Shao Mingyuan gestured for Chen Guang to remain at the door and walked inside.

The officials came forward to greet him: “Lord Marquis.”

Shao Mingyuan acknowledged everyone and asked, “I heard that my father-in-law was invited to the office for questioning. How is the progress?”

Progress?

The officials exchanged glances.

What progress? They had only listened to his father-in-law infuriate people for entertainment.

“Lord Marquis, since you’re here, this prince—”

Shao Mingyuan swept Prince Gong of Xijiang with a glance, his voice cold as ice: “I heard that last night you sent someone to infiltrate my father-in-law’s residence, wanting to spy on my fiancée at night?”

Prince Gong of Xijiang was lean in build, precisely the type of refined and scholarly beauty most popular in Xijiang. Horseback riding and archery were merely aristocratic pastimes for show – he had no real martial skills. At this moment, under Shao Mingyuan’s fierce aura, he suddenly felt immense pressure and didn’t know how to respond.

This was the first time he truly felt the difference between scholars and military generals.

The other party was like a lone wolf – from a distance, you might think it was a harmless large dog, but when it bared its fangs, you could smell death.

Shao Mingyuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the Great Liang officials: “If you gentlemen have nothing to ask, I’ll take my father-in-law home. Truthfully speaking, my father-in-law’s family is the real victim here. The Xijiang warrior’s death has nothing whatsoever to do with my father-in-law’s family. Please try not to invite my father-in-law for tea in the future.”

“Exactly. I still need to go to my office. If my superiors pursue this matter and deduct my monthly salary for being delayed by you all this time, whose fault would that be?” Li Guangwen complained.

The officials secretly rolled their eyes.

With your monthly salary of just a few bushels of rice, how could a superior be so heartless?

“Wait!” Seeing that Shao Mingyuan was really about to leave, the Princess of Xijiang called out.

Shao Mingyuan paused but didn’t turn around.

Seeing this, Princess of Xijiang simply walked in front of Shao Mingyuan and straightened her back slightly: “Is the Marquis just going to leave like this?”

Her brother might be intimidated by Marquis Guanjun to the point of not daring to speak, but she wouldn’t be.

Shao Mingyuan’s sword-like brows furrowed.

“Scholar Li said his household has no guards, so the person couldn’t have been killed by his residence. What about the Marquis then? Did you send anyone to protect your fiancée?”

Shao Mingyuan’s thin lips tightened as he looked at Princess of Xijiang: “Whether or not I sent anyone to protect my fiancée shouldn’t require reporting to anyone, should it?”

After speaking, he no longer looked at Princess of Xijiang and swept his gaze over everyone: “I repeat – speak with evidence.”

“You—” Princess of Xijiang bit her lip but had nothing to say.

She truly hadn’t expected Great Liang officials to be so wary of Marquis Guanjun that they didn’t dare say a single harsh word under his questioning.

Shao Mingyuan’s expression softened slightly as he extended his hand to Li Guangwen: “Father-in-law, please. This son-in-law came late – you haven’t suffered any grievances, have you?”

Those remaining in the hall: “…” Marquis Guanjun, could you care about the truly aggrieved people, like those of us who didn’t sleep all night?

“Your Highness, Princess, why don’t you return to rest first? We’ll notify you immediately if we discover any leads.” Minister of Justice Kou Xingze said.

Only after Shao Mingyuan left did that overwhelming, suffocating feeling dissipate. Prince Gong of Xijiang said with a pale face: “Sister, let’s go back first.”

“Brother—”

“We’ll talk when we get back.” Prince Gong of Xijiang gently patted Princess of Xijiang.

After returning to their lodgings, the Princess of Xijiang couldn’t help but complain: “Brother, what’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you say a single word when Marquis Guanjun arrived?”

Prince Gong of Xijiang plopped down in the grand chair and leaned back with a long exhale.

“Brother, are you unwell?” Princess of Xijiang reached out to touch Prince Gong of Xijiang’s forehead, feeling it damp and cold.

Prince Gong of Xijiang took out a handkerchief to wipe his forehead and said in a heavy voice: “That Marquis Guanjun is somewhat sinister.”

“Sinister?”

Prince Gong of Xijiang sat up straight and looked at Princess of Xijiang: “Sister, after Marquis Guanjun entered and spoke, did you notice anything unusual?”

The Princess of Xijiang didn’t understand his meaning. After thinking for a moment, she shook her head: “Nothing unusual, just felt he was very domineering and tyrannical. Our Xijiang may have few people and little land, but in terms of national strength, we’re not much worse than the storm-tossed Great Liang. This time it was our Xijiang person who died, and those Great Liang ministers all took it very seriously, yet Marquis Guanjun was so cold, even leaving without any explanation.”

Speaking of this, Princess of Xijiang poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over, asking in puzzlement: “Brother, what do you mean by saying Marquis Guanjun is sinister?”

Prince Gong of Xijiang drank several sips of hot tea, his complexion improving considerably: “When he looked at me and spoke, I felt as if I was being stared at by a wolf – I simply couldn’t speak.”

“Brother, don’t think about abducting Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée anymore. In my opinion, that’s just unnecessary and might easily alert our target.” Princess of Xijiang felt disgusted thinking of Prince Gong of Xijiang’s original plan and took the opportunity to persuade him: “When your dancer arrives, just have her impersonate Marquis Guanjun’s fiancée and take the opportunity to kill Marquis Guanjun. As long as Marquis Guanjun dies, half of Great Liang’s sky will collapse.”

At this time, Prince Gong of Xijiang had no romantic thoughts either. He nodded: “Sister is right. Marquis Guanjun must die!”

Such a person – as long as he lived for one day, their Xijiang couldn’t make a move.

Princess of Xijiang smiled charmingly: “Actually, Huasheng’s death isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Originally, we should have returned, and we would have needed a good excuse to delay until the dancer arrived. Now we don’t need one – as long as Huasheng’s killer isn’t caught, we can righteously remain in Great Liang.”

Prince Gong of Xijiang sighed: “It’s just a pity about Huasheng.”

Princess of Xijiang sneered: “Why is brother showing womanly compassion? No matter how good Huasheng’s martial skills were, he couldn’t last three moves under Marquis Guanjun’s hands – what use was he? In my view, he’s not as valuable as the dancer in your residence. Furthermore, being able to sacrifice his life for Xijiang, Huasheng would certainly be willing.”

“Mm, I want to bathe. Sister should also go rest.” Having been frightened into a cold sweat by Shao Mingyuan, Prince Gong of Xijiang felt uncomfortably damp all over.

“Then, brother, go ahead. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’ll return to my room to lie down first. If anything happens, just send someone to call me.”

Princess of Xijiang returned to her room, changed clothes, and sent all the maids away, then lay on her side on the bed with her eyes closed to rest.

Light footsteps could be heard. Princess of Xijiang frowned and scolded: “Didn’t I say everyone should leave!”

She had always had poor sleep. The imperial physician had said she thought too much and needed to relax to improve, but a disposition formed since childhood wasn’t something she could change just by wanting to. When she wanted to rest, what she feared most was being disturbed.

The footsteps still didn’t stop – light and unhurried.

“What’s going on?” The Princess of Xijiang sat up, turned around with a stern face, and her beautiful eyes suddenly widened.

Before Princess of Xijiang could make a sound, the visitor pressed her mouth tightly with one hand while the other fell on her elegant, swan-like white neck, suddenly applying force.

“Mmm mmm mmm—” Princess of Xijiang struggled and resisted with all her strength, but that hand seemed like an immovable mountain.

Soon Princess of Xijiang stopped moving altogether.