The Old Fox Delivers a Notice, With Malicious Intent, The Chess Game Has Just Begun

Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School, paid a visit to the Crown Prince's Heaven Dou Crown Prince's Residence.

It just so happened that Xue Qinghe was caught in a delicate window where he couldn't refuse to meet her, yet had no time to make much preparation.

"With the teacher's personal arrival, Qinghe has failed to properly welcome him."

Xue Qinghe greeted them in the main hall with a warm smile and impeccable manners.

"Your Highness is too kind."

Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and after taking his seat, he naturally accepted the teacup offered by the servant.

"Recently, I realized it had been a long time since I last paid a visit, so I have taken the liberty of coming to your door. I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

"Teacher, what are you saying?"

The two exchanged a few pleasantries about the recent cooperation between the sect and the royal family, as well as a few political matters in Heaven Dou City.

It was a seamless back-and-forth process, leaving no room for error.

If an outsider were listening, they would only think that this was a routine, polite exchange between two distinguished figures.

But those who truly understand the industry know this.

In conversations at this level, even the rhythm of breathing can contain information.

After exchanging pleasantries...

Ning Fengzhi changed the subject slightly. "It's quite a coincidence, my daughter Ning Rongrong has been traveling and gaining experience lately, and she's encountered quite a few interesting things."

His tone carried a hint of the helpless smile unique to fathers.

He held his teacup, looking relaxed, and began to recount Ning Rongrong's experiences in the Bird Mouth Mountain.

He spoke at a moderate pace, like an old father chatting casually at the dinner table.

Xue Qinghe listened with a smile, occasionally nodding in agreement.

As Ning Fengzhi spoke, the topic subtly veered off course.

"Ning Rongrong was attacked by a group of bandits in the Bird Mouth Mountain."

"Oh? Is Junior Sister Ning Rongrong injured?"

Fortunately, he had someone protecting him and was unharmed.

"However, upon subsequent investigation, it turned out that this band of mountain bandits was quite capable and not an ordinary highway robber."

He paused for a moment, then raised his hand to lift the tea lid and gently brushed away the foam.

"It's rumored that there's a large-scale human trafficking operation behind this."

"What's even stranger is..."

Ning Fengzhi his eyes, his gaze inadvertently sweeping across Xue Qinghe's face.

"The clues we seized point to certain... noble forces within Heaven Dou City as both the source and the sales channels."

Heaven Dou City, nobles, human trafficking!

The three keywords were tossed gently, landing silently, yet echoing in the air.

Ning Fengzhi didn't say anything more, and took a small sip of tea.

Throw a stone into the water and watch the ripples.

Xue Qinghe's reaction was textbook-perfect.

He was slightly taken aback at first.

"Oh? Is that so?"

The teacup paused at his lips, and a perfectly timed look of surprise appeared between his brows.

It was indeed the kind of surprise one would expect from a diligent crown prince upon first hearing of such atrocities committed under his rule.

The sense of proportion is so precise it's down to the millimeter.

Then, the teacup was gently placed back on the table, making a very faint crisp sound.

Xue Qinghe's gentle demeanor faded considerably, replaced by a look of solemnity and self-reproach.

"Heaven Dou City is the face of the empire, yet such a shocking thing has happened..."

Xue Qinghe's voice lowered slightly. "It was my oversight."

Ning Fengzhi slightly raised his hand. "Your Highness is too kind."

"The Heaven Dou City is so vast that it's understandable that some things going unnoticed at the moment."

"Sect Master Ning, there's no need to comfort me."

Xue Qinghe spoke with a firm tone, his eyes revealing determination.

"Qinghe will thoroughly investigate this matter and show absolutely no leniency."

He even leaned forward slightly and said sincerely, "If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has any more clues, I hope Sect Master Ning will not hesitate to tell us."

"This malignant tumor must be eradicated completely."

His words were earnest, his attitude resolute, and the anger and sense of responsibility in his eyes were natural.

If this were a play, Xue Qinghe's acting skills would be worthy of being called a god.

Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded, cupping his hands in greeting, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness. Everything depends on Your Highness's wisdom."

The two foxes stood across a tea table, their expressions impeccable.

Ning Fengzhi did not dwell on the topic of human trafficking.

Seeing that Xue Qinghe had expressed his opinion, he went along with it and steered the conversation back to sect affairs.

After exchanging a few more trivial words about recent events, he excused himself, saying he dared not delay His Highness's official duties.

They came casually and left just as easily.

Throughout the entire process, he did not ask His Highness whether he knew which noble family it was, nor did he provide any further details.

The seeds have already been planted; now we just need to let them germinate on their own.

Xue Qinghe personally escorted him to the hall door, showing utmost courtesy.

Xue Qinghe watched Ning Fengzhi's figure turn the corner at the end of the corridor and disappear from sight.

Xue Qinghe's smile gradually faded from his face.

The hall doors closed.

Xue Qinghe stood alone for a moment, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

She slowly walked back to her desk and sat down, her fingertips lightly tapping the surface as she began to mentally analyze every word, every pause, and every exchange of glances.

The first question is, why did Ning Fengzhi come today?

The sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a figure who has been navigating complex political landscapes for many years.

Would someone of this caliber really come to the Crown Prince's Residence for a casual chat just because their daughter encountered a few petty thieves on the road?

impossible.

Every seemingly casual remark he made was calculated.

Every seemingly insignificant detail is a carefully designed bait.

He didn't come to report a crime.

He came to see my reaction.

Qian Renxue tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, frowning. "Is this a test to see if I have any connection to this human trafficking business?"

The second question is, just how deeply did he get involved in human trafficking?

Ning Fengzhi only mentioned that it was related to the nobles of Heaven Dou City, but did not name them.

Two possibilities.

Firstly, the clues we have are not clear enough, and we need to use the power of the Crown Prince's Residence to investigate.

Secondly, he had already investigated thoroughly, but deliberately left it blank, waiting to see what the Crown Prince's Residence would discover on its own.

If the results I find don't match what Ning Fengzhi secretly knows,

That would be tantamount to handing the other person a knife.

This proves that the Crown Prince's Residence was not clean in this matter, or at least intentionally biased.

This is an ingenious trap.

No matter which path they take, it's all within his calculations.

Xue Qinghe closed his eyes briefly, his fingers stopping.

He didn't care that much about it, because it really had nothing to do with him.

He didn't mind taking the initiative to handle the matter.

Xue Qinghe was more concerned about the issue of his junior sister Ning Rongrong, whose name was on his name.

The apple of the eye of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, its resources and teachers are far superior to any other academy.

Logically, she had no reason to go away to study.

But she ended up getting into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Was this arranged by Ning Fengzhi?

What was he trying to achieve by placing his daughter on the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's chessboard?

Expand your network?

Was the incident at Bird Mouth Mountain truly an accident that Ning Rongrong happened to stumble upon?

Or had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect already secretly laid the groundwork?

Is it just using the daughter's experience as a pretext to bring things to the forefront?

The more layers you think about, the deeper the water becomes.

Xue Qinghe opened his eyes, his gaze turning cold.

This matter must be investigated.

Otherwise, Ning Fengzhi would assume he was guilty.

However, we can't investigate too deeply or too quickly.

Making a move that alerts the enemy is a minor matter; revealing one's true control over the hidden forces in Heaven Dou City is a much bigger deal.

She summoned her trusted confidant and gave him brief and precise instructions.

First, send people to secretly investigate the connections between the remaining bandits and nobles in the Bird Mouth Mountain.

Slow down your movements, remain concealed, and do not alert anyone.

Second, keep an eye on Ning Rongrong's movements at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The people around her, the circles she interacts with.

The trusted confidant accepted the order and withdrew.

Silence returned to the hall.

Xue Qinghe reached out and picked up the cup of tea on the table, which had long since gone cold, and took a sip.

The cold tea has a slightly astringent taste when swallowed.

He put down his teacup, a faint smile curving his lips.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, although I don't know what kind of tricks you're up to, no matter how much you jump around, you'll be crushed by my Spirit Hall sooner or later."