Chapter 199

The booklet was densely filled with many names of people and places, plus some strange symbols; he couldn't tell what they were at a glance.

He picked up the seal again and examined it closely; the seal bore a lifelike dragon clutching a pearl in its mouth, its design ancient and mysterious.

"What is this?" Xiong Kuohai asked, leaning in curiously.

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head: "I'm not sure either, but it doesn't look like an ordinary object."

He put the booklet and seal away, deciding to study them more carefully when he returned.

Back in his room, Jiang Xiaomu immediately took out the booklet and studied it carefully by candlelight.

He discovered that those names were of court officials, while those place names were important cities throughout the state of Da Qian.

As for those strange symbols, he guessed they might be a kind of cipher, needing the corresponding codebook to decode.

"Could this... be evidence of Huo Yunsheng colluding with foreign enemies?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart jolted; if true, that would be no small matter.

He continued flipping through the booklet, when suddenly a familiar name caught his eye—Zhao Dezhao.

That was precisely the name of the late Prefect Zhao!

Jiang Xiaomu's heart shuddered; could Prefect Zhao's death be related to Huo Yunsheng?

He kept reading, and saw that next to Zhao Dezhao's name were the two characters "eliminate" written in stark relief.

"Eliminate..." Jiang Xiaomu muttered, a chill surging from his feet to his head.

Could it be... that he was secretly murdered by Huo Yunsheng!

Jiang Xiaomu gripped the booklet tightly, wondering if the true culprit could be revealed so easily.

Just then, a sudden knocking came from outside the door.

"Sir Jiang, the Grand Marshal requests your presence."

Jiang Xiaomu hastily hid the booklet and seal, then rose to open the door.

"I understand, I'll go right away."

Arriving at Huo Yunsheng's study, Jiang Xiaomu found Huo Yunsheng seated at the desk, his face grim, as if troubled by something.

"Grand Marshal, did you summon me?"

Huo Yunsheng lifted his head, his sharp gaze fixed on Jiang Xiaomu:

"Sir Jiang, I ask you: have you recently engaged in any unusual conduct?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart skipped; had Huo Yunsheng already discovered something?

He struggled to stay calm, answering steadily:

"Grand Marshal, why say that? I have always served you wholeheartedly and never acted unusually."

Huo Yunsheng gave a cold laugh:

"Is that so? Then tell me, where did you go this afternoon?"

Jiang Xiaomu's heart lurched; he had gone to the ruined temple outside the city this afternoon to meet Ru Yan—could Huo Yunsheng have had him followed?

"Sir... sir, I've been feeling a bit unwell today, so I went out to clear my mind."

Jiang Xiaomu forced himself to speak.

Huo Yunsheng's eyes blazed like torches, as if trying to see into Jiang Xiaomu's heart:

"Clear your mind? You went to the ruined temple outside the city—whom did you meet?"

Jiang Xiaomu's face instantly changed; he never imagined Huo Yunsheng would know so precisely.

He opened his mouth to explain, but didn't know how to begin.

Huo Yunsheng suddenly rose, walked up to Jiang Xiaomu, looked down on him from above, and said in an icy tone: "Jiang Xiaomu, do you think you can hide what you've done from me?"

Huo Yunsheng pressed closer, his sharp gaze sweeping over Jiang Xiaomu's face like a blade.

"Jiang Xiaomu, stop pretending! Do you think secretly meeting Ru Yan can escape my notice?"

Jiang Xiaomu silently cursed, forced composure, and feigned surprise:

"Grand Marshal, I don't understand what you're saying. Ru Yan? Who's Ru Yan? I merely felt unwell today and went out to clear my mind."

"Clear your mind? You went to the ruined temple?" Huo Yunsheng's tone grew mocking,

"Jiang Xiaomu, do you think I'm a fool? Ru Yan is merely a dancer in my manor; you met her—what was your purpose?"

Jiang Xiaomu's eyes shifted, his thoughts flashing; since he'd been seen through, he decided to play along.

"Grand Marshal, with your discernment, I did indeed meet Ru Yan, but..."

He paused deliberately, watching Huo Yunsheng's reaction; seeing him prick up his ears, he continued,

"It's just that Miss Ru Yan seems to know some clues about the cause of Prefect Zhao's death in Wangjiang Cheng, which is why I took the risk to contact her."

Huo Yunsheng's expression remained unchanged.

"Prefect Zhao may seem a minor official, yet the Empress has repeatedly ordered an investigation into his sudden death; there must be something fishy behind it."

Jiang Xiaomu ventured to say, but Huo Yunsheng merely gave a perfunctory reply,

"Ru Yan?"

Ru Yan. On the surface she is a dancer in the Huo manor, but in fact she is Huo Yunsheng's most capable aide.

Her origins are mysterious; one day she suddenly appeared at the Huo manor gate, claiming her parents were dead, begging Huo Yunsheng to take her in as a servant, just asking for a meal.

Gradually, Huo Yunsheng trained the girl into a formidable martial artist with keen intelligence, a trusted aide; having been by his side since childhood, her loyalty needs no doubt.

"What did she say?" Huo Yunsheng said offhandedly.

Jiang Xiaomu shook his head:

"Grand Marshal, this is of great importance; I dare not speak rashly. Miss Ru Yan said she herself had only heard rumors."

Huo Yunsheng fell into thought; after a moment, he waved his hand:

"I understand; you may leave now."

That night, in a secluded side room, Huo Yunsheng summoned Ru Yan.

"Master of the house."

Ru Yan conducted herself with proper etiquette, shedding the frivolous air she had shown before Jiang Xiaomu.

"Ru Yan, well done."

Huo Yunsheng waved his hand, indicating she should sit:

"Well done, Jiang Xiaomu has already discovered the thing in the study's hidden compartment."

Ru Yan poured a cup of tea and placed it before Huo Yunsheng:

"My lord, is it safe to let Jiang Xiaomu venture this far into the residence?"

Huo Yunsheng took a sip of tea:

"I have served as an official for over ten years, upright in conduct and seated with integrity; what shameful acts could I have committed? Naturally, I have nothing to fear from his probing."

"Jiang Xiaomu, however, is a handy sword we can use."

Huo Yunsheng smiled, confident of victory:

"Ru Yan, it's time to let him find 'that thing'."

"Yes." Ru Yan said respectfully.

These days, Jiang Xiaomu has not been idle.

He used the access token provided by Ru Yan to come and go freely in the Grand Marshal's Residence, searching every corner, yet he never found the 'that thing' Ru Yan had mentioned.

That night, Jiang Xiaomu again sneaked into Huo Yunsheng's study, hoping to find some clues.

He carefully examined the documents on the desk, and suddenly he discovered a map.

The map appeared unremarkable, but Jiang Xiaomu keenly noticed that a certain spot had been marked with special ink.

He brought the map near the candlelight, examined it carefully, and found that the marked spot was a desolate mountain outside the city.

Jiang Xiaomu's heart stirred—could the 'that thing' Ru Yan spoke of be hidden on this desolate mountain?

He put the map away, deciding to go to the desolate mountain at first light the next day to investigate.