Chapter 172: Well-Informed

Upon hearing these words, Hu Rui'an's face showed a look of contemplation, while Lady Murong Xiaoya's eyes flashed with a glimmer of light; clearly, Han Meiyan's words had greatly eased the tension in her heart.

In her view, having someone seek to destroy the Lady Murong family was far better than facing the almost certain death of killing a provincial governor and a host of imperial officials, a situation that would leave them helpless before the Great Li court.

After all, although the Lady Murong family was the number one martial arts family in Sheng Province, compared to a top-tier Jianghu power like Luoshen Peak that could stand against the court, there remained an insurmountable gap.

If the Great Li court determined the Lady Murong family to be the true culprits behind this matter, they would surely be determined to erase the Lady Murong family from the Jianghu, and the Lady Murong family would have absolutely no power to resist.

"Since Young Master Han has this speculation, then who does Young Master Han believe would slaughter over one hundred and seventy people in the Sheng Province yamen, kill an imperial frontier official of the Great Li court, and frame the Lady Murong family for this matter?"

At this moment, Hu Rui'an suddenly looked at Han Meiyan, his gaze fixed on the other as he asked.

Hearing this, Han Meiyan and Hu Rui'an exchanged a glance; after thinking for a moment, he shook his head and said:

"My lord, your question is too direct. This case is of great consequence; I dare not speak recklessly."

As he spoke, his gaze imperceptibly glanced at Li Musheng, then immediately changed the subject, suddenly asking Hu Rui'an:

"I have heard rumors circulating in the provincial city that My Lord Hu and his party killed the son of the head of the Bai Li family and a host of Bai Li family experts on the street yesterday. Is this truly the case?"

Upon hearing these words, a very strange expression flashed across Hu Rui'an's face.

Not only was the son of the Bai Li family head killed; just now, even the head of the Bai Li family himself was killed.

However, since the incident occurred only moments ago, even if the Mei family has considerable influence in the Sheng Province capital, it would be impossible for them to have received news of this by now.

Thinking of this, Hu Rui'an's heart stirred, and a hint of mockery appeared in his gaze as he looked at Han Meiyan.

He did not directly answer the other's question, but instead said with deep meaning:

"Young Master Han is indeed well-informed, but there is no rush; you will soon receive the answer you seek."

Hearing this, Han Meiyan's expression faltered slightly.

However, he seemed to think Hu Rui'an was merely being mysterious, or simply unwilling to reveal this matter to him.

So, he merely narrowed his eyes slightly and did not pursue the matter further.

Of course, in his heart, he already had the answer.

After all, every detail of Li Musheng and Hu Rui'an's movements since entering the provincial city had been placed on his desk this morning.

Next, after the two exchanged views on the current case for a while, the Sheng Province Tianjin Guard personnel proceeded to seal off the yamen grounds.

Although the Sheng Province Tianjin Guard branch was still in a state of panic due to the ghostly disturbances, their basic ability to handle cases was not poor.

Thus, after about half a stick of incense's time, the Six Fan Gate and the Sheng Province garrison arrived in succession, and the relevant personnel surrounded the provincial yamen as tightly as an iron bucket.

For such a major homicide case, the primary task was to prevent the news from leaking, to avoid causing shock and adverse effects throughout Sheng Province.

The Sheng Province garrison arrived with a Vice General leading one hundred armored soldiers, while the Six Fan Gate sent their Gold Badge Chief Constable in person.

After all, since it involved a homicide, the investigation naturally fell to the Six Fan Gate; moreover, a provincial governor had died, so the Six Fan Gate could not be too cautious.

Vice General Zhang Feng and Gold Badge Chief Constable Yao Lingyuan arrived at the yamen and, after paying respects to Hu Rui'an, did not recognize Li Musheng as the eighth Imperial Prince of the Great Li.

Under Hu Rui'an's introduction, the two showed expressions of surprise and immediately hurried to pay their respects.

Although Li Musheng did not hide his identity on this journey, he did not make a grand display of it; the reason Han Meiyan knew his identity was because Hu Rui'an had voluntarily informed him.

However, now that he is staying in the Sheng Province capital, his status as an Imperial Prince will likely not remain hidden for long.

Li Musheng had little interest in Zhang Feng and Yao Lingyuan; after perfunctorily exchanging a few words, he told them to attend to their own duties.

After learning Li Musheng's identity, Vice General Zhang Feng's expression changed strangely; he secretly summoned an armored soldier, gave him an order, and sent him off quickly, evidently to report to that General Han.

Meanwhile, dense ranks of armored soldiers surrounded the Lady Murong Fu as tightly as an iron bucket, leaving no gap.

The heads of the Yuan, Zhu, and Cen families, along with the temporary acting head of the Bai Li family, gathered outside the perimeter of the armor.

The four great martial arts families temporarily only surrounded without attacking, yet the expressions of the four were clearly not good.

The shock of Bai Li Changfeng's death had not yet dissipated for them; after all, someone who could suppress and kill Bai Li Changfeng with a single finger could kill them with a single finger just as easily.

Of course, to stabilize morale, the news of Bai Li Changfeng's death was known only to the high-level members of the four great martial arts families for the time being.

This news had been sealed off immediately and had not leaked to the others of the four great martial arts families.

However, the high-level members of the four great families were now clearly hesitant, unable to make up their minds whether to continue the siege.

After all, the person who suddenly decided to encircle and annihilate the Lady Murong family was Bai Li Changfeng; now that he was dead, everyone had clearly lost their backbone, and the determination they had so laboriously mustered was gradually fading.

Coupled with the intimidation caused by the person who killed Bai Li Changfeng, their hearts were extremely conflicted.

Therefore, in the absence of a decision from the major families, they could only wait for instructions from the General of Sheng Province behind them.

At this time, inside the Lady Murong Fu.

In the family council hall, Lady Murong Hong, the head of the Lady Murong family, sat in the main seat; almost all core members of the Lady Murong family were present.

Except for Lady Murong Hong's eldest son Lady Murong Jin, Lady Murong Xiaoya, and his second younger brother, who were absent.

Lady Murong Hong's other two brothers and the descendants of their branches all participated in this council concerning the family's survival.

"Big Brother, the Bai Li, Yuan, Zhu, and Cen four great families have mobilized almost all their forces, surrounding our Lady Murong family so tightly that not even water can pass through. They are determined to exterminate our entire Lady Murong family; we now have no choice but to fight desperately."

Lady Murong Hong's third younger brother, Lady Murong Qing, spoke in a deep voice, immediately gaining support from some of the younger generation of the family.

The four great families have come to our door; begging for mercy is impossible, and negotiation is likely off the table; it is better to fight our way out, for success or failure depends entirely on the swords in our hands.

However, there were also many in the Lady Murong family who were deeply worried, their faces grim.

The forces the Lady Murong family could currently mobilize were less than half of the four great families; regarding martial arts experts in the family, apart from Lady Murong Hong who could firmly suppress Bai Li Changfeng...

... the others of the last two generations were inferior to the four great families in both quantity and quality; with what could the Lady Murong family fight them?

At this moment, Lady Murong Hong's fourth younger brother, Lady Murong Bei, looked toward the main seat and said:

"Big Brother, we should invite the two Uncles out as soon as possible; perhaps only then can we suppress the four great families."

(End of Chapter)