Turn the Imperial Court Upside Down, the Flower Deity Festival Arrives

The second day after the Flower Deity Festival, early morning.

The Imperial Palace, Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The bell for the morning court had just rung, and civil and military officials had already lined up according to their ranks.

Everyone was whispering to each other, discussing the events of last night.

The Azure Lotus blooming, the Qilin descending, the great explosion in the west of the city.

Each of these was a world-shattering event, and all were related to the same person.

Prince Wu'an, Lin Changqing.

"Did you hear? Last night, Prince Wu'an wiped out a branch sect of the Holy Demon God Sect in the Capital City in one fell swoop!"

"More than heard, I saw that Qilin fly across the sky with my own eyes! It was so dazzling, it almost blinded me!"

"Even scarier was the sect leader, rumored to have the cultivation of a ninth-grade Martial Saint, but Prince Wu'an cut him in half with a single sword!"

"One sword? Are you sure?"

"My nephew works for the Demon Suppressing Division, he told me himself! Could it be false?"

"And that Qian Youde, he always seemed like an honest person, I never expected him to be a traitor!"

The officials chattered amongst themselves, their voices filled with shock and lingering fear.

Just then, a eunuch's sharp voice rang out.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

The hall instantly fell silent, and everyone knelt in unison.

Su Gan emerged from behind the hall and sat on the dragon throne.

His expression was grim.

He had spent the entire night dealing with matters related to Qian Youde's case, and hadn't even had time to cultivate.

Su Gan swept his gaze over the officials below, and wherever his eyes landed, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

"My esteemed ministers."

His voice was chillingly cold.

"You have all, I presume, heard about the events of last night."

The hall was deathly silent.

Su Gan continued.

"The Holy Demon God Sect, right under my nose, within the Capital City, established a branch sect hideout. The branch sect leader was a ninth-grade Martial Saint, with dozens of core members, and nearly a hundred other disciples, all lurking within the capital of our Great Yu Dynasty."

His voice suddenly rose.

"And the hiding place for this branch sect hideout was actually a residence belonging to the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qian Youde!"

"Qian Youde! A third-rank official personally promoted by me! The Vice Minister of Revenue, in charge of the court's finances and provisions!"

He slammed his hand down on the armrest of the dragon throne.

His voice echoed through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, making the hearts of the officials tremble.

"As a high-ranking official of the court, receiving the court's salary, yet secretly colluding with demons and providing shelter to such a rebellious force! If not for Prince Wu'an's actions last night, this tumor would have continued to fester in our court for who knows how much longer!"

Su Gan stood up, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Issue my decree!"

"The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Qian Youde, for colluding with demons and betraying humanity, his crimes are unforgivable! He is hereby stripped of all official titles and noble ranks, and will be executed by slow slicing at the Meridian Gate in three days!"

"All his immediate family members within the Capital City are to be arrested, and those outside the Capital City are to be apprehended by the provincial governors and brought to the Capital for unified execution!"

"All his property will be confiscated, and his residence will be razed to the ground and never rebuilt!"

Upon hearing this, the entire hall was stunned.

The execution of all nine generations of his family!

This was a rare extreme punishment since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty!

The entire Hall of Supreme Harmony was silent.

The officials held their breath, afraid to make even the slightest sound that might attract His Majesty's attention.

Not a single person dared to step forward to plead for Qian Youde, not even a cough.

Colluding with demons... this was a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

Who would dare to plead? Wouldn't pleading make them an accomplice? Did they have a death wish?

A few officials who were usually close to Qian Youde had their court robes soaked with cold sweat on their backs.

They lowered their heads, wishing they could shrink into the cracks between the floor tiles.

Su Gan looked at the reaction of the officials below, his gaze growing even colder.

"Furthermore, starting today, the Demon Suppressing Division will conduct a comprehensive investigation of all officials within the Capital City."

He looked toward Xiao Qianjun, who stood at the very front of the military officials' ranks.

"Xiao Qianjun, I entrust this matter entirely to you."

"Anyone deemed suspicious, regardless of their rank, is to be apprehended and interrogated. It is better to arrest the innocent than to let a single culprit slip through the net!"

Xiao Qianjun stepped out of the ranks and cupped his hands, his voice resolute and decisive.

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

The officials in the hall felt another wave of trepidation.

A comprehensive investigation?

Better to arrest the innocent than to let one slip through?

This was essentially turning the entire imperial court upside down!

Though many officials felt it was improper, fearing that such a massive purge would inevitably wrong some innocent people, they dared not utter a word of protest.

Who would dare to object?

To jump out and oppose this now would be tantamount to admitting one's own guilt.

That would be nothing short of suicide!

Su Gan swept his gaze across the hall, and seeing that no one dared to voice an objection, he slowly sat back down on the dragon throne.

"Dismissed."

Meanwhile, at the Prince Wu'an Mansion.

Lin Changqing slept until he woke up naturally; by the time he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.

Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting a patch of golden light across the floor.

He stretched, his bones popping and cracking.

Since transmigrating, this was the most restful sleep he had enjoyed.

Between traveling and slaying demons in Green Province, and then dealing with the investiture ceremony and various social obligations in the Capital City, he had been exhausted.

Although he had been busy for most of the night, everything that needed to be resolved had been settled, and he finally felt at ease.

Maids filed in, carrying washing supplies and breakfast.

Living like an emperor, Lin Changqing finished his lavish breakfast and went to the backyard to check on Golden Radiance.

Golden Radiance was lying on the bluestone beside the hot spring, eyes narrowed as it basked in the sun.

Hearing Lin Changqing's footsteps, it immediately opened its eyes and wagged its tail.

Lin Changqing patted its head.

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"I'll take you out for a stroll later."

Golden Radiance let out a low purr, clearly delighted.

Just as Lin Changqing prepared to mount the Qilin, Uncle Liu trotted over.

"Your Highness, Princess Yunshu has arrived and is waiting for you in the front hall."

Lin Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly.

Princess Yunshu? Why was she here?

He thought for a moment and remembered.

Three days ago at the mansion gate, Su Wanqing had mentioned the Flower Deity Festival to him.

She had said that today was the annual Flower Deity Festival in the Capital City and asked if he had time to go for a stroll together.

He had replied, "If I have the time."

Since he truly had nothing to do today, accompanying her for a walk would be fine.

Lin Changqing nodded and headed toward the front hall.

In the front hall, Su Wanqing was standing before a landscape painting, pretending to admire it.

She was dressed in a light pink palace gown, with pale gold floral patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar.

Her long hair was styled into a flowing cloud bun, adorned with a white magnolia hairpin.

Two strands of hair hung by her ears, accentuating her snow-white skin.

Her face was lightly powdered, and a touch of rouge graced her cherry lips.

She looked like a peach blossom on the verge of blooming.

Her personal maid, Cuier, stood to the side, holding a scroll of bright yellow imperial decree.

Seeing Lin Changqing walk in, Su Wanqing's eyes lit up, and a smile blossomed on her face.

But immediately remembering that she was here to deliver an imperial decree, she quickly restrained her smile and put on a dignified expression.

"Prince Wu'an, receive the imperial decree."

Lin Changqing stood in place, bowing slightly.

Given his status, he didn't need to kneel to receive a decree from the Emperor.

Su Wanqing unrolled the imperial decree, cleared her throat, and began to read aloud.

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Wu'an, Lin Changqing, last night you annihilated the Capital City Branch Sect of the Holy Demon God Sect, slaying the sect leader Red Python Martial Saint and capturing the traitor Qian Youde. Your meritorious service is outstanding and a blessing to the nation."

"We hereby bestow upon you ten thousand Top-grade Spirit Crystals, ten Ninth-Rank Spirit Herbs, one hundred jars of Imperial Royal Wine, and one hundred bolts of brocade, to commend your achievements."

"Respect this!"

After finishing the decree, Su Wanqing rolled it up and handed it to Lin Changqing with both hands.

"Prince Wu'an, please receive the decree."

Lin Changqing took the decree, his tone indifferent.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He casually handed the decree to Uncle Liu beside him, muttering to himself.

The Emperor is quite generous.

His main reason for acting last night was to complete a system task and get rewards. He hadn't expected the Emperor to bestow so many additional items.

Although he couldn't use these items himself, they wouldn't spoil if stored in his Infinite Storage Space. Keeping them would surely be useful someday.

After reading the decree, Su Wanqing had the accompanying guards carry the chests of rewards into the Prince's mansion.

Once all the chests were moved, she quickly walked up to Lin Changqing, tilting her head up slightly to look at him.

The dignified expression she had worn while reading the decree vanished, replaced by one of anticipation.

"Saint Venerable... Today is the Flower Deity Festival!"

Her eyes sparkled, her voice clear and pleasant, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt.

"You promised last time you'd go to the Flower Deity Festival with me. Are you free tonight?"

Lin Changqing looked at her expectant expression, the corners of his mouth curving upwards.

"I said 'if I'm free' last time."

Su Wanqing's expression froze, her small mouth pouting slightly.

Lin Changqing chuckled.

"I happen to be free today. I'll accompany you around then."

Su Wanqing's expression instantly shifted from disappointment to delight, her eyes shining brighter than before.

"Really? That's great!"

She almost jumped up on the spot but quickly realized she was too excited and restrained herself.

Just then.

A golden figure slowly walked out from the backyard.

Golden Radiance had heard Lin Changqing's voice and came over on its own.

It walked to Lin Changqing's side, lowered its head, and rubbed against his shoulder.

A low purr rumbled in its throat.

Su Wanqing was startled by the sudden appearance of the colossal beast.

She instinctively took a step back.

But then she clearly saw the appearance of the Qilin before her.

Its body was covered in golden scales, golden arcs of electricity flowed around its four hooves, and its eyes burned like the sun.

It was a hundred times more majestic than the Qilin images she had seen in ancient texts!

Su Wanqing's eyes widened, her mouth forming a small circle.

She remembered the so-called Qilin kept in the palace.

They had been presented by officials from several prefectures a few years ago, who claimed they were descendants of Qilin.

But compared to the one before her... it was like comparing heaven and earth!

The mixed-blood Qilin in the palace were less than half the size of this one, their scales dull and lifeless, and the horns on their heads were crooked.

Most importantly, the aura of a sacred beast emanating from those mixed-blood Qilin was very weak, only slightly stronger than that of rare spirit beasts.

This pure-blood Qilin, however, simply standing there, exuded a faint sacred might that made one's heart palpitate.

Su Wanqing asked softly, her voice full of awe.

"Saint Venerable, is this the pure-blood Qilin from last night?"

Lin Changqing reached out to scratch Golden Radiance's chin and replied casually.

"Yes, its name is Golden Radiance."

Su Wanqing took a cautious step forward, paused, and then took another step.

She wanted to get closer, yet she was a little afraid.

"I... may I touch it?"

Watching her look of curiosity mixed with fear, Lin Changqing found it rather amusing.

"Of course you can."

Su Wanqing took a deep breath and reached out, gently placing her hand on Golden Radiance's neck.

The texture was warm and smooth like jade, not as hard as she had imagined.