Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan! - Chapter 319 The Price of Incompetence
Chapter 319 The Price of Incompetence
The head of the Quan Clan arrived in a rush, though not a trace of disorder could be seen on his face when he entered the grand hall.
He was Quan Lingshu, a man in his early sixties, his black-and-silver hair neatly tied, his robes embroidered with the clan’s golden insignia of twin clouds and a rising sun.
His eyes were sharp and composed-those of a man who had long managed both nobles and cultivators alike-but the faint sheen of sweat along his temples betrayed the tension beneath his calm exterior.
“Your Highness, Princess Sun Yaoqing!”
He bowed deeply, lowering himself until his forehead nearly touched the floor. “This unworthy servant, Quan Lingshu, greets the favored daughter of Heaven. The Quan Clan is deeply honored by Your Highness’s presence in our humble city!”
Princess Sun Yaoqing gave a faint nod, her expression serene yet distant. However, one could tell that she wasn’t here for any pleasant discussion. “There is no need for excessive formality, Patriarch Quan,” she said, her tone courteous but devoid of warmth. “I am here merely on official business.”
That made everyone even more cautious and nervous. It seemed they had truly done something to incur the Princess’s displeasure.
She stepped further into the hall, her two attendants following closely.
Behind them walked Bai Zihan, casual and unhurried.
Though he said nothing, his mere presence drew subtle glances from the elders lined along the sides of the hall.
Since he came with the Princess, he must be a renowned young master of a prestigious clan-yet none could recall ever seeing him before in any of the major events.
Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, the Bai Clan members were being received in a lavish side hall.
Exquisite spirit tea, rare fruits, and the clan’s best servants had been prepared to ensure no displeasure would arise.
Even though the Quan Clan had no idea who these people truly were, their connection to the Princess alone demanded nothing short of perfection in hospitality.
Of course, the Bai Clan members weren’t overwhelmed-rather, they found it. normal. With their name, wherever they went, such treatment-or better-was expected.
Back in the main hall, Quan Lingshu straightened his back slightly, a warm but careful smile on his lips.
“Your Highness’s visit brings glory to our humble clan. If I may be so bold to ask… to what do we owe the honor of your arrival?”
Princess Sun Yaoqing regarded him steadily for a moment, her eyes like polished jade-calm, yet sharp enough to cut through pretense.
“The honor?” she said softly, almost to herself. “That depends on your answer, Patriarch Quan.”
A faint chill spread through the room. The smile on Quan Lingshu’s face stiffened slightly, though he quickly bowed again.
“Y-Your Highness, if this humble one has committed any oversight, I beg
forgiveness. Please, enlighten me.”
Princess Sun Yaoqing’s gaze turned toward the ornate map of the Quan Region
hanging behind him on the wall-the symbol of their authority.
“It has come to my attention,” she said slowly, “that an organization of considerable scale has been operating freely within your jurisdiction-beneath one of your villages.”
Quan Lingshu’s expression froze.
Her voice was calm, but each word landed like a hammer blow.
“Tell me, Patriarch Quan-how does a structure of such size and secrecy flourish for years under your supervision, without a single report reaching the Royal Court?”
The hall fell utterly silent.
The elders exchanged alarmed glances; even the attendants standing by the pillars held their breath.
Quan Lingshu’s mind raced, but his expression remained composed. He forced a strained smile, lowering his head again.
“Your Highness… I swear upon the name of my ancestors, this is the first time I’ve heard of such a matter. If this is true, then it must have been the result of grave negligence by those below me. I shall-“
“Negligence?”
Princess Sun Yaoqing’s interruption was soft but razor-sharp. Her eyes seemed to gleam faintly, reflecting the light of the chandeliers above.
Her voice hardened, each syllable cold as a drawn blade.
“Patriarch Quan,” she said, eyes boring into him, “this is your jurisdiction. Those lands fall under your watch. If you could not detect an organization large enough to hide so many assassins beneath a village, then you have failed in the one duty a clan like yours must never fail.”
She stepped forward until the space between them felt suffocating.
“Tell me if you cannot protect the people and report such threats, what use is your title? Step down, Patriarch Quan. Let someone capable take your place. The Empire cannot tolerate this kind of incompetence.”
A murmur ran through the hall like a passing wind. Quan Lingshu’s face drained of color; the elders behind him shifted nervously.
For decades, Quan Lingshu’s rule had been steady-but none had ever imagined seeing him publicly stripped of authority by a royal command.
“Your Highness-” he began, voice strained but controlled. He dropped to one knee again, palms pressed to the floor.
“This is indeed a grievous matter, and I do not deny my failure,” Quan Lingshu said, voice heavy yet carefully measured.
“But please, allow me to explain. These past years, the southern borders have been turbulent-raids from the mountain tribes, unrest among the outlying villages, even demonic beasts breaching the outer wards. I have personally overseen countless crises to keep the region stable. It is possible…”
He hesitated, then bowed his head deeper.
“…that this organization exploited those very distractions, deliberately drawing my attention elsewhere while they built their foundation in secret. If so, then I have been deceived-but not idle, Your Highness. My efforts were spent
safeguarding the people, not in negligence.”
Princess Sun Yaoqing’s gaze did not soften.
“Responsibility is not merely a position, Patriarch. It is the lives entrusted to
you. If you cannot safeguard them, you cannot lead.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“Not to mention, that organization was quite powerful-one that might even
rival the top clans of the Falling Star Empire.”
Quan Lingshu swallowed. He straightened just a fraction, though his hands still
trembled.
“I will find the truth. I swear on my clan and on my ancestors-I will root out whoever aided that organization. I will strip corrupt officers, I will open my records to the Court, I will-“
He hesitated, then forced the next words out. “I ask only for time to prove my
loyalty.”
While the exchange unfolded, Bai Zihan remained silent-an almost indifferent -yet his senses were working.
He watched the Patriarch’s and elders’ gestures.
A thought formed and tightened like a knot in his chest: the Quan Clan had not
been wholly ignorant.
They had known-some of them, at least-more than they admitted. This was not the clumsy negligence they professed.
However, Bai Zihan has no intention of intervening or getting involved here.
He only needed one thing now: Elder Shuhai-the man who connected that branch to the headquarters, the one who surely knew the location of the
organization.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com
