Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 85: Chapter 83: Disturbance at the Yamen

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Was it really Song Feiqiong who did it?

Hard to say.

The actions of a Great Grandmaster cannot be measured by conventional reasoning. Ordinary people feel that Song Feiqiong would not bother to engage with him, too lazy to pay attention.

But people know too little about Song Feiqiong.

Every Great Grandmaster is a unique, willful person. The fetters of the mundane world are weak for them; the only things that can restrain them are the Emperor and their own principles.

”Where is the doctor?”

”The doctor is busy and can’t come, so he insists on seeing the Junior Minister.”

”Just say I’m not here,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

”...Yes.” Gao Lingfeng said helplessly, ”If you don’t send them away, sir, they’ll keep waiting and won’t give up.”

”We need to see the results of the Military Suppression Department’s investigation first,” Chu Zhiyuan said. ”What can I say before that?”

”Yes.” Gao Lingfeng sighed and said, ”I think he’s convinced that Song the Great Grandmaster is the murderer and wants to force us to arrest him.”

”They should know that if it really is Song the Great Grandmaster, there’s nothing that can be done, right?”

”They definitely know.” Gao Lingfeng showed an expression of helplessness.

The situation with the Zhenyi Sect is also pitiful.

An Elder of the sect was killed just like that. If Zhenyi Sect doesn’t avenge this, how can they unite people’s hearts, how can they stand in the world?

This is trampling Zhenyi Sect into the mud!

Chu Zhiyuan mused, ”If they were smart, they wouldn’t insist on blaming Song the Great Grandmaster... Those in the Zhenyi Sect can’t be that foolish, can they?”

The disciples of these sects might be straightforward and reckless, but if the Sect Hierarch is like that, the sect would have declined long ago and couldn’t stand in the Inner City.

”You’re wise, sir!” Gao Lingfeng let out a cold laugh. ”But don’t forget the people behind Zhenyi Sect.”

”Yao Yue Palace!” Chu Zhiyuan said slowly.

”Precisely Yao Yue Palace!” Gao Lingfeng sneered, ”That’s why they’re so confident, dare to cling to Song the Great Grandmaster and not let go... The dead Elder is Bai Jingmang, outside waiting is his brother Bai Jingrong.”

”Let’s see the investigation results of the Military Suppression Department.” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I’m leaving now.”

He stood up and walked out.

As soon as he stepped over the threshold, he saw two people emerge from the side, stopping at the bottom of the steps.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned at the two junior officials running up behind them.

They approached with looks of fear, cupped their fists, and bowed, ”Forgive us, sir, they...”

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand and looked at the two people at the bottom of the steps.

An imposing elder, with a dark face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, glared over with anger, showing no fear.

Behind him followed a slender young man with fine eyebrows and features, looking over apologetically with a smile accompanying him.

Gao Lingfeng frowned and said, ”Elder Bai, what is this for?”

”I ask the great lord to give justice to a humble servant!” the imposing dark-skinned elder cupped his fists and shouted.

This shout was like a thunderbolt.

Chu Zhiyuan beckoned, ”Come in and talk.”

He could tell at a glance that Elder Bai was difficult to deal with.

Ordinary citizens, even Martial Arts experts, often seem diminished when entering a government office, their momentum suppressed, not daring to be presumptuous.

The government office represents the Court and the greatest power.

Elder Bai of the Zhenyi Sect showed no sign of fear, suggesting he’s either an old hand or naturally daring, reckless without fear.

Neither type is easy to deal with.

It’s hard to dismiss them with just a few words.

But before finding out the truth, speaking less minimizes mistakes; saying nothing is best, which is the way of an official, even if one is a Princely Heir, this rule must be followed.

Once inside, Chu Zhiyuan sat back in his seat, looking down at them benignly, ”Elder Bai, please speak.”

”Ah—!”

Bai Jingrong suddenly burst into tears, making dust fall from the beams.

Chu Zhiyuan watched him calmly.

Gao Lingfeng frowned, ”If you have something to say, say it properly, why cry!”

A strong, dark-skinned large man in a blink was full of tears and snot, looking pitiful and disgusting.

Chu Zhiyuan watched calmly, using Super Sense to perceive.

Though Bai Jingrong was crying loudly, with tears and snot flowing, his emotions weren’t stirred; he was just putting on a show.

The slender young man beside him looked somewhat embarrassed, appearing uneasy.

Bai Jingrong’s loud crying continued.

Chu Zhiyuan seemed not to hear, just watching in silence.

Gao Lingfeng’s brows knitted more tightly, growing increasingly impatient.

He was about to step forward to stop him, but seeing Chu Zhiyuan’s expression, he closed his mouth, coldly staring at Bai Jingrong, letting him cry.

Bai Jingrong cried continuously for a cup of tea’s time, only stopping when two junior officials came in with tea, and Gao Lingfeng handed him a cup, ”Drink! Moisten your throat and continue crying!”

”Thank you, sir.” Bai Jingrong accepted the tea, drinking it down in gulps, then handed the cup back to Gao Lingfeng.

Chu Zhiyuan sipped his tea lightly, set down the cup, and said blandly, ”Elder Bai, if you’ve cried enough, please speak.”

”I plead for justice, sir!” Bai Jingrong said, starting to sob again, ”My elder brother died so horribly!”

”Horribly? Didn’t he die in his sleep?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”He looked peaceful, didn’t he?”

”...But he died uncertainly, confusingly!” Bai Jingrong blew his nose furiously, casting it onto the ground.

Chu Zhiyuan’s eyebrows twitched.

This action made him feel uncomfortable, deciding to have the junior officials clean the floor ten times once later.

His expression remained indifferent: ”The Military Suppression Department is investigating, aren’t they? They’ll do their best to pursue the murderer.”

”I’m afraid even if they find out, they won’t dare pursue!” Bai Jingrong snorted, ”Will you dare arrest Song Feiqiong?”

Chu Zhiyuan said nothing, glancing at Gao Lingfeng.

Seeing his look, Gao Lingfeng quickly spoke, ”Elder Bai, the matter is unclear, and saying who the murderer is now is premature!”

”What’s there to investigate? It’s Song Feiqiong!” Bai Jingrong gazed with tearful eyes, ”Who else but Song Feiqiong would or dare kill my brother?”

”Who saw it with their own eyes? If no one saw, you can’t make baseless claims,” Gao Lingfeng shook his head.

”If someone could kill my brother silently, only a Great Grandmaster could, and among Great Grandmasters we’ve offended, only Song Feiqiong; isn’t the result obvious? What else is there to investigate?”

”Moreover, how could a Great Grandmaster act and leave traces or flaws? Investigation is just stalling and placating us!”

”Elder Bai!” Gao Lingfeng shouted sternly.

Bai Jingrong glared sideways at him, shaking his head, ”Can’t even the truth be spoken? Or is the Ministry of Rites and the Military Suppression Department favoring Song Feiqiong too?”

”You—!” Gao Lingfeng was beside himself with anger.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, stopping him, turned to Bai Jingrong, and said warmly, ”Elder Bai, as an Elder of a sect, you should act methodically. For things not seen with your own eyes, you shouldn’t speak lightly. Saying only a Great Grandmaster could kill your brother in silence is incorrect.”

”What’s wrong with that?” Bai Jingrong snorted, ”Sir, you are of noble blood; you should speak justly and fairly! Is a Great Grandmaster so important that we commoners are unimportant?!”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, ”Elder Bai, compared to your brother, whose martial arts are stronger?”

”About the same,” Bai Jingrong said.

Actually, his martial arts were better.

Chu Zhiyuan disappeared in a flash, and the next moment appeared behind him, placing his palm on his back.

Bai Jingrong stiffened, his cheeks flushing rapidly like he was drunk, eyes slightly dazed.

”Master?!” The slender and delicate young man saw something wrong, quickly reaching to support him.

Chu Zhiyuan vanished again, returning to his original position, and said warmly, ”I’m only at the Innate Realm too.”

”Master? Master?” Fang Haiyang called several times, not daring to push Bai Jingrong, only able to call out.

”Hiss—!” Bai Jingrong drew a long breath, his chest puffing out like half a ball.

”Phew—!” Bai Jingrong exhaled heavily, chest deflating, the flush on his face quickly fading, returning to normal.

He stared wide-eyed at Chu Zhiyuan behind the desk, at a loss for words.

”Master?” Fang Haiyang quickly asked.

”Shut up, you’re annoying!” Bai Jingrong turned his head and shouted.

Fang Haiyang finally let out a long breath.

Bai Jingrong looked at Chu Zhiyuan again, cupped fists, ”Sir, impressive martial arts! May I ask, what is this...?”

”It’s just a Miracle Technique,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So the killer may not be a Great Grandmaster. Don’t let emotions cloud your eyes, let’s wait and see.”

——

In a backyard of the Zhenyi Sect’s altar.

Over a dozen people from the Military Suppression Department surrounded the small yard, blocking outsiders from entering.

A gaunt elder dressed in a black robe was by the well in the yard, washing his hands, pondering as he washed, his expression solemn.

This was Wan Yang, the case-solving expert of the Military Suppression Department.

Two middle-aged men in brocade were waiting beside him, one unable to resist asking, ”Old Wan, can you find the murderer?”

Wan Yang shook his head.

”No clues at all?”

”Flawless.”

”What about the injuries? Can you tell what kind of martial arts caused them?”

”The heart meridian was severed with no residue, it should be a unique Miracle Technique, but I have no impression of it.”

”Then...”

”I’m afraid it will become a cold case.”

”This is troublesome...”

”Old Wan, if you can’t do it, who can?”

Wan Yang glanced inside the house, his eyes flickering, ultimately swallowing his words, not uttering Chu Zhiyuan’s name.

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