The next day, early morning.
The Imperial Palace, Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The bells signaling the start of court had barely rung when the civil and military officials had already lined up according to rank.
Everyone was whispering among themselves about what had happened the night before.
The Azure Lotus illuminating the world, the Qilin descending, the huge explosion in the west of the city.
Every one of these was a world-shaking event, and they were all connected to the same person.
Prince Wu'an, Lin Changqing.
"Have you heard? The Holy Demon God Sect had a Branch Sect in the Capital City last night, and Prince Wu'an wiped them all out!"
"That's not all. I saw that Qilin flying across the sky with my own eyes! It was shining with golden light. It nearly blinded me!"
"Even more terrifying was the Branch Sect Leader. I heard he was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, and Prince Wu'an split him in half with a single sword strike!"
"A single strike? Are you sure?"
"My nephew serves in the Demon Suppressing Division. He told me himself! Why would he lie?"
"And that Qian Youde, too. He always seemed like such an honest fellow, but who would've thought he was a traitor!"
The officials chattered among themselves, their voices filled with shock and lingering fear.
Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice rang out.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The hall fell silent in an instant, and everyone knelt as one.
Su Gan emerged from behind the hall and took his seat on the Dragon Throne.
His expression was grim.
He had spent the whole 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. Wherever it passed, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.
"My dear officials."
His voice was low and icy.
"I presume you have all heard what happened last night."
The hall was utterly silent.
Su Gan continued.
"The Holy Demon God Sect established a Branch Sect stronghold in the Capital City, right under my nose. Its Branch Sect Leader was a Ninth-Rank Martial Saint, with dozens of core members and nearly a hundred other followers. Every last one of them had been hiding in the capital of Great Yu."
His voice suddenly rose.
"And the stronghold was hidden in one of the residences of Qian Youde, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue!"
"Qian Youde! A third-rank official whom I personally promoted! The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, in charge of the court's finances and provisions!"
He slammed his hand against the armrest of the Dragon Throne.
His voice echoed through the Hall of Supreme Harmony, making the officials' hearts tremble.
"As a high-ranking official of the court, he drew a salary from the court, yet secretly colluded with demons and monsters, sheltering such a treasonous force! If Prince Wu'an hadn't taken action last night, who knows how long this festering sore would have remained hidden within the court!"
Su Gan rose to his feet, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Convey my imperial decree!"
"Qian Youde, Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, colluded with demons and monsters and betrayed the Human Race. His crimes are unforgivable! He is hereby stripped of all official positions and titles and will be executed by lingchi outside the Meridian Gate three days from now!"
"His entire nine-clan kin in the Capital City are to be arrested. Those outside the Capital City are to be seized on the spot by their respective provincial Inspectors and escorted to the capital for execution!"
"His entire estate is to be confiscated, and his residence razed to the ground, never to be rebuilt!"
The decree stunned everyone in the hall.
His entire nine-clan kin were to be executed!
This was a rarely imposed extreme punishment, even since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty!
The Hall of Supreme Harmony fell utterly silent.
The officials held their breath, afraid that the slightest sound might draw His Majesty's attention.
Not a single person dared to stand up and plead for Qian Youde. No one even dared to cough.
Colluding with demons and monsters... that was a crime punishable by the extermination of one's entire nine-clan kin!
Who would dare plead for him? Wouldn't that make them accomplices? Were they tired of living?
Several officials who had been close to Qian Youde were now drenched in cold sweat, their court robes soaked through.
They lowered their heads, wishing they could shrink into the cracks between the floor tiles.
Seeing the officials' reaction, Su Gan's gaze grew even colder.
"Furthermore, starting today, the Demon Suppressing Division will conduct a thorough investigation of all officials in the capital."
He looked toward Xiao Qianjun, standing at the head of the military officials' ranks.
"Xiao Qianjun, you will be entirely responsible for this matter."
"Anyone found suspicious is to be seized and interrogated, regardless of rank. Better to arrest the innocent by mistake than let a guilty party escape!"
Xiao Qianjun stepped forward and cupped his fists, his voice firm as a nail driven into wood.
"This subject obeys!"
The officials in the hall felt their hearts leap into their throats once more.
A thorough investigation?
Better to arrest the innocent by mistake than let a guilty party escape?
They were going to turn the entire court upside down!
Quite a few officials felt this was going too far. An investigation on such a grand scale would inevitably wrong some innocent people.
But they didn't dare say a word.
Who would dare object?
Anyone who spoke up against it now would be admitting there was something wrong with them, wouldn't they?
That would be suicide!
Su Gan swept his gaze over the hall. Only after seeing that no one dared object did he slowly sit back down on the Dragon Throne.
"Court dismissed."
Meanwhile, at Prince Wu'an Mansion.
Lin Changqing had slept until he woke naturally. By the time he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting a patchwork of golden light across the floor.
He stretched, his bones popping and cracking.
Since his transmigration, this had been the soundest sleep he'd gotten.
He had spent his time racing across Green Province and slaying demons, and after arriving in the Capital City, he'd had the investiture ceremony and all sorts of social obligations.
Although last night had kept him busy until the middle of the night, he'd taken care of what needed doing, and felt much more relaxed afterward.
The maids filed in carrying toiletries and breakfast.
After living like an emperor, Lin Changqing finished his still lavish breakfast and went to the back courtyard to check on Golden Radiance.
Golden Radiance was sprawled on the bluestone beside the hot spring pool, squinting as it basked in the sun.
Hearing Lin Changqing's footsteps, it immediately opened its eyes and gave its tail a wag.
Lin Changqing patted its head.
"I'll take you out for a stroll later."
Golden Radiance let out a low rumble, clearly delighted.
Just as Lin Changqing was about to swing onto the Qilin's back, Uncle Liu came hurrying over.
"Your Highness, Princess Yunshu is here. She's waiting for you in the front hall."
Lin Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly.
Princess Yunshu? What was she doing here?
He thought about it and remembered.
Three days ago, at the entrance to the mansion, Su Wanqing had told him about the Flower Deity Festival.
She'd said that today was the Capital City's annual Flower Deity Festival and asked whether he had time to go look around with her.
He'd told her, "If I have time."
Since he really had nothing to do today, there was no harm in accompanying her.
Lin Changqing nodded and headed for the front hall.
In the front hall, Su Wanqing was standing in front of a landscape painting, pretending to admire it.
Today, she wore a pale pink palace dress, with delicate gold floral vines embroidered on the cuffs and collar.
Her long hair was swept up in a flowing cloud bun, with a white magnolia hairpin tucked into it.
Two wisps of hair hung beside her ears, setting off her skin, fair as snow.
She wore a light dusting of makeup, with a touch of rouge on her cherry-red lips.
She looked like a peach blossom on the verge of opening.
Her personal maid, Cuier, stood nearby, holding an imperial edict in both hands.
When Lin Changqing walked in, Su Wanqing's eyes lit up, and a smile bloomed across her face.
But then she remembered she was there to deliver an edict and quickly suppressed her smile, putting on a dignified expression.
"Prince Wu'an, receive the edict."
Lin Changqing stood where he was and bowed slightly.
Given his status, he didn't have to kneel before the Emperor, so he naturally didn't need to kneel to receive an edict either.
Su Wanqing unfurled the imperial edict, cleared her throat, and read aloud.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Wu'an Lin Changqing, for eliminating the Capital Branch Sect of the Holy Demon God Sect last night, slaying the Demon Cult's Red Python Martial Saint, and capturing the traitor Qian Youde, has rendered outstanding service and brought fortune to the realm."
"He is hereby granted ten thousand Top-grade Spirit Crystals, ten Ninth-Rank Spirit Herbs, a hundred jars of Imperial Royal Wine, and a hundred bolts of brocade, in recognition of his merit."
"So decreed."
After reading the edict, Su Wanqing rolled it up and handed it to Lin Changqing with both hands.
"Prince Wu'an, please receive the edict."
Lin Changqing accepted the edict, his tone calm.
"My thanks to His Majesty."
He casually handed the edict to Uncle Liu beside him and muttered inwardly.
The Emperor was pretty generous.
He had taken action last night mainly to complete his system mission and claim the reward. He hadn't expected the Emperor to give him all these extra gifts as well.
He didn't have much use for these things, but they wouldn't spoil if he stored them in his Infinite Storage Space. He could always find a use for them eventually.
After delivering the edict, Su Wanqing had the guards who came with her carry the reward chests into the mansion.
Once every last chest had been carried inside, she hurried over to Lin Changqing and looked up at him.
The dignified expression she'd worn while delivering the edict vanished, replaced by one full of anticipation.
"Saint Venerable... today is the Flower Deity Festival!"
Her eyes sparkled, and her voice rang clear and sweet. Without realizing it, she was twisting the hem of her skirt between her fingers.
"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 lifting slightly.
"Last time, I said, 'If I have time.'"
Su Wanqing's expression stiffened, and her little mouth puckered slightly.
Lin Changqing chuckled.
"As it happens, I'm free today. I'll go around with you later."
Su Wanqing's expression instantly changed from disappointment to delight, and her eyes shone even brighter.
"Really? That's wonderful!"
She almost jumped on the spot, but then realized she was getting too excited and quickly composed herself.
Just then.
A golden figure ambled out of the back courtyard.
Golden Radiance had heard Lin Changqing's voice and come over on its own.
It walked up beside Lin Changqing and lowered its head to rub against his shoulder.
A low rumble rose from its throat.
Su Wanqing jumped at the sudden appearance of the enormous creature.
She instinctively took a step backward.
But she soon got a good look at the Qilin before her.
Its entire body was covered in golden scales, golden arcs of lightning flowed around its four hooves, and its golden eyes looked like burning suns.
It was a hundred times more imposing than the Qilin portraits she'd seen in ancient books!
Su Wanqing's eyes went wide, and her mouth formed a small circle.
She thought of the few so-called Qilins kept in the palace.
Several years ago, officials from a few prefectures had presented them, claiming they were descendants of Qilins.
But compared with the creature before her... they were worlds apart!
The palace's mongrel Qilins were less than half its size, their scales dull and lusterless, and the horns on their heads were crooked.
Most importantly, the aura of a holy beast they carried was exceedingly weak. They were only a little stronger than rare spirit beasts.
But this Pureblood Qilin only had to stand there for its faint holy aura to make one's heart tremble.
Su Wanqing asked softly, her voice brimming with amazement.
"Saint Venerable, is this the Pureblood Qilin from last night?"
Lin Changqing scratched Golden Radiance under the chin and casually replied,
"Mm. Its name is Golden Radiance."
Su Wanqing cautiously took one step forward, then stopped, then took another.
She wanted to get closer, but she was a little afraid.
"I... can I touch it?"
Seeing how curious and frightened she looked, Lin Changqing found it a little amusing.
"Of course."
Su Wanqing took a deep breath and reached out, gently placing her hand on Golden Radiance's neck.
Its touch was warm and smooth as jade, not as hard as she'd imagined.
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