Prince Yu

Xu Qi'an followed the young Daoist boy through the front hall, across the square, through pavilions and gardens, until they arrived at the deepest part of Lingbao Temple.

This is a quiet little garden, where the flowers, plants and trees have long since withered, but artificial hills and pavilions stand tall, and there is a pond with rippling blue waves.

A Daoist nun of unparalleled beauty sat cross-legged on the pond, wearing a Tai Chi robe, a lotus crown, and a bright red dot between her eyebrows, exuding both ethereal beauty and alluring charm.

Her face was fair and flawless, as if sculpted from ice crystal. Her nose was straight and beautiful, her lips were full, and when her eyes were closed, her thick, interlaced eyelashes looked like a brush.

Xu Qi'an stared at her as soon as he entered the courtyard, looking at her all the way as they walked, but he couldn't figure out her age at all.

She seems like a woman in her early thirties, yet also like a mature and alluring woman, or if you look closer, you can see a charm that blends innocence and seductiveness.

"I'm actually having this feeling that I have to find a way to marry this woman. Is it because I've been abstaining from women for too long, or does the Human Sect have some special cultivation method—bewitching?"

Xu Qi'an's thoughts flickered, but he remained outwardly calm.

"Did Jinlian send you to find me?" Luo Yuheng opened her beautiful eyes, the ratio of her pupils to the whites of her eyes was just right, a pair of very bright and intelligent eyes.

"Indeed, Daoist Jinlian's spirit was severely injured, and her physical body was also wounded. She asked me to come and ask for a Gathering Yuan Pill."

Normally, Xu Qi'an would say, "Two pills, please," and then keep one for himself after taking the kickback.

However, he was not familiar with Luo Yuheng, the head of the Human Sect, so to repay the Golden Lotus Daoist's life-saving grace, he simply told the truth in a proper manner.

In front of such a powerful figure, never be arrogant or try to show off your personality; doing so will only lead to disaster.

"You are a member of the Heaven and Earth Society, and what number Earth Book do you possess?" Luo Yuheng's voice was very pleasant, textured, and magnetic, reminding Xu Qi'an of the voice actors from his previous life.

"Number three," Xu Qi'an replied.

Luo Yuheng nodded, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, remaining silent for a long time. Suddenly, she let out a soft "hmm," a look of confusion flashing across her face.

"Your fate is strange. Tell me your birth date and time," the stunningly beautiful Daoist nun asked.

A gentle breeze stirred, causing the hem of Xu Qi'an robe, draped over the water, to flutter. From this angle, one could vaguely see the curves of his full hips.

"She can see through my abnormality?" Xu Qi'an immediately gave his birth date and time.

Luo Yuheng extended her slender hand from her sleeve, her crystal-clear fingers making calculations. After a moment, her eyebrows furrowed, as if she had encountered some inexplicable problem.

Xu Qi'an asked, somewhat nervously and expectantly, "Grand Preceptor, how did it go?"

"Shenhou!" she said.

"Shen Monkey?" She was referring to the image that secretly matched my birth chart, like my zodiac sign from a past life. Xu Qi'an found that evil thoughts were stirring within him.

This woman always makes me unconsciously want to discuss gender issues with her. It's definitely not that there's something wrong with me, but rather that she's corrupted my mind—is this a unique characteristic of the Human Sect? Hmm, I'll ask Master Jinlian later.

Luo Yuheng shook his head and said in a resonant voice, "Nothing special."

She didn't want to say anything more, so she took out a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, flicked it with her finger, and the bottle floated to Xu Qi'an's front.

"Thank you, Imperial Preceptor!" Xu Qi'an accepted the porcelain bottle and bowed in gratitude.

She couldn't see through my specific situation either; she could only vaguely sense it, like Master Jinlian. Xu Qi'an no longer lingered and took his leave.

The carriage entered the imperial city and stopped at the palace gate. Jiang Luzhong, who was driving the carriage, jumped down and took out a wooden ladder to welcome Wei Yuan down.

Apart from members of the royal family, officials were not allowed to drive carriages or ride horses within the palace grounds.

Wei Yuan led Jiang Luzhong into the palace. As they approached the imperial study, they were greeted by Eunuch Liu.

"Duke Wei, you've finally arrived." Eunuch Liu complained repeatedly, "His Majesty sent me here to await your arrival. Hurry up, His Majesty is throwing a tantrum in the Imperial Study."

Wei Yuan nodded calmly, his aura as composed as if the sky were to fall, and he was not affected by Eunuch Liu's words.

"A few old fogies just impeached you before His Majesty. Well, you'd better handle it yourself; in short, be careful."

Eunuch Liu and Wei Yuan were in the same camp, and Wei Yuan was the spiritual leader of the entire eunuch group. It would be extremely difficult for any court official to plant spies in the palace, but Wei Yuan could do it with ease.

Wei Yuan arrived at the door of the imperial study and heard Emperor Yuanjing's voice cursing loudly from inside. "Useless! You're all useless! The Sangbo case is still unsolved, and the clues you two have aren't even as many as a mere copper gong! What use are you two to the court? What use are you to me!"

In the imperial study, the Minister of Ministry of Justice, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, and the Prefect Chen Hanguang stood side by side in the middle, bowing their heads to listen to Emperor Yuanjing's reprimand.

Apart from the three, the Grand Secretary, the ministers of various departments, and several nobles stood on either side, eyes downcast and seemingly lost in thought.

The massacre of the Pingyuan Earl's family has spread throughout the court and the country, plunging nobles into a state of inexplicable panic. On one hand, they are submitting memorials to impeach Wei Yuan and demand a thorough investigation of the murderer, while on the other hand, they are secretly strengthening the security forces within their mansions.

Panic gripped the city. Some said that powerful Demon Race had invaded the capital, wantonly killing high-ranking officials and wreaking havoc on the court.

Some say that the Buddhist School was secretly causing trouble, with the aim of spreading its teachings in the Central Plains and forcing the Great Feng Dynasty to submit.

"Your Majesty, why did the Imperial Censor fall ill at this time?"

"Ha, sick? Clearly, they're just standing by and doing nothing."

"Why were the criminals allowed to escape last night? The Nightwatchers his duty; Your Majesty must severely punish Wei Yuan."

Several ministers offered their advice.

Amidst the murmurs of discussion, Wei Yuan entered the imperial study.

"Wei Yuan!" Upon seeing him enter, Emperor Yuanjing grabbed a stack of documents and hurled them at him, the pages rustling as he roared:

"Three days. If you cannot find the murderer within three days, I will dismiss you from your post."

Wei Yuan deftly dodged the attack, leisurely picking up the scattered documents and papers, and sighed, "Your Majesty, why be angry? Cultivation is about cultivating the mind; do not let your State of Mind be disturbed."

Emperor Yuanjing snorted coldly.

The Minister of Ministry of Justice said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Nightwatchers has allowed the murderer to escape twice in a row. I suspect that Wei Yuan is colluding with foreign tribes and harboring malicious intentions. I request Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

Emperor Yuanjing did not answer, but looked at Chen Hanguang, who was bowing his head and remaining silent, and asked, "What does Prefect Chen think?"

Although the prefectural governor was only a fourth-rank official, he governed twenty-four counties surrounding the capital, and his power was no less than that of the ministers of the Six Ministries.

Chen Hanguang, a seasoned veteran, adhering to the principle of not offending either side, said, "The Sangbo case is not over yet, and now the Pingyuan Marquis's family massacre case has occurred. Your Majesty, please do not be angry and must remain calm. I think we should listen to what Duke Wei has to say."

He kicked the ball away.

Emperor Yuanjing stared coldly at Wei Yuan.

"Your Majesty, the Pingyuan Earl case and the Sangbo case are the same case," Wei Yuan said.

Inside the imperial study, everyone, including Emperor Yuanjing, had a slight change in expression.

Ignoring the expressions of the crowd, Wei Yuan lowered his head and looked at the ground, saying loudly, "Your Majesty, I have already found out who the murderer in the massacre of the Marquis of Pingyuan's family is."

"Who is it?" someone asked instinctively. It was Zhang Feng, the Minister of War.

Wei Yuan glanced at him, but did not answer. Instead, he said to Emperor Yuanjing, "Your Majesty, please dismiss your attendants."

As he said this, Wei Yuan inexplicably thought of Xu Qi'an.

Emperor Yuanjing gave Wei Yuan a deep look, his sharp gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. "All of you, step down."

The group bowed with strange expressions and left the imperial study.

Wei Yuan stayed in the study for half an hour, and no one knows what he said to Emperor Yuanjing.

"Duke Wei, Duke Wei"

Accompanied by Eunuch Liu, Wei Yuan had just stepped out of the imperial study when he heard someone calling his name.

Turning my head, I saw Zhang Feng, the Minister of War, dressed in a scarlet official robe and with a thin face, approaching with a smile on his face.

"Duke Wei, do you know who the murderer of the Pingyuan Earl's family is?"

Wei Yuan shook his head. "Minister Zhang, this case involves Sangbo, so it's inconvenient to disclose details. Once the truth comes out, you will naturally know."

He bowed respectfully, then strode away.

Minister Zhang, having been rebuffed, showed no anger, but instead said with a smile, "Duke Wei, please take care."

After Wei Yuan left, the high-ranking officials waiting in the imperial study slowly approached. "Eunuch Liu, what did Wei Yuan say to His Majesty?"

"Please, gentlemen, don't make things difficult for my family." Eunuch Liu waved his hands repeatedly.

"Eunuch Liu, just say what you can say." A strong voice rang out; it was the Grand Secretary speaking.

After a slight hesitation, Eunuch Liu nodded, glanced around at the ministers, and whispered, "This case is being handled by Xu Qi'an, the gong-bearer of the Nightwatchers watchman's office. What Duke Wei said all came from him."

Xu Qi'an?!

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

As Xu Qi'an left Lingbao Temple, the stunningly beautiful face of the National Preceptor kept flashing through his mind. He thought to himself, "Women who cultivate Daoism are truly different. She's like a jade sculpture; I can't see any flaws on her face."

It's good to have at least a few pimples.

The Earth Sect's leader is a second-rank cultivator, so the Human Sect's leader must be no less impressive. If she's a second-rank cultivator, calling her a fairy wouldn't be an exaggeration.

As the little mare trotted along, passing an armory, Xu Qi'an asked the guard for directions to Prince Yu's residence.

"The investigative approach to the Sangbo case needs to be changed. Let's stop investigating the Prince of Zhenbei for now. I have a feeling that as long as we figure out the details of Heng Hui and Princess Pingyang's affair, and uncover the grudges and grievances between this unfortunate couple and the Pingyuan Earl's family, the Sangbo case might be solved."

"It won't take half a month, I feel like it'll be in the next few days. Maybe even sooner."

"Master Jinlian will come to see me tonight. I need to remember to ask her about the situation of the Human Sect's leader. She's clearly a female Daoist, yet she possesses a bewitching charm."

Xu Qi'an spurred the horse's flanks, urging it to run faster.

Prince Yu's Mansion.

Xu Qi'an reined in his horse and, under the guards' watchful eyes, revealed his identity by showing his gold badge. "I am the official in charge of the Sangbo case appointed by His Majesty. I have business with Prince Yu. Please convey my request."

Upon seeing the waist token, the guard abandoned his disrespectful attitude and hurried into the mansion.

Before long, the guard returned and announced loudly, "Sir, please come with me. Our lord wishes to see you."

The Prince Yu's Mansion covers a vast area; it took a full five minutes to walk from the main gate to the front hall.

Xu Qi'an met Emperor Yuanjing's younger brother, a prince of the current dynasty, in the front hall.

This was a man who was not old, but whose hair had turned gray prematurely. He was pale and looked sickly, with deep vertical lines between his eyebrows. Although he was only in his early forties, he looked older than Emperor Yuanjing.

She was dressed in purple brocade and had quite handsome features.

"A gong?" Prince Yu held a cup of tea in his hand, took a small sip, and his voice was somewhat weak.

He put down his teacup and asked in surprise, "When did my imperial brother grant special permission for someone with a gong to be the organizer?"

"This humble official is Xu Qi'an. Has Prince Yu never heard of me?" Xu Qi'an thought to himself. The Sangbo case is currently the top trending news in the capital. Everyone from princes and nobles to lowly officials should be paying attention to it.

As one of the organizers, why didn't the underlings recognize me, and why didn't Prince Yu, a member of the royal family, recognize me either?

Prince Yu nodded in sudden realization. "I remember now, I have heard of it, but I have been neglecting state affairs for a long time and couldn't recall it at the moment."

It seems that Princess Pingyang's disappearance has been a great blow to him. Xu Qi'an sighed.

"What business do you have with me?" Prince Yu beckoned and ordered his servants to serve tea.