r18novel Page 513
Page 513
[Number Seven: I've heard that too. Li Chang'an's disciple is now handling this major case.]
Huaiqing couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Li Chang'an, the Heaven and Earth Society often talks about you. Is it because you're always bragging about yourself?"
Li Chang'an whispered in Huaiqing's ear, "If you call me by my full name again, don't even think about going back to the palace tonight. The palace gates close quite early."
When Li Chang'an breathed on him, Huaiqing trembled violently and had no choice but to give in, "Alright... Li Lang, I'll call you husband after we're married."
At this point, Huaiqing had made up her mind to marry Li Chang'an openly and honestly.
Then, she wrote on the small mirror, "With Li Chang'an behind us, this case will definitely be solved soon!"
[Number Two: With Li Chang'an here, there shouldn't be any problems.]
[Number Three: Li Chang'an is a living god; he knows everything!]
Huaiqing looked at the message with a puzzled expression and said, "It seems that apart from me, Number Two and Number Three have always admired you."
Li Chang'an said, "It can only be said that as Changqing Trading Company's business grew bigger and bigger, my affairs also got out."
Hearing the name Changqing Trading Company, Huaiqing felt a surge of joy. Did this mean that Li Chang'an had long coveted him?
[Number Four: I must pay a visit to this renowned Li Chang'an another day... But have we found any leads in this case yet?]
Xu Qi'an, standing in front of the small mirror, was excited. He opened the chat group to gather clues, and what he needed was a curious baby like No. 4, not the angry young man from Dafeng No. 2 or the brainless little sister No. 5.
[Number Nine: Number One, Number Seven, have you found any leads on this matter?]
Upon seeing Master Jinlian's words, Huaiqing suddenly tensed up, because it seemed as if she knew he was with Li Chang'an.
[Number One: No news at the moment. The night watchman, the Ministry of Justice, and the prefectural government are handling the matter.]
[Number Seven: I do have some, but it depends on what you're offering in exchange.]
Xu Qi'an, standing in front of the small mirror, suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. His master knew all along; he should have just asked directly.
No, no, if I initiate a chat in the group, my master can still get benefits from the messages.
Next, we should just wait and see.
Huaiqing looked at Li Chang'an in surprise. This lover, with whom she was only one step away from breaking through the barrier of their relationship, turned out to be a complete mystery to her.
In fact, it would be unwise for the Princess of Da Feng to throw herself into the arms of someone whose background is unclear.
However, for some reason, Huaiqing could never maintain his rationality in front of Li Chang'an.
"Li Lang, what news do you know?"
Li Chang'an embraced Huaiqing and said, "What's the rush? It's others who are in a hurry."
[Number Two: I'm busy suppressing bandits. Once I figure out the forces behind Yunzhou, I can use these secrets to exchange for your information.]
[Number Five: I have some important news, but it would expose my identity, so I can't tell you!]
Huaiqing chuckled and said, "Li Lang, this girl, number five, looks a bit like Lin'an."
Li Chang'an nodded. Number Five, Lina, was indeed naive, incompetent, and loved to play. She was also a female leader, which was quite fitting.
[Number Four: Heh... You're from southern Xinjiang, aren't you?]
[Number One: Probably a high-ranking noble from the Gu Clan.]
[Number Two: Extremely belligerent!]
[Number Seven: She's a little girl who's not even eighteen yet!]
Then, there was a moment of silence on the mirror before it was finally broken by Number Five.
[Number Five: ...You guys...you all knew?]
Xu Qi'an almost burst out laughing in front of the mirror. He had already figured out a few things from the chat logs over the past few days, so one could imagine how much information Number Five had revealed in the previous chat logs.
As far as Xu Qi'an knew, Number Five often referred to herself as "Old Mother" and said that she wanted her father to attack the border of Da Feng. She was also familiar with the history of the demon race, so there was no need to guess some of the information.
[Number Five: You actually saw through my identity! But it's not just that I didn't hide it well; Number Six is a monk who left the capital last year, so his identity should have been exposed too!]
[Number Six: There are tens of thousands of monks in the capital, but not many of the great noble families of the Gu clan. It's not hard to find young female masters among them. Moreover, those who received the fragments from Daoist Jinlian all possess certain talents, so Number Five has the most exposed information.]
Number Nine: This matter ends here. There's no need to delve into each other's identities.
Huaiqing was also amused by No. 5's behavior, "Now I know No. 1 and No. 7."
Number Two was deeply involved in the suppression of bandits in Yunzhou, but harbored considerable hostility towards the Great Feng Dynasty; however, he was extremely intelligent.
Huaiqing made this judgment because Li Miaozhen tested the identities of the three people in the capital on the day of the ancestral worship ceremony.
"Number Four has a relationship with Luo Yuheng and once served as an official in the court. I also have a few suspects in my mind."
"I won't talk about the fifth one. I can find an excuse to investigate it another day."
"Number Six is a kind and honest monk. He left the capital last year. There are too many monks entering the capital every year, so it's not easy to find out."
"Number 8 has been in seclusion and hasn't spoken for a long time. Number 9 is Master Jinlian himself."
Li Chang'an nodded. The ironclad rule of "big breasts, no brains" basically didn't apply to Huaiqing. If she wanted to investigate thoroughly, she could probably dig out Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Lina.
"Li Lang, am I very clever?" Huai Qingqiu's eyes were like water, full of expectation.
"Extremely intelligent and resourceful."
Upon hearing this, Huaiqing smiled contentedly.
After a moment of silence in the chat group, number five broke the silence.
[Number Five: Since that's the case, I won't pretend anymore. I am a member of the Southern Frontier Gu Clan, and I have important news to share. Number Seven, I want to use this news to exchange for clues about the Sangbo case.]
[Number Nine: If Number Five is willing to speak, then everyone needs to unanimously agree to owe you information or an equivalent amount of silver.]
Huaiqing, looking in the mirror, said naturally, "Changqing Trading Company has plenty of money. Send me any news you have!" Then, his reflection in the mirror replied with a single word, "Okay!"
Li Chang'an felt that Huaiqing had stolen his lines, and the others agreed with this fair suggestion.
Then, Number Five revealed her secret.
[Number 5: Yesterday, the aura of the Gu God emanated from the Abyss. All the low-level Gu in the village died suddenly, and the high-level Gu went berserk. My mother's natal Gu almost went out of control. My father said that after thousands of years, the Gu God may be about to revive!]
The Gu God is the source of chaos; devouring and reproduction are ingrained in its instincts. If it awakens, all creatures in the Southern Frontier will become its mating and devouring objects, turning the Nine Provinces into a world inhabited only by Gu!
Upon seeing this news, Huaiqing's expression turned serious. The Gu Clan is a tribe that has guarded the seal of the Gu God for generations. Legend has it that the awakening of the Gu Clan will plunge the world into chaos.
Although there is no significant unrest at present, there is always a very bad hidden danger.
[Number 5: Okay, what's the news about the Sangbo case?]
[Number Seven: It was the demon race that destroyed Sangbo; their goal was to release the seal beneath Sangbo.]
After this news was released, everyone else was obviously confused, not expecting that this matter was related to the demon race.
Huaiqing asked, equally puzzled, "Li Lang, how did you know?"
Li Chang'an said, "Don't forget, I also cultivate Taoist arts, and I've been paying attention to the demon race for a long time."
"But Sangbo is heavily guarded, how could gunpowder possibly be sent in?" Huaiqing asked, puzzled.
Number Four also didn't understand and asked the same question.
However, Li Chang'an stopped there, saying, "Gentlemen, this message is enough to repay your kindness. As for the gunpowder, I know nothing about it for now."
Xu Qi'an knew it was time for him to make a move.
[Number Three: I heard that the imperial court has almost finished investigating this matter. The saltpeter mine in Dahuang Mountain was secretly mined by the demon race, and the spy controlled by the demon race was Zhou Chixiong, a centurion of the Jinwu Guard. However, he has already fled.]
Upon seeing this message, Huaiqing immediately exclaimed, "Number Three must have been involved in the case; I haven't even received this message yet!"
"It's in the Ministry of Justice, the government office, or among the night watchmen, but it's still hard to guess the specifics."
[Number 3: Where do you think Zhou Chixiong, who committed such a heinous crime as implicating his entire family, would escape to?]
[Number Two: Of course it's Yunzhou! The imperial court can't possibly control it; it's teeming with bandits and outlaws!]
[Number Three: If Number Two can help keep an eye out for news about Zhou Chixiong, I can use that information to get promoted and ennobled.]
This was Xu Qi'an's ultimate goal: to get Number Two to keep an eye on Zhou Chixiong.
However, to Xu Qi'an's surprise, Number Two's answer was very clear.
[Number Two: I refuse!]
Chapter 311 Misleading Them by Investigating in the Direction They Were Misled In
Xu Qi'an was in a bind. This number two had grievances against the imperial court and was naturally unwilling to help the court arrest people.
However, Xu Qi'an knew very well that money could make the devil turn the millstone, and as long as he offered enough, Number Two would definitely agree!
[Number Three: Number Two, I can owe you two favors in exchange for your help with the baby's first birthday celebration.]
Xu Qi'an was surprised that Number Two replied almost instantly: [Number Two: This matter has nothing to do with profit, no need to discuss it further.]
Looking in the mirror, Huaiqing shook his head. "Number Two harbors deep resentment towards the court. She used to be quite agreeable; although she didn't like the court, she was still willing to help. But this time she's so resolute."
Li Chang'an knew that Huaiqing cared a lot about the case and really wanted to catch Zhou Chixiong.
"Huaiqing, don't worry, Zhou Chixiong will be brought back."
Hearing Li Chang'an's words, Huaiqing immediately felt reassured. "So you've already sent people to Yunzhou. But won't it be too late? Even if they get to Yunzhou, they might not be able to find Zhou Chixiong quickly."
"If Number Two can help, things will go much more smoothly."