Chapter 573: How Could I Possibly Do Such a Thing?

The ground was a wreck after the battle. Zhao Sen watched the departing party with an ashen face.

“Director, for the Song envoy to be assassinated at a time like this... the timing is rather too coincidental,” one of the eunuchs accompanying him quietly reminded him.

Zhao Sen shot him a sidelong glance. “Do I need you to tell me that?”

Even a blind man could see something was wrong with the timing of the assassination. Whether Gao Shaoming had done it was impossible to say. Jinzhou might have struck, Nanzhou might have struck, and it was even possible that Song itself had arranged the killing. The crucial point was Song's attitude. Once the situation changed, such a perfect pretext had been placed directly into Song's hands. Whether Song chose to believe there was something suspicious about the affair and pursue the truth, or chose to believe the accusation instead, depended entirely on Song's own wishes.

The eunuch asked, “What do we do now?”

“Send an urgent report to the imperial court at once. At the same time, send word to Gao Shaoming so he can prepare himself.” Zhao Sen strode back, mounted his horse, wheeled it around, and shouted, “Return to Jinzhou!”

He had no choice but to go back. His own people were still there. He could not simply stand aside. He needed to see what was happening and whether he could intervene at the proper moment to keep matters from deteriorating.

The others hurried back to their mounts. The entire group turned and thundered away...

At Liufang Guesthouse, the man who had once been Quan Qiao and now used his true name, Guo Ping, rushed into a room holding a letter. He handed it to Gao Shaoming, who was pacing inside. “My lord, something terrible has happened. Zhao Sen sent word. Tu Huaiyu was assassinated and killed!”

“...” Gao Shaoming stopped and turned, surprise written across his face. He snatched the letter over and read it. His expression immediately darkened. “Nonsense! Why would I need to assassinate that old bastard?”

Guo Ping reminded him, “My lord, do you remember your clash with Tu Huaiyu at the night banquet?”

“So what? Isn't it perfectly normal for envoys from different states to quarrel?”

“I'm afraid outsiders may not see it that way. It follows too naturally.”

Gao Shaoming's jaw tightened. He waved one hand. “Tell everyone to pack immediately. We're leaving... Wait!”

He took the order back just as quickly. His expression became ugly. If they avoided the matter and fled now, it would become even harder to explain. It would look as though they were running because they knew they were guilty.

He lifted Zhao Sen's letter and read it again, then said through clenched teeth, “We know perfectly well that we didn't do this, yet the blame lands on our heads anyway. This is plainly a deliberate frame-up. Either Jinzhou did it or Nanzhou did it. Or perhaps... the Song delegation's guards aren't so easy to kill. What I fear most is that Song itself arranged it!”

Guo Ping nodded. He understood what Gao Shaoming meant. If Song itself had arranged the killing, then the problem was grave. That would be as good as declaring Song's attitude: it wanted to loot a burning house.

By mid-afternoon, the surviving members of Song's delegation entered Liufang Guesthouse and went straight into the courtyard occupied by Yan's delegation. One side tried to force its way in, while the other blocked them.

Tu Huaiyu's corpse and the bodies of several attendants were laid out on the ground.

“Lord Tu's death grieves me as well, but this has nothing to do with us. If you want to frame us, at least produce some evidence!” Gao Shaoming pointed at the bodies and shouted angrily.

“Evidence?” Lu Chenghai sneered, his gaze sweeping across the men opposite him. “Where is Xu Gao?”

According to Chao Shenghuai, he had cut Xu Gao's arm with one slash of his sword. All they needed to do was drag Xu Gao out and inspect the wound. So little time had passed that a sword wound could not possibly have healed.

At the mention of Xu Gao, Gao Shaoming's heart lurched. Gloom filled his chest. He said coldly, “Xu Gao disappeared last night.”

“Disappeared? What a coincidence. He doesn't disappear earlier or later, but disappears precisely now. Who are you trying to fool?” Lu Chenghai laughed in fury, then raised a hand and pointed straight at Gao Shaoming's nose. “If you want to prove your innocence, hand Xu Gao over immediately. Otherwise don't blame me for being discourteous!”

Gao Shaoming said, “If you want to condemn a man, excuses are never hard to find!”

“Spare me that useless talk. Hand him over, and right and wrong will naturally become clear!”

“I've already told you. He disappeared last night!” Gao Shaoming had no other answer he could give.

The Song delegation immediately refused to let the matter drop. Just as the two sides were about to crash into one another, an angry shout rang out from outside.

“All of you, stop!”

A large number of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion cultivators arrived and surrounded the courtyard.

An Elder of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion stepped out from the crowd. “Do you take Jinzhou for a place where you can run wild as you please?”

The disturbance was too great to remain unnoticed. Chu Xiangyu and the others from Jin's delegation, who had received orders from above and had temporarily remained behind while waiting for an opportunity to act, were also drawn over.

Seeing the situation, Chu Xiangyu and Deputy Envoy Liu Dezheng exchanged glances.

...

At the Provincial Inspector's Residence, Li Wuhua hurried into a courtyard and found Situ Yao discussing matters with an Elder. He reported urgently, “Sect Leader, something has happened!”

Situ Yao said, “Why the hurry? Speak slowly.”

“Song envoy Tu Huaiyu was assassinated shortly after leaving Jinzhou and has been killed! The surviving members of Song's delegation have now carried the bodies into Liufang Guesthouse and forced their way into the courtyard occupied by Yan's delegation. They claim Yan's delegation arranged the killing and are demanding that Yan hand someone over...” Li Wuhua quickly gave them the general situation.

“What?” Situ Yao and the Elder stood up together in shock.

Situ Yao asked, “The guards around Song's delegation weren't weak. How could assassins succeed so easily? What happened?”

Li Wuhua shook his head. “We don't know the details yet.”

“Go find out at once.” Situ Yao swept a broad sleeve. After Li Wuhua departed, he paced back and forth in thought for a while before leaving together with the Elder.

They did not go to Liufang Guesthouse.

They went to Niu Youdao.

Guan Fangyi was sitting in a pavilion in the courtyard, playing with rouge and face powder that she had sent people to buy in Jinzhou's provincial capital. She had a powder box cupped in her hands and was sniffing it, judging its fragrance and color. The moment she saw Situ Yao arrive, she snapped the box shut, left the pavilion, and went forward with a smile.

“Sect Leader Situ has come!”

Situ Yao asked, “Where is Niu Youdao?”

Guan Fangyi chuckled. “Master Dao is meditating and cultivating. Is something wrong?”

Situ Yao gave a cold laugh. “He still has the mood to meditate and cultivate? Go call him.”

“Very well. Please wait.” Her skirts swayed as Guan Fangyi turned away.

Before long, she returned beside Niu Youdao, who came leaning on his sword.

“I hear Sect Leader Situ is unhappy. Who angered you?” Niu Youdao asked with a smile as he approached.

Situ Yao stared at him. “Song envoy Tu Huaiyu was assassinated shortly after leaving Jinzhou. Was it your doing?”

The moment he heard what had happened, Situ Yao suspected Niu Youdao. What Niu Youdao had said earlier, and the moves he had already made, had all been aimed at Song. Situ Yao had assumed the man still had some clever scheme hidden away. He had never imagined Niu Youdao might simply strike hard and have the envoy killed outright. Nor had he expected Niu Youdao to be capable of assembling enough strength to overwhelm Song's delegation.

Most importantly, this was no small affair. It required leaving no loose ends whatsoever. If the truth came out, it would pour oil onto the fire consuming Jinzhou and Nanzhou. Even Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, acting on its own territory, would not lightly dare do something like this. Niu Youdao's nerve was simply too great.

Niu Youdao glanced at the Elder beside Situ Yao and looked astonished. “How could I possibly do such a thing?”

Situ Yao raised an eyebrow. “You don't even want to know whether Tu Huaiyu is alive or dead?”

Niu Youdao dismissed it. “What does his life or death have to do with me? In any case, I didn't do it. Sect Leader Situ isn't going to insist on dragging me into the affair, is he?”

There was a deeper meaning in his words.

Situ Yao's cheek twitched. Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion had participated in the prelude to this affair and had already been dragged into the water. If he exposed Niu Youdao, Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion would not be able to wash itself clean either. It would be an accomplice. They could only help keep the secret.

They were on the same side. Whether Niu Youdao had done it or not, both of them knew perfectly well. Situ Yao had no intention of assigning blame. He merely wanted to know the truth, or rather, he wanted to know exactly how it had happened so he would be mentally prepared for any unforeseen consequences. Yet Niu Youdao refused to admit a thing.

After several questions produced nothing, Situ Yao had no choice but to take his leave. Before going, he reminded him, “Whoever benefits from a crime may well be the culprit. Song is not stupid.”

Niu Youdao answered something entirely different. “There's no need to stop the people at Liufang Guesthouse. If they want to fight, let them fight. Why bother restraining them?”

That told Situ Yao that Niu Youdao already knew what was happening at Liufang Guesthouse.

Situ Yao fell silent for a moment and understood the implication.

Niu Youdao wanted the matter between the two delegations to become as large as possible.

He turned and left.

Watching the guests depart, Guan Fangyi said, “He's right. Song isn't stupid.”

Niu Youdao replied, “Does that matter? A ready-made excuse has already been placed in Song's hands. Whether Song is willing to play the fool is its own affair.”

Guan Fangyi sighed. “Whether they play the fool or not, they'll inevitably list you among the suspects. Can you guarantee they won't come settle accounts with you afterward? If you keep doing things this way, you'll only pile more and more dangers onto yourself.”

Niu Youdao said slowly, “These are troubled times. We may not even survive from morning to evening. If we can't preserve ourselves through what's directly in front of us, what future is there to talk about? First find a way through this pass.”

Guan Fangyi said, “Have you forgotten something? You yourself said Shao Pingbo already knows Chao Shenghuai is under your control. If Chao Shenghuai steps out to testify at a time like this, aren't you worried Shao Pingbo will make a move?”

“He hasn't established himself in Jin yet. I'd love nothing more than for him to start moving now. With him hiding in Jin and doing nothing, I have no opening. And even if he does act, so what? If he's willing to topple Chao Jing and his grandson together, I have no objection.”

Then Niu Youdao turned and added, “Don't overthink it. Send word of what's happening here to the Prince so he knows the situation.”

Guan Fangyi nodded and turned away.

...

Outside the courtyard, the Elder glanced at Situ Yao's expression and asked, “Sect Leader suspects Tu Huaiyu's death was Niu Youdao's doing?”

“It isn't suspicion. I'm certain it was him.” Situ Yao said, “That fellow's nerve is truly enormous. Even if he preserves Nanzhou, isn't he afraid Song will settle accounts with him afterward?”

The Elder did not know what made Situ Yao so certain, because he knew nothing about the aid Situ Yao had secretly provided Niu Youdao beforehand. He could only frown. “Has that fellow gone mad? Last time, right here in Jinzhou, he personally killed a Yan envoy. This time he's taken out a Song envoy. Does he have some special grudge against foreign envoys?”

“Exactly.” Situ Yao sighed and shook his head. “Last time envoys from several states came here, Yan's envoy died. This time envoys from several states came here, Song's envoy was killed. They come once and one dies. Two have gone down in succession. If this keeps up, I suspect envoys from the various states won't dare come to Jinzhou again.”

[End of Chapter 573]