Chapter 386
"Yes, President, and..."
Before Ghost Face could finish speaking, an unusual noise suddenly came from outside. He looked outside for a moment, then quickly leaped off the roof beam and disappeared into the night.
"Belch..."
Seeing his son burst into the courtyard, hiccuping from drinking, Wei Wudi's face grew even more gloomy.
Wei Yi walked unsteadily towards them. Once he saw his father, he immediately grinned and said:
"Dad, I'm out of money."
Wei Wudi looked at his drunken son as if he were dead. There were obvious lipstick marks on his neck, indicating that he had just been drinking at a brothel.
He didn't get angry; instead, he suppressed his rage and returned to his bedroom. A short while later, Wei Wudi returned carrying a bulging money bag, which he threw on the floor.
"If it's not enough, just ask me for more."
"Dad, hiccup... you're the best!"
Wei Yi's eyes were glazed over as he picked up the money bag and smiled happily. But he was quickly overcome by exhaustion, lay down on the ground and started snoring, seemingly falling asleep instantly.
Staring at his son's drunken state, Wei Wudi raised his left hand and clenched it into a fist, but quickly put it back down.
From the moment the emperor ordered Wei Yi to stay in the Capital City to study, he considered this son dead.
The reason they tolerated Wei Yi's depravity and continued to provide him with financial support was precisely because this kind of ignorant and incompetent prince could better deceive the Great Yan True Dragon.
Wei Wudi had also considered teaching the child properly, but the child had been living in the Capital City for so long that he was beyond saving. Not only was he estranged from him, but he had also picked up a bunch of bad habits typical of children of high-ranking officials.
Since his son has been assimilated by the corrupt environment, it would be better to have another child and focus on raising him. Wei Wudi is over fifty years old this year and still has the energy to have children with his wives and concubines.
Ugh, it's infuriating to look at.
Wei Wudi took a deep breath to calm himself, then turned around and left Wei Yi there, preparing to go to the Imperial Palace.
The more I think about what happened tonight, the more something seems off.
Rather than letting the spy sent by the Great Yan True Dragon be exposed, it's better to take a risky move. Proactively reveal that someone is inciting us to rebel, and let His Majesty the Emperor handle the situation.
Perhaps we can use Zhongli's arrival to our advantage regarding the awakening of the Sui Beast. Before the Celestial Masters' Manor is fully assembled, we can secretly switch things out.
If they can hold out until Sui awakens and regains his strength, it will be easy for them to dethrone the emperor. The 100,000 Imperial Guards stationed in the Capital City are even less of a threat.
As the greatest contributor to rescuing the Sui Beast, Wei Wudi will be able to sit on the throne. At that time, not only will he have one wife and one concubine, but the entire harem of three thousand beauties will be his. He can have a bunch of sons and choose the best ones to raise.
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June 2nd, 6:10 AM
The darkest dawn has passed, and the sky is now bathed in the glow of daybreak. The thick clouds, like a cat exposing its belly, occasionally let out a glimpse of yellow light.
The massive Mobile Cities of Jade Gate stopped thirty kilometers outside the Capital City.
This location is situated in the capital region and is a crucial route to the Capital City. To prevent a major catastrophic event such as Mobile Cities colliding with the Capital City, Zuo Xuanliao and his team need to complete the handover of supplies and personnel here beforehand.
Only in this way can we enter the capital.
Shi Lei is not an official and has no need to linger here.
He traveled to the Capital City with Mudrock, Texas, the three sisters Nian Lingxi, Chongyue, Ya, and Liang Xun.
Zuo Le was then the candle keeper at the Si Sui Tai, stayed behind to help his father with the many trivial matters. He assigned some of his subordinates to secretly follow behind the group.
Considering this is the capital of Yan, it's likely home to many talented individuals. Instead of building Rock House to fly into the Capital City, Shi Lei unusually opted to travel by land-based vehicle.
To be honest, it's been a long time since he's been used to the speed and convenience of flying and has never ridden in a ground vehicle.
Since we have plenty of time, we can treat it as a vacation and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Behind the group, a five-person squad from the Si Sui Tai was tailing them. Shi Lei had already spotted them using his Psychic Power, but he didn't confront them directly.
After all, there were four fragments of Great Beast in the team, so their concerns were entirely reasonable. Shi Lei understood their responsibilities, so he pretended not to notice.
Before long, the others also discovered the team's whereabouts. But like him, they all tacitly refrained from approaching them or disturbing them.
The land vehicle had traveled more than ten miles and had entered the Capital City area. It was not yet seven o'clock, but the streets were already filled with large groups of people.
They were a large group of people riding bicycles, with fried dough sticks or other breakfast items in their mouths.
This familiar scene reminded Shi Lei of the morning rush hour before his journey, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
Texas, somewhat curious, saw nearly a thousand people traveling in a long procession, so she stopped one of them and asked:
"Excuse me, sir. Are all of you running around on the street on your way to work in the Capital City?"
The man pursed his lips, not wanting to answer.
But when he caught a glimpse of several tourists with Dragon Horn in the carriage, he immediately changed his mind.
The dragon race holds a prestigious position in the Yan; even those who aren't high-ranking officials are among the wealthiest. Even in their most destitute state, they are far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals like him.
"Yes, we came to the city to work."
"It's 20 kilometers from here to the Capital City. Do you commute this far to work every day?"
Upon hearing this "why not eat meat porridge?" remark, the passerby couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
But he still suppressed his anger and explained the situation to these distinguished guests who were used to doing nothing:
"My dear lady, you probably don't know this. As the capital of Yan Capital City, the housing prices in the city are ridiculously outrageous. People like us who come from elsewhere to make a living might work our whole lives and still not be able to afford a house. Even a small apartment near a school can sell for millions. If you rent, it's no different from helping the landlord pay off their mortgage."
If I want to save money, I have to settle for second best. Renting an apartment in the Gyeonggi area is more cost-effective. Although cycling to work every day is tiring, it saves me a lot of money.
"Gentlemen, is this your first time visiting the Capital City? I've lived here for five or six years and know many fun and interesting sights. For a fee, I can be your tour guide."
After listening to the passerby's suggestion, Shi Lei turned to Texas and Mudrock for their opinions:
What do you guys think?
After they arrived in the Capital City, it was impossible for them to break the Sui Beast on the same day.
According to procedure, the matter must first be reported to the emperor. Only after the emperor agrees can the celestial master in charge of sealing be summoned.
Before long, it was unclear how long this would take. During this time, Shi Lei and his companions could only wait.
You can either stay in the inn and play mahjong, or go out and explore the major tourist attractions in Capital City.
Since we'll most likely be going out to play anyway, we might as well hire a local guide. Besides, this man was randomly picked from the roadside by Texas, ruling out the possibility that he's a spy from Si Sui Tai or Yan.
Perhaps these amateur tour guides charge more than tour guides from travel agencies. But if a problem can be solved with money, it's not really a problem.
Texas nodded, offering no objection. Mudrock pondered for a moment, then asked:
"Sir, if I may ask, won't it interfere with your work if you act as our tour guide?"
The passerby waved his hands repeatedly and explained:
"It won't delay you. I'm not a permanent employee. I get paid for each day's work. If you gentlemen are willing to be generous, I would be extremely grateful. I can't promise anything else, but I guarantee you'll have a great time."
Seeing that no one had any objections, Shi Lei agreed:
"Alright, then I'll trouble you. Sir, may I ask your name?"
"My surname is Ao, and I am the eighth child in my family. You can call me Lao Ba, or Xiao Ba."
Sitting on the side of the vehicle, Liang Xun opened the door of the land vehicle and let the other person and the vehicle get on.
Along the way, Lao Ba introduced the local customs and culture of the Capital City to everyone without pausing for a moment. Although it was unclear whether he made it up, he could readily recall various allusions, adding a touch of interest to this otherwise uninteresting trip.
More than half an hour later, the land vehicle arrived at Zhengyang Gate, the southernmost Zhengyang Gate of the Capital City. The towering brown city walls gave people a sense of profound historical significance.
Since it was Shi Lei and his group's first time visiting, they needed to obtain temporary passes at the city gate.
Liang Xun, who was in the group, was the prefect of Shangshu and would temporarily serve as the governor of Jade Gate, thus holding an official position.
Upon seeing the relevant documents he presented, the soldiers prioritized their service. After quickly processing his paperwork, they instructed their colleagues to raise the gate and allow him to pass.
However, after entering the city, Liang Xun took the initiative to say goodbye to Shi Lei and his group. He had other matters to attend to upon returning to Beijing and could not accompany them to visit the scenic spots.
Chongyue needed to keep a close watch on Ya Ya to prevent the court from sending anyone to take over, so he also clasped his hands in resignation. To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, Ling volunteered to go with him, thus reducing the possibility of unforeseen events before the seal was opened.
In this way, four out of ten were gone. Only Shi Lei, one man, four women, and a local tour guide remained.
After discovering that they were on good terms with government officials, Ao Lao Ba completely abandoned his sinister thoughts.
This group has powerful connections; making a quick buck could land them in jail. They'd be better off performing well and winning over their sugar daddies. If these gentlemen are generous, they might not have to work for months.
"Gentlemen, this way please."
Lao Ba, speaking fluent Capital City dialect, led them to the city's most luxurious inn— Drunken Immortal Residence.
Shi Lei had visited Capital City as early as half a month ago.
I booked a three-month long-term rental room at the Mingyang Inn in the suburbs.
He created Pot of Heaven and Earth, allowing Alty, his companions, and Patriot to hide inside. In this secluded space, they rehearsed their actions in preparation for the battle against the Great Beast.
Considering that Patriot, unlike the Great Beast, doesn't need to eat daily to replenish its energy, Shi Lei prepared several months' worth of food before sending him into the Pot of Heaven and Earth.
Although we have arrived in the Capital City, it is not yet time for them to show themselves; it is best to wait a little longer.
Chongyue promised Shi Lei that he would help find out how long it would take to awaken the Sui Beast. They'll decide on the next step after confirming the exact time. For now, he should just relax and have some fun.
June 2nd, 8:55 AM
As the morning approached nine o'clock, all the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Dynasty had arrived at the Golden Palace Hall to attend today's morning court session.
The ministers' positioning was extremely particular. They were often arranged in groups of three to five. They were divided into small groups of varying sizes based on factors such as official rank, place of origin, mentor, and whether they were classmates.
There were fewer than a hundred people in the main hall, yet there were more than a dozen such small groups. This demonstrates just how fierce the factional struggles within the Great Yan Dynasty were.
Besides the small group, there were also several officials standing alone at the scene. Don't assume they were like lotuses rising from the mud, untainted by its surroundings; they may have secretly joined other groups. They simply maintain their image of not associating with outsiders because they don't want to be exposed.
Before issuing orders, the Great Yan True Dragon considers the balance between various groups. If assigning a task to one group would cause dissatisfaction among another or even several groups, then such tasks are more likely to fall to this kind of 'middleman'.
The ministers knew perfectly well who was whose henchman behind the scenes. The middlemen from different groups were the bottom line in this power game. His Majesty the Emperor could appoint whichever middleman he wanted, and no other group was allowed to interfere.
If the His Majesty the Emperor because of conflicts between different groups, then everyone will suffer.
Among those attending today's morning court session was Prince Xian Wei Wudi. He had gone to the Imperial Palace last night hoping to meet the emperor, but was blocked by the Imperial Guards.
Their reasoning was utterly absurd: they claimed the Great Yan True Dragon was currently favoring his beloved concubine. Any official business could wait until the morning court session the following day.
Even though Wei Wudi knew this was a deliberate excuse from His Majesty the Emperor, he was powerless to change the situation. He waited outside the palace until midnight before returning to his residence to rest.
This morning, feeling somewhat sleepy, I went to the Golden Palace Hall to attend the morning court session. I hope to expose the guy who instigated me last night after the court session, thereby clearing him of any suspicion of treason.
Just after nine o'clock, the old eunuch who had been waiting by the dragon throne shouted at the top of his lungs:
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, the ministers fell silent. They returned to their positions, heads bowed like quails.
The Great Yan True Dragon sat on his dragon throne, looking down at his ministers, his eyes glancing at the head-down Prince Xian.
Seeing that the emperor did not speak, the old eunuch called out again:
"If you have something to report, speak now; otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
Just as Wei Wudi was secretly hesitating whether to discuss the matter during the morning court session or after it ended, a guard with a sword outside the Golden Palace Hall shouted in an even more powerful voice:
"Grand Tutor, you have returned to court and have matters to report!"
Upon hearing that the Grand Tutor had returned, the ministers all turned to look, but quickly looked away after seeing him.
His Majesty the Emperor rose immediately, seemingly very pleased with his return, and welcomed him with a smile:
"I have missed the Grand Tutor dearly since he left several months ago."
The Grand Tutor grinned obsequiously, not taking these polite words to heart, and reported with his hands clasped in a fist and palm salute:
"Your His Majesty the Emperor, this old minister has not failed in his mission. During this trip, he has found a solution to the internal troubles."
"Oh?"
The Great Yan True Dragon leaned forward, expressing considerable interest. Seeing that the Grand Tutor didn't respond, he lowered his voice and asked:
"Grand Tutor, shall I dismiss all those around me?"
"No need, Your Majesty."