CHAPTER 138: 136. TRAP

Li You looked exhausted, his expression carrying a hint of dejection.

Cai Rong knew it must be because of Song Xian. Li You liked Song Xian very much, and with Song Xian in trouble, Li You also felt disgraced.

Cai Rong pretended not to know anything on the surface, looked around, and his gaze fell on Lin Xu and the others: "What happened here? Should I come back another day?"

In the midst of speaking, Qu Chengmei hurried over, ready to take Lin Xu and the others away.

Seeing this, Lin Xu cried out loudly, "Mr. Li, you must uphold justice for me."

Qu Chengmei approached, trying to restrain Lin Xu, but unexpectedly, despite being a weak scholar, he was no match for Lin Xu, who broke free in an instant.

Qu Chengmei, timid and not daring to step forward again, hesitated slightly, allowing Lin Xu to run to Li You and kneel again.

The whole second hall was once again thrown into chaos.

Cai Rong scolded, "How dare you be disrespectful to Mr. Li."

Saying this, he approached Lin Xu, and upon seeing Lin Xu’s face clearly, Cai Rong exclaimed, "You... are you the new Qi State Magistrate?"

Li You looked at Cai Rong, "Do you know Magistrate Lin?"

Cai Rong nodded, "We’ve met a few times, but we’re not familiar with each other."

Li You looked at Cai Rong, "Then do you know about the affairs of Qi State?"

Cai Rong naturally replied, "I just returned from the Qian Ning Army and haven’t had a chance to visit the government office to read the documents. What happened in Qi State?"

Cai Rong’s calm demeanor gave nothing away.

Li You gestured for Cai Rong to sit: "It’s rare for the Military Governor to visit Zhenzhou and unexpectedly encounter this. I am currently in a fog, unable to discern who is telling the truth or lies."

Cai Rong, with a mind like a fortress, didn’t respond casually but offered Li You some comfort, "Since arriving in the North, Mr. Li has been busy with governmental affairs, and now that stability has been achieved, the people can live peacefully. This is fundamental.

As for minor issues, they can be dealt with later. There’s no need for Mr. Li to worry too much."

Cai Rong’s words effectively credited recent accomplishments in Zhenzhou and elsewhere to Li You, implying that there’s no need for Li You to concern himself over having recommended Song Xian to the court. Even if Song Xian made mistakes, the court wouldn’t blame Li You.

Li You was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering over Cai Rong’s words, and the frown on his face suddenly relaxed, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

Cai Rong met Li You’s gaze. The situation now was expected, yet that smile seemed somewhat unusual to him.

Li You put away his smile, "There is something I wish to ask the Military Governor Cai."

Cai Rong said, "Mr. Li mustn’t speak like this. If there’s anything I can help with, please just say the word."

Li You slowly asked, "Did you know about Song Min’s case beforehand, Military Governor Cai?"

The room fell silent, with everyone taken aback by Li You suddenly bringing up the matter, even Lin Xu looked up.

Cai Rong’s expression didn’t change, but there was a hint of surprise in his eyes, "Why does Mr. Li ask this? Although Cangzhou is not far from Zhenzhou, I rarely interact with the younger generation of the Song Family, let alone Song Min’s secret dealings with the Liao people..."

Seeing this, Li You spoke again, "Perhaps I phrased it incorrectly. In the case of Song Min framing Song Xian, did you, Military Governor Cai, secretly instruct someone to help?"

This question was even more direct than the last.

Cai Rong suddenly stood up, showing a somewhat hostile expression, "Who told Mr. Li such things?"

Cai Rong was a Military Governor appointed by the court, and in terms of official rank, Li You couldn’t compare, but Li You was a confidant of the Emperor, now holding an imperial decree to inspect the North, giving him authority over everyone.

Cai Rong’s expression, which could frighten half of the North, was met only with Li You’s calm smile.

"I dare not make random speculations," Li You said solemnly, "but with evidence before me, I cannot help but believe it."

Cai Rong’s heart sank. He forced himself to stay calm, avoiding looking at Lin Xu on the ground, but pondered if something had gone wrong.

As he was considering, the sound of steady footsteps came from the courtyard. Cai Rong turned to see Song Xian in official robes.

Song Xian approached slowly, alongside him were some household generals and government officials escorting several individuals.

At the forefront was the military leader who had delivered Lin Xu’s message to him, and behind him was Cai Rong’s household general, the one who went to deliver a message to Zhenzhou and Qi State County Magistrate to rescue Lin Xu.

Lin Xu, kneeling on the ground, suddenly felt a chill, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. Though he hadn’t fully grasped the situation before him, he vaguely guessed most of it: he might have walked into a trap, and Song Xian’s real target from the start was not him, but Henghai Jiedu Envoy Cai Rong.

The individuals were brought into the second hall, and Song Xian bowed to Li You, "Several other suspects are being escorted to Zhenzhou."

Li You looked at Cai Rong, "Does Military Governor Cai recognize these two?"

Cai Rong frowned, "One of them is my household general. What mistake did he make, and why is he being arrested?"

Cai Rong’s household general, with his mouth gagged, could only make muffled sounds, while the military leader beside him trembled like a leaf, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying, his eyes on Lin Xu, lips moving silently.

Lin Xu finally understood what the military leader was mouthing: "Not dead."

Not dead? Who is not dead?

A thought exploded in Lin Xu’s mind. He couldn’t and wouldn’t believe it.

No, it couldn’t be so. Lin Xu began to shake his head subconsciously, casting a panicked look outside the second hall where he saw a silhouette.

Lin Xu’s heart seemed to stop beating.

It was Su Lin, his sister.

Su Lin was travel-worn, but upon seeing Lin Xu, she sharply exclaimed, "Lin Xu, you are not human. You even tried to kill your own sister. I was devoted to you, yet you treated me like this. If our parents knew underground, they wouldn’t spare you."

Madam Su’s appearance even caused a change in Cai Rong’s expression; he finally realized where the problem lay.

From the start, they had been wrong, trapped in someone else’s scheme.

Cai Rong gritted his teeth, wishing to draw his sword and strike Lin Xu, who failed to get things done and only made matters worse, making him mistakenly believe he had incriminating evidence against Song Xian.

"Please seek justice for me," Madam Su knelt and pleaded, "Lin Xu deceived me into believing someone wanted to buy Su Family’s medicinal materials. In truth, they used the materials to frame Chen Family Village and General Song. After Song Min was captured, Lin Xu manipulated me into altering the accounts so that no one would trace back to Su Family. I suspected nothing, believing Lin Xu was trying to save me, while he had long planned to implicate me, pinning all the crimes on me.

When I first arrived in the North, Lin Xu told me he had a good relationship with Henghai Jiedu Envoy, who disliked General Song Xian, so I shouldn’t side with General Song Xian... He even introduced me to generals under Henghai Jiedu Envoy, facilitating the Su Family’s trade caravan travels.

I am not pleading my case for myself; I was indeed incited by Lin Xu, but I had no knowledge that those medicinal materials were intended to frame General Song Xian. I ask for your discernment."

Madam Su’s testimony, and the military leader kneeling on the ground, kowtowed to Li You, "Please spare my life, Mr. Li. I followed Magistrate Lin’s orders. He sent me to Cangzhou to report to Henghai Jiedu Envoy."

At that moment, Cai Rong’s expression finally changed.

Li You remained calm and said, "What did Magistrate Lin instruct you to tell Military Governor Cai?"

The military leader trembled out Lin Xu’s original words: "Song Xian couldn’t find evidence of our collusion with Song Min, so he brought silver to my house to frame me for embezzling. Whether the silver is embezzled or not can be found out upon investigation. Let the Military Governor seize this opportunity to act against Song Xian."

Li You’s gaze swept towards Zhenzhou and Qi State County Magistrate, "This is the opportunity Military Governor Cai wants to seize."