Chapter 90: No More Forbearance
As Lu Yun exited Yingfeng Pavilion, he saw an old eunuch with fierce eyebrows and hawk-like eyes, his beard and hair all white, standing under the eaves. His eyes were slightly closed, completely still, as if he were asleep.
But as soon as Lu Yun’s gaze fell on him, the old eunuch suddenly opened his eyes, his cold gaze shooting toward Lu Yun like lightning.
In that instant, Lu Yun felt as if his five viscera had all been seen through by him, as if all his secrets were laid bare before him!
This feeling was something even Xiahou Ba had never given him. Lu Yun hurriedly stood there in shock, as if he were scared silly.
Fortunately, at this moment, Du Hui came out and smiled at the old eunuch. “Eunuch Zuo, His Majesty summons you.”
That old eunuch was none other than Zuo Yanqing, who had single-handedly established the Investigative Bureau and divided the martial artists under heaven into heaven, earth, mystic, and yellow!
Hearing Du Hui’s voice, Zuo Yanqing slowly withdrew his gaze, his eyes returning to their dim, aged appearance, without a trace of spirit.
Seeing Zuo Yanqing follow Du Hui inside, Lu Yun finally moved his feet and walked toward the outside of the sleeping palace. Only when the wind at the palace doorway blew did he realize that his back was soaked.
Just now, half of Lu Yun’s reaction was feigned, while the other half came from the heart, arising spontaneously! He almost suspected that if Zuo Yanqing looked at him a little longer, he might really see through his identity!
.
Zuo Yanqing and Du Hui, the two old eunuchs, walked one after the other toward the waterside pavilion. Du Hui deliberately lagged half a step behind Zuo Yanqing, clearly conducting himself as a subordinate.
“Old Du,” Zuo Yanqing looked ahead and slowly asked, “That young man just now was Lu Yun?”
“Yes.” Du Hui nodded and said, “That child’s chess skill is extremely high. These past few days playing chess with His Majesty, he even forced a draw in one game.”
“Is that so?” Zuo Yanqing was slightly surprised, but what concerned him was something else. “His Majesty faces him every day. Has he felt that this child looks somewhat familiar?”
“This…” Du Hui thought for a moment and shook his head. “I haven’t heard His Majesty mention it.” Then he softly asked, “Does Lord Zuo feel he looks familiar?”
“The moment he came out, I seemed to see an old acquaintance…” After saying this, Zuo Yanqing did not want to continue the topic and smiled. “But looking again, he completely doesn’t resemble him. I’m old, my eyes are dim, nothing looks clear.”
“Lord Zuo is joking. Your eyes have never been deceived at any time.” Du Hui smiled faintly. He knew Zuo Yanqing’s strength better than anyone. If not for this man being left behind by the Founding Emperor and not fully aligned with the current His Majesty, the position of chief eunuch of the inner court would probably still not have fallen to him even now.
“One has no choice but to accept old age. Even a grandmaster, if unable to enter the Innate Realm, cannot escape the decline of vital energy and blood, withering day by day.” Zuo Yanqing sighed and shook his head.
“Has Lord Zuo seen hope?” Du Hui asked with concern.
“Me?” Zuo Yanqing gave a self-mocking laugh. “Even that old Taoist priest on Mount Taishi hasn’t found the way. How dare an incomplete, decrepit old man like me harbor such extravagant hopes?”
“Sigh,” Du Hui gave a bitter smile. “Could it be that this Innate Realm is truly just a legend?”
“Whether it is a legend or not,” Zuo Yanqing said indifferently, “We should still worry about the matters at hand.”
“Yes.” Du Hui nodded and led Zuo Yanqing before the Initial Emperor.
In the waterside pavilion, the chessboard had already been put away. The Initial Emperor looked at Zuo Yanqing with slight fatigue and said, “What matter required you to come personally?”
“Your Majesty, it is regarding that matter.” Zuo Yanqing said softly.
Hearing this, the Initial Emperor’s expression darkened, and he glanced at Du Hui. Du Hui then drove away the palace servants on both sides and personally guarded the entrance to the waterside pavilion, not allowing anyone to approach and eavesdrop.
“Speak.” Only then did the Initial Emperor look at Zuo Yanqing.
“Your Majesty, this old servant has confirmed that the Saintess of Taiping Dao has arrived in the Capital City.” Zuo Yanqing lowered his voice.
“Saintess?” The Initial Emperor snorted coldly in disdain. “Taiping Dao has a history of seven or eight hundred years, and I’ve never heard of any Saintess.”
“It is a trick made up by Sun Yuanlang. Although the Saintess has appeared only a few years ago, her status is very high in the hearts of Taiping Dao believers,” Zuo Yanqing said softly. “It is said that among the upper echelons of Taiping Dao, she can stand on equal footing with the Left and Right Protectors.” He paused and said, “Therefore, the Saintess entering the Capital City must be under Sun Yuanlang’s orders, to find a buyer for the Imperial Seal.”
“Have you made contact with her?” the Initial Emperor asked in a deep voice.
“Not yet.” Zuo Yanqing’s expression was grave. “But it is reported that the Xiahou Clan has already made contact with her ahead of time.”
“What?!” The Initial Emperor’s face changed instantly, and he gnashed his teeth. “After that incident in Jiangnan, Xiahou Ba still doesn’t know to restrain himself and dares to scheme for the Imperial Seal!”
“Fortunately,” Zuo Yanqing hurriedly comforted the Initial Emperor, “The other side seems to be waiting for the highest bidder and has not been eager to make a move. Xiahou Ba is also helpless.”
“So that’s how it is…” The Initial Emperor suddenly understood why three days ago, when the three princes sought aid from the Xiahou Clan, Xiahou Ba had been completely unaware at the time—it turned out he was busy negotiating with Taiping Dao. That was why he later felt guilty like a thief, worrying that His Majesty was using the matter to test him, and eagerly came to the Summer Palace to probe for information.
“Not meeting with us, but waiting for the highest bidder?” The Initial Emperor thought of another issue and frowned at Zuo Yanqing. “Could it be that Taiping Dao has other buyers?”
“It seems so…” Zuo Yanqing then shared another piece of news that made the Initial Emperor’s heart ache. “Besides the Xiahou Clan, there seem to be a few other families who also want to wade into this muddy water.”
“A pack of wolves!” Hearing this, the Initial Emperor was even more furious than when he heard of the Xiahou Clan’s connection with Taiping Dao, gnashing his teeth. “It seems my forbearance has been seen as weakness by them! Now any demons and ghouls dare to scheme against me!”
“…” Zuo Yanqing hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Previously, when Your Majesty laid low and did not pursue the Xiahou Clan, it indeed had some adverse effects.”
“Wasn’t that because Zhang Xuanyi was pressuring me?!” The Initial Emperor abruptly stood up and shouted sternly, “That old Taoist priest—why isn’t he stopping those noble clans from coveting the divine artifact now?!”
“…” Zuo Yanqing shook his head, watching the furious Initial Emperor pace back and forth, saying nothing.
The Initial Emperor paced fiercely with hands behind his back on the Xiangfei bamboo mat for a few steps, then suddenly stopped, his eyes ice-cold as he stared at Zuo Yanqing and said word by word, “They must be made to understand that I am not to be bullied!”
“Your Majesty intends to make an example of whom?” Zuo Yanqing asked in a cold voice.
“The one who tied the bell must untie it,” the Initial Emperor said in a deep voice. “The Xiahou Clan!”
“Speaking of the Xiahou Clan,” Zuo Yanqing thought for a moment and slowly said, “Lately, rumors are rife in the Capital City, all saying that the newly built Yellow River embankment burst after less than a year because the Ministry of Works privately altered the embankment design to sell more land, causing the embankment to be unable to withstand the flood’s impact…” He paused and said darkly, “The disaster victims are very emotional. Some are clamoring to surround the Ministry of Personnel and demand that the Imperial Court hand over Gao Guangning!”
The Initial Emperor stood motionless, listening carefully to Zuo Yanqing’s words.
“The Ministry of Works is one of the Xiahou Clan’s important sources of wealth. Ever since Gao Guangning defected to the Xiahou Clan, all engineering constructions and weapons manufacturing have become meat on the Xiahou Clan’s plate.” Zuo Yanqing said softly, “If we can use this opportunity to take down Gao Guangning and seize back the Ministry of Works, it would not only serve to warn others but also cut off one of the Xiahou Clan’s sources of wealth.”
The Initial Emperor nodded slightly, clearly quite tempted.
“However, this matter has not yet been verified,” Zuo Yanqing frowned slightly. “If we cannot produce ironclad evidence, it will be hard to move this lackey of the Xiahou Clan.”
“What do you mean?” the Initial Emperor asked softly.
“Investigate in secret first, and once we have solid evidence, use the disaster victims’ clamor to take down Gao Guangning in one fell swoop!” Zuo Yanqing said softly.
“By then the hare would be cold!” The Initial Emperor shook his head firmly. “That old fox Xiahou Ba is the most vigilant. The moment you investigate Gao Guangning, he will immediately take countermeasures!”
“Your Majesty is right,” Zuo Yanqing hurriedly asked. “What is Your Majesty’s intention?”
“Are the disaster victims very emotional?” the Initial Emperor asked in return.
“Extremely so.” Zuo Yanqing nodded. “Their homes destroyed, wandering in the Capital City for months already, they are on the verge of erupting.”
“Good!” The Initial Emperor praised, bending down close to Zuo Yanqing who was kneeling there, and lowering his voice instructed, “After returning to the Capital City, personally command the Investigative Bureau’s secret agents to incite the disaster victims, make them go cause trouble for Gao Guangning…” He paused, then sternly warned, “Make absolutely sure no rumors leak out!”
Zuo Yanqing nodded and accepted the order.
