Chapter 259: Chapter 205: The Xiao Family Must Have a Master
"Lord Governor Liu Hong, are you truly not worried about your nephew Liu Wen’s safety?"
The middle-aged man in black—Liu Hong, the Left Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office—set down his teacup and said with a smile:
"Second Brother, Wen’er is a grown man. It’s quite normal for him to stay out all night occasionally. What is there to worry about?"
"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be worried, but look at the timing!"
"The Dingyuan Army’s three border towns were hit by a night raid, the summer grain at Iron Wall Town was burned, and at this critical juncture, Wen’er has disappeared. He..."
Seeing Liu Yu pause, a serious expression appeared on Liu Hong’s square-jawed face as he asked:
"Second Brother, are you worried this is related to Wen’er?"
"Or... do you know something?"
Liu Yu glanced at him and fell silent for a moment before sighing. "The day before yesterday, Wen’er took three hundred thousand taels in silver notes from the accounts."
Liu Hong’s brow furrowed slightly. "Second Brother, why didn’t you tell me about something so significant sooner?"
Liu Yu hesitated. "I... I just assumed Wen’er took the silver coins to expand Xinglin Hall in Shu State, didn’t I?"
"But I’ve already asked Zhaoxue. Wen’er hasn’t been seen all day, and he never showed up at the storefronts we’d already picked out."
"Third Brother, do you think Wen’er might... might have already fallen into the Xiao Family’s hands?"
Liu Hong pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "If that’s the case, then we can only wait for the Old Marquis to come knocking and demand answers."
"This..."
Before Liu Yu could speak, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door.
Then, Liu Zhaoxue hurried in. After bowing to the two men, she said, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, the Xiao Family just delivered a formal calling card."
Liu Yu and Liu Hong exchanged a look. ’Speak of the devil,’ they thought.
Liu Yu stepped forward to take the calling card. As he opened it, his expression changed drastically.
He quickly handed the card to Liu Hong, saying, "The Old Marquis is coming in person early tomorrow morning. He’s specifically asked to see the two of us."
Liu Hong glanced at it, placed the card on the table, and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Liu Yu couldn’t help but say anxiously, "It’s come to this. If you have something to say, just say it."
Liu Zhaoxue looked at the expressions on both their faces and realized something must have happened. A serious look crossed her face as well.
’Could this be related to Second Brother?’
Liu Hong ignored their gazes. Tapping on the armrest, he kept his head down and said:
"At this point, worrying is useless. We need to think about how to handle this."
Compared to Liu Yu and Liu Zhaoxue, he had been operating in Shu State for many years and had a deep understanding of both the Xiao Family and the Old Marquis.
He knew full well that the Old Marquis was seething with anger, a blade in hand, just waiting for some fool to stumble into its path.
That was why when Liu Jing had died earlier, even though he knew the killer wasn’t from the Wan Family Medicine Hall’s Nursing Home, he had gone with the flow to back down, lest he be caught in the middle and please no one.
But this time was different.
As Liu Hong thought of this, his face took on an imposing gravity. He took a deep breath and said:
"Second Brother, you must depart for Jing State immediately. Leave Zhaoxue here alone."
Liu Yu was stunned. "What? Why?"
Liu Hong glanced at him. "Second Brother, you know Liu Wen’s character better than I do. You should be well aware that he’s capable of a foolish act like burning the grain supply of the Three Towns."
"Besides, the Old Marquis is coming in person. Do you not understand his intentions?"
Liu Zhaoxue glanced at a hesitant Liu Hong and said softly, "Second Uncle, this time the Old Marquis sent a formal calling card..."
A calling card!
It dawned on Liu Yu. "He... he’s coming to hold us accountable?"
Liu Hong nodded. "It can only be so. Elder Xiao wouldn’t come personally unless he had concrete evidence. Besides, why else would he send a formal calling card in advance?"
"When have you ever seen a Marquis act with such courtesy?"
Hearing this, Liu Yu dazedly sank into a nearby chair, his expression shifting uncertainly. He muttered, "Courtesy before force..."
"So you want me to return to Jing State to bring back reinforcements?"
Liu Hong shot him a glare. "I’m telling you to lie low, Second Brother, to prevent the Old Marquis from provoking you and giving him an excuse to use his troops!"
Liu Yu’s mouth fell open as he understood. "Then you... no, what about Wen’er? Eldest Brother will definitely ask."
"You go back first. After I meet with the Old Marquis, I will send a letter to Eldest Brother to explain."
After speaking, Liu Hong sighed softly. "I just hope Wen’er is alright. Otherwise..."
’Otherwise, their eldest brother would certainly not let the matter rest.’
Liu Zhaoxue also understood this point. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Liu Hong, then shifted to Liu Yu.
"Fine, I’ll leave the city and return to Jing State now..."
「Not long after.」
Liu Zhaoxue returned alone to the residence on Kangning Street. She stood by the window, watching the falling rain with a deep frown.
"Did he really fall into the Xiao Family’s hands?"
A sinister voice replied from beside her, "Or perhaps he’s already dead."
Liu Zhaoxue turned her head to look, her tone calm. "If he’s really dead, that would only make things worse."
Yan Fusha stepped out of the shadows and came to her side. "Why?"
"A suspicious death would make the family overthink things, and that would only implicate more people. Even I wouldn’t be able to escape involvement."
"Is that so... Then should I hide for the time being?"
Liu Zhaoxue nodded slightly. "Let’s wait and see. Perhaps Second Brother is just hiding."
’But that was impossible.’
Liu Wen had been acting so secretively before he left; he was clearly plotting something.
And he had taken three hundred thousand taels of silver from the accounts.
Liu Zhaoxue thought for a moment, then changed the subject. "How is the investigation into that other matter?"
Yan Fusha glanced at her and countered with a smile, "Are you sure there’s something wrong with that man, Miss Zhaoxue?"
"I looked into his activities since arriving in Shu State today. He’s nothing more than a reckless scholar."
"Even if he has good handwriting and is valued by Guiyun Academy, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about him."
Liu Zhaoxue paused at these words, the scene of her meeting with Chen Yi from earlier that day inevitably surfacing in her mind.
’She couldn’t have been mistaken—Chen Yi was definitely not a simple man.’
