CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 137: DON’T THINK ABOUT LEAVING

Cai Rong initially froze, but quickly he smiled in front of everyone.

The laughter was full of contempt and anger, but also an uncontrollable sense of defeat and panic.

Cai Rong looked at Li You: "Mr. Li, what is this commotion all about? If you have anything you want to ask me, just send word, and I will report immediately. Why the big fuss?"

As Cai Rong spoke, he shifted his gaze to Song Xian: "Letting a junior pass judgment on me is rather childish."

Before Li You could speak, Cai Rong took a step forward to grab the military leader on the ground: "Who instructed you?"

Before Cai Rong’s hand could touch the military leader’s shoulder, he felt his wrist being tightly gripped, and Cai Rong looked up to see Song Xian’s indifferent eyes.

Cai Rong wanted to shake off Song Xian’s hand, but despite his full strength, Song Xian’s arm barely moved, his fingers still firmly grasping Cai Rong’s wrist.

Cai Rong was filled with anger, having spent a lifetime in battle, yet now being so humiliated by a junior.

In front of Song Xian, he appeared especially old and weak, as Song Xian blocked him firmly, exuding an aura of menace that left him breathless.

"Song Xian," Cai Rong raised his momentum, "I am an imperial-appointed Military Governor, and you dare to disrespect a superior."

Song Xian remained calm: "Commander Cai is right, this case is of great importance, and no one dares to rashly conclude. The people here must go to the capital with Mr. Li, where the Ministry of Justice will preside, and His Majesty will review the case files.

If Mr. Cai wishes to question, he would need an imperial decree, or an official appointment to the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Justice, and then no one would stop Mr. Cai."

"You." Cai Rong’s other hand reached for the weapon at his waist.

As Cai Rong moved, his confidants and household generals all grasped the hilts of their swords simultaneously.

Song Xian and his companions remained standing quietly as if they hadn’t noticed at all.

Song Xian said, "Mr. Cai, there is only one superior here, Mr. Li, who has come to the North to oversee military affairs by imperial order."

Cai Rong’s expression shifted several times at that moment, from anger to murderous intent then back to a bit of calmness.

This place was not under his control; he wasn’t sure he could kill everyone here. If it were Cangzhou, he might have killed Li You and blamed Song Xian.

There were too many people and eyes in Zhenzhou, he couldn’t...

Coming to Zhenzhou from Cangzhou was his greatest mistake.

"Very well." Cai Rong took a step back, away from the military leader.

Song Xian also released his grip on Cai Rong’s wrist.

Cai Rong looked at Li You, whose eyes were bright and full of spirit, standing there with poise and authority, never losing the demeanor of a superior from start to finish.

Cai Rong said, "Mr. Li, proceed with the case, but if you truly intend to charge Cai with a crime, let the government offices send a document to Cangzhou; Cai will await Mr. Li."

As Cai Rong spoke, he prepared to step away, but as soon as he took a step.

A "bang, bang, bang" sound of doors closing was heard, and the Vigorous Martial Army Song Xian brought stood in front of the door like sculptures, making it impossible to move them easily.

Cai Rong’s face darkened even further, and he turned to stare at Song Xian fiercely: "You intend to detain me privately? Do you know the crime?"

"Important prisoners are held at the Zhenzhou Prefecture to ensure nothing goes wrong; I brought the Vigorous Martial Army here to guard the government office," Song Xian said, "Zhenzhou Prefecture has a rule, which might differ from Cangzhou: once a case begins, no one in the office can leave."

Cai Rong chuckled coldly: "No such rule exists in the Daqi government offices."

"There is," Song Xian replied, "in Zhenzhou."

Cai Rong asked, "When did this start? Who ordered it, is there evidence? You dare to act willfully just with words..."

Song Xian answered Cai Rong’s questions without hesitation: "Now, I, bring a document, and I will seal it with County Magistrate Qu."

As Song Xian finished, Li You made a "please" gesture: "Commander Cai, have a seat, and we’ll continue the case."

After Li You spoke, Qu Chengmei and the clerks took their seats, with government officials exuding authority, and the accused knelt below the hall, transforming this place into the courtroom of Zhenzhou Prefecture Hall in an instant.

Cai Rong had lost the upper hand; now if he forced his way out, and the matter reached the emperor, he couldn’t account for it, and with Song Xian blocking the way here, he didn’t have enough people to ensure they could walk out of this door.

...

The main gate of Zhenzhou Prefecture Hall remained open; no one knew the tense atmosphere inside the second hall.

The people who followed the County Magistrate to the Prefecture Hall wanted to stir up the populace, causing a commotion, and as they anticipated, people indeed started to gather and watch.

The government officials did not disperse the people, and Chang An’s men mingled in, scrutinizing each person in sight.

With something happening in the North, there would surely be people trying to learn the truth.

If the Henghai Jiedu Envoy was secretly in contact with the Liao people, the Liao would naturally be very concerned about the situation.

Song Xian had preemptively increased personnel at the city gates; anyone entering or leaving Zhenzhou City was thoroughly searched, not only for carried items but also for hiding wooden teeth in their mouths, and even those with broken teeth were closely questioned.

Xie Liangchen arrived in the city early and, after sending Chen Zigeng to Mr. Dongli’s residence, wandered around the city.

When alone, Xie Liangchen spoke with Chang Yue.

As Xie Liangchen walked through the market, she whispered to Chang Yue: "Any findings today?"

The master specifically instructed him not to avoid Miss Xie, so Chang Yue replied: "Caught quite a few spies, all connected to the Henghai Jiedu Envoy, but no signs of Liao spies."

Xie Liangchen nodded, understanding that Song Xian’s move was to thoroughly cleanse Zhenzhou and the Song Family Army under his command.

Xie Liangchen said, "There are still Liao spies in Zhenzhou."

Chang Yue responded, "The master said there definitely are."

Xie Liangchen nodded again, since discovering the wooden teeth, she frequently walked around the streets, not just to buy things, but also to observe, hoping that something or someone might help restore more of her memory.

Her mind was continually occupied with thoughts of those spies.

How they transmitted messages, how they hid among the crowds, why she could recognize them—subconsciously, she seemed very familiar with these Liao spies.

One Wang Jian was insufficient to support the entire Zhenzhou; those people were always cautious; maybe some hidden lines were unknown even to Wang Jian.

Chang Yue said, "The master said, very soon the spies will notice something unusual and will try to send messages out."

"A stick of incense’s time." A thought occurred to Xie Liangchen.

Chang Yue looked at Xie Liangchen.

Xie Liangchen came back to her senses: "I said, they only need the time of a stick of incense to discern the clues."

Within the time of burning an incense stick, those appearing near the government office would be most suspicious.

People passed by the government office entrance, and Chang Yue’s men purposefully followed to observe.

Walking among the crowd, Xie Liangchen felt as if a string in her mind was gently vibrating; she looked around and suddenly, as if guided, turned her head to look intently.

She saw a peddler walking with a carrying pole, holding a peddler’s drum, shaking it gently.

"Dong dong dong dong."

"Miss Xie, is something wrong?" Chang Yue’s voice came.

As the peddler walked onto the long street, he lifted his head, looking around.

A little distance away, in a teahouse, a person stood, and upon hearing the sound of the peddler’s drum, stepped forward and pushed open a window, the cold wind gusting onto his face.

He was about to turn and leave when, suddenly frowning, he saw two highly skilled individuals quickly approaching the peddler.

Have they been discovered?

The person decisively turned to leave the tea house, but just as he hurriedly descended the stairs, he happened to see a government official approaching him.