Imperial Cultivation

72: Chapter 70 Clarification

72 -70 Clarification

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The Four Directions Pavilion was heavily guarded, with the Imperial Army sealing off all entrances to the Four-direction Inn Street, preventing outsiders from entering.

A group of people stood on the opposite street, and Chu Zhiyuan observed them.

Huang Shiron hesitated, “Here?”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Getting a spy into the Four Directions Pavilion, it must be said that Da Zhen’s spies are indeed formidable.

This is where the embassies of various countries are located.

If something happens, it could easily become a major international issue with far-reaching impact.

The officials and clerks of the Four Directions Pavilion are strictly selected to ensure their backgrounds are clean and unproblematic.

Yet, there was still a problem.

He looked at Huang Shiron, “Master Huang, inform the Inspection Department.”

The issue of spies is the Inspection Department’s responsibility.

“…

It can only be so.”

Huang Shiron hesitated for a moment and nodded helplessly.

The government office that the Military Suppression Department fears is the Inspection Department, the only office in Da Jing that stands above the Military Suppression Department, casting a cloud over them.

The Military Suppression Department would love to disperse this cloud, but knowing it’s impossible, they avoid them as much as possible to avoid any contact.

However, this time, the issue involved a spy.

Actually, when they traced the old man, they should have informed the Inspection Department, but they held back to avoid dealing with them.

Reaching this point, they had no choice but to notify the Inspection Department, or else if it became known, it would disgrace the Inspection Department, prompting their retaliation.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Guo Chi, his lips moving.

Guo Chi solemnly clasped his fists, turned, and walked away briskly.

“Let’s go wait at that tea shop over there,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

The group went to a nearby small tea shop and sat at the table, watching the entrance to the Four Directions Pavilion street from the window.

The tea shop wasn’t crowded, far from the hustle and bustle of Phoenix Avenue.

Xiao Ruoyu sat next to Chu Zhiyuan, sipping tea with his head down.

Thoughts surged in his mind.

This Fourth Prince’s intuition was incredibly uncanny, being able to find the owner based on items alone, sharper than a dog’s nose.

What kind of talent is this?

It seems unheard of.

But in this vast world, nothing is too bizarre.

Such talent doesn’t seem too unusual; even more peculiar talents are known about.

Some have exceptionally keen hearing, able to hear from very far away, even understanding bird language.

Some can go three days and three nights without sleep and remain energetic, while others never sleep their whole lives.

Some are born with clear meridians, progressing rapidly upon training, advancing a thousand miles in a day, reaching Innate Perfection at a young age.

With such talent, if the Fourth Prince entered the Military Suppression Department or the Inspection Department, wouldn’t it be like a fish in water?

Why choose to join the Ministry of Rites?

It’s utterly puzzling and confounding!

As he was pondering, he saw Guo Chi leading three people into the tea shop.

The leading man had a horse-like face, his small eyes exceptionally bright.

He entered the tea shop with excessive enthusiasm, his face adorned with a sycophantic grin, deeply bowing as he clasped his fists, “Your Princely Heir.”

Chu Zhiyuan, sitting at the table, lowered the tea cup and waved.

Ma Tianhe took two steps forward, bent over, and leaned his ear close.

Chu Zhiyuan whispered a few words into his ear, causing Ma Tianhe’s expression to change dramatically, hesitantly glancing at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Ma Tianhe said solemnly, “Leave it to me, I will definitely catch them!”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “Don’t mess it up, …

hmm—?

It’s that one!”

He suddenly pointed out the window.

They saw a middle-aged man in a green robe slowly leaving the Four Directions Pavilion street, walking distantly.

Ma Tianhe was invigorated, “Is it him?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Ma Tianhe gestured to the two behind him, “Follow him discreetly and capture him!”

“Yes!” The two robust middle-aged men clasped their fists, turned, lifted the curtain, and left the tea shop, tailing the green-robed middle-aged man.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at Ma Tianhe.

Ma Tianhe smiled, “Don’t worry, Your Princely Heir, those two are experienced hands at surveillance and capturing.”

“Still, it’s better to be cautious,” Chu Zhiyuan looked at Ji Dongxiao, who was sitting silently at a nearby table, “Old Ji.”

Ji Dongxiao and his two companions each sat at a separate table, surrounding Chu Zhiyuan’s table.

He rose, clasped his fists, and drifted out of the tea shop, the door curtain barely moving, as if he had passed right through.

…

Ma Tianhe stared at the Four Directions Pavilion opposite, his expression sombre.

If this matter is true, it would be a major dereliction of duty by the Inspection Department unless they had long been monitoring that green-robed middle-aged man.

His heart was heavy.

If it truly was a dereliction, many would suffer misfortune.

However, there was still a chance to make amends.

Fortunately, having a good relationship with the Fourth Prince, the Fourth Prince informed him in advance, giving him time, also giving the Inspection Department time.

But there is a deadlock in all this.

If the Inspection Department claims they had long been monitoring him, casting a long line to catch a big fish, it would negate the Fourth Prince’s credit.

At the very least, this was a Nine Grade Merit, possibly Eighth Grade if the person was significant.

If they do not claim prior monitoring, then it’s the Inspection Department’s responsibility.

For the Inspection Department to shirk responsibility, it would effectively erase the Fourth Prince’s Nine Grade or even Eighth Grade Merit, which the Fourth Prince would not accept.

Balancing not erasing the Fourth Prince’s credit and evading the Inspection Department’s responsibility, the best approach is to say they discovered the spy simultaneously with the Fourth Prince.

But even this would diminish part of the Fourth Prince’s credit, which he might not be satisfied with.

Truly complicated beyond measure!

——

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at him, vaguely guessing his thoughts.

For officials, maximizing power and evading blame is their fundamental instinct; a guess would reveal his musings.

“Lord Ma, have you heard of the Dragon Bone?”

“Dragon Bone?” Ma Tianhe was taken aback, “What Dragon Bone?”

“Preferably the Flying Dragon Bone, or the Azure Dragon Bone; if not, a Flood Dragon Bone would suffice.”

“…

Let me think about it.”

“I’ve recently become fascinated with studying Dragon Bones, finding them profoundly intriguing.

If there is a Dragon Bone, exchanging it for a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill is no problem.”

Ma Tianhe blinked, understanding his implication.

Instantly, he comprehended Chu Zhiyuan’s meaning.

Exchanging an Eighth Grade Merit for a Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill demonstrated equivalence between the Dragon Bone and the merit.

Evidently, Chu Zhiyuan suggested compensating the credit loss with a Dragon Bone.

Ma Tianhe’s thoughts immediately became active.

Xiao Ruoyu found Chu Zhiyuan’s words abrupt, baffling.

Huang Shiron, however, understood, casting a sly glance at Chu Zhiyuan with a knowing smile.

Chu Zhiyuan began chatting casually with Huang Shiron about recent events in Yujing City, the dangers present.

Huang Shiron expressed immense pressure, having brought in a large number of Military Suppression Department experts into the city, hoping to suppress incidents in time.

The Military Suppression Department would never show weakness, having no intention to limit Martial Arts experts entering the city.

As they spoke, footsteps were heard, with one of Ma Tianhe’s subordinates entering after lifting the curtain, clasping his fists in salute, “Master, it’s done.”

“Good!” Ma Tianhe leapt up, patting his shoulder vigorously, “Well done!”

He turned to Chu Zhiyuan, smiling sycophantically, “Your Princely Heir, shall we go take a look?”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

A group, led by that middle-aged man, left about five hundred meters away, reaching an ordinary civilian’s residence.

Upon entering, they found the green-robed middle-aged man standing rigidly in the courtyard, with Ji Dongxiao and another middle-aged man standing vigilantly nearby.

Being an expert in interrogation, Ma Tianhe didn’t hesitate to call on him, utilizing him without hesitation even though he belonged to the Military Suppression Department.

Huang Shiron privately curled his lips.

Ma Tianhe was truly sycophantic.

If not for the Fourth Prince’s presence, the Inspection Department wouldn’t possibly use a Military Suppression Department interrogation expert, even directly driving them away, not allowing them to be present.

Despite the middle-aged man in green being strong, he couldn’t withstand the unique Miracle Technique of the interrogation expert, quickly breaking his spirit and abandoning resistance, confessing everything.

Hearing the root cause was Cheng Tianfeng wanting to meet Yujing’s top beauty Xiao Ruoling, everyone found it perplexing and skeptical.

Yet, Chu Zhiyuan believed it.

Ordinary people find it bewildering because they don’t understand the thoughts and concepts of the Princely Heir.

After all, differing environments and positions naturally lead to differing ideas and concepts.

People often idealize top-tier individuals, thinking that being a princely heir, a son of the emperor, would consider the big picture and suppress their impulses.

In fact, that’s not true.

Otherwise, there would be no foolish or tyrannical rulers.

Cheng Tianfeng, such a heaven-favored genius with extraordinary talent, a direct disciple of Wentian Cliff, is confident he will become a Great Grandmaster, destined to be a future emperor of Da Zhen.

Cheng Tianfeng clearly considers the world his personal hunting ground for beauties, wanting to embrace all the world’s beauties.

Such thoughts are a natural instinct every man has had, yet limited by capabilities, they must suppress it.

His actions are not so inconceivable.

Firstly, a princely heir is still a princely heir, not a prince or emperor; lust-induced follies may not affect bilateral relations.

Even if they do, the impact would be limited, unlikely to turn allies into enemies.

The higher the people, the weaker their sense of restraint; what underlings see as monumental issues, they view as mere trivial antics.

Moreover, he underestimates himself as King Qing’s princely heir, dismissing Da Jing, thinking he would endure this slight, Da Jing wouldn’t fragment the alliance over it, or perhaps, he might not even agree with this alliance.