Martial Saint through Reading

Xiao He urgently questioned Liu Bingmu.

If Chu Ming is innocent, it would likely prove Xiao Wen’s innocence as well.

”Without evidence, it indicates that Chu Ming, Commissioner of Canal Transport, has been falsely accused.”

Liu Bingmu first clasped his hands courteously towards Chu Ming and Shen Yu, apologizing for the disturbance.

At the same time.

Qin Capital, in front of the towering city gate.

”Stop right there, Xiao Jieshi.”

Several people in ink robes from the Regent’s Mansion blocked Xiao Wen, who had just come back from Xirong County after a few days by carriage.

”Why is Lord Zhong here?” Xiao Wen lifted the curtain, saw the people from the Regent’s Mansion, and immediately got off to salute.

Zhong Yang kept a stern face and bowed back: ”Forgive me, Xiao Jieshi, I am acting on orders.”

”Search!”

”Who dares!” Han Ji and Han Jin stood with guns blocking the Regent’s Mansion.

”What does Lord Zhong mean by this?” Only then did Xiao Wen notice something was amiss.

”Xiao Jieshi, I am ordered to gather evidence, please allow us through.”

”Evidence? What kind of evidence?” Xiao Wen furrowed his brow.

Zhong Yang did not reply, merely kept his bowing posture.

”Lord Zhong, haven’t we worked together for over a decade? Can’t you tell me even this?” Xiao Wen looked at the people from the Regent’s Mansion, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

With the Regent’s Mansion involved, this must be something big.

Zhong Yang hesitated for a moment, then moved to Xiao Wen’s side and whispered: ”Evidence of privately hiding forbidden objects and colluding with the Blood Evil Sect.”

Privately hiding forbidden objects?!

Xiao Wen’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Could it be...

His mind instinctively turned to the two Purple Sandalwood Sculptures he received from Tang Xuan.

Is there a problem with the Purple Sandalwood Sculptures?

Impossible, he had studied the sculptures thoroughly, neither their shape nor material fell within the forbidden range, only their weight seemed a bit off...

Oh no! The weight!

Xiao Wen’s heart gave a violent throb.

The Purple Sandalwood Sculptures contain something hidden!

River Transport Headquarters, could Tang Xuan be framing me?!

No, it shouldn’t be, if Tang Xuan did so, he wouldn’t escape either.

Even the slightest expression change, a mere blink, was caught by Supervisor Zhong Yang of the Regent’s Mansion.

”Xiao Jieshi, the Tang River Transport Headquarters has been in Qin Capital recently.” He suddenly remarked.

”What?!” Xiao Wen’s face changed drastically.

”Search!”

Zhong Yang, upon seeing this, was already convinced something was off with Xiao Wen.

The people from the Regent’s Mansion intended to search the carriage, but Han Ji and Han Jin still stood in their way.

”Xiao Jieshi, you should know the consequences of obstructing an investigation, right?” Zhong Yang’s tone was cold as ice.

Many dignitaries at the city gate were watching.

Xiao Wen’s expression was initially one of panic, but he quickly regained composure.

Panicking was useless, the issue with the two Purple Sandalwood Sculptures was not yet confirmed.

”Generals Han Ji and Han Jin, let them search.”

The two paused, then reluctantly stepped aside.

Several members of the Regent’s Mansion boarded the carriage and searched through all the luggage.

Clothes, food, books, until they came to the two Purple Sandalwood Sculptures.

”Lord.” The Regent’s Mansion members presented the sculptures to Zhong Yang.

Upon seeing the two sculptures, Xiao Wen’s heart involuntarily raced, but he maintained a facade of calmness, saying, ”Lord Zhong, these two sculptures are carved from Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood, exceedingly rare.”

Zhong Yang fixed his gaze on the sculptures, ordering in a deep voice, ”Break them open.”

”Lord Zhong, are you sure you want to do this?” Xiao Wen had truly started to panic.

”Break them!” Zhong Yang bowed towards Xiao Wen: ”If there is nothing wrong, I will personally apologize to Xiao Jieshi!”

Though indeed he had worked with Xiao Wen for over a decade and received favors from the Xiao Family, he would not show bias when it came to official matters.

”Yes.”

Upon receiving the order, the Regent’s Mansion members broke open the sculptures on the spot.

Bang! Bang!

Two loud noises, the sculptures shattered, revealing they were not hollow and contained nothing inside.

Xiao Wen stared at the broken sculptures, his eyes narrowing instantly.

The sculptures were not made of Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood! Instead, they were made of Purple Palace Round Wood that closely resembled Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood!

Impossible!

He had stayed up late studying them for several nights, and was very sure they were Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood!

What on earth was going on?

Zhong Yang from the Regent’s Mansion, after carefully inspecting the broken wood, found no traces related to forbidden objects.

”Xiao Jieshi, I...” He bowed towards Xiao Wen, clasping his hands.

Xiao Wen only then came to his senses, his eyes shifted, he helped Zhong Yang up, smiling as he said, ”Lord Zhong, I worked hard to acquire these two sculptures, you owe me.”

”...” Zhong Yang felt bitter inside, as Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood was quite rare, ”I will certainly compensate you.”

”Compensation in Purple Palace Round Wood will suffice.”

”Ah?” Zhong Yang was momentarily stunned.

Purple Palace Round Wood and Purple Sandalwood Spirit Wood were two different things.

By now, Xiao Wen was completely calm, and after a little thought, he guessed that someone must have intentionally framed him.

And that person was likely his friend Tang Xuan.

Perhaps Chu Ming was also framed, not just him.

However, for some unknown reason, the so-called forbidden object seemed to have been swapped.

Who could have discovered the issue with Tang Xuan and secretly exchanged the forbidden objects?

”Lord Zhong, could we speak further?”

”Certainly.” Zhong Yang knew that the offer of Purple Palace Round Wood as compensation was letting him off the hook.

The two of them walked to the side.

”Lord Zhong, can you tell me what is going on?” Xiao Wen had a serious expression.

”Xiao Jieshi, please do not make this public.” Zhong Yang’s demeanor was also grave, having sensed the unusual nature of these events.

”Rest assured.”

”Three days ago, someone sent a letter to the Regent’s Mansion, stating that Xiao Jieshi and Chu Ming of the Canal Transport Bureau in Xirong County secretly met with the Blood Evil Sect in Shan County, and the forbidden objects and books on you were the evidence.”

”Yesterday, there was further news that the Zhang Family in Shan County, Pingzhong County, was almost wiped out.”

”Xiao Jieshi knows that the Blood Evil Sect is seditious and very sensitive in Qin Capital, so the Regent’s Mansion sent us to intercept Xiao Jieshi...”

”Did they also investigate over in Xirong County?” Xiao Wen asked.

”Yes, Lord Liu Bingmu is personally doing so.”

”Moreover, Lord Liu not only aims to gather evidence against that Commissioner of Canal Transport, but he also has another important task.”

”What is it?”

”Well...”