Catching Monsters

Chapter 351 Miao Yuanxing of the Ministry of Rites

Upon receiving the news, Jiang Qiaoqiao immediately brought Xiao Hei back to the Zhenguo Duke's mansion.

After Xiao Hei was placed on the unconscious Jiang Yun, Xiao Hei began to emit a faint glow, and the wounds on Jiang Yun's chest and back began to heal rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Seeing this, Linglong finally breathed a sigh of relief. On the way back, she had been on tenterhooks, fearing that Jiang Yun would not be able to return to the capital alive.

"Your Highness, what exactly happened to you at Wuling Prefecture?" Xu Suwen asked, her eyes filled with confusion.

Jiang Qiaoqiao, who was standing to the side, was also a little worried because she had never seen her brother injured like this before.

Linglong took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Miss Xu, I'll go to the palace first. If it's really as you say, after Jiang Yun wakes up, let him stay in the Duke's mansion to rest. Don't let him leave for a while."

After saying that, Linglong quickly left.

After leaving the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Linglong's expression darkened. She rushed to the palace and had a eunuch announce that she wanted to see Xiao Yuzheng.

Upon arriving outside the Imperial Study, Feng Yu, having received the news, opened the door and came out to greet him.

"Your Highness, you're back? You must have had a long journey." Feng Yu said with a smile.

"Where is my father?" Linglong frowned and walked straight into the imperial study.

Seeing this, Feng Yu's lips twitched slightly. She wanted to stop him, but she swallowed her words and quickly followed him inside.

With a bang, Linglong forcefully pushed open the door to the Imperial Study. Xiao Yuzheng was sitting on the dragon throne, looking rather flustered, with many memorials on the table in front of him.

"Linglong, you're back?" Xiao Yuzheng heard the door being pushed open forcefully. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, but when he saw who it was, the furrow disappeared and a smile appeared on his face.

Throughout the entire palace, including Xiao Yuzheng's princes, perhaps only Linglong could have done such a thing.

After all, Linglong had suffered a lot in her early years, and Xiao Yuzheng felt somewhat guilty towards her.

Linglong pulled up a chair and sat down opposite Xiao Yuzheng, frowning. "Father, what happened with Jiang Yun?"

"I heard you intend to severely punish Jiang Yun?"

Upon seeing this, Feng Yu, who had followed in, whispered, "Your Highness, it's not that His Majesty wants to severely punish Jiang Yun, but after what happened at Wuling Prefecture, the news quickly reached the capital."

"With so many Imperial Guards taking action, and even clashing with the imperial army, the news couldn't be kept secret."

"Furthermore, Xiao Jingqi also sent a letter questioning His Majesty."

"They say Jiang Yun wants to kill a prince, and they want His Majesty to give an explanation."

"Many civil officials were outraged when they learned that someone had plotted to murder the prince, and they demanded an explanation from His Majesty."

"Your Majesty is also in a difficult position."

"Alright, Eunuch Feng, stop trying to smooth things over." Linglong waved her hand and stared at Xiao Yuzheng, asking, "Father, Jiang Yun was ordered by you to kill Xiao Jingqi. Now that something has happened, are you going to make him take the blame?"

Xiao Yuzheng took a deep breath, slowly pointed to the documents on the table, opened one and handed it to Linglong: "Take a look, this is a letter from Wang Longzhi to me."

"The rebels in the three southwestern provinces have all been released, and the government offices in these three provinces, from top to bottom, have long been wiped out by the rioting troops."

"Now Wang Longzhi claims that he wants me to give him the power to take over the military and political power of the three provinces."

Upon hearing this, Linglong frowned: "How is that possible? He already harbored rebellious intentions. How could he possibly have good intentions if given military and political power over three provinces?"

"What can we do if we don't give it to them?" Xiao Yuzheng's face darkened. "He has already sent troops to occupy the three provinces."

"He ignored all the letters I sent ordering him to return to the capital to serve as Minister of War."

"I know very well that Wang Longzhi, including that rebellious son Xiao Jingqi, harbor treacherous intentions, but at least on the surface, they have not yet rebelled. I..."

Linglong snorted coldly and retorted, "So, you want to use Jiang Yun to give them an explanation, to delay their rebellion? Is that it?"

“Father, what you are doing is nothing but self-deception. You are just trying to use this excuse to delay for a little longer.”

What's the point of dragging this out?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng couldn't help but cover his mouth and cough violently. Seeing this, Feng Yu quickly came to his side and gently patted his back.

Feng Yu quickly reminded Linglong, "His Majesty doesn't really intend to punish Jiang Yun; otherwise, he would have already issued the order."

"But Your Majesty can't possibly admit that you ordered Jiang Yun to kill the Sixth Prince, can you?"

"Now it's those civil officials who won't let go of this matter."

"Which official is spouting nonsense? I, the princess, will go find him myself!" Linglong's face darkened.

"I know what I'm doing. You should go back and rest. Don't get involved in this matter." Xiao Yuzheng waved his hand, his face somewhat pale.

Seeing this, Linglong frowned deeply, but didn't know what else to say, so she quickly turned and left.

After Linglong left, Xiao Yuzheng slowly picked up the handkerchief he had used to cover his mouth while coughing, and found it stained with blood.

Feng Yu, standing beside him, slightly changed his expression and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, your recent health condition..."

"Bring me the elixir of immortality from the alchemist Chu."

Feng Yu hurriedly took out a delicate little box from the wardrobe behind her. Inside, she found a finely crafted, bright red pill.

This elixir is incredibly miraculous; Xiao Yuzheng had personally witnessed the alchemist Chu's alchemy process before.

This bright red elixir, when placed in a furnace for refining, will transform into crystal-clear molten silver. After further refining, it will solidify into this pure red pill, free of impurities. According to the alchemist Chu, the key elements in refining this elixir are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Firewood is used to start a fire, which then heats the golden cauldron, turning the red sand into water. Finally, the water is placed in an earthen wooden box and left to cool before it solidifies into an elixir.

With trembling hands, he took the pill, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it forcefully with a sip of tea.

After a while, I felt more comfortable all over.

He then opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Feng Yu, tell me, how should I handle this matter concerning Jiang Yun?"

Feng Yu lowered his head and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, Jiang Yun went to Wuling Prefecture on your orders after all. If you really punish him severely for this, I'm afraid it will discourage the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"As for the civil officials, they want an explanation..." Feng Yu paused, then whispered in Xiao Yuzheng's ear, "In my opinion, the one who tied the knot must untie it."

"If these civil officials want an explanation and to severely punish Jiang Yun, then let Jiang Yun find a way to resolve this and give them an explanation."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuzheng remained silent for a while before saying, "Since Linglong has returned, Jiang Yun has probably returned as well."

"You shall go and visit him on my behalf."

"Yes."

……

At the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Jiang Yun, who had been unconscious for seven days and seven nights, finally slowly woke up.

After opening his eyes, Jiang Yun suddenly sat up, subconsciously touched his chest, and then looked around.

"Brother, are you alright?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao sat on the edge of the bed, holding Xiao Hei, and stared at Jiang Yun with concern.

"Where am I?" Jiang Yun looked around. His last memory before he lost consciousness was of his chest being pierced by Xie Yifeng's sword, and then Linglong carrying him away.

"Of course it's the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Princess Ningyi rescued you." Xu Suwen happened to walk in with a basin of hot water at that moment.

She used a damp towel to wipe Jiang Yun's forehead: "You are badly injured. If it weren't for Princess Ningyi, you probably wouldn't have made it back alive."

"What's the situation now?" Jiang Yun thought of the large number of Imperial Guards that had surrounded him before he lost consciousness: "What's the situation at Wuling Prefecture?"

Hearing Jiang Yun's question, Xu Suwen shook her head: "It is said that the Jinyiwei of the Eastern Garrison suffered heavy casualties over there, but we do not know the specific details yet."

"Don't worry, just get some rest."

Xu Suwen hesitated, looking at Jiang Yun's expression. If she told him that the court was preparing to severely punish him, she wondered what Jiang Yun would think.

Just then, footsteps came from outside. It was the butler, Wu Chi.

He knocked on the door.

After Jiang Qiaoqiao opened the door, Wu Chi glanced into the room and asked in a low voice, "Miss, how is the young master's injury? Lord Li Wangxin of the Embroidered Uniform Guard has arrived."

"Lord Li has arrived?"

Xu Suwen was slightly taken aback and subconsciously glanced at Jiang Yun on the bed.

"Let's meet him." Jiang Yun took a deep breath and slowly sat up from the bed.

Li Wangxin, led by servants from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, walked in from outside with a somber face.

Li Wangxin received news that a member of the Imperial Guards of the Northern Garrison had seen a female expert carrying an injured man into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

He guessed that Jiang Yun must have returned, which is why he rushed over immediately.

Upon entering the courtyard, Jiang Yun had just changed into a clean set of clothes and came out of the house.

Seeing Li Wangxin's somewhat unpleasant expression, Jiang Yun said, "Suwen, why don't you take Qiaoqiao to sit somewhere else first? I'll chat with Lord Li."

"Hmm." Xu Suwen glanced at Li Wangxin with some concern before turning and leaving.

"You brat, how badly are you hurt?" Li Wangxin walked up and circled around Jiang Yun to check on his condition.

"Rest assured, Lord Li, he has almost fully recovered. How are the casualties among the brothers I brought with me?"

Li Wangxin's face darkened, and he took a deep breath: "More than two hundred people died, more than one hundred were captured by Wang Longzhi, and only more than four hundred escaped, many of whom were injured."

At this point, a murderous glint flashed in Li Wangxin's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard has never suffered such heavy casualties in all these years. Wang Longzhi is courting death."

After saying this, Li Wangxin remembered the purpose of his visit. He was carrying a package, which contained a lot of clothes. He said, "Change your clothes and come with me to my house to take refuge for a while."

"In the imperial court, a group of civil officials, led by Miao Yuanxing, the Minister of Rites, for some unknown reason, claimed that you attacked the Sixth Prince and demanded that His Majesty imprison you for a thorough investigation."

"Huh?" Jiang Yun was completely bewildered; he had attacked the Sixth Prince.

But Jiang Yun was incredibly intelligent. After thinking for a while, she quickly figured out the cause and effect.

He asked, "Was this something Xiao Jingqi did in secret?"

Li Wangxin nodded and said in a deep voice, "Don't underestimate these civil officials. These guys all have the background of the five major academies. Moreover, no matter how you look at it, the evidence is conclusive."

"If they find out that you have returned to the capital, they will surely keep writing to His Majesty, asking him to punish you severely."

(End of this chapter)