The confrontation ended without an official judgment.
Despite the mounting tension, Princess Sun Yaoqing found herself without solid evidence directly linking the Quan Clan to the hidden organization's operations.
Their involvement—if any—was buried beneath layers of plausible deniability and excuses polished by decades of political experience.
Thus, she had no choice but to settle for a stern warning.
The Quan Patriarch, Quan Lingshu, swore before his ancestors and clan seal that he would personally oversee an investigation, root out the culprits, and deliver them to the royal authorities.
His words were humble, his demeanor contrite—but to Sun Yaoqing, it all rang too perfectly rehearsed.
She suspected he would find a scapegoat soon enough—a few unfortunate officials or minor cultivators to shoulder the blame while the true players vanished deeper underground.
Yet, with no concrete proof, there was little she could do here and now.
