Chapter 1169: Killing Intent
While Qi Xuansu was presiding over the Daoist Mansion Council in Thanglong Prefecture, Zhang Yuelu returned to Lion City all alone, leaving Ke Qingqing to help out Qi Xuansu. After all, Zhang Yuelu’s primary responsibility was investigation, and the case had largely been concluded, with the suspects apprehended. What followed was mainly interrogation, which was handled by professionals from the Fengxian Hall and the Beichen Hall, making it unnecessary for Zhang Yuelu to personally intervene. Thus, whether Ke Qingqing stayed or not made little difference, since she was not a specialist in this area to begin with.
On the contrary, Qi Xuansu was involved in many substantive affairs, such as restructuring the Nanyang United Trade Company and handling post-disaster relief. These matters demanded considerable time and energy, and Qi Xuansu genuinely needed an assistant while his secretary was in prison.
This arrangement also allowed Ke Qingqing to take things a bit easier, sparing her from running back and forth between the two sides.
After returning to Lion City, Zhang Yuelu first visited Lin Yuanmiao, who had been injured in the line of duty. She then took over Tianfu Palace.
Of course, in name, she was just providing guidance to comply with procedure. She only offered suggestions and did not issue orders directly. The actual commands were still given by Xie Jiaofeng. Whether to listen was up to them, and whether to speak was up to her.
Little Yin and Xie Jiaofeng were not so pleased with this arrangement. The easygoing Old Qi had left, and the hard-to-please Second Deputy Zhang had arrived. Their good days were over.
It was almost common knowledge among the Daoist upper ranks that Second Deputy Zhang was notoriously difficult to deal with. Some even likened her to the fifth-generation Grand Master in temperament. While that might be an exaggeration, it still showed that Second Deputy Zhang was no easy character and not someone who could be easily pleased.
This time, Zhang Yuelu’s return was not about Wang Jiaoyan, but Chen Jianqiu.
Whether for the interests of the Zhang family or for Qi Xuansu’s broader plans, they could not allow Chen Jianqiu to fall into Wang Jiaohe’s hands.
Thus, she repeatedly instructed Star Lord Yuheng to ensure Chen Jianqiu’s safety.
In fact, even without Zhang Yuelu’s reminder, Star Lord Yuheng would have done so anyway. After all, they were all members of the Ziguang Society, and Chen Jianqiu’s status was special. After Qi Xuansu designated her as the Queen of the Yu Kingdom, Chen Jianqiu became a special member directly under True Lord Ziguang rather than a subordinate of Star Lord Yuheng.
This was a hidden danger. If True Lord Ziguang were to exploit Chen Jianqiu’s status to cause trouble, such as stealing dragon qi, Qi Xuansu would have to bear responsibility as well. Yet under the circumstances at the time, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to do so.