The night rain pattered on, and a cool breeze rustled softly.
An icy chill enveloped Qingjing Residence, faintly laced with a sharp, murderous air.
Xiao Jinghong looked at the paper in her hand, her eyes ice-cold.
"Liu Hong, Zhu Hao—they truly did not know whether they lived or died!"
According to what was recorded on the paper, Liu Hong had done three things recently.
First, he had sent people to assassinate Lin Huai'an of the Jizhou Trading Company, cutting off contact between him and Liu Taofang, his second son.
That Lin Huai'an had also acted as an intermediary between Zhu Hao, the Deputy Commander of the Shuzhou Commander's Office, and King Landu of the Poshushuo Kingdom, privately selling ironware and ore.
Furthermore, Mr. Lingchuan of Guiyun Academy had also taken part.
The second matter was Liu Hong joining forces with Education Minister Ma Shuhan to secretly form factions for private gain and win over the great and small Aristocratic Families of Shuzhou.
The third matter was Liu Hong's illicit dealings with King Landu. Through Lü Jiunan, he had arranged for the rescue of Asutai, Son of the Left King of the Barbarian Tribe.
All signs showed that Liu Hong had colluded with King Landu and the Barbarian Tribe long ago, secretly helping them do quite a number of things.
Thinking back over the past few years, Xiao Jinghong could indeed find a few suspicious traces.
"No wonder the Commander's Office repeatedly reported massive reductions in salt, iron, and tax revenues. Granddaughter sent people to investigate the account books, yet found no discrepancies. So the Provincial Administration had been backing them."
"Three years ago, when the new army was recruited, it must have been Liu Hong secretly giving the orders, resulting in a new force where good and bad were mixed