Chapter 165: Doubt

“That day, I left Changchun Street and went to find you at the tea house we agreed upon. I was very careful along the way, and I didn't see anyone suspicious...” Chen Mu recalled the scene of that day in detail.

For a person like him, caution was the top priority; his impressions of the surrounding terrain and the people he encountered were far more vivid than those of an ordinary person.

As his memory deepened, his tone shifted: “However, when I entered the tea house, a young lady followed me in.”

Du Qing’s heart stirred: “A young lady?”

Chen Mu nodded: “Mhm. Actually, there were others who entered at the time. The reason I unconsciously noticed that lady was because—”

He paused for a moment, then said candidly: “She was very beautiful.”

Du Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not misunderstand.

Noticing their surroundings when going out was instinctual for them, and those with exceptional looks or mannerisms were undoubtedly easier to notice.

“That lady was very good-looking, which made me subconsciously feel that she was somewhat out of place with the environment of that tea house. Even more coincidental was that she also went up to the second floor, and the private room she entered was right next to ours...”

Listening to Chen Mu’s words, suspicion grew in Du Qing’s heart like wild grass, growing frantically.

His judgment, of course, was not based solely on intuition like Chen Mu’s.

A young girl—no matter how harmless she appeared—who first had an interaction with the Master, then appeared in the same place as Chen Mu, and then Chen Mu met with trouble shortly after; to believe it was pure coincidence would be too foolish.

“But even with suspicion, trying to find that little girl is no different from looking for a needle in a haystack,” Chen Mu said in a heavy voice.

Although he still remembered the girl's appearance, there were so many people in the capital; where could he look?

“It is indeed not easy to find her,” Du Qing echoed, maintaining a calm expression.

He did not intend to reveal the young lady's identity for the time being.

Chen Mu already suspected the Master; if he also learned that the young lady had dealt with the Master, things would become even more complicated.

He had to investigate first.

Du Qing made a silent decision, his face remaining expressionless: “So, what are your plans?”

Chen Mu had not completely dismissed his suspicion of Du Qing, so he said vaguely: “No plans for now. Prepare a set of clothes for me; I will stay here for a couple of days to avoid the heat, and then I'll leave.”

“Alright.”

At this time, Cheng Maoming, the Commander of the Jinlin Guards, had already received a report from his subordinates.

“It really is gunpowder? Take me to see it!”

Cheng Maoming went to the place where the gunpowder was temporarily stored and saw several wooden barrels. The barrels were tightly bound with hemp rope, and fuses protruded from them.

Seeing him approach, his subordinates hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Move aside.” Cheng Maoming ignored them and walked closer to inspect.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen gunpowder before; leaving it like this wouldn't cause an explosion.

Cheng Maoming touched the wooden barrel, and his expression changed as he looked at the black residue on his fingertips.

It really was gunpowder!

Although he could not estimate the power of this gunpowder, looking at the quantity, once ignited all at once, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Fortunately, the Prince of Jing's Heir had given him a warning!

“How many survivors did we bring back?”

The subordinate looked somewhat nervous: “Only two survivors. Of the other six, four died in combat, and two committed suicide when they saw they couldn't escape.”

Cheng Maoming’s eyes turned cold.

Committing suicide when unable to escape was the way of death soldiers; it was evident that these people had a complicated background.

Perhaps it was truly as the Prince of Jing's Heir warned—their goal was to blow up the Yuliu envoy. In that case, these people were likely from Qi, or remnants of the Pingle Emperor's faction.

Cheng Maoming’s spirits rose.

Whether they were Qi people or remnants of the Pingle Emperor, for him, having prevented this conspiracy would be a great achievement.

The Prince of Jing's Heir had truly given him a grand gift.

Cheng Maoming silently accepted Qi Shuo's kindness and decided to personally interrogate the two survivors.

Regarding this matter, even if it had nothing to do with the Qi people or the Pingle remnants, he would make it so that they were involved.

He was determined to claim this merit.

Early the next morning, Cheng Maoming rushed into the palace to report.

Emperor Taian was greatly enraged upon hearing the news: “They really are his people?”

Cheng Maoming’s expression was solemn: “One of them refused to speak despite all kinds of torture, but fortunately, the other one's mouth was pried open. They are indeed people of the Pingle Emperor. Their plan was to ignite the gunpowder when the Yuliu envoy passed through Jinxiu Street, pushing Yuliu toward the side of Great Qi...”

“Preposterous!” Emperor Taian slammed the table hard, gritting his teeth in hatred.

Cheng Maoming lowered his eyes slightly: “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Do not ruin your health over such petty people.”

Emperor Taian looked at Cheng Maoming with appreciation: “You did well this time. You have worked hard.”

“To share Your Majesty's worries is my greatest honor.”

“I have always trusted your ability,” Emperor Taian praised him before turning back to the matter at hand. “Have the Five Cities Military Command cooperate with the Jinlin Guards. In the coming days, conduct a thorough investigation of unfamiliar faces in the capital. You must drag those people out.”

“This subject obeys your command.”

“Also, strengthen the covert protection of the Yuliu envoy.”

“Yes.”

After leaving the palace, Cheng Maoming immediately sent someone to invite Qi Shuo.

The two met at a wine shop, where Cheng Maoming toasted him warmly: “Thank you for the clues you provided, Heir. You prevented a staggering conspiracy.”

Qi Shuo smiled: “I just stumbled upon it by chance. The one who truly saved the people from disaster was the Grand Commander.”

Even though he knew perfectly well these were polite words, Cheng Maoming still listened with pleasure.

The Prince of Jing's Heir was truly too good at speaking.

“So, have all those people been captured?”

Cheng Maoming showed a hint of regret: “One escaped. After interrogation, it turns out the one who fled was their leader.”

Qi Shuo’s expression became serious: “Then we must find that fish that slipped through the net as soon as possible. The leader must have other connections; they might stir up something else.”

Cheng Maoming deeply agreed.

In the following days, officials conducting inspections could be seen everywhere on the streets. Almost all outsiders were questioned, and some with suspicious words were thrown directly into the great prison.

For a time, petty criminals vanished, and the supply of prison meals surged.

Lin Hao met with Qi Shuo and received the latest news.

“So, the mastermind hasn't been caught yet?” Thinking of Chen Mu, who always had a gloomy face, Lin Hao felt a secret sense of regret.

In her view, there was nothing worth admiring in such people who blindly served their monarch by any means necessary.

“There has been no movement at the abandoned residence these past few days either.” Qi Shuo looked at Lin Hao and offered a guess, “This person should have met the one who followed you. Perhaps it was that person who provided cover, allowing them to evade the Jinlin Guards' search.”

Although Lin Hao did not want to make things difficult for Du Qing, she could not ignore the potential danger Chen Mu might bring: “That is quite possible. Does the Heir know where that person is staying?”

Qi Shuo shook his head: “I haven't managed to find out yet. That person is too cautious.”

The person responsible for watching the abandoned house had attempted to tail Du Qing twice; once they lost him, and once they were nearly discovered, so they didn't dare follow again.

“Now that all the government offices are on guard and this person has gone into hiding, they probably won't plot anything in the short term, right?”

“Probably not, but you should still be careful lately. Don't let the person who followed you see you again.”

Lin Hao nodded: “I know.”

Given Du Qing's sharpness, she indeed could not appear before him too frequently.

Tomorrow, Chef Liu needs to buy groceries and New Year goods to prepare for the New Year's Eve dinner and will be too busy to attend, so he is taking a day off. Love you all, see you on the first day of the New Year!

(End of Chapter)