Chapter 1879: 1876: Dewen Temple

Chapter 1879: Chapter 1876: Dewen Temple

Bai Lan lowered her head: “I agree to cooperate with Lord Chu.”

“Heh, aren’t you afraid I’ll suspect you two have an affair just by saying that?” Xiao Tianhao said without showing any emotion.

Bai Lan curled her lips: “If Minister Xiao thinks so, then we do.”

Xiao Tianhao squinted his eyes, “Saintess, we have treated you courteously before because you’re a smart person. If you do not cooperate, don’t blame me for using torture on a woman.”

Except at the very beginning when a whip was used on Bai Lan, afterwards, she was just tied up, and no further torture was administered.

His words were clearly meant to warn her.

Bai Lan’s expression did not change; she merely repeated her previous words.

Xiao Tianhao looked displeased by Bai Lan’s attitude, while pondering over what she intended to do.

After leaving the cell, the Deputy General beside him finally spoke, hesitantly: “Sir, could there be some cooperation between Lord Chu and the Sacred Girl of Southern Border?”

“Why do you say that?” Xiao Tianhao asked, maintaining his composure.

The Deputy General shook his head: “I’m just worried; I always feel the Southern Border Saintess treats Lord Chu differently, always willing to disclose information only to him. If Lord Chu is hiding something, we wouldn’t know.”

“Didn’t you position other subordinates nearby?” Xiao Tianhao knew that the analysis was reasonable but emphasized that facts still required evidence.

The Deputy General nodded, then glanced at him with some guilt: “It’s just… there’s a distance, and the Southern Border Saintess is a woman, her voice is small, so we always catch only bits of the conversation.”

Xiao Tianhao’s lips pressed into a straight line: “Your concern is valid.”

“Then, sir, what should we do?” The Deputy General was also somewhat hesitant as he didn’t want Lord Chu to act against their interests, but they were loyal only to the emperor, and cannot defy orders, no matter the fondness towards Chu Heng, the Emperor Xuanming takes precedence.

“I will rearrange things.” Xiao Tianhao said firmly after thinking it over.

The Deputy General hesitated after hearing this, but seeing Xiao Tianhao’s resolute expression, he couldn’t help but defend Chu Heng: “This is merely a small speculation, there’s no evidence to suspect Lord Chu is adverse to us.”

“I know.” Xiao Tianhao patted him on the shoulder.

He still didn’t relent.

The Deputy General left reluctantly.

He did not offer any explanation because the reason was simple: he would investigate thoroughly, which might ultimately benefit Chu Heng.

But such words, he wouldn’t share with anyone.

The guards in the dungeon tightened further.

One could say even a mosquito could not escape.

Yet when no one noticed, a Gu insect silently landed on the two changing guards.

“Are there mosquitoes?” One young guard reached up to swat his neck, frowned, and said impatiently.

The other guard felt a slight pain on his leg, couldn’t resist scratching: “Hmm, a bit, let’s wear mosquito-repellent sachets starting tomorrow.”

Their conversation seemed ordinary; no one noticed anything unusual.

At the same time, Bai Yao in the prison felt a metallic taste in her mouth, and only after a long while did she manage to suppress the urge to vomit.

At the temple outside the city.

Chu Heng led a group of soldiers at the fastest possible speed, and the dense mass of soldiers soon surrounded the entire temple.

He strode inside quickly.

The dilapidated temple was silent.

Suddenly a group of people arrived, and a young monk hurried over upon hearing the noise.