Suspicion

Capital City

A fast boat traveled day and night, finally reaching a wharf outside Capital City early that morning. Its passenger transferred to an ox cart and rode to a large estate beyond the city walls.

The estate gates were shut tight. The man who stepped down from the cart went straight to the door knocker without stopping to rest.

"Who is it?" someone called from inside after a moment.

"It's me! A-Si!" the man outside replied.

The gates opened at once. The servant inside was clearly on good terms with him. He hurried A-Si in, shut the gates, and followed him, saying, "You were gone a long time this trip. A few months, wasn't it? Are you back to see the young master?"

"I have urgent news to report to him!" A-Si said.

"The young master is seeing a guest. Wait here a moment. I'll go check for you." The servant gave the quiet instruction, left A-Si waiting beside the main courtyard, and went in.

A while later, Cao Yiyan emerged from the reception hall laughing with a friend. He escorted his guest out and watched until he had gone some distance. Only then did Cao Yiyan turn back. As the servant closed the gates, he became once more the Crown Prince of Great Wei in the eyes of those who lived on the estate. His expression stern, he swept his gaze around and settled first on one man.

"How did your trip to the Kingdom of Ying go?"

"Young master, Prince Ying is its ruler in name, but a distant relative of the imperial clan holds the position in practice. The elders of the Grand Secretariat control the larger affairs."

"The details are here." With that, the man presented a thick stack of files.

Cao Yiyan read only