Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 145 - 140 Ruthless Dad_1

Chapter 145: Chapter 140 Ruthless Dad_1

"It’s Situ Zhong!"

Upon seeing the approaching purple-clothed head constable from the opposite side, Peng Fulai too, squinted his eyes.

He first glanced surreptitiously at Luo Yan, who was riding alongside them a few steps away, then in a low voice to Li Xuan, he said, "This guy was also summoned to the palace by the inner Jishi Bureau a few days ago to participate in the treasury theft case."

Li Xuan wore a puzzled expression: "Inner Jishi Bureau? Didn’t you say this guy is connected to the Minister of Punishments in Nanjing?"

Shortly after the incident at Lanyue House, he had asked Peng Fulai to investigate Situ Zhong’s background and he had been tracking this man for over a month.

Li Xuan had always suspected that the purple-clothed head constable had deliberately targeted him at Lanyue House, and that there was likely someone backing him.

The murder that occurred at Zhen Dong’s mansion yesterday further confirmed his suspicion. The case at Lanyue House was no coincidence.

In Li Xuan’s understanding, the inner Jishi Bureau should resemble the ’east factory’, an institution in the Great Jin Dynasty. It can be inferred from the name itself; the full title of the ’east plant’ is the Jishi Office. The Inner Jishi Bureau, alternatively known as Neijian, differed in naming by only two characters.

"He is indeed associated with the Minister of Punishments in Nanjing, and he is indeed the trusted representative stationed in Ying Tian Government by the Minister. However, I am unclear about how he got connected with the Inner Jishi Bureau."

Peng Fulai shook his head, "I guess the Inner Jishi Bureau is short-staffed. As you know, the focus of the Jishi Bureau is on the north. In Nanjing, there are only a few members on the team who are up to nothing, which is bound to be a headache for the Zhenshou eunuch in Nanjing."

"Um~" At this point, Yue Qianqian interjected timidly, "Are you discussing Situ Zhong’s background? He’s not only connected to the Minister of Punishments in Nanjing, he’s also related to Xi Ying, the deputy Zuodu Yushi, who was very close to Qin Mingyu, the Zhenshou eunuch in Nanjing who was then the Sili Bureau Bingbi in the capital a few years ago."

In disbelief, Peng Fulai turned to look at her. He had used considerable resources to investigate Situ Zhong’s background, but he hadn’t discovered this connection.

Li Xuan also regarded Yue Qianqian with surprise, thinking to himself what a human encyclopedia she was, even knowing such matters.

"I just happened to know." Yue Qianqian blushed under their gazes: "I have basically read the archives and official documents of the Inspectorate, Ministry of Punishments, Dali Temple and Inner Jishi Bureau in recent years, and was able to guess their relationships. Xi Ying and Qin Mingyu are comrades, covering each other’s back, while the Minister of Punishments in Nanjing seems distant from them."

"Xi Ying?"

Li Xuan wondered whether this deputy Zuodu Yushi was also affiliated with the remnants of Maitreya Teaching? Could it be that their family’s repeated rescues of this deputy Zuodu Yushi were actually raising a wolf that ended up biting back?

He remembered that this person was also a member of the Zhanshi Government and had ties to the Crown Prince.

After thinking slightly, he drove his horse towards Situ Zhong’s direction, "Let’s meet with him."

He had initially planned to seek out this man’s troubles in a few days, but unexpectedly ran into him today.

Zhang Yue rubbed his hands together ecstatically, "Are we going to have a fight with them?"

Last time, he had suffered under Situ Zhong’s hand and had harbored a grudge since then. Now that his cultivation has improved, he naturally wants to erase his past humiliation.

"This is the front door of Hongwu. Do you want to be punished?" Peng Fulai rolled his eyes at his friend, "Once impeached by the Imperial Censor, even your father can’t protect you. Three tens of heavy punishment would be a light sentence."

However, he became grim immediately afterward, thinking that a fight today was highly plausible.

Because Situ Zhong was also looking over at them. His gaze cold, just like a fierce animal staring at its prey. A few people around him also dressed like constables, all focused and cold.

However, just as the two groups were about to meet at the gate, the side door of the Hongwu gate opened with a bang. A team of riders in bright clothing rushed out from the gate. Following them was a full set of the Princess’s procession.

Li Xuan could only rein in his mount and stop to wait on the side outside the imperial way.

However, when the princess’s carriage passed in front of them, the phoenix carriage slowed down and came to a stop. The curtain was lifted, revealing Princess Changle’s slightly joyful face.

"Yesterday, people from the Liudao Division told me to think carefully. They said that there are still five days left for Li Youjiao’s fake injuries to heal. If we were to wait until then, we may miss the opportunity to investigate the case. I was thinking that this could be unkind. But today, Li Youjiao, you have already come."

Princess Changle glanced up and down at Li Xuan, her eyes filled with approval, "Are you ready to take over this case, Li Youjiao?"

"Indeed!" Li Xuan replied with an acknowledging salute:" How could I not take the Princess’s entrustments to heart?"

"Li Youjiao has good intentions." Princess Changle slightly nodded her head, then pulled out a small dark golden token from her sleeve and handed it to Li Xuan: "This is a palace token prepared for you by me. For the coming month, you can freely enter the palace whenever you like. Also, everyone in the palace will facilitate your actions. And... Xinger, bring here a bottle of Yangshen Elixir that the Yuyong Bureau offered as tribute yesterday, and present it to Li Youjiao."

Li Xuan’s eyes slightly brightened and he said, "I am unworthy of your Highness’ generous gifts."

He thought it would be much easier with the palace token. Although the Liudao Division’s tokens and documents could also grant entrance to the palace, they had to go through rigorous identity checks which were very nuisance.

What delighted him more was the ’Yangshen Elixir.’ Even though it couldn’t compete with the Liudao Renyuan Elixir in terms of grade, it was a valuable medicine that could fortify the Shenpo and augment the Primordial Spirit. Even in Jin Dynasty, it was rare to find.

A stronger Shenpo would benefit his cultivation in the future and ultimately prolong his lifespan.

"Why is Li Youjiao being so humble? I should be the one to feel guilty, having you work on my affairs while you are recovering," Princess Changle remarked, her tone slightly apologetic: "I will leave this case to you, Li Youjiao. Now, I must rush to the city gates to meet with Yunrou. She had promised to take me to Qixia Mountain for a visit. I will be there for a few days. If you encounter any difficulties while investigating, feel free to send someone to inform me at Qixia Temple."

"Understood!" Li Xuan once again raised his fist in salute, "Princess, please feel free to go!"

Waiting until Princess Changle put down the curtain and the carriage driver restarts the phoenix carriage, Li Xuan looked again in the direction where Situ Zhong had been standing, but he saw nothing— this purple-clothed head constable had already entered the palace city from another side while he was talking with Princess Changle.

"You didn’t see the way Situ Zhong looked at you when he entered the palace," Peng Fulai remarked sarcastically: "His expression looked like he wanted to eat you alive, What did you do to offend him?"

"How would I know? You are the one who has am eye on Situ Zhong, why are you asking me?" Li Xuan also found it peculiar, the supposed victim at Lanyue House was himself. He hadn’t even taken action against him yet, but Situ Zhong was looking at him like a nemesis.

"I think I can guess what happened." Yue Qianqian timidly interjected, "About half a month ago, a member of the Ministry of Punishments accused the Yingtian Government of employing a corrupt man, and also listed over ten offenses committed by Situ Zhong, such as embezzlement, bribery and abuse of power. The Court has issued a decree to the Jiancha Yushi of South Zhili, Cui Chengyuo, ordering him to thoroughly investigate this case. However, Cui Yushi’s mother passed away recently and he has to mourn for her, so I guess the investigation would have to wait for the next Jiancha Yushi to take office."

She looked at Li Xuan hesitantly for a moment: "This official from the Ministry of Punishments may have some connection with Earl Chengyi."

All the people present were shocked and speechless.

After a while, Zhang Yue exclaimed, "So, it was the work of the Lord’s father himself. I didn’t expect that. He always seems so mild, but his actions are so ruthless."

Li Xuan also secretly applauded Li Chengji. His father hadn’t made a sound but had already avenged him for the incident back then.

Judging by the time, Li Chengji should have started planning over a month ago, right after the incident at Lanyue House— he was swift with his vengeance and immediately thwarted Situ Zhong.

Thinking so, Li Xuan felt guilty for his previous actions of misleading Li Chengji in front of his mother. He was truly an ungrateful child.

Next time, unless he really had to, he wouldn’t deceive his father again.

※※※※

Thanks to the token bestowed by Princess Changle, they had an unobstructed passage within the palace. An official who was guarding the palace gate even assigned someone to lead the way and brought them to the imperial treasury located at the northeastern corner of the palace city.

Just as described in the archives, only ruins were left here. Crumbling walls and broken tiles were all that was seen.

According to documents handed over by the Sitian Department and Huoque Department, the night Demoness Zidie managed to steal from here, a huge purple flame ignited. Nearly half of the palace eunuchs and many spellcasters tried to put out the fire but failed. The flames almost spread and burned the surrounding buildings.

It wasn’t until half a Shichen later when the treasury was burned down to ashes that the purple fire gradually decreased. Eventually, a few spellcasters worked together to extinguish it.

Li Xuan first took a cursory look around, then asked the military minister guarding the place, "Has anyone touched this scene since the incident?"

"Absolutely not!" said a vice Qianhu, a palace official, who acted very respectfully in front of Li Xuan, "Both the second Prince and Eunuch Qin specifically ordered that everything here should remain as it was until the case is solved. We dare not neglect our duty, in recent days, apart from the authorities in charge of the investigation, no one else is allowed to approach within ten zhang. However—"

The vice Qianhu paused, "It’s been raining twice these last few days, and the rain was heavy. The circumstances here are significantly different from those on the day of the crime. For example, the wall to my left was fine seven days ago, but it collapsed down after the rain."