The Blade-Wielding Legend-Chapter 1388 - 717: Grand Opening Ceremony of the Academy (Part 2)

Upon hearing the Emperor's words, it suddenly dawned on him that he had made a taboo mistake.

"Hmph!"

Prince Yan was muddleheaded, but Emperor Xiao Qixuan was keenly aware, and coldly said: "You pig-headed fool, you've been used without realizing it. Tell me, who informed you of this news?"

In the grand hall, both Han Mo and Luo Mingzi bowed their heads in silence.

Anyone could sense something was wrong with this matter.

If Prince Yan Xiao Jinglie harbored secrets and had spies in the Imperial City, upon learning of this, the best course would be to immediately remove all evidence, pretending ignorance while staying in the Prince Mansion.

Rushing here in such a hurry is most likely due to deception.

"This…"

Prince Yan Xiao Jinglie, sweating from his forehead, knelt on the ground and said in a trembling voice: "The Prince Mansion Chief committed suicide, leaving behind a letter before death, claiming to have been bewitched by a demon and brought disaster, feeling too ashamed to face anyone, only then did I learn of this matter."

Xiao Qixuan said in a deep voice: "Return to the Prince Mansion! Without my decree, not a step should be taken by anyone in the Prince Mansion! Wait for the Court of Imperial Clan and the Captain Bureau to thoroughly investigate!"

He already had countermeasures for the Divine Artifact's premature leak.

His anger stemmed more from a palace leak, possibly involving a demon.

"As for this wretched slave…"

He glanced at Luo Gongseng, collapsed on the square outside the window, "Send him to the death cell! Examine him thoroughly for me! Skin him, dismember him if you must, but dig out Zhao Qingxu's tail for me! Not a single corrupt official, Hu merchant, or hidden pawn in the Capital linked to him should be spared!"

After dealing with Prince Yan, the Emperor's icy gaze turned to Grandmaster Huo Yin standing aside: "Huo Qing, you oversee the Capital, capturing demons, and yet Luo Gongseng operated under your nose for years without you detecting a thing?"

Huo Yin's face was grave, and he knelt on one knee: "I failed in my duties, please punish me, Your Majesty!"

"Punish? First, you must atone with deeds!"

Xiao Qixuan's anger had not yet subsided, "Have the Captain Bureau cooperate with the Xuan Sacrificial Officer's Law Enforcement Hall, investigating any clue related to the case. Whether they are nobles, officials, or powerful merchants, they should all be questioned and apprehended! Any further oversight and both offenses will be punished together! Dismissed!"

With the issuing of the Holy Decree, things naturally turned bad for the Prince Yan Mansion.

From top to bottom, everyone faced interrogations by the Captain Bureau and the Law Enforcement Hall.

Even the Earth Immortal who had just taken refuge in the Prince Mansion was surrounded by several State Preceptors, questioned thoroughly, and finally was forced to leave the Capital with a hand order from the Xuan Sacrificial Officer.

In the Great Xuan Dynasty, royal authority surpassed divine authority, and when the Emperor was enraged, even an Earth Immortal had to leave in disgrace.

However, despite the uproar, nothing substantial was uncovered.

All clues pointed to the Prince Mansion Chief.

Initially, it was he who planted Wang She in the Iron Anchor Association, and later claimed ignorance to avoid punishment, protected by Prince Yan.

Even Luo Gongseng was merely an unlucky victim, deceived by the Chief, believing it was under Prince Yan's orders.

Moreover, the subordinates involved in capturing the Prince Mansion Chief revealed that it was the Chief who arranged for Priest Zhou to be lured using secret messages, then killed and buried outside the city.

With the Chief's death, all clues were once again cut off.

Luo Mingzi judged that the sudden emergence of the incident was why Zhao Qingxu discarded the Prince Mansion Chief as a pawn, and conveniently set up a trap, causing the impulsive Prince Yan to rush to the Imperial Palace.

If Emperor Xiao Qixuan hadn't been clear-headed, Prince Yan would likely face inevitable doom.

Within the Imperial Palace, there was naturally another wave of scrutiny, with the Chief Eunuch of the Ritual Supervision, Zhao Wujiong, acting ruthlessly, uncovering several individuals, although they were either stealing from the palace or embezzling wealth, none related to Jianmu.

From the Imperial Palace to the Prince Mansion, the entire day was relentless…

...

On Li Yan's side, he had also received two guests.

One was the President of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce in the Capital, the other a middle-aged wealthy merchant with an ashen face, dressed in luxurious clothes that could not hide his fear, bringing along a few equally terrified managers, hurriedly rushed into the post station.

Seeing Li Yan's figure, he clung to it like a lifeline, rushing forward with several steps, kneeling with a thud, tears streaming: "Young Hero Li! Great Hero Li! Save us! We were deceived by that wretch Luo Gongseng! He captivated us with tales of 'Divine Artifact related,' 'Iron Ox Car official road,' speaking so splendidly, enticing our Chamber to invest vast sums…"

"Now, losing money is the least of our concerns, being implicated in a demon collusion case could lead to ruin! We beseech Great Hero Li, on behalf of our pugilistic world kinship, to speak favorably to the court for us, we'll forever be grateful for your great kindness!"

The Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce's plight was purely unfortunate.

Invited by the Prince Mansion Chief and Luo Gongseng, they dared not refuse.

"You overestimate me, gentlemen."

Looking at these merchants, Li Yan was somewhat helpless.

He wanted to refuse, but the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce had treated him well, and it didn't sit right to ignore them.

Suddenly, a question sprang into his mind, and he asked: "First, tell me why you invited Priest Zhou of the Five Dao General Temple that evening?"

Priest Zhou's death was a significant puzzle.

The Chief silenced him, Demonic Qi possessed the Five Dao General's clay statue, there must be a motive.

"It was for temple construction!"

The President of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce in the Capital didn't dare conceal it, "That day, we discussed that the Five Dao General is the deity of roads. Our Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce planned to fund the construction of Five Dao General Temples along the way, first to ensure road safety, second to facilitate some business along this route, and third to assist Prince Yan in building some accomplishments."

He spoke, his face filled with bitterness: "Originally, it was meant to be a good deed, who knew it would turn out like this…"

Building temples along the way?

A spiritual light flashed in Li Yan's mind, already guessing the reason.

The Five Dao General is a deity of roads, protecting those who are led astray by the Ghost Wall. Currently, they're merely reconstructing the official road, but if railroads are constructed in the future, with temples built along the way, its incense offerings would undoubtedly flourish.

And the Demonic Qi clearly intended to usurp these incense offerings.

Thinking of this, Li Yan's eyes rolled, and he spoke: "It's possible to help, but you all must agree to one condition from me."