Chapter 531: Initial Arrival of Bai Ziqi

"Cloud envoys serve the Heavenly God and rarely interact with court officials," Fushan Yue said gravely. "The one they see most often is the Emperor!"

"So, they specifically dispatched a neutral envoy?"

"Is Lingxu City's stance truly impartial?"

"In my Beijia Star-Picking Tower, the status of attendants and lamp keepers is already very high, let alone a Cloud Envoy," Fushan Yue said quickly. "This Envoy Bai often travels to various places, acting on the will of the deities. When you meet him later, you must not treat him lightly!"

For these four words to come from the unruly Fushan Yue, He Lingchuan knew the visitor was no ordinary person.

Isn't this a divine official serving the Heavenly God?

Fushan Yue rose and personally went out to greet him.

There were already two people in the inn's main hall, and one of them was, surprisingly, Fan Sheng.

Fushan Yue walked over and immediately smiled, "Envoy Bai, long time no see!" Then he nodded to Fan Sheng, "Commander Fan."

As for the other guest, far from being dignified in appearance, he looked not only ordinary but even somewhat shabby. Standing next to Fan Sheng, he was a world apart.

Yet He Lingchuan dared not underestimate him.

On one hand, the usually arrogant Fushan Yue's attitude had drastically changed when dealing with Bai Ziqi. On the other hand, a Cloud Envoy's primary duty is to serve the Heavenly God, and given Beijia's nationwide reverence for deities, attendants are chosen not just for conventional good looks but at least for a dignified appearance, to show respect for the Heavenly God.

For Bai Ziqi, with such an appearance, to still become a Deputy Cloud Envoy, he must possess extraordinary qualities.

Furthermore, Fan Sheng, the arrogant second-in-command of the Tongxin Guard, was currently standing behind Bai Ziqi.

When Bai Ziqi saw Fushan Yue, he, too, was all smiles: "Your Royal Highness! Haha, the last time we met, you were still the Eldest Young Master. Now you are a Prince; congratulations, congratulations!"

His smile had a strange, infectious quality, making him seem less unlikable.

The two had known each other before; after exchanging a few pleasantries, they invited each other to be seated.

Fan Sheng and He Lingchuan also took their respective seats.

Bai Ziqi didn't waste words on official pleasantries; he went straight to the point: "I was originally in Twilight Plain, but an urgent imperial dispatch, delivered by an eagle, sent me rushing here to handle this matter."

"Twilight Plain?" Fushan Yue paused, surprised. "No wonder you arrived so quickly. I had expected an envoy from the imperial capital to take at least half a month."

Twilight Plain is in southern Chiyan, some distance from here, but still much quicker to reach than traveling from Lingxu City.

"That would certainly be the case normally," Bai Ziqi sighed. "But wasn't I already out in the field? The Emperor probably didn't want to see those old men bickering in front of him, so he just pointed me out from afar, and I rushed here as quickly as I could."

"Was Envoy Bai on official business in Twilight Plain?" Fushan Yue didn't believe he had merely been staying there. Just a few steps north would take him into Chiyan territory; he was ninety percent certain this fellow had already crossed the border!

Why would a senior envoy from Lingxu City stealthily enter Chiyan territory without a word?

"Of course. Do you think I enjoy just wandering around idly?" Bai Ziqi chuckled, then steered the conversation back. "Is the youngest son of the Zhongsun family still missing?"

"The monster that swallowed him hasn't reappeared to this day," Fushan Yue said with a grim expression. "It's not looking good."

He turned and pointed at He Lingchuan: "The Emperor specifically ordered Chiyan to investigate the disappearance of the white-shouldered eagle messenger, and my royal father dared not neglect it. This is the special investigator I personally appointed; he followed the trail all the way from Zhitian Village and, unexpectedly, uncovered this big fish."

The "big fish," of course, referred to Cen Boqing.

He Lingchuan was seated beside him. Bai Ziqi had already observed him several times, and now he let out a long "Oh." "I hear you're from Fu State?"

He Lingchuan met his gaze. "That's right."

"Tell me about this case, from beginning to end. The more detailed, the better."

Although he had read Fushan Yue's submitted case report, its contents were certainly not as detailed as what the investigator himself could provide.

He Lingchuan recounted the entire story, striving for conciseness and accuracy, without adding any embellishments.

Of course, the incident where Mai Xuewen secretly approached them was omitted. After Zhongsun Mou's murder, He Lingchuan and Fushan Yue had coordinated their accounts more than once, deciding to conceal this "minor detail" to prevent any misunderstanding from Lingxu City's special envoy.

He hadn't been working on this case for long, only about a month or so, yet the details were so complex and convoluted that it took him almost half an hour to finish the basic narration.

During this time, the pulp beads, the portraits, Mai Xuewen's coded message, and the *Records of Divine Reverence* used for deciphering were all presented.

Fan Sheng remained silent throughout, not uttering a single word.

Bai Ziqi listened very carefully, occasionally interjecting with questions, and He Lingchuan answered everything he knew without reservation.

He had long decided that when facing the special envoy from Lingxu City, his approach would be "frankness."

By presenting the unvarnished truth of the incident and laying its entire process bare for scrutiny, so meticulously that no one, even with a magnifying glass, could find fault, He Lingchuan believed he would be safe.

After the case narration was complete, Bai Ziqi repeatedly uttered "Good, good, good," and then said, "From what I've heard, the special envoy's handling of the case has been quite proper. This means that the current sticking point is Wu Kai. Is his identification key to Cen Boqing's conviction?"

"Exactly."

"If he doesn't confess, then both he and Cen Boqing remain innocent," Bai Ziqi said, shaking his head. "Isn't that where the case is stuck? Do you have a plan?"

"Wu Kai's subordinate, Yang Song, has already confessed and implicated him," Fushan Yue interjected. "But there's no physical evidence, and Wu Kai is an extremely cautious man. If you have any good strategies, we'd be grateful for your advice, Envoy Bai."

"I've just arrived, so I still need to listen and observe more," Bai Ziqi said humbly. "Also, Your Highness believes Cen Boqing colluded with Zhongsun Mou to provide false testimony for the messenger case, thereby concealing the truth? That's a very serious accusation."

The Zhongsun family, the Cen family, and the Grand Minister of Agriculture—Chiyan had, in one go, angered three powerful noble houses in Lingxu City.

"Fu Songhua, the serious criminal identified as the culprit, and Pang Denian, Wu Kai's subordinate who bribed the jailer and conspired with him in prison, are both in custody and have provided statements."

"And Fu Songhua's statement?"

Fushan Yue had already prepared it and now instructed someone to present it.

Bai Ziqi unfolded it and read it page by page with exceptional care.

He Lingchuan noticed that Bai Ziqi was scrutinizing it almost word by word. Particularly towards the last few pages, he turned them only after a long pause, and his expression grew increasingly solemn.

Why did he spend more time examining the last few pages than all the preceding ones combined?

He Lingchuan's heart stirred, and he recalled something.

Cen Boqing had prepared for a rainy day, having long prepared a false confession. Once the truth came to light, he intended to pin the blame on the fugitive Fu Songhua.

But there was one point Cen Boqing couldn't avoid: he had to clearly explain in the fabricated confession why 'mastermind' Fu Songhua would know the white-shouldered eagle messenger's departure time and route.

Otherwise, how could it be proven that he was a spy?

Therefore, Fu Songhua "must" have had an accomplice within Lingxu City.

Indeed, such a name did appear in the confession.

However, the disappearance of the white-shouldered eagle messenger was an accidental event, one that even Cen Boqing himself could not have foreseen.

If he were to add new content to the already prepared false confession, to disguise an accident as a deliberate act, it would be difficult for him not to betray himself.

Therefore, the name of this "accomplice" was extremely crucial. Only if Lingxu City could find corroborating evidence based on it would they accept this fabricated confession.

After Bai Ziqi finished reading, he pondered for a long time, then said, "The biggest questionable point in this case is Mai Xuewen's actions; they simply don't make sense."

"Oh?" He Lingchuan and Fushan Yue both looked puzzled.

"He doesn't live in Baishaju at all; he hasn't even bought a house here. He comes here at most twice a year, so why are all his expenses for food, clothing, and daily necessities tied to Baishaju? It's as if he's afraid people won't know."

He Lingchuan's expression remained neutral, but a tremor ran through his heart. These clues were buried within the complex case, scattered haphazardly. Fushan Yue's report was merely a simple list, yet Bai Ziqi could discern anomalies within it.

He Lingchuan had found it strange because he had personally handled the case and was present at the scene, making it tangible and discernible to him.

But Bai Ziqi could uncover suspicious points simply by examining cold, concise documents.

He truly lived up to his reputation as the special envoy entrusted with such vital duties by the Demon Emperor.

"Perhaps he just likes that style?" Fushan Yue shrugged. "Just like Chiyan also produces chewing tobacco, but I only prefer the kind from Baoshu State."

"Even if I don't mention it, in the future, the Cen and Zhongsun families will use these questionable points to attack you, Your Highness," Bai Ziqi subtly hinted. Then he added, "By the way, where is the suspect surnamed Wu being held? I'd like to see him."

"He's right here with me," Fushan Yue said, glancing at He Lingchuan. "Previously, Fu Songhua was held in the county jail, but the jailer there was bribed by the Cen residence, so it's no longer safe."

He Lingchuan suddenly stood up and darted out of the main hall. His movements were so swift that he vanished in an instant. Bai Ziqi slightly frowned. "What was that?"

What happened outside?

Fushan Yue, coincidentally, spoke at the same time: "It's evening, Envoy Bai. Why don't you dine with me here? I have some of Baishaju's finest chefs. Baishaju is a place of abundant produce; ingredients from the water and the sky, stewed together, are incredibly flavorful. You won't easily find such fresh and exquisite dishes in Lingxu City."

"Your Highness's generous offer, I appreciate it," Bai Ziqi said, glancing at the sky. "I still need to make a trip to the Cen residence later."

Fushan Yue let out a sound of surprise. "Envoy Bai is still going to the Cen residence?"

"I need to hear both sides," Bai Ziqi said with a faint, enigmatic smile. "This case is difficult, and the Emperor considers it highly important."

He couldn't solely rely on the Prince's account; Cen Boqing's version of events was also one of the key aspects the Emperor had instructed him to investigate.

"If the case were easy to handle, why would it require your esteemed presence, Envoy Bai?" Fushan Yue coughed. "If it's discovered that Cen Boqing is indeed the mastermind, what do you intend to do?"

"Investigate and handle according to the law," Bai Ziqi replied meaningfully. "As I said, the Emperor takes this very seriously."

"What if there's someone else behind Cen Boqing?" This was what the Chiyan monarch and his son cared about most.

Bai Ziqi smiled. "One step at a time, Your Highness. Why the rush?"

Fushan Yue sighed. "Before I came here, my royal father specifically instructed me: this case must be investigated thoroughly until the truth is revealed, and the true mastermind must be apprehended to provide a satisfactory explanation to the victimized demon people of Chiyan!"

In short, the Chiyan monarch's attitude could be summed up in eight characters:

Investigate to the end, never give up.

Fushan Yue was about to speak when Jiaoyu, the fierce tiger, burst in from outside, moving so fast that he left a blur in his wake, and without any preamble:

"The suspect is spitting blood!"