Chapter 332 The Emperor's Heart is Hard to Decipher! (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Deducing strategies in chess is not a panacea.
It is to deduce the "unknown" from the "known," rather than to engage in mysterious divination.
Therefore, Chen Yi can calculate many things, and there are also many things he cannot calculate.
Just like how Yan Fusha of the Five Poisons Sect suddenly kidnapped Pei Guanli.
Just like the "jackal" Du Cang followed the scent he left behind to find the Xiao family, and then kidnapped Xiao Wan'er.
Just like Liu Hong laid out a grand plan and schemed for the disaster victims.
At most, Chen Yi could deduce that Liu Hong was planning something big, but he couldn't figure out what Liu Hong was planning.
Because it is indeed a necessary clue.
However, Chen Yi could roughly deduce Liu Hong's intentions regarding his visit to the Xiao family tomorrow.
The reason is simple.
At present, Liu Hong has no choice but to die or flee.
Given his circumstances, he still made a trip to the Xiao family; it couldn't possibly be to invite the old master to ridicule and humiliate him.
This is inconsistent with Liu Hong's temperament.
After much deliberation, only one option remained—to find a way to deliver a blow to the Xiao family.
Not very harmful, but insulting...
Chen Yi lifted his straw hat and looked at the several government offices on Zhennan Street in the distance.
Rain fell like a curtain, and the firelight outside the government office flickered like stars.
Dozens of criminal investigators dressed in straw raincoats and bamboo hats could be vaguely seen traveling at night.
General Xing, Female Tiger, and Luan Feng, each wearing a gold and silver tiger-patterned mask, led a team of judges straight to the four corners of the prefectural city.
The sound of splashing water followed one after another.
Chen Yi withdrew his gaze and shook his head thoughtfully.
"Liu Hong was indeed past his prime and powerless to reverse the decline, but the fact that he was able to rise to the position of Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shu Prefecture shows his character and skill."
Therefore, Liu Hongming's punch to the Xiao family tomorrow will not be a child's play; it must be calculated.
It's hard to tell whether it's a conspiracy or an open scheme.
But Chen Yi was certain of one thing—Liu Hong was determined to die.
"Does a dying person speak good words?"
"Heh, it depends on the person."
Chen Yi's gaze swept over the myriad lights of the homes, and he quietly returned to the Xiao family.
Compared to when he left before, this time he took longer, deliberately avoiding several martial artists whose cultivation was clearly at the upper three ranks.
Furthermore, he also removed some traces from the bamboo grove to prevent anyone from noticing them upon their return.
As the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) approached, Chen Yi returned to his room, changed into a light long robe, and sat cross-legged on the bed to practice the Four Symbols Technique.
Five days have passed since he broke through to the fourth rank, and his cultivation has improved considerably.
The "spirit" within the Yintang acupoint grows stronger with the flow of true energy, and it wraps itself around the four divine positions in strands.
This not only made Chen Yi's five senses more sensitive, but also made the spiritual energy of the four divine positions even stronger.
But he had only been in meditation for a short while when his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and he quickly woke up and lay down on the bed.
The Xuanwu Concealing Breath Technique swiftly gathered all auras, while simultaneously calming the slightly trembling spiritual energy of heaven and earth around it.
A faint snoring sound followed.
Just as Chen Yi calmed down, a beautiful figure came from the north, stepping on a long sword.
It was Xiao Jinghong, who had returned from Guangyuan County.
She glanced at the location of Chunhe Garden and then landed directly inside Qingjing Residence.
The entire Xiao family was alarmed by her, and dozens of armored soldiers were stationed around the Qingjing residence without being ordered to do so.
Liu Si'er stood guard near the training ground, staring straight ahead towards the front yard.
Xiao Jinghong returned, just after the chaos in Shu Prefecture had subsided. It's unknown how much of that trouble was related to her.
And the old Marquis...
Liu Si'er was lost in thought, but dared not look away, remaining as still as a statue.
Clean house.
Old Master Xiao was also alarmed. He put on an overcoat, leaned on his cane, and came to sit down in the main room.
Xiao Jinghong had been waiting there for some time. He bowed and said, "Jinghong greets Grandfather."
Old Master Xiao looked her over, then smiled and waved for her to sit down, saying, "We're family, there's no need for all that formality."
He then asked, "Has everything been resolved in Guangyuan?"
After Xiao Jinghong sat down, she said succinctly, "Zhu Hao tried to run away, but his granddaughter killed him with a single sword strike."
"You killed him?"
Old Master Xiao looked at her with slight surprise, "Tell me in detail."
Xiao Jinghong hummed in agreement, then recounted the events, concluding with:
“When a person dies, it’s like a lamp going out. Li Fuben still intended to pin all the blame on Zhu Hao, but his granddaughter refused.”
After listening to this, Old Master Xiao sighed and said, "You did the right thing."
But aside from that sentence, he didn't continue, tapping his thick knuckles on the back of the chair, clearly pondering the implications of the matter.
Xiao Jinghong understood that killing Zhu Hao would have far-reaching consequences, and keeping him alive would be more beneficial to the Xiao family.
But if she did that, she would feel upset.
Between two evils, choose the lesser; it's better to kill and end it all.
A moment later.
Old Master Xiao looked at her and asked a few questions, mostly about his views on Li Fu and the people from the capital.
Xiao Jinghong answered one by one, "There are many loopholes in the salt and iron management within the Commander-in-Chief's Office, especially the embezzlement of funds and provisions for the Dingyuan Army."
"My granddaughter believes that although this matter involves many people, it is still not a reason for Li Fu to try to downplay it."
Old Master Xiao nodded slightly, "It's understandable that Li Fu thinks that way."
“The situation in Guangyuan County is complicated. As the commander-in-chief, he needs to balance all parties and prioritize stability.”
He paused, then changed the subject: "But my Xiao family cannot be the one to back down."
“Zhu Hao had previously offended the Dingyuan Army. Now that he is dead, the people behind him must give an explanation.”
"The only problem is that Feng Erbao is still there. What if his message to the Emperor is biased..."
Xiao Jinghong understood what he meant and said, "If it exists, then it exists."
Old Master Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that what you think?"
Xiao Jinghong's gaze was unwavering as she looked directly at him: "I believe His Majesty is aware of the situation in Shu Prefecture, and perhaps even..."
"Whether Eunuch Feng speaks or not, it will not affect His Majesty's view of Shu Prefecture or of my Xiao family."
Seeing that Grandpa Xiao remained silent, she softened her tone and continued, "Grandpa, please forgive me, I'm being too kind."
"However, it is an undeniable fact that my granddaughter has been hampered in the Dingyuan Army all these years, and it is also a fact that the Emperor and the court officials have remained indifferent."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Xiao looked at her with a slightly complicated expression.
After a long silence.
Grandpa Xiao withdrew his gaze, relaxed back in his chair, and a relieved smile returned to his face.
"Jinghong has grown a lot over the years."
Xiao Jinghong lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Jinghong just doesn't want to let down the spirits of my father and mother in heaven."
If Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing hadn't died on the battlefield, why would she have joined the army and wanted to support the huge Xiao family?
It is important to understand that a person's actions and thoughts are determined by their position.
Now that Xiao Jinghong has become the commander of the Dingyuan Army, she can no longer treat his thoughts and ideas lightly.
In the past, she had made too many concessions because she was mindful of the old master's feelings towards the court and the emperor.
Now she realizes that doing so would only embolden outsiders, so she is unwilling to do so.
Moreover, she had to consider not only herself, but also the Xiao family, the Dingyuan Army, and Shuzhou.
Old Master Xiao was well aware of all this, and shook his head with a smile:
"Liu Wu was right earlier. I have been staying in the manor for too long, trying to be perfect and stable in everything, which has disheartened many of my old colleagues."
Xiao Jinghong looked at him: "Grandpa, your granddaughter..."
Old Master Xiao raised his hand to interrupt, saying, "I'm not blaming you; on the contrary, you did the right thing."
"Actually, the reason I sent your second uncle to the capital with the memorial this time was not only to deal with Liu Hong and Zhu Hao, but also to see the Emperor's attitude towards my Xiao family. And now..."
His smile widened, and he continued, "It seems that His Majesty has not forgotten the Xiao family."
Xiao Jinghong paused, wanting to say something, but seeing the expression on the old man's face, she simply nodded silently.
Seeing this, Old Master Xiao sighed inwardly.
He was well aware of Xiao Jinghong's thoughts, and he was also well aware of the reasons for the Xiao family's current predicament.
However, the emperor's mind is hard to fathom.
Often, the more you do, the more mistakes you make, which can actually lead to more trouble.
Especially given the decline of his Xiao family... at least compared to the people in the north.
He actually hoped that the Emperor would remember the Xiao family's two hundred years of service in guarding the nation's borders, and that, considering the Xiao family's decline and the emptiness of Shu Prefecture, the Emperor would turn his attention to the north.
Otherwise, even if you filled the entire Xiao family, how far could you possibly fight your way out of Mengshui Pass?
Barbarians... are they so easy to kill?
Old Master Xiao, his mind in turmoil, calmly continued, "Where is Liu Hong?"
Xiao Jinghong said in a slightly somber tone, "After noon tomorrow, when Eunuch Feng's carriage arrives in the prefectural city, he will announce the imperial decree to arrest him."
A hint of relief flashed in Old Master Xiao's eyes. "That's good then."
"Once Liu Hong fell, the people he had recruited lost their backbone, scattered and dispersed, and could no longer pose a threat."
"only……"
Old Master Xiao looked north and sighed, "I wonder who His Majesty will appoint as the Provincial Governor of Shu Prefecture."
Xiao Jinghong nodded, but he couldn't guess who it was.
Of course, in her opinion, the best candidate was Yang Ye.
In this way, the Xiao family can at least have peace and stability for one or two years.
Xiao Jinghong let out a soft breath and was about to get up to say that he was going to return to Feng Erbao's carriage when he heard some hurried footsteps coming from outside the mansion.
She then sat up straight again.
In no time at all.
Xiao Jing appeared in the hall. He saw Xiao Jinghong beside him, paused only briefly, then knelt on one knee and reported:
"My lord, general, something has happened in the city tonight."
Old Master Xiao glanced at Xiao Jinghong and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
"The White Tiger Guards appeared and led the Criminal Investigation Department to arrest people everywhere."
"White Tiger Guards? Who did they capture?"
"The Sun family, the Zhu family..."
Xiao Jing rattled off several names, his expression becoming increasingly agitated. "Even Ye Jingxiao, the Deputy Commissioner of the Provincial Surveillance Commission, was captured by a man wearing a golden mask!"
Xiao Jinghong nodded knowingly, "White Tiger Guard, Golden Banner Officer."
Old Master Xiao smiled and said, "The White Tiger Guards must have received news from the capital city."
"Liu Hong and Liu Gongmo are doomed this time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand slightly and instructed, "Xiao Jing, go and check the situation. Make sure you find out the specific identities and reasons of those people."
"This time, I'm going to make every family spit something out."
Although he disdained to kick someone when they were down, everyone around Liu Hong was a scoundrel who wanted to tear down the Xiao family.
Old Master Xiao would certainly not show mercy to those kinds of people.
Xiao Jing accepted the order and left.
Xiao Jinghong then got up to take her leave: "Before nightfall, Eunuch Feng sent word that he has something to discuss with them early tomorrow morning, so I will go back first and enter the city with them."
Grandpa Xiao smiled and nodded: "Okay."
"When Feng Erbao announces the decree to punish Liu Hong tomorrow, having you by his side will be even more effective in deterring those who harbor ill intentions towards my Xiao family."
Xiao Jinghong bowed and then quickly left the Xiao family again.
However, as she was about to fly out of the city, her eyes subconsciously glanced at the location of Chunhe Garden.
It was as if, through layers of rain and the obstruction of houses, I saw a gentle-faced figure.
Once the matter of Liu Hong is settled, Shu Prefecture should be at peace...
Before Xiao Jinghong could finish thinking, he frowned slightly, remembering something else—there was another matter approaching.
I wonder if there will be any trouble.
However, after thinking about it carefully, she relaxed her brow and headed straight for the north of the city, breaking through the rain curtain.
Even if there's trouble in front of Bai Daxian, she's confident she can resolve it.
Old Master Xiao was naturally unaware of these things.
However, he received several pieces of good news tonight, and he was unusually happy.
In addition, since he has been in good health recently, he summoned his servants and ordered them to prepare some wine, meat, rice, and dishes.
He poured himself a drink.
Meanwhile, Chen Yi, inside the Spring Lotus Garden, quietly opened his eyes, looking north with a helpless expression.
The lady's high-flying movements were truly frightening.
He thought it was already late at night and Xiao Jinghong wouldn't be back, but he didn't expect her to return so quickly.
If his cultivation hadn't reached the fourth rank and he hadn't comprehended the wondrous uses of "divine," he might not have been able to sense Xiao Jinghong's arrival in advance.
Chen Yi thought for a moment, then turned over, closed his eyes, and went to sleep.
Cultivation is no longer possible.
Who knows if his wife will come back for a surprise attack?
...
The next morning.
The rain had lessened considerably, but the sky remained overcast.
A slightly chilly wind blew fiercely, and a howling sound filled the air.
Perhaps the cold wind was too noisy, so the rumors in the city spread to every corner.
On the streets and alleys, most people were talking about what happened last night.
Such as whose relative was arrested by the authorities, who is an official, and who is related to whom.
Even the wandering swordsmen who had just arrived in Shu Prefecture joined in the fun, cursing the corrupt official with great interest.
Amid the commotion, some people asked why those people had been arrested, but no one could give a clear answer.
As a result, some people became agitated.
"Mr. Ling Chuan from Guiyun Academy has also been arrested?"
"How did he get arrested? Could it be because of his older brother?"
"Very likely."
"Although the Zhu family is a prestigious family, Mr. Lingchuan never interferes in the family's internal affairs and only teaches at the academy."
"It seems they were implicated..."
This is what the common people think, let alone the scholars of Guiyun Academy.
Therefore, early in the morning, many scholars rushed to the academy to seek verification or assistance.
Mr. Yue Ming was also alarmed.
However, having seen many storms, he was not easily swayed by the students and remained relatively cautious.
Mr. Zhuo Ying had originally planned to do the same, but seeing more and more students coming, he had no choice but to go to Mr. Yue Ming's residence.
"Dean, this matter is of great importance. It would be best to find out the cause as soon as possible."
"Moreover, with the annual examinations approaching, it's really not good to disturb the students' minds at this crucial juncture."
Mr. Yue Ming hummed in agreement and pondered, "We should ask, but who should we ask..."
After a pause, he had an idea: "I will go and find Lord Yang. As the Provincial Governor, he should have some information."
Mr. Zhuo Ying's expression relaxed. "Then I'll also go to the prefectural government office."
Mr. Yue Ming stood up and said, "The Chief Justice should indeed go, and also..."
He looked at the students outside the door and said, "Let someone go find Qingzhou too."
Mr. Zhuo Ying: "A light boat?"
"He has been studying at the Marquis's residence recently, so he probably doesn't know about this matter."
"He doesn't know, but that old bastard Xiao Yuan definitely does..."
(End of this chapter)
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