Su Xingfang, Part Two

The Su Family's sitting room was as plain on the inside as it appeared from without.

Of course, if one insisted on putting it nicely, it could also be described as "elegantly simple."

But none of that mattered. Sun Shaozong was not some feng shui master inspecting a residence; his purpose in coming today was mainly to "see the man"!

Thus, after host and guest had taken their seats, Sun Shaozong's gaze kept circling Su Xingfang's face.

Su Xingfang, however, remained perfectly composed. He had an old servant bring tea, then said calmly, "Vice Minister, you honor this humble home with your presence. Su Mou ought to have swept the couch clean to welcome you, but my elder has just met with misfortune, and it is truly inconvenient for me to receive guests. If you have any instructions, please speak freely."

Though he had long known that Su Xingfang was a capable official with a bearing and breadth of mind beyond the ordinary, seeing how calm he remained even while under suspicion made Sun Shaozong inwardly sigh.

Why would such a young and promising official kill Dao Yan and his apprentice?

Could it have been righteous indignation?

But if it was righteous indignation, why send the bodies to Dali Temple, then set a trap that killed his own maternal uncle? What sense did that make?

It made no sense at all, truly none!

Though utterly baffled inside, Sun Shaozong wore an expression of perfect confidence. He reached out and toyed with the teacup before him, producing a series of crisp clinks.

Only after a while did he suddenly ask, "County Magistrate Su, on the way here, I happened to mention something. Why did I hear Jiang Laoqi say that you are in robust health and have not taken a single