Chapter 220: Interrogating Zhuge Jiangnan
Lord Long was sitting emotionlessly in the car on his way back. Sitting beside him was a rather sinister-looking man who smiled cloyingly as he observed Lord Long’s expression.
Suddenly, Lord Long asked, “Qian Yuan, what do you make of this matter?”
The smile on Li Qianyuan’s face was still cloying. “I dare not say.”
“Tell me!” Lord Long commanded.
“As you wish. Several important figures of the Long family were killed overnight. I’m afraid this is not a coincidence.”
Lord Long asked sullenly, “What does that mean?”
“I doubt Jiang Zihou’s intelligence system is capable of finding the exact locations of those killed, to say nothing of Zhang Yu and the Femme Fatale’s… I feel, this time Jiang Zihou came prepared. I’m afraid there’s a traitor among us.”
“Who do you think is the traitor?”
Li Qianyuan was still smiling. “I wouldn’t dare rashly conjecture. However… that handkerchief seems familiar to you…”
Lord Long’s pupils contracted instantly, then there was a flicker of cold sharpness in them. Then Lord Long nodded placidly, “Let’s go back.”
“Yes, my lord,” answered the driver.
But Lord Long suddenly changed his mind, “No. To Zhuge Mansion!”
The driver turned the car around and drove towards Zhuge Mansion. Lord Long leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes lightly. Li Qianyuan looked out of the window with a hint of expectation in his eyes.
Zhuge Jiangnan was resting in his home. He was first surprised to hear of Lord Long’s arrival. Then a fire started in his heart, which was filled with dismay before. With his help, he believed that Lord Long would conquer the Black Province with minimum loss within a few days. And he even though it possible that Lord Long would reign over the underground worlds in the country.
As old as he was, Zhuange Jiangnan still felt excited when he thought of how he could help Lord Long build such an empire.
Lord Long strode in, but Zhuge Jiangnan didn’t show up to welcome him. It was his privilege and no one dared say anything about it.
Zhuge Jiangnan wanted to see if Lord Long wanted his counsel again.
Jiang Wu and the Poisonous Fox stood on either side of the sofa. They inherited Zhuge Jiangnan’s wisdom. But what Jiang Wu learned was strategy while the Poisonous Fox learned how to scheme.
Lord Long walked in and looked at Zhuange Jiangnan calmly, “Old Mr. Zhuge, I’d like to have a private talk with you in your study.”
Zhuge Jiangnan could discern one’s thoughts by looking into his eyes. He had been doing it discreetly since Lord Long stepped into this room and he could tell something was wrong. He knew that Lord Long didn’t come here for his advice. Instead, Lord Long looked like he’d come to call someone to account.
When he realized Lord Long’s reason for coming, Zhuge Jiangnan still felt slightly angry even though he was an old man who could see through everything. The Long family was no at the peak of its power. Of course, Lord Long’s unparalleled might and his three sworn brothers were the main reasons. However, Zhuge Jiangnan’s wisdom could not be ignored.
Zhuge Jiangnan had crushed their enemies’ schemes many times. He had even helped Lord Long many times to take cities without spilling blood. Otherwise Lord Long could not have conquered the two provinces in the north in such a short time, no matter how mighty he was. Because it was nearly an impossible mission.
Yet now he was ignored because he owned most of the credit of Lord Long’s conquest. Zhuge Jiangnan felt irritated when he thought of how he used to be respected by Lord Long. Earlier, he thought that Lord Long was here for his advice, but he had not expected that he would be called to account. It was not a thing for a man to accept that easily, especially an elderly senior like Zhuge Jiangnan.
He nodded, stood up with the aid of his cane and walked upstairs without a word. He was obviously flustered.
Lord Long said to Li Qianyun and the others, “Wait here. I’ll go up and have a talk with Old Mr. Zhuge.”
Li Qianyuan nodded respectfully while bowing. There was a hint of delight in his eyes.
Zhuge Jiangnan wobbled to the door of his study with his cane and walked in. Lord Long followed behind.
Looking at this old man’s trembling body, Lord Long sighed when he thought of the many times that Zhuge Jiangnan put so much effort into advising him.
Zhuge Jiangnan sat on a chair tremulously while Lord Long sat opposite. Then their four eyes met. Zhuge Jiangnan sighed sullenly, “Master Long, just tell your complains to this old man.”
Lord Long glanced at Zhuge Jiangnan and said, “You have always been contributing to the Long Family and advising me night and day. You even neglected your own health. For that you’ll always have my gratitude.”
Zhuge Jiangnan didn’t say anything.
Lord Long continued: “I remembered when my three sworn brothers and I were encircled by the Dragon Gate, and we happened to come across each other. You told us what to do and that’s why we successfully escaped. I listened to you and went back to my homeland. Now I attribute all my achievements to your wisdom.”
Zhuge Jiangnan said hotly, “That’s because of your own ability. I have nothing to do with it.”
“Back then my family only occupied a small territory with very few men. It is because of your great schemes and ideas that the family could expand so rapidly.”
Zhuge Jiangnan could not help sighing when he thought of all he did for Lord Long and the conquests he’s had.
“I’m always grateful for all you did for the family. You’re the only one who can share my table in this family. It’s fair to say that you are above everyone except for one. Am I right, Old Mr. Zhuge?”
As he recalled the respect Lord Long used to show him, Zhuge Jiangnan’s face softened a little. “You did show me great respect.”
Lord Long continued, “You have done me many favors. Naturally I showed you respect. I’ve never mistreated you. I’ve even thought of taking care of you in your old age and seeing to your funeral when you’re no more.”
Zhuge Jiangnan was touched when he heard this.
However, Lord Long suddenly spoke in a bitter tone, “But, Mr. Zhuge, I don’t understand what’s come over you that you could collude with that Jiang Zihou to stab me in the back. Old Mr. Zhuge, can you tell me why?”
Zhuge Jiangnan cast Lord Long a glance of astonishment, his eyes wide open as if he didn’t hear clearly what Lord Long had just said.
“Last night, all my cities in Hei Province, except for H City, those sons of bitches who swore fealty to me have now collaborated with Jiang Zihou to take control of them.”
Frowning, Zhuge Jiangnan said in a deep voice, “Indeed this Jiang Zihou cannot be underestimated. Lord Long, has it ever occur to you that the death of these big shots who swore their fidelity to you is a wicked scheme to sow discord between you and your followers? The ones who surrendered to you will hate you and fear you, afraid that you will kill them and take their cities. So they would rather give them to Jiang Zihou. What a sly man he is.”
Lord Long spoke spitefully, “He will die no matter how cunning he is. Killing him won’t take long. However, other killings occurred in Shangyang city last night.”
Zhuge Jiangnan was nonplussed, “What happened in Shangyang?”
“My sworn brother and sister were murdered last night. One was killed in her yard and the other died in the middle of a lake.”
“What?” Zhuge Jiangnan was shocked. He knew too well what the two meant to Lord Long. These three had long been his confidants before he met Zhuge Jiangming.
From another aspect, Zhang Yu, Li Tian Ling and the Femme Fatale were considered as Lord Long’s claws while Zhuge Jiangnan thought of himself as the brain of the Long family. Now one of his claws was chopped off. That was a greater loss than these cities.
Zhuge Jiangnan sighed while feeling a little worried. He shook his head while saying, “I have never expected that Jiang Zihou would have such power, resolution and wisdom. My lord, you must not underestimate this man. He is doubtlessly the most powerful enemy since your return!”
Looking at this old man, Lord Long said, “Mr. Zhuge, in fact, you are the one I should not underestimate!”
Zhuge Jiangnan’s body shook for a moment. He recalled Lord Long saying to him before that he’d conspired with Jiang Zihou to stab Lord Long in the back. Zhuge Jiangnan gasped and asked, “Lord Long, what are you thinking?”
“Mr. Zhuge, you have been by my side since I returned to my family and you have never made a mistake. But why did you make one this time? Nearly all my forces in Hei Province are gone.”
Zhuge Jiangnan blazed, “I warned you about it but you didn’t listen! Maybe it’s my fault. I should not have remained in this house while being mad at you and caring little about our enemy. If so, things would happen differently. But how can you think that I would ever conspire with Jiang Zihou?”
Lord Long said, “I did ask you to rest at home. I’ll take the blame if it was because of that. But how did Jiang Zihou know the exact location of the Long family’s important figures? Is it a coincidence as well?”
Zhuge Jiangnan shook his head, “I have never thought that Jiang Zihou’s intelligence system would be so advanced. It’s my mistake.”
Lord Long took out the handkerchief and threw it on the desk in front of Zhuge Jiangnan. “I found it in the yard where the Femme Fatale was killed by Jiang Zihou. I’m sure it’s familiar to you.”
Lord Long eyed Zhuge Jiangnan menacingly.
