Tao Zhi took it, looking dazed.
"I chose this pair of bracelets myself. Even if I don’t go back, she’ll like them when she sees them. As for her family... I’m counting on you," Wei Yong said, looking at Tao Zhi.
"My lord, those boorish men... I’m afraid I can’t handle them."
"I know I’m asking a lot of you." Wei Yong patted Tao Zhi’s shoulder.
Tao Zhi knew he couldn’t refuse, so he immediately adopted a serious expression. "I will not fail to live up to your expectations, my lord. I will ensure everyone has a good time."
"Good. I know you can do it. If my wife loses her temper, just bear with it and let her be," Wei Yong said.
Tao Zhi nodded, his heart filled with resignation.
"Go on. I’ll wait for more news," Wei Yong said.
"Yes, my lord." Tao Zhi bowed and departed.
Wei Yong watched Tao Zhi’s retreating back with a look of sympathy. ’A tigress and a few old army ruffians... Tao Zhi is in for a rough time.’
On the second floor of the warehouse, Li Qingxian spotted Tao Zhi’s figure. He used Covering Eyes, then Seeing the Dragon and Gazing at Qi.
The Fate Grid became clear, and his Qi Fortune was revealed.
Just as before, an Official Seal floated above Tao Zhi’s head.
Only yesterday, that Official Seal had been floating high, but now, it had dropped.
Above the Official Seal, the old Destiny Image vanished, replaced by a brand new one.
Tonight, in a lavish room, Madam Wei is weeping uncontrollably. Tao Zhi sits beside her, whispering words of comfort. Slowly, they draw closer, her eyes hazy with drink. Finally, the bed begins to shake violently, and the music of a zither soars with passion.
’It’s taking effect the same day? That can’t be right. This is my Life Acceleration Skill, not a Childbirth Technique. Wait... where’s Wei Yong?’
Li Qingxian looked toward Jinchan Residence.
’Looks like Wei Yong isn’t going home today, which gives Tao Zhi his chance. By my calculations, there’s still a little over an hour before those two get together. Time is too tight. It’s basically impossible to get Wei Yong there to catch them in the act now; I might not even be able to find him. Still, I should investigate first. There might be a chance.’
Li Qingxian said, "Brother Han, let’s head back for now. Have someone look into Wei Yong’s whereabouts."
"Right."
They hadn’t gone more than a few steps when Yu Ping arrived with guards from the Chunfeng Inn.
A young guard with him lit up when he saw Li Qingxian. "Captain Li, the master wants to see you."
"What is it?" Li Qingxian asked.
The guard glanced at Han Anbo and Yu Ping.
"They’re with me," Li Qingxian said.
The guard said, "It’s about Junior Director Yan from the Inner Treasury Bureau and Disciplinary Officer Liu from the Ministry of Works’ Civilian Equipment Department. They’re on their way, so the master wants you back."
"I’m on my way. You can head back."
"Yes."
Once the guard had left, Li Qingxian said with a sigh of resignation, "Today was the perfect opportunity, but since something important has come up, I’ll have to put it on hold. Brother Han, you and Yu Ping should go get some rest."
"Alright."
Disappointed, Li Qingxian returned to the Chunfeng Inn.
He didn’t see Junior Director Yan or Disciplinary Officer Liu. Instead, his old acquaintance Luo Jing was sitting to one side, and Zhou Chunfeng was sipping tea behind his desk.
The golden light of the setting sun made it look as if Zhou Chunfeng were draped in a pale gold velvet robe, accentuating his dignified air.
Luo Jing stood and explained, "My superior was too busy to get away today, so he sent me to handle this matter in his stead."
Li Qingxian said, "I take it your Vice Minister doesn’t have much hope for this matter, then?"
Luo Jing gave a resigned look and said nothing.
"Did you borrow five hundred taels of gold from Luo Jing?" Zhou Chunfeng asked, setting down his teacup.
Li Qingxian smiled. "I was going to ask Uncle Zhou, but I’ve already bothered you so many times, it didn’t feel right to ask for money again. So, I went looking for this sucker from the Evil Sect instead."
Luo Jing shot Li Qingxian a glare.
"I didn’t expect your Fate Skill to advance so quickly," Zhou Chunfeng said, giving Li Qingxian a meaningful look.
"It’s nothing special," Li Qingxian said with immense modesty.
The three of them sat in the room, waiting quietly.
As Junior Director Yan and Disciplinary Officer Liu were taking their time, the three began to chat idly.
They discussed everything from the Imperial Court to the Demon Race, from Martial Arts to Literature Cultivation, and from Daoist Skills to Fate Skills. Li Qingxian found it all very enlightening.
As evening fell and the lanterns were lit, they had dinner and continued to wait, chatting all the while.
Li Qingxian said, "Neither of you seems the least bit impatient. Is this Disciplinary Officer Liu some kind of major figure?"
Zhou Chunfeng smiled and lowered his head to drink tea.
Luo Jing said, "It’s not Disciplinary Officer Liu we’re waiting for, it’s Junior Director Yan."
"I know that much," Li Qingxian said. "The head of the Inner Treasury Bureau is the Supervisor, and the second and third in command are the left and right Junior Directors. But from what I understand, a Junior Director is only a Junior Fourth Grade official. Besides, the ranks of Eunuchs are mostly for show, and they don’t usually associate with Outer Officials. Aren’t you afraid of being watched?"
"You’ve already Entered Grade, and you still haven’t studied the ways of officialdom. Have you even looked at the books on that list I gave you?" Zhou Chunfeng asked.
Li Qingxian replied guiltily, "I’ve read... a little."
Luo Jing stepped in to smooth things over. "Qingxian is still young, after all. He’s only just gotten the hang of the Night Guard Office, let alone the world of Inner Officials. Qingxian, what do you know about the Internal Factory?"
It dawned on Li Qingxian. "So, this Junior Director Yan is also a member of the Internal Factory?"
Luo Jing nodded.
Li Qingxian said, "From what I know, the Night Guard was originally established to monitor the court officials and to deal with Demons and Ghosts. Then, the Em... His Majesty got worried the Night Guard would grow too powerful, so he created the Eastern Depot and used Eunuchs to keep an eye on the Night Guard. But the Eastern Depot’s power grew too great, so he had to establish the Western Depot, using a new batch of Eunuchs to watch the Eastern Depot. And last year, to keep the Western Depot in check, he created the Internal Factory to monitor them. The Internal Factory’s main job is to watch other Eunuchs; they’ve always stayed out of the Night Guard’s business."
Luo Jing said patiently, "Rumors have been circulating in the Imperial Court for some time that His Majesty feels one Guard and three Factories is a bloated structure, and he’s preparing to make some cuts. Of the three Factories, which one do you think is least likely to be eliminated?"
"I get it. So the Internal Factory is about to take off?"
"’Take off’? That’s a good way to put it," Luo Jing said.
Zhou Chunfeng added, "When the Eastern Depot was first established, it employed many Eunuchs from the Old Dynasty."
It dawned on both Li Qingxian and Luo Jing.
Li Qingxian said, "His Majesty’s methods are truly impressive. The scheming... ahem, I mean his mastery of the emperor’s arts is simply perfect."
"Watch your tongue," Zhou Chunfeng warned.
Li Qingxian laughed. "I was just praising His Majesty for his sagacity and martial prowess, for his boundless wisdom. If you hadn’t explained, I would have just thought he was a paranoid man. Now I see it. I’m on the first level, while he’s playing on the fifth. It was never about paranoia; it was about using the most sophisticated means to completely overhaul the Inner Court. This is the Inner Court we’re talking about, after all. There are countless masters among the Eunuchs, and a sudden betrayal from one’s own ranks is the greatest fear. One can never be too careful."
Luo Jing said, "Indeed. The current Emperor is one of the great rulers of this age. His thinking is naturally beyond our grasp."
"His Majesty is wise and brilliant," Zhou Chunfeng said.
The three of them looked at each other.
"We are all loyal subjects of the Daqi, aren’t we," Li Qingxian sighed with great feeling.
Zhou Chunfeng and Luo Jing looked away, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.
Li Qingxian glanced at the sky. According to the Destiny Image, in less than an hour, Madam Wei and Tao Zhi would be lost in each other’s arms. ’Wei Yong is a lucky man,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, I’d definitely be forcing him to go home and catch them in the act right now.’
Just then, a guard came running to the door. "The Coffin Sedan carrying Junior Director Yan and Disciplinary Officer Liu has entered through the Government Office’s side gate! It’s heading this way."
Zhou Chunfeng rose to his feet. "Let us welcome our honored guests."
The three men rose, with Zhou Henn following behind. They walked out of the Chunfeng Inn and waited for a moment before seeing shadowy figures approaching in the distance.
A pale gray mist billowed toward them, spreading in every direction. It swamped the path, the corridor pillars, and the courtyard, advancing like a colossal, crushing beast.
Flashes of green and blood-red light pulsed within the gray mist, making it look like the maw of a ghostly hell.
As it drew closer, they saw sixteen snow-white skeletons emerge, treading upon the gray mist. On their shoulders, they carried an enormous coffin, fashioned like a sedan chair and easily ten feet long.
The Coffin Sedan’s body was pitch-black, its lid pure white.
The lid floated an inch above the coffin’s body, and an eerie green light flickered from the gap between them.
WOOO... WOOO...
A slow, sinister wail, like the cry of a puppet, echoed from within the Coffin Sedan.
Li Qingxian was shocked that something so ghoulish would be allowed to enter so brazenly.
’Weren’t the Night Guard founded to slay demons and fiends?’
Li Qingxian glanced at Zhou Chunfeng and Luo Jing. Both of their expressions were perfectly calm.