Before entering the Prince Mansion, Li Yan saw a servant with an anxious face, shivering while waiting at the gate.
"Young Hero Li, you’re finally back!"
He was already flushed from the cold, but upon seeing Li Yan, his face lit up with joy. He took a few quick steps forward and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Young Hero Li, the Commandery Prince has asked to wait for you here, and upon your return, to go to the front hall first."
"Oh, how long have you been waiting?"
"Since midnight..."
The servant dared not complain but couldn’t help showing a hint of grievance.
Li Yan understood the reason upon hearing this.
The destruction of Xu Mansion had made the Fifth Prince uneasy, especially at such a critical mont, where any variable could be fatal.
The intelligence capability of the Prince Mansion is undeniable. He fought in the city last night and then visited the Chengdu Prefecture Office, they must know sothing.
Sure enough, upon reaching the front hall, the Fifth Prince Xiao Jinghong, Mingshanzi, and Sha Lifei among others ca out to greet him.
"Brother Yan, are you alright?"
Sha Lifei looked worried and said in a deep voice, "After hearing the news last night, we were preparing to go out, but Senior Mingshanzi said the people from the Shu Prince Mansion were still around, and going out would only lead to trouble."
"The senior was right!"
Li Yan nodded seriously and said, "Had you gone out last night, there might have been big trouble indeed."
The Fifth Prince Xiao Jinghong was rather composed, his expression calm as he spoke, "Everyone, let’s discuss this inside."
Inside the hall, everyone took their seats, and the servants served hot tea.
The tea was top-quality Dongding Oolong, but no one had the mood to savor it, all eyes were on Li Yan.
Li Yan did not waste words, omitting the matter of the "Bamboo Forest Six Leisurely," he recounted his experiences at Xu Mansion, the street battle, and the insights from the Prefecture Office.
"That old witch has remarkable ans, experienced, quickly fleeing after my attack, and the actions at the City God Temple were sowhat strange..."
"King Shu has Black Feather Guards as well as many skilled death soldiers..."
In the hall, the golden incense burner released blue smoke.
Li Yan dipped his fingertips in cold tea and drew the route he took last night and the arrangents of the Shu Prince Mansion on the huanghuali desk.
Three incompetent individuals can surpass Zhuge Liang.
Although he personally experienced the battle, being in the mountain may lead others to see more issues.
Indeed, Mingshanzi looked at the map, his expression imdiately beca somber, "The City God Temple... indeed has problems."
As he spoke, he likewise dipped so tea water, made a few points on the table, then connected them, vaguely forming an Eight Trigrams diagram.
"In the days of the Great Xing Dynasty, to resist the corruption of Golden Tent Wolf Country cultivators, our Qingcheng Ei, united with many Magic Veins, jointly set up a Great Array in the city..."
"Though tis have changed, and its initial power is lost, such a significant commotion could not have been missed by the City God Temple."
"There must be soone who tampered with it!"
At this mont, beside him, Du Sect Cao Yuanhuai hesitated for a mont and suddenly spoke, "The Black Feather Guards and those death soldiers have issues, the Shu Prince Mansion is right in the city center, not far away. Yet they arrived late, even slower than the garrison soldiers..."
"Considering the speed of galloping horses, their station is not at the Prince Mansion, should be sowhere outside the city!"
"Brother Cao has good Eye Power!"
Li Yan nodded slightly in praise.
Although he had so friction with the other party, he indeed hadn’t considered this point.
These intelligence details can save lives at critical monts.
Cao Yuanhuai nodded coldly, feeling sowhat secretly pleased in his heart.
And Li Yan, turning his gaze toward Xiao Jinghong, narrowed his eyes slightly, said aningfully, "Prince, what do you think?"
He intentionally revealed these ssages.
By sending Xu Yongqing to the Chengdu Prefecture Office rather than bringing him back here, he was afraid Xiao Jinghong might consider the father-son relationship and hand him over.
Though it’s cruel, there is no choice.
Whether public or private, King Shu must die!
If this Fifth Prince shows any sign of retreat, he will leave imdiately.
In today’s situation, the Shu Prince Mansion may not even be preserved.
Indeed, the Fifth Prince seed to listen carefully, but his eyes were sowhat panicked, and after a mont of silence, he spoke, "Young Hero Li, is it true my father is faking illness and has already beco rejuvenated?"
Li Yan nodded and said, "It should be correct."
"Humph!"
Mingshanzi also saw the Fifth Prince’s hesitation, snorted coldly, "It’s nothing but practicing Evil Skill, who knows how many people he’s hard behind the scenes."
"If he had any affection for you children, would he leave the Princely Heir’s position vacant, causing siblings to harm each other?"
"At this point, it’s no longer just a matter of King Shu alone. If he truly rebels, you would also be implicated."
Xiao Jinghong took a deep breath, recalling sothing, his gaze beca determined, "Father is indeed well, the serious illness is just a guise, what should this little prince do?"
Mingshanzi replied calmly, "King Shu’s rebellion plan must not succeed, when necessary, you may cooperate with the Imperial Censor."
"Moreover, he must die, but not at your hands!"
The Fifth Prince took a deep breath, "Understood."
Then, he turned to Li Yan, "Today is the Stove Sacrifice Day on the twenty-third of the twelfth month, and Prince Mansion traditionally holds the trinity offering ceremony, Sacrificial Altar Army, Fire Torch Exorcism, and Zhong Kui dance."
"I thought it wouldn’t happen this year, but yesterday soone sent word to the mansion inviting all commandery princes and princesses to attend."
"As a poor Taoist, I’ll accompany you."
Mingshanzi spoke seriously, "Going to Shu Prince Mansion certainly can’t be with too many people, if soone openly acts, it would be a complete fallout with my Cheng Family."
Li Yan pondered slightly, then spoke, "I’ll go too."
He’s not idle for nothing, the few yin criminals he’s searching for might be hiding in Shu Prince Mansion, if so, they can be caught all at once.
Many troubles can be resolved simultaneously.
"Very well."
Mingshanzi thought for a mont and nodded in agreent, "Going is fine, but after last night’s commotion, you’ll need to disguise yourself."
Beside him, Cao Yuanhuai hurriedly spoke, "I have a disguise mask, it’s a treasure of the sect, more flawless than the Human Skin Mask."
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