Regarding Nianchen’s great name, Zhongxuan Sheng naturally had heard of it long ago.

He was surprised that Lin Youxie actually passed this secret technique to Jiang Wang, but even more surprised...

"Nearby?"

Jiang Wang flew down from the horizontal branch, stepping on the fallen leaves as he walked outward. The rustling sound traveled far in the quiet night, carrying a hint of danger.

Zhongxuan Sheng casually collected a large pile of information into the Storage Box and followed closely with Shisi.

Shisi silently pulled out his Heavy Sword.

The straight-line distance was less than three thousand feet, and after a few segments of circling in the forest, it didn’t exceed four thousand feet.

Finally, they stopped in front of a half-withered old tree.

This tree was neither older than the surrounding trees, nor taller or more decayed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In this rarely visited old forest, it’s just an ordinary tree.

Yet the youngest Marquis of military merit of the Great Qi Empire paused here.

"Her last thought told me she died here."

Jiang Wang looked far away with a faint gaze, as if watching someone come through the forest in the deep night.

Their voice was somewhat ethereal: "The time was in the deep night of May 1st, year 392 of the Dao Calendar, before dawn. At that time, she should have already left Deer Frost County, but for some reason, she was in this wild forest... She should have been fleeing towards us, but the commotion was silenced, and she was caught up here."

Jiang Wang reached out to the tree in front of him: "Right here. I think she indeed discovered something..."

"Who killed her?" Zhongxuan Sheng asked gently, "Did she tell you the answer?"

"No." Jiang Wang shook his head, slowly describing in an emotionless tone, "I only saw a hand, very pale and very cruel."

Shisi watched him silently, feeling that this moment made Jiang Wang particularly cold.

Yet his pain was so clear.

Some kind of guilty feeling made the pain more intense.

"I don’t know whose hand it was." he said.

"That’s okay." Zhongxuan Sheng’s voice was very gentle at this moment: "Lin Youxie already spoke the answer."

Jiang Wang paused, then turned his eyes: "Who is it?"

Zhongxuan Sheng took out several pieces of information and handed them to Jiang Wang, speaking with a stable tone to calm Jiang Wang’s emotions: "I summarized the intelligence of the various forces in Deer Frost County and dissected the current power structure in Deer Frost County, discovering something very strange. Prefectural Governor Luo Zhengchuan, who I remember as quite dexterous, has unexpectedly been marginalized in the Governor Mansion, losing his voice."

"Who marginalized Luo Zhengchuan?" Jiang Wang asked while flipping through the information in his hand.

It can basically be deduced—who is marginalizing Luo Zhengchuan, who is plotting something in Deer Frost County. Of course, anyone can have ambition, as power competition is also a common thing.

But according to Zhongxuan Sheng’s previous judgement, Lin Youxie’s disappearance may have accidentally stumbled upon something. So within the Deer Frost County range, forces with both power and ambition might naturally be related to this matter.

"It’s the Zhou Family," Zhongxuan Sheng said, "but also not the Zhou Family."

Jiang Wang understood: "The Zhou Family is just on the surface?"

"The current key figure in the Zhou Family, Zhou Qingsong, used to be a marginal family elder. Suddenly rose last year, quickly took control of family power, and allowed the Zhou Family’s influence in Deer Frost County to expand rapidly. They attacked the Yan Family, oppressed the Lei Family, marginalized Luo Zhengchuan... It was unknown until now, Deer Frost County’s first aristocratic family should be the Zhou Family."

Zhongxuan Sheng said: "But there’s a very intriguing question. Since the Eleventh Prince passed away, the Lei Family’s influence has fully receded, almost all hands reaching outside the Deer Frost County were severed, and even within Deer Frost County, they frequently suffered blows. But after the rise of the Zhou Family, although the Lei Family’s momentum is still very weak and still considered as summer locusts, they have not suffered any substantial damage."

"This is unreasonable," Jiang Wang said.

Zhongxuan Sheng said: "Yes, with a new ruler ascending, the old ruler should be cleansed. The Zhou Family must step on what was once the first family to rise. After all, Deer Frost County is only so large, and resources are limited. Needless to say, the Lu Ming Wine business, doesn’t the Zhou Family covet it?"

Jiang Wang gradually followed Zhongxuan Sheng’s thinking: "You mean, behind the rise of the Zhou Family, the Lei Family is controlling the situation? But why would the Lei Family do this? The political situation is very stable now; if they have the capability, the competition can entirely be brought onto the table. And didn’t you say Lei Zhanqian’s suspicion has been cleared?"

"That’s why Lei Zhanqian is problematic, for he needs to be as low-profile as possible in leading the Lei Family’s re-emergence. Besides, what I said before was, his public suspicion has been cleared."

Zhongxuan Sheng patiently explained: "What is Lei Zhanqian’s suspicion?

First, the Lei Family is still the face value first aristocratic family in Deer Frost County, most powerful, and most likely to do something.

Second, and most importantly, he appeared in the wild forest the day Lin Youxie disappeared and bumped into Shisi. How huge a suspicion is this?

It’s like having mud on your pants; even if truly innocent, it takes a lot of effort to prove oneself. But did you see Lei Zhanqian make an effort? In that short time we visited the Lei Family, he swiftly managed to wash himself clean."

"But if Lin Youxie’s matter had nothing to do with him, being able to prove his innocence—isn’t that normal?" Jiang Wang asked, "Didn’t we all see that demonic monster?"