Chapter 327: Chapter 50 Truth and Lies
In the afternoon, a sudden drizzle began, the pitter-patter of raindrops only serving to accentuate the tranquility of the mansion’s garden.
"At last, we get to meet the Young Master of the Jiang family, and it surely wasn’t easy."
As Xiang Huaiyi and Feng Zheng walked along the corridor, they heard their companion’s sigh tinged with resentment. In a low voice, he said, "Be careful of what you say. He’s not just the current head of the Jiang family; he’s also a fellow disciple of Commandery Princess Qing Yue. Moreover, this is his residence. Even the deputy head of the Southern Heavenly Department wouldn’t dare to be presumptuous here."
Three days had passed since the opening of the Cave Heaven Blessed Land, which also meant the Fourth Prince had been dead for three days.
Although the news of the Fourth Prince’s death had not yet spread among the common people, it was already well-known among the upper echelons.
The death of a prince, especially in the vicinity of the Emperor, was a serious matter. Even though this prince had kept a low profile for many years, recently pursued by the Second Prince, he remained a prince nonetheless.
The Southern Heavenly Department was immediately tasked with the investigation, while the Yin Law Department’s Yin Gods were also secretly sprawling everywhere, yet their investigations had stalled at a certain place, or rather, a certain person.
—Jiang Li!
Jiang Li was one of the survivors who had emerged safely from the Cave Heaven Blessed Land and was currently the only person available for questioning. Logically, the Southern Heavenly Department and the Yin Law Department should have visited him long ago, even asking Jiang Li to stop by their offices.
But Jiang Li had backing.
With Elder Tianxuan’s simple declaration "He needs to recover from his injuries," everyone was kept at bay, with no intent to cooperate, and frustratedly, there was nothing they could do about it.
Only now, three days later, thanks to a bit of face given by Xiang Huaiyi, did they have the opportunity to meet Jiang Li.
After the walkway, the two stepped into the rain, the invisible Qi mechanism repelling the droplets, and they approached a small pavilion by the lake.
"Privy Council Chief Executive Xiang Huaiyi/Feng Zheng, at your service."
The two men bowed their fists towards the figure in the pavilion, who in turn sat up and turned toward them.
"Privy Council Chief Executive, long time no see."
Jiang Li laughed lightly, "I am wounded and may have been impolite. I hope you both will understand."
Dressed in a snug-fitting attire, with a square face resembling a hewn granite’s solidness, one of the visitors was Xiang Shushi who had met Jiang Li several times before.
He too was a member of the Southern Heavenly Department, holding a rank equivalent to Zuo Zhao, who Jiang Li had killed; both were chief executives of the Department.
It was because of Xiang Shushi’s consideration, coupled with the fact that Jiang Li had now achieved his goal, that he was willing to see someone from the Southern Heavenly Department.
As for the other, also dressed in the Southern Heavenly Department attire, he appeared to be in his thirties with a short beard and was of sixth-rank. Standing slightly behind, he must have been a close attendant to Xiang Shushi.
In a single glance, Jiang Li gained a basic understanding of Feng Zheng.
To both of them, Jiang Li’s current appearance was unexpectedly weak, but upon further thought, it seemed reasonable.
Disheveled hair, plain clothes, pallid complexion, his Qi mechanism almost invisible, seated in a dark metallic wheelchair, he looked every bit the picture of someone just recovering from a serious illness.
Next to the wheelchair, on a stone table, stood a lotus-shaped incense burner, burning with heart-penetrating fragrance.
Seeing this, it seemed unlikely Jiang Li could recover, not in three days, and possibly not even in thirty.
Xiang Huaiyi apologized, "Duty compels me, and I had no choice but to come; any disturbance we cause is deeply regretted."
Half a year ago, Xiang Huaiyi could never have imagined he would slightly lower his stance in front of Jiang Li.
Back then, Jiang Li was but a small fry, showing promise, but only managing to be a silent observer during conversations between Gongsun Qingyue and Xiang Huaiyi.
Now, however, Jiang Li was not only famous the world over but also the disciple favored by Tianxuan, and a potential affiliated son-in-law to the Gongsun Family.
These two identities were of great importance!
"It’s not a bother; it’s just a matter of a few words," Jiang Li replied accomodatingly, showing no arrogance, which helped to dissipate the resentment in Feng Zheng’s heart.
Perhaps he was indeed avoiding others for the sake of healing...
This thought quietly manifested in Feng Zheng’s mind.
"Thank you."
As Xiang Huaiyi spoke, he withdrew from his sleeve a small Exotic Beast Jade Statue, resembling a one-horned bovine creature with bear-like feet, indeed the Xiezhi Jade Statue, "This is a Sixth Grade Daoist Device, capable of discerning lies. Given the gravity of the matter, the deputy head of my department ordered this presence, I ask for your understanding."
Jiang Li, of course, possessed a similar Dao Artifact, bestowed by Jiang Wuming, and was thus aware of its effects.
The Xiezhi Dao Fruit was specialized in discerning truth from lies; even a fifth-rank would be detected for veracity in their words.
There were ways to shield against the Xiezhi Dao Fruit’s discerning ability, which someone of Elder Tianxuan’s power could certainly accomplish.
After all, the Xiezhi Dao Fruit was but Sixth Grade, and couldn’t pose a problem to a fourth-ranker.
If it were truly that miraculous, there would have been no need for the effort to root out Jiang Zhuyun’s followers hidden within the Sect; they could have simply used the Xiezhi Dao Artifact to question each one directly.
However, the Dao Artifact was also accompanied by another fourth-rank Secret Technique, able to work with the Xiezhi Dao Artifact to sense fluctuations in Jiang Li’s Divine Soul for additional verification.
Together, this combination might prove surprisingly effective.
Xiang Huaiyi’s gaze swept over the Jade Statue in his hand, then placed it on the stone table in the pavilion, asking, "Do you hold resentment towards the Fourth Prince?"
"Of course there is resentment," Jiang Li stated calmly, "On the day the Fourth Prince fell victim to an assassination by Lawless Freedom, I too was at Iron Pillar Temple and personally sensed the Fourth Prince’s Qi Mechanism and detected the Five Grade Dao Fruit he harbored, which was the Three Corpses God Dao Fruit of the Jiang family in Yun County. With the Fourth Prince harming my clan, how could I not hold resentment?"
The Xiezhi Jade Statue showed no anomaly.
"Have you ever thought about killing the Fourth Prince to avenge your family?" Xiang Huaiyi immediately followed up with another question.
Jiang Li, upon hearing this, slightly lifted his eyelids and fixed his gaze on Xiang Huaiyi.
Even Feng Zheng couldn’t hide his shock.
To ask such a direct question, aren’t you afraid of offending someone?
Before this, Xiang Huaiyi had mentioned that disaster comes from the mouth, how could he forget that now?
Jiang Li looked at Xiang Huaiyi and slowly said, "If I were to say no..."
The Xiezhi Jade Statue immediately emitted a red light.
It was a lie.
"...then it would certainly be false," Jiang Li quickly changed his tone, "As the leader elected by my clansmen, I have indeed thought about avenging my family. Yes, I have harbored thoughts of killing the Fourth Prince."
The Xiezhi Jade Statue returned to normal, indicating the truth.
"Is the death of the Fourth Prince related to you?" Xiang Huaiyi continued to press.
"It is."
Another truth.
Feng Zheng and Xiang Huaiyi’s expressions grew extremely solemn.
And Jiang Li continued, "The Fourth Prince and Zuo Zhao of the Southern Heavenly Department plotted to kill me and pursued me to the outskirts of the ginseng fruit tree within the Dunjia Heaven and Earth. I outsmarted them; Zuo Zhao perished, and the Fourth Prince fled heavily wounded. However, on his way, he encountered Lawless Freedom and was killed by them."
To defeat two fifth-rank individuals, this...
Both listeners were visibly shaken upon hearing this, and upon learning that the Fourth Prince was killed by Lawless Freedom, their shock was tinged with a slight sense of relief.
It’s fortunate it wasn’t this person.
As long as the death of the Fourth Prince wasn’t by Jiang Li’s hand, the situation was not too grave. As for Zuo Zhao, since he had been involved in this turmoil, he should have been prepared for the possibility of his death.
If he had been killed by someone else, the Southern Heavenly Department might still argue on his behalf, even if Zuo Zhao initiated the conflict, but if his killer was Jiang Li...
A different argument would have to be made.
Such was the value of being Tianxuan’s disciple and the Gongsun Family’s affiliated son-in-law.
However, Xiang Huaiyi persisted with his questions, "The Fourth Prince died at the hands of Lawless Freedom, did you expect this at all, or do you have any connection with Lawless Freedom?"
Knowing the culprit, Xiang Huaiyi still had the air of someone hell-bent on getting to the bottom of things, which even surprised Feng Zheng who was standing nearby.
Isn’t it enough to know that the Fourth Prince did not die by Jiang Li’s hand?
Who cares if he was involved or not?
Affiliated sons-in-law and blood relatives committing murder, those are their family affairs. Is this something outsiders could easily meddle in?
Yet Xiang Huaiyi asked anyway, even though he had previously shown goodwill towards both Gongsun Qingyue and Jiang Li, and there had been some camaraderie between them, he still pursued the matter doggedly.
Was he truly determined to uncover the truth?
Or was it a warning coming from behind the scenes?
Jiang Li’s face remained impassive, his speech measured, without a hint of unease or anxiety, as he calmly stated, "I have no connection with Lawless Freedom whatsoever, and it was impossible for me to predict that the Fourth Prince would encounter him during his flight and thus meet his death."
Xiang Huaiyi and Feng Zheng both looked towards the Xiezhi Jade Statue.
The statue showed nothing out of the ordinary, a true statement!
The tense atmosphere seemed to relax a bit at this confirmation, and relief became apparent on Feng Zheng’s face.
"Are you done with your questions? If so, please leave," Jiang Li dismissed them with no hint of politeness.
Xiang Huaiyi, aware that he had exhausted the last bit of their good relations, put away the Xiezhi Jade Statue and bowed with his fist in his palm, "One more thing. The Dao Fruit of Zuo Zhao, it seems, has ended up in your hands. The deputy head of our department has expressed a willingness to pay a price to trade for the Dao Fruit of the Star Sun Horse from you."
The Dao Fruit was of fifth-rank; naturally, it should be retrieved if possible.
"This item has already been given to my master. If you’re interested in trading, then have your department’s deputy head discuss it with my master. You may leave now," said Jiang Li.
...
...
On the way back, Feng Zheng quietly reminded him, "Privy Council Chief Executive, this time... were you perhaps a bit too rash?"
He hesitated for a moment before choosing the word "rash."
Even if one wished to target someone, it would typically be done indirectly. Such directness was more fitting for an inexperienced youth. Xiang Huaiyi, holding the position of Privy Council Chief Executive in the Southern Heavenly Department, should not have acted in such a manner.
Xiang Huaiyi was lost in contemplation, as if his mind was wandering far away, snapping back to reality only upon hearing Feng Zheng’s words.
Yet he did not seem to think there was anything wrong, merely giving a wry smile and saying, "I was merely performing my duty loyally."
As he spoke, his right hand clutched the Xiezhi Jade Statue within his sleeve, and his ears twitched slightly.
’The Xiezhi Jade Statue did not detect any lies, Jiang Li’s Divine Soul’s fluctuations were normal, and his heartbeat, though hastened, was mainly due to my questioning, likely due to anger, with Sharp-Hearing Ear detecting no additional anomalies.’
’Lawless Freedom, it seems, has nothing to do with him.’