266: Chapter 0266 You're Not Human

Lin Xiao had long heard of Chen Yanqiu; after all, this poisonous strategist had been notorious since the time of the late Emperor.

However, as a transmigrator, he knew that "biological warfare" was nothing rare.

To put it bluntly, Chen Yanqiu merely provided an option, and the one making the decisions was never him.

Whether it was the late Emperor or Prince Bai, executing Chen Yanqiu was merely due to their own incompetence; they needed a scapegoat.

Putting himself in their shoes, if Lin Xiao were Prince Bai, he would also be desperate. If his own life were on the line, would he still care about the lives of the common people?

He was just a feudal prince, not some great soul.

Of course, this did not affect the fact that he was heinous.

Arriving at the refugee camp outside the city, Lin Xiao did not actually go inside.

He came to the outside of the fence and shouted loudly:

"Respected elders and fellow countrymen, I, Prince Bai, am here to apologize and admit my mistakes to everyone!"

"This plague is entirely due to my foolishness; I wrongly trusted the ghost stories of the poisonous strategist Chen Yanqiu, causing great suffering to you all!"

"I have repented and turned over a new leaf, and I am willing to provide food and medicine to do my best to cure everyone!"

"I hope you will inform the Zhenbei Army of this matter, so as not to let Lin Xiao misunderstand and harm the people of Yong Province!..."

Lin Xiao reiterated his instructions repeatedly, his tone dripping with hypocrisy. He ran to several camps and repeated the same words three or four times.

A group of refugees receiving relief porridge looked at him with indignation, daring to be angry but not daring to speak.

What repentance? It was clearly because he was afraid of the Zhenbei Army!

He was worried about being dealt with by Lin Xiao, which is why he was putting on this hypocritical act!

Lin Xiao felt quite satisfied with these gazes of disgust, disdain, and anger.

Hmm, that's right, this is the feeling!

Liao Meier struggled to hold back her laughter behind him; the muscles around her mouth, which had just rested, began to ache again...

Damn it, it seems she would need to practice her oral skills in the future; after all, her new master seemed to have a liking for this.

Only after returning to the city did Lin Xiao ask: "Before Chen Yanqiu died, who were the last people he had contact with?"

Liao Meier replied: "Not really anyone. He was just a filthy thing; who would be willing to get close to him?"

"I was ordered to see him one last time, and then he was dragged out and beheaded."

Lin Xiao thought for a moment; the head hanging on the city wall had indeed been chopped off.

Then, in all likelihood, it had been swapped in the prison.

"Who was the jailer in charge of him?"

"His name is Old Xu, but I don't know the specifics," Liao Meier asked in confusion: "Why does Your Highness ask about this?"

Lin Xiao said: "Have him come to the city gate and take away Chen Yanqiu's corpse."

Although Liao Meier did not understand, she still gave the order.

Before long, a jailer who looked honest and simple-minded came running to the city gate.

When Old Xu saw Lin Xiao, he greeted him tremblingly.

Although a "Letter of Self-Reproach" had reduced Prince Bai to the status of a prisoner, before the Zhenbei Army arrived, no one in Yong Province dared to truly rebel.

After Old Xu finished collecting the corpse, Lin Xiao walked up to him and whispered in his ear:

"Tonight, I want to see Chen Yanqiu. If I don't see him, your entire family will die... Bookboy Xu."

When Old Xu heard the last part, the blood drained from his face; he was scared out of his wits!

He looked at Lin Xiao in horror, as if he were meeting "Prince Bai" for the first time!

[Xu Er, 47 years old, Academy bookboy, Yong Province jailer, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Tags: Disguise Artist, Spy, Jianghu Performer]

Lin Xiao had learned from Su Chang that the Academy had its own internal management system.

The "Masters" at the very top were generally served by the most senior Confucian scholars, and there were also former dynasty officials who had retired to their hometowns.

Below them were the inner disciples, divided into the front gate and back gate.

Further down were the outer disciples, who belonged to the category of those who had difficulty becoming officials or engaging in politics, but had no problems with reciting poetry, composing couplets, or playing with ink and brush.

The most special ones were the "Companion Bookboys".

The bookboys were all children adopted by the Academy from a young age; because they lacked talent for studying, they could only do odd jobs.

The Academy emphasized "teaching students in accordance with their aptitude," so they would have them learn various skills from all walks of life.

After the bookboys completed their training, some worked for the Academy, and some served the inner disciples.

Because they had eaten the Academy's food and used the Academy's supplies since childhood, and had known the Masters since they were young, their loyalty was even higher than some inner disciples.

As the saying goes, a bookboy is like a brick; move it wherever it's needed!

If Lin Xiao hadn't guessed wrong, this Old Xu was the "Companion Bookboy" sent by the Academy to Chen Yanqiu!

That night.

Lin Xiao came out of the secret treasury of the Bai Princes Mansion.

Through "Dragon Seeking and Point Locating," he easily found Prince Bai's secret room.

As he had expected, there were not only gold, silver, and treasures inside, but also more than a dozen high-grade weapons and equipment.

He even found the body armor part of the "Dragon Scale Armor"!

Exchanging it in the mall, it could actually fetch a full 8000 prestige!!

No wonder a pair of bracers could be exchanged for 2000.

You have to know, this was an "Earth Grade" piece of equipment, and its original price reached 16000 prestige!! It was outrageous!

"Damn it... what a waste, hiding such good things to take into the coffin?"

"Sure enough, defense is the only way to win the championship!!"

Lin Xiao complained, but he could also understand why Prince Bai hid this armor.

If this thing were really circulated outside, it would inevitably lead to a bloody struggle; without the strength of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, don't even think about keeping it!

Unfortunately, there were no medicinal pills; they should have all been looted by Ji Wujiu.

"Your Highness, there is a Confucian scholar outside who claims that you asked him to come."

Liao Meier waited for Lin Xiao to come out of the study and said respectfully.

Lin Xiao was stunned. Good heavens, this Chen Yanqiu really hadn't left?

He had actually just said it casually to scare Old Xu; after all, if Chen Yanqiu had left early, there was nothing he could do.

"Bring him in, and have everyone else leave."

Before long, Liao Meier led a plain-looking Confucian scholar in.

Lin Xiao glanced at the woman standing beside him and frowned: "Do you still have business here?"

Liao Meier opened her mouth awkwardly, "Your Highness... do I have to go out too?"

"I said everyone else. Are you not a person?"

Lin Xiao was not polite either; he needed to make this woman understand her status and stop dreaming all day long.

Liao Meier looked resentful, but she had no choice but to curtsy and withdraw.

She understood that being able to survive was already considered quite lucky, and everything else could only be planned slowly.

Once the study became quiet.

The Confucian scholar then looked at Lin Xiao with complex eyes.

"Your Highness, why did you look for me? You wouldn't still want to kill me again, would you?"

Lin Xiao waved his hand, "I have no interest in your life; I just want to know why you came to Yong Province and to my side."

[Chen Yanqiu, 48 years old, Academy inner disciple, staff member for Prince Bai, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Tags: Strategizing, Chess King (Special), Poisonous Strategist]

Chen Yanqiu asked in confusion: "Your Highness, you didn't kill me just to know this?"

"Less nonsense, answer when I ask you!" Lin Xiao said impatiently.

He didn't actually have much interest in Chen Yanqiu; he was more curious about the forces behind him—what exactly did the Academy want to do?