King Duan, Lin Xinjue could not believe this, because as Mister Hua and other officials guessed, this Su Qing character was planned by Fang Zhengzhi.
Why, then, would he arrive here at his residence?
Could it be that…
Shouldn’t he be walking around Yan Capital to lure an attack from the crown prince? Or perhaps, while the crown prince hadn’t the time to investigate the matter, go directly to Imperial Halls to submit the “evidence”?
Why would he come to the Lin Xinjue’s residence?
Not only was Lin Xinjue puzzled, the officials were also momentarily shocked.
“What exactly is Fang Zhengzhi doing?” Lin Xinjue shot an icy glare. His face only showed confusion, and he felt very uncomfortable being unable to see through his plans.
“Let’s adapt to the situation. Your Highness, why don’t you speak to this Su Qing to find out?” Mister Hua advised after thinking for a moment.
“Hmm, Mister Hua has a point. Let him wait in my study.” Lin Xinjue nodded upon hearing Mister Hua’s suggestion.
“Yes!” With that, the guard promptly left.
The officials grew silent, unsure if they should leave or wait here for the news.
“Everyone, please rest here for a while. I’ll be with Mister Hua for a moment.” Lin Xinjue saw through their sentiments and said.
“Alright, Your Highness, as you please!”
“I’ll just wait for myself here.”
The officials understood Lin Xinjue’s meaning and stood up.
Lin Xinjue hesitated no longer. He cupped his hands in a farewell to the officials and walked toward the study. After all, like everyone in the room, he was immensely curious too.
…
At Yan Capital, Ping Yang Residence.
Chi Hou stared intently at Fang Zhengzhi in front of him, trying to see through his smile. After a few attempts, he eventually gave up.
Because…
Fang Zhengzhi’s expression hasn’t changed much. With his slight smile, he seemed like a mere observer.
But Chi Hou was very clear that Fang Zhengzhi was at the center of this matter.
“I’ll ask you one last time. Did you send someone to impersonate Su Qing?” Chi Hou asked with a stern face.
Ping Yang Residence.
To others, it was naturally a forbidden place.
But to Chi Hou, it wasn’t, because he had a daughter, an extraordinarily beautiful daughter. More importantly, his daughter was the only one who could control Ping Yang.
In that case, Ping Yang Residence wasn’t an obstacle.
Of course, a crucial reason why Chi Hou could ask Fang Zhengzhi this question so directly, was because Ping Yang wanted to know this answer too.
Her soft, pink lips pouted slightly, her clear eyes were filled with anticipation.
From her expression and attitude, for Chi Hou, Ping Yang gave the impression of a little girl brimming with curiosity.
“Has my lord come to drink tea, or to interrogate a criminal?” Fang Zhengzhi steadily raised a cup and drank a sip. Then, he lifted the teapot and poured some for Yan Xiu, and some for himself.
“Fang Zhengzhi, I don’t have time for your games. Just tell me if you had sent someone to impersonate Su Qing!” Chi Hou was getting impatient.
Su Qing’s arrival in the capital was such a big issue.
And more importantly, as the Lord of the Northern Lands Divine Constabulary, he knew of these later than Fang Zhengzhi. How could he not be shocked?
Unless…
He had planned something before he left.
In other words, if there was any activity from Su Qing, the people of Northern Lands would notify him immediately. But truth was, Su Qing had entered the capital, yet he didn’t know!
“What do you think?” Fang Zhengzhi continued smiling.
“If you did that, I suggest you stop this immediately. Although the crown prince had lost today, he is not stupid. The people around him are not stupid too!”
“And then?”
“I know what you’re trying to do, but can you shoulder the crime of deceiving the emperor? Even if you’re not afraid, what about Wen Chuan? Can he shoulder this too? With the current situation in mind, we need to win consistently. When the emperor concludes Wan Chong’s case, and then with another blow…”
“Lord, actually, I don’t really care about the Imperial Government.” Fang Zhengzhi waved off Chi Hou’s concerns.
“You don’t care about the Imperial Government? Didn’t you get the original Law Official Wan Chong in prison? And the Left Prime Minister Yu Yiping, the two Law Ministers, the Ministry of Defence official who was about to return to the capital, and the Ministry of Finance official who went crazy today, didn’t you implicate all of them? At this juncture, you’re telling me you don’t care about the Imperial Government?” Chi Hou was getting angry.
It was like one devouring his meal but saying he wasn’t hungry. Who would believe?
“Yes, I did all of these. But I really don’t care about the Imperial Government.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded, answering with certainty.
“…” Chi Hou moved his lips, but he realized it was meaningless to continue pursuing this question. “Alright, I shall ask you another question. You said you have the evidence of Su Qing killing the Southern Region Noblelite, what is this evidence? Can you tell me?”
“No.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
“Then what exactly can you tell me?” Chi Hou could not stand this any longer.
“Hadn’t I already told you what I could tell you?” Fang Zhengzhi casually raised his cup and took another sip.
“What have you told me?” Chi Hou froze briefly.
“Su Qing has entered the capital!” Fang Zhengzhi sighed as he repeated.
“Just this?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the difference between telling me this and not telling me anything?” Chi Hou asked, slightly embarrassed.
“Alright, let me reveal something. If I guessed correctly, Su Qing has already approached King Duan. If Lord wants to know if I had sent Su Qing, why not go to King Duan’s residence for a look?” Fang Zhengzhi spread his hands in annoyance.
“Su Qing is at King Duan’s residence?! How… How is this possible?” Chi Hou expression had completely changed. He was utterly astonished.
“If Lord doesn’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.” Fang Zhengzhi shook his head again.
“Alright, I’ll trust you once more. I’m going to King Duan’s residence now!” Chi Hou looked at Fang Zhengzhi seriously, but he quickly stood up. As he moved his body, he transformed into a ray of green light and flew out of Ping Yang Residence.
Ping Yang’s mind flashed back to reality.
“Now that Chi Hou has left, can you tell me why you sent someone to impersonate Su Qing?” Ping Yang asked as she blinked at Fang Zhengzhi.
“Did I say I send someone to impersonate Su Qing?” Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang in surprise.
“Do you even need to say it? Even Chi Hou didn’t know Su Qing arrived in the capital, yet you knew. And why would Su Qing enter the capital now? He is not stupid!” Ping Yang said matter-of-factly.
“Yes, he isn’t stupid. In fact, he’s very clever!” Fang Zhengzhi nodded in agreement.
“So, how would Su Qing enter the capital? Yan Xiu, am I right?” Ping Yang said, her expression revealing an air of confidence. She then looked at Yan Xiu who remained taciturn.
Yan Xiu heard Ping Yang’s question. He thought for a moment and resumed his indifferent expression.
“Since Fang Zhengzhi said that Su Qing has entered the capital, then he has indeed entered the capital!” Yan Xiu said, raising his cup and drank a sip.
“Do you really believe this?” Ping Yang could not imagine this.
“Yes!”
“Why?”
“Because Fang Zhengzhi never lies.”
“This shameless person doesn’t lie? Yan Xiu, I’m really…” Ping Yang said in exasperation. Yan Xiu’s joke was too awful for her.
But, in a moment, her expressions froze as if she came to a realization.
Fang Zhengzhi never lies…
Suddenly, Ping Yang stared intensely at Fang Zhengzhi.
“You shameless person, is it true that you never lie in Yan Xiu’s presence?”
“Yes.” Fang Zhengzhi nodded frankly.
“So… Su Qing really entered the capital? How is this possible? Why… would he enter the capital? And why has he arrived so quickly?” Ping Yang was bewildered.
“I have said earlier. Su Qing is very clever!” Fang Zhengzhi simply replied.
…
At the entrance of King Duan’s Residence.
Ten figures dressed in black cloaks stood silently at the entrance of the residence. Taciturn, unmoving, like ten black statues.
“Your Excellency, His Highness invites you in.” A guard emerged from King Duan’s residence and greeted the forwardmost person.
“Yes, thank you!” The figure nodded. Then he slowly glanced at the nine other figures cloaked in black behind him.
The nine figures saw that and immediately retreated, then vanished into the night, as though they had never appeared at the entrance of King Duan’s residence.
The guard was shocked as they saw this.
Nevertheless, they allowed this figure through the gates of the residence.
With the guard’s lead, the black figure passed through the patio and shortly arrived outside the study.
“I’ll go in by myself.” The black figure said, looking at the study.
“Al… alright.” The guard who was about to report at the door heard this and hesitated, but eventually nodded in concession.
The black figure thanked the guard and slowly walked toward the door of the study, and in no time, he reached the door. This looked surprisingly normal, as though it was nothing special at all.
“Crack!”
A sound rang softly.
The figure walked into in King Duan’s study.
His face was covered by his black cloak, but his imperial shoes were very exquisite, revealing his supremely high status.
“Su Qing pays his greetings to Your Highness and Mister Hua.” The figure immediately greeted Lin Xinjue and Mister Hua upon stepping into the study.
“Oh? As the Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies, you are too courteous to a mere foreign guest like me, I find it a little hard to accept!” Mister Hua looked at this figure covered completely by the black cloak, his eyes gleamed as he sized up Su Qing.
“When Mister Hua began serving here as a special guest, I was still a mere Rank 4 official. No matter my status, Mister Hua will always be an elder in my heart!”
“Hehe, I don’t deserve such a praise. Furthermore, we aren’t that close, right?” Mister Hua revealed a wry smile.
“It seems… Mister Hua thinks I am an impersonation?” Su Qing nodded as his eyes gleamed under the black cloak.
“I don’t seem to understand what you are trying to say.” Mister Hua replied. He fretted while looking coldly at Su Qing.
Lin Xinjue in his higher seat was also staring at Su Qing. But since Su Qing walked into the room, he had never said a word.
Su Qing didn’t reply, instead, he slowly raised his hands and removed the cloak covering his head.
In an instant, a fair and youthful face was unveiled among the black cloak. Indeed, it was the Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies, Su Qing.
With Su Qing having revealed his face, Lin Xinjue and Mister Hua stared intently at him with troubled expressions.
“Your Highness, although I seemed to have followed the crown prince around in the past year, my purpose has always been to work for Your Highness. But because the crown prince is easily suspicious, to protect my identity, I could not visit you or send you letters. Does Your Highness really feel that I am an indecisive villain?” Su Qing’s words conveyed a tinge of sadness.
“Your Excellency, I do not understand your words!” Lin Xinjue’s expression changed slightly, though he still shook his head.
“Your Highness! Do you remember this jade ring? You gave it to me the first time we met. Three years ago, Your Highness arranged for me to serve in the Imperial Halls. If it weren’t for Your Highness, how would I have today’s achievements?” As Su Qing replied, he withdrew an exquisite jade ring and held it on his outstretched arms.
“You… are really Su Qing?!” Lin Xinjue stared keenly at the jade ring. Then his expression finally changed.
Of course, he recognized the gift that he gave to Su Qing. And more importantly, what Su Qing had described had happened three years ago.
At that time…
Fang Zhengzhi had yet to even participate in the Law of Dao examinations!