Chapter 1128: Meifei, Nangong Yan, and the Wheat Faction

Chapter 1117: Consort Mei, Nangong Yan, and the Mai Faction

He was about to run away when suddenly a whooshing sound came from ahead.

*Swish, swish, swish*, three arrows shot towards him in a triangular formation.

Dong Rui sidestepped two arrows, and the third was caught by the raging ape, which snapped it in half with a *crack*.

But with that delay, the attackers also closed in. A heavy mace, weighing over a hundred jin, was swung directly at Dong Rui's skull, its wielder unconcerned if his brains splattered.

It seemed they were ready to kill him in the street without a word.

Just as the raging ape was about to enlarge to protect its master, a flash of light intervened, deflecting the heavy mace with a loud *clanging* sound.

The metallic clang was harsh and prolonged, causing passersby to cover their ears.

Dong Rui, being closest, saw stars and involuntarily shook his head.

Damn, my ears are ringing badly.

The object that deflected the mace spun around and returned to its owner's hand.

It was He Lingchuan who had emerged.

The wielder of the heavy mace took two steps back, lifted his weapon to inspect it, and his face instantly darkened:

There was a rice-grain sized chip on the mace.

This mace was forged primarily from black gold and cold iron; he had always been the one to break others' weapons. When had his heavy mace ever been damaged?

With fury in his eyes, he looked at the blade in He Lingchuan's hand.

What was special about this blade? Should he take it to study?

The forty or fifty people following him immediately heard their superior's roar: "Take them down!"

They immediately charged forward, joining the other constables to apprehend He Lingchuan and Dong Rui.

The constable leader stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Lord Nangong! These two criminals escaped and resisted arrest; we are fortunate to have your assistance!"

Lord Nangong? How many Lord Nangongs were there in Xuncheng? Dong Rui was slightly surprised. Wandering Xuncheng last night, he had heard the common folk mention "Nangong" more than once, always with a hesitant, unspoken implication in their demeanor.

He Lingchuan spoke up: "We are traveling merchants who just entered the city, completely innocent. Sirs, you have mistaken us for someone else!"

Before resorting to force, he still wanted to reason with them.

At the same time, the divine bone necklace around his neck grew warm.

What good material had it taken a fancy to this time?

He Lingchuan casually patted the necklace:

*Please consider the time and place; don't try to devour everything!*

Still, what treasure did this newly arrived official carry?

The constable leader produced a wanted poster, pointed to the portrait on it, then pointed to Dong Rui: "Lord Nangong, take a look?"

He Lingchuan glanced at it and exclaimed, Dong Rui actually bore a five-tenths resemblance to the portrait.

Portraits were always quite abstract and lacked precision, so a five-tenths resemblance was enough for the constables to be convinced Dong Rui was the fugitive.

But Lord Nangong didn't even spare it a glance, stating directly: "Identical. Take them!"

They had no choice but to act. He Lingchuan and Dong Rui understood.

This Lord Nangong facing them was arrogant and clearly didn't care about fugitives. What he cared about was He Lingchuan damaging his weapon, and he might even have designs on the Fuchen Blade.

They had just arrived in Bodu; their feet hadn't even warmed up, yet trouble had already found them.

Although they weren't afraid of the constables or this "Lord Nangong," He Lingchuan had a mission in Bodu and didn't want to stir up trouble just yet.

Even a mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake.

As a constable's gleaming long saber swung towards him, He Lingchuan sidestepped, then grabbed two men by the scruff of their necks and threw them like sandbags at "Lord Nangong."

Suddenly, a whoosh of wind came from behind, and the Soul-Capturing Mirror in his arms also cried out: "Behind you!"

Without thinking, He Lingchuan transformed the mirror into a shield and blocked behind him.

With a dull *thud*, something slammed into the rectangular shield with immense force.

*Hoo-hoo*, two sharp claws reached out, attempting to tear at the shield and injure him.

He Lingchuan did not resist directly; instead, he set the shield on the ground at an angle, using the momentum to deflect the attacker.

He had learned this technique from Door Plank in the Coiling Dragon World; Door Plank had unique insights into shield usage.

Conveniently, the Soul-Capturing Shield's recoil effect activated again, severely jolting the monster that had ambushed He Lingchuan and causing its claws, which had been gripping the shield tightly, to loosen.

Passersby exclaimed in surprise and quickly moved away:

It was a monstrous beast, resembling a fierce tiger, nearly five feet tall at the shoulder, but with long forelimbs and short hind limbs. Its chest and legs were exceptionally muscular and developed, clearly indicating its prowess in grappling, wrestling, and entangling combat. Its back was striped, and its fur was much duller than Jiao Yu's.

A Mock-Tiger.

He Lingchuan had seen such beasts before in the Treasured Tree Kingdom of Beijia, where they served as executioners for condemned criminals, devouring two prisoners alive in front of all the townspeople. They were exceptionally ferocious.

This Mock-Tiger was larger than any He Lingchuan had encountered previously, with savage glints in its eyes and fangs like daggers.

The moment its claws loosened, He Lingchuan swung his shield, delivering a powerful blow that struck the Mock-Tiger's chin with the shield's edge, sending it tumbling ten feet and rolling on the ground before it could get back up.

A bloody tiger fang lay on the ground.

But it shook its head, eyes gleaming, and instead of choosing He Lingchuan, it turned and targeted Dong Rui.

This creature certainly knew how to pick on the weak.

The raging ape's fur bristled as it was stared at, eager to fight. If Dong Rui hadn't stopped it, it would have already transformed and charged.

Taking advantage of this moment, the numerous guards completely surrounded He Lingchuan and Dong Rui, seemingly forming a formation.

He Lingchuan gave Dong Rui a look, signaling him to escape into the dark alley behind them.

He had explored the nearby terrain yesterday. At the end of the dark alley were two collapsed, dilapidated houses, where he and Dong Rui could shake off their pursuers.

The Mock-Tiger was about to pounce again when a woman's voice came from diagonally behind it:

"Stop, everyone stop!"

In the midst of the chaos, He Lingchuan looked back and saw three women walking quickly, followed by dozens of guards.

The leading woman was graceful and beautiful, and surprisingly familiar.

Dong Rui also let out a sound of surprise. Wasn't this the beautiful woman who had been distributing aid to refugees at the city wall yesterday?

Was Banguo's capital so small?

She called out twice, her voice slightly lacking in strength, yet she walked towards the guards and the Mock-Tiger, saying, "What are you doing?"

The guards immediately backed away. The Mock-Tiger stared at her with fierce eyes, clearly displeased, and suddenly roared, preparing to pounce.

Facing such ferocity at close range, the maids behind the woman recoiled in fright, but she remained rooted to the spot, her delicate brows furrowed.

The Mock-Tiger's ferocity and her gentle demeanor formed a stark contrast, making onlookers' hearts clench.

Lord Nangong shouted, and only then did the Mock-Tiger reluctantly retreat to his side.

The constable leader immediately bowed to her, also very respectfully: "Greetings, Consort Mei! Your subordinate is apprehending fugitives!"

Consort Mei? Dong Rui mused, he seemed to have heard that name somewhere before.

"It's not them," Consort Mei said quickly. "You have the wrong people."

The constable leader paused, startled. Consort Mei pointed to the alley opposite: "I personally saw the person from the portrait rush into that alley."

Upon hearing this, the constables all looked at Lord Nangong, who, however, kept his gaze fixed on He Lingchuan: "Perhaps Consort Mei was mistaken?"

He had no intention of letting go of the person who had damaged his treasured mace and injured his spirit beast.

The two constables He Lingchuan had thrown finally got up from the ground, rubbing their backs. His blows had not been light; the two men were nearly dislocated.

"Are you saying my eyesight is poor, Commander Nangong?" Consort Mei brushed aside a wisp of hair. "This happened just moments ago; everyone around here saw it. You can ask anyone else."

Commander Nangong stared fixedly at He Lingchuan for a long moment before finally saying, "No need. If Consort Mei says it's not them, then it's not them."

"What are you waiting for?" He jutted his chin towards the alley and told the constables, "Go chase!"

"Ah, yes!" The constable chief startled, then led his men in pursuit.

"Lads, having Consort Mei testify for you means you've had extraordinary good luck," Lord Nangong said to He Lingchuan in a noncommittal tone, then bowed to Consort Mei and strode away.

The dozens of people followed him, departing in a grand procession.

Only when they had gone far away did the crowd dare to gather closer.

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui immediately thanked Consort Mei.

Consort Mei's gaze swept over the two men: "Are you from out of town?"

"We are traveling merchants from the Yangshan Archipelago in the west."

She replied, "Merchants who can fight like that, it's no wonder Commander Nangong was suspicious."

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow.

"Please excuse me," Consort Mei waved a hand. "You are both innocent and should not be implicated in this trouble. You—"

She pointed at Dong Rui: "You do indeed resemble the fugitive. It would be best to cover your face when traveling. You might not have such good fortune the next time you encounter constables."

Her words were gentle and even, but He Lingchuan could sense a detached aloofness hidden in her smile.

With that, she turned and walked away, a large retinue of palace maids and guards following behind her.

The surrounding commoners immediately cleared a path for them.

He Lingchuan remembered that she had come from the direction of a temple; now she was returning there.

Dong Rui reached up and touched his face, muttering several curses about his bad luck.

This face had been given to him by Grand Master Shuangye; who would have thought it would be a spitting image of a fugitive thousands of miles away?

He also heard quiet discussions among the crowd:

"It's this kind of thing again."

"These two are so lucky to have Consort Mei testify for them! They must have burned a lot of incense before leaving home."

"Those few outsiders taken away a few days ago weren't so lucky. Now..."

"Shhh, keep your voice down."

The spectacle quickly ended, and the crowd dispersed.

He Lingchuan's gaze fixed on A-Hao in the crowd. Seeing him turn to leave, He Lingchuan beckoned to him and then turned to walk back to the inn.

After a while, A-Hao entered He Lingchuan's guest room.

Dong Rui closed the door and set up a barrier: "Sit. Tell us about that... Consort Mei just now."

"Consort Mei is the most favored concubine," A-Hao began. "I heard she was originally a commoner girl living near the Western horse stables, brought back by our King, and quickly elevated to a consort. She must only be in her teens now. She's very kind, often providing relief to disaster victims and alms to the poor, saying she wants to accumulate merit for our King. Most of the refugees and beggars in the capital have received steamed buns and money from her, and some have even received winter clothes."

"When did she enter the palace?"

"About two years ago, it seems."

Dong Rui clicked his tongue: "An old tree pressing down on a young blossom."

The King of Bo was over sixty this year, and this young consort was only in her teens. What a pity.

A-Hao suddenly whispered, "I heard from palace insiders that Consort Mei is the King's favorite. Soon after entering the palace, she incurred the displeasure of other concubines, who ganged up to torment her and almost killed her."

He Lingchuan sat down: "If even you know about this, the King of Bo couldn't possibly be kept in the dark, could he?"

A-Hao scratched his head: "Heh, our King was furious and severely punished the concubines responsible. After that, he favored Consort Mei even more, always taking her with him when he went out hunting or for recreation. It seems Consort Mei is the only concubine who can frequently leave the palace. Even Lord Nangong has to treat her with courtesy."

Dong Rui exclaimed, "The arrogant, swaggering one from just now?"

"Yes, yes, that's Nangong Yan, the Grand Commander of the Feathered Guard, the most trusted by our King." As he mentioned Nangong Yan, A-Hao's voice automatically dropped. "Anyone targeted by Commander Nangong will be stripped of their skin if they don't die! You two are truly lucky to have Consort Mei testify for you; otherwise, it's hard to say if you'd ever get out."

Dong Rui rolled his eyes: "I'm not a fugitive, can't they even verify that?"

"It's difficult to verify, and sometimes they don't even bother," A-Hao chuckled. "Aren't you quite similar to that fugitive? They might just..."

...use Dong Rui to take the fall and claim credit.

"This isn't uncommon," A-Hao spread his hands. "Some rootless outsiders unknowingly become someone else's scapegoat. Even if they don't resemble the culprit in the slightest, it doesn't matter."

Dong Rui didn't know whether to laugh or cry, finally understanding why Consort Mei advised him to cover his face. The constables here were simply adept at apprehending innocent people to claim credit.

"Does Consort Mei often speak out so righteously?"

"I'm not often in Xuncheng, so I'm not entirely sure," A-Hao said. "But her reputation for benevolence has spread all the way to Julu Port. Everyone in the city likes her, calling her a beacon of light in Xuncheng."

This dark place should indeed have a beacon of light.

He Lingchuan pondered, "Tell me about Nangong Yan."

When asked about the Grand Commander of the Feathered Guard, A-Hao became a bit hesitant.

If it weren't for the more deadly gu Dong Rui had placed on him, he would barely dare to utter the words "Grand Commander Nangong."

Nangong Yan was originally a vassal of the King of Bo, inheriting his father's position and growing up in the King of Bo's residence, utterly loyal to his master. After the King of Bo usurped power and ascended the throne, Nangong Yan's status also soared, allowing him to carry a sword into the royal court.

In recent years, Nangong Yan had acted with impunity. Ministers and wealthy merchants were terrified in his presence, to say nothing of the common people.

His very name could stop children from crying at night in Xuncheng.

Dong Rui interjected, "You said the Feathered Guard frequently arrests people. What are the charges usually?"

"Traitors, Mai clan remnants, things like that," A-Hao's voice lowered further. "Once someone is accused of being a rebel accomplice and taken by the Feathered Guard, they usually don't reappear."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred: "What kind of force is the Mai Faction?"

When He Lingchuan explored Xuncheng, he had seen people burning paper money for "Lord Mai" in a dark alley.

The authorities certainly wouldn't permit it.

Yet, people still burned it despite the prohibition.

"The Mai Faction..." A-Hao couldn't help but lick his lips. "That goes back to the case of Mai Liansheng, which rocked Banguo eight years ago."

Mai Liansheng and the King of Bo were both influential ministers of the previous dynasty. The former had greatly aided the latter in overthrowing the old dynasty and stabilizing his reign, earning immense credit, and was thus appointed prime minister.

After the establishment of the kingdom, Mai Liansheng proposed new policies to benefit the people, but some were poorly implemented, leading to an unproductive circulation of wealth, with some officials embezzling funds, thus failing to genuinely benefit the populace.

What was worse, two of the corrupt officials who enriched themselves at public expense were his own students.

The opposition used this as a pretext to attack Mai Liansheng.

At that time, Mai Liansheng was known among the common people for his uprightness and integrity, deeply beloved by them. Some even erected shrines in his honor while he was still alive.

Later, the Banguo court became somewhat turbulent, and negative rumors about Mai Liansheng proliferated. A-Hao was still young then and didn't know the exact details of what happened, but eight years ago, Mai Liansheng was exposed by his subordinate officials for treason!

Overnight, Grand Commander Nangong led the Feathered Guard to storm Mai's residence, gathering evidence and making arrests.

This time, the evidence was conclusive; Mai Liansheng had no defense. He was granted death by poisoned wine by the King of Bo, and the Mai clan was exterminated.

However, the vast Mai clan did not simply vanish into thin air.

In recent years, Banguo had seen repeated uprisings, with several rebel armies rallying their forces under the banner of Mai clan descendants or successors.

Therefore, one of the Feathered Guard's most important tasks now was to hunt down "Mai Faction remnants."

This left Banguo in a state of high alert and widespread apprehension.

Yet, for some reason, the "Mai Faction" seemed to grow larger with each arrest in recent years.

"A palace guard I drank with a few days ago said that two years ago, during a palace meeting, a court attendant didn't join everyone in cursing the Mai Faction. As a result, he was immediately reported for sympathizing with the remnants or being a spy for the rebel faction," A-Hao shrugged. "Anyway, that attendant was subsequently taken away by the Feathered Guard and never reappeared."

Hearing this, He Lingchuan understood.

The King of Bo's trust in Nangong Yan was earned through the latter's actions. Over the years, Nangong Yan had done what was inconvenient for the King of Bo to do and dared to kill those the King of Bo found difficult to eliminate.

He was the King of Bo's dark hand.

With such devoted service and willingness to bear infamy, whom else would the King of Bo trust?

The theft of the Bright Lamp could indeed now appear to be Banguo's doing.

Although He Lingchuan felt there were many suspicious points and contradictions in the case, many strange occurrences in the world inherently defy logic.

A small kingdom, a tyrant, a cruel minister—who knew if their actions could be measured by common sense?

The following evening.

Imperial Physician Chen returned home and first had his servants retrieve a jar of good wine and a cantaloupe from the depths of his pond, then arranged for several fine dishes.

A large pond, ten feet deep and filled with clear water, had been dug in his backyard.

The pond water was used for raising fish and could also serve as a fire-fighting reserve.

It was the height of summer, and Xuncheng was scorching hot; ordinary people would sweat after just two steps. But the deep pond water remained icy cold. Wine and cantaloupes retrieved from it would quickly develop a layer of condensation on their surface, and a single bite would be refreshingly cool.

Imperial Physician Chen spent the evening gnawing on chicken feet and duck giblets with his chilled wine, still sweating at the tip of his nose.

For the past few months, he had been anxious, fearing his treatment was incorrect. However, over the last half-month, the Second Prince's condition had clearly improved. The palace was filled with joy, the King was amiable, and even the palace servants who usually looked down on people would respectfully bow and greet him with "Greetings, Imperial Physician Chen."

What a comfortable life!

After finishing half a jar of wine, he took a cool bath and was about to go to bed when the gatekeeper suddenly rushed in:

"Master, a box was suddenly delivered outside."

The box was quite exquisite, with a note on it that read, "For Imperial Physician Chen, personal delivery."

Imperial Physician Chen took the box: "Who sent it?"

"I-I don't know." The gatekeeper had been secretly dozing, but a pebble had suddenly pinged through the window just now, startling him awake. "Your humble servant went to the latrine, and when I returned, this box was on the table."

A little lie wouldn't hurt; after all, a box had inexplicably appeared on the table.

"Why does this keep happening lately?" Imperial Physician Chen muttered, then went to open the box.

"Ah!" Both men simultaneously stepped back, greatly startled.

Inside the box were several freshly severed chicken and rat heads, staining the bottom of the box crimson.