Chapter 447 – The Remnants of the Crabapple Blossoms Are Like Blood (1/2)

Chapter 447 - The Remnants of the Crabapple Blossoms Are Like Blood

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The Department for Purging Officials was in the principal alley of the Northern Military Department.

Although it was called an alley, it was actually a very spacious and straight street, able to accommodate two carriages side by side.

At this time, there were two carriages in the alley, one in front and one behind. The carriages were already empty of people but there were quite a few people outside the alley. Moreover, as the news spread through the capital, it was certain that even more people would appear.

The people currently outside this alley were the spies and informants of the various powers of the capital. They only dared to stand at the opening of the alley and watch that mansion from a distance, lacking the courage to get any closer.

The mansion was very unremarkable and didn't give off any sort of sinister feeling. However, the alley before the stone steps of the mansion was devoid of pedestrians.

Chen Changsheng stood before the gate of that mansion. He handed his name card over to an official, his expression and actions clearly somewhat stiff.

This was the first time he had offered his name card on a formal visit.

He had never done this sort of thing before, so it was inevitable for him to be a little nervous. Of course, the fundamental reason for this anxiety was because of the mansion itself. Not only was he breathing heavily, Xuanyuan Po was too. Even the normally heaven-defying Tang Thirty-Six was abnormally silent now—in fact, when the carriage had passed through the stone arch on the main street and entered the Northern Military Department's principal alley, finally confirming Chen Changsheng's destination, Tang Thirty-Six had ceased to speak.

This mansion was the office of the Department for Purging Officials and also Zhou Tong's residence, as well as the legendary Zhou Prison.

To many people, especially the subjects of the Great Zhou Dynasty, this mansion was the most sinister location in the continent, even more terrifying than Xuelao City in the land of demons.

Because Xuelao City was too far away, while Zhou Prison was close by.

The reason for this mansion’s sinister and terrifying aura was naturally the powerful figure that resided within.

The name of Zhou Tong could silence the cries of a child in the night. This was not merely some literary allegory, but something that had really happened.

Besides this, there were still many similar stories. It was said that several decades ago, a certain son of an official of the Ministry of Rites had taken in too much wine at some brothel and wished to forcefully press himself upon a famous hostess. Just as he was about to accomplish the deed, he heard a person outside the door yell ”Zhou Tong is coming!” That official's son was so scared that he wet himself on the spot. From that point on, he never appeared publicly again.

Of course, this did not mean that Zhou Tong was willing to help the common people of the capital educate their children, nor did it mean that he was some good person that was willing to run to the rescue of damsels in distress. It only indicated just to what degree the fear of his name had reached in the hearts of the people.

It was known throughout the world that Zhou Tong was a cruel official of brutal methods, a vile man with a sinister and wicked character. It could not be counted how many innocent commoners and firm, upright officials he had slaughtered.

If it could be said that many people wanted to kill Su Li because he had killed too many people with his sword, then it could be said that all the people of the world wanted to kill Zhou Tong. Even officials in the same factions would occasionally wish that he would just go and die. There were even times when some people thought that since the heavens had allowed someone like Zhou Tong to appear, it must be some sort of punishment against mankind.

Based on how these stories normally developed, a person like Zhou Tong would only be able to hold power for a short time. He should have long since been sentenced to death by a thousand cuts by some heroic lord, or else some capable expert that shunned the secular world should have turned him into a wisp of smoke. But none of this occurred.

Because he was a grand minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty with an extremely lofty position, guarded by countless soldiers and experts. Moreover, he was himself a Star Condensation expert. Crucially, he was the Divine Empress's most loyal dog.

The world held countless people who opposed the Tianhai Divine Empress's grasp of the government. Amongst them, roughly seventy percent did so because she was a woman. The remaining thirty percent opposed her fundamentally because Zhou Tong's actions were too evil. Because no one was a fool. Even the most idiot commoner, after so many years, could tell that Zhou Tong's wickedness and brutality was in fact the embodiment of the Divine Empress's will.

The Divine Empress’s reign over the continent had actually already spanned two hundred years. Her methods of rule could be described as perfect, but there were still countless people who opposed her.

She was keenly aware that as a sovereign, it was impossible to appease everyone. Thus, she required a vicious dog, a sharp knife, to tear and chop at those who opposed her in the dark.