Chapter 374: Hidden Person
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Fang Zhengzhi heard the orders loud and clear. However, he did not seemed shocked or depressed by the news.
Was the right to participate important?
It was very important to many people. However, to Fang Zhengzhi, it was something that he could do without.
His motive for entering the Southern Mountain Range was to get Yan Xiu out.
Right now, Yan Xiu was already by his side. His disqualification would only mean that he wouldn't be able to use an army to wear Nangong Hao down.
That being said, he was still slightly affected by the loss of his army. However, he was not so affected by the loss of his army. The question on his mind was why the Crown Prince would take such a huge risk?
The Crown Prince was trying to compound the charges.
Fang Zhengzhi was in disdain at the Crown Prince's actions. His absence from the results announcement was a chargeable offence. However, it would be insufficient to disqualify him. If it was, he wouldn't have been able to take over the Thunderous Lion Settlement. The 40,000 soldiers would also not have obeyed his orders.
As for the other charges, they were just miscellaneous, insignificant charges.
To put it crudely.
When Fang Zhengzhi first entered the Southern Mountain Range, he did not even know where the f*ck the Crown Prince's base was. Furthermore, he was captured by Princess Shan Yu. How could he have possibly reported to the Crown Prince?
Initially, Fang Zhengzhi had thought that the order would be to declare war on the Southern Mountain Range. He never expected it to be an order for his disqualification.
Without even thinking about whether the Crown Prince had the right to do that...
Even if he did, why would he specially send a messenger to the Icy Monkey Settlement just for this?
If that was the only thing the Crown Prince wanted to do, he would have been better off sending the order straight to the Thunderous Lion Settlement.
Fang Zhengzhi had always known that the combat examinations were not as simple as they looked. The victories and losses were not important.
At the very least, they were not important in the grand scheme of things.
As such...
What was the Crown Prince trying to do?
Fang Zhengzhi and the Crown Prince had not met many times. The first time he had seen the Crown Prince was at Ping Yang's residence. The second time was in the throne room. As such, he did not understand the Crown Prince well.
No matter what, the Crown Prince had already given the order. As such, the 40,000 soldiers would no longer listen to Fang Zhengzhi. It would be pointless to protest.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu also looked back at Fang Zhengzhi. Deep inside Yan Xiu's eyes was a deep seated fury. Its presence was very obvious.
Fang Zhengzhi rarely saw this expression from Yan Xiu. However, it was clear that Yan Xiu was enraged.
Just as he prepared to say something.
Yan Xiu spoke up first.
"The Crown Prince does not have the right to disqualify or suspend a candidate, and would never give such an order. Who are you?" Yan Xiu's tone was cold as he stared at the messenger.
A red glow began to shine through his eyes.
Dao of Asura.
One of the six great Daos. Even those some distance away could feel the icy chill of hell.
The messenger stiffened and subconsciously took a step back. He knew how powerful Yan Xiu was, and he kill feel the killing intent building.
As a messenger...
He was definitely more powerful than the average soldier. However, this did not mean that he could go against Yan Xiu. After all, Yan Xiu was in the Heavenly Reflection State and wielded the Dao of Asura.
The messenger began to sweat profusely when he felt the wave of iciness. His hand began to tremble.
Yan Xiu's actions were noticed by the candidates.
All of the candidates knew that Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi were close. However, would Yan Xiu go against the Crown Prince just for Fang Zhengzhi?
Probably not... or so they thought.
It looked like Yan Xiu was about to prove them wrong...
Yan Xiu did not look like he was joking. All of the candidates knew for a fact that Yan Xiu rarely jokes.
"I... I am a messenger by the Crown Prince's side. Yan Xiu, this order came personally from the Crown Prince. This token is proof of that. Are you really going against the Crown prince?" Even though the messenger was not as powerful, he was still arrogant.
After all, when he held the silver dragon token in his hand, he represented the Crown Prince. He had expected Fang Zhengzhi to resist. However, he did not expect that the first person to resist was Yan Xiu.
Even so, he did not believe that Yan Xiu would be audacious enough to go against the Crown Prince.
Even though the messenger was loud, his tone was filled with fear. When yan Xiu heard what the messenger had to say, his expression was icy, his body glowing red.
"Is Yan Xiu really going up against the Crown Prince?"
"No way! Yan Xiu has such great potential! It would be a waste to destroy it because of this!"
"Yan Xiu, don't do anything rash! The Crown Prince is only suspending Fang Zhengzhi temporarily! If he goes to the Crown prince and explains himself, he may still have a chance!"
All of the candidates began to try persuading Yan Xiu.
To them, they did not care if Fang Zhengzhi was going to be suspended or disqualified. However, if they did Yan Xiu a favor now...
They could cash it in at a later date.
Fang Zhengzhi knew exactly what Yan Xiu was thinking. However, Yan Xiu and Fang Zhengzhi had slightly different views on the suspension.
Of course...
If this was Yan Xiu being suspended, Fang Zhengzhi would have done the same thing.
Just as Yan Xiu was about to speak, a figure walked out from amongst the soldiers. This was a soldier in ordinary armor.
Fang Zhengzhi was confused.
He was not alone. All of the other candidates were also equally confused.
It was weird that an ordinary soldier would walk out from the ranks. Furthermore, the timing at which he walked out was questionable.
Yet, out walked the soldier.
He walked towards the messenger.
"Stand still!" The messenger began to grow suspicious when he saw this. He felt increasingly unsettled.
The soldier did not stop. He continued striding towards the messenger.
This caused all of the candidates and soldiers to be even more puzzled.
They all thought of something. The messenger still had the silver dragon token. What if this soldier...
"Arrest him!" The messenger waved the silver dragon token and ordered the 1000 soldiers around Nangong Hao.
"Yes!" The thousand strong army replied in unison as they surrounded that soldier.
At this moment, the soldier took off his helmet then began taking off his armor.
Very quickly, a black color top could be seen.
However, this was no ordinary outfit. There was a pillar embroidered in gold on the chest and there was a word inscribed clearly on the pillar.
"Stabilization!"
...
"It's the Stabilization Constabulary!"
"Xing Qingsui!"
"What is he doing here?!"
All of the candidates recognized that 'soldier' immediately. However, this raised more questions than answers.
Why would Xing Qingsui hide amongst the ranks?
What is going on?
All of the candidates turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi also looked at Xing Qingsui in confusion. He seemed to recall that...
Xing Qingsui did not participate in the combat examinations?
So, why would he be in the Southern Mountain Range? More importantly, why was he inside Fang Zhengzhi's army?
Most importantly...
Why disguise himself? Wasn't disguise something only Fang Zhengzhi did?
The army stopped in its tracks because they too saw the golden pillar on Xing Qingsui's chest.
That was the symbol of the pillar of the Great Xia Dynasty!
It was the symbol of the Stabilization Constabulary, the leader of the 13 constabularies.
To the soldiers, the Stabilization Constabulary represented the might of the Great Xia Dynasty. More importantly, Xing Qingsui had a token in his hand.
It was a token made from pure gold. Instead of the Crown Prince's silver dragon, there was a gold dragon on the token. There was also a word on it.
"Emperor!"
Fang Zhengzhi had seen the token before. He had a token that looked just like it. That was the token the Emperor had given him to bring to the Ministry of Rites.
However, Fang Zhengzhi had never used the token he had.
Xing Qingsui raised the token high up in the air. In the moment he raised up the token, the soldiers stopped in their tracks.
"The token can be used this way?" Fang Zhengzhi was quite surprised. However, his surprise did not last very long.
Thanks to Xing Qingsui, he now knew that the token could be used this way.
But...
So what?
Was he going to commit the crime of falsifying the Emperor's orders?
That didn't sound right.
"I only have one question for you. When the Crown Prince gave the order, did he pen it down?!" Xing Qingsui was very stable. He walked over to the messenger, the golden token in his hand glowing in the sun. He stopped merely three steps away from the messenger.
When the messenger saw the golden token in Xing Qingsui's hand as well as the golden pillar on Xing Qingsui's chest, sweat began to pour from his forehead.
Did he really just order for Xing Qingsui's capture?
"Young... Young Master Xing, the Crown Prince gave a verbal order. He did not pen it down!" The messenger's voice quivered.
"I understand. Arrest this person for falsifying an order from the Crown Prince!" Xing Qingsui nodded.
"Falsifying an order from the Crown Prince?"
"How is that possible?"
"Is Xing Qingsui out of his mind? What is he trying to do?"
All of the candidates were stunned when they heard what Xing Qingsui said. After all, no messenger would dare to falsify an order.
That was impossible!
Of course, the biggest reason why they were unwilling to accept the fact was that if the order was indeed falsified...
Then they were back where they started.
They had celebrated too early. They were not going to get a second chance.
"Young Master Xing, what are you talking about? This is an order from the Crown Prince! I... I would not dare lie about this! I repeated everything just as he said it, not a word out of..."
"Enough rubbish, arrest him!" Xing Qingsui interrupted the messenger and ordered for his arrest.
"Yes!" 1000 soldiers replied in unison. Four of them walked out of the ranks and dragged the messenger off his horse.
This was quite the dramatic scene.
Xing Qingsui's appearance, then the order for Xing Qingsui's arrest, all the way to the messengers arrest... it had all happened too quickly.
Of course...
This entire incident also proved one thing. The person with the more powerful token could nullify the orders from the lesser token.
Xing Qingsui had done so in the most direct manner. He had made his decision without hesitation.
However, the decision was questioned by all the candidates.
Even though Xing Qingsui was the heir to the Stabilization Constabulary, he would not go against the Crown Prince on purpose.
As such, why would Xing Qingsui risk antagonizing the Crown Prince and do something so audacious? What was his motive?
More importantly, why was Xing Qingsui hidden inside Fang Zhengzhi's army? Why would he smuggle himself into the ranks?
They could not understand.
All of the candidates looked at each other in confusion.
Of course, Nangong Hao was not confused. In fact, from the moment Xing Qingsui appeared, Nangong Hao did not say anything. He did not even make any sound when the messenger was taken away.