CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 140: ENTRUST

Unnoticed, the sky started to brighten, the first rays of sunlight streaming through the window into the second hall of the Zhenzhou Government Office.

Li You stood up and extinguished the lamp before him.

It’s almost time.

He stood up and instructed the government officials, "Open the doors!"

The doors of the second hall were pushed open, and Li You stepped into the courtyard.

Cai Rong sat in a chair with his eyes closed, contemplating how to extricate himself from this situation. He had connections with Xiao Xingzong, but treason was too heavy a word. Hadn’t he guarded the North well? What was the talk of treason? As for exchanging benefits and earning some silver coin, it was merely for future plans.

The entire North was in his hand. He would naturally guard it carefully for the court. If Xiao Xingzong could still work for him then, it would be best. If not, he would personally remove Xiao Xingzong.

Cai Rong found nothing wrong with this. He had witnessed firsthand how the Emperor established the dynasty and ascended the throne; such means hardly counted for much.

His demands weren’t high, just a title of Non-royal Prince.

While Cai Rong was pondering, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Uncle."

Cai Rong abruptly opened his eyes and turned to look outside the door, seeing Qin Maoxing standing there, with several Deputy Generals, Generals, and people dressed as merchants tied behind him.

Cai Rong’s eye twitched; those were the henchmen he used to connect with Xiao Xingzong. The unease in his heart finally exploded; Li You had indeed left him here for a reason, seizing his camp while he was away in Cangzhou.

Cai Rong asked, "What is the meaning of this?"

Qin Maoxing looked extremely disheveled. He stepped forward and said, "Cheng Yanzhao brought official documents to Cangzhou to arrest people."

"Military Governor, we are innocent!"

"Military Governor..."

Cai Rong’s blood rushed to his head, and he quickly walked towards the courtyard. Just as he stepped out of the second hall, Li You’s personal guards had already come forward and took the offenders away.

Li You turned to Cai Rong, saying, "Among the merchants introduced to the Song Family by Lin Xu, there are spies of the Liao people. It seems there are also people in Commander Cai’s army who have private connections with the Liao. I am somewhat confused; is it possible that not only Song Min is involved in betraying Song Xian?"

With only myself, it might be difficult to clear up this case. I have already sent someone to the Capital City to report to the Emperor and will bring the offenders to the Capital. At that time, officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice will clear up the case."

Li You paused for a moment in his speech, "Does Commander Cai also wish to accompany us?"

Cai Rong felt a pounding sensation in his forehead, as if several giant rocks were being thrown at him simultaneously. Not to mention swallowing the counties captured by the Song Family, he might have to use his past military achievements just to keep his position as Military Governor.

Hopefully, the Emperor will remember old times...

Cai Rong gritted his teeth and said, "Since this involves me, naturally, I will travel with Mr. Li."

Li You nodded, "To ensure the offenders’ safe arrival in the Capital, I will mobilize troops to travel together. Commander Cai should only bring two confidants to serve by his side."

Cai Rong’s eyes were bloodshot, intensely staring at Li You.

Li You’s expression remained unchanged.

During the conversation, Song Qizheng, who had been waiting outside, was also invited into the second hall.

Song Qizheng had already learned of Cai Rong’s matter yesterday and waited outside the government office all night. He carefully sorted out the recent events in his mind, gradually realizing that it was Cai Rong causing trouble behind the scenes, first using Song Min to eliminate Song Xian, and then pinning a treasonous label on the Song Family.

The Song Family’s internal strife benefited Cai Rong. The northern counties would fall into Cai Rong’s hands.

Realizing these things filled Song Qizheng with shame and regret.

If it weren’t for Song Xian, Cai Rong would have succeeded.

This time, when he travels to the Capital with Li You, he will certainly report everything in front of the Emperor, to see who truly harbors ill intentions between him and Cai Rong.

Song Min deserves death for treason, and Cai Rong won’t escape easily either.

Li You said, "National Guardian General, please prepare. We will set off early tomorrow morning. The journey won’t be short; everyone must take care."

Song Qizheng glanced at Cai Rong, "Don’t worry, Mr. Li. I will personally escort the unworthy son and all the offenders safely to the Capital, awaiting the Emperor’s verdict."

Li You left first, followed by Cai Rong, exiting the government office.

When Song Xian came out, Song Qizheng called him, "Song Xian."

Song Xian stopped.

Song Qizheng walked up, wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin.

The father and son stood facing each other for a while, seemingly for a long time, though it was only a few breaths. Finally, Song Qizheng reached out and patted Song Xian’s shoulder; an intimate gesture not shared between them for many years.

Song Qizheng said, "I’m going to the Capital with Li You; I’ll leave this place to you. I’ll leave the Commander’s Seal and the military order token behind."

Song Xian responded.

Song Qizheng opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words, eventually turning to walk inside the government office.

Song Xian went all the way to the government office prison, first checking on Xiao Chi’s old injuries, then walking into the cell where the Wang Family Shopkeeper was held.

The shopkeeper had just confessed in the second hall, and now seemed completely drained of energy, lying on the ground like a dead dog. Seeing Song Xian, he hurriedly crawled up, "General Song."

Song Xian asked, "You said Xiao Chi was injured in the South two years ago. Where exactly in the South?"

The shopkeeper replied, "We met him in Jiangning Prefecture; it should be further south than Jiangning Prefecture. What I mentioned earlier was two years ago, but it’s actually not quite two years. We received news to meet him back in November of the 14th year of Yuanping, and sent Xiao Chi back to the new city by March of the 15th year of Yuanping."

Listening to the shopkeeper’s words, Song Xian calculated in his mind that it was currently the 16th year of Yuanping, meaning Xiao Chi returned injured to the Liao Kingdom last year.

Song Xian had just examined Xiao Chi’s old injuries, discovering numerous small scars on his hands and feet. Apart from that, the tendon in Xiao Chi’s right hand had been severed. Without his tendon, he couldn’t exert much strength with his right hand, yet he remained fierce; no wonder he was a trusted aide by Xiao Xingzong’s side.

Song Xian asked, "When you met Xiao Chi, was his tendon already severed?"

The shopkeeper hastily replied, "It was severed; his body was covered in wounds. I believed he was tortured, and at the time Wang Jian said, once they found out who harmed Xiao Chi, they’d kill them all to avenge him."

Song Xian continued to ask, "Did Xiao Chi and Wang Jian say what they were interrogated about?"

The shopkeeper shook his head, "No, such crucial matters, Xiao Chi would never tell Wang Jian. He’d only report to Mr. Xiao... Xiao Xingzong. Those who seized Xiao Chi surely got no answers.

By the way, besides Xiao Chi being captured that time, many spies placed in the South were lost. The master asked to check whether there had been any arrested spies in the South around the 14th year of Yuanping. It’s possible..."

The shopkeeper fell silent, as Song Xian naturally knew these matters without needing his input.

Song Xian walked out of the prison, where Chang An waited outside.

"Sir," Chang An said, "Miss Xie is waiting in the little courtyard."

Song Xian nodded, taking his men back to the little courtyard.

Just as he dismounted in front of the door, Chang Yue approached.

"Sir," Chang Yue bowed his head, "It was due to the inadequacy of the guards under my supervision that Miss Xie almost fell into the hands of the Liao people. Please punish me."

Song Xian immediately frowned, "Is she injured?"