Chapter 220: Movement of the Undercurrent
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
…
In the imperial palace of the Yan Capital, in front of the door to the Advanced Academy, dozens of members of the Dragon Protection Squad continued to wait outside, allowing the torrential rain to fall upon them, yet remaining as still as a mountain.
When a middle-aged man around the age of forty, wearing a purple official robe, whose phoenix eyes were long and narrow walked over from afar, the dozens of members of the Dragon Protection Squad suddenly turned respectful. When the middle-aged nearer, they neatly bowed towards the middle-aged man.
"Lord Hou!"
The Dragon Protection Squad only took orders from the current Emperor. However, in front of the middle-aged man, they were still extremely respectful. This wasn't very much related to his order of feudal nobility.
Because, even if a prince was in front of them, they still dared to hold their swords.
However, the middle-aged man was different. He was the lord of the Great Xia Dynasty's Stabilisation Constabulary, the head of the thirteen constabularies, the most stable pillar of the dynasty, and the sworn brother of the current Emperor.
The Stabilisation Constabulary's Xing Hou, Xing Yuanguo.
Xing Yuanguo looked towards the dozens of members of the Dragon Protection Squad. A faint glimmer of light shone in his long and narrow phoenix eyes. He naturally knew about the Dragon Protection Squad returning to the Yan Capital. However, he didn't ask further.
He was a general, and a military lord. His responsibility was to protect the country. Hence, he only protected the country.
As for what he shouldn't know, he never inquired further. This was the teachings passed down in the Stabilisation Constabulary ever since it was founded.
"Yes." Xing Yuanguo lightly nodded his head. He didn't speak a further word with the Dragon Protection Squad, and walked in immediately after Eunuch Pan pushed open the door.
Once he walked into the Advanced Academy, Xing Yuanguo saw the dead body covered by the flag. Beside the dead body stood another two armoured members of the Dragon Protection Squad.
His expression changed slightly. However, he didn't ask further. Instead, he walked quietly to one side and knelt down.
"Hail Emperor."
"Official Xing get up quickly, how is the kid Qingsui's injuries?" As Emperor Lin Mubai spoke, he stood up from his dragon chair and personally went in front of Xing Yuanguo to support him up.
"Bleeding isn't of any much significance to a man. He can only blame his own weakness. This incident has been caused by Qingsui, accidentally bringing in the demon into the combat examination and causing injuries to the princess. I am responsible for my failed supervision, and hope that I will be punished as due!" Xing Yuanguo didn't stand up immediately and instead insisted on kneeling onto the ground.
"The spy of the demon race is hard to guard against, Official Xing need not blame yourself. The reason why I called you here today is to discuss about matters of the country." Emperor Lin Mubai reached out to pull him up again.
This time, Xing Yuanguo didn't insist in kneeling further. Instead, he stood up very quickly.
"Emperor please tell me more!"
"There are three thousand volumes of the Law of Dao, while there are thirty-six types of Heaven Dao. Ever since the Great Xia Dynasty was founded, we had been collecting the thirty-six Heaven Dao Sage Tablets. There are currently thirteen in the Sage Land, nine in the Heaven Dao Pavilion, while the rest of the Heaven Dao Sage Tablets are spread in various places. I'm sure that you know the importance of this Heaven Dao Sage Tablet."
"Your meaning is?"
"The Stabilisation Constabulary had always maintained close ties with the Divine Constabulary. Now that the Sagely Relic had descended in the Cang Ling Mountain of the Northern Desert River of Trust Capital's Huai An County, I wish that you can go there personally."
"Why not ask the Divine Constabulary to obtain it directly?"
"I fear that the power of the Divine Constabulary alone isn't enough to guarantee success. I'm sure you know the geography of the Cang Ling Mountain, despite hundred of years it still hadn't been explored fully. If an army recklessly enters the mountain, they might face losses. Furthermore, after the Sagely Relic had appeared, the Dragon Protection Squad had been attacked along the way, causing them to lose a Dragon Envoy…"
"Is it the demon race?"
"Yes."
"I understood. I will move out now!"
"Orders for the Dragon Protection Squad. Your task for this journey to the Cang Ling Mountain is to ensure the safety of Xing Hou. If there are any accidents, all of the Dragon Protection Squad will face death as the heaviest punishment!" When Emperor Lin Mubai heard Xing Yuanguo agree to this, his gaze turned towards the two members of the Dragon Protection Squad beside him.
"Roger!" When the two of them heard this, they instantly knelt down.
"Official Xing, you must remember that safety is always the first priority. No matter how important the Heaven Dao Sage Tablet is, it cannot compare to the Stabilisation Constabulary. You must take care!"
"Thank you for your concern!" Xing Yuanguo nodded, then immediately bowed and left.
On the other hand, the two members of the Dragon Protection Squad beside the dead body instantly stood up and followed behind Xing Yuanguo.
…
Within the Ping Yang Residence, a faint medical aroma came from within the exquisitely designed room. Ping Yang lay grudgingly on the bed. There seemed to be tears in her clear, big eyes while her tiny mouth pouted.
Beside her, a lady in a pink dress sat. Wearing a snow-white fur belt, the lady's elegant body was brought out perfectly.
Her large jet-black eyes were extremely bright, as if spots of stars were glowing within them. Her silky hair fell to her waist like a waterfall, and a jade-green pearl flower was horizontally inserted on her hair. There was pureness within her tender beauty.
"Sister Yan, I don't want to lie down, I want to ride a horse…" Ping Yang looked towards Chi Guyan who sat beside her and spoke with a begging tone.
"Sure, do you want to ride your Snow Jade, or the Ninth Prince's Purple Lightning Dragon Stallion?" Chi Guyan smiled lightly and revealed a youthful look of pure beauty.
"Sister Yan, you have a way to let me ride the Purple Lightning Dragon Stallion? Brother Jiu is very stingy. No matter how many times I asked him, he didn't lend it to me. Does Sister Yan really have an idea?"
"Yes, but we must wait until your injury is recovered."
"Oh… alright!" Ping Yang stuck out her tongue and gave a pained look. Then, tucked her tiny head into the blanket. However, right before her head went in, the edges of her mouth curved into a crafty look of somebody getting away with her evil scheme.
Chi Guyan looked at Ping Yang hidden inside the blanket and the edges of her eyes revealed a trace of fondness. Then, she stood up softly from the chair and walked slowly towards the window, staring out at the fresh flowers dancing in the torrential rain outside the room.
"Passing the Broken Bridge, the Twin Stone Tablets and the stone house? And even obtaining Meng Tian's sword… I fear King Duan and the Crown Prince are going to start acting."
"A Vice Domain Chief entering the combat examination? The first person he attacked was Xing Qingsui, yet, his target afterwards was Fang Zhengzhi? Hm…"
"Supernatural Intermediate State? Paying such a big price to attack one person? If it is just to strangle the baby in the cradle, isn't the chance of success greater on the road?"
"Such a big sacrifice just to delay the advancement of the imperial examination. No! Looks like there are other plots at play. The Dragon Protection Squad had lost a Dragon Envoy. The city gates had been attacked by unknown people. Looks like… they want to lure the snake out of its hole! But, which snake are they trying to lure?"
"King Duan? The Crown Prince? They have all been affected by the imperial examination. Then, it is… the Stabilisation Constabulary! In order to lure the Stabilisation Constabulary… it is going to cost the demon race something. What is it going to be?"
Light flashed in Chi Guyan's eyes. However, the expression on her face remained calm. Instead, she continued to stand quietly in front of the window, staring at the torrential rain that still hadn't stopped.
…
It was night. However, there was still a fire light glowing in the Eastern Palace.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong still wore the same white dragon brocade robe that he wore outside the palace today. However, his expression seemed extremely dark. Yet, he remained silent.
Because, the person sitting below him was Yu Yiping.
If Yu Yiping didn't speak, he could remain silent.
"Give it up!" After a long time, Yu Yiping finally gritted his teeth. A Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy was very important. However, it was exactly because he was too important that Yu Yiping had to give him up.
Because, this was a Chief Imperial Messenger who had lost the people's trust. Then, he might become a hidden chess piece who could affect the overall situation.
"My teacher… would never do anything that went against me." Crown Prince Lin Tianrong didn't retort. Instead, he mumbled softly.
"Crown Prince, if you wish for your position in the Eastern Palace to be stable, you must consider the worst case scenario. Even if there was the slightest bit of chance, you still have to nip it in the bud. Crown Prince, you must understand the principle behind affecting the overall situation just by pulling a single strand of hair."
"What do you plan to do?"
"King Duan plead leniency for Han Changfeng. Hence, he had naturally gained a good reputation of treasuring talents. Then, let us push the boat with the current and make the incident about Han Changfeng intending to falsify the theory examination paper known. This way, the Emperor would definitely becoming suspicious about King Duan pleading leniency for Han Changfeng. If Han Changfeng would truly consider the overall situation for Crown Prince, he would definitely accuse King Duan of having insufficient information!"
"But this way, my teacher would definitely die without a doubt. Furthermore, I fear that the members of the Han Residence might…"
"My teacher's years of teaching and achievement…" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong couldn't bear to do so.
He had been taught by Han Changfeng ever since he was young. Even though Han Changfeng had just committed a serious offence, if he was willing to help Han Changfeng to plea for leniency with King Duan, when things settle down, not only would Han Changfeng be spared from death, he might only be demoted by one level and could remain in the government.
"We have to proceed with this quickly! Else, when the Emperor starts to question, the pressure on the law council will become even greater. Crown Prince, you mustn't lose the advantage just because of one moment of kindness!" Yu Yiping's eyes flashed with light.
"But…" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was somewhat hesitant.
"Crown Prince!"
"Why must you… sigh… alright, let's go according to what you said!"
"Crown Prince is firm and decisive in handling affairs. I will definitely follow you till death!" Yu Yiping stood up at this moment and actually knelt down directly in front of Lin Tianrong.
"Get up quick!" When Crown Prince Lin Tianrong saw this, he instantly stood up from his chair. However, a faint glint flashed at the sides of his eyes.
…
Two days later, the rain stopped. However, the wind persisted. It continued to wreak havoc within the Yan Capital, invoking surging waves of wind, causing the sky above the Yan Capital to be filled with darkness.
In the early morning within the Imperial Hall, numerous officials stood in silence. Emperor Lin Mubai sat straightly on the dragon chair. However, his expression didn't seem too happy. This was because the law council had finalised the case of the Imperial Examination.
As the law official of the Great Xia Dynasty, even though 'Wan Chong' was almost fifty years of age and his hair was already beginning to turn white, he had always been swift and decisive in his actions. Furthermore, this case concerned the most important Imperial Examination with the Emperor personally supervising it and the Crown Prince's secretive manipulations. Naturally, he dealt with this case very swiftly.
The few of Han Changfeng's most serious crimes were quickly laid out. Among them, there was a statement of confession which Han Changfeng had signed himself, proving that he had the intention of tampering with Fang Zhengzhi's theory examination paper, as well as pointing out King Duan Lin Xinjue's various failings of his responsibilities to investigate this incident.
Why it was a failure to investigate and not conspiring with Han Changfeng?
The reason was very simple. The entire government knew that Han Changfeng was the teacher of the Crown Prince. If it was said that he received orders from King Duan Lin Xinjue, who would believe that?
"Han Changfeng intended to tamper the theory examination paper?!"
Such a crime was a bolt from the blue, shocking the entire Imperial Government. However, this had been confessed and signed by Han Changfeng personally. The evidence was irrefutable.
The officials were filled with shock. However, nobody stood out to object this.
King Duan Lin Xinjue's expression turned ashen. He gazed at Crown Prince Lin Tianrong who stood within the Imperial Hall. He would never have thought that his brother would be as heartless.
This had also strengthened the belief in his heart to fight for the great position.
Because, he knew that if he admitted defeat in this fight, his situation in the future would be worse than that of Han Changfeng.
As the Duan King, he controlled the military.
This was his first time participating in the Imperial Examination, hence he definitely could bear the consequences of failing in his supervision. However, this also meant that he had no way of being involved in the Imperial Examination in the future.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression was calm. After sacrificing Han Changfeng, the position of Chief Imperial Messenger was now empty. However, he didn't reckon that King Duan Lin Xinjue would be able to take advantage of this position.
Hence…
The Imperial Academy was still under his control.
The case of the Imperial Examination had temporarily assumed a state of calm due to Han Changfeng's personal confession of the crime. Next up would naturally be to settle the rest of the matters related to the Imperial Examination. For example, the arrangements of the post-examinations.
How could it not have a result?
Hence, there was the suggestion of a rematch. However, a rematch of the entire examination wasn't an option. After all, that was equivalent to announcing to the entire dynasty that the Imperial Academy was incapable.
Furthermore, due to the attack by the demon race, the majority of examinees suffered heavy injuries. An immediate rematch would indeed seem unfair.
The final verdict was that a preliminary examination would be added before the court examination. This way, not only would it not affect the conduct of the court examination, but it could also give the injured examinees sufficient time to recover.
After the matters of the Imperial Examination had been completely settled, the hearts of the officials finally united. Because, they all knew that there was a very important matter that was finally about to be raised.
That was the sword left by the Sagely Battle God Meng Tian!
"Emperor, the identity of the demon that appeared in the World of the Sage had been confirmed to be the Vice Domain Chief of the Ten Devilish Domains' Ying Domain, Ying Shan!" Law official Wan Chong would naturally not mention the sword directly.
Because, that was the dumbest possible action. Under circumstances when the intentions of the Emperor was still unclear, the thing he had to do most was to make sure the officials of the Imperial Government knew the power of the sword.
"He really is Ying Shan?!"
"I heard that Ying Shan is of the Supernatural Intermediate State. Fang Zhengzhi had only just entered the Heavenly Reflection State, how could he kill Ying Shan?"
"Seems that he had obtained the sword of Sagely Battle God Meng Tian."
"Who would have thought that one sword would be able to kill Ying Shan. This is indeed terrifying."
When they heard the words of the law official, the numerous officials began to discuss spiritedly. Shocked expressions appeared on each of their faces, while Crown Prince Lin Tianrong and King Duan Lin Xinjue quietly stood on top of the Imperial Court.
They were naturally waiting, waiting for the most suitable moment to give the most suitable reason. Then, the sword would land in the hands of the most suitable person.