"Lord Lai, please forgive this subordinate for not daring to take on such a major case without authorization!"
The guards surged forward and dragged the blood-soaked assassins away. Only after the screams had faded did Bai Yousi, who had remained seated without moving, calmly cup her hands toward Lai Zhan'er.
"Why?" The Jiangdu Garrison Commissioner, his face fleshy and his waist enormous, flew into a rage. "When there were easy pickings to be had, you eagerly traveled thousands of miles to get here. Now that you're asked to do your actual duty, you pull long faces! Is this how the Jing'an Directorate conducts its business? No wonder the officials and commoners at Yangzi Ford were ready to jump for joy when you left!"
Bai Yousi finally gave a soft laugh, but instead of responding to Lai Zhan'er, she turned to Zhou Xiaoming. "Duke Zhou, as the saying goes, Zhou does not leave Lai, and Lai does not leave Zhou. Might I ask the two commissioners to be patient and allow us juniors, newly arrived here, to say a few words?"
The burly Lai Zhan'er grew angrier still, his imposing presence like that of a heavenly king. But when the lean Zhou Xiaoming raised a hand to stop him, he quieted down. Zhou solemnly cupped his hands toward Bai Yousi in reply. "Inspector Bai, we are all court officials. No one here would use age, rank, or cultivation to deny others the chance to speak."
Lai Zhan'er actually took no offense. Instead, he scoffed, returned to the seat of honor, and drained the wine he had not yet touched.
"Very well." Seeing this, Bai Yousi was about to speak, only to pause suddenly, then shake her head slightly. "Never mind. Let one of my subordinates explain it to you, Duke Zhou