The truth comes to light

The bandit suppression operation started swiftly and decisively, lasting only an hour before the stronghold was breached.

The leader, covered in blood, knelt on the ground, surveying a group of exceptionally skilled soldiers. They wore bright armor and were armed with weapons, yet they bore no insignia of government or military.

The team was not large, with only a little over four hundred people, but the leader was astonished to find that none of them were weak; the lowest level was the Essence Refining Realm.

There are over fifty Qi Refining Realm, more than ten Spirit Refining Realm, and four Bronze Skin and Iron Bones Realm.

The female war goddess at the head of the group possessed unfathomable cultivation.

Such an army, let alone dealing with a small mountain stronghold, would be enough to give the largest city in Yunzhou a hard time even if it went to attack Baidi City.

They had no banners, yet possessed extraordinary fighting prowess, and were led by a woman. The leader's heart sank as he recalled a rumor from Yunzhou.

"You, you are... Feiyan Heroine?"

"What 'Flying Swallow Heroine'? That's awful!"

The female warrior holding the silver spear frowned. She was extremely beautiful, with delicate features, a small, rosy mouth, and a high nose that accentuated the three-dimensionality of her features. However, her sharp aura made people overlook her beauty.

The ethereal beauty stood obediently beside her; originally an extremely beautiful and alluring ghost, she was completely overshadowed by her aura.

"Master, did I do a good job?" she asked in a seductive voice.

"The message was delivered very promptly," the female warrior nodded in praise.

"Could you give me a man?" she asked in a coquettish voice. "I've been starving for days."

"Emperor Yuanjing sent you here; go and drain his life force." The female war goddess thought to herself, then nodded slightly. "Just pick a few bandits."

The leader was now certain that this female warrior was none other than the legendary Flying Swallow Heroine.

A few years ago, a chivalrous female knight-errant suddenly appeared in the martial arts world. Wherever she went, justice was upheld and fairness was maintained.

In just a few years, she rose to fame in the martial arts world, becoming a well-known heroine. Because of her public-spiritedness and righteousness, she was hailed as the Flying Swallow Heroine.

At the beginning of this year, this female knight-errant came to Yunzhou. Seeing that bandits were rampant in Yunzhou and the people were suffering, she immediately recruited soldiers and horses, established a private army, and began a tireless campaign to suppress bandits.

It received the strong support of the Provincial Governor of Yunzhou.

"I'll ask, you answer; that will make your death quicker." The female warrior pointed her silver spear at the leader, her voice icy. "Otherwise, I'll turn you into a vengeful ghost, never to be reincarnated."

The leader was caught in a dilemma, and bargained, saying, "Don't even think about it!"

Thud. The silver spear pierced the leader's skull, and red and white matter flew backward.

The female warrior holstered her gun and muttered, "Tell me or don't, it's up to you."

"!!!" Zhou Chixiong's legs went weak with fright. He thought to himself, "You can't do this! Can't you see he's bargaining? At least give him a chance!"

How could they be so reckless?!

The warriors on the sidelines seemed to be used to the goddess of war's style of doing things, watching the spectacle with smiles.

At this moment, Zhou Chixiong felt as if the female war goddess had swept over him without any emotion. He immediately prostrated himself, pleading, "Heroine, spare my life! I'll tell you everything, I'll tell you everything!"

"I won't kill you." The female war goddess stood proudly, her form-fitting armor highlighting her graceful curves, her beauty exuding a chilling and murderous aura.

I need to take you to see someone.

Xu Qi'an had just finished his breathing exercises and was feeling gloomy, unable to sleep. He heard the dripping sound of the water clock and a familiar feeling of palpitation came over him.

A thought struck him, and he sat up abruptly, eagerly reaching under his pillow for a small jade mirror. Sure enough, he saw what he wanted to see:

[Two: Three, Zhou Chixiong has been captured. I will send someone to deliver him to the capital for you tomorrow.]

Zhou Chixiong was caught? That's incredibly efficient! Number Two is practically my ideal woman, I love her so much! Xu Qi'an's joy is beyond words, he almost cried tears of happiness.

Becoming Wei Yuan's spy was the worst option, and Xu Qi'an didn't actually want to take that path. He was currently only at the Qi Refining Realm and felt that he wasn't confident enough. Staying in the capital, staying in the Nightwatchers's office, was far better than wandering the world in terms of resources and living environment.

If life could be peaceful and joyful, who would want to be constantly on the move?

He already felt a lack of belonging in this world, and if he were to leave his second uncle, Erlang, and sister, he would be too lonely.

[Three: Can you reach the capital within six days?]

Yunzhou is very far from the capital. Although the imperial post roads are well-developed, six days is still too rushed.

[Second: If we ride the Firefeather Beast, it will take exactly six days to arrive. But you'll have to pay me three hundred taels of silver. I can't let my brother make the trip for nothing; you'll also have to cover the expenses along the way.]

[Three: That's how it should be.]

After speaking, Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment. Zhou Chixiong definitely couldn't be sent directly to the capital. The capital was too dangerous. Once Zhou Chixiong entered the capital, he would definitely be discovered by someone with ulterior motives, since he was currently wanted by the imperial court and listed as a top-priority criminal.

He had two choices: either notify Wei Yuan in advance, or find another way to get Zhou Chixiong into the capital. After thinking it over, Xu Qi'an chose the latter.

Because he has better attention.

[Three: Number Two, please send Zhou Chixiong to the Cloud Deer Academy; someone will take care of him there.]

Zhou Chixiong is involved with powerful figures in the imperial court, so we need to be wary of them resorting to desperate measures. The night watchmen Nightwatchers are all just tough guys, not fancy enough.

The great Confucian scholar of the Cloud Deer Academy possesses the ability to teleport, making him the perfect candidate to escort prisoners. He only needs to say one sentence, "Within three feet of me lies the capital."

The person then went to the capital.

Most likely, they couldn't get into the palace; otherwise, it would have been too easy for the great Confucian scholars to behead Emperor Yuanjing.

I will go to the Cloud Deer Academy tomorrow to visit my three teachers, Xu Qi'an secretly decided.

The Heaven and Earth Society members who were spying on the screen were not at all surprised by Number Three's request. After all, Number Three was a student of the Cloud Deer Academy.

As time passed, Xu Qi'an traveled extensively, meeting with Princess Huaiqing and Princess Biao Biao, hoping they could plead for him.

All she does is cause trouble for her older sister, but she's actually quite naive. She puts on airs like a princess and agrees without hesitation.

Princess Huaiqing was more rational and objective, saying frankly, "It seems that the Emperor does not like you. I can guarantee that you will be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishment."

The punishment for exile was, of course, exile.

Xu Qi'an noticed a detail: Princess Huaiqing showed an unreasonable indifference towards the Sangbo case, and was also calm about the fate that was about to befall her, as if she didn't care at all.

The day before the deadline, Wei Yuan sent someone to summon Xu Qi'an, who met Da Qingyi at Haoqi Tower.

"I just received news from the palace that His Majesty will be holding court tomorrow morning, and the Sangbo case will inevitably be mentioned. I will try to keep you in the yamen (government office), rather than the prefectural government or the Ministry of Justice," Wei Yuan said.

He was about to say something to comfort the little gong he valued when he heard the other person calmly say:

"Duke Wei, I have captured Zhou Chixiong."

Wei Yuan's expression froze, and he stared at him without saying a word.

At dawn that day, Xu Qi'an drove his carriage into the imperial city and stopped outside the palace. Accompanying him were Song Qing and Chu Caiwei from the Bureau of Astronomy, Zhang Shen, a great Confucian scholar from the Cloud Deer Academy, Jiang Luzhong, the Golden Gong, and Yang Yan.

Inside the carriage was Zhou Chixiong, the former commander of the Golden Guard, who was unconscious. He was bound and had a sack over his head.

Upon arriving here, Xu Qi'an breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his hands in thanks to his helpers, "Thank you all. The Sangbo case is now closed."

He wanted to put a period to the Sangbo case, and to put a period to the conflict of the knife cutting the silver gong.

The Golden Palace.

After the formal audience, Emperor Yuanjing asked, "Is there any progress in the Sangbo case?"

Below the court, all the ministers looked at Wei Yuan with varying expressions, but most of them were gloating.

The Ministry of Rites stepped forward and said loudly, "I beseech Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly, and I hope that Duke Wei will restore justice to this official."

Wei Yuan glanced at the Ministry of Rites who had jumped out to cause trouble, then turned his gaze to Emperor Yuanjing, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Your Majesty, the truth of the Sangbo case has been revealed."

Discussion immediately broke out.

Emperor Yuanjing was taken aback, narrowed his eyes, and leaned forward slightly. "Who is the mastermind?"

Wei Yuan said, "It's pointless for me to speak. Your Majesty can summon Zhou Chixiong, the former commander of the Golden Guard."

The Ministry of Rites' brow twitched, and he sneered, "Zhou Chixiong has already fled the capital. How can we summon him?"

Wei Yuan stared at him with a half-smile, and said loudly, "Zhou Chixiong is outside the palace. Please summon him, Your Majesty."

In an instant, the court fell silent.

PS: I updated around 13,000 words today, which is beyond human limits. I'm going to sleep now. I'll correct the typos tomorrow; my brain is a complete mess.