I Have A Qi Fortune Altar.
Chapter 369 - 369 333 The Heavenly Patrol Bureau Arrests

Chapter 369: Chapter 333: The Heavenly Patrol Bureau Arrests Without Evidence_2 Chapter 369: Chapter 333: The Heavenly Patrol Bureau Arrests Without Evidence_2 Those who followed Chen Yuan were the former Heavenly Patrol Envoys under Song Jingang. To avoid any incidents, it was safer to keep them close. Even if they harbored duplicity, they couldn’t stir any trouble in his presence.

…

…

At the entrance of the Tangshan Prefecture Government, a person lay sprawled on a cart, his body drenched in blood. Had he not been able to lift his head, he might have been mistaken for a corpse.

This person was none other than Mei Yong, who had just gone to the Heavenly Patrol Bureau.

Mo Donghe had kept his promise indeed, though the fulfillment turned out to be thirty flogging strikes, nearly killing Mei.

Furious and itching with resentment, Mei couldn’t understand why he was beaten. Was it because he did not kneel upon meeting?

Or did the Magistrate send him just to damage the other party’s prestige?

Mei Yong was unclear, but the one thing he knew was that he needed to teach Chen Yuan a lesson. Was not Mei Yong, a person of his stature, easy to beat?

As darkness fell, the constables guarding the entrance of the Government watched the cart apprehensively. The person who had been pulling the cart ran away after reaching the place, which they found suspicious.

Could it be someone coming to report a grievance?

Two constables exchanged glances, slowly drew their long sabers, and approached the cart, just as they saw Mei Yong lifting his head. They rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they saw:

“Mei… Mr. Mei?”

This was a refined way people addressed Mei Yong; one should call him ‘Mister’ upon meeting him, as referring to him by his official title or simply as ‘Sir’ would be sure to earn his displeasure.

“Are you blind? Hurry and carry me inside! I need to see the Magistrate,” Mei Yong shouted indignantly.

The two constables quickly sheathed their sabers and carried Mei Yong into the Government.

Inside the main hall, Magistrate Wu Zhi frowned and asked Mei, “Who has beaten you to such a state? Weren’t you dispatched to the Heavenly Patrol Bureau?”

At this, tears suddenly welled up in Mei Yong’s eyes, and he lamented,

“My Lord, the wounds on my buttocks were inflicted by someone from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau.”

“What?” Wu Zhi narrowed his eyes, “Why would they beat you?”

“I also do not know, sir.”

“Tell me what happened.”

“Today, as I went to deliver a report and met the Green Envoy Chen Qing, I maintained my dignity as you instructed me to invite him. He wanted me to kneel, but I chose death over submission, and then…”

“Is that so?”

Wu Zhi looked skeptically at Mei Yong, knowing his character better than anyone. Where was the scholarly integrity? A little intimidation would likely have brought him to his knees.

“My words are witnessed by the heavens; if there’s a single lie, let me…”

“Let you what?”

Mei Yong gritted his teeth: “Let me be hacked to death by random blades!”

“Was Chen Yuan really so disrespectful?”

Wu Zhi’s brow furrowed deeply. He had of course heard of the ever-prominent Chen Yuan, who had aggressively killed Song Jingang. The previous night, he had hardly slept, fearing that Chen Yuan might come for him next.

After all, he had also colluded with Song Jingang, including in matters of blood tributes.

He awoke before dawn today, and after much deliberation, decided to proactively establish contact with Chen Yuan to try to forge a good relationship or, failing that, at least avoid hostility.

He did not wish to provoke such a formidable enemy.

Yet, to his surprise, Chen Yuan had shown him no respect at all, even going so far as to have his people beaten, which was utterly lawless.

Observing Wu Zhi’s fluctuating expression, Mei Yong, feeling a surge of recklessness, continued to wail:

“My Lord, this Chen Yuan didn’t just strike my bottom; he struck your face!”

“Shut your mouth, you useless thing,”

His train of thought suddenly interrupted by the wailing, Wu Zhi snapped.

Mei Yong gasped, daring not to utter another word.

“My… my lord… it’s not good… outside…”

Suddenly, a constable barged in, gasping for breath as he ran, his face marked with immense terror as if he had seen something terrible.

“All flustered and discomposed—what kind of decorum is that? What has happened outside?” Wu Zhi took a deep breath and asked solemnly.

As the chief official of a prefecture, Wu Zhi still maintained some composure.

Swallowing his saliva, the constable hurriedly said:

“Outside, outside is surrounded by the people from the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, they have… they have started killing their way in.”

“What?”

Mei Yong, who had been leaning back in his chair, cried out in shock and fell to the ground.

Wu Zhi, at this moment, couldn’t sit still either, glared at the constable:

“How dare Chen Yuan, who gave him the courage to actually make a move on the Government!”

The imperial court below in the State had a separation of powers, with the Military Equipment Army, the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, and the Government each in charge of different sectors. Although strictly speaking, the authority of the Government was not as great as that of the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, nominally it was the highest rank in the entire Tangshan Prefecture.

Fifth Rank!

But now, Chen Yuan, this Fifth Rank Heavenly Patrol Green Envoy, actually allowed someone to attack the Government. Was he staging a rebellion?

Before he could continue speaking, the shouting and killing outside grew stronger…

Suppressing the terror in his heart, Wu Zhi took a deep breath and said to the constable:

“You go and resist quickly, I have other ways to block these people.”

The constable lowered his head, nodded a few times, grabbed the saber in his hand, and turned to leave. Wu Zhi quickly took off his official robe, his gaze shifting to Mei Yong as he said:

“How have I treated you?”

Mei Yong, even in his foolishness, knew what Wu Zhi was about to do, and lowered his head unable to respond. Wu Zhi snorted coldly and threw his official robe on the ground, preparing to flee, but before he could make a move—

The constable who had just left suddenly let out a shriek, followed by silence. Wu Zhi shuddered, knowing that man was already dead.

“Surround the main hall!”

A cold voice commanded, and a dozen Heavenly Patrol Guards rushed into the hall quickly.

Wu Zhi sighed inwardly, knowing that it was beyond redemption, and collapsed back into his chair.

Yan Qing, dressed in Black Cloud Clothing, expressionless, walked into the main hall and immediately saw Wu Zhi seated at the head and Mei Yong leaning on a chair below.

“Are you Wu Zhi?”

“How dare you, am I someone you can address by name?” Wu Zhi questioned.

“A cur daring to put on airs?” Yan Qing coldly laughed, evidently disdainful.

Mei Yong hurriedly spoke out:

“Sir, this is Wu Zhi. For many years he has caused harm to the people and instigated villains to do numerous misdeeds on his behalf. Please, sir, capture this rogue and present him to the Heavenly Patrol Green Envoy.”

Mei Yong smiled obsequiously.

“You dog, you dare to betray me?” Wu Zhi stared at him.

Mei Yong didn’t even look at him, turning straight to Yan Qing:

“Sir, I have always been loyal to the Green Envoy, I hope you can spare my life, and I will surely establish a shrine for you and offer tributes daily.”

“This petty man, someone kill him with blades and throw him out to the dogs.”

Yan Qing had the least respect for this kind of two-faced scoundrel, utterly not worth mourning.

“Spare me, spare me, sir. I know many of Wu Zhi’s secrets and am willing to…”

Mei Yong was shouting loudly, but nobody paid him any attention. Several Heavenly Patrol Guards exchanged glances, stepped forward, drew out Yan Ling Sabers, and began to hack wildly.

Blood spattered onto Wu Zhi’s face, but he smiled, seemingly recalling the poisonous oath Mei Yong had sworn not long before, which now seemed fulfilled.

But his heart quickly shuddered, thinking of his own fate, and goosebumps broke out.

“Who are you? Where is Chen Qing Envoy?” Wu Zhi maintained his composure.

“You think you are worthy of seeing the Green Envoy? Yan here is enough to capture you.” The Government’s strength was not strong, with just one Gang Condensing Martial Artist stationed there, who was directly killed by Yan Qing with three strikes.

“I am a legitimate Fifth Rank official, the Magistrate of Tangshan. For Chen Yuan to make a move on the Government without cause, isn’t he afraid that this will be exposed?”

“Since we dare to capture you, we aren’t afraid of the consequences. You as a corrupt official must be clearly aware of your many misdeeds, or should we list them all?”

Yan Qing said gravely.

“Ridiculous, even if I am guilty, it shouldn’t be the Heavenly Patrol Bureau to capture me, moreover, what evidence do you have to treat a Fifth Rank official so rudely!”

Wu Zhi, facing a Heavenly Patrol Envoy, still felt somewhat confident.

Yan Qing glanced at him and said coldly:

“The Heavenly Patrol Bureau captures people, no evidence needed!”