Midnight Bell 8

Seeing that all the bystanders had left, Yun Shaocheng grinned and approached Xie Mowen, wanting to walk with him.

Xie Mowen glanced at Yun Shaocheng with disdain, but did not refuse.

Upon reaching the outside of Tingfeng Pavilion, a cool breeze blew, making their minds even clearer. Xie Mowen then got down to business: "Send a message to Elder Qingfeng and tell him the truth about Dong Jing."

Yun Shaocheng was taken aback: "Why aren't you going to tell them? Are you afraid of being blamed by Qingfeng and want me to be the bad guy?"

Even if it was a hidden spy from Kunlun, having kept him under his wing for seven years, Qingfeng would probably be furious.

Exposed, Xie Mowen touched his nose, but still spoke righteously: "Tell him that the body is to be given to Kunlun. If he... if he..." As he spoke, his tone gradually lowered and became hoarse, "If he wants to send Dong Jing off on his final journey, then tell him that I have allowed him to come to Anling a few days earlier."

The autumn air is bleak.

Xiao Congzhi reached out and took Xie Mowen's hand in his palm.

When the conversation reached Dongjing, the three fell silent for a moment. The night wind was already cold, and the bones of the unjustly killed were also cold. People are sentimental, and the vicissitudes of life are unpredictable.

When they arrived at Tingfeng Pavilion, the moonlight shone like water on their heads. They were all open-minded and insightful people, and their faces no longer showed excessive grief.

Yun Shaocheng bowed and took his leave, then winked at Xiao Congzhi before leaving: "Hao Jun sent me a message saying that you met him."

When asked about their brief encounter on Mount Youheng, Xiao Congzhi felt embarrassed and rubbed his ears.

"He also relayed to me the cult leader's outrageous words."

Xie Mowen was displeased upon hearing this. He put his arm around Xiao Congzhi and said to Yun Shaocheng, "What do you mean by 'nonsense'? If you want to call me that, I don't mind."

Yun Shaocheng wanted to roll his eyes, but said helplessly, "Wake up, Master. Was there anyone inside who didn't know your identity?"

Xie Mowen's eyes darted around, and he held Xiao Congzhi even tighter.

"I think we don't need to wait until Mid-Autumn Festival. Why don't we settle this today?"

Xie Mowen cleared his throat guiltily and said weakly, "I don't think Ji Zhou knows yet."

“Ji Zhou is extremely intelligent, you…” Yun Shaocheng exhaled, calming his churning anger, “You should use your brain!”

Xie Mowen felt guilty but denied it. He clung to Xiao Congzhi and temporarily ignored Yun Shaocheng.

Seeing the sect leader's state, Yun Shaocheng was furious. He flicked his sleeve and stormed off.

After Yun Shaocheng walked away, Xiao Congzhi patted Xie Mowen with amusement and asked, "What was the original plan for Jizhou?"

Xie Mowen released Xiao Congzhi, then took Xiao Congzhi's hand, and the two walked into the moonlight and shadows.

"Back in Xiacheng, you told me that I needed to master at least three sects."

Xiao Congzhi nodded.

"The original plan was for Kunlun, Emei, and the Martial Arts Alliance."

Xiao Congzhi thought that if it was these three families, then this arrangement must have been made a long time ago.

As expected, Xie Mowen continued, "It was unexpected that I would become acquainted with Ji Buyu in Xiacheng, but it was also a strategic move to get to know Yang Yanshu and Jiang Xu here. In the original plan, Shao Cheng would infiltrate the Martial Alliance to influence Xu Tan's stance. The second was Kunlun. Kunlun and Huashan have been declining in recent years because many of their disciples are useless. I asked Shao Cheng to keep an eye out for capable people and promote them."

Xiao Congzhi recalled that the Kunlun and Huashan disciples he had encountered in Xiacheng were indeed hard to describe. Although Ji Zhou was reasonable and intelligent, he was still young. He did not expect that he was a talent specially discovered by Yun Shaocheng. It can be seen that the disciples of Kunlun and Huashan are indeed dwindling.

"Therefore, if Ji Zhou knew my identity, it would indeed be a variable. However, now that the Snow Mountain, Kongtong, and Qingcheng are all safe, this variable is insignificant. Shao Cheng is really making a mountain out of a molehill."

Xiao Congzhi chuckled and nudged Xie Mowen's shoulder, asking, "What about Emei?"

“Emei is a bit special. We previously discovered that Liao Hetong of Emei intended to usurp the position of sect leader. We originally wanted to help her, but Liao Heyun is dead. This pool looks a bit deep, so I don’t plan to wade in.”

Xiao Congzhi offered his analysis: "I think the current situation is generally optimistic. Xu Tan received your kindness in Xiacheng, and the Martial Alliance has Shao Cheng, so there shouldn't be any problems. Diancang has declined since the Qian Lin incident, and even Anling hasn't sent anyone, so it's no longer reliable. Kunlun and Huashan basically follow the Martial Alliance's lead, so even if there are some changes at Jizhou, we don't need to worry about it. Xueshan, Kongtong, and Qingcheng have Ji Buyu and others, so they certainly won't raise any objections. That leaves only Emei, Shaolin, and Wudang."

"With Liao Heyun dead and most of his direct disciples gone, Emei is probably unwilling to fight against the Demonic Sect. Shaolin and Wudang are troublesome, but the general trend is inevitable."

“That’s right.” Xiao Congzhi stopped and looked at Xie Mowen, his eyes crinkling with a smile. He teased, “Now that the Midnight Bell case has been solved, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, there shouldn’t be anything that can stop the Sect Leader.”

"What?" Xie Mowen touched Xiao Congzhi's face and asked in a serious tone, "Is Young Hero Xiao so eager to warm my bed and congratulate me on my wedding?"

Xiao Congzhi leaned forward, his warm breath brushing against Xie Mowen's neck, and said seductively, "Hmm, I can't wait to be favored by the sect leader."

Xie Mowen gasped, raised his hand to stroke Xiao Congzhi's soft hair, pressed the other's head to the side of his neck, and complained softly, "You're just teasing me."

...

The next morning, when Xiao Congzhi sat up, supporting his back, he felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have provoked Xie Mowen, who wouldn't stop no matter how much he called.

Xie Mowen enjoyed watching Xiao Congzhi grinning on the bed, savoring the moment with a good mood. He then said, feigning smugness, "Will you dare to mess with me again next time?"

Xiao Congzhi, his eyes red, turned and glared at Xie Mowen, saying hatefully, "Aren't you afraid that if you bully me too much, I won't want to do it again next time?"

Xie Mowen smiled and propped himself up, supporting Xiao Congzhi's waist and massaging it for him, replying, "I don't think you're willing to do that either."

Xiao Congzhi leaned into Xie Mowen's arms. He really couldn't bear to part with him; he liked this person very much and deserved to be completely under his thumb.

Xie Mowen watched as Xiao Congzhi lay in his arms, his eyes squinting comfortably from being rubbed, like a little fox. His heart softened instantly, and he lowered his head to gently kiss the top of Xiao Congzhi's head.

"Are you going out today?" Xie Mowen asked.

"I need to go see Xing Haotian."

"Is it about Miss Xuan?"

Not entirely.

This means that you should meet them under a different identity.

Xie Mowen felt sorry for him; he had planned for the two of them to rest in bed together today…

Xie Mowen picked Xiao Congzhi up from his arms, cupped his face and asked, "I was a bit too rough last night, how about we wait a day?"

Xiao Congzhi chuckled and nuzzled Xie Mowen's nose: "Now you know how to reflect on your actions?"

"I was already excited by you, and you indulged me, how could I control myself..." Xie Mowen said pitifully, as if he had been pinned down all night.

"What do you mean by 'indulging'? Didn't I tell you to stop?"

"You snuggle in my arms, rubbing against me, wanting kisses and hugs, and then you whine a few times and want to stop. Who can tell if you're really doing it or not? If I actually stop, you'll definitely come back to me."

Xiao Congzhi covered Xie Mowen's mouth with one hand to stop him from speaking, his face flushed slightly, a result of being exposed.

Xie Mowen stopped there, pulled Xiao Congzhi's hand down and held it in his palm, asking again, "Really can't it be tomorrow?"

Xiao Congzhi shook his head, his expression turning serious: "The Martial Alliance will arrive in Anling soon. What if the yamen doesn't cooperate when they figure out how to deal with Miss Xuan?"

"Then I'll go with you." Xie Mowen grabbed Xiao Congzhi's hand, refusing to let go.

Xiao Congzhi compromised: "You can only wait for me outside the door."

Around noon, Xiao Congzhi handed over his visiting card. Xing Haotian, who was already overwhelmed with work, wanted to take a break when he heard that someone had come to visit, so he quickly called the person in.

"Young Master Xiao." Xing Haotian invited Xiao Cong to take a seat and poured him some tea.

"You're too kind, Lord Xing." Xiao Congzhi flicked the lid of his teacup and casually asked, "What are your thoughts on Miss Xuan's matter, Lord Xing?"

Xing Haotian sighed and said, "I knew you came here for this reason, young hero. I'm troubled by this matter. As young hero Yun said before, the Martial Alliance will be here soon. If they want me to hand over people, I really don't know how to do it."

Xiao Congzhi took a sip of tea, smiled faintly and remained silent, only taking out an item from his bosom, the same item he had shown to Xu Congyun at the Chen residence that day.

Xing Haotian was initially puzzled, but upon closer inspection, he was stunned.

The dragon-shaped jade pendant, with its gilded edges, was a symbol of imperial authority.

"This..." Xing Haotian suddenly stood up, but hadn't yet reacted. Anling was unlike other places; it was a remote border region, thousands of miles away from Yidu. How could they possibly meet that supreme being?!

Xiao Congzhi put away the jade pendant and said calmly, "Four years ago during the palace examination, I'm afraid you didn't look in my direction, sir?"

Xing Haotian swallowed hard and managed to say, "No, when I met Your Majesty that day... I did see Your Majesty, but so much time has passed, and I never imagined that I would see Your Majesty in Anling."

Xiao Congzhi gestured for Xing Haotian to sit down, but Xing Haotian dared not sit at the head of the table. He stood there with his head down, his knees trembling slightly, as if he was struggling with whether or not to kneel down.

Xiao Congzhi did not press the matter, but asked again, "What are your thoughts on Miss Xuan's matter, Lord Xing?"

Whether this question is asked by a young swordsman or by the emperor, the difference is enormous. Xing Haotian would certainly not answer with anything about martial arts matters. His lips moved as he pondered deeply, deeply conflicted.

"According to the law, he should be executed, but... but..."

"Lord Xing, this place is far from the emperor's reach. Even if you say something that angers me, I cannot punish you."

Xing Haotian was extremely nervous. His mind was racing, but he still had time to think. What did it matter that the emperor was far away? The emperor was right in front of him!

“Miss Xuan…” Xing Haotian finally spoke, “The people you killed, except for the last one, were all wicked people. However, firstly, the law does not record how to judge such cases, and secondly… some of the people Miss Xuan killed did not deserve to die according to the law.”

Xiao Congzhi asked, "Does Lord Xing think he deserves to die?"

"I dare to speak frankly, I believe they all deserve to die."

“It is the failure of the law that leads to popular uprisings.” Xiao Congzhi picked up his teacup and spoke quietly, “If the crimes committed by those twenty-three dead men had been thoroughly investigated and they had been beheaded according to the law, there would have been no common people willing to take up arms for justice.”

Xing Haotian knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "It is my dereliction of duty to have the people take up arms to eliminate evil. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

"Why should I punish you? The laws of this dynasty were written by the late emperor, but their implementation was too hasty and there are too many problems. Now... never mind, get up."

Xing Haotian looked up and saw that Xiao Congzhi looked unwell, so he didn't dare to get up for a moment.

Despite his back pain, Xiao Congzhi stood up and helped Xing Haotian to his feet before saying, "The last victim this time was a member of the martial arts world, and I also have a connection with him. Since the law is difficult to enforce, Miss Xuan, why don't you leave it to the martial arts world?"

"What's done in the martial world should be left to the martial world. As for the remaining twenty-three victims, let's investigate their crimes first."

“Yes…” In fact, Xing Haotian had also wanted to do this, but his official position was too low and he really didn’t dare to disregard the law. Now that he had the emperor’s backing, Xing Haotian readily agreed.

"Now that this matter is settled, I have one more thing to do."

Xing Haotian's heart skipped a beat. His Majesty had suddenly changed his self-address, so what he was talking about was probably not simple.

"Gentleman Xing was so talented and had such a promising future back then, why would he have volunteered to come to Anling?"

Xing Haotian was taken aback. He mustered his courage and glanced at the emperor's expression. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I have a question. I dare to ask for an answer first."

"Please feel free to speak."

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and winter is just around the corner. Your Majesty's birthday is also approaching. This is a crucial moment for Your Majesty to assume personal rule. Why would Your Majesty appear in Anling, which is thousands of miles away?"

Xiao Congzhi replied frankly, "It is said both inside and outside the court that I have no interest in politics and am obsessed with the martial world, so it is not too strange that I appeared in Anling."

"I have something utterly rebellious to say."

Xiao Congzhi slowly curled the corners of his mouth, and remained silent.

"Four years ago, Prime Minister Jiang recruited his subjects with the intention of cultivating them, but I observed that Your Majesty had no intention of ruling personally, so I was unwilling to stay in Yidu to fulfill Prime Minister Jiang's wishes. I thought it would be better to come to this remote place so that I could do something for the people."

Xiao Congzhi bluntly stated: "But as you can see now, the law is flawed, and difficult things are hard to solve."

Xing Haotian lowered his head, not daring to say anything more.

Xiao Congzhi sighed: "If you had such a heart, you should have stayed in Yidu four years ago, pretending to be friendly with the Prime Minister. You could have helped me now."

Xing Haotian froze, then realized the implication of his emperor's words. Cold sweat soaked his back, and he said in a trembling voice, "It was I...it was I who was short-sighted. If Your Majesty has any use for me, I will do my utmost and die for you."

Xiao Congzhi waved his hand: "What can you do to help in Anling now? I have my own arrangements. But once everything is settled, if you are willing to make a trip to Yidu, you can help Sun Rang amend the laws."

In an instant, Xing Haotian was kneeling on the ground, performing an even greater salute than before, his whole body trembling, and faint sobs could be heard.

This time, Xiao Congzhi couldn't budge him no matter how hard he tried, so he simply gave up and said calmly, "Only when the laws of the country are complete and implemented from top to bottom will the disaster of Anling not be repeated."

For the sake of the people, we must look upwards to address the root cause; if we only look downwards, we can only treat the symptoms.

"I will heed Your Majesty's instructions."

Xing Haotian understood.

When Xie Mowen waited for Xiao Congzhi at the yamen gate, he hurriedly went to greet him. Seeing Xiao Congzhi's expression, he frowned and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xiao Congzhi shook his head, looked up at the four characters "Blessing the Region" on the plaque of the government office, and said in a deep voice: "When the court is in turmoil, the world is in turmoil. Xie Mowen, I am also responsible for the disaster in Anling."

Xie Mowen supported Xiao Congzhi, and for a moment he did not know how to comfort him.

Xiao Congzhi continued, "Although I reprimanded Xing Haotian, he knew he had to bring blessings to the region, but I..." Xiao Congzhi slowly closed his eyes.

Xie Mowen quickly pulled Xiao Congzhi into his arms, patted the back of his head, and said gently, "Millions of people in the world may be short-sighted, but as an emperor, you must consider the well-being of all people and the happiness of future generations. You have already chosen the most correct path."

Xiao Congzhi understood the reasoning, but he was moved by Xing Haotian's love for the people and felt somewhat melancholy. After Xie Mowen comforted him with a few words, he was able to calm down considerably.

Since they were at the entrance of the government office, Xie Mowen didn't dare to hug him too long. Seeing that Xiao Congzhi was gradually recovering, he let go of him and instead held his hand: "Do you want to go back to the inn, or go for a walk on the street?"

"Let's take a walk on the street."