Chapter 1473: Calculating separately

She paused: "Even if the investigating officials suspect you, that suspicion stops at suspicion; they can't produce a single piece of evidence, so they can't do anything to you." "Then will my transfer order to the northern border be affected?"

"It will take some effort, and it might even be delayed. That group of ministers led by Bai Tan will definitely take the opportunity to make trouble!" Qingyang gave him a reassurance. "But with me here, you will be able to go in the end."

Chongwu let out a breath and bowed to her: "Thank you, Palace Master! It is my incompetence that has caused you so much trouble."

He was full of gratitude, knowing that since Qingyang said so, she had ten percent certainty; otherwise, his transfer north would be truly remote.

Qingyang then added: "Back to the case. No evidence means it doesn't hold up; some people are more suspicious than you, such as Qu Ruhai, the Left Clan Chief of Luodian; besides, you have the duty of stabilizing the northern border, so if the Sovereign wants to suppress the Luodian people, he must let you go on your way quickly."

"Yes." Chongwu felt much more settled in his heart.

"You need to tell me more details." Qingyang asked him, "The time of your departure, the route back to the Yao State, who else would know?"

If someone calculated that Chongwu would stay in Zhuo'an overnight, the framing plan could be implemented.

"This has to be reported to the Wang Ting, so relevant officials would know." Chongwu thought for a moment. "Then there's my father, two uncles in the clan, and my two deputy generals. However, I spent some time preparing the tribute, perhaps someone with a heart could infer it."

"Was your trip to Zhuo'an a spur-of-the-moment decision?"

"No." Chongwu gave a bitter smile. "I anticipated that Mangzhou would be crowded, so Zhuo'an was on the route I reported to the Wang Ting."

"Tell me about your experience that night, the more detailed the better."

Chongwu recounted it, and even the conversation he had with He Lingchuan, Fan Shuang, and others at the banquet was as complete as possible.

Qingyang listened particularly carefully.

"According to the statements of Fan Shuang and Zhao Song, they drank for another half an hour after you went out to catch the thieves, and then went back to their rooms to rest. It wasn't dark yet at that time."

Chongwu asked: "Does the Palace Master suspect He Xiao?"

"The real perpetrator specifically lured you to the deserted village to catch small thieves, indicating that the trap was aimed at you; you mobilized over a hundred people to catch a mere few, but never caught a glimpse of them, indicating that their cultivation levels are quite good." Qingyang pointed out. "So, anyone who knew you would appear at the Zhuo'an inn that night, and who has a certain strength themselves or their subordinates, is a suspect."

Chongwu thought for a moment: "In that case, He Xiao's subordinates are all elites. According to his own account, they are brave tribesmen from the Ya State who defected to Yangshan."

"You also said earlier that Fan Shuang made a drunken scene in the middle of the night and was stopped by He Xiao's subordinates, but He Xiao himself never came out." Qingyang supported her chin with her hand. Did He Xiao use a cicada shedding its skin? Perhaps because of the past in Lingxu, she cared a bit about this person.

Chongwu didn't know how to answer.

He certainly had no intention of exonerating He Xiao, but there were many nobles who drank and slept early that night in Zhuo'an during the heavy rain. Qingyang suspecting He Xiao based on this point alone was really a bit weak.

"Then there are two questions next." Qingyang continued. "Does He Xiao have the ability to kill Xue Zongwu, and what means did he use to go to Mangzhou."

Chongwu said in a low voice: "Palace Master, the one who killed General Xue was the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds. Do you think He Xiao could be the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds?"

Qingyang fell into deep thought.

Is this possible? Is He Xiao's cultivation above Xue Zongwu's? To defeat Xue Zongwu, who possessed Yuan power, it wasn't enough to be just a little stronger. Let alone the Yao State, looking at the entire Shanjin Plain, Qingyang could only think of a few names.

Does that kid He Xiao qualify for this list? And He Xiao doesn't have General Chongwu's divine steed, at least not on the surface. How did he manage to travel hundreds of miles at night and return, and calmly kill Xue Zongwu and Qi Yunsheng in the middle?

Judging from common sense, it's unlikely. Unless he has the ability to escape a thousand miles underground.

Thinking of this, Qingyang suddenly felt a move in her heart: "You said it rained heavily that night?"

"Yes." Chongwu added. "It rains a lot in the Yao State in this season, and it rained almost the whole way back to the Yao State."

Qingyang didn't speak, as if lost in thought.

"Palace Master?"

Chongwu's voice brought her back to reality. Qingyang pressed her temples, secretly thinking her thoughts were a bit outrageous.

Forget it, let's deduce it step by step.

Could the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds have anything to do with immortals or the Lingshan?

Lingshan also has many secret treasures, and traveling a hundred miles at night is nothing.

Assuming it was done by Lingshan, He Xiao's suspicion cannot be completely ruled out; he started his career behind the Mu State and has some connection with the Mu State's State Preceptor.

But relying on this point alone to speculate is too ethereal.

He Xiao's background is really complicated.

Qingyang stood up: "I'll go back first. Remember what I said."

General Chongwu saluted: "I will follow the Palace Master's teachings!"

Qingyang put on her veil hat and left from the back door of General Chongwu's mansion.

She hadn't walked a few steps when He Yang emerged from the shadows and followed behind her.

"The Chibao auction has ended, and the first villa of Youhu Villa submitted by He Xiao was sold for thirty-eight thousand taels. It was bought by Zhang Miao of the Qing Prince's Mansion."

Qingyang's footsteps paused slightly: "The Qing Prince's Mansion?"

Thirty-eight thousand to buy a house in the suburbs of the lake; this price is obviously on the high side. Youhu Villa is clearly to be built for officials and nobles; why is the Qing Prince's Mansion, as a member of the royal family, joining in the fun? Could it be...

Qingyang rubbed her temples; this Yao King is really capable of making trouble! "Palace Master?" He Yang was still waiting for her instructions.

"No need to care." Qingyang was very magnanimous, then walked forward again. "The Yao King is unhappy and wants to get back at me. Let him be for now."

The Yao King had suffered consecutive losses at her hands and must have accumulated a belly full of resentment, thinking of making her uncomfortable.

She had taken all the benefits, so why should she bother with him? Knowing when to advance and retreat is the way of attack and defense. Having stood in Lingxu City for over a hundred years without falling, she naturally knew the principle of not forcing people too hard and not doing things too absolutely.

As long as the Yao King doesn't cause substantial damage, she will be a bit magnanimous.

"He Xiao's Youhu Villa hasn't finished the approval process, right?"

"Can't be approved. The Department of General Affairs and the Office of Works can always find reasons to choke him." He Yang followed closely. "Next, he should be preparing to purchase building materials, so I also found people to pass the word; I'm afraid it won't be easy for him to get suitable materials."

To complete the task assigned by Qingyang, he always made two-handed preparations.

"Oh?" Qingyang glanced at him sideways. "In such a large Tianshui City, he can't find a building material supplier?"

"The official residences and villas he wants to build are for dignitaries to live in, so they will inevitably use a large amount of blue square stone." The Palace Master had been in the Yao State for less than a year, so how could she pay attention to building houses? So He Yang explained, "Tianshui City is particular about building materials; gold-plated stone is for the temple and royal family, blue square stone is for official residences, and ordinary wealthy merchants cannot use it at will, otherwise they will be convicted and imprisoned."

"So the total amount of gold-plated stone and blue square stone is very limited, and the sales channels have always been controlled by a few large stone material merchants." As long as he knew this, He Yang had his own way.

Qingyang's eyes showed a smile: "Well done."

He Yang was not only loyal to her, but could also draw inferences, and his ability to handle affairs was very reliable; it was not in vain that she had always kept him by her side.

At the time of the third watch, You Mansion.

You Rongzhi went out of the city on official business during the day and had just returned home.

He had just changed his clothes and washed his face when his long-term attendant hurried to report: "Master, Master, the Chibao auction has ended!"

You Rongzhi had been keeping the Chibao auction in mind, but he had official business today and had no time to observe the scene, so he could only send people to watch.

"How was it?"

"The lakeside villas of Youhu Villa are very popular, the auction competition was fierce, and Qu Ruhai, the Left Clan Chief of Luodian, even intervened halfway, but in the end, it fell to the Qing Prince's Mansion."

This result was far beyond You Rongzhi's expectations: "What, the Qing Prince's Mansion bought it? What price?"

He expected that the price of Youhu Villa would not be low, but he didn't expect the royal family to take action.

"Thirty-eight thousand taels."

You Rongzhi's gaze condensed; so expensive? What is the Qing Prince's Mansion doing buying Youhu Villa, is their money burning?

No, no, they got some news, right?

"Also, the little one also heard one thing: the Yuwen family and the Gu family both booked a villa from that Island Master He who is in charge of the Youhu development, uh, both of them. They booked it on the spot!"

"These two families followed suit?" You Rongzhi muttered to himself. "What's the logic?"

The Yuwen family and the Gu family were both official merchants, with an exceptionally keen sense of smell. Besides, both families had young ones who were close to He Xiao, making it easiest to get first-hand news.

They are optimistic about Youhu Villa?

Don't talk nonsense; no matter how good the planning blueprint is, there isn't even a tile to be seen now; what prospects can be talked about? Hmm? Planning?

Youhu Villa is built on the south bank, looking across the water at the small abode where the Qingyang Supervisor lives.

Could it be...? You Rongzhi shivered and suddenly slapped the table: "Wonderful!"

He rarely lost his composure like this, and the attendant was startled: "Master?"

You Rongzhi steadied himself, stood up and said: "Light the lamp, go find the Madam."

The financial power in the mansion was in the hands of the Madam. He couldn't come up with so much money in a hurry and had to seek help from the mistress who managed the house.

The Madam had already fallen asleep and was woken up by him, yawning as she said: "How much do you need?"

"Advance fifty thousand taels."

The Madam was startled, thinking she was asleep and hadn't heard clearly: "How much?!"

"Fifty thousand." You Rongzhi coughed lightly. "Not necessarily enough."

"Fifty thousand taels to buy a villa in the suburbs?" The Madam looked at him with suspicion. "You aren't taking this money to do something else?"

"How could that be?" What else could cost fifty thousand taels? What on earth was his Madam thinking all day? "The Qing Prince's Mansion just bought the first set at the auction, thirty-eight thousand!"

"The Qing Prince's Mansion is wealthy, how can we compare... then you want fifty thousand taels?"

"Thirty-eight thousand just sounds expensive; I estimate it won't be just this price later." You Rongzhi said tightly. "The Qing Prince's Mansion has set a good example. If we buy now, it will be pure profit later."

"Why?" The Madam was a bit surprised. "What exactly is the mystery?"

"Lean over." You Rongzhi whispered a few words to her. ===== CHAPTER 1474 =====