Chapter 1180: Splendid Realm
Xu Jiaorong and Yao Pei had already returned from East Shakya. The former was the Second Deputy Mansion Master overseeing legal affairs in Poluo, while the latter was a Deputy Hall Master representing the Fengxian Hall. Their involvement meant that this was merely an internal disciplinary matter within the Daoist Order, not yet escalating to the level of defection or collusion with foreign foes. But if the Beichen Hall had been dispatched instead, the nature of the matter would have become far more complicated.
Qi Xuansu was deliberately leaving some room for maneuver.
There was an overlap in the responsibilities of Beichen Hall and Fengxian Hall. The reason Beichen Hall ranked among the Three Great Halls was not only because of its broader authority and scope of duties, but also because it directly controlled a portion of armed forces. Although its numbers were far smaller than those of the Tiangang Hall, it faced far fewer restrictions, making it even more flexible than the Tiangang Hall in non-wartime situations, and thus, more formidable in normal times.
The Fengxian Hall did not command armed forces. However, in the vast majority of cases, it did not need force when making arrests. Very few people dared to resist with violence; most simply submitted without struggle.
Strictly speaking, the Fengxian Hall’s primary responsibility was adjudication rather than arrest. These two functions were originally meant to be separate. Yet over time, circumstances changed. Trials became increasingly perfunctory, and the Fengxian Hall began conducting arrests. Correspondingly, the Beichen Hall would also directly pronounce guilt.
Often, what existed on paper and in public was one thing, while actual operations beneath the table and in the shadows were something else entirely.
Of course, if one were to strictly follow procedure, the arrest was to be carried out by the Daoist Mansion, represented by Second Deputy Xu. This was also the reason Qi Xuansu did not appear personally. His role as the Chief Deputy did not include such responsibilities.
Moreover, this time was different. Wang Jiaoying was not someone who would submit quietly, so it was necessary to rely on the Daoist Mansion’s armed forces to encircle and arrest him.
This was precisely why Qi Xuansu had dispatched a Tiangang Hall branch manager and a second-rank Spirit Guard to monitor Wang Jiaohe, as they could conduct the arrest as soon as he gave them the signal.
Although it was already very late, Qi Xuansu was not the only one still awake. In fact, most people within the Daoist Mansion were awake, as all of them could sense the tension permeating within Thanglong Prefecture.
Chen Jianchou arrived at the Water Palace and met with Xu Jiaorong.
Before Chen Jianchou even spoke, Xu Jiaorong already knew his purpose. For someone who had once served as a chief secretary, reading intent through circumstances was a basic skill.