Chapter 1027: About to Explode

"It's not impossible," Tang Tian'er said, her face clouded with worry. "That person just came to the merchant bank to retrieve something, and immediately afterward, the Prefect was arrested. Could he truly be my bane?"

"I'm worried it will quickly implicate the Zhenyuan Chamber of Commerce," Qian Dong said. He had seen the person retrieving items from the Chamber before, making it hard not to connect the two events.

"Who do you think might be behind this?" Tang Tian'er asked, frowning.

"Could it be the Pegasus Chamber of Commerce?" Qian Dong suggested. "They've always wanted to replace us."

"Even ten Pegasus Chambers of Commerce combined couldn't compare to us. My concern is that they have someone powerful backing them," Tang Tian'er said, standing up and looking out the window. "Have you found anything about Zhang Che, the owner of the Pegasus Chamber?"

Qian Dong and the others shook their heads. "His background is mysterious, and his cultivation is high. We haven't found any concrete evidence, but based on past events, we suspect he might be connected to the Demonic Cult."

"The Demonic Cult?" Tang Tian'er scoffed. "Those people are useless at anything constructive, but they're masters of destruction. Send someone to monitor their branch in Yunzhong Commandery. Report back immediately if there's any unusual activity."

"Yes!" Qian Dong quickly acknowledged the order and left.

Tang Tian'er then assigned tasks to the other managers. Seeing their worried expressions, she couldn't help but reveal her usual sweet smile. "There's no need to worry, everyone. The Zhenyuan Chamber of Commerce has weathered countless storms over hundreds of years. What is this minor issue compared to that?"

The managers also began to smile. "You're right, Young Miss. We're usually the ones causing trouble for others, not the other way around. If this incident doesn't involve us, then so be it. But if they try to frame us, they'll find we're not easily intimidated."

Tang Tian'er smiled and nodded, then waved them back to their respective posts. She then sat alone in the room, lost in thought.

***

Meanwhile, on the other side, Sang Hong brought Zuo Su and the others back to the guesthouse for detention. He then personally interrogated Zuo Su about the smuggling case.

Zuo Su, of course, vehemently denied everything, claiming he had been framed.

As seasoned officials, they naturally knew how to handle such interrogations.

After half a day of questioning, no useful information was obtained.

Sang Hong had no choice but to suspend the interrogation and went outside the cell to consult with Zu An.

"Uncle, do you think he's innocent?" Zu An asked.

Sang Hong's expression was grim as he shook his head.

Zu An was startled. "Did you get a confession?"

"Not exactly," Sang Hong replied. "This fellow is extremely cunning; he didn't reveal a single flaw. Unfortunately, that's precisely his biggest flaw. If he were truly innocent, he would be cooperating with me to investigate the real culprit, instead of deflecting and talking about irrelevant things."

Zu An's respect for him instantly grew. "Uncle, your insight is truly sharp. You saw through him so quickly."

"Stop flattering me. We have a big problem now," Sang Hong said with a bitter smile. "Before, I still held out a glimmer of hope that Zuo Su was framed, which would mean the court still had reliable people here. But now that even he's implicated, it proves the entire officialdom of Yunzhong is rotten to the core."

"We're completely isolated and helpless now."

His pessimism was understandable. They had only brought a few hundred Imperial Forest Guards, which, while a considerable fighting force, would be vulnerable against a real army.

They had originally planned to unite with the Prefectural Administrator's forces to counterbalance the Governor-General's office, but now the Prefectural Administrator's office was also untrustworthy.

"Let's wait until Gao Ying and Pei You bring the others back," Zu An reassured him. "Those people don't have Zuo Su's composure. As soon as someone talks, everything will fall into place."

Zuo Su's status was special, preventing torture, but there were no such restrictions on the others. The Embroidered Uniform Emissaries were adept at making people talk.

Once the evidence was secured, they could legitimately deal with Zuo Su and seize control of the Prefectural Administrator's military authority. Then, no one would be able to object.

"I hope so," Sang Hong said, knowing this was the best outcome. But he soon frowned slightly. "Why aren't they back yet?"

Just then, a commotion erupted outside, and someone soon came to report, "Lord Gao and Lord Pei have returned."

Sang Hong and Zu An rushed outside and were greatly surprised to see the two looking dejected. "Where are they?" Sang Hong asked.

The two had not brought back the suspects as expected. Instead, they were carrying many stretchers, all covered with white cloths. Seeing this, Sang Hong and Zu An's hearts sank.

Gao Ying and Pei You explained with mournful faces, "We went according to the list to find them, but we discovered that those people either received a tip-off and fled, or they committed suicide in their homes. We didn't catch a single living person."

"Silenced!" Zu An and Sang Hong exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

But it made no sense. Their operation had been so swift; how could anyone have been faster than them?

The person hidden behind the scenes was truly too powerful and resourceful.

As the group was reeling from shock, heavy footsteps suddenly echoed from outside.

"What's that sound?"

They all turned around abruptly.

At that moment, a guard rushed in, panting, "Report! County Commandant Dong Jin is leading a large force here!"

"What?!" The group was instantly alarmed.

Sang Hong scoffed coldly. "How dare he!"

With a grim expression, he walked out directly. Gao Ying and Pei You quickly followed, while Zu An waved, instructing the Imperial Forest Guards to prepare themselves.

The group stepped outside and found the entire guesthouse surrounded.

"Dong Jin, how audacious!" Sang Hong stared grimly at the man in the lead. "Are you planning a rebellion?"

Dong Jin was tall and well-built. Everyone had met him before at the welcoming banquet, though his official rank was lower then, and he hadn't been seated at the head table.

"I wouldn't dare!" Dong Jin cupped his hands. "We are merely here to seek an explanation. Lord Zuo has been diligent and dedicated in Yunzhong Commandery for years, constantly working tirelessly for the imperial court. Yet today, you arrested him on a baseless charge and forced a large number of Prefectural Administrator officials to their deaths. Can an imperial envoy act so recklessly?"

Sang Hong said indifferently, "As an imperial envoy, I naturally act on behalf of the heavens and have the authority to deal with local officials. Why should I explain myself to you?

"On the contrary, you are the one who rushed over with troops immediately after I made arrests. How can such a coincidence exist?"

Dong Jin replied, "Yunzhong Commandery is a strategic location, frequently eyed by bandits, so soldiers in the city constantly monitor various movements. Furthermore, Lord Sang's actions created such a stir; it would have been difficult for us not to notice."

"So what is your intention now? Attacking an imperial envoy's guesthouse can be considered an act of rebellion." A murderous glint flashed in Sang Hong's eyes. This situation demanded a swift and decisive suppression, otherwise, others observing might follow suit, creating more trouble.

Unfortunately, the opponent seemed prepared, hiding himself amidst the soldiers. If Sang Hong's strike missed, the situation would become uncontrollable.

"Lord Sang, please don't accuse me falsely. We are only here to seek justice; we would not dare to rebel." Dong Jin's body was tense, his hand tightly gripping his saber hilt.

"What kind of justice do you seek?" Sang Hong asked, his face expressionless.

"Release Lord Zuo." No sooner had Dong Jin spoken than his subordinates echoed the demand in unison, calls to release Lord Zuo rising and falling.

Even Zuo Su, in the dungeon, heard them. He opened his eyes, showing no emotion.

As the soldiers grew more agitated, their shouts escalating and even showing signs of surging forward, the elite Imperial Forest Guards swiftly pointed their spears forward, adopting a defensive stance.

Sensing their movement, the city gate guards also drew their long sabers.

Beads of sweat visibly trickled down Dong Jin's face; clearly, he was very nervous at that moment.

The concept of assaulting an imperial envoy could barely be justified now, but if a full-blown conflict erupted, his actions would be no different from rebellion.

Sang Hong's face was also ashen. He quickly considered directly apprehending Dong Jin, but unfortunately, the latter was very experienced, hiding within the protection of his military formation. No matter how Sang Hong calculated, his chance of success was no more than fifty percent.

The situation was on a knife-edge. Both sides clearly understood that even a small, unexpected spark could send the entire situation spiraling out of control.

Although both sides were deliberately restraining themselves, what if someone tried to muddy the waters and instigate conflict...

Just as they feared, an arrow suddenly shot in from the side, and a Yunzhong Commandery soldier immediately fell to the ground.

At that moment, someone in the formation shouted, "They want to kill us all as traitors! Fight, brothers!"

Everyone's nerves were taut, and with this instigation, they all instinctively followed blindly.

Soon, the Yunzhong Commandery soldiers clashed with the Imperial Forest Guards.

"Damn it!" Dong Jin cursed under his breath. He could clearly see that someone was secretly instigating, but at this point, he was helpless. His men had fallen into a frenzy, and he couldn't stop them.

He could only prioritize rescuing Lord Zuo for now.

Sang Hong was also immensely frustrated. Although he understood that both sides seemed to have been manipulated, this was an overt scheme, and no one could stop it now.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. Since it had come to this, he would execute all these people here to deter any others who might be contemplating similar actions.

With his and Zu An's cultivation, combined with the elite Imperial Forest Guards, they certainly wouldn't lose, but they would undoubtedly suffer significant casualties.

"Ding~"

Just then, the sound of a pipa suddenly rang out from the sky.

Everyone instinctively looked back and saw a figure appear in a window on the guesthouse's upper floor.

The person was clad in gold-embroidered robes and wore a Yaksha mask, exuding an inexplicable sense of oppression.

A Golden Embroidered Uniform Emissary!