Li Ao saw how readily Mo Li fell in line, lowering his posture and putting on an utterly loyal appearance. Though he looked down on him inwardly, he also felt somewhat worried.
If he kept up some aloof, high-and-mighty act, showed no reaction, and ended up taking the blame for someone else, wouldn't that mean there was something wrong with his head?
These days, personal ability was certainly important, but the appreciation of those above was equally crucial.
He had pinned all his ambition and expectations on Meng Zhao. Naturally, he did not want to lose Meng Zhao's trust and favor over this matter.
Thus, this proud and arrogant general was now trembling with apprehension. Looking at Meng Zhao in the seat of honor, he racked his brains and said,
"Young Master, I did indeed select the guards around you, but I chose them from among the strong young men of these thirty thousand troops. I valued their abilities and backgrounds; I had no selfish motives whatsoever, much less dared to collude with Commander Bai to lay hands on you.
"I am willing to investigate this matter, arrest every suspect throughout the army, and hand them over to Young Master for punishment."
In truth, it was more or less the same as what Mo Li had said. The content was not important; the attitude was.
He truly hated this situation. When he had selected the guards, he had repeatedly stressed that they had to be clean, beyond suspicion.
Yet the people below had obeyed in public and defied him in private, daring to deceive him. How could he not hate them?
Although Meng Zhao suspected that one or two among the six guard generals harbored ill intent toward him, he also knew that Li Ao was most likely not a