Everyone Framed Each Other
"Where did those two guys' souls go after they left their bodies?"
Zhang Xuezhou didn't go to the Golden Palace to join the fun; he watched the commotion at Sima Gate for a while, and his sharp eyes even spotted the sorcerer kidnapping Shen Chong.
Shen Chong reacted extremely quickly, but he still couldn't withstand the insidious Incantation Technique.
"Those two thieves, posing as retainers, entered the Prime Minister's residence. Their bodies have already been pierced by flying arrows. Does Lord Dongfang suspect they have accomplices?"
Last night's trip to Zhang Xuezhou's residence to hold the festival through back channels was a special matter. Shen Chong had nothing to say about this favored minister of the new emperor; having seen many once-popular favored ministers, he was used to such things.
The principle for dealing with this type of person is to neither offend nor befriend them.
Offending a favorite of the emperor will inevitably invite the emperor's malice, and no favor lasts forever; even a favored minister cannot be favored indefinitely. Befriending such people will likely lead to being implicated in the future.
Shen Chong believed that after making an exception for his case, he had no further contact with Zhang Xuezhou.
He didn't expect to be rescued by the other party so soon.
Shen Chong was somewhat afraid to think about the consequences of being controlled by the sorcerer and then leaving with others.
After this incident, the court no longer adhered to as many rules as it did with Zhang Xuezhou, and even when questioning him, they were very polite.
He watched Zhang Xuezhou wander around searching, his eyes also scanning the surroundings warily.
"You might not believe me when I tell you," Zhang Xuezhou gestured with his hands, "Those two sorcerers were killed, but their yang spirits didn't die; instead, they detached from their bodies and hid!"
"Well... that kind of thing is still possible!"
When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; I've never seen anyone whose soul can escape after death.
Moreover, the two sorcerers who attacked him were at the Divine Ability Realm. Cultivators at this level are neither particularly high nor low, and their abilities are not beyond imagination.
Based on Shen Chong's experience, he felt that it was possible for a cultivator like Shi Wudao to be resurrected, but it was unlikely for the two attacking sorcerers.
However, he did not deny Zhang Xuezhou's views, and Zhang Xuezhou had already emphasized this point beforehand.
"The Yang Soul is formless and intangible, making it difficult to search for," Shen Chong cautioned.
"It's a pity it's already dawn!"
Zhang Xuezhou said something abruptly, which Shen Chong found a little difficult to understand at first.
Zhang Xuezhou was clearly disappointed that it was daytime and the Yizong's night owls were already asleep, unable to sense or track this Yang Soul incarnation.
He was quite interested in the life conditions of sorcerers, thinking of studying them or finding them to see what it felt like for their lingering spirits after death.
This situation, where the physical body dies but the yang spirit remains, is quite unique and very similar to the state of 'Bai'.
To Zhang Xuezhou's slight regret, despite searching for a long time, he was unable to find any trace of the two individuals.
"If Lord Dongfang wishes to investigate, it would be best to ask the Grand Historian for help, especially Sima Tan, who is particularly skilled in the Yang Soul Inspection; he might be able to find something out," Shen Chong advised.
"That's true!"
Zhang Xuezhou was somewhat dismissive, after all, he was a master of the Yang Soul Incarnation Technique, and even with his extremely powerful spirit, he couldn't be detected, let alone Sima Tan and the others.
But Zhang Xuezhou didn't doubt that it was just a lucky guess; if Sima Tan and the others really did find the whereabouts of the two men, it would be an unexpected bonus.
"I'll go to the Qilin Pavilion to find the Grand Historian!"
Zhang Xuezhou cupped his hands in greeting, and without waiting for Shen Chong's reply, he walked away unsteadily.
"Impressive skill!"
If one focuses on what's nearby, Zhang Xuezhou's departure would be almost imperceptible; one would assume he was leaving normally.
If you simply raise your eyes and look into the distance, you can see that figure that appears and disappears in the distance.
With each sway of his steps, Zhang Xuezhou covered an extremely long distance.
Shen Chong felt that Tian Fen's unparalleled flying skills were no match for Zhang Xuezhou.
He praised him, feeling that there was a reason why the new emperor favored the other person. People with real ability do not win favor through flattery and clever words. People with real ability will go further in life, and there is no problem with appropriate interaction.
"It's a pity for the Prime Minister and Marquis of Weiqi; it seems they're going to have a major falling out this time!"
It's normal for members of the various Lineage in Chang'an City to have minor squabbles; fights between retainers happen from time to time, and sometimes people even die.
But with such a large-scale brawl, involving the collision with the emperor's carriage and a prison break, even if the people from the Guan family were to be used as scapegoats, this matter would not be so easily quelled.
Shen Chong didn't need to go to the main hall of the Weiyang Palace to listen in, nor did he need to wait for news after the court session; he knew very well what would happen in the court today.
On one side was Tian Fen, the newly appointed prime minister from the Empress Dowager's faction, who belonged to the newly established marquisate. On the other side was Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, who was backed by the Empress Dowager and Princess Dou, and also had the support of many hereditary marquises.
It's hard to say who's stronger or weaker; Tian Fen Tian Fen has his advantages, and Dou Ying has Dou Ying strengths.
"There's some inside information from the imperial physicians, suggesting that Prime Minister Tian's health is serious. Marquis of Weiqi is probably planning to use this opportunity to bring him down from the court. I wonder what cards Marquis of Weiqi has up his sleeve!"
Shen Chong was also a hereditary marquis.
Hereditary marquises had almost become the tacit agreement on territory and rules, but Tian Fen, the new marquis, was like a rampaging wild bull, shattering the original tacit understanding in Chang'an City.
Marquises have the support to remain steadfast in the court, while prime ministers hold the reins of power and can wield it to its fullest extent.
Countless sycophants and retainers flocked to the Prime Minister's residence, hoping to gain an advantage by being close to him. Even the retainers who were in charge of the administration fled.
To be honest, although the situation was unfavorable for Dou Ying, Shen Chong was actually quite looking forward to Dou Ying overturning the table and bringing Tian Fen down.
"I don't want to think about it anymore, let's wait and see how it goes!"
Shen Chong ultimately decided not to think about it any further, but instead waited for definitive news to see what tricks Dou Ying and the others had up their sleeves.
He shouted loudly, constantly instructing the men of the Jingzhao Prefecture to speed up the glove-and-shackle process, and to use heavy force if they encountered any resistance.
The two corpses of sorcerers shocked many people. Most people were more compliant to force than to yield, and in the end, they didn't even dare to shout, and could only accept their fate of being shackled.
In the imperial court of the Weiyang Palace, Dou Ying retrieved a family genealogy.
This family tree was something Tian Fen had previously brought out to consult Li Shaojun for identification. The family tree did not record any inherited Technique Method, but rather involved Lineage factions, and contained slogans and codes, as well as Tian Fen's own handwritten inscription.
Li Shaojun didn't explain in detail at the time, and Tian Fen didn't take it seriously either. He didn't follow up afterward, and somehow it ended up in Dou Ying's hands.
"Nonsense! I don't even recognize these words. You can't just believe whatever you say. This is a complete frame-up!"
Tian Fen looked at the thick cowhide cloth that Dou Ying had taken out, and then at the familiar words on it.
One must not engage in treasonous acts within the imperial court, nor associate with forces such as the Immortal Court.
The former would be beheaded, while the latter would have no way to explain themselves. Most of them would be dismissed from their posts and investigated, but the matter would be dropped until they died of old age in loneliness.
Tian Fen clearly didn't want to be treated this way. He argued back vehemently, his face flushed, and then rushed to Dou Ying's side, pulling and tugging at him, trying to snatch back his family tree.
There was a struggle, and some even resorted to fists and kicks.
In desperation, Tian Fen even took off Tongtian crown and threw it at people.
As the crown fell, Dou Ying's body trembled violently as they struggled against each other. He was then pressed to the ground by the Tongtian Crown, lying there coughing up blood, looking as if he was about to die.
"He's faking it. This guy is highly skilled in martial arts and has a high level of cultivation. How could he cough up blood after taking a single blow from the Tongtian Crown? He's definitely just playing the victim to gain sympathy!"
The thought flashed through Tian Fen's mind, and then she quickly lay down as well.
He bit down, and blood oozed from the tip of his tongue, mixed with saliva, flowing from the corner of his mouth.
"Marquis of Weiqi beat a man who had fought bravely for the country and was injured. I was beaten by Marquis of Weiqi, and my old wound was aggravated, and I am about to die!"
Tian Fen lay on the floor of the Weiyang Palace and shouted. He felt that Dou Ying was trying to extort money, so he could only lie on the ground and act shamelessly. He then handed the matter over to the emperor in the court.