Chapter 590

First Volume, Chapter 590: Linked Traps

If justice is administered fairly, there is nothing to say—but I fear someone will take advantage to strike back and retaliate.

"Zhao Langzhong is carrying out orders; I naturally will not interfere excessively."

"But if anyone thinks the Xie Family's Duke title has been stripped and can now freely oppress and humiliate them, I advise you to abandon that idea entirely."

"As long as I, Qin Feng, still draw breath, I will not allow anyone to harm the Xie Family!"

"If you don't believe me, go ahead and try."

The scene fell silent; no one dared challenge Qin Feng.

Seeing the fear in their eyes, Qin Feng was finally satisfied, stepped to the door, and tapped twice lightly.

Seeing no movement inside, Qin Feng hesitated repeatedly, then sighed deeply, deciding to let the Xie father and daughter calm down.

He instructed Zhao Langzhong to wait here until Xie Bi himself opened the door, then enter to seize the family's assets.

Do not force entry, and do not destroy any belongings within.

Qin Feng gazed deeply at the Xie Family's gate, then turned and left.

At that moment, a swift horse galloped past Qin Feng, racing toward the City Gate.

From the messenger's attire, he was clearly a royal courier, specially assigned to deliver Imperial Edicts to subordinates.

After pondering, Qin Feng realized that aside from the Crown Prince struggle, no other major event had occurred recently.

Thus, he guessed the Imperial Edict issued now was almost certainly summoning Li Xiaolan to the palace.

Ning Hu, worried Qin Feng might make a mistake alone, hurried over and just happened to see the courier.

"Brother Qin, this courier is surely here to summon Third Miss back to Jingdu—what should we do next?"

Qin Feng, hands behind his back, gazed toward the City Gate and let out a bitter laugh.

"What else can we do? Third Sister's entry into the palace is already settled."

"For now, we can only take one step at a time."

Almost as soon as Qin Feng returned to the Qin Residence, Qin Xiaofu, who had been watching the Xie Family, rushed back.

As soon as he entered, he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Master, something's happened at the Xie Residence!"

"While Zhao Langzhong was seizing assets, they found a secret letter—the contents reveal that Master Xie conspired with Bei Di's Chen Si."

"The plan was for Master Xie to act as an inside agent during the State Peace Talks, helping Chen Si secure advantages."

"Master Xie has already been taken to Dali Temple."

Hearing this, Qin Feng said nothing, walked silently, and sat down in DaTang.

Seeing Qin Feng's calmness, Ning Hu couldn't help shouting: "Brother Qin, why aren't you reacting at all!"

"While there's still time, hurry and take men to rescue the Duke!"

Qin Feng remained silent, sitting on the chair, staring blankly outside.

In truth, his mind was racing.

This matter, without thinking, was clearly Li Qian's frame-up.

Qin Feng's army's Brocade Uniform Guards had already been watching Bei Di closely—if Xie Bi had secretly colluded with Chen Si, the Brocade Uniform Guards would have detected it immediately.

Moreover, even if others colluded with Bei Di, it might be plausible.

Xie Bi? Impossible.

Perhaps…

The Liang Emperor also wished for the Qin and Xie families to dissolve their marriage alliance, hence his eagerness to depose Xie Bi.

Then imprisoning Xie Bi followed naturally.

Now, not only Li Qian, but even the Liang Emperor hopes Qin Feng will rush to Dali Temple to rescue him.

At that moment, when this enormous crime is pinned on him, even if the Liang Emperor doesn't act against Qin Feng now, after the State Peace Talks end, he can immediately dig up this old account and settle the score with Qin Feng outright.

But if Qin Feng does nothing, Xie Bi will surely face utter ruin.

Clearly, both paths before Qin Feng are blocked—whether he advances or retreats, he will suffer massive losses.

Soon, Qin Feng made his decision, looked up at Ning Hu.

"Ning Hu, take men quickly to the Xie Residence and bring Xie Yun'er here!"

"From last night's Birthday Banquet hosted by Li Qian to now Xie Bi's downfall, all are linked traps set by Li Qian and Lin Taibao."

"For now, we must control Yun'er—she must not do anything foolish."

Seeing Qin Feng had sorted out the situation, Ning Hu breathed a silent sigh of relief, asked no further questions, and immediately led men to find Xie Yun'er.

Qin Feng sat in DaTang, waiting quietly.

Time passed, and before he knew it, a full Envoy had elapsed.

Seeing that Ning Hu still had not returned, Qin Feng was about to send Qin Xiaofu to search again when the gate was smashed open—Ning Hu burst in, panting.

"Brother Qin, Third Miss is missing! I searched all of Jingdu with my men—no trace of her!"

"And…"

"On my way back, I met the Minister of Court of Imperial Sacrifices, who privately told me the Dali Temple is processing Master Xie's case at an astonishing speed."

"It seems the charge of treason and collusion has already been confirmed."

Hearing these successive disasters, Qin Feng's face twitched, his eyes narrowing.

Dali Temple trials require a long, meticulous process—normally, cases take months to years to conclude.

From Xie Bi's arrest to the confirmation of guilt, less than half a day has passed.

Even for urgent cases, this is impossibly fast.

This isn't a trial—it's simply a fabricated charge slapped onto Xie Bi.

Qin Feng felt that, if he wasn't mistaken, the punishment against Xie Bi would be announced soon.

Almost as soon as Qin Feng thought this, his father Qin Tianhu rushed back and headed straight for the DaTang.

Seeing Qin Tianhu's grim expression, Qin Feng's heart sank, silently cursing bad luck.

Qin Tianhu strode to the table, furious beyond words, and swept the tea set off with one swipe.

The Teapot and Tea Cup shattered into pieces, the clatter echoing continuously.

"Unthinkable!"

Qin Tianhu rarely lost his temper like this; now his tiger-like eyes bulged wide, his breathing ragged and frantic.

His booming voice made Qin Feng's eardrums ache.

"Xie Bi is a noble Duke of Ning—yet in barely half a day, they've thrown him into the Si Kou Lao!"

"If the law cannot be upheld, how can we command respect?"

"The chaos in the court today is truly heart-wrenching."

"Li Qian and the likes of Lin Taibao, in their scramble for the Crown Prince position, for their own selfish gains, have turned the court into a cesspool."

"Their harm is even worse than that of the Northern Di!"

Si Kou Lao…

Qin Feng closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Li Qian and his ilk had reached near madness—they'd sentenced the Duke of Ning to death in barely half a day.

For the entire Shedynasty, this would be an indelible stain.

The Liang Emperor, who had reigned with wisdom his whole life, would lose his final reputation because he allowed Li Qian to act so recklessly!

Qin Tianhu slammed his palm on the table, fixed his gaze on Qin Feng, and growled: "Feng'er, you must find a way to save the Duke of Ning!"

"Even if our marriage alliance with the Xie Family is broken, Xie Bi will always be your closest kin."

These words needed no reminder from Qin Tianhu.

Qin Feng rose and made a gesture of invitation, signaling Qin Tianhu to calm down and sit first.

"Father, Li Qian and his kind have already made their preparations—going to the Dali Temple now would only backfire."

"Even if the Xie Family has already solidified the charge of treason, the Duke of Ning won't be in immediate danger of death."

"The urgent task now is to find Yun'er—before that girl does something foolish…"