The moment Lu Chen saw Clerk Chen, many clues in his mind seemed to be split open by lightning, instantly connecting most of them!
Clerk Chen was indeed connected to the Sixth Prince's faction!
And their relationship is extremely deep!
That black iron plaque, that position in the Archives Bureau, and even the fact that he was framed on the black market... behind all of this, there's probably the shadow of this old fox!
"Old Chen!" Lu Chen suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his tone complex, "Was all of this your arrangement?"
Clerk Chen, leaning on his wooden cane, slowly walked to the stone bench in the courtyard and sat down, gesturing for Lu Chen to sit as well.
"Arrangements?" Clerk Chen shook his head, a bitter look on his face. "I'm just an old man nearing the end of my life. How could I possibly have such power to manipulate things? At most... I can only offer some insignificant guidance and... a gamble concerning the future."
He raised his cloudy yet still sharp eyes and looked at Lu Chen: "When I saw you in Southern Mausoleum, I knew you were no ordinary person. A dragon emerging from the abyss will surely stir up the winds and clouds. I brought you to the Capital City, into this whirlpool, hoping that this powerful dragon could stir up this increasingly murky pool of stagnant water. I just didn't expect the storm to rise so quickly and so fiercely."
"That iron plaque, that file, and the black market operation last night..." Lu Chen pressed.
"The iron plaque is a token, and also a test. The dossier is a clue left for those who are interested. As for the black market..." A cold glint flashed in Clerk Chen's eyes, "That's where someone doesn't want you to be at peace, wants to force you to choose sides, or... just make you disappear. I'm merely going with the flow, letting you see the true face of this Capital City more quickly."
Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, processing this information. He was basically certain that Clerk Chen was on the Sixth Prince's side, and held a high position.
He "lured" him here because he saw his potential and strength, and wanted to seek outside help for the disgraced Sixth Prince.
"Old Chen brought me here not just to discuss these matters, but also, I'm sure," Lu Chen asked directly. "With so many eyes and ears outside these days, this place is probably not safe either. Your Highness Sixth Prince..."
Before he could finish speaking, Clerk Chen waved his hand, interrupting him. "His Highness wants to see you."
After saying that, Clerk Chen stood up, leaning on his wooden cane, and walked towards the room he had just come out of.
Lu Chen took a deep breath and followed.
We're finally going to meet this key figure at the heart of the storm.
The furnishings inside the house were simpler than they appeared from the outside, even somewhat empty.
There was only a square table, a few chairs, and a bookshelf against the wall.
At this moment, a young man dressed in plain clothes and with a slightly thin build stood with his back to them in front of the bookshelf, seemingly flipping through something.
Hearing footsteps, the man slowly turned around.
His face wasn't particularly handsome, but his features were regular, and he had an air of scholarly refinement about him, as well as a calmness and... weariness that seemed out of place for his age.
His face was somewhat pale, as if he hadn't seen the sun in a long time, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and deep, like a cold pool in autumn, as if they could see right through people's hearts.
This person was none other than Xiao Jingyan, the Sixth Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, who lost power due to the "witchcraft case," was considered taboo by the court and the public, and was despised by his own father.
"Your Highness, Lu Chen has arrived." Clerk Chen bowed respectfully.
Lu Chen cupped his hands and said, " Lu Chen greets His Highness the Sixth Prince."
" Banner Sergeant Lu, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat." Xiao Jingyan's voice was gentle, carrying a natural affability. He took the lead in sitting in the main seat, looking at Lu Chen with a calm gaze. " Jing Yan is now a retired man and does not deserve such a grand gesture."
His attitude was humble, without the slightest air of a prince, which surprised Lu Chen.
The three sat down, Clerk Chen silently poured tea that had been prepared for them.
"Old Chen has already given me a general overview of Banner Sergeant Lu's situation," Xiao Jingyan said directly and sincerely. "Last night, during the interrogation at the Myriad Spirit Pavilion, Banner Sergeant Lu remained calm under pressure and broke through the impasse with his own strength. He even made a pledge to solve the case within ten days. His courage and Jing Yan are truly admirable."
"Your Highness flatters me. I was forced to do this due to the circumstances," Lu Chen replied cautiously.
Xiao Jingyan gently stroked the rim of the warm teacup, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. " Banner Sergeant Lu, do you know why I lost power?"
"I've heard a little about it, the witchcraft case."
"Witchcraft..." A bitter smile appeared on Xiao Jingyan's lips. "That was just a pretext."
He suddenly paused, his gaze sharpening abruptly. "The real reason is that I have uncovered a terrible secret—there are people in the court colluding with demons!"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Lu Chen's ears!
"What?!" Lu Chen's pupils constricted sharply. High-ranking officials colluding with demons? This was a hundred times more serious than he had anticipated!
A flicker of pain crossed Xiao Jingyan's eyes. "The evidence I have is not yet sufficient, but all the clues point to this heinous truth. Someone, for the sake of power, has betrayed humanity and colluded with demons!"
Lu Chen gasped. He finally understood why Xiao Jingyan had fallen into such a predicament. This was not an ordinary power struggle, but a life-or-death battle concerning the survival of the entire human race!
"By the time I began my in-depth investigation, they had already struck first." Xiao Jingyan's voice was filled with a deep sense of powerlessness. "The witchcraft case was a carefully crafted trap, leaving me utterly unable to defend myself..."
Clerk Chen added in a deep voice, "Their influence in the court is deeply entrenched, and our forces in the open have been almost completely eradicated. Now we can only go into the shadows and continue to gather evidence."
Xiao Jingyan looked directly into Lu Chen's eyes, those clear pupils now burning with a flame called conviction, " Banner Sergeant Lu, I have been observing you for a long time. You possess hidden secrets, boundless potential, and more importantly, you have principles and a sharp edge; you are not one to succumb to fate."
He paused, leaned forward slightly, and said in an extremely solemn tone, " Lu Chen, I hope to become your ally!"
"Not master and servant, but equal collaborators!"
"I will help you grow and provide you with all the support I can, so that you can gain a foothold in the Demon Suppression Division!"
"And what I hope you will do is, after you have enough power... help me find out the truth, eliminate the traitors in the court who are colluding with demons, and save the Great Yan from peril!"