Investigating the Case by Imperial Decree ✗, Wrecking the Case by Imperial Decree ✓

"Commander, we've finished examining the traces at the scene. They don't look like the work of ordinary bandits."

On the imperial road leading to Mo Continent, Dong Wuj iu snorted.

"They dared to strike at the princes' heirs, so naturally they weren't ordinary people. Did you find anything else?"

"Commander, we also found this."

Dong Wuj iu took it. It was a black iron token with the character "calamity" engraved on one side and a ferocious ghost on the other.

"Calamity?"

"Which factions or sects in the martial world use the character 'calamity' on their tokens?"

The Mystic Shadow Guards all shook their heads.

"Commander, the Mystic Shadow Guard has records of every sect in the martial world, but none has a token bearing that character."

"None?" Dong Wuj iu frowned.

"My lord, I found the heir of the King of Mozhou in a cave ten li away."

"Is he safe?"

"He suffered a few minor injuries, but he's otherwise unharmed."

Dong Wuj iu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Bring him along. We'll return to the capital and report to His Majesty first."

The imperial palace.

Gu Yuan strode into the inner court with an easy air, stopping to chat with the palace maids along the way.

"Oh, Brother Gu, you're finally here."

"Commander."

Shangguan Weiming smiled. "There's no need to stand on ceremony with me. From now on, just call me Brother."

Gu Yuan: ?

"Her Majesty the empress has summoned the Mystic Shadow Guard to discuss matters in the imperial study. Everyone of commandant rank or above must attend. Come on, Brother Gu."

"So many people? Has something major happened?" Gu Yuan asked curiously.

"The heir of Mozhou was attacked and the Heavenly Longevity Festival tribute was stolen. Her Majesty is furious. I'm afraid today won't be easy."

So that's what this is about...

I'm not getting involved. Even if they beat me to death, I won't get involved!

Gu Yuan made up his mind.

The imperial study.

Several Mystic Shadow Guard commanders were present, each accompanied by a few commandants.

As soon as Gu Yuan entered, he saw Qi Yueli's brows drawn tightly together and her expression less than pleasant.

"Everyone is here. Dong Wuj iu, tell us what you found."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Dong Wuj iu reported everything he had learned from the investigation.

"A token bearing 'calamity' and the face of a ghost. Great Qi has never seen one so sinister," Shangguan Weiming said. "Your Majesty, could it have come from the Northern Desert?"

Dong Wuj iu spoke slowly. "All the tribes of the Northern Desert revere the Northern Desert Divine Court. The Divine Court worships the Desert Jiao, not a wicked ghost like this."

"Judging by the traces left by the attackers, their cultivation techniques weren't of the Northern Desert either."

Shangguan Weiming's gaze grew grave. "If it wasn't the Northern Desert, then it could only have been Great Qi... But a sect of this size couldn't have been established overnight. How could it have escaped the Mystic Shadow Guard's notice?"

For a moment, no one spoke.

Qi Yueli swept her gaze over the room, then fixed it on Gu Yuan.

"Commandant Gu, what are your thoughts?"

Gu Yuan: ?

What thoughts?

I definitely don't have any thoughts.

Am I supposed to tell you this token represents the Heavenly Calamity Sect, which has ties to the Taoist Order and specializes in all kinds of sinister methods for concealing its tracks?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

"Your Majesty, I only took up my post a few days ago. I truly have no thoughts on the matter."

This fellow...

Qi Yueli snorted inwardly.

She was certain Gu Yuan knew; he simply didn't want to tell her.

Hmph, little rebel!

"Since none of you has a lead, investigate."

"Gu Yuan, you were already responsible for receiving the princes' heirs. You will handle this case."

What?

Gu Yuan stared blankly.

"Your Majesty, I'm not good at investigating cases."

"If you don't know how, then learn. It's settled." Qi Yueli paused. "You have seven days. If you can't solve it in seven days, you'll be dismissed and investigated."

!!!

Dismissed?

That would be wonderful!

"I accept the decree!"

Shangguan Weiming was taken aback. Gu Yuan had looked so reluctant just a moment ago, so why did the boy seem to get excited as soon as the empress mentioned dismissing him?

[Dismissed? Dismissal is great! The empress has finally done something decent!]

[Seven days is still a bit long. Investigate the case by imperial decree... Heh, watch me wreck the case by imperial decree!]

[The heir of Mozhou... The weakest of the nine heirs. I'll start with him!]

Qi Yueli: ...

"Can't this fellow do his job properly... Forget it, I never expected him to do it properly anyway..."

[Come to think of it, why has the Heavenly Calamity Sect appeared so soon? And they even fucking left a token at the scene. Their brains must be broken.]

[Good thing the Heavenly Calamity Sect can use Taoist arts to cover its tracks, so its whereabouts won't be exposed...]

"Heavenly Calamity Sect, Taoist arts..."

Qi Yueli's gaze grew cold. "It's those old bastards from the Taoist Order... Hmph! Do they really think I don't dare move against them?"

[The plot has gotten a little messy. My appearance has already disrupted some things. I can't stand out anymore.

I need to correct it. I have to correct it thoroughly.]

[In the original plot, the Heavenly Calamity Sect secretly tampered with the Heavenly Longevity Festival tribute through Prince Duan. That was how they succeeded in stirring up the empress's heart demon at the festival and causing her to fall into the demonic path.]

Qi Yueli's breath caught as she read the words in the diary.

"I fell to the demonic path during the Heavenly Longevity Festival?"

"What exactly did the Heavenly Calamity Sect do to it?"

[Prince Duan was killed, cutting off the Heavenly Calamity Sect's access, so they resorted to ambushing the procession. On the surface, they were robbing it, but in truth, they wanted to tamper with the tribute.]

"..."

"Why won't he write down the important part?"

Gu Yuan kept writing without ever saying what they had done to the tribute, leaving her somewhat frustrated.

[That weakling, the heir of the King of Mozhou, was naturally the best target. As for the other heirs, they either have profound cultivation, exceptional minds, or god-tier teammates. If the Heavenly Calamity Sect went after them, they'd just be throwing their lives away.]

[Feinting against seven groups was enough to distract the empress. Combined with the concealment of Taoist arts, the Heavenly Calamity Sect's true objective could naturally be hidden without a flaw.]

[With the Heavenly Longevity Festival approaching, there are so many matters to attend to in Qi Capital that the Mystic Shadow Guard can't focus on this case. Even if they trace it to the Heavenly Calamity Sect, they definitely won't think there's anything wrong with the tribute.]

[If nothing unexpected happens, the tribute from Mozhou will be found in a few days...]

[Forget it. It's none of my business. Time to find the heir of Mozhou. Watch me make a huge scene!]

[Let's see if the empress can still put up with me then!]

Qi Yueli: ...

"Someone."

Shangguan Weiming entered. "Your Majesty."

"Investigate the Orthodox Yang Taoist Order."

!!

"Your Majesty has a lead?"

Qi Yueli nodded. "I recalled that there is a Heavenly Calamity Sect in the martial world with close ties to the Taoist Order. Follow that lead and investigate thoroughly."

"Remember, you are to handle this alone. Tell no one, including Gu Yuan."

Shangguan Weiming understood.

So the empress had a plan all along. Gu Yuan would draw the enemy's attention in the open while I strike at their vital point from the shadows!

One in the open, one in the shadows. Flawless.

Her Majesty the empress is truly wise!

Shangguan Weiming admired the empress all the more.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will see this task through."

Dendrobium Street, Qi Capital.

It was one of the busiest streets in the capital.

The various heirs had all been lodged here.

At the residence of the heir of Mozhou, a roar rang out both inside and beyond the house.

"Get out!"

"Near Qi Capital, right under the emperor's nose, the tribute I brought for Her Majesty was stolen!"

"Are you Mystic Shadow Guards all good for nothing?"

"You're all useless! Why aren't you out finding my tribute?"

Outside the house, Gu Yuan's lips curled up.

"Is the heir of the King of Mozhou staying in there?"

"Yes, Commandant."

Gu Yuan stepped forward and kicked the doors open.

"Hmph! You useless fool! You lost the tribute, and now you dare insult the Mystic Shadow Guard?"

"Beat him!"

Heir of the King of Mozhou: ???