Luo Ge said, “You’ll know once you get there.”
Li Xiaofei shook his head and replied, “I still have things to take care of.”
Luo Ge replied, “Don’t you want to wash away the accusation of killing the City Lord? Even if you don’t care about your own name, shouldn’t you at least consider your daughter?”
Li Xiaofei narrowed his eyes and asked, “Am I to take that as a threat?”
Luo Ge shook her head. “I’m only offering you a better option.”
After a brief moment, she added, “Killing Song Jinglun doesn’t mean everything is over. If you don’t resolve the deeper issue, you and your Earth No. 1818 will never be able to stand in the light with dignity.”
Li Xiaofei thought for a moment, then said, “What you’re saying makes some sense. But why should I believe that you can handle something ?”
Luo Ge said, “Meeting someone won’t cost you anything. I can stake my life on this; you won’t be in any danger.”
Li Xiaofei looked at her. The woman was tall, though not bulky. Her broad frame gave her a rare kind of valiant presence, something ordinary girls seldom had. Her face wasn’t stunningly beautiful, but it was dignified and poised, well-suited to her stature.
Her eyes were the classic phoenix shape; they were sharp and elegant. There was determination and clarity in her gaze.
Li Xiaofei considered it, then said, “Fine. I’ll trust you once.”
Luo Ge nodded, then turned and walked toward the outer reaches of the planet.
A faint shattering sound echoed as a flash of emerald green light flickered in the darkness. A face of unparalleled beauty appeared. She reached out, picked up the jade token in front of her, and looked at the cracks spreading across its surface.
A sigh escaped her as she said, “Song Jinglun is actually dead.”
Disbelief continued to dance in her eyes as the jade token crumbled into powder in her palm. She continued, “The Black Armored Heavenly Soldiers were fully deployed, and they even brought two Heavenly Generals. Yet they were completely wiped out... What a useless fool!”
After a moment of thought, she turned and left the secret chamber. Sunlight fell upon her exquisite face, outlining a cold and detached expression.
“Madam, why have you summoned me?” Zhou Chenglong hastily rushed in.
As the head of the Commerce Division, everyone had long known that he had one glaring weakness; he was afraid of his wife.
Lin Yi said, “Spread the word, the City Lord is dead.”
“What?” Zhou Chenglong was shocked by her words. His face was full of disbelief and astonishment. “City Lord Song... That can’t be. He had Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals guarding him. How could this happen? Could there be a mistake?”
Lin Yi’s gaze turned cold.
A chill ran down Zhou Chenglong’s spine. He immediately said, “Yes, I’ll take care of it right away.”
Lin Yi added, “The one who assassinated the City Lord goes by the alias Li Qingchen. His real name is Li Xiaofei, from Base Star No. 89876. He is one of Chang’e’s people, Chang’e is an extremely dangerous fugitive of Heaven. Announce it across the entire city; anyone who encounters him must report to the authorities immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of it right now.” Zhou Chenglong dared not delay a moment longer. He turned and left immediately.
His attitude toward his wife had gone beyond mere fear. It was a reverent dread, like that of a subordinate toward a superior.
Lin Yi paused at the doorway for a long time, then turned and walked toward the backyard. As the residence of the master of the Commerce Division, the vast estate was filled with rockeries and pavilions. There were hundreds of servants to take care of the estate. Most of those residing in the rear courtyard were maids and household attendants.
Many servant girls stepped aside the moment they saw Lin Yi, bowing respectfully. Lin Yi’s face remained expressionless as she finally arrived at the laundry room in the rear courtyard.
Some time ago, her personal maid Yu'er had made a mistake by breaking a valuable jade bracelet. As punishment, she had been demoted from her esteemed position as a personal maid to a menial servant in the laundry room.
“Madam.” Upon seeing Lin Yi, everyone in the laundry room immediately stopped their work and saluted.
One young woman stood out among them. She had fair skin and delicate features, with a tall figure, a swan-like neck and an oval face. Her appearance was striking even in a crowd. It was none other than Yu'er, the former personal maid.
“All of you, leave.” Lin Yi waved her hand and said, “Yu'er, stay.”
“Yes, Madam.” The maids all bowed and exited in turn.
They couldn’t help but feel moved in their hearts. Madam clearly still had feelings for her former personal maid. Though she had punished her with a demotion, she had come to visit after only half a month. In the past, Madam might not even set foot in the laundry room more than once a year.
The room grew quiet. Lin Yi waved her hand and the door shut. Yu'er, who had been bowing low without daring to lift her head, slowly straightened. Her posture became perfectly upright, and there was a light in her eyes that didn’t belong to a servant.
She looked at Lin Yi and asked, “What happened?”
Lin Yi bowed in return, her tone respectful. “Song Jinglun is dead. He died at the hands of Li Xiaofei.”
Yu'er frowned slightly, but her expression showed little surprise.
“He’s been getting more and more disobedient these past years, trying to go his own way. It’s just as well that he’s dead,” Yu'er spoke calmly.
This maid who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen spoke of the City Lord’s death in a tone of indifference.
She said, “Choose a new one. Someone more obedient.”
“Understood.” Lin Yi responded respectfully, “May I ask, Master, how should we deal with Li Xiaofei?”
Yu'er replied questioningly, “Do you even need to ask? Of course, kill him.”
Lin Yi said, “Surveillance has detected some unusual movements from that old man. He sent his female Heavenly General, Luo Ge, out on some errand. I’m worried that he might interfere at a critical moment.”
Yu'er replied coolly, “An old and dying dog that’s lost its master, yet he’s still unwilling to give up... Hmph, don’t worry. If he refuses to behave, I’ll take care of him myself.”
“That means both the High Chancellor and the City Lord will need to be replaced,” Lin Yi said.
Yu'er’s eyes fell on her face. Suddenly, she reached out and lifted Lin Yi’s chin with her fingertip. “What a beautiful face. Even in Heaven, such beauty is rare. But your ambition... it’s even more beautiful than your face.”
Lin Yi’s body trembled slightly out of fear.
Yu'er suddenly laughed. “You’ve endured all these years just to become the City Lord, haven’t you? I’ll help you. Once we take care of this little nuisance Li Xiaofei and find Chang’e, you’ll be the new Lord of Chongque City.”
Ecstasy spread across Lin Yi’s face as she replied, “Thank you, Master, for your favor.”
“Go on.” Yu'er gently stroked Lin Yi’s face. “Do your work well, and everything you desire will come true.”
Lin Yi knelt down to express her gratitude. Then she stood up and walked out, her face alight with excitement.
After a few steps, she seemed to remember something and turned back, saying, “Master, regarding that traitor Angrus, there have been new traces of him in the city recently. Some signs suggest that he’s still hiding somewhere within Chongque City.”
“A single Li Xiaofei has already stirred up the waters inside and out so much. Even those stray dogs are growing restless and trying to take advantage of the chaos... After all these years of baiting the hook, it’s time to cast the lure. Let’s draw him out and finish them all together.”
A cold light flickered in Yu'er’s eyes. Her expression had barely changed even when she had heard of Song Jinglun’s death. But the moment the name Angrus was spoken, a murderous intent surged within her, leaking out in faint threads that she could hardly suppress. Her expression was no longer calm and indifferent.
“Yes,” Lin Yi responded quickly. She had sensed the change immediately and dared not linger. She turned and left at once.
The moment she opened the door, her expression shifted into one of noble aloofness. She said nothing as she walked away. The servant girls outside all bowed respectfully as she passed.
It was only after Lin Yi had walked far into the distance that they began to chatter among themselves and return to the laundry room.
“Little Yu, did Madam forgive you?”
“Are you going to be reassigned to the front courtyard?”
“Sister, could you put in a good word for me too? Help me get a duty in the front courtyard!”
The cheerful and lively girls crowded around Little Yu, full of innocent excitement.