334 Just Invincible Prior to Knowing Destiny (1/2)
Chapter 334: Just Invincible Prior to Knowing Destiny
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
Under the tree on that hill, before his death, the Great Divine Priest of Light had given Sangsang an ID token and touched her head affectionately. Master Yan Se had taken something out of his sleeves and given it to her, then left some words for her.
After that, the two old men had been reduced to ashes on the edge of the cliff. Of course, Sangsang did not forget the details, so she knew what the officer in front of her wanted. However, she chose to pretend that she didn't understand him.
Sangsang was not a smart little handmaiden who was good at lying. So Zhuge Wuren immediately saw through her words. His face became darker and darker, as if he was about to explode in rage at any time.
He Mingchi gently coughed, then glanced at him. The meaning of his gaze was very clear—although the array eye was a matter of great significance, it was Master Yan Se who had passed it on to Ning Que after all. It was impossible for them to lay claim to it. If the imperial court was still worried about it, they could keep watch over the Old Brush Pen Shop and wait for Ning Que to come back to discuss the issue with him.
Zhuge Wuren knew what he meant and said indifferently, ”Taoist He, I know you're the Second Prince's study companion. But I want to remind you that he is the Second Prince after all. You... really don't want to become the Nation Master of the Tang Empire?”
He Mingchi suddenly remembered that Zhuge Wuren was close to the Empress. As many people knew in Chang'an City, Ning Que had a close relationship with the Princess, Li Yu. Was it because the Empress did not want Ning Que to become the Nation Master in the future?
He smiled shyly and shook his head. The matter the other had mentioned made him not want to meddle in it anymore. However, he thought of something and could not help saying, ”Sir Zhuge, you'd better not forget whose maidservant she is.”
Zhuge Wuren kept silent for a short moment before a touch of decisiveness appeared in his eyes. He said, ”This concerns the safety of the Tang Empire. I think the Academy will agree with me. Besides, I haven't been disrespectful to Mr. Thirteen. Will the Academy be angry with my interrogating a maidservant? There is a reason why the Academy doesn't meddle in the court administration?”
He looked at Sangsang and said coldly, ”You must hand over the things left by Master Yan Se and the God of Light.”
At this time, Wang Jinglue returned to the garden and looked at the two coldly, asking, ”Have you finished? I'll be bringing her back to the Military Ministry now.”
He Mingchi puzzledly looked at him and asked, ”What does the general want to know from this little maidservant?”
Wang Jinglue answered, ”It's about the God of Light and a murder case in Chang'an City fourteen years ago.”
He Mingchi was silent as he slowly retracted the yellow oiled-paper umbrella.
Zhuge Wuren said indifferently, ”Please tell Grand General Xu Shi that we'll be taking away this little maidservant, and not just for the interrogation. The prince has previously entered the palace to seek permission from His Majesty, in order to allow the West-Hill Divine Palace to take her back to Peach Mountain.”
Wang Jinglue slightly frowned and said mockingly, ”Do you think the West-Hill Divine Palace can ignore the Military Ministry?”
Zhuge Wuren slightly frowned and said, ”According to the law of the Tang Empire, the Military Ministry has no right to meddle in this case.”
Wang Jinglue slightly smirked. ”In accordance with the law of the Tang Empire, the Imperial Center Administration is even less qualified.”
He Mingchi stood quietly at the side. Although many Taoists in the Southern Gate of the Haotian Temple had become extremely resentful towards the little handmaiden in the Old Brush Pen Shop for Master Yan Se's death, he did not share their view.
On most days, any government institution other than the imperial palace would subconsciously withdraw if they found the military forces to be opposing them. However, today the Imperial Center Administration actually refused to retreat when faced with the Military Ministry, and they were determined to get the girl, even resorting to using the name of the Prince and West-Hill Divine Palace to suppress the other.
They did not waste time with superfluous words, actually forcing each other into a dead end instead. In the end, it seemed that, according to the law of Tang Empire, the Chang'an Local Government, where everyone now stood, was the only place qualified to interrogate Sangsang.
Wang Jinglue said, ”I heard that the prefectural magistrate had a high fever and couldn't get up at all.”
Zhuge Wuren said with a sneer, ”Since the imperial doctor couldn't help, I had to ask the Imperial Center Administration to send some Psyche Masters to treat him. Even if his fever is rather high, he should still be able to hold a short conversation.”
...
...
The Chang'an Local Government was the humblest institution in the Tang Empire, just like a bullied daughter-in-law in a big family. Today, the Military Ministry, the Imperial Center Administration, and the Southern Gate Temple were all gathered in the local government's office. Under this immense pressure, the prefectural magistrate chose to feign sickness and refused to go out, while all the officials were as silent as a winter cicada.
When Zhuge's words were sent to the back of the mansion, the prefectural magistrate, Shangguan Yangyu, knew that he could no longer feign sickness. He rubbed his sore throat gently and thought of the uselessness of that pot of ice water yesterday afternoon. He could not help sighing and shaking his head again and again.
His wife said worriedly, ”If you don't want to offend the Academy, you will have to offend so many other people. What should we do now?”
A touch of cruelty appeared in Shangguan Yangyu's ugly little eyes. He said with a sneer, ”They want to push me into a dead end and want me to explain to Mr. Thirteen afterward. They wish!”
Surprised, she asked, ”Milord, have you thought of a good idea?”
Shangguan Yangyu looked at his affectionate old wife and sighed. He said pitifully, ”Don't be scared later.”
After finishing this sentence, the prefectural magistrate struggled to climb up from his bed and pulled out a hard stick from under the bedside desk. He wheezed painfully several times, then mercilessly hit his head with the stick!
Bang! With a muffled noise, he broke his head and passed out.
He had truly lost consciousness this time.
A mournful cry from the wife of the prefectural magistrate sounded in the room.
...
...
While the prefectural magistrate took measures to remain a miserable patient in his bedroom, another person entered the Chang'an Local Government office.
The steward bowed respectfully to the others and said, ”Her Highness is in the palace and can't come here in time. So she asked me to come over. What grave mistake has Sangsang committed to bother so many officials?”
Unexpectedly, the princess, Lee Yu, had found out about this matter so quickly. Wang Jinglue slightly frowned.
He represented the imperial army, so he did not technically need to listen to the princess. But now no one knew which prince the emperor would ultimately pass the dragon throne to. So he felt it prudent to tread carefully in these murky waters.
Zhuge Wuren did not give any explanation to the steward, expressing his attitude with silence.
The steward did not get angry. At first, before coming to the local government office, he had assumed that it must have just been a misunderstanding. However, when he saw so many bigwigs there, he realized that it was not as simple as Her Highness had thought. He also guessed that the little handmaiden must have something important hidden from them. So he gave a slight smile, then left immediately to inform the palace again at the fastest speed.