Chapter 1298: Female Disguise as a Man

Though Xu Yu appeared to be asking Sang Hong, he wasn't genuinely seeking his opinion. Instead, he directly used the opportunity to verify with Zhu Xie Chixin. Sang Hong's heart skipped a beat. When Zu An had suddenly disappeared, he had, in a moment of desperation, used a mission for the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a cover. He figured Xiao Jianren and the others, being close to Zu An, wouldn't expose him. He never expected Xu Yu to directly question Zhu Xie Chixin.

After an initial moment of panic, he quickly composed himself. Zhu Xie Chixin was the Emperor's confidant; he would surely speak up for Zu An. To his surprise, Zhu Xie Chixin exclaimed, "Is that so? I haven't received any intelligence from the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the Yunzhong region. Of course, it's possible the situation was urgent and they haven't had time to report yet."

Sang Hong's eyes widened instantly. He had thought Zhu Xie Chixin would at least remain neutral if he didn't help, never imagining such a reply. As the Grand Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a widely recognized figurehead with strict control over the organization, would anyone believe him saying that subordinates might not have reported it yet? As expected, upon hearing his words, the Prince of Qi's faction erupted in uproar. Officials from various departments grew more agitated, vehemently denouncing Zu An's alleged crimes, while some also impeached Sang Hong. Having been an "isolated minister" for so many years, he had made many enemies. His political adversaries would hardly miss such a prime opportunity.

Bi Linglong looked at the Emperor incredulously. Without the Emperor's implicit instruction, Zhu Xie Chixin wouldn't dare say such a thing, even with ten times his courage. Zu An had rendered great services to the Crown Prince. While others might not know, how could the Emperor be unaware? Now, to cooperate with the Prince of Qi's faction to put Zu An to death – wouldn't that dishearten those loyal to the imperial family in the future?

At this moment, a ringing sound filled Sang Hong's ears. He had a bad premonition when he learned the Emperor had agreed to convene such an interrogation. He never imagined the Emperor and the Prince of Qi would join forces on this matter; it was a situation even gods couldn't salvage.

At this point, Pei Lian, the Imperial Secretary, stepped forward and said, "Fifth brother, as the Lord of Yunzhong City, you are most familiar with what happened there. Why don't you explain the situation?" His "fifth brother" was, of course, Pei Shao. The two brothers were both sons of Pei Zheng, the Duke of Linhai and Imperial Censor. The Linhai Duke branch of the Pei family was widely recognized as a cornerstone of the Prince of Qi's faction.

Pei You, standing nearby, had initially looked hopefully at his grandfather, Pei Ming, the Grand Secretary, expecting him to say a few words in Zu An's defense. After all, their branch was relatively close to the Crown Prince's faction. However, from beginning to end, his grandfather showed no intention of speaking, and based on Pei You's understanding of him, it was clear he intended to stand by and do nothing. Gao Ying also looked hopefully at General Wei Liu Yao, but he knew well that during their trip to Mingyue City, his uncle had lost considerable face because of Zu An and therefore had always disliked him. Although Zu An had saved him in the secret realm, he was, after all, only a nephew living under someone else's roof, and his words would naturally carry little weight. As expected, Liu Yao maintained a detached, spectating demeanor throughout.

Then Pei Shao cleared his throat lightly: "According to what this official knows, when Lord Xu imprisoned Yu Yanluo, the security was airtight, with numerous visible and hidden sentries. Yet, she was rescued. Therefore, we suspect the rescuer must have known these arrangements, indicating they were certainly an insider, and someone in a very high position, otherwise they couldn't have had such clear knowledge." Although he didn't directly answer, his implication was quite clear.

"Precisely," Xu Yu interjected, striking while the iron was hot. "When the demoness Yu Yanluo was first apprehended, Zu An attempted to rescue her, openly defying imperial law to do so. This can be attested to by all officials in Yunzhong Commandery." The surrounding officials promptly echoed his words.

Xu Yu continued, "Furthermore, considering that Zu An disappeared after Yu Yanluo was rescued, and Lord Sang then fabricated various lies to cover for him, I believe all of you distinguished lords have already reached a conclusion as to what truly happened."

Sang Hong retorted angrily, "According to you, am I also Lord Zu's accomplice, colluding with the demon race to betray the nation?"

Xu Yu shook his head. "Not at all. I imagine Lord Sang was simply overly eager to protect talent, which led him to instinctively cover for Zu An, never expecting him to commit such a grave act of deceiving the emperor and defying authority." He knew that while Sang Hong was unpopular in official circles, he was famously upright and fiercely loyal to the Emperor. If he tried to implicate Sang Hong on this front, no one would believe him. Sang Hong's expression flickered between dark and light. He knew in his heart that this day would likely not end well; the only thing he could do was try to buy as much time as possible.

As he was about to speak, the Emperor interjected, "I recall some Embroidered Uniform Guards went along. Have them come forward and speak." Zhu Xie Chixin naturally knew who had been dispatched this time. Soon, Xiao Jianren stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, based on this humble official's observations throughout the journey, Lord Zu is an upright man who champions justice for the common people. Such a person would absolutely never conspire with the demon race to betray the nation."

Sang Hong looked at him in surprise. The Embroidered Uniform Guards were always reclusive and feared by all officials. He hadn't expected Xiao Jianren to speak up for Zu An at such a critical moment, risking the ruin of his entire career.

In the court, Bi Linglong's spirit lifted. Just as she was about to seize the opportunity to speak, Zhu Xie Chixin preemptively interrupted Xiao Jianren: "His Majesty asked whether Zu An rescued Yu Yanluo, or where Zu An was when Yu Yanluo was rescued. Did you see it? Remember to answer the key points."

Bi Linglong's delicate brows furrowed, and she could no longer hold back: "Grand Commander, your words seem somewhat leading." Everyone looked at her in surprise. It was well-known that she always paid great attention to her demeanor, was widely considered to possess the bearing of a queen, and rarely expressed her own opinions directly, instead arranging for her subordinates to speak to achieve her goals. Yet today, she personally intervened, indicating that Zu An's position in her heart was indeed extraordinary. Most people didn't harbor much suspicion. Although there had been rumors of a scandal between Zu An and her previously, the matter had long been cleared up. Anyone who dared bring it up now would simply be asking for trouble. Her strong defense of Zu An suggested that she truly considered him a confidant.

Officials from the Prince of Qi's faction seemed somewhat gleeful. Zhu Xie Chixin, a core pillar of the pro-Emperor faction, had now clashed with the Crown Princess. They wondered how the two would cooperate in the future. Only the Prince of Qi, seated at the head, subtly frowned. It was natural for him to deal with Zu An, but why was the Emperor also targeting him? Zu An was the Emperor's man; sending him to Yunzhong Commandery had ruined years of the Prince of Qi's careful planning. "Could they be colluding to put on a show for me?" The Prince of Qi was suddenly alarmed, losing all his previous composure.

By then, Xiao Jianren had begun to reply: "I do not know who rescued Yu Yanluo. Furthermore, Lord Zu was in his room undergoing secluded recovery from injuries at that time. His injury was well-known among officials in Yunzhong Commandery."

Xu Yu then pressed, "You said he was in his room undergoing secluded recovery. Did you witness this with your own eyes?" Xiao Jianren hesitated, but as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, he ultimately dared not lie in front of the Emperor and the Grand Commander: "No."

Sang Hong said in a deep voice, "Since he was in secluded recovery, he naturally couldn't be disturbed by outsiders. How can that be used as evidence?" A wave of murmurs and whispers immediately spread through the court, clearly indicating that this further solidified suspicions against Zu An.

After the series of exchanges, Xu Yu was now confident of victory: "Lord Sang, no matter how eloquently you speak, you cannot explain where Zu An is now. If he were innocent, why hasn't he appeared despite such a major incident? Does he not know the gravity of the crime of colluding with the demon race and betraying the nation? Or perhaps... he is currently with the demon race and simply cannot return!"

"Who says he can't return?" A clear voice rang out at that moment, and a figure appeared at the doorway. The expressions of everyone in the room changed. That unique, eerie mask, the menacing embroidered uniform, and, crucially, the gold-threaded trim...

"Lord Eleven!" Xiao Jianren and the others were both surprised and delighted, but their shouts abruptly stopped midway, especially Xiao Jianren, who instinctively rubbed his eyes. Unfortunately, due to years of reading in the archive room, his eyes were nearsighted, and no amount of rubbing would help him see clearly. He secretly transmitted a message with his vital energy to Dai Laoqi and Chen Laoba beside him: "Can you see the boss clearly? I feel a bit strange."

"It is a bit strange. Maybe it's because we haven't seen the boss in a long time. I just feel like the boss has gotten thinner recently, probably from too much worrying," Dai Laoqi replied.

"Really? I somehow feel the boss's pectoral muscles are more developed than before?" Chen Laoba wondered.

At this moment, Sang Hong's heart also jolted. Golden Badge Eleven had always been hidden in the shadows; his appearance now clearly indicated he intended to speak for Zu An. Yet, why did he feel that Golden Badge Eleven seemed different this time?

The expressions of others in the court varied greatly. Bi Linglong looked at the figure with a complex expression. She had once been saved by Golden Badge Eleven, held in his arms, and at that time, her heart had fluttered, a faint, undefinable feeling arising. She never expected to meet Zu An later. But why, upon seeing him again, did she feel a sense of unfamiliarity?

Zhu Xie Chixin, on the other hand, looked utterly bewildered. He, of course, knew who Golden Badge Eleven was. What kind of trick was this? He instinctively looked at the Emperor, only to find the Emperor also frowning slightly. Only from the Yunzhong City side, Pei Shao's expression suddenly changed. This feeling was too familiar. He hurriedly transmitted a vital energy message, shouting, "Manman, what on earth are you fooling around with!"

"Brother Shen!"

"Mm!"

As Shen Changqing walked along the road, he would greet or nod to anyone he knew. Regardless of who it was, everyone's face was devoid of excess expression, as if they were indifferent to everything. To this, Shen Changqing had grown accustomed. This was because it was the Demon Suppressing Division, an organization responsible for maintaining the stability of Great Qin, whose primary duty was to slay demons and strange creatures, though they also had other minor roles.

It could be said that every person in the Demon Suppressing Division had a great deal of blood on their hands. When one becomes accustomed to life and death, they grow indifferent to many things. When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing was somewhat unaccustomed, but in time, he grew used to it.

The Demon Suppressing Division was vast. Those who could remain in the Demon Suppressing Division were either powerful experts or individuals with the potential to become experts. Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category. The Demon Suppressing Division was divided into two main professions: Suppressor and Demon Slayer. Anyone entering the Demon Suppressing Division started as a Demon Slayer, the lowest tier. Then, they would gradually advance, with the ultimate goal of becoming a Suppressor. Shen Changqing's predecessor was an apprentice Demon Slayer in the Demon Suppressing Division, also the lowest rank among Demon Slayers. With his predecessor's memories, he was very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppressing Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop in front of a pavilion. Unlike the other grim and austere places in the Demon Suppressing Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, presenting a different kind of tranquility amidst the blood-soaked atmosphere of the division. At that moment, the pavilion's main door was open, with people occasionally entering and exiting. Shen Changqing hesitated only for a moment before stepping inside.

Upon entering the pavilion, the environment suddenly changed. A scent of ink mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted towards him, making his brows instinctively furrow before quickly relaxing. The scent of blood on everyone in the Demon Suppressing Division was almost impossible to wash away.