Chapter 593 - 335: Liu Wu Is Light...

BANG!

A deafening crash echoed from the Qingjing Residence.

Instantly, the entire courtyard fell dead silent.

Even the chilly, late-autumn rain seemed to lose its momentum, falling soundlessly into the yard.

Chen Yi held his Oil Paper Umbrella and headed toward the Jiaxing Garden. His expression remained calm and indifferent, as if he hadn’t heard the commotion at all.

He remained unfazed even as two lines of glowing golden text drifted across his vision.

[Witnessed Shu State’s Duke Dingyuan, Xiao Yuan, kill Governor Liu Hong with a Punch. Reward: "Essentials of Qi Min", Opportunity +42.]

[Evaluation: Person arrived, sound heard, scene unseen...]

Chen Yi glanced at the text. Instead of worry, a smile crept onto his face.

"Well played, Liu Hong," Chen Yi murmured softly. "Even in death, you managed to force the Xiao Family into a dilemma. You certainly had some brains. Now Elder Master Xiao... and Madam, are probably going to have a massive headache."

Outside the main hall of the Qingjing Residence, Feng Erbao stood wearing a round-collared scarlet silk robe. A solitary crane was embroidered on his chest, and a gold-inlaid Jade Belt encircled his waist. In his hand, he held a Duster pointing directly into the hall.

Beside him stood Xiao Jinghong, dressed in her usual casual attire—a long green robe tightly secured by a waistband. Her customary Long Sword, Qing Feng, hung by her side.

Although her eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, she maintained a relatively calm expression as she took in the bloody scene inside the hall.

The surrounding imperial envoys, eunuchs, and Forbidden Palace Guards from the Imperial City all shared Feng Erbao’s reaction—a chaotic mix of sheer shock and panic.

Inside the main hall.

The furious glare had yet to fade from Elder Master Xiao’s face after he had shattered Liu Hong’s head with a single Punch. He took a few heavy breaths before managing to regain some composure.

Once settled, he swung his arm and tossed Liu Hong’s lifeless body out the door. The corpse rolled to a halt right at Feng Erbao’s feet.

Feng Erbao glanced at the murderous Elder Master Xiao, then down at Liu Hong’s corpse. His face turned livid as he slowly retracted his Duster, resting it against the crook of his arm.

"Marquis Xiao, Liu Hong was explicitly requested by the Holy Emperor to be escorted back to the Capital Prefecture. Acting so recklessly truly puts me in a difficult position," Feng Erbao said.

Elder Master Xiao turned around and shot him a sideways glance. Pulling a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the foul blood from his hands, he declared sternly, "Liu Hong colluded with the enemy and betrayed his country without a shred of remorse. He deserved this death. However, for the sake of our many years protecting Shu State together, I went out of my way to send him off. It spared him a fate worse than death."

Feng Erbao’s lips trembled as he processed the words, visibly enraged.

"Marquis Xiao, I will report exactly what transpired today to the Holy Emperor. You had best watch your step!"

With that, Feng Erbao cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Jinghong, let out a cold snort, and flicked his sleeves before turning on his heel and storming out of the Qingjing Residence.

The remaining eunuchs scrambled forward to hoist Liu Hong’s corpse and hurried after him. Someone even carefully bypassed Elder Master Xiao to scrape some flesh and blood off the blood-splattered wall inside the hall to take with them.

In a matter of moments, only four people were left in the Qingjing Residence: Elder Master Xiao, Xiao Shen, Xiao Jinghong, and the still-stunned Li Huai’gu.

Outside, a large crowd from the Xiao Family had rushed over, but they were all held back by the Armored Guards.

A brief moment of silence fell over the room.

Li Huai’gu finally snapped out of his daze. With a conflicted expression, he bowed respectfully to Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong one by one.

"Marquis, General, I will take my leave now."

As he stepped toward the door, he met Xiao Jinghong’s gaze and hesitated for a second before adding, "If necessary, I can step forward to testify to the Marquis’s claims."

Xiao Jinghong gave a slight nod and waved Lu Guan over, gesturing for him to escort Li Huai’gu out. She then stepped into the hall. Her eyes swept across the crimson mess before landing on Xiao Shen.

"Third Grandfather, I must trouble you to placate the people waiting outside."

Clutching his chest, Xiao Shen looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but held his tongue. Instead, he pointed at Elder Master Xiao behind her and quickly exited the Qingjing Residence.

Although he was the Chief Steward of the Xiao Family’s third branch, the true authority within the Marquis’s Mansion lay solely with Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong. There were certain matters and conversations he was better off not knowing or hearing.

It did not take long for the commotion outside the Qingjing Residence to quiet down as well.

Only then did Xiao Jinghong step forward to help her grandfather to a seat. She then sat in the chair beside him, her back as straight as Liu Hong’s had once been, and looked at him.

"Grandfather, you killed Liu Hong, and I killed Zhu Hao. Both of the guilty ministers the Holy Emperor demanded have died by our hands. I fear complications will soon arise," she said.

She didn’t bother asking Elder Master Xiao for his reasons. In truth, the moment Xiao Jinghong stood outside and heard Liu Hong confess that he was the one who leaked the information about Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing being in the Barbarian Race territories, murderous intent had surged within her own heart.

She had never expected that Liu Hong’s collusion with the Barbarian Race and the Poshisu Country had begun during the great war five years ago. He was the very culprit who had caused her parents to die in battle.

Even if Elder Master Xiao hadn’t killed him, Xiao Jinghong would have found an opportunity to do it herself.

But Liu Hong was already dead. No matter how much Xiao Jinghong wanted to grind his bones to dust, the chance was gone.

Elder Master Xiao leaned back in his chair, his face entirely void of emotion. "If complications arise... then let them."

He was fully aware of the precarious position his actions had placed the Xiao Family in. But he had his reasons—reasons that made killing Liu Hong an absolute necessity.

Causing the deaths of the Xiao Family’s Fengchun and Fu Wanqing was only part of it. Liu Hong’s attempt to reveal that Fu Wanqing was still alive and trapped among the Barbarian Race was the main factor that solidified Elder Master Xiao’s resolve.

If Xiao Jinghong found out her mother was still alive in this world, the consequences would be tens, if not hundreds, of times worse than their current predicament.

Elder Master Xiao stared at the tiny specks of crimson still clinging to his hands. After a moment of thought, he asked in a deep voice, "How many days until the Wu Mountain Mutual Market is completed?"

Xiao Jinghong paused slightly before replying calmly, "Ten days at the shortest, half a month at the longest. It will definitely be finished by then."

"Good," he said. "You no longer need to go to the Mutual Market. I will have the Third Master take men to keep an eye on things there. Shortly after this, you will head straight out to inspect the Three Towns."

Xiao Jinghong was not an indecisive person. She gave a firm nod in agreement.

"The new Minister of War is about to inspect the Border Towns across the realm. It is the perfect time for me to head to the Iron Wall, Profound Armor, and Cang Lang Three Towns."