Chapter 477: The Eccentricity Under Dan Liang Royal City (37)

Chapter 477: Defiance Beneath Dan Liang's Royal City (37)

Uncle Yun relayed that early this morning, someone from the palace arrived. The Cloud Queen, delighted to learn of the Elder Prince's arrival, wished to leave the palace to pay respects to her father. Upon hearing this, the Elder Prince, unwilling to let his daughter endure the hardships of travel, decided to enter the palace early instead.

Having not seen each other for many years, father and daughter surely had much to discuss. The Elder Prince instructed that the princess need not stand on ceremony on his account—she was free to act as she pleased. As for Su family’s fifth child, he had already dispatched people to search as quickly as possible. She should cease her covert searches to avoid any additional danger, lest he fail the late General Su’s spirit.

Uncle Yun was merely relaying the message. Since Vice Minister Pei carried no weight with Su Rao, allowing him to deliver the message alone might have resulted in her ignoring it. Moreover, as an official of Dan Liang, Pei Liang was unfit to deliver such a message. Thus, the old Cloud King left Uncle Yun behind.

After conveying the Elder Prince's intentions, Uncle Yun cupped his hands and took his leave. From start to finish, he never once glanced at Han Mochen, who stood beside Su Rao.

Once Uncle Yun departed, Pei Liang also turned to leave.

This time, Pei Liang did not utter a single additional word.

This prompted Su Rao to shoot Pei Liang another look.

A moment later, she turned her gaze back to Uncle Yun.

One was the host's representative, the other the guest's steward—both interacted with impeccable courtesy and propriety. At a glance, there was no trace of covert ties.

Yet, recalling Yun Ji's words upon their return yesterday, Su Rao's eyes lingered on Pei Liang's retreating figure.

The absence of visible connections did not necessarily mean none existed.

Since Yun Ji had spoken of it, there must be some hidden agenda.

But what exactly was this agenda?

Who did Vice Minister Pei truly serve?

What if he’d been planted by the old Cloud King...

As this thought surfaced once more in her mind, Su Rao turned to look at Yun Ji beside her. Was he thinking the same thing?

When had he first noticed? Or was it Rong Xiao who knew—had Rong Xiao been aware all along, holding all the answers in his heart?

Though she did not voice her thoughts, Yun Ji understood her silent inquiry. Behind the silver-black mask, his phoenix eyes followed Pei Liang's departing figure, his gaze unreadable.

"Rao Rao, let me sort it out first before I tell you. Right now, I only grasp half of it—there's still too much uncertainty. Speaking now would only stir up needless anxiety."

During the day, they did not see the Elder Prince. By evening, he still had not returned.

When the old Cloud King finally came back, the hour was late, and it was too late to disturb him.

The next morning, yet another Dan Liang noble came calling at the Host and Guest Department, seeking an audience with the Elder Prince.

Even as the Ministry of Justice and the Capital Prefecture Office within Dan Liang's royal capital labored nonstop—ransacking the inner city in just a day and night—countless suspects were hastily jailed by the Ministry.

On the second day, they began a thorough sweep of the outer city.

Thus, the entire Dan Liang royal capital seemed to seethe like a stormy sea. Though the people were rattled by the street massacre, they came forward in droves to aid the Ministry of Justice, determined to reclaim their city’s peace.

Yet none of this upheaval affected the Host and Guest Department or the noble families of Dan Liang—especially the remaining loyalists under the Dan Liang royal family's faction, who arrived at the department as though coordinated.

Even among the other great families of Dan Liang, aside from a few stodgy traditionalists, the rest came out of courtesy. Those who could not attend due to pressing matters still sent servants with gifts, ensuring no one could accuse their households of impropriety over such trivialities.

In a single day, the Host and Guest Department became a hive of activity.

This bustling scene of guests continued until the third night, when the three-day deadline given by the Emperor of Dan Liang to the Minister of Justice and Minister Xun of the Capital Prefecture Office had expired. Only then did Old King Yun seem to find a moment of leisure.

Night fell once more, the starry sky still scattered brilliantly above.

The moonlit nights of Dan Liang always appeared exceptionally dazzling, especially after storms, even more enchanting.

Though not a full moon, its radiance was no less diminished.

The bright moon hung high, stars and moonlight blending together—another splendid, shimmering night.

After three days, Old King Yun, finally finding a brief respite at this moment, sent Uncle Yun to invite Su Rao to his residence for a conversation.

Only Su Rao was invited to meet him, with not a single mention of Yun Ji.

Since Yun Ji was neither mentioned nor seen by Old King Yun, Su Rao went alone.

The first words spoken by Old King Yun in this discussion were about the chaos of the street assassins, which the Emperor of Dan Liang had ordered the Minister of Justice and Minister Xun to jointly investigate.

By the time the evening glow faded today, the truth had been uncovered.

"The unrest was caused by remnants of the former dynasty."

In the main hall of Old King Yun’s residence, the palace lanterns cast a soft, warm glow. Across from Su Rao, Old King Yun, equally composed and at ease, declared this finding—that the remnants of the former dynasty had orchestrated the assassination attempt on Princess Ronghua of Yun Lang, aiming to drive a wedge between Yun Lang and Dan Liang.

At these words, Su Rao’s almond-shaped eyes darkened, a faint crimson tinge creeping into her eyelids, darkening the scar on her forehead. A hint of frost flickered at the corners of her lips in an instant.

"Elder Yun, let’s speak plainly. You know who I am—how could there be such a 'truth' that remnants of the former dynasty would attempt to assassinate me? I suppose Dan Liang must have proffered you some evidence."

She emphasized the words "truth" and "evidence."

Though Dan Liang had presented this "truth," Su Rao could not understand why Old King Yun would say such things to her—a princess of the former dynasty—claiming that the assassins who tried to kill her were remnants of her own fallen dynasty.

Old King Yun knew her true identity, yet spoke to her this way. Was he testing whether she had truly let go of her hatred? Or did he suspect that she herself was behind the incident? But without evidence, how could he believe it so easily?

Her thoughts raced without pause.

Just as this crossed her mind, Old King Yun placed something before her.

Since the truth had been established, there must indeed be evidence.

After three days of pursuit, the Minister of Justice and Minister Xun of the Capital Prefecture Office had captured many of the assassins.

Moreover, several members of the Xiao family, arrested earlier, identified these captured assassins as frequent visitors to their household, holding frequent secret meetings with their family head in the study.

After three days of investigation and interrogation, it was further revealed that over the years, isolated uprisings had occurred in other prefectures of Dan Liang, unsettling the local populace. These incidents were traced back to the once-prominent but now vanished martial arts assassin organization—Carefree Tower.

Among the captured assassins, tokens used by Carefree Tower to accept missions were found in their hideouts. More damningly, artifacts from the former dynasty were discovered in these locations.

From this, two inferences emerged:

Either Carefree Tower had originally been a covert operation established by Emperor Xuan Ye of the Qin dynasty within various vassal states, disappearing after the Qin’s collapse—explaining why such a renowned organization would vanish without a trace.

Or, the remnants of the former dynasty had exploited the name of Carefree Tower, which had faded due to some martial arts conflict.

During the Qin dynasty, Emperor Xuan Ye was tyrannical and extravagant, constructing extravagant towers for his favored consorts. The three great vassal states rose up righteously to purge the court. After the Qin’s fall, some fugitive loyalists, unwilling to accept defeat, bided their time for a decade before unleashing chaos.

Regardless of the inference, one undeniable truth remained: Carefree Tower was undeniably linked to the remnants of the former dynasty, and their connection was undoubtedly deep.

The exposed Xiao family of Dan Liang was a sleeper cell planted by Carefree Tower within the Dan Liang capital.

Years ago, the Xiao family had conspired with a prince of Dan Liang in a secret plot. Now it became clear—their collaboration was likely aimed at helping the remnants of the former dynasty seize control of Dan Liang, using it as a foothold for restoration.

Among the current Three Kingdoms, Zhu Xian remained militarily formidable, with the valiant Prince Yi at its helm—making schemes against it no simple matter.

Yun Lang, strong in both scholarship and arms and protected by the renowned Prince Yun Ji, was equally impregnable.

Only Dan Liang, a scholarly kingdom, proved the most vulnerable among the Three Kingdoms—requiring little military force to destabilize.