Chapter 569 - 277: The Mystery of the Secret Realm, Prince Xiang’s Rebellion

Chapter 569: Chapter 277: The Mystery of the Secret Realm, Prince Xiang’s Rebellion

She should have been transferred to a post in an Outer Mansion. But now, because of Chen Sheng, she had remained here, a stark contrast to the situation when Nie Xuanfeng was in office.

Sun Yuzhi, whose temperament was already fierce, looked after the Initial Saint Sect, but she also kept all other factions under strict surveillance.

Of course, this was also Chen Sheng’s intention.

If all of Ning’an was in perfect harmony, where would his authority lie?

This was what he wanted.

The two of them would play good cop, bad cop, keeping a firm grip on the various factions.

"What is it?"

Chen Sheng was the first to break the silence.

Sun Yuzhi didn’t speak. She just glanced at Nie Xiangjun, who immediately understood. Stretching, she picked up her wine jug and left.

"You two talk first. I’ll go find a place to rest."

"There’s trouble."

The moment Nie Xiangjun was gone, Sun Yuzhi’s expression turned grim.

"My subordinates were attacked during a routine patrol in Chen County. As soon as I heard, I went there myself, captured all the bandits, and seized a large amount of contraband... and military-grade weapons."

"Taiping Dao?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng’s gaze narrowed.

When it came to using large quantities of contraband and military equipment, the first thing Chen Sheng thought of was the Taiping Dao rebels.

That was their reputation.

After all, within Yunzhou, only the Taiping Dao harbored thoughts of rebellion.

"Most likely. Besides that, I also found that the destination of this contraband is related to Prince Xiang’s Mansion."

Sun Yuzhi nodded.

This was why she had rushed to find Chen Sheng, and the real reason she was unwilling to speak of it in front of Nie Xiangjun.

Prince Xiang’s Mansion was a very thorny issue.

The other party wasn’t just a part of the Royal Family.

They also held military authority over a whole prefecture. Especially after the great chaos that later engulfed Yunzhou, the power of Prince Xiang’s Mansion had grown steadily.

The Yunzhou Government Office had once instructed them to pay close attention to Prince Xiang’s Mansion, but not to get close to it, and certainly not to offend it.

Now, a question arose.

Prince Xiang’s Mansion already held military authority over a prefecture and was immensely powerful. So what did it mean that instead of requesting armaments from the court through official channels, they were secretly transporting them in private?

It was best not to think too deeply about it.

"Chen County... Prince Xiang’s Mansion..."

Chen Sheng’s fingertips tapped on the table, his gaze turning grim.

"Chen County is within the Ning’an Wang Clan’s sphere of influence."

"Right."

"And the patron of the Ning’an Wang Clan is Prince Xiang’s Mansion."

"Correct."

Hearing Sun Yuzhi’s confirmation, Chen Sheng narrowed his eyes.

"It seems Prince Xiang’s Mansion is not behaving itself."

Although they hadn’t caught concrete evidence of Prince Xiang’s Mansion colluding with the Taiping Dao this time, some things didn’t need proof. Suspicion alone was enough to infer certain things, especially when it came to a Vassal Prince.

"Should we report this matter to our superiors?"

Sun Yuzhi hesitated slightly.

A matter involving Prince Xiang’s Mansion was not something that could be handled lightly.

After all, they were part of the Royal Family.

But if they knew and failed to report it, that would also be a serious crime.

"This matter..."

As Chen Sheng was contemplating, suddenly...

The Celestial Book of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil flashed, and lines of text suddenly appeared.

[My name is Chen Sheng. As you read this, I am filled with regret. After learning that Prince Xiang’s Mansion was hoarding military equipment and was suspected of colluding with the Taiping Dao, I contemplated it and ultimately decided to pass this hot potato on to my superiors. However, what I didn’t expect was that after I reported it, the higher-ups in Yunzhou made no move at all, acting as if they were completely unaware. In the process, however, I earned the enmity of Prince Xiang’s Mansion. Although I had the Nie Family’s help, and Prince Xiang’s Mansion couldn’t do anything to me, I still needlessly offended both Prince Xiang’s Mansion and... the Taiping Dao. And for that, I paid a price. If I had known, I would never have reported this. Instead, I would have used it to blackmail Prince Xiang’s Mansion, because I later found out that within the mansion, there is an extremely rare Three-Color Treasure Lotus. If I could have obtained it, it would have been of immense help to my Cultivation. The greatest function of the Three-Color Treasure Lotus is to nourish the Divine Soul, which would have been enough to greatly increase my Cultivation. Unfortunately... there’s no medicine for regret in this world.]

Looking at the content that had appeared on the Celestial Book, Chen Sheng was lost in thought.

’The report went up, but there was no reaction?’

’Either the Yunzhou higher-ups are involved, or they already know about it. My report just ended up hurting me.’ Although the Celestial Book didn’t detail what price he had paid, Chen Sheng speculated it must have been significant.

Because based on the hints from the Celestial Book, Prince Xiang’s Mansion was indeed colluding with the Taiping Dao.

And he had just recently refused an offer to join the Taiping Dao, even receiving a show of goodwill from them. To turn around and ruin their plans right after—if he were in the Taiping Dao’s leadership, he would be furious too.

"What’s wrong?"

Sun Yuzhi asked with a frown, seeing Chen Sheng dazed.

"How many people in the Jingwu Bureau know about this?"

Chen Sheng looked at Sun Yuzhi with a serious expression.

"Including me, about seven people."

Sun Yuzhi wasn’t the only one involved in the capture and interrogation.

"Put the other six under strict supervision and use the Dust-Forgetting Pill to wipe their memories."

Chen Sheng tapped the table.

"Are you...? You want to cover this up?"

Sun Yuzhi was confused.

Prince Xiang’s Mansion had no connection to Chen Sheng. Why would he help them suppress this matter?

"It’s not about covering for them. I just don’t want to get too deeply involved. Let’s first observe how the situation develops."

Chen Sheng didn’t explain further.

After a moment of silence, Sun Yuzhi didn’t press the issue.

"I understand."

After saying that, Sun Yuzhi turned and left to handle the matter.

And sure enough, not long after Sun Yuzhi left, Patriarch Wangqingshan of the Wang Family, having heard the news, immediately came to see Chen Sheng. His very first sentence was practically an admission of guilt.

"Lord Chen, this old man has heard that the Jingwu Bureau seized some items in Chen County?"

"What, is Clan Leader Wang here to call me to account?"

Chen Sheng asked casually, taking a sip of his Spirit Tea.

"No, no, no, this old man wouldn’t dare. No, that’s not what I mean."

Wangqingshan explained hastily, looking flustered.

"Then what do you mean? If this matter concerns the Wang Family, then you should go to the Jingwu Bureau. I am not the Governor of the Ning’an Jingwu Bureau anymore."

"My lord, please listen to my explanation. This matter has nothing to do with the Wang Family. I won’t hide it from you—it is actually related to Prince Xiang’s Mansion. It was done at their instruction.

The Wang Family only turned a blind eye to this matter. But as for what exactly Prince Xiang’s Mansion was using Chen County for, the Wang Family is completely in the dark. This old man has some vague guesses, but I have never gotten involved."

Ever since the Celestial Dragon Temple and Dragon Tiger Mountain had pressured the Ning’an Wang Clan, and Prince Xiang’s Mansion had done nothing, Wangqingshan’s heart had grown cold towards them. Right now, he only wanted to curry favor with Chen Sheng.

Naturally, he didn’t want to anger Chen Sheng over this incident.

That was precisely why, upon learning of it, he had sought out Chen Sheng at the first opportunity to confess everything.

Of course, he also wanted to persuade Chen Sheng a little and gauge his intentions.

Although Chen Sheng said he was no longer the Ning’an Governor, he was the Yunzhou Patrol Envoy, a fourth-rank official, and he was also Sun Yuzhi’s lover. In reality, everyone knew.

In today’s Ning’an, it wasn’t just the Jingwu Bureau, but also the Prefecture Government Office, the military, and even the Jianghu—in truth, Chen Sheng was the one calling the shots. With a single word, he could make things happen or make them fall apart.

"So what did you come here to say?"

"This old man mainly wanted to gauge your intentions, my lord. If you wish to pursue this case, the Wang Family will absolutely cooperate with all our strength and help you gather evidence of Prince Xiang’s Mansion’s crimes. If you do not wish to pursue it...

...this old man can also act as a messenger and relay this matter to Prince Xiang’s Mansion."

Wangqingshan said with a low chuckle.

Chen Sheng’s slightly imposing gaze scrutinized him. After a long silence, he suddenly asked:

"The patron of your Ning’an Wang Clan is Prince Xiang’s Mansion. What’s this, are you looking to switch your allegiance to me?"

"My lord, you’re half right. To be precise, the Wang Family’s patron is the Princess Consort Xiang. The Princess Consort’s maternal family is the Yu Clan of Yunzhou, who had some connection with my Wang Family’s ancestors.

After the Princess Consort married into the Prince’s Mansion, our Wang Family was thus classified as one of the Princess Consort’s vassals..."

Wangqingshan briefly explained the reasons.

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, then stood up and patted his shoulder.

"This matter can be made big or small. But I haven’t decided how to handle it yet. Understand?"

Wangqingshan instantly understood.

"This old man understands your meaning."

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