Chapter 076
Chapter 76: Confirmed Death
As soon as these words left Guan Shan Xue’s mouth, Guan Tian Qian’s eyes grew sharp. He spoke calmly:
“You mean to say you saw that young man at Marquis Cang Yuan’s mansion last night?”
Guan Shan Xue nodded, though her expression turned awkward for a moment. Not only did she recall seeing him clearly, but she also remembered the embarrassing things she had done back then.
Guan Tian Qian narrowed his eyes slightly and fell into silent thought.
From the current circumstances, the young man was indeed highly suspicious.
Cang Yin Yue’s martial skills weren’t strong enough to have used such advanced acupoint sealing methods on Guan Shan Xue. Thus, the young man was likely responsible.
Similarly, Cang Yin Yue wasn’t powerful enough to capture the three wanted criminals and the remnant of Great Qi. She must have had help. Coincidentally, the young man had shown extraordinary martial strength and had recently appeared at Cang Yin Yue’s side.
Moreover, he had appeared at Marquis Cang Yuan’s residence last night. All these clues pointed in one direction: perhaps the deaths of Marquis Cang Yuan and the others had something to do with that young man.
Seeing Guan Tian Qian deep in thought, Guan Shan Xue frowned and said,
“You can’t possibly suspect that pretty boy, can you? He didn’t have even the slightest trace of martial Qi.”
Guan Tian Qian cast her a glance.
“Then how do you explain his presence at Marquis Cang Yuan’s mansion last night?”
“That… Isn’t that simple? Cang Yin Yue probably snuck him in secretly to meet at night.”
“Foolish!” Guan Tian Qian snapped. “Do you really think just anyone can enter Marquis Cang Yuan’s mansion unnoticed? Use your head. Why did you mysteriously faint and end up in the mansion? Marquis Cang Yuan and others were killed, but why weren’t you harmed? Instead, you were safely returned to Six Gates?”
Guan Shan Xue hesitated. Initially, she thought her status as the Divine Constable’s daughter might have protected her, but then realized it would have made more sense to silence her permanently.
Guan Tian Qian shook his head lightly.
“That person isn’t ordinary, but neither does he seem to be cruel or ruthless. As for the lack of martial Qi you mentioned, perhaps your cultivation is too shallow, or he possesses a method to conceal his aura. It’s normal you couldn’t detect it.”
He furrowed his brow again, deeply troubled.
Whoever had acted at Marquis Cang Yuan’s mansion undoubtedly possessed strength at the Heavenly Union realm. Yet, it seemed unlikely the young man could have reached such a high level.
Perhaps it was a disguise, or someone else was behind this matter.
Regardless, the only clue they had now was Cang Yin Yue.
Just then, a hurried knock sounded from outside the door. A constable urgently announced:
“My lord, an envoy from the Imperial Palace has come to see you.”
Hearing this, Guan Tian Qian’s expression changed. He glanced meaningfully at Guan Shan Xue and instructed:
“Keep what we discussed here between the two of us. Do not tell anyone else. I will handle this matter.”
Guan Shan Xue gave a reluctant snort, but understanding the seriousness, she nodded grudgingly.
Guan Tian Qian didn’t say more and walked outside.
Soon afterward, he and two elite Gold Badge Constables from Six Gates joined an imperial eunuch and boarded a carriage toward the Great Li Imperial Palace.
Inside the carriage, Guan Tian Qian cupped his hands politely and asked the eunuch, who was resting with closed eyes:
“Eunuch, may I ask the reason His Majesty summoned us?”
But the eunuch merely shook his head.
“Lord Guan, there’s no need to ask. You’ll know once you arrive at the palace.”
With a cold expression, he refused to say another word.
Guan Tian Qian frowned slightly but didn’t persist.
The carriage passed through Xuan Wu Gate, over the Golden Bridge, and into the outer city of the Imperial Palace. Guan Tian Qian and the two seasoned constables grew uneasy. Security within the palace was alarmingly tight. Soldiers patrolled everywhere, and their carriage underwent inspection five times along the short journey.
A disturbing thought flashed through their minds at once: [Something must have happened in the palace.]
Suddenly, Guan Tian Qian remembered the inscribed stone. His expression grew uncertain.
[Could it possibly be…]
Before long, their carriage stopped outside Yixin Hall.
Here, he saw a commander from the Shadow Spy Division along with subordinates waiting nearby.
“Enter and see for yourself,” an elderly eunuch instructed.
Guan Tian Qian led his two constables into Yixin Hall. As soon as he saw the horrific scene within, he froze, his face pale and stunned.
“So he truly dared to kill Consort Ji!”
…
Meanwhile, in a side chamber of the Six Gates General Yamen.
Fu Yu stood silently by the window, gazing out at an ancient tree in deep contemplation.
Soon Ji Fei Yun and Gong Li Shan entered the chamber. Ji Fei Yun closed the door carefully behind him, stepped forward, and whispered:
“Brother Fu, I’ve already informed His Highness the Fifth Prince about the incident at Marquis Cang Yuan’s mansion.”
Fu Yu nodded slowly.
Turning to face them, he asked quietly:
“Have you found Cang Yin Yue yet?”
Ji Fei Yun and Gong Li Shan both shook their heads.
Gong Li Shan spoke cautiously:
“Yesterday, a messenger from Marquis Cang Yuan’s residence informed us that Constable Cang would be absent from duty at Six Gates for some time.”
He exchanged a glance with Ji Fei Yun, but neither elaborated further.
Fu Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“With the relationship we share, there’s no need for secrecy. Speak openly.”
Ji Fei Yun hesitated a moment, then revealed:
“Actually, Marquis Cang Yuan had confined Cang Yin Yue to the mansion yesterday. But after the massacre, we couldn’t find her. Instead, we discovered an underground chamber in the rear garden. The heavy lock had been broken. It appears she escaped, but we don’t know where she went.”
Gong Li Shan added thoughtfully:
“We also can’t rule out the possibility that Constable Cang was involved in the deaths of Marquis Cang Yuan and Madam Zhu.”
Fu Yu’s expression remained calm.
“Do you truly believe Cang Yin Yue committed this act?”
Ji Fei Yun glanced at Fu Yu, his face turning serious:
“Brother Fu might not know yet, but I’ve already confirmed—the young man Cang Yin Yue brought into Aurora Pavilion is indeed the newly recognized Eighth Prince.”
Fu Yu, whose face had shown no emotion until now, finally revealed a flicker of astonishment.
He stared intently at Ji Fei Yun.
“Are you certain?”
Ji Fei Yun nodded solemnly. Fu Yu fell silent, muttering softly:
“So, she actually found the true prince who had been lost among the common folk. That is truly beyond my expectations.”
Gong Li Shan nodded slightly and commented:
“Though Constable Cang’s martial prowess is lacking, her skills in investigation and managing affairs are exceptional. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have achieved the rank of Silver Badge Constable at such a young age.”
He continued, gazing thoughtfully at Fu Yu:
“With Marquis Cang Yuan and Madam Zhu now dead, the marquis’s mansion exists in name only. However, now that Constable Cang has formed ties with the Eighth Prince, it’s not impossible that the mansion could someday be restored.”
Fu Yu waved his hand gently and replied with quiet determination:
“Regardless of whether she found the Eighth Prince, I will not abandon my marriage agreement with her.”