Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Han Kuo raised an eyebrow mockingly: "So fast?"

"Yes," Li Yuan said earnestly. "Since he has been wronged, I suggest we release him ahead of schedule."

Han Kuo stared intently at Li Yuan, his eyes turning cold: "Li Yuan, let me remind you, this is the Demon Suppression Division, and nothing here is to be taken lightly."

"I know." Li Yuan nodded. "I trust Brother Han's interrogation skills. Since even you can't get anything out of him, it can only mean that this person is indeed innocent."

Sun Fu was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, this sir is truly insightful; I am indeed innocent."

Han Kuo's gaze swept over, startling Sun Fu so much that he choked on his words and lowered his head, trembling all over.

"Since Lord Ye has entrusted this matter to me, I have the right to decide whether to release him or not." Li Yuan said with a smile, but his words were uncompromising.

Han Kuo stared intently at him, and seeing that he remained unmoved, he snorted coldly: "Suit yourself. Lord Ye values ​​results most. If you act recklessly, we'll see how you explain yourself later."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Li Yuan didn't take it seriously and waved to the jailer: "Take him away first, remove his shackles, and treat him well."

Two jailers lowered Sun Fu from the rack. He collapsed to the ground, gasped for breath, then got up and repeatedly bowed to Li Yuan, saying, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

Li Yuan squatted down and said gently, "As you can see, Lord Han doesn't want to release you. You'll have to stay in jail for a couple of days. I'll release you once everything is arranged."

Sun Fu was taken aback, his smile freezing on his face: "Sir, this..."

"Don't worry, I keep my word." Li Yuan patted his shoulder. "If I just let you go without any explanation, I won't be able to explain it. Why don't you write a letter and I'll send it to the Sun residence?"

As she spoke, she gave him a wink. Sun Fu immediately understood; she just wanted to get some benefits, right? He got it. He nodded repeatedly, "I'll listen to you, sir."

"Someone, bring me paper and pen."

A moment later, Li Yuan, holding Sun Fu's letter, found Wu Yu, who was practicing boxing in the courtyard.

"Wu Yu, do me a favor." Li Yuan handed him the letter. "Go to the residence of Vice Minister Sun of the Ministry of Personnel, give the letter to the steward, and don't say anything. Just remember his reaction."

"Yes."

Wu Yu trusted Li Yuan unconditionally, taking the letter and leaving without even asking any questions.

Li Yuan turned around and went to the storeroom to retrieve the information about the Sun family. He learned that this Vice Minister Sun had been promoted by Grand Secretary Wang, but he was not yet considered one of his confidants.

It seemed that these demons were after the person behind him. Considering the influence of Grand Secretary Wang in the court, Li Yuan knew this perfectly well.

An hour later, Wu Yu returned: "The letter has been delivered. The steward was very hospitable and insisted that I stay for tea and snacks. He also kept asking what Sun Fu had said."

Wu Yu comes from a prestigious family and may seem a bit simple-minded, but he is actually very shrewd when it comes to interpersonal relationships and would never let the other party trick him into revealing his secrets.

"I talked to Hu Tianhai about his nonsense for a while, and he said he would come to visit as soon as possible."

"Well done," Li Yuan praised, standing up. "Come on, let me treat you to tea."

"Tea?" Wu Yu was taken aback. "Now?"

"Yes, Wangyue Tower." Li Yuan smiled mysteriously.

Although Wu Yu did not understand Li Yuan's intentions, he believed that Li Yuan must have his reasons for doing so, so he did not ask any more questions. The two left the Demon Suppression Bureau and traveled together.

"Huh? Isn't this right across from the Sun residence?"

The two sat in a private booth upstairs facing the street. Wu Yu stuck his head out and was stunned.

From this vantage point, Li Yuan had a clear view of the Sun family's main gate. He ordered a pot of Longjing tea and a few plates of snacks, and leisurely took a sip.

"Exactly. I sent you with the message just now to deliberately alert them. Just watch, there will be a good show soon."

"Brother Li, are you so certain that the Sun family is really colluding with the demon race?" Wu Yu lowered his voice.

"We'll know for sure once we see it." Li Yuan picked up his teacup. "This Lord Sun has always advocated negotiating with the demon race and opposed expanding the military campaign. There's nothing wrong with that stance itself, but if he's secretly colluding with the demon race..."

Li Yuan gave a mocking smile. "That's going to be interesting."

Wu Yu gasped, glaring angrily: "Are you saying that Minister Sun colluded with the demon race to deliberately delay the military campaign?"

Young people hate evil as if it were their enemy. How could they tolerate the demon race's rampage against their own people? They wished they could go to the battlefield and raze the demon realm to the ground. They hated this act of betrayal to the bone.

"It's just suspicion right now, there's no evidence." Li Yuan put down his teacup. "That's why we need to investigate."

As the two were talking, a pretty young maidservant emerged from the side gate of the Sun residence, carrying a bamboo basket. The gatekeeper was all smiles, clearly indicating that she was no ordinary maidservant.

The young maidservant, with an arrogant expression, nodded coldly and then carried the basket towards the East Market.

Li Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly and sized up the little maid.

"Let's go, let's follow them and see."

"What's wrong?"

Wu Yu looked at it suspiciously, but couldn't find anything wrong with it.

"There's something strange about this little maid."

Li Yuan put down a silver ingot, quickly went downstairs, and followed the maid at a distance.

The young maidservant was clearly unaware that someone was following her. She walked briskly straight to the East Market, her destination clear, and stopped in front of a fish stall.

The boss immediately greeted her with a beaming smile: "Miss Mei'er is here? Everything is ready, just waiting for you."

As she spoke, she placed a lotus leaf package into the basket and tossed down a silver coin: "Keep any good items you find in the future; the price is negotiable."

"Yes, yes, please take care, young lady."

The fish stall owner held out the silver coins, his face full of obsequiousness.

Li Yuan gave Wu Yu a wink, and the two quickened their pace, pretending to be in a hurry, when they accidentally bumped into the maid.

"Ouch!"

The maid was knocked and stumbled, dropping her bamboo basket to the ground.

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright, young lady?"

Li Yuan apologized repeatedly, reached out to help her pick up the bamboo basket, quickly glanced at the contents, and then a wisp of light silently disappeared into the basket from his fingertip.

"Can't you even watch where you're going? Honestly." Mei'er glared at him, snatched the basket, carefully inspected it, rolled her eyes, and said, "You're lucky nothing got broken, otherwise you'd be in big trouble."

"It's all my fault, please forgive my rudeness, young lady." Li Yuan bowed repeatedly and apologized.

Mei'er snorted coldly and strode away. Li Yuan watched her back, raised an eyebrow, and walked up to the vendor's stall.

"What did that girl want to do with the silver pomfret?" he asked, handing her a piece of silver.

Upon seeing this, the vendor hurriedly took it, saying, "That belongs to Vice Minister Sun's residence. He said that a distinguished guest has arrived and enjoys eating this silver pomfret. He gave me a deposit and had me specially collect it."

Li Yuan nodded, then turned and left with Wu Yu.

"It's just a rather rare spirit fish, nothing special."

Wu Yu scratched his head, unable to understand why Li Yuan would pay so much attention. Silver pomfret tastes delicious and contains some water elemental energy, but it is expensive and only some nobles who cultivate water-based techniques use it to cook.

Li Yuan smiled slightly: "What if I told you that there is no one in Minister Sun's household who practices water-based martial arts?"

Wu Yu was taken aback: "Then perhaps they are guests?"

"That girl has a faint demonic aura about her," Li Yuan continued.