"Have Xiqi send someone who can answer for the outer relay station to the Grand Preceptor's Residence."
Wen Zhong's voice rang out from the Thunder Edict.
The Deputy Envoy of the Xiqi hostel stood at the Rope Workshop entrance, holding the official letter without offering it any farther forward.
The Registrar asked him, "Who oversees Xiqi's Outer Hostel Relay Station?"
The Deputy Envoy fell silent for a moment.
"I am responsible for it."
The Registrar nodded.
"Then there is no need to send anyone else."
"The Chief Envoy stays at the Grand Preceptor's Residence."
"You will go there too."
The Deputy Envoy abruptly tightened his grip on the Official Letter.
"I came to collect him."
"Not to be interrogated."
The Registrar said, "You oversee the outer relay station."
"The forged military order bore your hostel's outer relay station transit seal."
"The recipient address on the Blank Paper with Genuine Seals was also your hostel's outer relay station."
"You must explain yourself at the Grand Preceptor's Residence."
The dozen or so Xiqi Guards behind the Deputy Envoy stepped forward together.
The Armored Guards from the Grand Preceptor's Residence also gripped their saber hilts.
The people at the Rope Workshop entrance immediately retreated to either side.
The old woman did not leave.
She tucked the paper bearing the copied line about her son inside her robe and pulled her daughter-in-law behind the wooden table, remaining there.
The Deputy Envoy turned and barked, "Stand down!"
The Xiqi Guards stopped.
He knew perfectly well that if they drew blades against the Armored Guards from the Grand Preceptor's Residence in the West Market, the hostel's involvement in the case would become the Xiqi Delegation's defiance of an order.
That was far more serious than detaining two envoys.
The Deputy Envoy offered the Official Letter to