Imperial Cultivation

70: Chapter 68 Helping Out

70 -68 Helping Out

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Xiao Ruoyu was scratching his head almost until it broke, still unable to figure out what to do.

The Military Suppression Department won’t bother with him, the Infantry Office isn’t good at investigations, so should he go to the City Guards?

The City Guards are all seasoned soldiers, surely it will be a case of you push to me and I to you, fearing time will all be wasted in the runaround.

He really couldn’t think of any solution.

Xiao Ruoling saw him like this and sighed inwardly.

Her younger brother was still too kind-hearted, too pure, and too honest—not using a bit of wit.

She gently said, “Little brother, this matter still falls on the Military Suppression Department.”

“But…” Xiao Ruoyu was confused.

“Leverage power.” Xiao Ruoling gently spoke two words, with a charming smile, “Think it over carefully.”

“Leverage power…” Xiao Ruoyu thought hard.

Whose power to leverage, whose power can move the Military Suppression Department?

His eyes lit up, and he said quickly, “Prince Qing Mansion?”

Xiao Ruoling chuckled, “That’s right, go ahead.”

“Then I go to the Prince Qing Mansion?” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.

Xiao Ruoling shook her head lightly.

Seeing her with an ambiguous smile, Xiao Ruoyu suddenly had a flash of inspiration and quickly said, “I go directly to the Military Suppression Department?”

Xiao Ruoling said, “If the Military Suppression Department won’t take care of it, then you go to the Prince Qing Mansion.”

“Yes!” Xiao Ruoyu said excitedly, “Then I shall go…

Oh, right, the invitation.”

Xiao Ruoling handed him the invitation.

Watching his excited departure, a petite, delicate maid said, “Miss, can the Military Suppression Department really manage it?”

Xiao Ruoling said, “What does it matter if they don’t?

It’s more important for my brother to see the complexity of human nature, the influence and use of power.”

“I think even if the Military Suppression Department doesn’t care, the young master will,” another maid giggled, “How can he possibly let you be bullied, Miss!”

Xiao Ruoling looked towards the direction of the Prince Qing Mansion, her deep, bright eyes becoming misty, as if her gaze could transcend the distance and see the Prince Qing Mansion.

The petite maid giggled, “Miss, are you also wondering how the young master will handle this?”

“Let’s see,” said Xiao Ruoling.

Another proportionate and tall maid said, “Miss, what if the young master doesn’t do anything?”

“Impossible!” the petite maid giggled, “What man can tolerate his woman being bullied?

The key is how he handles it, whether the young master can make the Military Suppression Department act.”

“A bit tricky.”

“Well, after all, it’s a princely heir of the Prince Qing Mansion.

If it were the heir of Prince Ying, the Military Suppression Department would surely hurry to act.”

“Sigh…”

The two maids both sighed.

They could also feel the coldness of the world.

The Duke An Mansion had a thin family line, the son was not yet of age, and Lord State Duke had relinquished his military power to become the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, equating to a loss of power.

Among the Eight Dukes’ Mansions, the Duke An Mansion was considered to be declining.

This sense of decline was extremely clear.

When interacting with the other seven Dukes’ Mansions, it was inevitable to be wronged, ignored, slighted, and even somewhat despised.

Fawning over the high and stepping on the low is human nature, and it is the same among the Eight Dukes’ Mansions.

Not to mention within the dukes’ mansions, it was also such among the princes.

Xiao Ruoling said, “Enough, get busy with your tasks.”

“Yes, Miss.” the two maids crisply responded and began to get busy, starting to check the State Duke Mansion thoroughly.

——

Xiao Ruoyu, accompanied by several guards from the Duke Mansion, walked down the bustling street.

When he saw Huang Shiron in the crowd, his spirits lifted.

Huang Shiron, being the Hall Master of the West Second Hall and also a true disciple of the White Cloud Sword Palace, had boundless prospects and was quite renowned in the circle of Yujing nobility.

It was said she was expected to succeed Jiang Qiuge as the Director of the Central Office.

Xiao Ruoyu hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his fists from afar, and said, “Master Huang, Master Huang!”

“Young Duke,” Huang Shiron clasped her fists and smiled faintly.

She naturally recognized Xiao Ruoyu.

Though Xiao Ruoyu rarely appeared, he was after all a young duke of the Eight Dukes’ Mansions, thus a top figure among the aristocracy.

However, no matter how powerful the Eight Dukes’ Mansions were, they didn’t have authority over the Military Suppression Department, so she treated him with neither arrogance nor humility, meeting him as equals.

“Master Huang, there’s something we need the Military Suppression Department’s help with.” He handed out the invitation and solemnly explained the situation.

“Someone impersonated the second lady of the Duke Kang Mansion and sent an invitation to Miss Xiao…” Huang Shiron lightly furrowed her delicate brows.

Behind her, Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu took a step forward, examined the invitation, but couldn’t see anything unusual.

Wen Qianqian said, “This matter should not be under the jurisdiction of our Military Suppression Department, should it?

It’s probably a job for the City Patrol.”

This matter did not yet require troubling the Military Suppression Department; the City Guards could handle it, and if not, then call upon the Military Suppression Department.

Huang Shiron waved her jade-like hand, looked at Xiao Ruoyu, “Does the Fourth Prince know about this?”

“…

He does not know.” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated for a moment, finally deciding to tell the truth without lying about the tiger’s authority.

“Alright, I will inform the Fourth Prince.

Junior Sister Wen, go and inform Mr.

Wan to investigate this matter immediately.”

“Yes, Hall Master!” Wen Qianqian solemnly agreed, took the invitation, turned around gracefully, and disappeared into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Ruoyu felt a bit dazed.

He had originally thought he would have to argue extensively and then still be rejected, planning to go to the Prince Qing Mansion to find Chu Zhiyuan, and have Chu Zhiyuan personally intervene with the Military Suppression Department to get them to act.

Unexpectedly, the Military Suppression Department acted so readily.

Could it be that the Military Suppression Department was this easy to talk to?

“Senior Sister, with Mr.

Wan involved, we will definitely get to the bottom of this,” Xu Mengyu said with a smile, “He’s a master in tracking and solving cases, isn’t this using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?”

Huang Shiron clasped her fists, “Young Duke, whether or not the matter is clarified, tonight we will report the result to you at your mansion.”

“…

Thank you, Master Huang!”

Huang Shiron modestly returned a smile.

Xiao Ruoyu bid farewell and left.

On his way back, he quickly realized.

Huang Shiron agreed so readily and even assigned a top-notch detective.

It must be due to Chu Zhiyuan’s influence.

But he was half-believing and half-doubting: does Chu Zhiyuan have that much sway?

Then his face darkened again.

Could Chu Zhiyuan have some romantic entanglement with Huang Shiron?

This Huang Shiron was also a stunning beauty, only slightly inferior to his sister, and few men could resist her.

Because she was a true disciple of the White Cloud Sword Palace and also a hall master of the Military Suppression Department, which made people feel inferior.

But a princely heir wouldn’t feel inferior, might very well want to marry her.

He wouldn’t want to marry two wives, would he?

Thinking of this, he felt anger rising, then quickly calmed himself, not to overthink or make wild guesses.

When he got back to the Duke An Mansion and told Xiao Ruoling, Xiao Ruoling smiled, “The Fourth Prince is a junior minister of the Sect Martial Department and usually deals with the Military Suppression Department; having some connections is normal.”

“I see…” Xiao Ruoyu suddenly understood, showing a smile.

That makes sense!

This is just help among colleagues in officialdom.

In officialdom, you help me, I help you, offering convenience to others is offering convenience to oneself.

The petite maid giggled, “Hehe, the young master’s position as a junior minister wasn’t for nothing.”

The proportions of the tall maid spoke softly, “It’s also due to the status of the princely heir…

The young master and Huang Shiron surely have some connections.”

The father is still the Left Vice Minister, should also have connections with the Military Suppression Department.

But the Military Suppression Department would never privately help out because of connections, otherwise it would be using public power for personal gain and would be severely punished.

Only a princely heir could make the Military Suppression Department act.

But acting so readily, the two must have a deep connection, not just a colleague’s relationship, but also a personal connection.

“Could there be a romantic affair?” the petite Lu Xiaoqing called out, “The young master already has a heart?”

“That’s possible,” the proportionate Cheng Ju lightly said, “So when facing Miss, he can be so aloof.”

“Makes sense!” Lu Xiaoqing clapped her hands.

Xiao Ruoling glanced obliquely at the two women.

Lu Xiaoqing giggled, “Miss, after you get married, as long as you make a move, the young master’s heart will be captured in an instant!”

They firmly believed it, so they were not worried.

They were confident that once married, Chu Zhiyuan would be completely smitten by Xiao Ruoling, so who he originally liked wouldn’t matter, he would only like her.

Even they, as women, couldn’t resist Xiao Ruoling’s charm and often found themselves enchanted, confident no man could resist.

Xiao Ruoling looked towards Xiao Ruoyu, “Go to the Prince Qing Mansion and inform them.”

“…Alright.” Xiao Ruoyu reluctantly nodded.

He knew the reasoning, since they were leveraging Prince Qing Mansion’s power, of course, they had to inform them, otherwise, Prince Qing Mansion would surely feel resentment.