Gu Gefu (2)

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinghong was not alarmed. Instead, she stepped forward and bowed gracefully to the Pavilion Master and the other Pavilion Assistants. Her voice was clear and calm, like shattered ice striking each other.

"Pavilion Master, fellow Pavilion Masters. Jinghong will be punished for Yunni's trespassing. However, the matter concerning Miss Lanyin that she mentioned involves a life and death, and also affects the reputation and rules of Qianyuan Pavilion. It must be investigated."

She abruptly changed the subject, "However, today, Gu Jinghong, the head of Zhuangmu Pavilion, impeached Qin Jin, the Grand Secretary, for three crimes!"

"Firstly, dereliction of duty and embezzlement. During my three years as the head of the intelligence bureau, all 531 tasks of Grade A or higher in the bureau, from strategy formulation and personnel allocation to final success, were accomplished through the combined efforts of myself and the other heads, inspectors, and scouts. In recent years, 90% of the crucial intelligence analyses were also done by me and a few other heads! However—"

Her gaze, sharp as torches, swept over Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan, finally fixing on Qin Jin's paling face. She demanded sternly, "In the documents submitted to the desks of the Grand Secretaries and the Pavilion Master, and in the commendation orders issued by the Qianyuan Pavilion, all such hard work and merit are attributed, without exception, to Grand Secretary Qin! I dare to ask Grand Secretary Qin, what is the reason for this?"

Seeing that Qin Jin was about to retort, Gu Jinghong interrupted him, "Stealing the credit of everyone in Zhuangmu Pavilion is nothing more than satisfying your own selfish desires and vanity! However—Qin Jin, what you have done goes far beyond this despicable act!"

"Secondly, you are a habitual embezzler and line your own pockets! Every penny of the funds for the Zhuangmu Pavilion that passes through your hands is inevitably embezzled and goes into your own pocket!"

"Thirdly, and this is an unforgivable crime—betraying the Tower and colluding with the enemy, disregarding life and death!" Gu Jinghong suddenly raised his hand, pointing to the heavy booklet in Qingwu's hand, his voice booming like thunder, "Zhuangmu Pavilion is the eyes and ears of Qianyuan Pavilion, and the secrets it holds concern the foundation of our Tower and the lives of thousands of brothers! Yet Qin Jin, you have disregarded the Tower's rules and regulations, and for your own selfish gain, you have repeatedly sold the core secrets concerning the lifeline of our Tower to powerful officials in the court!"

She speaks very quickly, yet every word is clear, like a sharp blade being drawn from its sheath.

"On the 18th day of the first month of the 26th year of the Chengqian reign, Qin Jin and Wu Xuefu, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, traded original confidential letters belonging to my Zhuangmu Pavilion at Qin Jin's private property, Jingyuan in the western suburbs. On the 10th day of the tenth month of the 26th year of the Chengqian reign, Qin Jin and Jiang Hong, the Salt Transport Commissioner, traded handwritten testimonies from southern officials at Jiang Hong's private residence... All these are irrefutable facts! This act seriously violates the first rule of the Pavilion: unwavering loyalty; the third rule: strict prohibition against private involvement in the court; and the seventh rule: strict confidentiality!"

Gu Jinghong surveyed the entire room, her gaze sweeping over the shocked Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan, past Xie Yan with his deep eyes, and finally settling on the Pavilion Master Guo Da. She straightened her back and spoke with unwavering conviction.

"The Zhuangmu Pavilion is a vital asset of the Qianyuan Pavilion. How can we allow such an immoral and incompetent, self-serving, greedy, and treacherous scoundrel who has betrayed the organization and colluded with foreign enemies to occupy the position of Pavilion Assistant?!"

"Your subordinate, Gu Jinghong, is willing to risk everything to expose this traitor! I implore the Pavilion Master and the Elders of Law Enforcement to severely punish the traitor Qin Jin according to the law and cleanse the Pavilion!"

His words were forceful and piercing, each one cutting to the heart.

The room fell silent instantly, and even Xie Yan's playful smile vanished, his eyes turning deep and unfathomable.

Qin Jin was struck dumb, then flew into a rage, pointing at Gu Jinghong, his voice trembling: "Gu Jinghong, you, you're spouting nonsense! You're slandering the Grand Secretary, that's an even greater crime! Where's the evidence?! Without evidence, you're framing him!"

Gu Jinghong's lips curled into a faint, cold smile as she turned her gaze to the doorway: "Evidence? Of course. Please, Pavilion Master and all the Pavilion Masters, take a look."

As soon as she finished speaking, a figure in azure blue appeared silently at the doorway like a shadow. It was Qingwu. She held a thick booklet wrapped in a special dark-patterned brocade in her hands. With a solemn expression and without looking to the side, she walked to Gu Jinghong's side and held the booklet high.

"This is irrefutable evidence of Qin Jin's corruption, bribery, and betrayal of the rules, which Zhuangmu Pavilion has secretly collected over several years! The time, place, people, transaction details, witness testimonies, and financial transaction details are all included. We urge the Pavilion Master and all the Pavilion Assistants to investigate thoroughly!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yan's fingers, which were toying with the jade flute, suddenly stopped. A sharp glint, unlike anything he had ever seen before, flashed in his narrow phoenix eyes as he fixed his gaze on Gu Jinghong's straight back.

Qin Jin stared at the booklet, his face turning deathly pale as if he'd seen a ghost. He swayed, almost unable to stand. He opened his mouth, wanting to roar, to deny it, but found himself unable to utter a single word; overwhelming fear gripped him.

Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and solemnity.

The Pavilion Master's gaze slowly shifted from Gu Jinghong and Qingwu to Qin Jin's pale face, finally settling on the heavy booklet. He slightly raised his withered hand, gesturing for a maid to present the booklet.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; the only sounds were Qin Jin's heavy breathing.

He struggled to flip through a few pages, his gaze growing colder and more somber. After a moment, he closed the book, shut his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his weary eyes held a chilling resolve.

He looked at Qin Jin, his voice weak but carrying the decisive weight of thunder: "Qin Jin, the Grand Secretary...the evidence is conclusive...immediately...remove him from his position as Grand Secretary...imprison him in Blackwater Prison...until all his crimes are investigated...he will be severely punished according to...the rules of the prison!"

"Sect Master, I'm innocent! They framed me!" Qin Jin finally broke down, shouting hoarsely as he tried to rush forward, but was held down firmly by the law enforcement disciples who had appeared at the door at some unknown time.

Qin Jin finally roared at Gu Jinghong: "Gu Jinghong, didn't you say you'd always be my dog?! Why is a dog disloyal? Why does it bite its master?! Pavilion Master, do you see? Gu Jinghong will betray me, Qin Jin, today, and will betray you tomorrow!"

What a serious accusation! Everyone present, including Xie Yan, felt a cold sweat break out on their bodies.

Gu Jinghong smiled slightly, her eyes clear and bright: "Shut up! Qin Jin, stop your insane nonsense that twists the truth. From the day I entered Qianyuan Pavilion, I have been loyal only to the ironclad rules and regulations of Zhuoyue Tower, the survival of Qianyuan Pavilion, and the absolute authority of the Pavilion Master! You, Qin Jin, are merely acting as the Pavilion Master's deputy, trusted by him. What merit do you have to presume to call yourself my 'master'?!"

"That's right, I, Gu Jinghong, am indeed a 'dog'! But I am the hunting dog of Qianyuan Pavilion! My duty is to sniff out rotten flesh, kill the termites, and protect the foundation of Qianyuan Pavilion from erosion! And you, Qin Jin—you are the real wicked dog that devours its master! You steal the hard work of the brothers in the pavilion to enrich yourself, gnaw on the funds of the pavilion to satisfy your own hunger, and even treat the vital secrets of Qianyuan Pavilion as rotten flesh, wagging your tail and begging to fawn over the court's hawks and hounds!"

"If we're talking about loyalty, Qin Jin, how dare you compare yourself to me? When you were selling secrets, did you ever think of the Pavilion Master? Did you ever think of the Building Rules? Did you ever think of the brothers who might have died unjustly because of your leaks?!"

The usual playful smile on Xie Yan's lips vanished completely. He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he were truly getting to know the woman in front of him for the first time. His eyes were filled with an indescribable curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible shock.

Guo Da nodded, then waved his hand to signal Qin Jin to be dragged away. Then his gaze turned to Gu Jinghong, who remained calm as still water: "Zhuangmu Pavilion... cannot be without a leader for a single day. Gu Jinghong... has found the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Grass... has rendered meritorious service to me... and... has further purged the parasites in the pavilion... his merits are outstanding... effective immediately... he is promoted... to... the Assistant Pavilion Master of Zhuangmu Pavilion!"

Wen Linchuan said, "The Pavilion Master is wise. Such a traitor deserves to be punished! The Accounting Pavilion will fully cooperate with the Law Enforcement Elder to thoroughly investigate all the accounts handled by Qin Jin, clarify the amount of embezzlement, and recover the stolen money."

Lin Xiuyuan immediately and calmly replied, "The Pavilion Master is discerning! I second that. Qin Jin's crimes are heinous, and the Human Scripture Pavilion has an inescapable responsibility to thoroughly investigate all his personnel connections, identify his accomplices, eliminate any remaining poison, and ensure the loyalty and reliability of everyone in the Pavilion!"

After speaking, he cast a smiling glance at Gu Jinghong and nodded slightly: "Congratulations, Minister Gu. Zhuangmu Pavilion bears heavy responsibilities, and we will need to work together in the future."

Gu Jinghong didn't have a good impression of Wen Linchuan and Lin Xiuyuan. The two seemed humble and polite on the surface, but they turned on each other very quickly and had no bottom line. In comparison, they were not as good as Xie Yan, who at least acted badly in a straightforward way.

However, she maintained the humility expected of a newly appointed Grand Secretary, saying, "I will need your guidance in the future."

The dust has settled.

Gu Jinghong bowed deeply, his voice steady and powerful, without a trace of emotion: "Jinghong, I obey!"

After everyone dispersed, Xie Yan followed Gu Jinghong at the back of the crowd.

He deftly twirled the jade flute between his fingers, then strolled unhurriedly to Gu Jinghong's side. The usual cynical, even slightly eerie smile on his face had mostly vanished, replaced by a sharp look tinged with inquiry and amusement.

He suddenly turned to the side, leaning slightly closer, his warm breath almost brushing against Gu Jinghong's fair earlobe. His voice was extremely low, like whispered words between lovers, yet every word was clear, "Lan Yin certainly deserved to die. Relying on her affair with Qin Jin, she bullied and humiliated you time and time again. I suppose that Minister Gu is in the Prince's mansion, supposedly for a mission, but probably also to mislead Qin Jin and lower his guard... Speaking of which, Minister Gu's control is astonishing. Even while in the Prince's mansion, he can still mobilize the Qianyuan Pavilion's forces. Even I, Xie Yan, have to say 'I admire him'."

Gu Jinghong said, "Although Lan Yin's death was within my calculations, it was not my doing. She was indeed killed by Qin Jin."

Seeing that Gu Jinghong had answered him, Xie Yan seemed to regain his interest: "How was he killed?"

Gu Jinghong rolled her eyes at him and walked forward on her own.

Xie Yan sighed again: "Grand Secretary Gu is truly cunning. Even my rebellious nature has been used as a pawn in your game, and you've made use of me so skillfully?"

She slowly raised her eyes, her clear gaze meeting Xie Yan's scrutinizing gaze so close to hers. Her deep, still eyes remained calm, without a ripple of emotion. She simply asked in return, "Minister Xie, do you find this game of chess... enjoyable?"

Xie Yan was suddenly taken aback.

Immediately, a low, joyful laugh escaped from his throat, initially a suppressed vibration, then growing more and more unrestrained, and finally transforming into a loud laugh that resounded throughout the room, carrying an almost manic sense of exhilaration and admiration.

"Hahahaha... Ah Hong, Ah Hong!" He laughed so hard he almost bent over, his phoenix eyes gleaming. "Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! I told you so—"

As the laughter subsided, he straightened up, his gaze fixed intently on Gu Jinghong, and said each word with resounding force: "You, Gu Jinghong, are the most interesting and indescribably wonderful person in my Qianyuan Pavilion!"

Xie Yan's smile widened, tinged with a cat-and-mouse playfulness: "Ah Hong, there's an even more fun game that you'll definitely be interested in..."