Raising Suspicions

The moment he heard the words "Old Cangtou," Xu Yi's thoughts spun like lightning. He suddenly recalled that, just before leaving the Imperial Library, Old Cangtou had inexplicably asked whom he had borrowed the jade token for viewing books from.

He had given Marquis Anqing's name.

Of course, he hadn't thought much of it. He'd assumed Old Cangtou was worried that, after he left, no one would look after him. So he'd told Old Cangtou that if anything came up, he could ask Marquis Anqing for help.

Thinking back on it now, though, he felt that with Old Cangtou's openhearted nature, it made little sense for him to be scheming for his own benefit.

If he truly wanted to secure his own interests, with his abilities, how could he have ended up so down and out?

But what had Old Cangtou meant by asking that question? Xu Yi couldn't figure it out. If he'd wanted to give him a gift, he could have simply said so, or handed it to him in person. Why go through such a roundabout process?

Unable to make sense of it, Xu Yi had decided not to dig any further. Besides, one upheaval after another had long since swept the matter from his mind.

Now, someone had suddenly come in Old Cangtou's name, claiming to be delivering a message. Wasn't that strange?

"It's only a thousand gold. What are you making such a fuss for? Go collect it from the accounts office. Even if the Marquis himself were here, he wouldn't dare shout like this."

The Head Butler snapped at him, his expression stern.

Remembering where he was, the burly middle-aged man abruptly lost his nerve and muttered, "It's not like I demanded it. If you don't want to give it to me, just send