This old fox is crafty, Sunday thought, though he merely shook his head slightly.
"Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master Ning. His Highness the Crown Prince came to see me only because I've been offering free medical consultations in the city lately. He wanted to see whether I needed any help!"
Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement.
"I see. I've also heard of your charitable deeds, Mr. Sunday, and I admire you greatly!
Since Qinghe wants to help you, surely I, as his teacher, can't simply stand by and watch!"
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi clapped his hands.
The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect waiting outside carried several chests inside.
Sunday looked at the seven or eight large chests on the floor, then turned a puzzled gaze toward Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, what is this...?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"Open them!"
At his command, the disciples opened the wooden chest at the front, and a dazzling golden light immediately burst out.
Sunday narrowed his eyes at the blinding light. A gilded gleam flickered in them, allowing him to see what lay inside.
The shabby wooden chest, which had looked utterly unremarkable, was filled with Gold Soul Coins-tens of thousands of them, by a rough estimate!
Seeing the wooden chests lined up all the way to the doorway, Sunday felt a flicker of disdain.
Ning Fengzhi, oh, Ning Fengzhi. This is how you test an official's integrity? What official could withstand a test like this!
"Then thank you for your generosity, Sect Master Ning. I'll gladly accept!"
With a wave of his hand, Sunday put away all the chests in the sitting room.
Seeing Sunday accept the Gold Soul Coins, Ning Fengzhi's smile grew even broader.
As long as he accepted money, there was room to negotiate! Money was the last thing Ning Fengzhi lacked!
"Open the door! Open up, open up!!!"
"Listen up, everyone inside! Prince Xue Xing has arrived! Open the door at once!"
Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to probe further, rough, violent voices rang out from outside.
The red-lacquered wooden door shook under the pounding, as though it might collapse at any moment!
Ning Fengzhi's brow creased almost imperceptibly, and displeasure flashed through his eyes.
Years of social engagements had taught him to keep his composure, however, and he concealed it in an instant.
He smiled faintly at Sunday, his tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity.
"You're acquainted with Prince Xue Xing as well, Mr. Sunday? That's something I hadn't expected!"
Chen Xin, who had been sitting silently to one side, gave a cold snort, his tone admonishing.
"That Xue Xing is no good. He bullies men and preys on women every day. If he weren't a member of the imperial family, he would have died long ago!"
"Uncle Jian! Mind your words!"
Ning Fengzhi offered only a token reprimand at Chen Xin's words. After all, he looked down on Xue Xing too.
It was merely a show for Sunday. If it really came to a confrontation, what could Xue Xing do even if they said it to his face?
Sunday frowned at the relentless pounding on the door, stood up, and headed toward the entrance.
Yesterday it was Xue Qinghe, and today it's Xue Xing. What tricks are they all trying to pull!
He pulled the door open to find four or five knights standing outside, bristling with aggression.
"Gentlemen, what business do you have with me?"
Sunday asked calmly, looking at the knights whose eyes seemed ready to bulge out of their sockets.
None of them were even soul masters. They could not stir the slightest interest in him.
The moment Sunday opened the door, the knights stepped aside and spoke respectfully.
"Your Highness, the wanted criminal has come out!"
An overbearing voice sounded from an ornate carriage behind the knights.
"Has he?"
With that, an old man dressed in luxurious white robes stepped out of the carriage, followed by two beautiful, fair-skinned women.
Sunday studied the old man. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he wore sumptuous white robes. He had small eyes and a little mustache.
He looked rather shifty and rat-eyed! Yet despite his frivolous appearance, his steps were steady, nothing like those of a man long steeped in debauchery.
Sunday's only assessment was that it was an act-though the old man had certainly indulged plenty!
"To what do I owe this visit, Your Highness?"
Xue Xing was studying Sunday as well. He had heard that Xue Qinghe had intended to recruit this man yesterday.
At first, when he heard the man was an ordinary person, he had paid little attention. What waves could a mere ordinary person stir up?
But when he later heard what this young man named Sunday had been doing, he could no longer remain calm.
Opening a Charity Hall to distribute aid and treat the sick-wasn't that fucking rebellion?
So Xue Xing had rushed over without pause, intending to eliminate this man!
Outsiders knew only that he and Xue Qinghe were at odds and assumed he harbored ambitions of his own. In truth, he had no designs on the imperial throne.
If he had, Xue Ye would have dealt with him long ago. He could never have survived until now, much less helped his elder brother ascend the throne.
His conflict with Xue Qinghe came down to opposing political stances! In plain terms, his interests were being harmed.
Xue Xing represented the interests of the old nobility, while Xue Qinghe, after being replaced by Qian Renxue, sought to seize complete control of the Heaven Dou Empire,
and she would inevitably have to cultivate a new power base. That meant cutting away the old nobility, which had put the two of them at loggerheads.
A large part of the reason Xue Xing secretly supported Xue Beng was to protect his own interests under the next reign.
"You're Sunday, then? Interested in working under me?"
Sunday shook his head, his tone distant.
"You must be joking, Prince Xue Xing. I'm merely an unaffiliated man, accustomed to my freedom. I have no desire to become an official!"
Xue Xing was not at all surprised by Sunday's unhesitating refusal. He nodded dismissively.
Sunday's actions alone made it clear that they were not birds of a feather.
Even if Sunday had dared accept, Xue Xing would not have dared take him in!
Clasping his hands behind his back, Xue Xing raised his chin arrogantly and looked at Sunday with undisguised contempt.
"Very well! Guards, seize this traitorous rebel plotting insurrection!"
As soon as Xue Xing finished speaking, the guards behind him drew their swords and advanced, intending to arrest Sunday.
"What is the meaning of this, Prince Xue Xing? What crime has Mr. Sunday committed?"
Just as the guards were about to charge, a refined, affable voice rang out from the courtyard.
Then Ning Fengzhi walked slowly outside, with Chen Xin following behind him, his sharp gaze fixed on the guards.
One look from him made the guards' legs go weak, and they hurriedly retreated.
At the sight of Ning Fengzhi, Xue Xing inwardly cursed. He had never expected this shit-stirrer to be here too. The man would probably whisper in Xue Ye's ear again later!
"Heh, Ning Fengzhi, what a coincidence! I heard someone was recruiting Death Soldiers in Heaven Dou City to plot a rebellion,
so, out of fervent patriotism, I brought troops to arrest him. What exactly is wrong with that?"
With things having come this far, Xue Xing decided to grit his teeth and keep up the act. Once he killed the man, what would it matter if his imperial brother reprimanded him?
Seeing that Xue Xing was determined to make the arrest, Ning Fengzhi resolved to protect Sunday.
I can't let such a good opportunity slip away!
With that thought, Ning Fengzhi stepped in front of Sunday and spoke with a grave expression.
"Arresting a citizen on your own authority without an official imperial order-I believe even a prince has no right to do that!"
"You! If I want to arrest someone, I will! Who can stop me!"
Xue Xing glared at Ning Fengzhi in anger, yet there was nothing he could do about him. That walking nuclear bomb standing beside him was no joke!
"Is that so? Then what about me?"
Before you continue