The moment the envoy spoke, the atmosphere throughout the great hall of Hundred Flowers Palace plunged to freezing point.
The smile slowly faded from the Hundred Flowers Valley Master's face, and she leaned forward slightly.
A sharp glint flashed through her seemingly gentle eyes. "An explanation? I do not understand what the Marquis of Chu means. What does Hundred Flowers Valley need to explain to him?"
The envoy sneered, then unhurriedly recounted what had happened on Golden Crow Island.
"Our Li Family's investigation identified this man as Cai Tong—Tong is pronounced with the third tone; learn it if you don't recognize it—a disciple under your valley's Seventh Elder."
"He said that, acting on your Seventh Elder's orders, he incited the Qin Family of Golden Crow Island to slaughter the Cao Family, the Marquis of Chu's maternal relatives, to vent his hatred over his disciple's death."
"Fortunately, our Li Family Guest Official arrived in time to avert a catastrophe. Even so, the Cao Family suffered over a hundred casualties, and their First Elder and several members of their direct line perished."
"Afterward, this man was silenced while under our Li Family's guard."
"This was an act of utter disregard for our Li Family and our Lord."
"Valley Master, do you believe your valley owes our Lord an explanation for this?"
The envoy did not speak loudly, but every word was clear and rang with the weight of iron striking stone.
An uproar swept through the great hall.
The elders exchanged glances, and quite a few turned toward a white-haired old man seated near the front on the right.
The old man was thin and gaunt, with a severe face. He was the Seventh Elder of Hundred Flowers Valley.
At that moment, his face was dark as storm clouds, his eyes filled