# Chapter 16: Clues
"What did I do before? Regarding the death of Duke Silverfeather, I express my deep condolences."
Su Xiao naturally wouldn't mourn Duke Silverfeather's death. Under Bubu Wang's surveillance, at least four groups of assassins were connected to this man. If he wasn't dealt with quickly, who knew how many more assassins would come afterward.
"Even if Duke Silverfeather's matter has nothing to do with you, your subordinate's soldiers trespassed into the Imperial Parliament Hall. This is the Holy City, not Wu Fu's jurisdiction to guard here. Your soldiers directly clashed with the City Guard—nine hundred men in total."
Princess Shaye knew it was useless to press deeper into the Duke Silverfeather matter, so she began questioning Su Xiao's overstepping of authority. If this charge could be established, it would be enough to expel him from the Holy City.
"Nine hundred soldiers clashed with the Holy City Guard? Is that so? I only had my personal guards bring people into the Parliament Hall. As for this large-scale conflict you mention..."
Before Su Xiao could finish, chaotic shouts came from outside the hall. A guard quickly ran to Shaye's side and whispered something to her.
"Let him in."
Shaye's expression suggested she was ready to lunge forward and snap Su Xiao's neck at any moment.
A man in silver armor with a stubbly face entered the hall. He knelt on one knee beside Su Xiao.
"Lord, this subordinate deserves death."
The newcomer was a Thousand Commander. The empire's military ranks were relatively simple: Supreme Commander, Legion Commander, Ten Thousand Commander, Thousand Commander, Hundred Commander, then Battalion Leader, Company Leader, Squad Leader, and so on.
"What did you do?"
"Subordinate... led men into conflict with the City Guard."
"For what reason?"
"Last night, subordinate had a disagreement with Legion Commander Huntington. I was beaten severely in the western district. Feeling wronged, this morning I..."
Before the kneeling Thousand Commander could finish, Shaye interrupted.
"Can you bear this? Think carefully before speaking."
Shaye gathered her silver hair and tied it up.
"Your Highness, this was indeed my personal fault. Please punish me."
"Fine."
Shaye drew the slender sword at her waist and stepped toward the Thousand Commander. Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed the back of his neck.
The crimson energy in Shaye's hand had just surged into the Thousand Commander's body when, unexpectedly, his body went limp and collapsed.
Under Shaye's orders, doctors immediately came forward. Five doctors happened to be present—after failing to revive Duke Silverfeather, they quickly attended to the Thousand Commander. The result surprised Shaye: the Thousand Commander had died from excessive fright.
A Thousand Commander who had once served on the frontier died from fright? Anyone with common sense knew something was wrong. But the indisputable fact was that Shaye had grabbed the back of this man's neck, and he died immediately.
When people suffer severe fright, the brain instructs the adrenal glands to secrete large amounts of catecholamines—a neurotransmitter including adrenaline and noradrenaline—causing sudden acceleration of heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, sharply increased myocardial oxygen consumption. The rapid blood circulation crashes against the heart like a flood, tearing myocardial fibers, causing cardiac hemorrhage, leading to cardiac arrest and death.
If Shaye knew why people died from fright, she might have had a chance to refute this. This was the disadvantage of lacking education.
"Shaye, you killed my man. Though he would have been sentenced to death, it shouldn't be you to execute him."
Su Xiao naturally knew how the Thousand Commander died. As compensation, his eldest son would work under Wu Fu, his second son in the military would be appointed Ten Thousand Commander, and his only daughter would marry a Legion Commander's eldest son.
Among three candidates, Wu Fu had specifically recommended this Thousand Commander. His lungs had been pierced on the front lines—he wouldn't live past forty at most.
"A Thousand Commander who served on the front lines... frightened to death by me."
Shaye lowered her head, shoulders trembling slightly. She was laughing—a devouring, predatory laugh.
Duke Silverfeather's body was quickly taken away, along with the Thousand Commander. Both would undergo subsequent examination.
From beginning to end, everything seemed connected to Su Xiao. But upon careful investigation, neither death had a direct causal link to him.
Between Su Xiao and Duke Silverfeather, there was only a unilateral accusation of adultery. Slander? Maggie Virley was indeed pregnant. No one could definitively say the child was Duke Silverfeather's, but no one could prove otherwise either—after all, only a few people regularly interacted with Maggie Virley.
As for the soldiers who clashed with the Holy City Guard outside, the Thousand Commander took sole responsibility. It was a personal grudge. Su Xiao had merely "happened" to have a few soldiers bring people into the Parliament Hall. This could be considered improper conduct, but pinning a specific crime on him was difficult.
Those were Su Xiao's guards. More critically, the Imperial Parliament Hall wasn't an official government department. At worst, it could be considered trespassing on Princess Shaye's property.
For ordinary people, this would indeed be disastrous. But Su Xiao was also royalty—that was another matter entirely. Moreover, Su Xiao was inside the hall.
The number around the council table had decreased from five to four. Bloomer was deep in thought about something. Princess Shaye stared at Su Xiao, her gaze suggesting she might seize him at any moment. As for the Little Duke, he had been distracted ever since watching that recording.
"Everyone, what was today's parliament supposed to discuss? If there's nothing else, I need to investigate who's been secretly trying to assassinate me."
Su Xiao smiled broadly at Bloomer. He was next. Clearly, Duke Silverfeather wasn't that violator.
"Nothing particularly important. Duke Silverfeather's jurisdiction had financial problems. Now... there's no need to discuss this matter."
Bloomer spoke absentmindedly. This old fox was already considering how to swallow Duke Silverfeather's assets. Duke Silverfeather held no military power, but he controlled many resources—minerals, daily necessities, metals, and such.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
As Su Xiao stood to leave, Shaye suddenly spoke:
"Duke Silverfeather can't die so inexplicably. Where exactly did you come from?"
Compared to Bloomer, Shaye's style was clearly more direct. She was hailed as the most likely contender to become the next Black King.
"..."
Su Xiao said nothing, walking toward the hall exit. Shaye didn't press further. Duke Silverfeather had just died, and Shaye's subordinates were already beginning to devour his assets—faster than the old fox Bloomer.
The four power contenders couldn't cooperate sincerely. After all, there was only one throne.
Stepping out of the Parliament Hall, Su Xiao took a deep breath. Though Duke Silverfeather had died cleanly, the subsequent retaliation would be no easy matter.
Seeing Su Xiao exit the hall, the Old Divine Stick, Zuo Si, and others approached. The Saber-haired King had also arrived at some point.
"How was it?"
The Old Divine Stick asked in a low voice.
"Eliminated one. Silverfeather."
"That fast?"
The Saber-haired King also heard Su Xiao's words, clearly surprised. She couldn't help but wonder how Su Xiao had eliminated a power contender in such a short time.
"The process?"
Just as the Saber-haired King finished speaking, she noticed Su Xiao had already walked some distance away.
"The plot is quite complicated, and there are no subtitles. Not suitable for your viewing."
Su Xiao looked at his palm. In his hand was a slowly dissipating colorless scale. Its aura felt somewhat familiar—likely left behind by a violator.
This thing... had been on the Little Duke before.