Upon hearing the word “explanation,” Shen Yue guiltily glanced at her boss.
Would this man actually push her out to take the blame?
As if reading her thoughts, Xiao Yuheng shot her a sidelong glance and said gently:
“Don’t worry, nothing will happen. Return to the Second Division first, and remember, no matter what occurs, do not come out.”
Feeling he still had some conscience, Shen Yue curled the corners of her lips and seized the opportunity to ask: “What about the Shadow Guard Code?”
The man frowned. “Naturally, you don’t need to write it. Hurry back!”
“Got it!”
This was exactly what Shen Yue had been waiting to hear. She darted out of the room in a flash.
“Wangye, Song Minzhi entered the manor with a gloomy expression. I fear he comes with ill intentions,” Changfeng expressed concern.
“No matter.”
Xiao Yuheng extended his long fingers, rolled up the painting on the table, placed it in the drawer, and then slowly rose.
“Let’s go meet this General Song.”
In the main hall, dozens of Black Hawk Army soldiers stood on both sides like iron-cast statues. Clad in heavy armor, stern and solemn, the blades at their waists faintly emitted a cold gleam.
Among them was a man dressed as a general, around thirty years old, with short stubble covering his face. His rugged features were marked by eyes as chillingly fierce as a scorpion’s—this was Song Minzhi, the eldest son of the Marquis of Pingyang.
He remained composed, but the deputy general beside him was somewhat aggressive:
“General, we’ve waited so long, and Prince Cheng still hasn’t appeared. Do you think he’s doing it on purpose?”
“Presumptuous.” Song Minzhi’s gaze remained calm. “On someone else’s turf, speak less and do more.”
Upon hearing this, a flicker of cunning passed through the deputy general’s eyes. “The General’s reprimand is justified.”
Song Minzhi nodded. “Indeed. If today’s investigation proves that my second brother’s death has nothing to do with Cheng Wang Manor, none of you may behave disrespectfully in the slightest. But if they are responsible, I will have his entire household buried with him!”
“General Song is quite imposing, daring to point blades at my Cheng Wang Manor!”
As the words faded, Xiao Yuheng, clad in a black python robe with gold thread dark patterns, strode steadily into the main hall.
His posture was upright, like a towering pine, each step firm and powerful. The very wind seemed to part for him, and even the sharp gazes of the Black Hawk Army were involuntarily drawn to him.
His sword-like eyebrows swept diagonally toward his temples, full of vigor, while his phoenix eyes were as profound as the night sky, seemingly capable of discerning all things in the world and peering into the human heart. Though the corners of his lips were slightly upturned, it was not a gentle smile but an unquestionable authority.
Though he brought only one guard, the aura he exuded was so powerful that those present dared not look directly at him, as if even the air trembled under his pressure.
Song Minzhi had no intention of concealing the purpose of his visit, so he felt no unease about his words being overheard.
Once Xiao Yuheng took his seat in the host’s position, Song Minzhi hastily clasped his fists, ready to get straight to the point.
But Changfeng let out a low shout: “General Song must have been in the military camp for too long—he seems to have forgotten how to salute!”
Song Minzhi clicked his tongue, about to say something, when the deputy general beside him spoke first:
“Our General has been guarding the border since he was seventeen, fighting countless battles against those Xi Liao dogs. His Majesty personally bestowed upon him the title of General Who Pacifies the West. How dare you speak disrespectfully to the General? You’re seeking death!”
Usually, in such situations, both sides’ leaders would at least utter a “presumptuous” to ease the tension, but Song Minzhi clearly had no intention of stopping this.
On the host’s seat, Xiao Yuheng merely averted his gaze, leisurely picked up his tea, and blew on the steam rising from it.
Seeing this, Changfeng spoke with even more confidence:
“What’s so great about a general? Can any general outrank the Prince? Besides, your military camp is located within the boundaries of Sifang City. How many times have you relied on our Prince’s supplies to sustain yourselves? And now you show such disrespect—utterly ungrateful! Those provisions might as well have been fed to dogs!”
“You…” The deputy general’s eyes reddened with rage, but Song Minzhi raised his hand to stop him. “Do not be rude.”
After all, one who accepts favors is in a weak position, and with the truth still unclear, Song Minzhi did not wish to strain relations too much. So he softened his expression and knelt respectfully on the ground, proclaiming loudly: “This humble general, Song Minzhi, pays respects to His Highness Prince Cheng!”
Upon seeing this, the soldiers of the Black Hawk Army uniformly knelt in unison, their voices shaking the heavens:
“We pay respects to His Highness Prince Cheng! May Prince Cheng live a thousand, thousand years!”
After a moment, Xiao Yuheng slowly set his teacup back on the table and adopted a smiling expression.
“General Song, you are too formal. Between you and me, why stand on such ceremony? Please rise quickly! Attendants, prepare a seat for General Song!”
Hearing this, Song Minzhi’s mouth twitched violently. He stood up and said, “Thank you, Your Highness!”
After taking his seat, Baozhu moved to serve tea, but Song Minzhi waved her off.
“Your Highness, I shall not beat around the bush. Several days ago, my younger brother came to Sifang City for travel, but unexpectedly met with misfortune at the Nuanxiang Pavilion. He was always in robust health and free from illness, yet he ended up utterly drained, like a lamp without oil, dying in a foreign land. The Nuanxiang Pavilion is under Your Highness’s jurisdiction. I implore you to give me an explanation!”
Xiao Yuheng took a sip of tea. “General Song, Song Shizi has only recently passed, and you must be grieving deeply. I can sympathize to some extent. However, Song Shizi was by nature a libertine, often indulging in pleasure quarters and unwilling to exercise restraint.”He sighed and continued, “I recall, just a few days ago during a banquet with the heir, I kindly advised him that while worldly pleasures are enjoyable, they should be enjoyed in moderation, lest they harm one’s health.” Regrettably, the heir did not take it to heart. Now, due to excessive indulgence in carnal affairs, he has been utterly depleted, passing away in the prime of his life. I, too, deeply lament this!”
Seeing Xiao Yuheng’s attitude, Song Minzhi grew agitated:
“Excessive indulgence? When he died, he was emaciated, with a deathly pallor, sunken eyes, and extremely pale skin all over. Someone must have poisoned him!”
“Oh?”
Xiao Yuheng feigned surprise. “Such a thing happened? General Song, have you ordered an autopsy or obtained conclusive evidence?”
“Evidence… I indeed lack conclusive proof, but I found this item during a search of the Nuanxiang Pavilion!”
Song Minzhi’s gaze turned sharp as he pulled out a wooden waist token from his robe.
Xiao Yuheng immediately recognized it as a waist token from the Shadow Guard Bureau. His fingers curled slightly within his wide sleeves, but he maintained his composure and ordered, “Changfeng, bring it here.”
The Director of the Shadow Guard Bureau’s waist token was made of black jade, so this token could not belong to Shen Er.
But regardless of whose it was, they had ultimately left a clue for others to find, and Song Minzhi was unlikely to let the matter rest.
Changfeng pressed his lips together, took the waist token, and presented it to Xiao Yuheng, whispering, “Your Highness, it belongs to Bai Yunfei.”
“I see.”
Xiao Yuheng turned the waist token over in his hands a few times, then laughed heartily and tossed it aside.
“It seems the beauties of the Nuanxiang Pavilion are truly stunning, to have even captivated the shadow guards from my own residence.”
“Wangye, what is the meaning of this?” Song Minzhi furrowed his brow, a faint glimmer of murderous intent in his eyes.
“Meaning?”
Xiao Yuheng’s smile vanished. “If General Song harbors doubts about the cause of the young master’s death, you should naturally report it to the authorities, allowing the local magistrate to arrange for an autopsy and investigation. Yet instead of reporting it, you rely solely on a Waist Token to openly and covertly pin the young master’s death on my Cheng Wang Manor. Such false accusations—is this not an extreme act of bullying?”