Chapter 23: Building an Awesome Sect

Chu Liuzheng felt suspicious.

Her family understood that it was not easy for her in the palace and was worried that she would get into trouble. As long as she didn't send any letters home, her family wouldn't send any letters.

Her letter home hasn't arrived yet this month, how come her reply arrived first?

Could something have happened at home?

Thinking of this, she didn't bother to say much to the eunuch who delivered the letter. She gave him two coins of silver to treat him to tea, then hurried back to Nong Yun Garden with the letter in her pocket.

She is on night duty today and does not need to go to Wenhua Hall to be on duty during the day.

Chu Liuzheng pushed open the door and found Caiyun was not there. Then she remembered that Caiyun had told her yesterday that she was going to talk to the sisters in the palace today and would be back late.

It’s better if people are not here.

After closing the doors and windows, Chu Liuzheng sat down at the table, took out the letter, unfolded it, and read it line by line.

When he read half of it, his face turned pale and his hands were shaking so much that he could hardly hold the letter.

She stared at the two lines in shock.

Isn’t my eldest brother studying at Shanghong Academy? How did he get involved with the remnants of the fifth prince and be arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guards and thrown into the imperial prison?

Is the Imperial Prison a place for people to stay?!

She hadn't seen any news from home for just a few days, how could such a change happen?

Chu Liuzheng hurriedly opened the system and searched through the latest gossip. He couldn't help but pause, "Huh?"

Jinyiwei discovered that Qu Tao, a deputy minister of the Ministry of War, had embezzled grain. Commander Xie Hui personally led a raid on Qu's home, finding nearly 200,000 taels of silver and gold in a secret room. The entire Qu family was executed, implicated across three generations. His accomplices, Cao Jian, Yu Huaichuan, Wang Yu, Guo Ming, and Fang Shiju, were also convicted.

[Holy crap! As expected of the Jinyiwei, the imperial guards that terrify all officials, they're no freeloaders. They found out before I even made an anonymous report!]

[No, no, that's not the point! Big brother, big brother, Chu Shangming...]

[Got it! Shanghong Academy student Chai Zhicheng is a spy planted in the capital by the remnants of the Fifth Prince. Student Chu Shangming has been too close to him, so the Imperial Guards suspect he is also a remnant of the Fifth Prince and have arrested him and imprisoned him pending trial.]

[Oh my god! My dear brother, you're still so bad at making friends! Can you make a friend who's a little more reliable?!]

Chu Liuzheng pounded the table in annoyance.

[You're actually connected to the remnants of the Fifth Prince. Big Brother, how can I save you?! ! !]

Of course she knew her eldest brother wasn't a remnant of the Fifth Prince. With his emotional intelligence, he'd be exposed in a second, whether as an informant or a spy. Who would be so foolish as to recruit him? Did he think his own death wasn't fast enough?

But she has no evidence.

[Evidence… evidence… damn! Chai Zhicheng has been lurking in the academy for three years. Big Brother became friends with him the moment he entered. We went in and out together every day, and even visited several remnant strongholds together. How can we deny this connection?]

Chu Liu Zheng Ma Claw.

The tyrant's attitude towards the remnants of the fifth prince has always been to kill the wrong ones rather than let them go. Big brother is finished!

Chu Liuzheng quickly read the rest of the letter.

"Sister, Dad went to Hejian Prefecture with Uncle Liu to deliver goods three days ago, leaving only Mom and I at home. Mom was so scared when she learned that my eldest brother was captured by the Jinyiwei that she almost fainted. We tried to bribe them with money, but the Jinyiwei refused to accept it and wouldn't let us see my eldest brother."

"Sister, my mother and I are at our wit's end. She cried secretly and wouldn't let me write to you, fearing you'd worry. But the Imperial Guards are so vicious, my brother would die. I wanted to save him, so I wrote to you secretly without telling my mother. Don't tell my mother, she'll punish me if she finds out."

"Sister, you are the smartest and most resourceful person. Can you think of a way to save my brother?"

"My little sister Yuxin, I pray for your well-being and safety. I hereby seal this."

Staring at the illegible handwriting on the letter paper, Chu Liuzheng sighed.

Sister, you really think highly of your sister. Is it so easy to get someone out of the imperial prison after being arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guards?

But, he is my eldest brother.

It was the most difficult time for the family. In order to prevent her from envying other little girls' flowery hairbands, her elder brother went without food for two days and starved himself to death, just to save money to buy her a flowery hairband.

Although it was indeed a bit stupid, she actually wanted to eat meat buns more, but she would save this stupid brother at all costs!

If she delays any longer, her brother will suffer even longer. She's going to find the tyrant right now!

At worst, he could just make up a story that she was the disciple of some hermit master, who could tell the truth about the world. No emperor could resist such temptation.

As for whether I will be feared by the tyrant and be killed without a complete body, I can’t care about that now, I’ll just fight!

Afraid that he would give up if he waited any longer, Chu Liuzheng locked the letter in the cabinet and walked towards Wenhua Hall in front with a menacing look.

She, Chu Liuzheng, is a charlatan from today on!

*

"Young lady, please wait." At the entrance of Wenhua Palace, Xiao Anzi stepped forward and stopped Chu Liuzheng who was about to rush in, saying in a low voice, "His Majesty is furious. Unless it's urgent, it's best not to go in now."

[No way, a tyrant isn't a volcano, so why would he erupt every day?]

Oh, yes, yes, the Imperial Guards discovered that Qu Tao and his men had embezzled so much grain. The tyrant should be furious.

[But my eldest brother's matter is also urgent! ]

Chu Liuzheng barely suppressed his anxiety and bowed to Xiao Anzi. "I have an urgent matter to report to His Majesty. Please, Eunuch An, pass it on."

"Girl, get up quickly." Xiao Anzi quickly helped the person up and kindly advised, "Girl, listen to my advice. No matter what the emergency is, come back later."

[I don't want to be reckless either! But my eldest brother has been arrested by the Imperial Guards and imprisoned. He's about to die. I can't wait any longer!]

"I appreciate your kindness, eunuch." Chu Liuzheng thrust a purse into his hand. "I really have something urgent to do. I'd like to trouble you to go in and report it now. No matter what, I will definitely remember your kindness."

How could Xiao Anzi dare to accept Chu Liuzheng's purse? If his master found out, he would definitely punish him.

He pushed Chu Liuzheng's purse back and said, "Young lady, please keep it. I'll pass the message on for you."

Chu Liuzheng was delighted, "Thank you, eunuch."

Xiao Anzi turned around and walked inside. Before he stepped over the threshold, Zhou Yuande came out of the hall in a hurry.

"Miss Liu Zheng, His Majesty summons you."

Chu Liuzheng was stunned.

[How did the tyrant know I was coming? Is it the clairaudience or the clairvoyance?]

[Oh, I almost forgot, the tyrant has a secret guard around him. It must have been the secret guard who told the tyrant.]

Xiao Jingfan, who knew it through his heart: "..."

Why don’t you try cursing the tyrant less in your heart?

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be well and safe."

Xiao Jingfan put down the brush and winked at Zhou Yuande, who immediately retreated with all the palace servants.

Moxiang turned around and glanced at the kneeling Chu Liuzheng with concern.

——Liu Zheng has always been steady, why would he come to Wenhua Hall at this time?

Chu Liuzheng had no intention of caring about other people at all. She was frantically making plans in her mind, trying to prove her identity as a disciple of a hermit master.

I need to find myself a fantastic sect, one that sounds like it could make me ascend to immortality in a split second. Just like… just like… well… what mountain or sect do those immortal cultivators in xianxia novels belong to? Kunwu? Taixu? Or Kunlun?

If you like it, remember to vote, refill~

(End of this chapter)