Chapter Twenty: Secret Agents in the Northern Desert
Prime Minister’s Residence.
Main Hall.
Su Qingmeng was reporting the case to Su Ming.
“Miss, we’ve searched everywhere, but there’s still no sign of the young master-in-law.”
Outside the door, a young servant rushed in with the news.
“Keep searching!” Su Qingmeng barked angrily.
The servant obeyed, but as soon as he stepped out, he was knocked to the ground by Eleven, who had just returned.
Su Qingmeng looked coldly at the unmoving Eleven. “Where is he?!”
“The young master is at Drunken Moon Tower,” Eleven replied carelessly.
“What’s he doing there?”
“Investigating the case.”
Upon hearing this, Su Qingmeng’s fierce gaze softened slightly. “Investigating?”
Eleven nodded. “He says he’s found a clue and asks you to join him.”
Su Qingmeng glanced at Su Ming, who nodded in approval. “Go.”
With that, Su Qingmeng strode out the door.
She leapt, scarlet true energy shattering the blue stone tiles beneath her feet.
Not far away, the soft neigh of a warhorse could be heard, its iron hooves echoing as it galloped away.
Eleven helped the fallen servant to his feet, then vanished in an instant.
“I never expected a mere attendant beside the heir to possess such remarkable skills,” Fang Zhong remarked in surprise beside Su Ming.
“Him?” Su Ming chuckled softly. “He’s a mystery, indeed.”
...
Drunken Moon Tower.
Fragrant Pavilion.
Su Qingmeng arrived and kicked open the door.
Inside, five beauties stood in a row.
Li Yunjie sat on an ornate wooden chair, his expression grave.
“At last, you’re here,” Li Yunjie said, rising slowly.
“What is the meaning of this?” Su Qingmeng’s gaze swept over the women, displeasure on her face.
Perhaps it was Su Qingmeng’s imposing aura; the women instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Li Yunjie casually took a woman’s wrist and held it out to Su Qingmeng.
“Smell this?”
As commander of the Imperial Guard, Su Qingmeng was accustomed to the clash of steel and horses. She always scorned the powders and perfumes of ordinary women, and naturally could make nothing of them.
“If you have something to say, say it,” Su Qingmeng snapped. “No need for theatrics!”
“I detected this scent of rouge on the deceased,” Li Yunjie said in a low voice.
“This rouge has a fresh overtone, a beguiling finish, rather enchanting.”
“Ordinary women find it too overpowering.”
“It’s favored only by courtesans.”
“And the girls of Drunken Moon Tower especially love it.”
Listening to Li Yunjie’s confident explanation, Su Qingmeng was momentarily struck by the illusion that he was remarkably knowledgeable.
“Speak! Who’s behind this?!”
---
Su Qingmeng’s face changed abruptly, a cold gleam flashed, and her blade was drawn!
Murderous intent filled her gaze.
The women were terrified, clinging to each other in panic.
“Spare us, madam! I know nothing!”
“I know nothing!”
...
Cries for mercy mingled with sobs, making Su Qingmeng’s head ache.
She looked at the trembling women, sword drawn, but felt lost.
Could it be all five were implicated?
She glanced at Li Yunjie, uncertain.
“Well, why not kill them all?” Li Yunjie shrugged. “After all, they’re just courtesans—no one will care.”
Su Qingmeng hadn’t expected such words from Li Yunjie.
Her lips parted, ready to scold him.
“What are you waiting for?” Li Yunjie winked. “Go on, do it!”
“Don’t you want to avenge your subordinate?”
He blinked rapidly as he spoke.
Su Qingmeng raised an eyebrow, catching his meaning.
Scarlet true energy surged, gathering at her sword’s tip.
A bloody afterimage trailed from her eyes as she swept her cold gaze over the five.
“Whoosh!”
In a flash, crimson sword energy erupted, cutting through the ornate wooden door.
The women turned pale as death; some fainted outright.
Only the woman in yellow in the center hesitated for a breath!
“It’s her!” Li Yunjie shouted.
Su Qingmeng reacted instantly, flipping the table toward the woman!
The yellow-clad woman stood unmoving, brought her fingers together before her, and murmured, “Break!”
A blue light formed a barrier before her!
“Crash—”
The table shattered!
“A sorceress?!” Su Qingmeng exclaimed in surprise.
Relying on her agile skills, Su Qingmeng appeared behind the woman in a blink.
With a swift stroke, her blade sang!
The woman’s left shoulder was pierced through by Su Qingmeng’s sword!
“Speak! Who are you?!”
The woman grimaced in pain, cold sweat streaming down her forehead.
“A fourth-rank master, so terrifying…” her voice trembled.
Su Qingmeng slowly twisted her sword, the blade stirring flesh in the wound as fresh blood seeped out.
“Answer me!”
“Was it you who killed the Imperial Guard?”
The agony left the woman pale, her expression twisted in pain.
“He ruined my master’s plans! He deserved to die!” she said, a wicked smile curling her lips.
Suddenly, she formed seals with her hands, chanting an incantation under her breath.
---
Instantly, black smoke filled the room!
“Whoosh!”
Su Qingmeng sliced through the smoke with sword energy, but the yellow-clad woman was already gone!
“Cough, cough…” Li Yunjie waved away the smoke, covering his mouth and nose. “Such a cunning sorceress.”
Su Qingmeng frowned; with skills like hers, she must be at least sixth rank.
“Miss Qingmeng, what is this?” Li Yunjie used his chopsticks as a pen to draw a cloud pattern on the floor.
Su Qingmeng squatted for a closer look, her lips twitching. “Where did you see it?”
“On the woman’s shoulder,” Li Yunjie mused. “When you tore her robe, I caught a glimpse.”
Su Qingmeng’s pupils trembled, confused. “You don’t recognize it?”
“Why should I?” Li Yunjie replied, baffled.
“That cloud pattern is the mark of the Northern Desert Witch Tribe,” Su Qingmeng explained.
“Your father devoted his life to resisting the Northern Desert.”
“Yet as the heir of North Ridge, you don’t recognize the mark of your nemesis!”
Her words were laced with mockery, contempt, and disdain.
Li Yunjie fell silent.
When Li Jia was alive, he never discussed military matters with Li Yunjie.
As he used to say,
“I only hope you grow up safe and sound, free from illness or disaster.”
“Any hardship, I will clear away for you!”
Thus, pampered from birth, Li Yunjie knew nothing of the Northern Desert.
“So, that sorceress was a hidden agent from the Northern Desert?” Li Yunjie finally asked.
Su Qingmeng nodded. “This is no small matter. I must return and report to my father at once.”
...
Prime Minister’s Residence.
Main Hall.
“Father,” Su Qingmeng bowed in greeting. “The Drunken Moon Tower case is solved.”
Su Ming glanced at her calmly, continuing to write official documents without changing expression. “Tell me.”
“There was a hidden agent from the Northern Desert in Drunken Moon Tower!”
“The Imperial Guard was killed by her hand.”
Su Ming asked with interest, “If she was a hidden agent, why risk exposure by committing murder?”
“She said the guard ruined her master’s plans…”
“Master?” Su Ming paused, then shifted the topic. “Did you catch her?”
“No,” Su Qingmeng replied, annoyed. “She’s at least a sixth-rank sorceress, extremely cunning.”
“But I wounded her with my sword. Even if she survives, she’ll suffer greatly.”
Su Ming nodded slightly.
He closed the document on his desk and smiled. “Your husband helped you quite a bit with this case, didn’t he?”
Su Qingmeng hesitated, reluctant. “The heir, Li Yunjie, did provide a key clue.”
“Then tell me, with his talent, what post do you think I should secure for him?” Su Ming asked.
Su Qingmeng was puzzled; he mentioned nothing about the hidden agent from the Northern Desert, yet wanted to arrange an official post for his son-in-law.