Chapter 88: Trust Those You Employ; Doubt Those You Don

Wang Luo frowned and said, “Lord Wenguan, what do you have to say?”

Lu Fang nodded and said:

“Everyone, please calm down. Listen to me first—could it be possible that the poisoner isn’t Shen Qi or Shen Qi Heng?”

Wang Luo snapped impatiently, “There’s no need to discuss this further. We’ll investigate who poisoned him later. Right now…”

Lu Fang interrupted, “Why the rush, Master Wang? I never said you were the poisoner.”

“What did you say!”

Wang Luo glared fiercely at Lu Fang.

Lu Fang shrugged, utterly unfazed, ignoring Wang Luo entirely as he continued calmly:

“I spoke with Shen Squad Leader earlier. When we considered who else might be the culprit, I thought it could be either Master Wang or Shen Qi Heng—so I’ve sided with Shen Qi Cheng.”

He wasn’t certain who the poisoner was.

But Lu Fang needed to keep both sides’ power balanced—Wang Luo was a Semi-Sage, so his side needed one too.

Right now, it’s far more likely that Master Wang or Shen Qi Heng poisoned him.

If Lu Fang supports Shen Qi Cheng, he not only aids justice, but selfishly, he can use this as leverage to gain Shen Qi Cheng’s backing for the Great Zhou Written Report’s dissemination.

As for whether the hidden Semi-Sage would agree to act, he trusted that anyone not a fool would help him.

After all, His Majesty wanted the Great Zhou Written Report spread widely—this Semi-Sage had no moral or logical reason to stand idle.

“Nonsense! Everything you say is pure speculation. When you want to condemn someone, you’ll always find an excuse. But I warn you—do not interfere in the Shen family’s affairs!”

Wang Luo glared threateningly at Lu Fang.

Lu Fang raised an eyebrow and said:

“I don’t want to interfere either. I stand only with justice. Shen Qi Heng, you claim you act for the Shen family—so I propose we maintain the status quo. You have no reason to refuse.”

“Fine!” To everyone’s shock, Shen Qi Heng immediately agreed—swiftly, unbelievably so.

Seeing all eyes turn to him, Shen Qi Heng shook his head and said:

“My true intention was always to protect the Shen family. If Lord Wenguan steps forward, and with the hidden Semi-Sage watching, the Shen family won’t suffer. Besides, I suspect Master Wang is the poisoner.”

Wang Luo’s face turned livid. Had Shen Qi Heng refused, he could have acted—but he never expected such a move.

Now, by causing this uproar, he was left looking guilty on all sides.

Shen Qi Heng sighed:

“Master Wang, don’t take it personally that I suspect you. It’s just too strange that you came to me last night. As Lord Wenguan just said, if Brother Qi Cheng had conspired with outsiders to poison Father, he’d have left no backup plan.”

“Let you control everything?”

“It makes no sense. If neither you nor my brother did it, then only you, Master Wang, remain as the culprit!”

Shen Qi Cheng realized belatedly: “Qi Heng, if you didn’t poison him, Master Wang—don’t you owe us an explanation?”

Wang Luo sneered, “Preposterous! What do I need to explain? Why would I poison Master Kangbo?”

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.

Indeed—if Wang Luo had done it, why?

It made no sense. As a former household advisor, he already possessed the most precious things the Shen family could offer.

What could he gain by backing Shen Qi Heng?

“Why?” Lu Fang nodded and said:

“I was puzzled too. Master Wang is a Semi-Sage—what could he possibly lack? And with the Shen family’s support, the only thing he might want is something even the Shen family cannot provide.”

“Don’t think it impossible. Though the Shen family is wealthy and powerful, their roots are still shallow. Some things exist only among true aristocratic clans.”

“I wondered—if someone from a great clan had made a deal with Master Wang, what would they want?”

“That’s interesting. Perhaps they want to carve up the Shen family’s wealth in the chaos, or control it another way—many motives exist.”

“But I dismissed all those theories. After reviewing everything, I realized the poisoner doesn’t want Shen Squad Leader to become head of the Shen family—or Shen Qi Cheng.”

“Master Wang approached Shen Qi Heng specifically, offering support—not Shen Qi Cheng—because from him, they can obtain what they desire.”

“After all this, the only thing the poisoner desperately wants is the Shen family’s intelligence network.”

Shen Qi Heng frowned. “Intelligence?”

Shen Qi Cheng nodded rapidly. “Now it all makes sense.”

“Bullshit!” Wang Luo, enraged, shouted, “Lord Wenguan, these are all your wild guesses! Watch your tongue!”

A withered voice rang out:

“No! Not guesses. It’s the truth. Impressive, Lord Wenguan—even trapped here, you used your sharp instincts to uncover the truth.”

Lu Fang turned sharply toward the small bell’s barrier, pupils contracting. There, the skeletal Shen Kangbo’s mouth opened and closed like a talking skull—horrifying.

The crowd’s expressions varied wildly.

“Father!”

“Father, you’re awake!”

“Ancestor, are you well?”

Before everyone’s eyes, a miraculous sight unfolded.

Life energy surged from Shen Kangbo’s skeletal form, swallowing all the black mist. His withered flesh rapidly regenerated, plumping out—within mere seconds, he was restored to his original appearance.

No!

Now, Shen Kangbo looked even more vigorous—his white hair had turned black, making him appear years younger.

Hum!

Shen Kangbo retracted the small bell, rose slowly, and gazed at Shen Qi Heng, nodding with a smile:

“You didn’t disappoint me. I never misjudged you. In my eyes, you are my own son.”

Shen Qi Heng’s tears spilled over as he cried out, “Father!”

“Mm.” Shen Kangbo nodded warmly. “I pretended to be poisoned, letting things spiral, not to test you. I believe in trusting those I choose—distrusting those I don’t.”

“When I realized I’d been poisoned, my first thought was: what are these people trying to do?”

“If I didn’t understand, I’d feel uneasy. Who can guard against thieves night after night? Now I know—some clans covet the Shen family’s intelligence network.”

Wang Luo’s facial muscles twitched as he forced a smile:

“Kangbo, brilliant move! I suspected something was off—you’re too shrewd to be poisoned so easily. But don’t listen to outsiders—I didn’t poison you.”

Shen Kangbo smiled gently. “Old brother, I don’t know how you poisoned me. But we know each other too well. Do you really need me to produce proof to prove it was you?”