White-Robed Chief
Chapter 190: Blaming

Xiao Qi asked, "Even the Spirit Blessing Pill can't save them?"

Zhao Qingshan looked quite serious as he shook his head. "They were a step ahead of us."

Xiao Qi looked at Xiao Tieying.

Xiao Tieying muttered, "What about the things they brought?"

"It was robbed," Zhao Qingshan said. "Aside from our Protectors, no one can prove that they were the people from King An's Imperial Residence."

Xiao Tieying gestured with his hand. "Let's sit down and talk."

Zhao Qingshan forced a smile. "Master, we're too ashamed to sit."

"We can't possibly put the blame on you guys." Xiao Tieying stroked his beard as he slowly paced around. "How are the Protectors?"

Zhao Qingshan replied, "They were knocked unconscious. Only minor injuries, but they don't know a thing."

"Let them in," Xiao Tieying ordered.

Just then, Xiao Qi said, "Lin Quan, call Chu Li over."

"Understood." Lin Quan bowed as he quietly left the hall.

Xiao Tieying looked over at Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi explained, "Chu Li is far better at reading a person than I am."

Xiao Tieying slowly nodded.

After that, four middle-aged Protectors entered the main hall.

The four of them were in their robust years and were all Innate Masters, but they did not look the part. They had a distinct lack of energy, aura, and spirit within them. All of them lacked in vigor and looked depressed, like they were having a bad hangover.

They stood upright in the presence of both Xiao Tieying and Xiao Qi, with lowered heads and complete silence.

Xiao Tieying and Xiao Qi stared at the men, saying nothing. Though everyone, including Zhao Qingshan and his men, was silent as well.

It was as if the air around them froze. It was so quiet that even the slightest of breaths could be heard in the deafening silence. The four Protectors instinctively held theirs along with their hearts as they were wary of the atmosphere.

This time, they were ambushed and knocked out; the people they were escorting, dead. Not to mention, the Envoys were not of normal ranking so they may as well have forfeited their Spirit Blessing Pill for the year!

After a cup of tea, Lin Quan returned along with Chu Li who gave a fist salute.

"Let's sit down and talk," Xiao Tieying said. "The Envoys of King An's Imperial Residence were murdered, but the four Protectors here were safe. Interrogate them."

Chu Li nodded as he looked at the four Protectors.

"Chief Chu," Zhao Qingshan reported, "we found them at one of the residential areas in Soaring Aves Town. By the time we got there, the Envoys were already dead; the Protectors were unconscious and their acupuncture points were sealed."

Chu Li nodded while he looked at one of the Protectors. "Brother Sha Shi, how many of our men were ambushed?"

A square-faced Protector looked at Chu Li with a shocked expression. He had never spoken to Chu Li before and had never thought that Chu Li would know his name.

"Do you know which one of the assailants' martial arts was the most powerful?" Chu Li continued, "There's no need to rush, Brother Sha Shi. Take your time and think."

"The one with the most powerful martial art…?" Protector Sha Shi furrowed his brows and began digging through his memories. Then, he looked at the other three Protectors. "There were ten assailants. The strongest was about the same height as me, in his late seventies. His eyes were very close together, and the gap between his eyebrows was narrow."

Chu Li immediately saw the image in the Protector's head. "Scar below his left eye, long arms, and his middle-front tooth is a little stained black, is that right?"

Protector Sha Shi quickly nodded.

Chu Li turned. "Master, it's the High Official of the Ren Public House."

Protector Sha Shi hesitated.

Chu Li asked further, "Did they state their own identity? The Huay Public House?"

"They said it by accident, but it indeed is the Huay Public House," Protector Sha Shi replied.

Chu Li smiled.

He may have been successfully lied to if it was not for the Omniscient Mirror.

They were still unconvinced, but they dared not conclude that it was the work of the Ren Public House. If they were brave enough to assume, they would have guessed that another faction framed the Huay Public House. It was in no way that they would believe it was the Ren Public House, who had an allied relationship with the Huay Public House due to a marriage.

Yet it was surely the work of Lu Yurong; it was such a brilliant play. However, she did not get her desired outcome. The existence of the Omniscient Mirror was still unknown to her.

Xiao Qi said, "Lu Yurong intends to frame the Huay Public House?"

"They had an arranged marriage with the Huay Public House, but they're still willing to make them the bad person?" Xiao Tieying coldly laughed. "This woman! She sure is vicious!"

Xiao Qi looked at Chu Li.

Chu Li slowly nodded as a sign that this could already be concluded.

Zhao Qingshan asked, "Then why didn't they just kill Protector Sha Shi and the others?"

Nonetheless, Chu Li would not have had the opportunity to get that information if they had killed Protector Sha Shi and the rest.

Xiao Tieying scoffed, "Lu Yurong always operates under the concept of killing two birds with one stone — it was a good scheme. Firstly, she wanted to use Protector Sha Shi to frame Huay Public House and create a conflict. Second, she wanted us to suspect that it was Protector Sha Shi and the others, making us paranoid about everything that comes after. Third, she wanted King An's Imperial Residence to suspect us. All in all, she's quite a vicious woman."

Xiao Qi muttered, "Can we take advantage of this information and destroy the diplomacy between the Ren and Huay Public House?"

"That's a great idea!" Xiao Tieying clapped his hands. "I'll inquire the Huay Public House personally!"

The heir to the High Duke of the Huay Public House had just recently sent the apology memorial to the throne. What would the Imperial Household think if they had killed several people from King An's Imperial Residence? The Huay Public House may be powerful, but even they would not dare to pull a stunt like this. Instead, they would surely initiate a full-blown investigation to get to the bottom of the scheme. A battle between the two evil-doers would be inevitable.

"Do you plan on going personally, Brother Xiao Tieying?" Xiao Qi furrowed her brows.

Xiao Teiying replied, "Chu Li can't possibly go. Song Shiling, heir to the High Duke, will be jealous if he sees Chu Li. Negotiations will break down since he won't even listen to him. If Zhao Qingshan and the rest were sent, the High Duke would have not even granted them an audience! I think it'd be better if I went personally."

"High Duke Song will definitely try to embarrass you," Xiao Qi said. "The heir to the High Duke Song Shiling will surely take the opportunity to exact revenge on you as well."

"It doesn't matter what outrageous thing they might try, they wouldn't dare to kill me." Xiao Tieying grinned as he looked at Chu Li. "This'll still be Chu Li's contribution!"

Chu Li's demon-like Light-body Technique was a great deterrent, and all of them were smart people who understood the situation. If anything happened to Xiao Tieying, not even the heir to the High Duke could escape assassination, because the people of the Ren Public House would have been targets for assassination too.

Chu Li warned, "Master, you can't be careless."

"I'll just go over and return quickly. The Public House and Sister Xiao Qi are yours to deal with, for now." Xiao Tieying's expression turned serious. "I'll assign men to continue investigating the matter."

Xiao Qi saw his determination and gently nodded. "Would you like Chu Li to go with you?"

"There's no need." Xiao Tieying smiled. "It'd be worse if he came along. Zhao Qingshan and the others would be more than enough for me."

Chu Li warned once again, "Master Xiao Tieying, don't forget that High Duke Song is a cunning person as well. He may not be so easily duped."

"I don't expect them to be hostile immediately. We'll have to make the first move." Xiao Tieying smiled. "After all, I need to have a good conversation with High Duke Song."

Chu Li slowly nodded his head.

Xiao Qi said, "Protector Sha Shi, you and the rest are free to return to your quarters and have a nice rest. The matter ends here."

Protector Sha Shi quickly said, "Third Lady, we…"

The Envoys of King An's Imperial Residence were dead, but the Protectors were still alive. What was this really about?

There must have been an informant planted within them. This was not only apparent to outsiders but even they suspected it themselves.

Lady Xiao Qi, the Third Lady, was in charge of the traitor in the Solemnity House. So, they wanted Xiao Qi to investigate the matter and prove their innocence.

Xiao Qi cleared their doubts. "There's no problem with any of you."

Protector Sha Shi and the other three men suddenly let out a long breath and saluted in appreciation.

Xiao Qi waved her delicate hand as the four of them left the main hall.

"Elder Zhao Qingshan, we'll be off to Huay Public House tomorrow. Go and prepare for it," Xiao Tieying said.

"Understood." Zhao Qingshan and the three men left the main hall.

Now, only Chu Li, Xiao Qi, Xiao Tieying, and Lin Quan remained in the main hall.

"There's still one more thing, Chu Li. I need you to go to King An's Imperial Residence," Xiao Tieying muttered.

Chu Li fist saluted. "Your orders, Master."

Xiao Tieying sighed. "King An on the other hand… I'll write him a letter. I want you to send it to King An personally and explain it in front of him."

Chu Li nodded.

Lin Quan rubbed an ink-cake on an inkstone to prepare the ink. Xiao Tieying took the brush and pondered for a moment as he dipped the brush into the ink and authored three pages of paper in a single breath.

Lin Quan quickly blew the ink dry and folded it into an envelope. After he sealed it with wax, he passed it to Chu Li.

Xiao Tieying added, "I could just simply assign a Protector to send the letter, but their status won't be high enough. Moreover, it might even come off as irrelevant, so I can only pass it to you. Besides, you'll be joining us at King An's Imperial Residence later on anyway, so taking a look at the place a little earlier wouldn't hurt."

Chu Li accepted the letter and kept it. "I'll make my way there now."

Xiao Qi furrowed her brows. "King An will show a little bit of his attitude, but you can ignore it."

Chu Li smiled and nodded, giving a fist salute before he left Iron Eagle Island to return to his courtyard.

Xue Ling grumbled as she packed Chu Li's overnight bag. "Master, why do you need to do these mundane errands? He's bullying you, really!"

Chu Li smiled. "There's no need to say that much. I wouldn't be the one sending it if it were a normal letter."

"This isn't good news! King An's Imperial Residence is definitely not happy." Xue Ling neatly packed the bag and passed it to Chu Li. "You'll definitely be bullied if you go!"

"King An's reputation is good, so it may not resort to that." Chu Li smiled, he knew clearly in his heart that King An's reputation may not be that same as he believed it to be in reality.