Xu Yi furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? Did something else go awry while I was away these past few days?"
Xia Sibo stared at him in disbelief. "Brother, you weren't gone for just a few days. You were gone for nearly two years! I've never seen an official as brazen as you. In the last six months especially, even Commander Long couldn't get in touch with you. Now he's been implicated too, suspended from duty and awaiting an inquiry."
Xu Yi narrowed his eyes. "What's the charge? Long Wenzhang is, after all, a commander in the Ministry of Punishment. In rank, he's only half a step below the Four Underworld Lords. How could they move against such an important minister without cause? Did they strip me of my Deputy Commander post too? Why haven't I received any spirit essence messages on my communication talisman lately?"
Xia Sibo shook his head with a wry smile. "You really do have a big heart. At a time like this, you're still thinking about your Deputy Commander post. To be frank, no one's fighting over that post of yours now. It's just an empty title. But your seat as head of the Catching Thieves Division has people fighting so fiercely they're at each other's throats."
"Why is that?"
Xu Yi picked up a pastry from the table and popped it into his mouth.
Xia Sibo's eyes went wide. Xu Yi said, "When you're nervous, eating something—especially something sweet—can help ease the tension."
Xia Sibo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He couldn't see how this great lord was nervous at all. Comparing people was enough to drive a man to his grave. If it were him, he'd already be in a complete panic. How could Xu Yi act like nothing was