Chapter 221: Matters in Border State (Part 4)

Chapter 221: Matters in Border State (Part 4)

Such a situation had occurred before.

Back then, Su Rao was in a favorable position because the person she faced was Yun Mujing.

But today, she was at a disadvantage, for the person she faced was Xian Yi Chishao, who did not recognize her disguise.

Without any nonsense, Xian Yi Chishao attacked directly, his moves lethal. The person in front of him saw everything and could not be spared.

Feeling the easily detectable murderous intent from Xian Yi Chishao, Su Rao dared not hide anymore, nor did she care about exposing her identity.

In her hand, the folding fan was about to be deployed.

At the critical moment, a smoking pipe was thrown from behind her.

A cloud of smoke suddenly rose.

"Miss, run."

Yi Ying's voice pulled Su Rao, and they darted into a nearby door.

As the smoke cleared, Xian Yi Chishao looked around the empty alleyway with a cold gaze, his eyes filled with icy chill. Seeing no trace of them, he turned and left without hesitation.

In a moment, he was gone.

Su Rao and Yi Ying hid behind a crack in the door.

Watching Xian Yi Chishao leave, Su Rao's brows furrowed deeply.

Her thick brows drew together, almost touching at the peak.

Observing for a long time, seeing no sign of Xian Yi Chishao returning, she knew he had truly left, not setting a trap to lure her out.

Su Rao's furrowed brows tightened even more.

"Miss..."

Yi Ying spoke again.

"Why is Miss here in Border State? If it weren't for me seeing Cui, we wouldn't have arrived in time..."

Su Cui and Su Can stood nearby.

"Yi Ying, we'll discuss my matters later; this place isn't safe to linger."

Who knows if Xian Yi Chishao went to find someone; they couldn't stay here.

Su Rao led the three of them out through the back door of the residential courtyard.

The owner of the house was knocked unconscious and tied up inside.

As they left the alley, Su Rao briefly explained her situation to Yi Ying.

Although Yi Ying came with Su Cui and Su Can, he didn't know about Su Rao's affairs, so he wouldn't question them to avoid exposing her secret.

While speaking, Su Rao casually removed her fake beard and wiped off the rough wrinkles on her face, transforming her appearance instantly.

Letting down her hair, she shed all traces of the rough man. Taking off her outer coarse clothes revealed her own attire underneath.

In less than half a moment, Su Rao was once again herself.

Watching from the side, this was the second time Su Cui and Su Can had seen their Miss change her appearance, truly appreciating the skill of Young Master Xiao.

"Yi Ying, why are you in Border State? Is it related to Xian Yi Chishao?"

Leaving the alley, Yi Ying led Su Rao and the others to his hideout in Border State.

Just as they sat down, Su Rao asked Yi Ying.

Upon hearing this, Yi Ying's expression remained grave as he handed a cup of tea to Su Rao.

He said:

"Miss, I came to Border State indeed because of Prince Yi."

After arriving in Zhu Xian, he secretly investigated and found traces of Cloud Guard several times in the Capital Region of Zhu Xian. He discovered that Yun Shiba had repeatedly infiltrated the Zhu Xian palace and lingered around Prince Yi's residence.

Since Miss had instructed not to have any further dealings with the Crown Prince of Jiyue, he avoided Yun Shiba each time, making no progress with the black-clothed man.

Ten days ago, Prince Yi mysteriously came to Border State, and he followed him here.

Later, he found that Mo Ying often disguised himself to visit Huajian Fang. It seemed he was investigating something, which made Yi Ying suspicious of Huajian Fang. After watching for a few days, he realized that Huajian Fang was not just an ordinary brothel.

On the surface, Huajian Fang in Border State appeared to be a brothel, but in reality, it engaged in assassination and murder, using the brothel as a cover.

Its true organization was Flower Valley, a new assassin group that emerged after Freedom Pavilion disappeared.

He spent a few more days gathering information and learned that initially, Flower Valley consisted of scattered assassins. Later, someone reorganized them, bringing them under proper management.

When he found Flower Valley, it was already engulfed in flames, leaving nothing behind. So he returned to Border State to continue monitoring Huajian Fang.

However, Huajian Fang seemed unaware of Flower Valley's destruction and continued its operations.

Two days ago, Prince Yi visited Huajian Fang again...

After that, Yi Ying recounted how Su Rao was taken away by the hooded man and Xian Yi Chishao's pursuit.

At the time, Yiyin also followed, but Yiyin encountered quicksand halfway and nearly got swallowed by it. Fortunately, someone saved him, though he did not know who it was. When he regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a barren stretch of land, and the sky had already brightened.

There were no traces on the barren land, and Prince Yi was nowhere to be seen, so Yiyin could only return to Border State first.

As long as Huajian Fang remained, he believed that Prince Yi would definitely reappear.

Sure enough, this morning, Prince Yi and Mo Ying appeared in Border State again, and they sent an underling into the madam's bedroom.

Yiyin did not need to say more; Su RAO had already guessed what happened next. The underling sneaked into the madam's room and stole a ledger that might contain the secrets of Huajian Fang.

Furthermore, all the hidden truths of Flower Valley, including the identity of the person who once took control of it.

Who exactly was pursuing Han Mochen, and who intended to move against her Su family—perhaps all these answers were in that ledger.

"Miss, when your subordinate found Flower Valley, it had already turned into raging flames. Your subordinate only saw a retreating figure, which seemed to be Xiao Mubai, but I couldn't be certain if it was him."

Seeing Su RAO pondering over these matters, Yiyin continued:

"The destruction of Flower Valley happened swiftly with no news reaching Border State. Your subordinate suspects that it might have been Prince Yi's doing.

Moreover, there seems to be some covert dealings between Huajian Fang and the Prefect of Border State. Although it is merely financial corruption, your subordinate feels there might be other things that haven't been uncovered yet.

And that Prefect of Border State, based on my recent covert investigations, is not on Prince Yi's side. Despite appearing respectful, he has been evasive and deceptive in his dealings with Prince Yi."

After finishing his words, Yiyin took a sip from a cup to moisten his throat.

He looked at Su RAO, waiting for her instructions.

"Border...State...Prefect..."

Murmuring this, Su RAO stood up.

"Then we should go meet the Prefect of Border State and start with him."

The ledger in Chai Shao's possession, Su RAO knew she could not obtain it easily.

Firstly, after her escape, Chai Shao would guard the ledger tightly.

Secondly, if she attempted to take the ledger rashly, Chai Shao might discover that she was the reckless man.

Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, she could not act hastily against Chai Shao.

"Yiyin, we must hurry. Han Mochen has obstructed me several times, and now he has moved against Huajian Fang. We fear that the Prefect might have fallen into their hands too. Let's go to the Prefect's residence now."

With peach blossoms blooming around, a faint peach hue spread gently.

Su RAO acted quickly, but Chai Shao's actions were even faster.

Before they reached the Prefect's residence, Border State was already in turmoil.