Chapter 15

The main hall of the yamen was brightly lit.

Cui Sheng was pressed to his knees below the hall.

The evidence was irrefutable, and Cui Sheng’s face was ashen.

His prison clothes were mottled with bloodstains, clearly bearing the marks of torture.

He was no ordinary merchant at all, but an enemy spy who had been lurking for years.

Using his position as president of the merchants’ guild as a cover, he secretly gathered intelligence and cultivated connections.

The Chiyang Powder found in Xu Kai’s home

was precisely what he had obtained through northern channels.

Xu Minghao had an old injury,

so he had long been taking Chiyang Powder.

This was written in the letter Xu Minghao sent to Cui Sheng a month before coming to Qinglan City to visit relatives.

For Cui Sheng,

this was simply an unexpected boon.

Thus, Cui Sheng and his associates, in order to murder Xu Minghao and obtain military secrets,

prepared for Xu Minghao

that very “Su-style Old Courtyard” planted with osmanthus trees.

“Killing Wang Defa was just to divert your attention!”

Cui Sheng laughed bitterly. “We wanted you to think Wang Defa was silenced for knowing some secret, so you’d get caught up investigating the Ghost Manor vendetta, buying us time to move Xu Minghao’s body…”

I stared at him coldly. “And what about the boot prints?”

“Boot prints?” Cui Sheng gave a twisted smile. “Those were just fake military boot marks we deliberately left behind, to make you suspicious and waste time. I just didn’t expect you wouldn’t linger at all, and so quickly suspect Xu Kai…”

I never overlooked Xu Kai.

Because he knew things a coachman shouldn’t know,

and possessed a composure no coachman should have, every single time.

“If it hadn’t been for that night, when your courtyard caught fire and you needlessly tried to entangle me with Wang Defa’s death, I wouldn’t have suspected you either, Cui Sheng, President Cui! Your acting! Truly impressive!”

Suddenly,

Captain Yin, who stood beside me, struck without warning-a cold dagger silently pressed against my throat!

“Don’t move!”

Captain Yin’s voice was so cold it was unrecognizable.

The whole hall was stunned!

“Captain Yin?! You…” I could hardly believe it.

“Hmph~! He’s no Captain Yin.” Cui Sheng sneered darkly. “He’s Shadow Scale, one of the best undercover agents from the north. The real Captain Yin was dealt with by us on the way to Qinglan City!”

That Shadow Scale gave a cold laugh:

“I’d planned to take the secret letter and leave quietly, but you’re such trouble! No matter. I’ll kill you, and leave all the same.”

So the greatest traitor had been by my side all along.

He used his identity to mislead the investigation and pass on information.

He had even been feigning his stance, manipulating my perception!