Chapter 417: This Subordinate Has a Keen Nose, I Caught the Scent

"Wu Xiaoshuai, your father is Wu Yanjun, a langzhong in the Ministry of Revenue. He's a Fifth-Rank official, right?"

Yang Ling looked at Wu Xiaoshuai:

"What's strange is that none of you are exactly sons of high-ranking officials. Your elders are only Fifth-Rank, just one rank above me.

So how is it that you can mix with Zhao Yingying, the daughter of Prince Pinglan?"

This question left Han Dongdong and Wu Xiaoshuai momentarily stunned.

Then Wu Xiaoshuai forced himself to stay calm and sneered:

"We all studied at the Star Observation Academy as children. We've been good friends since then!"

"Oh, so it's an alumni connection. That kind of bond is actually quite resilient, as long as both sides still have value to each other."

Yang Ling nodded thoughtfully, opening Wu Xiaoshuai's Status Panel and scanning it up and down.

His data showed no issues.

Then, he tossed an Insight Technique at Wu Xiaoshuai.

[Wu Xiaoshuai, ten days ago purchased a batch of explosives from the Immortal God Sect, hidden in his father Wu Yanjun's study]

"This kid bought explosives from the Immortal God Sect. What is he planning to do with them?"

"There are still Immortal God Sect believers in the Capital who can sell explosives?"

"If this person isn't Luo Kai, then he (or she) must hold a very high position within the Immortal God Sect."

Just then, Zhao Yingying's faint, furious cursing drifted in from outside.

Han Dongdong looked at Yang Ling with a grave expression:

"Chief Constable Yang, you've vented your anger. You've saved face and gained standing. You should let us go and stop stirring up trouble."

Wu Xiaoshuai quickly added: "That's right, release us now! Throwing dirt on us won't do you any good!"

Li Huaiyi looked like he wanted to say something, then kept shooting meaningful glances at Lu Qian.

Lu Qian pretended not to see. Why would he jump into this mess and invite trouble upon himself?

"What do you mean, 'stop stirring up trouble'? You're the ones causing a commotion, and now you're warning me?"

Yang Ling frowned: "Is there no law left? Do you have any respect for the laws of Zhao State?"

Han Dongdong took a deep breath, feeling utterly helpless.

If he'd known today would turn out like this, if he'd known Yang Ling would be this shameless...

He never would have come!

Wu Xiaoshuai's expression shifted unpredictably, then he suddenly said:

"Princess Zhao came to the Capital to participate in the Sixth-Rank Top Hundred Battle. Accompanying her on this trip is Nanny Wang, who raised the princess since she was little. She's a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster!"

"So what if she's a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster? Would a Fourth-Rank Grandmaster dare to barge into the Ironclad Department?"

Yang Ling sneered: "Our Department Head is a Third-Rank Grandmaster Supreme. Why don't you have this Nanny Wang come and try it?"

At that moment, Zheng Chunhong knocked on the door and said:

"Chief, Director Ji is here. He's waiting for you at the entrance."

Yang Ling immediately left the interrogation room.

Lu Qian quickly followed.

Seeing this, Li Huaiyi had no choice but to stay and keep watch.

Wu Xiaoshuai couldn't help but laugh:

"Everyone, no need to worry. Director Ji Kongliu of the First Division, Public Security Department is a reasonable man. My father said that in the future, he'll at least become the Director of the Third Division in the Ironclad Department."

"With him stepping in, Yang Ling is definitely going to get chewed out, and we'll be able to leave safely."

Han Dongdong and the others also breathed sighs of relief and couldn't help whispering among themselves, their words dripping with dissatisfaction toward Yang Ling.

They didn't even bother to lower their voices around Li Huaiyi, clearly looking down on a mere Seventh-Rank Ironclad agent.

Outside, Yang Ling saw Ji Kongliu standing with his hands behind his back, flanked by two Sixth-Rank Chief Constables. He immediately quickened his pace and approached:

"Director Ji."

Ji Kongliu's expression was somewhat stern:

"I heard from my subordinates that you arrested Zhao Yingying?"

Yang Ling nodded: "I arrested her."

A strange look crossed Ji Kongliu's face:

"Do you know who she is?"

"I do."

Yang Ling nodded again.

A flash of anger appeared in Ji Kongliu's eyes, though his tone remained restrained:

"Since you know who she is, why did you still arrest her?"

"Because she attacked and tried to kill me in the middle of the street."

Yang Ling said gravely: "I am a Sixth-Rank Ironclad agent. Her actions have already violated the laws of Zhao State. I have to arrest her and interrogate her.

We need to find out whether this was the Rong tribe's doing, or Prince Pinglan's."

Chief Constable Wei and the other officer suddenly felt a wave of overwhelming regret. Why had they come here?

What was so entertaining about this spectacle?

If they'd known better, they should have taken their men out on patrol just now.

Even if they'd run out of the city to fight some mountain bandits, or clear out some mystical beasts lurking in the hills, it would have been better than staying here and listening to this kind of treasonous talk!

Ji Kongliu said to the two men: "Did you hear what Chief Constable Yang just said?"

"Reporting to Director Ji, we heard nothing."

The two cupped their fists and bowed.

Ji Kongliu nodded with satisfaction, then scolded Yang Ling:

"Don't say things like that from now on. If this blows up, even the Department Head might not be able to protect you."

"I figure their people are already on the way. Rather than waiting for them to come to the Ironclad Department and demand their release, we might as well let them go directly. At least we can save some face."

"Now, immediately, right this second, release them!"

Just then, several Ironclad agents hurried over, looking nervous:

"Director Ji, something's wrong! A large group of people just showed up at the Ironclad Department gate. They're all officials. They're demanding we hand over their sons and nephews, and demanding the release of Princess Pinglan!"

"They came in full force, and the brothers at the Bandit Apprehension Division couldn't hold them back. They've already barged in..."

"How could you not hold them back? Is the Bandit Apprehension Division just dead weight?"

Ji Kongliu blurted out instinctively.

One Ironclad agent quietly reported: "The one leading them is the Grand Princess."

Ji Kongliu gasped sharply, his face turning green.

Chief Constable Wei and the other Sixth-Rank officer stared in shock, their hands trembling uncontrollably.

Lu Qian was terrified out of his wits, his lips quivering!

Yang Ling asked curiously: "Who is the Grand Princess?"

"His Majesty's own sister!"

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Ji Kongliu gritted his teeth.

Yang Ling: "Is it too late for me to release them now?"

Ji Kongliu let out a bitter laugh: "Even if you release them now, she might not leave. You know the saying, 'It's easy to invite a god, but hard to send one off'?"

Yang Ling thought for a moment, then said seriously:

"Director Ji, I've discovered something. This time, Princess Zhao might have been led astray by treacherous people, which is why she acted so crazily.

This subordinate has noticed some clues and found a thread to pull.

Among the childhood friends who came with Princess Zhao, one of them has connections to the Immortal God Sect."

Chief Constable Wei and the others stopped trembling immediately, staring at Yang Ling in slight bewilderment before inhaling sharply inwardly.

Was this man planning to dump a big load of filth on the other side at a moment like this, just to weasel his way out?

Could that even work?

Ji Kongliu's expression shifted. He pulled Yang Ling aside, and the two exchanged a few quiet words.

"You're sure?"

"This subordinate has a keen nose. I caught the scent."

Ji Kongliu's expression gradually softened.

"Good. Since you're so confident, then this matter hasn't blown out of proportion after all."

"I'll go interrogate that kid first. As for you..."

"I'll hold things off for you. You only have a quarter of an hour."

With that, Ji Kongliu strode toward the entrance.

Chief Constable Wei and the other officer looked at each other, hardly daring to believe it.

Their Director actually believed what this Yang Ling said?