A Pawn's Passage

Chapter 1442: Riding a Crane to Jiangnan

Zhang Jucheng employed a two-pronged strategy. On one side, he intensified the interrogation of Gu Ying. On the other hand, he used the blockade of Fenglin to steadily pressure Li Tianlan.

Since Gu Ying was in Zhang Jucheng’s hands, Li Tianlan lacked confidence and no longer dared to openly resist the blockade. He could only compromise and retreat. Whatever blood had to be shed would be shed, and whatever flesh had to be cut away would be cut away. If it could buy him a safe landing, Li Tianlan would accept it. What he feared most was that Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng still would not let him go and intended to wipe him out completely.

However, Zhang Jucheng had also encountered a problem.

Both he and Qi Xuansu had underestimated Gu Ying.

This seemingly delicate woman was no ordinary person. At the start, the interrogators tried to bluff her by deliberately refusing to specify the charges and simply demanding that she confess.

But not only was she not frightened, she actually pieced together the true reason for her arrest from scattered clues.

She likely understood that only Li Mingping’s case was her only weak point, while the other matters could not yet be tied to her. Thus, she admitted only to framing Li Mingping. She did not even mention Li Minghuang, merely claiming that she had done everything for the sake of her biological son and that she would accept whatever judgment was passed.

Gu Ying refused to utter a single word concerning Li Tianlan.

Whenever Li Tianlan was mentioned, Gu Ying would break down in tears, lamenting how she had wronged him and how he had been deceived by her. After all, Li Mingping was Li Tianlan’s biological son.

She carried the entire burden upon herself alone.

Gu Ying even proposed that she be transferred to Fengxian Hall as soon as possible. Holding her beyond the permitted detention period would violate regulations.

This placed Qi Xuansu and Zhang Jucheng in an awkward situation. Was their true intention really to pursue Gu Ying merely for her false accusation? Their real goal was to use her as an opening to strike at Li Tianlan. If they simply handed her over to Fengxian Hall now, all their efforts would have been for nothing.

There was no way they could transfer her to Fengxian Hall. The interrogation had to continue.

Their only remaining advantage was information mismatch.

Fortunately, Zhang Jucheng had transferred Gu Ying to Putuo Island beforehand, completely cutting off all outside communication. Thus, Gu Ying had no idea what was happening outside, and Li Tianlan likewise had no idea what condition Gu Ying was in. Under such isolated and uncertain circumstances, no one knew how long Gu Ying could hold out before her psychological defenses collapsed. Li Tianlan also dared not make any reckless moves for fear of the consequences.

Once the two managed to exchange information, Gu Ying would gain confidence and would be able to endure much longer. If Li Tianlan knew that Gu Ying could firmly hold the line, then he would dare to take action.

The situation seemed to have fallen into a stalemate.

Zhang Qingyue, who was in charge of the Demon-Vanquishing Platform within the Dazhen Mansion, had even specifically asked whether they should resort to certain “methods.”

However, Zhang Jucheng rejected the suggestion.

Unless absolutely necessary, Zhang Jucheng did not want to leave any vulnerabilities for others to make use of in the future. If the Li family later insisted that the confession had been extracted using torture, or if Gu Ying recanted her testimony in court, then they would immediately be in a passive position.

At that moment, Madam Qi arrived in Jinling Prefecture with Little Yin.

After hearing the news, Qi Xuansu still had to go meet them no matter how busy he was.

People often said Qi Xuansu never contacted people unless he had a favor to ask. Madam Qi was exactly the same. One could say that Qi Xuansu had learned this trait from her.

Yet many times, Madam Qi always came at the right time, as if she had a miraculous pouch of tricks and strategies that could help Qi Xuansu whenever he encountered difficulties. She would appear out of the blue to help him solve the problem and leave immediately once the problem was resolved.

Once again, they met at the Gratitude Temple.

The place was practically becoming their dedicated rendezvous point.

However, this time, it was neither the Porcelain Tower nor the Pagoda Forest, but the Perfume River.

Madam Qi never hesitated to display her privileges. She disliked pretending that everyone was equal, which was one of the reasons she chose to leave the Daoist Order.

At this moment, Madam Qi had somehow procured a small boat and was leisurely rowing along the Perfume River, completely ignoring the rules of the Gratitude Temple.

Little Yin stayed by Madam Qi’s side. As usual, Madam Qi wore a large pair of sunglasses, while Little Yin wore a smaller pair. Anyone unaware of the situation might think they were a pair of blind people.

Standing on the riverbank, Qi Xuansu called out to the two ladies on the boat, “What are you two doing here in Jiangnan?”

Madam Qi ignored Qi Xuansu entirely, while Little Yin waved at him enthusiastically.

Qi Xuansu sighed helplessly. He truly did not understand what was so entertaining about rowing a boat for people who could already fly. He leaped onto the boat weightlessly, causing not even the slightest ripple or sway when he landed.

Little Yin tilted her face upward to look at Qi Xuansu. “Old Qi, we rode a crane down to Jiangnan!”

Qi Xuansu replied, “You were heading north to Jiangnan.”

“Whatever! It’s still going down to Jiangnan.” Little Yin pouted.

Qi Xuansu said helplessly, “Fine, fine, fine. Down to Jiangnan it is. As long as you’re not smoking or drinking, you can go to Jiangnan however you like.”

Madam Qi scoffed. “What’s wrong with smoking? Am I smoking your cigarettes? Why are you so biased about it?”

Qi Xuansu chuckled. “You only smoke and don’t drink, so we’re just conveniently skipping over the drinking part, huh?”

“Someone else will lecture you about that,” Madam Qi snorted lightly.

Qi Xuansu returned to the main topic. “Alright, tell me. What’s going on? You never chat aimlessly with me. There’s definitely something.”

Madam Qi got straight to the point. “Have you run into trouble recently?”

Qi Xuansu did not deny it. “There’s indeed some resistance regarding Li Tianlan’s matter.”

Madam Qi said, “Then do you still remember what I asked you to do for me before the second major Jiangnan case?”

Of course, Qi Xuansu remembered.

Back then, for the sake of 1,000 Taiping coins, he had traveled entirely by land from Xiping Prefecture in Yongzhou to Tianshui Prefecture in Liangzhou, then from Tianshui to Xijing Prefecture in Qinzhou, before crossing into Zhongzhou and finally reaching Longmen Prefecture. The trip spanned 1,500 kilometers, and that was only the beginning.

In Longmen Prefecture, Qi Xuansu met the Qingping Society’s Wild Bodhisattva to escort his adopted daughter Liu Hu to Bohai Prefecture. Since they departed from Longmen Prefecture, they had endured countless hardships and dangers along the way. These included pursuit and assassination attempts, the Purple Immortal Mountain case, the massacre in Jiangling Prefecture, and encounters with the Green Phoenix Guard, the foxes of Qingqiu Mountain, the Wind and Thunder Marshals of the Heavenly Court, Xu Kou, the Shen family, and Wa pirates. He even inexplicably fought Zhang Yuelu when he was in a disguise. In the end, he arrived at Bohai Prefecture and handed Liu Hu over to Li Qingnu.

According to what Wild Bodhisattva said at the time, an old enemy from many years ago had resurfaced, and he was going to seek revenge. If things went smoothly, it would not take long. If not, then it could take several months or several years. He might not even return at all in the worst case. Thus, he was preparing for contingencies and arranging his affairs in advance. If he returned alive, he could simply bring his adopted daughter back. If he failed to return, at least she would not be left destitute on the streets.

After that, Qi Xuansu never saw Wild Bodhisattva again, nor did he hear any news about Liu Hu.

Of course, the main reason was that he no longer paid attention to such minor matters. Just as Li Qingnu once mocked him for, his mind was now filled entirely with affairs of the state.

Now that Madam Qi had brought up the old matter again, Qi Xuansu immediately realized what she was implying—Liu Hu’s identity.

Back then, Qi Xuansu had already discussed this matter with Madam Qi.

This matter involved the first major Jiangnan case. At the time, the Beichen Hall and the Fengxian Hall jointly handled the investigation. The principal accused, Fang Linhou, wanted to save himself, so he had his family deliver 100,000 Taiping coins to the Deputy Beichen Hall Master who was in charge of the case. However, once Sage Donghua personally singled him out, it was already destined that no one could save him. That Deputy Hall Master accepted the money and agreed to help, but during the formal hearing, he produced the full sum and handed it over to Fengxian Hall as evidence of bribery. There were even recorded images serving as proof, delivering the final blow to Fang Linhou. His crime was thereby aggravated, and he was immediately sentenced to death.

Fang Linhou was merely a sacrificial pawn thrown out by others. He had a share in the Jiangnan case, but he was far from the main culprit. No matter how Fengxian Hall investigated, they could never uncover the deeper truth from him. Fang Linhou’s weakness was his family. Even if he confessed, he might not die, but his wife and children certainly would. Therefore, even under threat of death, he dared not reveal anything.

At the time, Qi Xuansu had asked Madam Qi whether Liu Hu was Fang Linhou’s daughter, but Madam Qi shook her head.

The major Jiangnan case involved far more than just Fang Linhou. Many others were implicated as well. Some had willingly participated, while others had been dragged into it unwillingly. Some deserved death, while others were innocent scapegoats. All of them knew bits and pieces of the inside story, and all of them had wives and children.

According to Madam Qi, Liu Hu’s father had only been a minor figure, someone responsible for carrying out tasks. He was silenced by his own associates as soon as Beichen Hall began investigating. His wife had already passed away, and he had only one daughter. But before he was murdered, he seemed to have sensed danger, so he entrusted his daughter to Wild Bodhisattva.

Madam Qi had also said back then that Fang Linhou was connected to far too many secrets and hidden truths. The people behind him—his superiors, friends, colleagues, and subordinates—would never allow his family to remain at large. It was not something Qi Xuansu could interfere in.

Clearly, Qi Xuansu was no longer the same person he had once been. Now, he could interfere in the matter and could also bargain with the truly powerful figures behind the scenes.

Thus, Madam Qi brought up the old matter again.

Qi Xuansu asked, “You’ve hidden Liu Hu away under your protection?”

“Of course,” Madam Qi replied. “Back then, someone tried to silence her permanently. I noticed it, so I moved her elsewhere. It also served as a little test of your abilities.”

Qi Xuansu became somewhat excited. “Although the evidence from the second major Jiangnan case was destroyed in the fire and by True Lord Siming, Liu Hu must still possess important evidence related to the first major Jiangnan case. She was also a witness. Otherwise, those people would never have tried to kill her. Madam Qi, tell me honestly. Who exactly is Liu Hu?”

Madam Qi no longer concealed the truth. “Actually, your guess was correct. She really is Fang Linhou’s daughter, but she was an illegitimate child, which is why she slipped through the cracks. Fang Linhou was a scapegoat, but he truly wasn’t clean himself. There’s no need to clear his name. But fairness demands this—Fang Linhou is already dead, so should his accomplices die as well?”

Qi Xuansu clicked his tongue. “Hearing such righteous and morally indignant words come from your mouth is rather ironic.”

Madam Qi immediately grabbed Little Yin’s hand. “Little Yin, let’s go back to Poluo and ride a crane down to Nanyang instead.”

Qi Xuansu hurriedly stopped her. “Alright, I was wrong. I’m sorry for mocking you. Please just hand her over to me first.”