Chapter 1550: Assassin
Editor: Henyee Translations
Coincidentally, Qiao Xuan had incurred the wrath of the Deputy Prefect’s wife earlier in the day. However, as night fell, a shocking incident unfolded at the courier station, and the discovery of bloodstains led straight to his residence. It seemed like an open-and-shut case.
Regardless of his protestations, denial proved futile.
“Lord Qin, I have grounds to suspect you’re buying time for the assassin!” accused Sun Bai.
“You!”
The magistrate, relishing the Deputy Prefect’s disfort, seized the opportunity, stating, “Brother Qin, let them conduct the search. How else will you explain this to Lord Shao? If they find nothing, it will vindicate you.”
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Shao Yunduan’s injury, attributed to the assassination attempt, implicated the Deputy Prefect. Refusing the search would not appease Shao Yunduan, and further consequences loomed, including potential loss of his official position as Deputy Prefect.
Faced with this realization, the Deputy Prefect became increasingly flustered. Struggling to maintain posure, he gritted his teeth, “Fine, you may search. But if you find nothing, be prepared to answer to me!”
Sun Bai sneered, “Agreed!”
“You’ve said it!”
“Bah!”
Madam Qin, in a panic, interjected, “Old Master, we can’t allow this. Why should we submit to a search? This is clearly—”
“Shut up!”
While usually domineering, even the prefectural magistrate’s wife failed to garner Madam Qin’s respect. Fearful of her Old Master’s wrath, she refrained from further objections, though simmering with internal anger.
Why did it feel as though another slap to the face had been delivered?
It had been challenging for her to intrude into someone else’s residence for a glimpse, yet they invaded her home immediately upon arrival, even contemplating a search. The humiliation was unbearable.
Her resolve now was to bide her time. When they inevitably failed to locate her, forgiveness would be out of the question. She entertained the audacious idea of pelling Lord Shao and Madam Shao to kneel and kowtow to her…
However, Sun Bai and the others dismissed her with incredulity. Even the magistrate showed no concern for the Crown Prince’s trusted aide.
The Deputy Prefect couple never anticipated that, within a storeroom crammed with assorted items, a masked assailant in black would indeed leap out from a corner, engaging in a fierce altercation with Sun Bai and his rades.
The guards shouted and encircled the intruder, blocking any potential escape routes.
Dumbfounded, the Deputy Prefect staggered and fell. “What’s happening?”
His wife, equally flustered, gawked at the unfolding chaos. “This… this is impossible! It can’t be! This person has no connection to us! He’s merely hiding here out of panic. Yes, that must be it…”
The Deputy Prefect’s hands trembled. Initially inclined to agree with his wife, a sudden realization struck him, widening his eyes in terror. His heart pounded, and he dared not utter a word.
A thought flashed: Was this orchestrated by the fourth prince? The task assigned by His Highness was so simple that even he and his wife couldn’t acplish it. The capital’s trusted aides dispatched by the Crown Prince might be dissatisfied. Could they have orchestrated this without informing him?
The world seemed to spin, and he nearly fainted from fright.
Observing the fiercely battling assassin, the Deputy Prefect wished for escape or death, where there’d be no evidence even in demise. At least then, he could deny any involvement.
Though outnumbered, the lone assassin held his own against Sun Bai and the others, leaving them momentarily powerless.
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