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Chapter 325 11: Promoted to Two Department Chief
Chapter 325 11: Promoted to Two Department Chief
"You mean my third brother's death was caused by Shen Qing?" Hearing Zhou Su's response, Xue Bai was somewhat puzzled and frowned as he asked.
Zhou Su replied with certainty, "Who else could it be if not him?"
He paused and asked, "Young master, do you think your third brother went to Yongzhou this time to handle some matters?"
Xue Bai nodded and said, "He did have some matters to handle. What's the relevance?"
Zhou Su extended a finger and said, "Young master, your third brother had two tasks to accomplish: one was to handle matters for the Zhou Family on my behalf, and the second was to deal with the affair of the Spirit Essence from outside the region. The first matter is known to the young master and is inseparable from Shen Qing. Although I am unaware of the specifics of the second matter, I know that Shen Qing's cultivation has progressed rapidly, likely because he acquired the Spirit Essence."
"Your third brother, young master, would have inevitably clashed with Shen Qing while seeking the Spirit Essence. Both matters point to Shen Qing; considering it all together, your third brother was very likely the one targeted by the Yongzhou Chief and killed by him!"
"It must be him!"
Zhou Su became increasingly agitated as he spoke, to the point of losing composure.
Seeing Zhou Su's behavior, Xue Bai felt a sense of doubt arise within his heart.
He considered himself not particularly intelligent, but not a fool either. He could distinguish certain things.
Over the past month, he had roughly gathered some intelligence on Yongzhou's Zhou Family, knowing about their plight.
In his view, Zhou Su seemed to be making wild guesses to incite the Xue Family to seek revenge on his behalf, ultimately benefiting himself.
Zhou Su hurriedly clasped his hands together and urged, "Young master, Shen Qing managed to achieve such results in such a short time. Clearly, he is no ordinary person. If the young master wants revenge, it needs to be swift, otherwise, things might change."
No one likes being used as a tool by others.
Xue Bai furrowed his brow. Seeing Zhou Su's agitation further confirmed his suspicions, he felt displeasure.
"Brother Zhou makes a fair point," Xue Bai waved his sleeve coldly and said, "However, this is a grave matter. I must inform Father and let him decide. I cannot make a conclusion easily on my own."
Zhou Su suddenly sensed Xue Bai's intention to distance himself, and his heart sank, realizing he had been too hasty.
He quickly tried to remedy the situation, saying, "Young master, nine out of ten things I've said are true. You must believe me."
"Hahaha, the friendship between us is here. How could I not believe you? Rest assured, I shall write to my father truthfully."
With that, Xue Bai hurriedly turned to leave from Zhou Su's residence.
Zhou Su said anxiously, "Walk slowly, young master."
Xue Bai turned back, smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment.
However, as he stepped out of the room, the smile on his face vanished, and he muttered to himself, "It seems I should visit here less often in the future."
Collecting his thoughts, he walked briskly away without looking back.
Upon returning to the Xue Mansion, the third madam's room was still filled with incessant wailing, leaving no peace.
Regarding Xue Yan's death, opinions in the Xue Mansion were divided, but they all shared one thing in common: unwillingness to let it rest.
Xue Bai entered the study, and after Xue Yan's death, his greatest rival was gone, making the position of Princely Heir basically within his grasp.
Inwardly, he began to assume the identity of the Heir, meticulously detailing the situation he knew and Xue Yan's death in a letter to Xue Zhao, waiting for him to handle it.
A few days later, the Xue Mansion smoothly received Xue Zhao's reply.
As the legitimate eldest son in the family, he seized Xue Zhao's letter and was the first to read it.
After finishing, Xue Bai's face turned red as he said, "Well, indeed, experience always triumphs over youth. Father's methods are much more sophisticated than what we devised. Since the matter has occurred, let us maximize the benefits."
In the letter, Xue Zhao wasn't very angry but unexpectedly calm.
Xue Zhao believed that Yongzhou, a thousand miles away, was beyond their reach, even with the Xue Family's immense power. To thoroughly investigate the specifics would be too costly. It was better to go with the flow and later use the pretext of the Jing Luan Assembly to send all Yongzhou's officials and martial masters inside.
In this way, Xue Bai, the legitimate eldest son, could participate in the Jing Luan Assembly with the Guardian, ensuring these people meet their demise inside, allowing him to personally exact revenge on his foes.
Thus, it would not only avenge his brother and accrue family prestige but also reshuffle the government offices of Yongzhou, allowing the Xue Family to extend their influence and open a new scene.
The actual murderer of Xue Yan seemed to become less important instead.
...
Prefecture Chief Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou, two seasoned veterans of the officialdom, wielded the tactic of 'delaying' masterfully.
They advanced each day, always finding new leads in the investigation, but never reached a conclusion, leaving Shi Wenbo and others exasperated.
Moreover, with the circles of the Capital's nobility well-informed, Shi Wenbo had long been aware of the Xue Family's plans, making him less inclined to delve deeper into these cases.
Everything happened as Huang Furo foresaw; Xue Yan's death began to fade away without resolution.
And after more than a month of investigation, Shi Wenbo and the other envoys had cleared up the changes in Yongzhou, planning to return to the Capital to report the mission.
Yongzhou Prefecture Courthouse, council hall.
"Gentlemen," Shi Wenbo's voice resonated with stability and strength, "After over a month, we have finally clarified the demonic upheavals in Yongzhou and restored order to the city. Now it's time to report back to Your Majesty. However, before leaving, we must properly arrange the personnel in Yongzhou to ensure a smooth transition and prevent further disturbances."