Chapter 104
Chapter 104: Guan Tian Qian
Upon hearing this, Gong Li Shan turned his gaze toward Fu Yu and asked, “But what if the Eighth Prince can’t protect Constable Cang?”
Fu Yu waved his hand lightly and replied, “Whether or not that Eighth Prince manages to protect Cang Yin Yue, I have my own ways to keep her safe. In fact, this could help Cang Yin Yue clearly see the true face of the Eighth Prince.”
Shaking his head slowly, Fu Yu continued in a calm voice, “Ever since Cang Yin Yue brought back that Eighth Prince, she decisively broke off our marriage agreement. I’m certain the Eighth Prince played a major role in this decision.”
“I know she misunderstood me greatly in the past. With Madam Zhu and Marquis Cang Yuan around, I didn’t dare do anything or even explain myself. But now that these obstacles no longer exist, there’s no need for me to hold back.”
“I will show her who truly cares for her. The support she believes she found will cast her aside without hesitation when faced with real interests. But I won’t.”
Gong Li Shan and Ji Fei Yun exchanged a quiet glance.
They knew Fu Yu’s engagement to Cang Yin Yue had perhaps been intended to forge ties with the influential Marquis Cang Yuan’s household. But now, with Marquis Cang Yuan’s family destroyed, they could not understand why Fu Yu was still unwilling to let her go.
Yet, out of trust in Fu Yu, they chose to remain silent.
Fu Yu then continued, “As for the matter involving the Shadow Assassinate Order, it’s beyond our reach for now. We simply need to wait patiently. The Eighth Prince will soon face immense pressure from all sides, and it remains uncertain how long he can retain control of the Shadow Assassinate Order.”
…
Inside the Great Li Imperial Palace.
The queen, seated upon her gilded phoenix throne, appeared deeply displeased. Her gaze swept across the group standing before her as she coldly questioned:
“Are you certain the assassin who killed Imperial Concubine Ji wasn’t someone from inside the palace?”
At this, Li Tian Yi, the Grand Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonies, stepped forward and bowed respectfully, responding quietly, “Reporting to Your Majesty, after a thorough search by Divine Constable Guan Tian Qian of Six Gates and Commander Wu Gou of the Shadow Spy Division, as well as the palace guards conducting an exhaustive search throughout the night, no trace of the assassin has been found within the palace.”
Abruptly, the queen slammed her palm onto the white jade table in anger, her face filled with fury. “Then explain to me, if there’s truly no problem within the palace, how did the news of Concubine Ji’s death leak out, causing such a chaotic uproar throughout the city?”
Faced with this question, Li Tian Yi could only lower his head in silence.
How exactly the news had leaked, even he wasn’t sure.
Perhaps it had come from the Third Prince, or from the Right Chancellor, or possibly even from some eunuch or concubine within the palace.
Though the Great Li Imperial Palace appeared impenetrable, someone had already infiltrated it to kill an imperial concubine. After that, leaking mere news hardly seemed surprising.
“Useless, all of you!”
Seeing everyone’s silence, the queen violently hurled the teacup from the table onto the floor.
Then, turning her sharp gaze toward Guan Tian Qian, who stood respectfully nearby, she said coldly, “Give me a clear answer. How long does your Six Gates need to capture this assassin who murdered Imperial Concubine Ji?”
Guan Tian Qian’s expression shifted dramatically. He immediately bowed deeply and replied, “The assassin infiltrated the palace, committed murder, and escaped unscathed. Such martial prowess must be extraordinary. I cannot guarantee success, only promise to do my best.”
The queen’s face grew darker. She turned next toward Commander Wu Gou of the Shadow Spy Division, intending to question him but abruptly halted, muttering coldly, “No point in even asking.”
She then looked over the gathered officials and stated, “Whether it’s Six Gates or the Shadow Spy Division, pass my message to your Marquis Shen and Division Lord. If they fail to capture the assassin before His Majesty emerges from seclusion, they will both kneel before Tian Qian Palace in apology.”
After speaking, the queen stood abruptly and departed with a flick of her sleeve.
A long moment later, Li Tian Yi raised his head slowly and turned toward Guan Tian Qian and Wu Gou. He spoke gravely, “You’ve both heard the queen’s command clearly. This issue directly impacts the royal dignity of Great Li. Be certain Marquis Shen and the Division Lord handle this personally.”
Guan Tian Qian and Wu Gou exchanged another glance, silently acknowledging the queen’s intent.
Though she seemed enraged and flustered, the queen had seen through the situation clearly. She understood that the assassination of Concubine Ji was beyond the capability of these two men, thus ordering Marquis Shen of Six Gates and the Shadow Spy Division Lord to intervene personally.
Indeed, Guan Tian Qian himself had no desire to involve himself deeply in this troublesome matter. Yet the reality was, Marquis Shen of Six Gates wasn’t even in the Imperial Capital currently. Even if Guan Tian Qian wanted to pass on the queen’s order, doing so promptly was impossible.
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Guan Tian Qian appeared troubled. Even when Commander Wu Gou of the Shadow Spy Division tried to discuss strategies for capturing the assassin, Guan Tian Qian was too preoccupied to respond.
Instead, he quietly boarded the carriage arranged by the palace with two other Gold Badge Constables, heading straight back to the Six Gates General Yamen.
His mind was filled with thoughts of the young man accompanying Cang Yin Yue and that man’s possible connections to the affairs involving Marquis Cang Yuan’s household and Imperial Concubine Ji.
Undoubtedly, Guan Tian Qian had nearly uncovered the full truth behind these events, yet he hesitated deeply.
He understood clearly the cost of provoking such a formidable expert. Unless Marquis Shen handled the issue personally, Guan Tian Qian knew that even if he uncovered the assassin’s identity, he alone was powerless to confront him.
Another reason for Guan Tian Qian’s hesitation was the message left by that person at Marquis Cang Yuan’s residence.
If that message was true, Marquis Cang Yuan, Concubine Ji, and others implicated were undoubtedly guilty of horrendous crimes. From the martial world’s perspective, killing them would be considered an act of righteousness.
However, the identities of those killed were exceptional—a marquis with immense ancestral merit, a madam honored by royal decree, and an imperial concubine dearly beloved by the emperor himself.
Each murder alone was enough to sentence the assassin to death under Great Li’s law.
Yet, whenever Guan Tian Qian recalled the countless young girls’ bones hidden beneath Marquis Cang Yuan’s residence, a strange thought would involuntarily arise within him:
[Perhaps killing them was justified.]
…
In his younger days, Guan Tian Qian had traveled through the martial world, dreaming of becoming a righteous warrior. But he quickly realized that good deeds did not always earn gratitude, and help could sometimes lead to trouble.
After countless hardships, he came to despise the martial world’s wickedness. He joined Six Gates, a place that, despite its strict rules, suited his character—pursuing justice, apprehending criminals.
Guan Tian Qian had served for decades, solving countless cases, capturing numerous villains, and earning the fierce title “Iron-Blooded Divine Constable.” Yet age had long tempered his youthful heroism, leaving him pragmatic and calculating.
Lost in contemplation within the moving carriage, Guan Tian Qian glanced casually out the window, suddenly noticing a familiar figure.
“Cang Yin Yue? Why is she here?”
Looking up, Guan Tian Qian realized his carriage was just passing by the entrance to the Heavenly Brocade Guard headquarters.