"In this world, no one can cut off the Emperor’s revenue stream. Not you, Wei Yong, and not some Room Leader. However, Lord Wei is, after all, a Senior Fifth Grade official of the Imperial Court. I cannot use the authority of the Internal Affairs Bureau to meddle in Night Guard affairs. Therefore, I offer Lord Wei two choices. Either you take us to your home for a visit, or I will use the authority of the Internal Factory and *request* that you take us to your home for a visit."
At the two words "Internal Factory," it was as if a great mountain had descended upon Chunfeng Inn.
Wei Yong’s shoulders slowly sagged, and his head dipped by a mere half-inch.
In the past six months, the Internal Factory had raided the homes of far more officials than the Night Guard ever had.
Wei Yong took a deep breath, raised his head, and said, "This matter was indeed orchestrated entirely by Tao Zhi. I had no intention whatsoever of sabotaging this collaboration. If Lord Zhou is not welcoming, the Finance Department will withdraw from the partnership. As for Tao Zhi, he has my trust. However, since Junior Director Yan is handling this officially, this humble official cannot spoil your fun. I will lead you, milord, to my humble residence."
But Li Qingxian interjected, "We all go, or no one goes. To prevent anyone from tipping them off, we’ll have to ask Lord Wei to endure a small inconvenience."
Wei Yong snapped his head up, his icy gaze locked onto Li Qingxian.
Yan Shixiao tapped his right index finger on the armrest of his Master’s Chair. After a moment, he spoke. "Lord Liu, I’ll trouble you to lend us your Coffin Sedan for the trip to Lord Wei’s residence. Lord Zhou, please have your men from the Divine Capital Bureau clear the path ahead to prevent any leaks. Lord Wei, after you."
Yan Shixiao rose to his feet. His previously soft demeanor vanished, replaced by a surprising hardness. His lightly powdered face was the same as before, yet it was as if spring had given way to winter.
Gritting his teeth, Wei Yong bowed low. "This official obeys!"
Liu Muwa went first, leading Yan Shixiao, Zhou Chunfeng, and Wei Yong into the Coffin Sedan.
Meanwhile, Zhou Henn, Luo Jing, and Li Qingxian took Zhou Chunfeng’s Guards, gathered more men, and set off for the Wei estate.
Li Qingxian seized the opportunity to have a Guard fetch Han Anbo and Yur Ping, instructing the two to follow him.
A side gate of the Night Guard headquarters swung open. Zhou Henn, Li Qingxian, and Luo Jing led the way on horseback. Behind them was a squad of Night Guards, followed by the Coffin Sedan. Bringing up the rear was a joint team from the Ministry of Works, the Inner Treasury Bureau, and the Night Guard.
CLIP... CLOP... CLIP...
The clopping of hooves echoed through the night of the Divine Capital.
After they had ridden for a while, Luo Jing couldn’t resist asking, "Did you know Wei Yong would show up?"
Li Qingxian replied, "I honestly didn’t expect him to walk right into it."
"Are you sure your Fate Skill is effective?"
"Positive," Li Qingxian said.
Everyone gave them a wide berth, and the procession arrived unimpeded on the street outside Wei Yong’s mansion.
Zhou Henn and Luo Jing turned to Li Qingxian in unison. "What’s the plan?"
The Night Guards behind them were utterly astonished. ’Why are a Fifth Grade and an Eighth Grade official taking orders from a Junior Tenth Grade?’
Li Qingxian thought for a moment, then said, "To keep anyone from tipping them off, we have to be strict. At the very least, we can’t let the people... *doing their business* in the rear courtyard hear us."
"Who knows the layout of the Wei Mansion?" Zhou Henn asked, turning in his saddle.
Han Anbo and two other Night Guards stepped forward in unison.
Li Qingxian said, "Deputy Captain Han, take a few of your best men and head straight for Madam Wei’s courtyard. Avoid alerting anyone else. As for the others, I’ll rely on Lord Zhou."
Zhou Henn, however, said, "Lord Luo, this kind of work is more your specialty."
Luo Jing smiled. "No need to bother anyone else. As long as Deputy Captain Han guides us, we can go straight to the courtyard."
It was only then that Li Qingxian remembered the methods of the Evil Sect. "We’ll do as Lord Luo says."
The three of them dismounted. Luo Jing retrieved a walnut-sized, ovoid object from his Copper Fish Pouch. It looked like an eyeball, solid black, with a single white line bisecting it horizontally.
"An Evil Eye?" Li Qingxian asked.
Luo Jing said, "I’ll clear the path. You stay behind and look after the other lords."
As he spoke, Luo Jing turned to face the direction of the Ministry of Revenue’s Divine Statue. He placed the Evil Eye vertically between his brows, knelt on one knee, and began to mutter an incantation.
Li Qingxian couldn’t understand a single word.
The Evil Eye’s vertical white line split open, and a crimson eyeball bulged out, looking like a bloody sphere of flesh growing from between his eyebrows.
An indescribable aura spread outwards. Everyone felt as if something slick and cold was enveloping their bodies.
With a hard press, Luo Jing forced the Evil Eye into his forehead.
Where the Evil Eye met his flesh, a network of bulging blue and red veins tangled together.
The crimson Evil Eye darted around restlessly.
Luo Jing recited a few more lines of an unintelligible Spell, then rose to his feet.
The other Night Guards recoiled, taking half a step back.
"Vice Captain Han, lead the way," Luo Jing said.
"As you command!" Han Anbo replied, his face betraying no fear as he walked toward the main gate.
Black tiles, black walls, and a gate of vermilion lacquer, guarded by stone lions.
Luo Jing, his three eyes open, walked forward. The great gates swung open without a sound, untouched by wind or hand.
"Who—"
Before the Wei Mansion Guard behind the gate could finish the word, the light in his eyes dissipated, and his irises turned crimson.
They were now identical to the eye on Luo Jing’s forehead.
"We welcome the Divine Son!" the two Guards said, bowing their heads.
Luo Jing didn’t answer. He simply followed Han Anbo’s lead. The two Wei Mansion Guards, like Puppets, fell into step behind him.
Along the way, any Guards, servants, or maids that Luo Jing passed had their eyes turn red before they silently fell into line behind him.
Li Qingxian remained outside, watching as the Coffin Sedan stood upright and transformed into a grand doorway. Yan Shixiao, Zhou Chunfeng, Wei Yong, and Liu Muwa then stepped out from within.
Li Qingxian said, "This way, my lords."
Yan Shixiao said languidly, "Lord Wei knows the way. After you."
Wei Yong shot Li Qingxian a hateful glare before stepping into his own home.
While Luo Jing and his men had strode forward with purpose, Wei Yong now moved as slowly as an old woman crossing the street, as if he were measuring the courtyard with every step.
The group followed in silence.
The Wei Mansion was a sprawling estate with five successive courtyards. After walking for a long time, they had only just reached the second one.
Li Qingxian couldn’t hold back any longer. "Lord Wei, Room Leader Tao has been at it in your bedroom for the better part of an hour. You’re so unhurried about catching them in the act, it’s making *me* anxious. Most men wouldn’t be this patient unless they’d been cuckolded dozens of times."
Wei Yong whipped his head around to glare at Li Qingxian, his eyes narrowing. "Li Qingxian, your Li Family knows better than I what happens to those with a loose tongue."
Zhou Chunfeng’s handsome, jade-like face instantly darkened. With a cold snort, he looked at Li Qingxian and said in a solemn, heartfelt tone, "Qingxian, I must criticize you for this. You’re always looking for shortcuts, never appreciating steady, hard work. On what basis do you claim Disciplinary Officer Wei is so magnanimous? Perhaps he earned that magnanimity, one step—and one cuckolding—at a time."
Li Qingxian replied, "Uncle Zhou’s lesson is well taken. And Lord Wei is also correct. The Li Family certainly knows the consequences of a loose tongue better than he does. Just as Tao Zhi certainly knows Lord Wei’s wife better than he does."
Wei Yong’s vision went black.
"Hehehe..." Yan Shixiao tittered, covering his mouth.
Wei Yong took a deep breath, steeled himself, and slightly quickened his pace.
After dragging his feet for as long as he could, Wei Yong finally reached the entrance to the rear courtyard. Before he could even cross the threshold, a piercing female soprano voice filled the air, rising and falling in wave after passionate wave.
Wei Yong staggered, nearly tripping over the threshold.
"What are you doing!" Wei Yong roared, his True Essence erupting from his body and crackling in the air.
The piercing "song" from inside the room continued.
It was accompanied by the rhythmic THUD, THUD of heavy wood striking a wall.
A layer of blood-red light, nearly invisible to the naked eye, radiated from Luo Jing’s Evil Eye and enveloped the entire house.
Yan Shixiao, Liu Muwa, and Zhou Chunfeng exchanged a look.
Wei Yong’s reputation was utterly ruined.
Then, they all looked at Li Qingxian.
Li Qingxian strolled through the door, remarking, "My, what’s the special occasion? With all the racket, you’d think it was a festival."
THUD... THUD... THUD-THUD-THUD...