ATPnovel Chapter 1621: 13: Only Death Remains (Part 2)
Chapter 1621: 13: Only Death Remains (Part 2)
Chapter 1621: Chapter 13: Only Death Remains (Part 2)Then there’s the matter Zheng Shangming mentioned.
To be truthful, no one would not be tempted by the position of Beiyar Commander.
In terms of rank, it is only Grade-4. But the actual power that this position can wield approaches that of those big figures in the Political Affairs Hall and the Military Affairs Hall!
This position, officially titled “Imperial City Inspection Mansion Commander and Inspector Superintendent,” oversees the national Green Badge, patrols the Eastern Region unimpeded, and with the addition of the phrase “directly under the Son of Heaven,” its political power is difficult to fully describe.
It is a prime example of low status but significant power, the highest peak a Cultivator in Qi Country can climb!
It is no secret that Zheng Shi is about to leave office. At his age and condition, if he doesn’t advance to God Arrives, it will affect his future cultivation.
Countless people in the court and beyond have their eyes on this position. Last time, when Zhang Weiyu suddenly attacked Jiang Wang in the court, even personally leading a team to investigate in Green sheep town, it was a vivid example.
Many people have already directly regarded Jiang Wang as a competitor. With Zhongxuan Sheng’s reminder, Jiang Wang was not entirely unprepared.
He just didn’t expect Zheng Shangming to bring up the matter so suddenly and so straightforwardly.
After some thought, he decided to discuss it with Zhongxuan Sheng before proceeding. He transmitted back, “This is too sudden, I need to think about it.”
Lin Youxie’s voice sounded at this moment, analytically and systematically, “Feng Gu was a person who served in Concubine Lei’s palace, Jiang Wuqi’s birth mother. After Concubine Lei’s death, he switched to serving Jiang Wuqi. What could drive him to investigate at the risk of his life…? What else could it be?”
“Of course.” Zheng Shangming’s voice transmitted back, “But if you are interested in the position of Beiyar Commander, today’s case is a great opportunity.”
This communication was ongoing, with signals exchanged.
If Jiang Wang were not endowed with Voice Broadcast Immortal Style, his control over sound would not have sufficed to manage.
But the tremor in his heart was truly indescribable!
He recalled that on the day of Jiang Wuqi’s funeral, Feng Gu said a sentence before the screen wall—
“His Highness has gotten what he wanted, but what this old dog wants has yet to be realized.”
Everything connected…
Feng Gu risked his life to create the illusion of murder. It was to reopen the investigation into the assassination attempt on Concubine Lei in Yuan Feng’s thirty-eighth year, to find the real culprit of that year!
He claimed to be just an old dog, but after Jiang Wuqi’s death, he had no scruples and was determined to avenge his enemies with blood!
Suppressing the waves in his heart, Jiang Wang transmitted to Lin Youxie, “So, there must be clues left in the Long Life Palace that directly link to the assasination of Concubine Lei back then. Am I right?”
He then transmitted back to Zheng Shangming, “What opportunity?”
Lin Youxie quickly returned the communication, “There’s no other explanation. I hope you can help me; this clue needs to be in my hands.”
“Why?” Jiang Wang asked back.
No wonder Lin Youxie privately transmitted, being so mysterious. She actually wanted to bypass Zheng Shangming and hold the clue herself. But why did she think Jiang Wang would help her over the more acquainted Zheng Shangming?
Zheng Shangming’s voice came at this time, “Because the background of this case is extremely complex, far from being as simple as it appears now, involving many issues. The future Beiyar Commander will need to demonstrate the ability to handle complex relationships, more so to show his stance to the Son of Heaven!”
During his communication with Lin Youxie, Jiang Wang had already realized how complicated the death of Feng Gu was. Thus, it was difficult to understand why Zheng Shangming would take on this case and why Zheng Shi would agree to let Zheng Shangming handle it.
In such a tremendously complex matter involving palace intrigue, it was often hard for the handler to retreat unscathed; historical tragedies were numerous, and a smart person should avoid it.
The death of Concubine Lei, unresolved for so many years, how complex could its entanglements really be?
The myriad of entanglements behind it was like a deep sea; thinking about it sends chills down one’s spine. How many more deaths would it take to be over?
Zheng Shangming had the background to avoid stepping into this vortex, yet he stepped in!
Why?
Zheng Shangming’s words made it all clear to him.
The position of Beiyar Commander only answers to the Son of Heaven, and all it needs is the Son of Heaven’s trust.
Zheng Shangming taking the initiative to handle this case was his way of showing loyalty to the Son of Heaven. He, like his father, would only be loyal to the Son of Heaven, fearing no one, not even afraid of being crushed to dust.
Similarly, Jiang Wang also needed to have the courage to bite at anyone to be recognized by the Son of Heaven, to sit first on the Beiyar Commander’s seat.
Thus, Zheng Shangming said, this case is an opportunity.
This is indeed an opportunity…a fascinating yet dangerous opportunity.
“I roughly understand…” Jiang Wang transmitted back to Zheng Shangming, “I will think about it.”
Lin Youxie’s voice came again, “Because…before His Highness Eleventh’s death, the Long Life Palace had always been very attentive to me.”
Jiang Wang frowned, pondering, what kind of reason was that?
He transmitted back, “If it’s like you say, the Long Life Palace has left such clues. Holding them in your hands or in Zheng Shangming’s, what difference does it make? If it’s only for the truth, witnessing it together wouldn’t be more straightforward?”
By this time, Lin Youxie had already inspected Jiang Wuqi’s desk, moving towards the bookshelf with the paintings while transmitting to Jiang Wang, “An item was left in front of my door an hour before Feng Gu’s suicide.”
For some reason, hearing this description instantly reminded Jiang Wang of something Li Youjue once spoke about…
Back then, after Lin Kuang’s death, someone had directly thrown his corpse in front of the three-year-old Lin Youxie, causing her to develop a phobia. As an heir of the Green Badge Aristocracy, she could not face corpses…
“What was it?” Jiang Wang asked.
Lin Youxie’s fingers traced across the bookshelf, and her transmitted voice was calm, “A little knife used for dissecting corpses…with my father’s unique mark, it was an artifact lost back in his time.”
Jiang Wang’s hair stood on end.
The complexity of Feng Gu’s death far exceeded imagination. Not only might it involve the Concubine Lei case, but it could also be tied to the famous detective Lin Kuang of that time?
“Are you saying…”
“My father met his downfall while investigating the Concubine Lei case,” Lin Youxie said in a faint voice, “And what I’ve sought all these years is no less than that.”
The death of Lin Kuang years ago, kept secret by those in the know.
So it was linked to being dragged into the palace scandal of Concubine Lei’s assassination?
If initially, Lin Youxie’s statements only rested in speculation, now, combined with the dissecting knife from that time, the target Feng Gu aimed at with his suicide couldn’t be any clearer.
The eunuch general manager in the Long Life Palace hanging himself was already a shocking case.
Its cause is even more terrifying, reaching back seventeen years of history, pursuing to Yuan Feng’s thirty-eighth year. It involves the death of Concubine Lei, Jiang Wuqi’s cold poison affliction…as well as the death of the renowned detective Lin Kuang!
This is a case enough to shake the entire Qi Country!
To be severe, its progression could likely affect the entire political landscape of the Great Qi Empire.
Just think about it—those capable of killing Concubine Lei and suppressing so many matters, how many are there in all of Qi Country?
Who among them is not lofty!
No wonder Feng Gu said in his will—”My humble life is not worth much, once the coffin is sealed, it’s sealed.”
He knew his death might not cause any ripple.
This was merely his final effort.
There was no other way but to die.
“You don’t trust Zheng Shangming?” Jiang Wang asked with difficulty.
Lin Youxie said, “I don’t trust anyone in the Inspection Bureau.”
Indeed. Lin Kuang must have found something, and there must have been people behind the scenes in the Inspection Bureau, or how could Lin Kuang—an eminent detective both famous and skilled—have suddenly died?
Died without a clear cause.
So it was that Wu Lie, his unallied friend and northern counterpart, resigned directly…
In matters like this, how could Lin Youxie dare trust anyone in the Imperial City Inspection Mansion?
“But you actually trust me?” Jiang Wang asked.
“Because you are genuinely a trustworthy person.” Lin Youxie said.
She spoke very blandly.
But for someone who, due to her father’s death, remains cautious of the entire Qi Country Inspection Mansion and even the political circles, the trust she gave was indeed hefty!
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