Forcing a Search for Evidence, Arresting the Commandery Prince, and Sending an Urgent Report to the Capital!

Jia Huan's eyes blazed:

"Are there any imperial clansmen in Xingyang Commandery?"

"The Prince of Xingyang Commandery!" Scholar blurted out.

"Shut the door." Jia Huan pointed, then searched the corpse, finding only a lotus tattoo on the collarbone.

The purple jade pendant belonged to the imperial clan. Coupled with Sima Lin's journey north to Xingyang Commandery and his stay of several days, both clues pointed straight at the Prince of Xingyang Commandery.

An imperial clansman colluding with the White Lotus Cult-now that was a major case!

Jia Huan paced back and forth, then declared decisively:

"Since he's under suspicion, we'll search the prince's residence!"

Boom!

The expressions of his six trusted subordinates changed dramatically.

Fathead Fish hurriedly tried to dissuade him:

"Boss, without official documents bearing an Approval Seal, searching a commandery prince's residence on our own is overstepping our authority. It's a crime of grave disrespect toward the Imperial Family, and the consequences would be unthinkable. Let's return to the capital and seek instructions. If the Southern Office decides to investigate, we can come back and search his residence."

Jia Huan remained adamant:

"News that the Embroidered Uniform Guard took Sima Lin away will reach the prince's residence by tomorrow at the latest. If he has a guilty conscience, he'll destroy every scrap of evidence. By the time we investigate, the daylilies will have gone cold. If we're doing this, we have to catch him unprepared!"

After a brief silence, he calmly looked at his six subordinates:

"If we fail, we've defied our superior. But if we succeed, we've captured a rebel and rendered service to the state and altars!"

"Brothers, I won't keep this glory to myself. If we really uncover evidence, every one of you will be a General Banner when we return to the capital!"

The