. Xiao Jinghong was already waiting there. She bowed and greeted, "Jinghong pays her respects to Grandfather."
Elder Master Xiao looked her over, then smiled and waved his hand for her to sit. "There’s no need for such formalities among family. Are things settled over in Guangyuan?"
After taking a seat, Xiao Jinghong replied concisely, "Zhu Hao tried to run, so I killed him with a single sword strike."
"You killed him?" Elder Master Xiao looked at her with a hint of surprise. "Tell me the details."
Xiao Jinghong gave a nod of affirmation and proceeded to recount the sequence of events. At the end, she said, "Death is like a lamp going out. Li Fu originally intended to pin all the blame on Zhu Hao, but I refused."
After hearing the whole story, Elder Master Xiao sighed. "You did the right thing."
However, he didn’t say anything further. His thick knuckles tapped against the back of his chair as he clearly pondered the repercussions of the matter.
Xiao Jinghong naturally understood that killing Zhu Hao had far-reaching consequences and that keeping him alive would have been more beneficial to the Xiao family. But doing so would have left her spirit unsettled. Choosing the lesser of two evils, it was better to kill him and end it all once and for all.
A moment later.
Elder Master Xiao looked at her and asked a few more questions, mostly regarding her opinions on Li Fu and the people from the Capital Prefecture.
Xiao Jinghong answered them one by one. "There are numerous loopholes in the Capital Commandery’s management of salt and iron, especially regarding the embezzlement of the Dingyuan Army’s funds and provisions.
"I believe that even though this matter involves a large number of people, that is still no excuse for Li Fu to try and downplay the matter."
Elder Master Xiao nodded slightly. "It is understandable for Li Fu to think that way.
"The situation in Guangyuan County is complex. As the Commander-in-Chief, he inherently needs to balance all factions and prioritize stability."
He paused, shifting the conversation. "However, our Xiao family cannot be the ones to take a step back.
"Zhu Hao had previously sinned against the Dingyuan Army. Now that he is dead, the people backing him must provide an explanation.
"The only trouble is that Feng Erbao was also present at the scene. If the message he passes on to the Holy Emperor is biased..."
Xiao Jinghong understood his meaning and said, "If it is, then so be it."
Elder Master Xiao’s gaze sharpened slightly. "Is that what you think?"
Without backing down in the slightest, Xiao Jinghong looked straight at him. "I believe the Holy Emperor should already be aware of the situation in Shu State. In fact, he might even..."