Book 07 Chapter 027: Browbeating

A spy?

What a laughable word. The eight before Gu Hai were his trusted men whom he had raised. To think there was a spy among them? This came as an exceptional surprise.

Gu Hai did not have time to investigate previously, as Sect Master Heavenly Access had attacked. Now, he had to find the spy as soon as possible.

The Han Imperial Dynasty could not afford internal conflicts. He also wanted to find that spy and ask why? What benefits had the Wu Imperial Dynasty promised him to get him to defect?

“We looked at the records from the recent battles between the Wu Nation and Han Nation. Only the eight of you knew the detailed plan before that,” Gu Hai said seriously.

The eight nodded.

“Back then, you took many precautions to prevent the plan from leaking. It could be called perfect. However, you still suffered an overwhelming defeat when you fought the Wu Imperial Dynasty. The enemy was aware of your movements, and Gao Xianzhi and Ao Shun nearly died. However, they escaped and returned alive. A spy? Hah! How laughable!” Gu Hai said coldly.

Although Gu Hai spoke aggressively, the eight did not feel upset. After all, his cold tone was meant for that spy. If they were not that spy, it did not refer to them.

“Two days ago, there was a scene where Mo Yike tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate Gu Qin and Meng Tai? Furthermore, the spy even worked with other spies to cause trouble? Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! This is our first time seeing someone scheming within our home!” Gu Hai said as he coldly surveyed everyone.

The eight frowned slightly as they looked at one another.

“Let’s start from two days ago. Gu Qin, you go first. Who tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate you? What was the situation then?” Gu Hai asked.

Gu Qin nodded. “Two days ago, Mo Yike came to my residence and said he knew where the spy was but was not sure, so he invited me to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s headquarters to seek Meng Tai to mobilize the Embroidered Uniform Guard to find the spy.”

“Oh? Mo Yike sought you out? If he knew the spy’s location, why didn’t he go find Meng Tai himself? Why bring you along?” Gu Hai asked seriously.

Mo Yike also stared at Gu Qin.

Suspecting Gu Qin was not without reason. Gu Qin had previously betrayed the Han Imperial Dynasty, becoming one of Guan Qi’s nine inheritors and obeying only Old Mister Guan Qi. He had even brought the black tortoise race to attack the Han Nation when Chen Tianshan managed it.

Everyone looked at Gu Qin with suspicion. Could he be the spy?

“I do not know!” Gu Qin shook his head.

“You don’t know? Hah! Back then, there was no Embroidered Uniform Guard in that courtyard in the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s headquarters. Did you send them away?” Gu Hai asked seriously.

Gu Qin nodded. “Yes. Lord Mo said we required utmost secrecy, so I…”

“Did you clearly see Mo Yike?” Gu Hai asked.

“I saw him. He looked exactly the same.” Gu Qin nodded.

“You noticed nothing wrong?” Gu Hai asked indifferently.

“I only felt something off later on.”

“Oh?”

“Lord Mo is a cautious person. When investigating a spy, it would be better if fewer people knew. Why would he tell me? I once thought he planned to a.s.sa.s.sinate me and blame it on Lord Meng, but…”

“Did he have to do that in person?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then are you sure it was him at that time?” Gu Hai asked.

“I…”

“Listen carefully to our question. We are not asking about his appearance. Instead, are you sure it was Mo Yike?” Gu Hai asked coldly.

“I…” Gu Qin’s face sank.

Now, Gu Qin realized everything had been too strange. It might not have been Mo Yike.

“We hope you are not lying to us!” Gu Hai coldly eyed Gu Qin.

“I don’t dare to!” Gu Qin’s face sank.

Then, Gu Hai turned to Mo Yike.

“Mo Yike, Gu Qin said that he saw you and that you tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate him. What do you say to that?” Gu Hai asked.

“This official did not do that. Back then, Duke Tianshan sent a letter asking me to meet him at his residence. This official did not know about the crown prince and Lord Meng,” Mo Yike replied gravely.

“However, Gu Qin said he saw you. Meng Tai also said he saw you. How do you explain that?” Gu Hai asked.

“This official has no way of explaining that. Perhaps someone used a special method to make his appearance the same as mine. Furthermore, that expert in the Wu Nation is very scheming and has plotted this for a long time, targeting this official. However, even if this official wanted to a.s.sa.s.sinate the crown prince, I would not do it personally,” Mo Yike replied seriously.

“That might not be the case. Precisely because everyone believes you would not take personal action, it would be effective if you did so,” Gu Hai said coldly.

Mo Yike’s face sank. “Your Reverence, this official did not a.s.sa.s.sinate the crown prince. If the crown prince and Meng Tai saw me, it was unquestionably someone with the same appearance.”

“The same appearance? Hah! Shangguan Heng, your Eight Nines Profound Technique came from us. It’s one thing if only Meng Tai saw wrong. However, the crown prince also did. That impersonation is too good, right?” Gu Hai commented coldly as he turned to Shangguan Hen.

“Your Reverence, this official’s conscience is clear. I have not done such a despicable thing!” Shangguan Hen promptly appeared slightly anxious.

Indeed, he was the only one here capable of the seventy-two transformations. It was one thing if Meng Tai had seen wrong, but the crown prince too? Right now, there were grounds for suspecting him.

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“We do not know who it is for now. However, we recall when everyone was blaming Mo Yike, Kong Xuan, you interjected once, expressing suspicion of Shangguan Hen?” Gu Hai looked at Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan’s face immediately sank. “Your Reverence, you suspect me?”

“Not for now. However, I have to understand the situation clearly to find the spy,” Gu Hai said seriously.

“This official only felt that it was unlikely Mo Yike. Given his wisdom, would he let others see him if he were the a.s.sa.s.sin? Furthermore, who was better at transformations than Shangguan Hen?” Kong Xuan frowned.

“So, anyone who can transform is Shangguan Hen? You judged too quickly. Back then, the situation was chaotic. Your subjective judgment only caused the situation to go out of control. Everyone suspected Mo Yike. If Mo Yike and Shangguan Hen had gone against each other, it could have led to Mo Yike dying there!” Gu Hai said.

Kong Xuan’s expression changed. Then he lowered his head and said, “Yes. This official did not think it through.”

If Mo Yike had also blamed Shangguan Hen, Shangguan Hen would definitely have turned defensive and pitted himself against Mo Yike as the clamoring officials had. While the others could do nothing about Mo Yike, Mo Yike would die if Shangguan Hen attacked.

Given this, Kong Xuan seemed suspicious as well.

The atmosphere in the palace hall turned heavy.

Then Gu Hai looked at Chen Tianshan. “Tianshan, we trust you the most. That’s why we handed the Han Imperial Dynasty to you to manage. We want to know why your trusted aide went to find Mo Yike with such coincidental timing.”

“This…this official does not know. That trusted aide committed suicide,” Chen Tianshan said bitterly.

“Committed suicide? Hah! Everything ends there, then!” Gu Hai said coldly.

Chen Tianshan’s expression turned solemn, his face sinking.

Everyone here was Gu Hai’s trusted aide. Naturally, no one wanted Gu Hai to suspect them. However, Gu Hai only seemed fair because he suspected everything and everyone. Likewise, this suspicion caused Chen Tianshan’s heart to skip a beat.

“This official does not know! This official has failed in his duties!” Chen Tianshan immediately pleaded guilty.

However, Gu Hai did not say more to Chen Tianshan. Instead, he suddenly turned to Meng Tai.

“Meng Tai, what about you?” Gu Hai asked indifferently.

“This…this official did not handle the situation well, causing chaos. Furthermore, this official failed to discover the countless spies in the city. I have neglected my duties over the past two years. Your Reverence, please punish me!” Meng Tai said bitterly.

“We are curious. Gu Qin sent the Embroidered Uniform Guards away, waiting for you with Mo Yike in the courtyard within your Embroidered Uniform Guard’s headquarters. To think there was a sound isolation ritual array in the surroundings. Who laid it? Or did you lay it?” Gu Hai asked indifferently.

“This…this official does not know!” Meng Tai broke out in a cold sweat.

“Did you clearly see Mo Yike a.s.sa.s.sinate Gu Qin?” Gu Hai asked.

“No. I saw the crown prince lying in a pool of blood when I entered the hall. Mo Yike’s hood was pulled back, and I saw him holding a b.l.o.o.d.y bamboo cane. He thrust his bamboo cane into my dantian while I was in shock. I… I…,” Meng Tai answered anxiously.

“Are you sure it was Mo Yike?” Gu Hai asked.ƒ?ℯ???????e?. ???

“This official saw someone with Mo Yike’s appearance. However, I do not know if it actually was Mo Yike.” This time, Meng Tai did not dare claim to be certain.

“Hah! We looked through the information Chen Tianshan sent over and found these spies in the city. Seventy percent of them took part in the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s recruitment. They were all excellent but did not get chosen for some reason. What do you think was going on?” Gu Hai asked indifferently.

Meng Tai’s expression immediately changed. “Your Reverence, that is an attempt to frame me! I don’t know them! They have nothing to do with the Embroidered Uniform Guard!”

“What about the ritual array at your headquarters? Also, those spies only caused trouble after you shouted. They seemed to obey your command,” Gu Hai said coldly.

Plop!

Meng Tai dropped to his knees. “Your Reverence, the sun and moon can bear witness to this official’s loyalty! I absolutely did not betray the Han Nation. These are all set up to target me! It is a setup!”

“Get up!” Gu Hai said seriously.

Meng Tai remained horrified as the evidence seemed to point to him.

“We did not say it was you. Why are you so anxious?” Gu Hai said indifferently.

“Yes! Yes!” Beads of sweat appeared on Meng Tai’s forehead as he sat down.

“Gao Xianzhi, you have followed us since you were a mortal. We do not want to find out it was you in the end,” Gu Hai said coldly.

Gao Xianzhi’s face sank. “This official’s conscience is clear!”

Gu Hai smiled faintly but did not continue looking at Gao Xianzhi, instead turning to Ao Shun.

“Prime Ao Shun!” Gu Hai said.

Ao Shun looked at Gu Hai.

“We have two questions for you. We hope you will answer honestly,” Gu Hai said seriously.

“Your Reverence, please speak!” Ao Shun nodded.

“Who is the person you care about the most in this world now?” Gu Hai asked.

Ao Shun suddenly fell silent.

However, Gu Hai kept staring at him.

“Who do I care about the most? Haha! Perhaps it is Ao Sheng, that younger brother of mine.” Ao Shun’s expression turned stiff.

“Ao Sheng? Then do you know who Ao Sheng hates the most?” Gu Hai asked.

Ao Shun frowned at Gu Hai, showing mixed emotions. Gu Hai was in no hurry, waiting patiently.

Ao Shun only spoke after a while. “Probably me!”

“You are not telling the truth!” Gu Hai’s eyes turned cold.

Ao Shun’s expression immediately changed. “No! Your Reverence! Every word is true!”

“Every word is true? Good. We shall wait and see. I hope you remember these two questions!” Gu Hai said coldly.

Ao Shun’s face twitched slightly as he nodded and frowned.

In this short time, Gu Qin, Mo Yike, Shangguan Hen, Kong Xuan, Chen Tianshan, Meng Tai, Gao Xianzhi, and Ao Shun had all suffered Gu Hai’s browbeating.

Now, none of them looked relaxed as they faced Gu Hai. Although they still appeared natural, they could not hide the frustration in their eyes.

This frustration came from Gu Hai’s not pointing out the spy’s ident.i.ty despite his censure of them. Keeping quiet, they stared at Gu Hai, waiting for him to pa.s.s judgment.

Who is the spy? Does His Reverence suspect me? It can’t be me. Who is it?