No taboos

Chapter 540 Old Friends in the Northern Capital (8,000 words)
"We'll disembark at the North Outer City Water Gate this time," Zhao Beichen explained to Xu Yuan. "The North Outer City is quite a distance from Desheng Gate; it takes half an hour to get there by horse."

Xu Yuan nodded: "I will leave it to you, Commander."

As they approached Beidu, the number of boats on the river increased significantly.

The Champa River Supervisor had a conscious understanding of the situation regarding the "boat blockade" in both the northern and southern capitals.

Xu Yuan has truly witnessed this.

Zhao Beichen also smiled wryly: "The canal outside Beidu has been widened five times, but it is still congested."

Later, the outer city wall was demolished, and four water gates were built in the east, west, south, and north.

All goods were unloaded at the water gate and then transported by cart to the northern capital.

Only passenger ships could sail directly into the northern capital.

However, the water gates of the south and east outer city walls remained extremely congested. Merchants often had to queue for more than three days outside the capital.

Beidu was a place where merchants from all over the world gathered.

From ordinary goods to rare treasures, everything is available.

As a native of Beidu, Zhao Beichen was naturally proud, but he was also annoyed by the traffic congestion.

At other docks, the Imperial City Guard would simply have a waterway cleared out.

Upon arriving in Beidu... it wasn't that they lost this privilege, but rather that they simply couldn't get it.

Even if the canal authorities worked themselves to the bone, they couldn't accomplish it.

"Why don't we go around to the north? That's the closest place to the capital."

Zhao Beichen didn't know whether the Emperor wanted to summon Xu Yuan.

Zhou Leizi and Liu Hu were shouting and yelling on the boat.

Finally, Qi Baihu, Mao Qi, and others from the Imperial City Guard found some psychological superiority:

See? They really haven't seen the world.

Although the passage through the West Outer City Water Gate and the North Outer City Water Gate was better, it still took more than an hour. After everyone disembarked, Zhao Beichen checked the time and dared not delay any longer, so he immediately spurred his horse and rushed into the Northern Capital City.

Xu Yuan was still sitting on the "Dream Come True," and his speed even surpassed that of the imperial city guards' horses adorned with calligraphy scrolls.

What actually limits the speed of "dreams coming true" are the two handcrafted horses in front, which are just pretending to pull the cart.

An hour and a half later, they arrived at the Di'anmen Gate of the Imperial City.

As they approached the imperial city, Zhao Beichen became solemn.

There is a row of brick and wood houses here, which is a resting place for the Imperial City Guard officers before they change shifts.

Zhao Beichen settled Xu Yuan here and instructed him, "Lord Xu, please prepare yourself here."

He didn't explicitly say what he was preparing, but since he had been brought here, the emperor would most likely summon him personally.

Xu Yuan nodded with a cold and serious expression.

Looking at the sky, it seems there's less than half an hour until it gets dark.

They arrived outside Beidu City at noon, but it took them half a day to get into the city.

Zhao Beichen tidied his appearance, not even having time to change into clean clothes, and hurriedly entered the imperial city after removing his sword.

Since Qi Baihu and the others were not qualified to meet the emperor, they stayed behind to take care of Xu Yuan and his group.

He ordered people to prepare two rooms specifically for Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan had the room to himself.

Lang Xiaoba and the others squeezed into another room.

Zhou Leizi and Liu Hu became even more excited: "Do you think... His Majesty might summon us as well?"

"If we could meet His Majesty, our Liu family's ancestral graves would probably be emitting auspicious smoke."

"This imperial city is truly magnificent!"

Xu Yuan's room, however, was completely quiet.

Xu Yuan sat alone, with only a glass of water on the table beside him.

But no one came out of the imperial city to announce the imperial decree summoning them.

We waited and waited, and before we knew it, it was dark.

Several evening drumbeats echoed through the imperial city, and the Di'anmen Gate was locked.

No one was able to enter or leave the imperial city after that.

Xu Yuan and the others were all taken aback. Yu Yunhang stepped forward to ask Qi Baihu, "Lord Qi, have we just been waiting for nothing?"

Qi Baihu glanced at him sideways: "His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state. Do you think you can just see him whenever you want?"

In this northern capital, countless local officials have been summoned to the capital but have been forced to wait indefinitely.

How long have you been waiting?

Yu Yunhang was rebuffed.

Since they were not summoned today, the crowd's agitated emotions calmed down.

Then the hunger that had been masked by that excitement came over him.

We only ate breakfast today, and then we've been on the road ever since.

Mao Qi brought over two bags of dry rations: "Have something to eat, it's not good to cook again after nightfall."

Yu Yunhang brought some dry food and a pot of hot tea to Lord Xu.

"Sir, please have some too."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Put it down."

……

In the imperial study, the emperor was still reviewing memorials.

The emperor of the Ming Dynasty could skip court for decades if he wanted to be lazy.

If one is diligent in governing... one can also have endless memorials to review every day, just like the founding emperor.

From this perspective, the current emperor cannot be said to be incompetent.

Twenty-four candles, each as thick as an arm, had already been lit in the Imperial Study.

In fact, the Northern Capital already had its own lighting fixtures.

However, the emperor did not particularly like using craftsmanship in his daily life.

Therefore, candles and oil lamps were still used inside the imperial city.

Zhao Beichen then knelt in a corner.

He has been kneeling here ever since he came in.

Zhao Beichen had no complaints whatsoever.

This job... well, to put it another way, was only handled in a mediocre manner.

Putting everything else aside, the fact that he was followed by that evil spirit along the way and failed to figure out its "origins" shows his incompetence.

Regardless of the objective conditions at the time, the emperor often only looked at the results.

After kneeling for more than an hour, the emperor suddenly raised his head slightly and asked, "Has the time come?"

Zhao Beichen immediately kowtowed: "Your Majesty, we have arrived. We will know the result in at most another hour."

The emperor lowered his head again and continued reviewing the memorials.

……

Outside Di'anmen, outside that row of houses, the Imperial City Guards, led by Commander Qi, quietly retreated.

As they left, both Qi Baihu and Mao Qi wore gloating smiles.

Above Di'anmen, a person stands in the darkness, holding a crafted object in his hand, facing the row of houses below.

Everything that happens next will be captured by this artifact and then shown to His Majesty.

This is Xu Yuan's third test.

……

Xu Yuan reached out and touched the dry food on the table.

This was specially made by the Imperial City Guard, as they inevitably had to endure wind and rain while on official business.

This dry food was made by mixing wheat flour and bean flour with minced meat, seasoning it with refined salt, and baking it into dry cakes.

It was far better than the dry rations provided by the Champa authorities.

Xu Yuan didn't really have much of an appetite, but he felt he still had to eat something.

Who knows when the next meal will be?

But just as Lord Xu's hand touched the dry rations, a flat-mouthed creature suddenly reached out from the side.

It pecked at Lord Xu's hand in one swift motion.

Xu Yuan subconsciously withdrew his hand and saw Dafu staring at him with its big, round eyes and tilted head.

Xu Yuan found it amusing and relaxed a bit, saying, "What, are you hungry too?"

Xu Yuan tore off a piece and threw it to it.

Dafu, however, looked disgusted and kicked it aside with a slap of his webbed foot.

Xu Yuan pouted: "Not eating?"

Xu Yuan tore off a piece of food and was about to put it in his mouth when he saw Da Fu flap its wings and leap up suddenly. With a juggling-like gesture, it kicked the piece of dry food out of Xu Yuan's hand!

"Eh?"

Xu Yuan realized something was wrong and asked in confusion, "This thing... can't be eaten?"

Xu Yuan picked up the dry rations again and smelled them.

Dan Xiu has an extremely keen sense of smell.

But I didn't smell anything strange.

Dafu followed along the whole way, but Zhao Beichen and the others from the Imperial City Guard just didn't notice it.

In his memorial to the Emperor, Zhao Beichen made no mention whatsoever that Xu Yuan was also carrying a goose.

Xu Yuan tried again, breaking off a piece and about to put it in his mouth—this time Dafu got angry and slammed its lip into Xu Yuan's hand.

Why won't you listen to advice?

Xu Yuan then concluded that this thing was inedible.

Xu Yuan immediately rushed out of the room. It was pitch black and quiet outside.

The Imperial City Guards have all disappeared!
Xu Yuan barged into the next room without hesitation.

Yu Yunhang and the others were all there. When they saw Xu Yuan enter, they all stood up and said, "Sir."

Xu Yuan glanced at the dry food on the table and realized that it was almost all gone.

Xu Yuan's expression turned grave: "There's something wrong with the rations, spit them out now!"

Lang Xiaoba then shouted, "You son of a bitch, Mao Qi!"

He immediately tried to gag his throat with his hand. Liu Hu quickly opened his bundle, mixed some medicine and poured it down his throat, then vomited with a "goo".

Everyone else also tried to come up with their own solutions.

However, Xu Yuan's expression remained serious. They had eaten early and were unsure if they would have enough time.

With a wave of his hand, Xu Yuan sent out his tendon pills, which quickly bound everyone together.

The room was filled with filth and smelled terrible.

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, then dragged everyone back to his room.

Then he closed the door and stood guard at the entrance.

After a while, he noticed that his subordinates' eyes were looking at him strangely.

Lang Xiaoba ate the most, and martial arts practitioners also had the strongest digestive abilities.

He was the first to react, his eyes reddening. He suddenly looked at Di Youzhi beside him and shouted angrily, "An evil spirit has sneaked in..."

He struggled to break free of the ropes and vanquish the evil spirits.

Xu Yuan struck him on the neck with a palm strike, knocking him unconscious.

The others remained conscious, and asked somewhat flusteredly, "What happened?"

"Those provisions were given to us by the Imperial City Guard, why would they want to harm us?"

Xu Yuan remained silent.

But he had felt something was off before, and now, thinking back, he suddenly realized that Zhao Beichen had been testing him all along.

Xu Yuan simply knocked everyone unconscious.

"I'm afraid it won't be that simple," Xu Yuan thought to himself.

Xu Yuan suddenly remembered that when he came in and out just now, there were no door gods pasted on the doors of this row of houses!

Just then, Xu Yuan suddenly heard a soft laugh: "Hehehe!"

Then a gust of cold wind blew into the back of Xu Yuan's neck.

It felt as if someone was standing behind him and blowing a cool breath down his neck.

The candles in the room went out silently, leaving behind a wisp of smoke.

"Giggle..."

That sweet laughter echoed in the room again.

The source of the laughter kept changing.

It was as if the owner of the voice was floating around the room.

"I haven't seen such a handsome young man in a long time."

The voice was like a gentle little hand, perfectly scratching the itchiest spot in the man's heart.

Xu Yuan also reacted involuntarily.

Fortunately, the official robes of the Purification Department were loose, so it wasn't noticeable from the outside.

Suddenly, a light shone into the room.

The bright, pale green light shone upwards, illuminating a slender figure.

She wore a magnificent imperial concubine's dress, her slender waist swaying like a weeping willow.

His chest was bulging and quite large.

Although she was stunningly beautiful, her face was deathly pale, and though she wore a smile, it was incredibly sinister.

The eyes had no eyeballs; they were two empty, bloody holes!

Her mouth opened, and her lips split into more than a dozen pieces.

A seductive voice echoed in the room: "Young man, where are you from? You look unfamiliar, I..."

That itch-like feeling became even stronger.

If someone actually ate that dry food, wouldn't they be being "enhanced"?

As soon as Xu Yuan opened his mouth, fire erupted from his abdomen with a loud bang.

"squeak--"

The ghostly figure let out a strange, miserable scream and struggled desperately in the flames.

Xu Yuan remained unmoved, quietly watching the thing burn into a wisp of green smoke.

"Good kill!"

A bold voice came from outside the house.

Then the door was pushed open, and a burly Chinese man strode in.

He was wearing a suit of armor, with ropes binding his arms and legs.

All the ropes eventually ended up around his neck.

After he came in, he sat down in the chair in the center with an air of authority.

He raised his hand to Xu Yuan: "I see you are a talented person, but you are not blinded by beauty. I will give you a chance to work with me."

"Once the Japanese emperor ascends the throne, you will be his foremost general!"

As he made that promise, various images involuntarily flooded Xu Yuan's mind.

He leads troops into battle, and his word can decide the life and death of thousands!

His power was immense, second only to the emperor!
It's truly exhilarating.

If you eat that dry food, you'll probably feel the same way, making it even harder to refuse.

Xu Yuan merely snorted coldly and spat out another mouthful of fire from his stomach.

This prince was different from the concubine from before. He nimbly dodged the flames, drew his sword, and attacked: "You traitor! You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup. Watch me punish you!"

The sword pellet leaped out with a tinkling sound and began to fight with the "Prince".

……

An hour later, the person on Di'anmen quietly went down.

His lips twitched uncontrollably a few times.

He knew about tonight's plan, of course, but he never expected it to fail from the very beginning.

The item in her hand was a framed piece.

After she came down carrying the framed item, eight burly eunuchs from the Imperial Stables escorted her to the Imperial Study as quickly as possible.

"Your Majesty." She knelt below, her body trembling slightly.

The emperor put down his imperial brush and slowly raised his head: "Something went wrong?"

The emperor guessed it as soon as he saw her appearance.

She replied in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Xu Yuan did not eat that dry ration."

"Hmm?" The emperor was also surprised.

The medicine in the dry rations was specially prepared by the imperial physicians.

Moreover, after testing the medicine, even third-rate alchemists couldn't detect anything unusual.

There was also a trick called "Heartless Loss" planted on the dry rations.

It makes people eat it subconsciously.

Even when they're not hungry, they'll still casually break off a piece and put it in their mouth.

Xu Yuan was just a fourth-rate person, so how could he have noticed anything?

The aging emperor frowned slightly, his white eyebrows furrowing as he beckoned: "Bring it here."

"Yes."

The chief eunuch took the framed item from her hand and presented it to His Majesty.

"Let me see it."

"Yes."

The chief eunuch then lifted up the mounting frame.

The frame originally contained a blank sheet of Xuan paper. After the chief eunuch activated the artifact, various colors appeared on it, eventually coalescing into a traditional Chinese ink painting.

However, in this process, some images were overly soaked.

His Majesty frowned in displeasure.

The chief eunuch stole a few glances and couldn't help but let out a soft "Eh."

His Majesty asked, "What is it?"

The chief eunuch bowed his head and reported, "Your Majesty, this situation indicates that another artifact has interfered with our 'deceptive painting'."

"Deceptive Painting" is the name of the framed item in his hand.

He continued, "This trickery is third-rate; to interfere with it, you'd need something at least third-rate."

The emperor then thought of the carriage mentioned in Zhao Beichen's memorial.

Zhao Beichen was also surprised: "That carriage has this capability?"

To interfere with the Ghostly Painting Deception, one not only needs to be third-rate, but also needs to have some overlap with the Ghostly Painting Deception's abilities in order to influence each other.

That carriage doesn't seem to have that kind of ability.

The scene kept changing, faster and faster, making the people on it seem as if they were moving.

Despite the constant interference, His Majesty was still able to get a general idea of ​​the whole process.

After the entire process was broadcast, the vast imperial study fell into a deathly silence.

Only the candles burned, occasionally making a crackling sound.

Your Majesty's third test was meticulously planned.

That concubine was murdered in the harem during an unknown dynasty.

If she had taken that medicine, she should have been surrounded by beauties in the palace, with fine wine and delicacies laid out, singing and dancing, enjoying the moon and playing with Xu Yuan.

It is the ultimate temptation of unparalleled beauty in the world.

Now, only these two ordinary female ghosts with empty eyes remain, and they have been burned in a fire.

That prince should have truly granted Xu Yuan "power over the world".

The two could even join forces to stage a real-life scenario of "drunk on a beauty's lap, waking up to wield power over the world."

Now, it's all dry and lifeless; who can it tempt?

What can you possibly glean from such a small scene?!
Everything was messed up.

However, the emperor also had some doubts: If he hadn't taken that medicine... wouldn't he have ended up in such a dilapidated state?

He then picked up Xu Yuan's information from the side of his hand.

I found various crafts and destinies that Xu Yuan had previously revealed.

However, none of them could be found to suppress these two evil spirits in the palace.

This is certainly partly due to the fact that there are "no taboos".

But even the emperor couldn't find out.

A year ago, when Xu Yuan encountered that black donkey-like cultivator, his own cultivation level was not high enough, which is why the other party was able to see through his destiny of "no taboos".

But later, the level became higher and higher, and the power of "no taboos" became stronger and stronger.

The stronger the resistance to evil spirits, the better.

The root of all seven major sects lies in evil spirits!

"Having no taboos" is enough to withstand the "fate-seeking" of a life cultivator.

Therefore, Yuan Muping could no longer see Xu Yuan's destiny.

These "three tests" were arranged by His Majesty.

This third test, in particular, was held right outside the Di'anmen Gate of the Imperial City.

The result is like this; it doesn't look good for His Majesty.

No one present dared to speak freely.

The emperor was indeed very frustrated.

Xu Yuan is a candidate that everyone can accept.

The emperor agreed to this choice because it could not be delayed any longer.

But those people had already sent trusted individuals to Champa to see Xu Yuan.

They say how good and suitable Xu Yuan is, but His Majesty won't believe a word of it. Or rather, even if he did believe it, as the Son of Heaven, he would still have to test him himself.

Now that this crucial third test has turned out like this, he's filled with pent-up anger, not knowing who to vent it on.

Logically, the target should be Xu Yuan.

But Xu Yuan is still outside the imperial city.

Besides, they didn't do anything wrong.

If you poison someone and they refuse to take the poison, is that their fault?

The emperor suddenly remembered a crucial detail.

Xu Yuan had already taken the dry rations to eat, but was stopped by a large white goose.

The big white goose tried to stop it twice.

This shows that the big white goose realized there was something wrong with the dry rations—those useless imperial physicians!
Isn't it said that even a third-rate person wouldn't be able to detect it?
How could a craftsman see through it all?

And Zhao Beichen...

The emperor's gaze turned menacing as he looked down at Zhao Beichen, who was kneeling below.

The gaze was so intense it felt tangible that Zhao Beichen trembled and knelt even lower.

"Zhao Beichen!"

"Your subject is here."

Why has this goose never been mentioned in your reports?

"Dreams Come True" can influence "Deceptive Painting," but it deliberately left behind the image of Dafu.

Of course, it's because it doesn't get along with Daifuku.

Zhao Beichen was instantly drenched in sweat.

He slammed his head down heavily, the sound of it hitting the floor tiles of the imperial study with a thud.

"Your subject deserves death!"

He couldn't understand why he hadn't noticed the goose at all during the three-day journey from Champa to Beidu!

He has nothing to say in his defense.

This is my responsibility.

You can't argue with the Emperor; if the Emperor says it's your responsibility, then it's your responsibility.

The emperor, however, shouted in a low voice: "Answer me! I'm not asking what crime you committed, I'm asking why you didn't report it in your memorial?"

Zhao Beichen knelt on the ground, his forehead still pressed against the floor tiles.

"Your Majesty..." Zhao Beichen gritted his teeth and decided to tell the truth: "Your Majesty has never noticed this crafted beast. I dare not deny it, but I truly have not noticed it."

The emperor grunted in acknowledgment, his thick, white eyebrows furrowing again.

"Wang Daban, what do you think might be going on?"

The eunuch in charge of the seal was deep in thought.

He was in charge of the Eastern Depot.

Strictly speaking, the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, Embroidered Uniform Guard, and Imperial City Guard were all in competition with each other.

Zhao Beichen was one of the four commanders of the Imperial City Guard.

It is an important pillar of the Imperial City Guard.

Should we take this opportunity to strike at the Imperial City Guard?

But in an instant, he made a decision: it cannot be done.

The Emperor was angry, but not to the point of being confused.

Many people in the court secretly believed that His Majesty was old and senile.

But Wang Daban served His Majesty every day and knew that although His Majesty had shown signs of aging, he was far from being "senile".

He hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, this old servant believes that there must be something special about this craftsman's animal."

Otherwise, Zhao Qianhu might have overlooked this thing. There were also hundreds of captains from the Imperial City Guard on the fast ship. Xu Yuan brought a goose onto the ship. Such a strange behavior, how could no one find it strange?
Clearly, everyone has overlooked this craftsman-made animal.

If anyone found it strange, they would surely report it to Zhao Beichen, so Zhao Beichen wouldn't have overlooked it along the way.

As soon as the Grand Eunuch finished speaking, the Imperial Study became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Beichen quietly raised his eyes and gave Wang Daban a grateful look.

Regardless of what the old eunuch was really thinking, at least this time he genuinely spoke up for him.

The emperor sat upright, deep in thought.

Zhao Beichen suddenly felt that time was passing extremely slowly.

He knew very well that this period would determine the course of his fate.

Finally, the emperor's voice rang out again from above: "How could Jiaozhi have such shoddy craftsmen?"

No one could respond.

Yes, how could such a poor and backward place like Jiaozhi have such powerful craftsmen?

Zhao Beichen was even more confused.

He traveled by boat along the canal out of Zhengzhou, and there were very few even a batch of handcrafted horses.

"Zhao Beichen".

"Your subject is here."

“To atone for his crimes, investigate this craftsman-made beast.”

"Your subject obeys the decree." Zhao Beichen breathed a sigh of relief; this hurdle was temporarily over.

The emperor rose and ordered, "Prepare the carriage for Anxi Palace."

"Yes." Wang Daban immediately handed the "deceptive painting" to someone else and loudly proclaimed to the outside: "Prepare the carriage for Anxi Palace—"

Anxi Palace was the residence of Consort Yi.

Zhao Beichen really wanted to ask, what are Xu Yuan's plans?

Should we summon him to see the emperor tomorrow, or send him directly to Quyang Prefecture?
But he dared not say another word.

……

As soon as it was light, the eunuchs and palace maids at the bottom of the imperial city hurriedly got up and did their chores.

The vast imperial city also awakens as they bustle about.

In Anxi Palace, the emperor opened his eyes, and Consort Yi served him with utmost care.

She was extremely cautious during this time, but she never pleaded with the emperor or spoke of her grievances.

Only unintentionally, a hint of grievance would slip through her eyes.

And it always happens in a flash, and then he's immediately back to serving the emperor with a big smile on his face.

The emperor never mentioned that matter.

I had breakfast at Anxi Palace today, and then went to the Imperial Study.

There is no morning court session today.

On the way, the emperor on the imperial carriage suddenly spoke: "Wang Daban".

The chief eunuch hurriedly stepped forward: "Your Majesty."

"Send Xu Yuan directly to Quyang Prefecture and instruct him to handle the case properly and make sure to find out the truth!"

"According to the order!"

……

The emperor originally wanted to meet Xu Yuan in person.

But what happened last night made him somewhat unhappy, so he didn't want to see him.

As for the fact that the three attempts failed to achieve their goal... it can't be delayed any longer.

……

After daybreak, the row of houses outside Di'anmen became lively.

The Imperial City Guards, who had mysteriously disappeared last night, suddenly reappeared from somewhere.

Mao Qi asked Zhou Leizi with a grin, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Zhou Leizi's face was dark, he snorted coldly, and he couldn't be bothered to pay any attention to him.

They didn't know what had happened last night.

They were knocked unconscious by the adults.

When asked, the adults refused to say.

They were puzzled too.

Qi Baihu pushed open the door to the room where Lang Xiaoba and the others had stayed the night before, and a strong smell wafted out.

Qi Baihu let out a "vomit" sound and almost vomited, then quickly retreated.

The Imperial City Guard was puzzled: Did they all vomit?

That last night...

They had all sorts of guesses, but even Qi Baihu didn't dare to ask Xu Yuan directly.

Qi Baihu gave Mao Qi a wink, and Mao Qi had no choice but to bite the bullet and knock on Xu Yuan's door: "Lord Xu, would you like some breakfast?"

Xu Yuan's voice came from inside the house: "No need, the food at the Imperial City Guard is not palatable."

Mao Qi returned dejectedly and told Qi Baihu what had happened. Qi Baihu had a feeling that something was wrong and that he might have messed things up last night.

Qi Baihu whispered to his men, "Don't hang around in front of Xu Yuan."

That's not a magnanimous person.

A while later, Zhao Beichen arrived in a hurry.

Where is Lord Xu?

"Still inside."

Zhao Beichen knocked on the door: "Lord Xu?"

Xu Yuan opened the door, and Zhao Beichen came in, looked around, and then saw Dafu.

"Lord Xu, His Majesty has decreed that you must immediately go to Quyang Prefecture to investigate the case."

"According to the order."

"I can't come this time; another commander will escort you there later."

Xu Yuan bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your help along the way, Commander Zhao!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "take care of".

Zhao Beichen smiled bitterly to himself. Old Qi was right; this man was not a magnanimous person.

But this is the Emperor's fault, so I have to take the blame.

Zhao Beichen said goodbye to Xu Yuan and then left with his men.

We need to investigate Dafu's matter.

Once outside the imperial city, Zhao Beichen summoned Qi Baihu and Mao Qi and asked, "Did you notice that Xu Yuan was accompanied by a goose?"

The two were taken aback and exclaimed in surprise, "Following us is a goose?!"

"Have it?"

"How come I've never seen it before?"

"That's impossible. Everyone's on the boat. How could we not see such a big goose?"

Zhao Beichen shook his head.

Qi Baihu suddenly realized what was happening and exclaimed, "No way..."

Zhao Beichen: "There was a goose that kept following Xu Yuan, but none of us on the boat noticed it."

The Emperor has ordered us to investigate this goose.

Qi Baihu and Mao Qi both looked distressed: "Does that mean we'll have to make another trip to Jiaozhi?"

Who would want to go to that place?

There's not much profit in it.

Zhao Beichen didn't want to go, but he had no choice but to go.

"Stop complaining, we're lucky to even have this job." Zhao Beichen took a deep breath of the cold air in the morning light: "If we mess this up again, we'll all be beheaded!"

The two shuddered, their faces showing fear, and couldn't help but say, "Last night..."

"Don't ask anymore." Zhao Beichen shook his head.

The answer is self-evident.

The two men lowered their heads.

I thought I was just here to watch the excitement this morning, but I almost ended up being led to the execution ground!

Mao Qi was even more frustrated; he had just made a joke about Zhou Leizi...

If Zhou Leizi knew the truth, wouldn't he and Lang Xiaoba be ecstatic?

……

Xu Yuan didn't have to wait long before another Imperial City Guard commander named Sheng Shancai arrived with two squads of captains.

He politely invited Xu Yuan to depart.

The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review in the imperial court, the old prince among the nobles, and the family of the Imperial Concubine Yi, all wanted to send people to participate in the "co-organization".

But His Majesty rejected them all.

However, as soon as the group left Beidu City, they saw two people waiting at a tea stall by the roadside.

One was very tall and strong, while the other was all smiles. While others drank tea from teacups, he was holding a teapot and sucking water from the spout.

Upon seeing Xu Yuan, he dropped the teapot, laughed heartily, and rushed over to greet him, giving Xu Yuan a big hug regardless of whether Xu Yuan was willing or not.

"Xu Yuan, we meet again."

It was Wenren Luo.

The tall and imposing figure next to him is naturally Zang Tianlan.

Zang Tianlan said, "His Majesty ordered us to protect you."

The emperor blocked other forces, but sent the Imperial Censor to intervene.

Clearly, they trust the Chief Supervisor more.

(End of this chapter)