As an information broker running a neutral restaurant in a lawless star region, Xinghaiguai naturally knew who Gongsun Qing was. It took him only a few seconds to understand what she meant in the first half of her sentence, and for a moment he was moved by her resolve.
Then again, if the Earl of Yongdi could find a reliable heir among his own direct descendants, he wouldn't be so desperate he was going bald. Why look farther afield when the two branches of the family had already been split for several centuries?
Even imperial lords with sprawling families and vast estates had their share of headaches!
"...I've actually met Earl Gongsun once. Their position is a little awkward right now. Of course, all the Earth immigrants are in an awkward position."
"I—I wish them luck." Gongsun Qing looked full of remorse.
Xinghaiguai smiled again. "Still, Chancellor Valporis is also an Earth immigrant. The current Duke of Yarosang's mother was an Earth immigrant too, and even one of the Emperor's many concubines was from Earth."
"Yes. Given such loyalty, they surely won't lose their titles and territory." Gongsun Qing sounded as if she were talking to herself. It was hard to tell whether she was answering him or trying to convince herself.
"Loyalty?"
"That chief inquisitor, the one in the gray cloak, is from the Gongsun family. He's a distant cousin of my father's, I suppose. I've met him a few times, and even sparred with him when I was twelve. Of course, he was already a qualified inquisitor back then. But he couldn't master the Gongsun family sword, so he couldn't inherit the family estate." Gongsun Qing said.
"..." And then you cut off your uncle's head?
No, your uncle had just thrown poison gas grenades at you too!