Chapter 247
He couldn't help but talk more, saying, "I heard it was Wei Ping's birthday yesterday, and Yue Fuguang gave him a book.
Cai Xian was at the Wei residence yesterday, and the lamp in the Wei family study didn't go out all night."
Emperor Mingxi took a sip of tea and continued, "During the morning court today, I saw the two of them. Though they looked tired with dark circles under their eyes, their spirits were unusually high.
I wonder what exactly that book contained to make them so.
With your wedding less than half a month away, I'm curious what grand wedding gift Yue Fuguang will give you then."
Actually, Xie Zhiyan had also been looking forward to this for a while, but one couldn't force such things. Anything from the Junior Mentor would be good.
While the father and son were discussing the book gifted by Yue Fuguang, Wei Ping and Cai Xian were using their newly learned methods to investigate at the Cao residence.
The next morning at court.
Wei Ping, holding his hu tablet, stepped out of the ranks, bowed, and memorialized, "Your Majesty, your subject Wei Ping has a report."
"Permission granted!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, yesterday evening, your subject, in cooperation with Minister Cai, investigated the Cao residence destroyed by the heavenly thunder.
Our investigation found the resident was a supervisor from the Canal Gang named Cao Yu. We also discovered a secret chamber within the deep pit blasted open by the thunder.
Inside the chamber were thirteen individuals. Seeing their suspicious behavior and the large quantity of prohibited standard-issue weapons they carried, we took them all into custody.
After your subject and Minister Cai interrogated the group throughout the night, we confirmed three leaders among them. One is Luo Feng, the young master of the Great Yan Fengyu Pavilion, also the elder brother of the Canal Gang supervisor, Luo Yu.
The other two are Zuo Qianming, the Left Commander of the Dark Character Division of You Tan in Great Yan, and Qu Shengwu, the Right Commander of the same division."
As soon as his words fell, they immediately sparked discussions among the hundred officials in the court.
You Tan, Fengyu Pavilion, and Tianxing Tower—the three largest, most mysterious, and most troublesome assassin organizations across the six kingdoms.
Which official in the court did not know of them?
Who would have thought that yesterday's terrifying thunder had actually exposed major figures from both the You Tan and Fengyu Pavilion organizations.
Some people secretly glanced towards Yue Fuguang, sitting steadily on the high platform, as everyone had witnessed her command the heavenly thunder for her own use during the Longevity Festival banquet.
Although the Junior Mentor's thunder that day was far less spectacular than yesterday's, it didn't stop some from suspecting this thunderclap was peculiar.
Yue Fuguang was not afraid of their scrutiny, still drinking her tea when she pleased and watching the show.
"Are you certain the captured individuals are assassins from Fengyu Pavilion and You Tan?"
Wei Ping said, "The three confessed personally. It cannot be false."
Thanks to the Junior Mentor's Truth Elixir. Last time he interrogated those assassins, he only used less than half a pill.
This time, after applying various torture instruments to no avail and them still refusing to talk, he had no choice but to use this precious pill.
In less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they confessed everything. If not for the small dose and the effects wearing off quickly, those three might have started recounting stories from their childhood, like peeping at widows bathing.
Emperor Mingxi looked serious. "Did you ascertain the reason for their gathering?"
At this point, Cai Xian stepped forward to report, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to the confessions of the three, they were holding secret talks in the Cao residence chamber yesterday. The matter discussed was to set fire to the Hundred Herb Garden warehouse tomorrow at the hour of the rat (midnight) and..."
"And what?" Emperor Mingxi's authoritative voice sounded from the throne.
Cai Xian glanced up quickly and stole a look at Yue Fuguang. Yue Fuguang thought to herself, "Sure enough — it was aimed at her." The development of the historical timeline was beginning to deviate because of her appearance.
"Setting fire to the Hundred Herb Garden, because we captured Qi Ming and ruined their scheme, was thus downgraded from the main assault to a feint.
The target of their operation this time is the Junior Mentor and the potato plants grown at the Xuanwei Estate."
Bang!
"What audacity! They dare to target our dynasty's Junior Mentor and the potatoes!"
Emperor Mingxi's large hand slapped the armrest of the dragon throne with a bang, startling the officials in the hall so much they dared not breathe loudly.
Yue Fuguang, however, couldn't help but glance at Emperor Mingxi's slightly trembling hand. This was a case of showing off feeling great in the moment, but only you know the pain in your hand!
[Master, the Emperor's hand has turned red!]
「Is the dragon throne gold-plated or pure gold? Could the Emperor have dented it with that slap?
That chair, though uncomfortable to sit on, is quite exquisitely made with vivid carvings. It would be a shame if it got damaged.」
Great Yan's ruler and ministers: Wait, our two esteemed figures, isn't your focus a bit off?
There are assassins targeting the Junior Mentor, aren't you concerned at all?
The ruler and ministers exchanged glances. Could it be that their bait wasn't enticing enough to pique the interest of the chatterbox divine artifact?
Cai Xian pressed on, "According to the confession of You Tan's Right Commander Qu Shengwu, the one who attempted to abduct Chu Qiuyue that time was Left Commander Zuo Qianming.
And Zuo Qianming confessed that the assassination attempt on the Junior Mentor on the night of the Lantern Festival was carried out by Qu Shengwu."
Ignoring the hushed discussions among the civil and military officials, Wei Ping added, "The true purpose of their operation this time, with the feint on the Hundred Herb Garden, was actually to abduct the Junior Mentor and steal the potato seedlings.
The plan was finalized five days ago, but Zuo Qianming and Qu Shengwu had a dispute over the mission objectives, leading to yesterday's secret meeting."
"What dispute? Minister Wei, tell us."
Wei Ping bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, according to their confessions, these two developed a rift after the failed mission to abduct Chu Qiuyue.
Zuo Qianming suspected that Qu Shengwu deliberately leaked mission information, causing his mission to fail.
His aim was to use the mission to eliminate him, ascend to his position, and single-handedly control all You Tan assassins in the northwest region of Great Yan."
Master, it seems your words last time took effect. Indeed, suspicion and discord arose among the You Tan leaders because of it.
「That's also because they inherently distrusted each other, coupled with conflicting interests. Planting just a small seed of doubt can escalate power struggles.」
Wei Ping continued, "This time, Fengyu Pavilion's Luo Feng was responsible for stealing the potatoes, while Zuo and Qu argued over who would be responsible for abducting the Junior Mentor and who would set fire to the Hundred Herb Garden.
Both wanted to go to the Yu residence to abduct the Junior Mentor, especially Zuo Qianming. He wanted to personally ask the Junior Mentor about her source of information."
"Hmph! How bold these villains are! Do they think our dynasty's several hundred thousand troops are mere decorations? Abduct the Junior Mentor—what are their intentions? Has it been clarified who is behind them?"
"All three claimed to be acting on the orders of a mysterious buyer. That person wore a veil, obscuring their features, and their voice sounded like that of a middle-aged man."
Emperor Mingxi pondered for a moment. "Is Fengyu Pavilion's Luo Feng connected to the Canal Gang?"
This was a sensitive topic. Everyone knew under whose jurisdiction the Canal Gang fell. In recent years, the smooth operation of water transport and the stability of the Canal Gang were part of Sima Jing's political achievements.
Sima Jing oversaw the administration of the Jiangnan region. This Cao Hu was said to have long pledged allegiance under him, hence their obedience. And his position within the Canal Gang, backed by Sima Jing's support, remained as solid as Mount Tai.
Before Wei Ping and Cai Xian could reply, someone stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, in your subject's humble opinion, this matter cannot possibly be related to the Canal Gang.
The Canal Gang is located far away in the Jiangnan region. If it were involved, Fengyu Pavilion's stronghold should be in Jiangnan, not in Shangjing City.
The Cao residence is merely the most insignificant one among the numerous properties the Canal Gang owns in Shangjing City and throughout Great Yan.
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