Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 369 - 351: Zhang San, come with me again!

Chapter 369: Chapter 351: Zhang San, come with me again!

Bang!

Early in the morning, Emperor Kaihuang was smashing things in his own bedroom!

Luckily, Emperor Kaihuang was usually thrifty, so objects in his bedroom, though plentiful, were of little value.

Smashing them felt great and wasn’t painful at all.

"The Imperial Palace caught fire! Nine people died! Princess Qionghua is missing! What are these people good for!"

Empress Dugu was silently fuming nearby. Upon hearing Emperor Kaihuang finish speaking without continuing, she shouted fiercely, "Lihua is missing too! Why didn’t you mention that?"

Emperor Kaihuang was stunned; he never expected the Empress to be so tricky!

"I... I... I was just about to mention it! Summon the head of the Imperial Guards to me immediately!"

"And Li Moxian from the Town Martial Office! Can ordinary people handle such affairs? Summon him to see me as well!"

"The Magistrate of the Metropolitan prefecture as well! Summon him to see me! He can judge cases about ghosts; can’t he look after my daughters?"

Soon, He Xiangmeng, the head of the Imperial Guards, arrived first.

"I ask you! Where is Princess Qionghua?"

He Xiangmeng knelt on the ground, knocking his head in fear, aware that Emperor Kaihuang and the Empress favored their youngest daughter, Princess Qionghua, the most.

Because Princess Qionghua had been frail as a child, she had always been nourished heavily, which resulted in her becoming overweight. As she grew up, this led to even more criticism and disdain, which only increased the Emperor’s and the Empress’s affection for her.

Now that Princess Qionghua had disappeared, He Xiangmeng would have run away if he didn’t know he would be caught and brought back.

"Reporting to Your Majesty and the Empress, I have already ordered people to extinguish the fire overnight and begin searching. We have combed through all places inside the Imperial Palace, but we just... can’t find her!"

"Useless! What use are you to me if you’re this useless! He Xiangmeng, if you can find my two daughters today, your head can remain on your neck a little longer. If not, tonight I will use your head as a tiger jug!"

He Xiangmeng touched his own neck, trembling with fear.

At that moment, the space outside the main door tore apart, and Li Moxian, dressed in a straw raincoat and holding a fishing rod, stepped out from the crack in the space.

"Greetings to Emperor Kaihuang, and good to see you, Empress."

Li Moxian held his fists in salute, showing no intention of kneeling.

Emperor Kaihuang glared at Li Moxian and angrily said, "Are you in the mood for fishing so early in the morning?"

"Not at all!" Li Moxian answered innocently.

This response slightly improved Emperor Kaihuang’s mood; at least this minister wasn’t heartless.

"I started fishing last night. Your Majesty may not understand, but night fishing sometimes yields more. When free, let’s go together to the unnamed lake outside the northwest of the city. The fish there are truly..."

"Did I ask you about fishing? I’m asking you about the fire at the north side of the Imperial Palace last night, do you know about it?"

"Yes! I saw it."

At that moment, He Xiangmeng, who was kneeling on the ground, sneaked a glance at Li Moxian. You Divine Aspect Realm folks are so audacious, saying whatever you feel like.

Emperor Kaihuang, inflamed with anger, shouted, "Then why didn’t you come to put out the fire?"

Li Moxian was surprised and retorted, "That fire was natural; it only burnt some houses and belongings. Your Majesty is frugal, and Princess Qionghua’s palace isn’t luxurious either; it didn’t burn much money. Moreover, when I saw it, nine people had already died, only those nine. What would be the point of me coming over?"

Emperor Kaihuang was shocked and hurriedly asked, "Did you know nine people died?"

"I was less than thirty miles northwest of the city. I just had to turn my head to see!"

Emperor Kaihuang was enraged!

"I... I didn’t ask about that! I was asking why you didn’t save Princess Qionghua and... and... and the Chamber Head Changle!"

Li Moxian thought for a moment then questioned, "Did they need saving?"

Emperor Kaihuang looked around, somewhat regretting that he had already smashed everything nearby.

If he still had something, even though he might not be able to fight, he would’ve thrown objects at Li Moxian.

This man, who is good in many ways, just doesn’t know how to speak human language!

At that moment, Shen Erxian also entered the bedroom.

"Your Majesty, I..."

Emperor Kaihuang immediately slipped off his shoe and flung it at Li Moxian.

Li Moxian dodged easily, and the shoe struck Shen Erxian right in the face.

Shen Erxian, lacking Li Moxian’s skills and courage, could only take the hit with his face.

"Shen Erxian! I’m asking you, you can judge cases about ghosts, but you can’t find my daughters? Are you useless?"

"I am not."

Emperor Kaihuang was stunned and quickly took off his other shoe, throwing it at Shen Erxian’s face as he looked up.

Shen Erxian had no choice but to take another shoe to the face.

"You’re not useless? Then I ask you, where is Chamber Head Changle? Where is Princess Qionghua?"

Shen Erxian paused, then quietly said, "At Zhang San’s house!"

Emperor Kaihuang: ミﾟДﾟ彡

Empress: (╯°Д°)╯

He Xiangmeng: o(*≧д≦)o!!

Emperor Kaihuang and the Empress exchanged glances, then the Empress softly asked, "Shen Family’s Second Master, what did you just say?"

As soon as Shen Erxian heard this, he thought, this title doesn’t sound right!

After all, I am also the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture, how come there is no mention of my official title.

"Last night, the Imperial Palace caught fire, and the Chamber Head of Changle along with Princess Qionghua survived the disaster using the fireproof woodcraft items that Zhang San had given them. Since the cause of the fire was unknown, the Chamber Head and the Princess were worried about encountering danger on the way to the Empress’s palace chamber. They used other woodcraft items from Zhang San to escape from the Imperial Palace and took shelter at Zhang San’s newly purchased residence for the night. Early this morning, the Chamber Head sent Baili Changfeng to deliver me a message, and that’s when I found out."

Emperor Kaihuang looked around and, finding nothing to throw at Shen Erxian, asked in a fit of anger, "Since you knew, why didn’t you come to tell me and the Empress sooner?"

Shen Erxian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

"Your Majesty, as soon as I found out, I came right over! I didn’t delay even a moment!"

Upon hearing that both their daughters were unharmed, Emperor Kaihuang and the Empress finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Emperor Kaihuang, who had been smashing things, wanted to sit down but found the floor covered with various broken vases and pots, leaving him nowhere to sit.

He stood with his hands on his hips and asked Shen Erxian coldly, "Why did the Chamber Head of Changle and Princess Qionghua not go to anyone else’s home, but specifically to Zhang San’s place?"

The Empress also quickly inquired, "This Zhang San has a bad reputation, how did he come to know the Chamber Head and Princess Qionghua? Have you heard any rumors or gossip about them... Hmm... What about Lihua? She has been guarding them all these years, what about her and this Zhang San?"

Shen Erxian, looking embarrassed, replied with a bow, "About that, I really don’t know."

Just then, outside the main gate, the Crown Prince, who had hurried over to console Emperor Kaihuang and the Empress, heard this and burst in.

"Father Emperor, Mother Empress, I am late. I was just outside, and when I heard that my elder sister and younger sister were safe, I was relieved."

Emperor Kaihuang nodded in approval and said, "At least you show filial piety and care about your sisters. It’s good that they are safe."

Turning to He Xiangmeng, Emperor Kaihuang demanded angrily, "Go and find out what exactly happened!"

At that moment, the Crown Prince bowed and said, "Father Emperor, your son has something to say, but I am not sure if it is appropriate."

Li Moxian, standing aside, smiled and said, "If the Crown Prince feels it’s inappropriate, then don’t say it. If you think it’s appropriate, then speak up. To ask whether it is appropriate or not, and still consult your family elders, seems a bit childish."

The Crown Prince took a deep breath, pretending he heard nothing.

Just wait until I’m the Emperor and then see if I don’t deal with you, Town Martial Office.

Emperor Kaihuang nodded at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince immediately bowed and said, "Father Emperor, I spoke earlier with the former Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, Shen Wen, about the Floating Corpse Case. Although Shen Wen was corrupt, he had previously been diligent in his duties and mentioned to me that Zhang San had limited authority and didn’t know if all the information within the Metropolitan prefecture could be disclosed to Zhang San. Thus, when Zhang San went to inquire about matters possibly unrelated to the case, he was told that Zhang San’s authority was insufficient."

"This matter should also have been reported back to the Town Martial Office by Zhang San, but it seems that the Town Martial Office did not issue a document authorizing the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture to declassify the information inaccessible to Zhang San."

"Now, about this incident, my elder sister and younger sister experienced the fire but fortunately had the fireproof woodcraft items from Zhang San."

"Moreover, yesterday Zhang San just moved into his newly purchased residence, and that very night, a fire broke out, providing a convenient refuge for my elder sister and younger sister."

"Putting all these things together, doesn’t it seem... too coincidental?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang frowned slightly.

Although uncertain whether Zhang San was after power or was coveting his daughters, Emperor Kaihuang also felt that this matter indeed seemed a bit too convenient.

Turning to look at the Empress, skepticism was evident in her eyes as well.

"Summon Zhang San to come!" instructed Emperor Kaihuang.

The Crown Prince secretly exulted.

Though his own plan to frame Zhang San wasn’t fully ready yet, this offered a perfect opportunity to blame him. It couldn’t get any better.

The fire last night, how convenient!

Meanwhile, Zhang San and the others were just finishing their breakfast.

"Sister, Qiong, you two stay at my house for now. I will go later and find the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture, Shen Erxian. I have a good relationship with his son, so it should be no problem to instruct him. Let him help you investigate the fire incident at your home; make sure there’s no traitor or skilled person involved."

Lady Yu glanced at Qiong, knowing that Zhang San was unaware of their true identities, assuming the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture could investigate the Yu Family’s fire incident.

"Little brother, don’t worry about it. We were indeed worried last night, but now that it’s daylight, we’re not afraid anymore. We’ll go back soon."

"Don’t! What if there’s still danger at home?"

"Don’t worry, in broad daylight, it will be fine."

Zhang San, knowing his recognized sister, Lady Yu, had her secrets, chose not to say more.

But after thinking it over, he quickly called a few people over.

"Sister, as you and Qiong head back, though you have capable bodyguards, this old lady is alone and can’t protect both of you. Fifth, come here!"

Big Head Wang immediately hurried over with quick steps.

"This is my sworn fifth brother, whom you’ve met before, lady. Honest and stout-hearted, he might seem a simpleton, but he’s actually quite clever. Let him accompany you, and if there’s anything to be done, let him handle it."

"Senior Xu, come here for a moment."

Zhang San continued, "This is the Martial Chief of the Town Martial Office and my senior. He also watched my fifth brother grow up and is practically his guardian. He’s the only one from my side in the Purple Mansion Realm, though his strength is suppressed due to being a living dead, but still, as the Martial Chief of the Town Martial Office, he has many tricks up his sleeve. Having him around can provide you protection."

Lady Yu, hearing Zhang San’s nonsense, glanced at Qiong who had been quietly looking down all the while.

This wasn’t just about sending people to protect her, but clearly about sending people to protect Qiong and indirectly introducing their guardians to each other.

"Alright, alright! Thank you!"

Laughing, Zhang San escorted Lady Yu, Qiong, and Senior Xu along with Big Head Wang to the door.

But just as they stepped outside, they saw neatly arranged troops of the Left Valiant Guard outside the main gate.

The leader was Cao Demeng, whom Zhang San had met before from the Thousand Cattle Guards.

Smiling, Cao Demeng greeted Zhang San with a cupped fist salute, saying, "Martial Chief Zhang San, we meet again. Emperor Kaihuang requests your presence."