Chapter 534: Each with Their Own Intentions

Chapter 531: Each with Their Own Thoughts

And yet, the murderer was his own son, his only living bloodline. The relationship between that father and son, what a mess! It seemed even more complex and bizarre than the one between him and He Chunhua.

Bai Ziqi also shook his head and sighed, "Who knows? It's truly a tangled mess."

As they spoke, the two approached the Cen family estate. The estate was still surrounded by Commander Lu's men, but officers were escorting people and goods in and out. Unlike the previous siege without attack, this was now a blatant operation, without the slightest reservation.

Among the aristocratic families of Lingxu City residing in Baishaque, few had a higher standing than Cen Boqing. It was now the time of the Cen estate's downfall, and neighbors came out to watch, the streets bustling with people pointing and whispering. It was livelier than the New Year's celebration; all that was missing were some firecrackers.

The moment Bai Ziqi arrived, Commander Lu strode out, reporting, "Sirs, we have secured the Cen estate and are currently searching for Cen Boqing."

He Lingchuan frowned, while Bai Ziqi directly asked, "Searching? Cen Boqing hasn't been caught yet?"

"The Cen estate is vast, but we've almost searched every corner and still haven't found any trace of Cen Boqing."

At that moment, all the servants of the Cen estate, from stable boys to cooks, had been rounded up. Not a single one was missed. Somewhat surprisingly, it was Magistrate Tian who was bustling about, overseeing everything on the scene. Illuminated by the officers' torches, Magistrate Tian stood tall and proud, his commanding voice even having a rhythmic cadence, truly impressive.

Seeing Bai Ziqi and He Lingchuan, he immediately put on a smiling face, saying, "The Crown Prince is in the back garden, sirs…"

Bai Ziqi cut off his pleasantries, asking, "Regarding Cen Boqing's whereabouts, have you questioned the servants?"

"Ah, they are currently being interrogated. Those questioned so far all claim to know nothing."

It was He Lingchuan's first time entering the Cen estate. Its exquisite architecture and landscaping went without saying, but here, lotuses and plums bloomed fragrant, and a natural spring flowed through four gardens, nurturing koi fish up to five feet long, a display of opulence. Surprisingly, there were also jellyfish of various sizes swimming in the spring, the smallest like fists, the largest comparable to pumpkins, emitting red, yellow, blue, and green light when they touched anything, which must have been stunning at night.

He Lingchuan didn't know what species they were, as he had always thought jellyfish only existed in the sea.

It was the height of summer, August, and the weather was sweltering; two steps were enough to break a sweat. However, the sprawling Cen estate consistently maintained a comfortable temperature of twenty-three to twenty-four degrees Celsius, with cool breezes flowing both indoors and out, indicating that the heat-repelling array was functioning perfectly. Such an array consumed a considerable amount of energy; at least the Governor of Xia Province in Yuan Nation couldn't afford to run it. But here, even the furthest outhouse enjoyed its benefits.

Bai Ziqi then asked, "Where is Commander Fan?"

"Commander Fan, carrying his axe, moves like the wind. We're not sure where he is now."

He Lingchuan interjected, "Is Envoy Bai having him apprehend someone?"

Bai Ziqi didn't hide it from him. "Yes, Cheng Yu."

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. The special envoy from Lingxu City had just arrived in Baishaque, so why was he specifically targeting Cheng Yu?

"That spellcaster?" he asked, feigning curiosity, "What's so special about him?"

"His magic is unique. I might need his assistance for my next case."

"Envoy Bai already has his next case lined up? You truly are a busy man."

Bai Ziqi still wore his characteristic mystic's smile. "It's my undeniable duty to share the burdens of the Holy One and the Emperor."

As the three reached the back garden, they heard Fu Shanyue's robust voice: "Break open that rockery! I want to see if there's a secret passage!"

Here, a rockery rose and fell in a chaotic, labyrinthine manner; an ordinary person would get lost inside. Seventeen or eighteen officers wrapped ropes around its highest peak and strained, but it didn't budge. It was no surprise that Fu Shanyue had such a sudden idea, as many mansions had their secret passages built beneath rockeries. The back garden was usually a secluded area, only a wall or two away from the outer street, and the noise from digging a secret passage could be disguised as garden renovations. In such grand estates, gardens were meticulously designed, with renovations typically taking two or three years, sometimes even twelve or thirteen.

Another dozen officers joined in the effort. The rugged rockery, nearly two zhang tall, finally toppled like a collapsing mountain, shattering into eight pieces. The officers, like wolves and tigers, rushed into the ruins, but found no sign of the supposed secret passage entrance.

Bai Ziqi's expression turned serious. "When was the last time the servants in this mansion saw Cen Boqing?"

Commander Lu came over to respond. "A stable boy from the second courtyard said that about an hour ago, Cen Boqing had asked servants to collect various items, like materials for a spell. However, with the estate under siege, he couldn't get quails, so he had to catch two magpies from the rockery as substitutes... That was likely the last time they saw Cen Boqing, because the master then went to find Cheng Yu in the side courtyard, and dismissed all the servants when they spoke."

At that moment, Magistrate Tian strode over, reporting that the Cen estate had been thoroughly searched, but Cen Boqing's whereabouts remained unknown.

Fu Shanyue said with a stern face, "Search again! Search more thoroughly!"

Magistrate Tian could only comply and leave.

"The Cen estate is completely surrounded, with hundreds of eyes watching, not to mention passersby..." Bai Ziqi glanced at Fu Shanyue, leaving unspoken the fact that the Crown Prince himself was also present. "Logically, there's no way Cen Boqing, a living person, could have escaped."

Fan Sheng emerged from somewhere, adding, "And Cheng Yu."

Two living people, just vanished? Fu Shanyue's anger was almost palpable. The duck he had finally gotten his hands on had sprouted wings and flown away? What about the times he had cornered Cen Boqing before? Were they just playing games with him?

"Could it be a Mountain Shifting Array?" Fan Sheng speculated, "That would allow them to teleport out."

Fu Shanyue coldly replied, "We have set up a ban on teleportation spells. A Mountain Shifting Array would not be effective."

He Lingchuan remembered something, and his heart stirred. "Right, the night I pursued Cheng Yu, his aura mysteriously vanished after reaching Fu Songhua's residence, and I couldn't find him no matter how hard I looked."

Fu Shanyue immediately said, "He still has some tricks up his sleeve. There's no point wasting time here. Go ask Wu Kai!"

Wu Kai was Cen Boqing's confidant; he should know best what methods Cen Boqing possessed.

So, Bai Ziqi returned to the inn to interrogate Wu Kai.

Meanwhile, Fu Shanyue called He Lingchuan into the waterside pavilion of the Cen estate garden, dismissed his attendants, and casually cast a sound-proofing barrier. He Lingchuan watched his actions and couldn't help but become serious. "What's so important that you need such caution?"

"Bai Ziqi's arrival is somewhat suspicious. Keep an eye on him for me these next few days."

"Suspicious?" He Lingchuan was slightly surprised. "Wasn't he ordered to investigate the courier case?"

"Bai Ziqi said he came from Twilight Plains. Ha, I don't believe he stopped there."

He Lingchuan asked, "He entered Chiyan?"

"Nine times out of ten," Fu Shanyue replied, "When an envoy from Lingxu City enters a demon nation, they usually notify the local authorities first, so they can be received and assisted with their duties." As officials, shouldn't they adhere to proper coordination?

"But Bai Ziqi was secretive this time. No one knew he had entered Chiyan, nor where his destination was. If Zhongsun Mou hadn't met with an accident and the Emperor hadn't urgently dispatched him, I wouldn't even have known he was here." Fu Shanyue said slowly, "What is he trying to do?"

He Lingchuan responded with two words: "Official business."

"Nonsense, of course it's official business, do you think he wanted to come himself?" Fu Shanyue sneered, "Don't be fooled by his approachable demeanor. These Lingxu City people believe they are born noble, and deep down, they look down on everyone else. Unless it's for recuperation in a scenic place like Baishaque, they wouldn't want to set foot in a vassal demon nation."

He Lingchuan's face expressed "I understand." Isn't it just a chain of contempt? Beijia people looked down on Fu and Yuan Nation people, and Lingxu City people looked down on those from vassal demon nations.

"This Envoy Bai seems quite capable." Bai Ziqi was kind to people, unlike the likes of Cen Boqing and Zhongsun Mou, who enjoyed looking down on others. But He Lingchuan could sense that his amiability was only superficial, merely intended to disarm people. Bai Ziqi had been carefully observing the people and events around him. Every time the man's gaze swept over him, He Lingchuan felt uncomfortable, as if he was prying into his innermost secrets. And He Lingchuan truly was a man with secrets.

"The Grand Envoy's position is extraordinary," Fu Shanyue said, pacing a few steps. "obeying only the commands of the Celestial God and the Emperor, and even capable of disregarding the Grand Preceptor. Is that a position an ordinary person could attain? Bai Ziqi is a low-key individual; most of his assignments are secret, and I haven't heard much about them. But ten years ago, when White Elephant Nation was on the verge of civil strife, the Emperor dispatched Bai Ziqi to mediate, and the two sides eventually shook hands and reconciled. Five years ago, something happened in the imperial capital as well, and it was still Bai Ziqi who resolved it."

"He sounds like someone capable of solving problems. Whether in a nation or an organization, there are always such figures."

"Indeed, he has diverse methods." Fu Shanyue frowned. "But usually, his assignments are related to the Celestial God. Why did he come to Chiyan this time?"

He Lingchuan chuckled, "If he has business in Chiyan, he might end up asking for your help."

His heart also lurched. Bai Ziqi had secretly infiltrated Chiyan; what was he originally ordered to do? If it was related to the Celestial God, this was Beijia Nation, a renowned land of divine reverence. Why would the Celestial God, on his own territory, instruct an envoy to act covertly?

"At least for now, only Envoy Bai has arrived in Baishaque; the Zhongsun family, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, and other factions haven't arrived yet."

Fu Shanyue whispered, "I think the real show is yet to come!"

All the way out of the Cen estate, He Lingchuan carefully reviewed his actions since pursuing the case. It seemed he hadn't revealed any flaws.

"Does the Emperor of Lingxu City truly want an impartial investigation?" the Mirror suddenly asked him. "Isn't that good for you? You're acting in accordance with the Emperor's wishes, so your pressure should be relieved."

"How is that impartial?"

"He directly sent the most uninvolved person," the Soul-Capturing Mirror said. "Otherwise, the Zhongsun family would want to complain, the Grand Minister of Agriculture would want to defend themselves, and perhaps other factions would also try to interfere with the choice of special envoy."

"Impartial, most uninvolved? Do you really think so?" He Lingchuan chuckled. "Do you think that just because you've followed two generals and several powerful figures, you understand human nature and relationships?"