Chapter Forty: Suspicion

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The next day, after court was dismissed, Zhu Yu kept Liu Xi behind. While Liu Xi was still in the dark, Zhu Yu first praised him, then asked, “How is the person? Is everything still under control? Don’t rush to act yet—what I said to you before was out of anger. I need to think it over once more.”

Liu Xi was puzzled by Zhu Yu’s words and asked in confusion, “Person? Your Majesty, to whom are you referring?”

Seeing Liu Xi still putting on an act, Zhu Yu secretly mocked him for his timidity. But on second thought, it was understandable—after all, kidnapping and murdering the Empress Dowager was no small matter.

Zhu Yu spoke bluntly, “Enough. It’s just you and me here, no one else. Stop pretending. I’m talking about the Empress Dowager. Where have you hidden her? You haven’t just dealt with her outright, have you?”

Halfway through his words, Zhu Yu began to doubt—could this coward have been so afraid of being recognized by the Empress Dowager that he didn’t dare to arrange her accommodation and instead killed her and disposed of the body?

At these words, Liu Xi instantly recalled the order Zhu Yu had given him three months prior. He bowed respectfully and said, “Your Majesty, regarding the matter of the Empress Dowager you mentioned, I have been making preparations and intended to act soon. But unexpectedly, yesterday some thieves broke into the palace and abducted the Empress Dowager, foiling my plans.”

Liu Xi was quick-witted, immediately adopting a woeful face and using yesterday’s assassins as an excuse.

“What? You weren’t behind yesterday’s incident?” Liu Xi’s reply left Zhu Yu stunned.

“How could that be, Your Majesty? I would never have such audacity—to send men into the palace at night, especially when Chief Inspector Cao was on duty.”

Hearing Liu Xi’s explanation, Zhu Yu’s expression darkened. While it had indeed been his own secret desire to see the Empress Dowager disappear, it was something he needed to handle personally. If just anyone could sneak into the palace at night and abduct the Empress Dowager, what was the point of being Emperor?

“Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I want to see which audacious villain dares to extend his hand into the imperial palace.”

This command was squeezed through Zhu Yu’s clenched teeth. Seeing his gloomy demeanor, Liu Xi felt uneasy and immediately promised to search high and low, leaving no stone unturned.

Not long after Liu Xi withdrew, Eunuch Wu entered to report, “Your Majesty, the dowry from the State of Cloud’s End has been fully inventoried. It should all be delivered to the national treasury by the hour of Shen today. Also, the envoy from Cloud’s End, Wuwan, is currently waiting at the palace gate’s inn, requesting an audience. How would Your Majesty like to proceed?”

“See him? What’s the point? It’s fine if I meet him once, but all matters regarding the marriage alliance are to be arranged personally by the Empress Dowager according to custom. Now that she’s missing, where am I supposed to find her tomorrow?”

Zhu Yu’s mind was already in turmoil, and Eunuch Wu’s new report only added fuel to the fire, causing him to voice his complaints.

Understanding Zhu Yu’s meaning, Eunuch Wu replied, “Understood, Your Majesty. I’ll go and refuse on your behalf.”

With that, Eunuch Wu withdrew from the hall.

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In the now empty hall, Zhu Yu fell into deep thought. Who would abduct the Empress Dowager? And to what end? Personal vendetta? National hatred?

Zhu Yu saw it clearly—since she had been taken, not killed on the spot, the Empress Dowager must be of use to them.

Either they intended to use her to threaten the State of Jing to gain some advantage, or they were scheming something big to plunge Jing into chaos.

But nearly a full day had passed, and there was still no word. Zhu Yu couldn’t fathom the kidnappers’ intentions. The State of Jing was hardly so fragile that it would stop turning without an Empress Dowager.

Wait—

Suddenly, Zhu Yu realized there was indeed one matter that couldn’t proceed without the Empress Dowager: the marriage alliance with the State of Cloud’s End!

It seemed a contradiction—why would Cloud’s End, so eager for the alliance, sabotage it by kidnapping the Empress Dowager? Yet this was the only affair directly tied to her.

Rather than launching a blind search, it would be better to investigate the Cloud’s End envoy.

Of course, the men from the Eastern Depot conducting their blanket search around the capital could not be withdrawn—that would only alert the perpetrators.

With a plan forming in his mind, Zhu Yu disguised himself and left the palace, heading to Blackstone’s headquarters in the capital.

Compared to before, Blackstone now felt less oppressive, with everyone busy in an orderly manner. Xiaoyu and Lei Bin were away on missions, leaving only Fatty Chen and the Master of Masquerades among the upper ranks at headquarters.

According to Fatty Chen, he was the brains of the operation and would not get involved in violence unless absolutely necessary. Thus, at present, the only capable fighter at Blackstone was the Master of Masquerades.

Ye Zhanqing, meanwhile, had not accompanied Xiaoyu, instead staying at headquarters. Rumor had it she and Xiaoyu had fallen out and had yet to reconcile.

It was also worth mentioning that Ye Zhanqing had now reached the upper tier of the third rank, practicing the Water-Avoidance Sword Technique.

Though “upper third rank” was not especially high, it was impressive considering that Ye Zhanqing had started from scratch and reached this level in less than a year—her martial talent was truly praiseworthy.

Unfortunately, she had taken up martial arts late and her potential was already fixed. The best she could hope for was to reach the upper second rank, unless some stroke of fortune intervened.

But that was a matter for another time—there would be ample opportunity to deal with Blackstone’s affairs. The most urgent task now was to investigate the Cloud’s End diplomatic mission.

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Upon receiving Zhu Yu’s order, Blackstone suspended all other operations around the capital and committed all available resources to investigating the Cloud’s End envoy.

Fatty Chen and the Master of Masquerades were particularly proactive: one rallied a cadre of strategists to formulate a flawless plan, while the other eagerly readied himself for action.

Amidst the flurry of activity, Ye Zhanqing, upon learning of the mission, cast a quick glance around with her sparkling eyes, then quietly slipped away without drawing anyone’s attention.

The next day, in the Imperial Library.

After court, Eunuch Wu once again reported that Wuwan, the envoy from Cloud’s End, requested an audience.

Zhu Yu’s suspicion toward Cloud’s End, which had been only a faint conjecture—one he would rather wrongfully punish than let the guilty go free—now grew much stronger. Their urgent behavior was hardly that of a vassal state, greatly increasing their suspicion.

“Tell Wuwan that after court I left the palace incognito to conduct private inquiries,” Zhu Yu instructed. After giving the order, he truly changed into plain clothes, intending to stroll through the capital to clear his mind.

To Zhu Yu, this was a form of baiting the enemy. With the peerless Spiral Nine Shadows lightness skill, unless a true grandmaster capable of overwhelming him in an instant appeared, Zhu Yu was confident he could escape any danger.

As long as someone made a move, the truth would surely come to light.

Yet, despite being on edge all day until dusk, no threat emerged.

Just as Zhu Yu was about to return to the palace, someone blocked his path.

The newcomer’s face, though stunningly beautiful, was streaked with blood, bruised, caked with mud, and she reeked of filth.

Yet she beamed at Zhu Yu and said, “Chief, I’ve found the answer to what you wanted investigated.”

PS: That was close, but I made it—no interruptions in the update! I’ve been busy these past two days, but by tomorrow, I should be able to resume the usual two chapters a day.