Daqian Night Emperor

Chapter 28 Fishing Law Enforcement
"I am Cang Baizi, the 13th abbot of Baiyun Temple. I was granted the name of "Da De" by your majesty and given a red robe. I have met several officials."

Cang Baizi brought several Taoist priests from Baiyun Temple to the front hall and saluted Zhao Guanxiang and others.

He was wrapped in a bright red Taoist robe. The robe was too big and loose, hanging down, and the sleeves were dragging down, almost touching the floor.

Although it looks gorgeous and grand, it is also extremely inconvenient.

In the past, Cang Baizi would only wear this Taoist robe on important days. Today, he wore this robe to meet the people from the Astronomical Observatory, on the one hand, to show his importance, and on the other hand, to remind them that Baiyun Temple is not something that can be manipulated at will.

Cang Baizi was a "Taoist great man" who was pardoned and conferred an official title by the imperial court. Although it was just a nominal position, he was actually an official of the seventh rank.

Whether he introduced himself by name or wore this outfit when meeting people, there was a lot of thought behind it.

It’s a pity that the people at the Astronomical Observatory don’t buy it!
Zhao Guanxiang sneered, "What a bullshit virtue! The Patrol of the Heavens is to kill kings and ministers above and demons and evil spirits below. Don't try to trick me, old man!"

Cang Baizi remained silent for a long time before he said, "I dare not. I just want to ask what happened to Baiyun Temple? I'm bothering you gentlemen to come here."

"I have received the general's order."

Zhao Guanxiang took out a waist badge and flashed it to the Baiyun Temple crowd: "Last night, we found traces of evil spirits in the capital. According to informants, it is suspected to be related to your Baiyun Temple. Today, we have been ordered to investigate this matter!"

Before Cang Baizi could react, the group of Taoists behind him were in a panic.

Cang Baizi asked, "Can I see the imperial edict?"

Zhao Guanxiang nodded to the servant behind him and said, "Show him."

The servant stepped forward, took out a letter from his bosom and handed it to Cang Baizi.

There was indeed nothing wrong with this official document, and it was even stamped with the seal of the Astronomical Observatory.

Last night, the Astronomical Patrol discovered a "ghost", and when the news was brought back to the prison it was taken very seriously. The matter was discovered by the Astronomical Patrol Captain "Zhao Guanxiang", so naturally Zhao Guanxiang led the investigation.

Zhao Guanxiang shamelessly asked his immediate superior for the four words "cheap in everything".

With just these four words, he could search Kyoto City however he wanted.

As long as I can hand in a satisfactory answer in the end, everything will be fine.

At most, he would be reported to the emperor by the censors for "violent law enforcement" afterwards, but Zhao Guanxiang was accustomed to this and it didn't matter to him at all.

Cang Baizi was still looking at the official documents carefully, but the Taoists behind him were filled with indignation.

"Informant? What's the informant's name? Can you defame someone with just words?"

"My Baiyun Temple has been passed down for hundreds of years and is an orthodox Taoist. How could it be related to evil spirits?"

"Don't we need evidence when the Astronomical Observatory does things?"

"Yes, show me the evidence!"

"If there is no evidence, I don't think anyone would dare to investigate!"

The Taoists became more and more excited as they spoke, and they started yelling at the people from the Astronomical Observatory with red faces and ears.

"rub!"

All that was heard was the sound of a precious sword being unsheathed.

Zhao Guanxiang drew his sword and pointed it directly at the Taoists in Baiyun Temple. The sharp blade glowed coldly.

He looked around at the people in Baiyun and spoke slowly: "We are patrolling on behalf of the emperor. If the emperor himself comes, if anyone tries to stop us, we can kill them first and then report to him!"

Zhao Guanxiang no longer had his usual playful look. His face was cold and his eyes were fierce. "You guys, are you going to stop the Tianjian Patrol from investigating the case?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the armored guards behind him stepped forward, unsheathed their swords, and revealed the gleaming white blades.

A solemn and murderous atmosphere instantly filled the entire hall.

The Taoists who were originally noisy suddenly became silent, and everyone's face turned pale.

Zhao Guanxiang's eyes fell on Cang Baizi and asked, "Evidence? Isn't this what I'm looking for? Old man, I'm going to look for evidence now, are you going to stop me?"

Cang Baizi silently returned the document, turned sideways, raised his hand and made a "please" gesture.

Zhao Guanxiang chuckled, sheathed his sword, and strode towards the interior of Baiyun Temple.

……

"Check it all, check it all carefully, don't miss any clues!"

Zhao Guanxiang stood in front of the Baiyun Temple, with his hands behind his back, watching his men go in and out to thoroughly check every temple in the temple. All the Taoist priests on the list of Baiyun Temple were gathered in the courtyard in front of the temple, and the people from the Astronomical Observatory took the list and compared them one by one.

After the comparison, the subordinate came to Zhao Guanxiang with the list and reported: "Sir, a lot of people are missing."

Zhao Guanxiang took the list and glanced at it quickly.

Cang Baizi beside him explained: "Sir, please understand. Some of my disciples travel outside all year round. It is not uncommon for them not to be here today."

Zhao Guanxiang suddenly closed the list, making a "snap" sound.

He handed the list to the servant beside him, walked in front of the Taoist priests lined up in a row with his hands behind his back, and scanned their faces one by one.

Cang Baizi didn't understand what was going on and could only follow closely.

"Strange." Zhao Guanxiang suddenly stopped and looked at Cang Baizi with an incomprehensible smile, "Why did I hear that there is a stunning female Taoist priest in Baiyun Temple recently? I heard that many young men in Kyoto who don't worship gods and Buddhas have come to Baiyun Temple frequently in recent days just to see her beauty. Why is there no one here today?"

Cang Baizi replied woodenly: "Are you talking about Junior Brother Gong, sir?"

"Where are people?"

"Your Excellency, you may not know that Junior Brother Gong is not a Taoist monk from our temple. He just came from Jingzhou and is a fellow Taoist who is staying in our temple." Cang Baizi paused for a long time before replying, "But unfortunately, Junior Brother Gong left our temple two days ago."

Zhao Guanxiang narrowed his eyes and asked, "Left? Where did he go?"

"This... I don't know. But my fellow Taoists who came to borrow the card are free to come and go, and the temple never asks too many questions."

Zhao Guanxiang sneered a few times: "That's really a coincidence."

Cang Baizi bowed his head, his expression as if he was in meditation.

Zhao Guanxiang did not ask any more questions. He turned around and waved his hand at his subordinates, shouting, "Investigate! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, investigate it thoroughly. Even if it's an ant hole, dig it open!"

"If we can't find any clues today, won't it mean that we, the Patrol of the Astronomical Observatory, are slandering others with empty words? If we can't find any clues, we will all stay in Baiyun Temple tonight!"

These words immediately made the Taoists in Baiyun Temple glare at him angrily.

If you can't find any clues, just keep searching?

What if he is innocent, how can we find clues?
Isn't this just being a rogue?

But... I dare not speak out.

"Yes, my lord!"

The people from the Astronomical Observatory responded loudly and dispersed again.

I saw someone rushing into the temple, as if to move all the statues in the temple away...

Someone finally couldn't sit still anymore.

Cang Baizi, who was originally standing there like a piece of wood, suddenly stopped and his eyes became more lively.

He took a step forward and came to Zhao Guanxiang's side: "Sir, may I have a word with you?"

Zhao Guanxiang said impatiently: "If you want to say it, say it here."

Cang Baizi whispered, "I have evidence to prove my innocence. Please take a look, sir."

As he spoke, he took out a stack of things from his sleeve and handed them to Zhao Guanxiang covertly.

Zhao Guanxiang glanced down and couldn't help but laugh.

Those were actually banknotes!

Each one has a face value of one thousand taels, and there are quite a few of them.

"It would have been better if you had done this earlier."

Zhao Guanxiang smiled and took the banknote.

Cang Baizi seemed to be relieved.

But just as he was about to withdraw his hand, a pair of hands grabbed his wrist and held it so tightly that he could not move.

When I looked up, I saw Zhao Guanxiang grinning grimly.

(End of this chapter)