Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 560 - 560 0375 Can Only Be Pushed Back

Chapter 560: Chapter 0375: Can Only Be Pushed Back Chapter 560: Chapter 0375: Can Only Be Pushed Back Chapter 0375: Only Able to Go Backwards

Li Dan unfolded the imperial edict and began to read aloud.

“Upon the endorsement of the heavens, the Emperor’s decree states…”

Soon, after Li Dan finished reading the imperial edict, its main message was clear, it stated that considering Qi Tian’s hard work and merits, Qi Tian has been promoted to County Master of East Lu Prefecture. Qi Tian is ordered to relocate to the capital city of East Lu Prefecture immediately and assume his position in the County Master Mansion. In addition, the County Master Mansion must be vacated for a new County Master, who will be designated by the court shortly. That would have nothing to do with Qi Tian then.

Once the decree was read, Li Dan folded the decree and handed it to Qi Tian, saying, “Immortal Master Qi Tian, congratulations on your promotion. From now on, you are the County Master of East Lu Prefecture, and the entire East Lu Prefecture will be under your supervision. The safety of the local people is entirely entrusted to you.”

Qi Tian didn’t take the imperial decree. He said, “Sir, can I ask a question?”

Li Dan quickly replied, “Please ask, master.”

Qi Tian asked, “Does the Emperor want me to leave the County Master Mansion immediately or can I delay my departure?”

Li Dan answered, “The Emperor wishes for you to assume your new post immediately. However, the Emperor also mentioned that things are happening rather abruptly, therefore, he has graciously given you an extra day to pack. You must embark on your journey by this time tomorrow at the latest.”

Qi Tian nodded and said with a smile, “If that’s the case, please take the imperial decree back. I cannot accept it.”

Li Dan asked, “What do you mean, master?”

Qi Tian replied, “It’s simple. I’m content with being the County Master of Lubei County. As for the County Master of East Lu Prefecture, whoever wants that position can take it. Don’t bother me.”

Hearing this, Huo Yong strode forward, releasing an oppressive aura towards Qi Tian. He said angrily, “How dare you, Qi Tian! Who do you think you are? You dare to defy the imperial edict? This is disrespectful to the Emperor, equivalent to rebellion. Do you want to be beheaded?”

Qi Tian laughed at this, “Does defying the imperial edict equal disrespecting the Emperor? What a grievous accusation! Why don’t you ask the Crown Prince then? The Emperor asked him to care for the people, while the Prince Duan Manor abused local people, enslaved them, and he just turned a blind eye. Isn’t that disrespecting the Emperor?”

“Qi Tian! You certainly have a big mouth, daring to slander the Crown Prince?” Huo Yong was irate, unsheathed his sword, “I’ve heard of your disrespect towards the Crown Prince. Seeing it firsthand, it’s even worse. Today, I will arrest you.”

As he said this, Huo Yong rushed at Qi Tian. Qi Tian didn’t move. Lu Jingfei rushed out of the County Master Mansion and kicked Huo Yong away before his sword could touch Qi Tian. Lu Jingfei’s kick was powerful. Huo Yong lay on the ground, unable to move.

Qi Tian shook his head, “Do not kill him, take him down and interrogate him thoroughly. I suspect that they are distorting the imperial edict.”

Lu Jingfei dragged Huo Yong away. The Royal Guards who came with him and even Li Dan, who had higher status, were all arrested.

Lu Jingfei and others were in the Pseudo Core Realm, equivalent to Gold Core First Level experts. After they employed various methods, Huo Yong finally could not hold back anymore and spoke up.

As Qi Tian expected, this was indeed a case of distorting the imperial edict, and the mastermind behind it was none other than the current Supervising Crown Prince. The Crown Prince had bribed the inner eunuch in charge of keeping the imperial seal, thus he was able to imprint the imperial seal on the decree. Unlike before, where only the Crown Prince’s seal ribbon was stamped.

Obviously, the Crown Prince was quite sincere this time and genuinely wanted Qi Tian to be the County Master of East Lu Prefecture. After all, the original County Master of East Lu Prefecture, Gai Xudong, was killed by Qi Tian, and the position was vacant. It used to be a core asset of the Guardian National Master Manor, but this time, the Guardian National Master Manor voluntarily offered the position to Qi Tian. In return, they wished to become the County Master of Lubei County.

As for the reasons or conspiracies behind this, Huo Yong wasn’t aware. Although he served the Crown Prince, there were numerous talents serving the Crown Prince, and Huo Yong was not any significant among them. There were many confidential matters involving the Crown Prince that he simply didn’t know.

Qi Tian asked someone to interrogate Li Dan and found that this old man truly hadn’t realized that the imperial edict was a sham. After all, the imperial seal on the edict was real, and the inner eunuchs had handed him the edict directly in the presence of the Crown Prince.

Upon learning this, Qi Tian shook his head covertly. He didn’t expect the Crown Prince to stoop so low by resorting to such deceitful methods. If the Crown Prince performed his duties properly and did not make serious mistakes, wouldn’t the entire Great Zhao be his realm? Looking at what he was doing, it was not something a respectable Prince would do.

Qi Tian was increasingly disappointed with the Crown Prince. He felt uncomfortable working for such a Crown Prince even once.

“Master, should we release or kill all these people?” After interrogating Huo Yong and others, Lu Jingfei asked Qi Tian.

There were about a dozen people in the group that included Li Dan and Huo Yong. Even if they were considered as criminals and imprisoned together, they would still take up a lot of space. Qi Tian’s County Master Mansion was initially not large. Letting them occupy a room would make it even more cramped.

Qi Tian ordered, “Disable Huo Yong’s Dantian, so he can no longer depend on his cultivation realm to bully others. Then release all of them.”