Number Four: I have deduced Number Three's true identity

[Part Two: The governor's entourage arrived in Yunzhou today. I would like to know information about Jiang Luzhong, his intentions, his personality, his weaknesses, etc.]

What does this mean? Xu Qi'an was taken aback. Did Number Two consider Old Jiang a hypothetical enemy? No, a real enemy? And so he began gathering information, preparing for battle?

Putting aside the fact that Old Jiang and I have a good relationship, even if we didn't, I wouldn't tell you his weaknesses, since I'm also in the governor's team myself.

[Three: I'm sorry, I cannot disclose any information about the governor's entourage to you.]

After Xu Qi'an replied, his thoughts wandered, and he made more connections: Number Two's collection of information about Jiang Luzhong was clearly preparation for a possible future conflict.

Was this Number Two's own decision, or did he have Yang Chuannan's support?

If it is the latter, it means that once the truth comes out, Yang Chuannan is likely to take drastic measures.

Number Two fell silent for a moment, and the chat group became tense.

Amidst this stiff and awkward atmosphere, the former scholar, now swordsman number four, popped up:

[Number Two: Yang Chuannan is suspected of colluding with bandits to supply military provisions, which is tantamount to treason. Number Three is a scholar; how could he help you commit such an evil deed? We scholars know right from wrong, and we understand the distinction between minor and major principles.]

Indeed, that's how ambitious we scholars are. Xu Qi'an nodded vigorously, deeply agreeing.

[Second: I apologize for my abruptness. I had no intention of harming the governor's entourage.]

[Three: But when you asked that question, you were already prepared for war. Hmm, Number Two, I know you have a deep prejudice against the court, but you act too emotionally. Whether Yang Chuannan is innocent or not, we'll have to investigate to find out.]

[Five: That's right, I also think Number Two is too extreme. From what you were talking about, the governor's entourage just arrived in Yunzhou. They haven't even started investigating yet, and you're already thinking about attacking them.]

"Number Five, you're the least qualified to say that!" everyone thought to themselves.

Number Two stopped talking, seemingly a little angry, because the members of the Heaven and Earth Society were all criticizing her and not supporting her. Even Number Three, whom she had always liked, made his attitude very clear.

By now, Xu Qi'an was almost certain that the female soldier was Number Two, and the image of her handsome and beautiful oval face flashed through his mind.

He sighed and typed in the information: [Jiang Luzhong is a fourth-rank Golden Gong, specializing in martial arts intent. As for his personality, he doesn't have any particularly distinctive features, so there are no obvious flaws.]

This information is very basic and does not involve anything confidential.

His personality is indeed not flawed. Among the Jinluo people Xu Qi'an knows, there are the gentle and effeminate Nangong Qianrou, the expressionless Yang Yan, and the aloof and sharp Zhang Kaitai. Compared to these people, Jiang Luzhong's personality is more moderate and does not have any obvious characteristics.

But it also means that he doesn't have any major weaknesses.

[Second: Thank you. Don't worry, I won't act rashly, much less harm the imperial governor without cause. Um, I have another question. I'd like to inquire about a man named Xu Qi'an. Number Three, you mentioned him before.]

You even need to ask me about things? Are you trying to mess with me? Xu Qi'an immediately became wary and didn't answer right away.

Just as he was about to refuse, the person who had been silently watching appeared: [I can give you all the information about this person, but you have to Equivalent Exchange.]

A sudden betrayal.

No, did you get my permission to sell my information? Did I agree to it? You're openly selling it to me. Xu Qi'an touched the mirror with his finger, then withdrew it.

What to do? How to stop it?

If we try to stop Number One, will he/she comply? Number One likes to spy on others and is quite mysterious. Although he/she has narrowed down the scope, it still includes many, many people.

None of these people were someone he could handle.

Furthermore, what grounds are there to stop me? What does Xu Qi'an's matter have to do with me, Number Three? What right do I, Number Three, have to stop him?

Unless I reveal my identity, but... I praised Tongluo Xu Qi'an so much before, and now if I'm blatantly exposed, I'll be so ashamed I'll explode on the spot, I won't be able to live my life anymore.

After thinking it over, Xu Qi'an decided to wait and see what Number One would say first, and then see Number Two's attitude.

If Number Two only gets a basic understanding, or Number One only reveals superficial information, then you don't need to pay attention to it.

[Two: What do you want?]

[One: You can owe it.]

[Two: No problem, please go ahead. I will assess the value based on the information you provide.]

[1: Xu Qi'an was originally a lowly servant in the Changle County attached to the capital. He was of low rank and had no special abilities. Until three months ago, his uncle lost the tax silver while escorting it and was sentenced to beheading. His Majesty was still furious and implicated Xu Household's entire family, exiling them to the frontier.]

[But to everyone's surprise, the tax evasion case was solved on the third day after it occurred, and Xu Qi'an was acquitted.]

Hearing this, the little girl from Southern Frontier, Number Five, couldn't help but exclaim, "[She's so lucky!]"

She had barely finished speaking when Number One retorted, "[No, it was he who solved the tax silver case. He solved it from scratch, while imprisoned, using only the case files, a case that had been a major headache for the government, the Bureau of Astronomy, and the Nightwatchers.]"

This thought simultaneously arose in the minds of every member of the Heaven and Earth Society.

So that's how it is. No wonder he was able to sit next to Governor Zhang, no wonder he could so easily reveal the Secret Method of the seedless loquat. Even though this young man is a lecher, one cannot deny that he has a strong ability to solve cases. He came for Yang Chuannan, and for the matter of the Nightwatchers Anzi dying in Yunzhou.

Number Two suddenly realized.

[Second: I understand, thank you for your answer.]

[One: Ha, you think his abilities are limited to this?]

What does this mean? Does this gong-wielding Xu Qi'an have other achievements? The members of the Heaven and Earth Society perked up, waited a moment, and sure enough, they saw another message from Number One:

[Regarding the Sangbo case that No. 3 kept mentioning a while ago, do you know who the presiding official of the Nightwatchers's office was? It was this person.]

[Before the Sangbo case, Xu Qi'an participated in a raid on the home of a corrupt official. Enraged by the humiliation of the official's family by his superiors, he slashed at a silver gong with a knife, nearly killing him on the spot. He was subsequently imprisoned and sentenced to be cut in half at the waist.]

Numbers four and five were filled with awe.

Number Two's eyes lit up slightly, and he suddenly felt a great liking for Xu Qi'an, the gong, which was an appreciation of his character.

The chivalrous and righteous heroine Fei Yan admires the chivalrous heroes of the martial world who draw their swords to help those in need. Although Xu Qi'an is a henchman of the imperial court, this does not diminish his worth.

Number One continued, "Because of his outstanding ability to solve cases, after the Sangbo case occurred, His Majesty ordered him to take on the case and allowed him to redeem himself through meritorious service."

[This person is quick-witted and intelligent. During the investigation, he also solved the case of Princess Pingyang's disappearance. You all know about this, as Number Three mentioned it before. However, the Sangbo case was once at a stalemate. If it weren't for Number Two finding Zhou Chixiong, the commander of the Golden Guard, Xu Qi'an would have been executed by being cut in half at the waist.]

[So, you actually did him a favor.]

Seeing this, Xu Qi'an had no choice but to say something: [Yes, but he doesn't know you exist; he's only grateful to me.]

How embarrassing!

Next, Number One recounted the inside story of how Xu Qi'an exposed the collusion between Qi Dang and the Witch God Cult, and their support of the mountain bandits in Yunzhou.

The fact that this whole thing started because of him left Number Two with incredibly mixed feelings.

Hearing this, she roughly understood the whole story and realized that the gong she had seen at the banquet was even more outstanding than she had expected.

He is a formidable figure who cannot be ignored.

[One: In addition, Xu Qi'an is proficient in Alchemy and has a close relationship with the white-robed Bureau of Astronomy. Before joining the Nightwatchers, he had been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice due to the revenge of the son of Vice Minister Zhou, but he was rescued unharmed by the white-robed Bureau of Astronomy and the great scholar of the Cloud Deer Academy Ministry of Justice. ]

Having a close relationship with the white-robed official of the Bureau of Astronomy, Number Two recalled Xu Qi'an's unique sword and nodded slightly, confirming his suspicions.

[Four: Wait, a great scholar from the Cloud Deer Academy has come to the rescue?]

Number Four's reaction was too sharp. Xu Qi'an swallowed, feeling a sense of crisis that he would soon be doxxed.

"It's understandable that Number One investigated me, after all, during my time in the capital, I rose to prominence due to the Sangbo case and the tax silver case, becoming the focus of attention in the capital's officialdom. However, Number One's understanding of me only began after I joined the Nightwatchers."

Thinking of this, Xu Qi'an's heart stirred, and he tentatively asked, "[The Vice Minister Zhou master Zhou is seeking revenge. Hmm, if I remember correctly, the mastermind behind the tax silver case is the Vice Minister Zhou. It's just that Xu Qi'an is extremely lucky; the Young Master Zhou is being purged for abducting the Zhang family's illegitimate daughter.]"

Cloud Deer Academy, which had planted spies in the Nightwatchers's office, should naturally know the truth behind the tax silver case.

Xu Qi'an wanted to test whether Number One knew about his actions in framing Zhou Li.

To his disappointment, Number One did not respond, seemingly acknowledging that Xu Qi'an was very lucky.

[One: The great scholar of the Cloud Deer Academy saved him for two reasons: First, he had written a poem and given it to the Layman Ziyang. Second, his cousin was a student of the Cloud Deer Academy and had already passed the imperial examination.]

Xu Qi'an's cousin was a student at the Cloud Deer Academy and even passed the imperial examination to become a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). Xu Qi'an was forced to take on the Sangbo case to atone for his crimes. During that time, Number Three was extremely concerned about the Sangbo case, even spending hundreds of taels of silver to have Number Two escort Zhou Chixiong to the capital and hand him over to the Cloud Deer Academy. What is the relationship between Number Three and Xu Qi'an? And what is their relationship with his cousin?

Number Four's spirits lifted; he felt he had discovered a key point. Excited by this discovery, he actively used his brain to explore other connections:

When the Sangbo case first Sword Qi out, Number Three quickly obtained firsthand information. During the ancestral worship ceremony, the Nightwatchers was guarding Cloud Deer Academy near Sangbo. The intention was to plant a spy in the Nightwatchers's office. If the spy was a family member of a student of the academy, then trust could be guaranteed.

Got it, number three is that cousin, Xu Qi'an's cousin!

Number Four couldn't help but want to burst into laughter. In that case, when he went to the capital after spring, he wouldn't have to search for a needle in a haystack; he could go directly to Number Three with a clear objective.

That cousin!