Chapter 154 [VIP]
Shen Xu was instructing Sheng Jiang to take all the courtesans in the capital to the Eastern Depot.
Upon hearing this, he gripped the broken counting rod in two and gave her a cold, sidelong glance: "Changfeng?"
Gu Zhizhuo reminded him, "The one at the Meridian Gate before."
Sheng Jiang reported from the side, "You instructed me to investigate."
Shen Xu nodded: "Go on."
Sheng Jiang bowed and said, "Master Changfeng is the abbot of Shangxu Temple, a Zhengyi Master, highly respected and skilled in talismans and divination. People from the Western Frontier, even those several cities away, always make a special trip to Shangxu Temple to seek talismans and divination slips. Even though the Liang people used to plunder the border, the incense at Shangxu Temple is still quite prosperous. People from the Western Frontier regard Shangxu Temple as a 'holy land' and make 'pilgrimages' there at least twice a year."
"When Changfeng was thirty, he left the temple to cultivate in the world and traveled the world. In the twenty-first year of Taiyuan, at the age of thirty-eight, he returned to Shangxu Temple. After that, he went into seclusion for ten years and never left Shangxu Temple again. People in the Western Regions said that he went into seclusion to pray for the Western Regions. Everyone respected him."
In July, he went to the capital at the invitation of the Prince of Jin.
"After arriving in the capital, he only traveled and lectured at Taoist temples in the surrounding area, and did not engage in any improper conduct."
"After August, he moved into the Prince of Jin's residence."
All other details were also recorded.
Sheng Jiang glanced at Gu Zhizhuo without showing any emotion.
After the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, Emperor Taizu supported Taoism with the full strength of the nation, and six or seven tenths of the people in the Great Qi Dynasty believed in Taoism.
Taoist temples and Taoist priests held a transcendent status in Daqi.
Especially since he was a "master of a temple" and a "Master of the Righteous One" certified by the Daoist Records Office, even the emperor would show him some respect. Since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, there has never been a precedent of arresting a Daoist.
This Miss Gu, she can arrest people whenever she wants, accusing them of "falsely conveying imperial edicts" and "framing them"—does she even speak like a human being?!
Shen Xu's voice trailed off: "Arrest him?"
He was waiting for her to give him an explanation.
Gu Zhizhuo glanced back and saw that Prince Li and the Minister of Rites were both in the main hall, talking about something. Gu Zhizhuo simply raised his voice and said, "I will see you out."
Shen Xu is a very suspicious and fickle person; it's impossible not to make things clear. Stepping out of the hanging flower gate, Gu Zhizhuo said directly, "Water|Thunder Tun is indeed an extremely ominous hexagram, but you still remember, right?" She tossed the counting rods in her hand and said with a smile, "I asked Shen Mao who was the most unlucky, and it chose you."
"Isn't that right, cat?"
Whether it understood or not, it cooperated perfectly by meowing and rubbing against the hem of Shen Xu's robe.
Shen Xu curled his lips in a mocking smile and ignored her.
"Water represents a marsh, and thunder represents destruction. This hexagram is connected with Thunder over Water, which also means to be put in a desperate situation and then survive."
"Sister Yin still has a sliver of hope."
Shen Xu's expression softened slightly: "Continue."
"The divination indicates that Sister Yin is willingly facing death. She endured hardship and lived on even in prostitution, so why is she now determined to die?"
It was only when Gu Zhizhuo saw the hatred in Gu Yan's eyes that he suddenly remembered.
Living because of hatred.
He died because of hatred.
Shen Xu gripped the counting rods tightly, his palm bleeding profusely, but he paid no attention, letting the counting rods slowly soak into the bright red.
"Meow."
The cat seemed to sense his emotions and obediently clung to him.
"I...understand."
He is alive, and his sister is alive too.
The harder his life was, the harder his sister's life would be.
"There is only one possibility that could make my sister willingly die."
"I've been overthinking things."
Shen Xu let go, and the counting rods fell to the ground.
His eyes held a sinister glint, like a wild beast lurking in the shadows, silently baring its fangs.
Gu Zhizhuo seemed oblivious and continued, "The Prince of Jin can only separate a person's head from their body, not cause their soul to be scattered."
"Unless someone from a Taoist sect gets involved."
"Long Wind".
Regarding the matter of the elder sister of the Yin family, she consulted the oracle several times in succession, but each divination was vague and the hexagrams changed several times.
Even the compass needle kept moving, which meant that the hexagrams were not being observed. Heaven was blinding her and did not want her to see the secrets of heaven.
The Heavenly Dao only shows exceptional favoritism when it involves Ji Nanke. The death of the Yin family's elder sister was likely orchestrated by the Heavenly Dao specifically for Ji Nanke's sake.
It is the will of Heaven.
They will surely die.
Therefore, even if Shen Xu mobilized all the Imperial Guards, he still couldn't find her. Even if he gathered all the courtesans in the capital now, there would definitely be all sorts of interference, causing him to fail at the last minute and waste his opportunity.
After giving a brief explanation, she asked, "Master, if you're willing to believe me, then take a gamble on this glimmer of hope."
"To cut off the fuel supply from under the cauldron."
Gu Zhizhuo joined his five fingers together, like a sharp sword, and swung them down.
Her lips curved into a smile, exuding a confident composure.
Since her rebirth, she has been fighting against the Heavenly Dao, and has vaguely glimpsed some of its secrets.
Shen Xu's carriage stopped at the ceremonial gate.
He stepped onto the carriage, turned around, and said, "Okay."
Gu Zhizhu smiled and said, "Give me the cat first."
Shen Xu swiftly and decisively grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck and threw it out of the car window.
"Walk."
Sheng Jiang sat in the carriage. As soon as the carriage left the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Shen Xu instructed a young eunuch accompanying the carriage to go back to the Eastern Depot to retrieve people, and said, "Have Wu Shang prepare an imperial edict."
"Go to the Prince of Jin's residence."
The carriage quickly started moving and headed straight for the Prince of Jin's residence.
But the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards were faster. By the time Shen Xu arrived at the Prince of Jin's residence, hundreds of Eastern Depot agents wearing pointed hats and Imperial Guards in flying fish robes were already waiting.
"Master Supervisor."
They greeted each other in unison.
Having done so many raids, they would first block the roads when they arrived, preventing unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving.
"Master Supervisor."
Wu Shang walked to the carriage and handed a bright yellow imperial edict to Shen Xu.
"This is the draft imperial edict."
Shen Xu casually tossed the bag onto the coffee table: "Knock on the door."
At a command, Wu Shang stepped forward and knocked on the door of the Prince of Jin's residence. The gatekeeper, seeing this commotion, knew it was a clear sign that "the visitor is ill-intentioned," and dared not open the door. But simply waiting for the other party to open the door before entering would not be in the style of the Eastern Depot.
Wu Shang kowtowed three times with exceptional politeness, took a step back, and said with a stern face, "Smash it."
Thump!
Several burly factory guards charged toward the vermilion gate together.
Thump!
The gates of the Prince's Mansion were much thicker than those of ordinary noble families, but even the thickest gates could not withstand such continuous impacts. After a few blows, the gates finally gave way and began to sway precariously.
The gatekeeper was terrified inside and hurriedly said, "Quickly, go and report to the Prince!"
"The prince is not in the manor."
"Young Master!"
"The young master is ill."
"Princess, Second Master, Third Master, anyone will do... Hurry up!"
Having lived in luxury for so long, the Prince of Jin's family had never seen such a scene before.
Even when the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo led his men to attack last time, they were just a bunch of teenagers.
The steward was shouting hysterically, and the servants and maids scattered in a chaotic mess.
Thump!
With yet another impact, the gate collapsed with a crash.
A group of imperial guards rushed in in neat formation, clearing away the servants who tried to stop them. Following closely behind was a luxurious black lacquered carriage.
"Take it down."
A soft, feminine voice rang out from inside the carriage.
Shen Xu didn't even show up; the well-trained guards scattered in an orderly fashion.
The Eastern Depot was used to searching and confiscating property. With a few words of instruction from Wu Shang, they quickly brought all the bystanders under control.
"Master, the gatekeeper said that Changfeng has not gone out recently."
Wu Shang asked the gatekeeper and had just finished reporting when the guards from the Prince's mansion rushed over.
The guards of the Prince's mansion were different from the guards of ordinary noble families. They were all from the Imperial Guard and had ranks. According to the law, a prince could have three hundred guards and was allowed to carry swords and use crossbows. As soon as the guards surrounded them, all the arrows were aimed at them.
The head guard said menacingly, "This is the Prince of Jin's residence. Even the Eastern Depot is not worthy to act so presumptuously here."
"When my lord returns, he will definitely demand an explanation from the Eastern Depot."
"Anyone who trespasses without cause will be killed without exception."
As he spoke, he watched the carriage warily, wondering who might be inside.
Shen Xu leaned against a large cushion, his fingertips slowly stroking the small jade pendant hanging from his wrist.
His eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, and the corners were filled with a bloody red. His once beautiful peach blossom eyes had lost some of their shimmering, watery charm, and were replaced by a violent look stained with blood.
Even the calming talisman on the small jade tablet could barely suppress this violent energy.
He parted his lips, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Kill them without mercy."
His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for Wu Shang outside to hear clearly. Wu Shang responded by raising his right hand.
Sheng Jiang stood beside the carriage, scoffing inwardly. The Chief Eunuch had been a little more lenient in his methods these past few months, and some people had taken advantage of this, thinking that the Imperial Guards were all pushovers.
What kind of noble mansions haven't they raided? Hmm, it seems they haven't raided any princely mansions, but that doesn't matter.
Everything has to have a beginning.
Whoosh!
With a booming sound from the cannon, the guards standing on the outermost edge, holding longbows, had their throats slit at the same time. The blows were swift and ruthless, without any hesitation.
Blood splattered everywhere.
The maids and servants screamed and scattered in all directions.
Ten guards stepped over the corpses and stood behind the guards, their swords just sheathed.
The guards had never seen such a bloody scene before. Without even giving a warning, they attacked and killed without hesitation.
This is the Prince of Jin's residence!
The head guard was slightly better. He took a deep breath and ordered, "Go..."
He had just raised his hand when a long arrow, fired after him, pierced through his palm, followed immediately by another arrow that shot through his throat.
His eyes widened, and he fell straight down, the words he hadn't finished uttering lingering in his throat.
The guards had just raised their weapons when their movements froze in mid-air, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
"Disarm."
Wu Shang coldly counted: "One, two..."
Before the word "three" could be uttered, bang! The first guard put down his sword, and then, one after another, all the swords were thrown to the ground.
Wu Shang made a gesture, and a group of imperial guards quickly tied up the guards, while the others were not disturbed and continued doing what they were doing.
It's not even enough for a cup of tea.
What should be taken was taken, what should be imprisoned was imprisoned. The guards split into several groups and drove the servants in the front courtyard of the Prince's Mansion into the waterside pavilion one by one, leaving three or five people to guard them.
The sounds of running and screaming filled the air, creating chaos.
Shen Xu was feeling somewhat bored. The blood on his palms had long since dried, leaving only a few deep fingernail marks. Even the white jade pendant was stained with some blood.
He took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped himself, ignoring the mess around him.
"Master," Wu Shang whispered from outside, "I found out that Master Changfeng is in the courtyard in the southeast corner."
With the methods of the Eastern Depot, they could capture a manager, interrogate him casually, and get all the information they wanted to know.
Shen Xu casually tossed the handkerchief aside.
He lifted the carriage curtain and stepped down, his wide sleeves hanging down, the gold embroidery shimmering in the sunlight with varying shades of luster.
"lead the way.
Wu Shang grabbed one of the stewards and shoved him forward.
The manager nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I've always heard of the Eastern Depot's fearsome reputation. Who knows which family they raided, who was skinned alive, or who was about to be executed at the execution ground? These were all just jokes over tea. Who would have thought that these vicious Eastern Depot agents would one day dare to break into the Prince's mansion?
Has Your Highness done anything wrong?
No, no, that's not right.
The prince was neither interrogated nor arrested, and he was doing his job well. Yesterday, he even brought the Third Prince back for a meal.
They should never have provoked the Eastern Depot.
The steward led the way with his head bowed and eyes lowered.
"This is it, right here."
The steward said in a trembling voice, "The Master wants to refine pills, so His Highness has arranged the most secluded courtyard for him, so as to avoid... to avoid being disturbed."
"The real person doesn't usually come out."
Shen Xu walked at a leisurely pace, his clothes fluttering lightly.
Wu Shang pushed open the door before him.
Although the courtyard was small, it was exceptionally elegant and had clearly been carefully arranged.
"Kneel down now."
The steward gave a reminder to the rough-looking old women serving in the courtyard. They were so frightened that their legs trembled and they all knelt down.
Wu Shang asked, "Who else is there?"
An old woman hurriedly said, "Master, you have no maids here. Besides us, you only brought two young Taoist boys."
Shen Xu walked into the courtyard, and a young eunuch carrying a grand chair placed it behind him.
Shen Xu lifted his robe and sat down. He leaned on the armrest with one hand, stroking the small jade token, and said, "Take it out."
"yes."
Wu Shang bowed and agreed.
The door to the side room was kicked open, and Wu Shang personally led several people in and rushed in. After kicking down several doors in succession, the door to the innermost room suddenly opened.
Standing in front of the door was a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in yellow robes, holding a whisk, with a look of surprise on his face.
There were three futons in the room, and a copy of the Daoist Canon on the floor. Incense smoke wafted in the corner, as if someone was meditating and reciting a book.
Changfeng stared at them in astonishment: "Who are you?"
"Your name is Changfeng?"
"My Taoist name is Changfeng."
Wu Shang stared at him from head to toe for a while: "Take him away."
Two guards came over to arrest the man upon hearing this.
"A real person!"
The young Taoist boy spread his arms and blocked his way. Changfeng was knocked back a step, raised his whisk and pointed it at them, saying with surprise and doubt, "Who gave you the audacity to trespass on my doorstep!"
His voice betrayed an undeniable emotional fluctuation, far removed from his usual detached composure, and lacking the otherworldly air he projected in public.
Wu Shang waved the imperial edict at him and casually said, "The Emperor has decreed that the Taoist priest Changfeng of Shangxu Temple is suspected of possessing a certificate of ordination and engaging in theft and fraud. He is suspected of being a fake Taoist priest. The Eastern Depot is ordered to arrest him and investigate."
Changfeng: ? ? ?
No, what nonsense!
Are these statements reasonable? Just because he has a certificate of ordination, does that mean he's a fake Taoist priest?
Changfeng laughed angrily, flicked his sleeve, and his wide Taoist robe fluttered.
"You are falsely conveying an imperial edict."
Changfeng stared intently at the imperial edict; he was certain it was blank.
"Let me see the imperial edict."
Wu Shang handed over the imperial edict. Chang Feng reached out to take it, but Wu Shang pulled his hand back, and Chang Feng grabbed nothing, almost losing his balance.
Wu Shang has thick eyelids, and when he lowers his eyes, he looks exceptionally cold and ruthless.
He made a gesture, and the guards pushed the young Taoist boy aside, grabbed Changfeng's shoulders on both sides, and dragged him out. Changfeng frantically pawed at the ground with his feet, but they couldn't stop him in the slightest.
"By the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, I have cultivated the Dao for over forty years and received the Zhengyi Register. Even the Emperor has no right to arrest me."
"Is the Eastern Depot trying to destroy the Dao?!"
"Release this poor monk."
As Wu Shang wished, he gave Chang Feng a hard push from behind, and Chang Feng staggered and fell down, landing directly at Shen Xu's feet.
He slowly raised his head and met Shen Xu's violent gaze.
Shen Xu stepped on his face, the tip of his boot pressing against his cheek.
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