Chapter 1130: Entering the Palace

"Exactly. He used the situation to eliminate Wang Chuanyi, allowing him to take the position of Imperial Physician Assistant. From that role, he became qualified to treat the Second Prince," He Lingchuan said, taking a sip of water. "At that point, he could introduce the targeted treatment, and as long as King Bo could acquire the Lantern of Enlightenment, the Second Prince's illness would be easily curable."

Lingguang was dumbfounded.

The human world was truly complex. Fortunately, she kept her distance, content with just practicing medicine and studying drugs every day.

Upon hearing this, Dong Rui suddenly asked, "Hey, you've analyzed so much, but why did the mastermind give the secret method to Imperial Physician Chen? Wouldn't it have been better to give it to the former Imperial Physician Assistant, Wang? Surely he wouldn't have failed to recognize its value, right?"

That point hadn't been made clear yet.

"Indeed, giving it specifically to Imperial Physician Chen was an unnecessary step; even if it had been given to Wang Chuanyi, Bo Kingdom would still have stolen the treasure from the Carefree Sect. Hmm, perhaps he understood Imperial Physician Chen's character and methods, or perhaps..." He Lingchuan pondered, "Tell me, what's different about Imperial Physician Chen compared to the other medical officers in the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

"How would I know?" Dong Rui found the question too vague. "There are too many differences between people."

"But after Wang Chuanyi died, Imperial Physician Chen was targeted by Imperial Physician Liu and other medical officers, at least the well-known ones," He Lingchuan mused, stroking his chin. "That suggests Imperial Physician Chen wasn't part of their faction."

"Was there something inherently problematic about the faction led by the former Imperial Physician Assistant, Wang Chuanyi?"

He Lingchuan pondered for a long time before shaking his head. "I can't tell. We have too few clues to piece together the truth."

Dong Rui immediately said, "But don't you think your mission can be considered complete now?"

He Lingchuan smiled. "That's true."

With that, the two went to find the Shadowfang Guards.

As they approached the Shadowfang Guards' quarters, they keenly sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat unusual.

Jin Bai's face was stern, and he didn't hide his displeasure when he saw He Lingchuan.

"What happened?"

No sooner had he asked than He Lingchuan heard a rattling sound. It seemed there were other creatures inside the room.

Rats?

No, there was also the sound of flapping wings.

"For the past ten days to half a month, we've felt constantly watched. Wherever we went, whether it was Julu Port or here, there were always prying eyes in the shadows."

After speaking, Jin Bai walked to a corner and pulled back a black cloth.

Beneath it was an iron cage!

The rectangular cage, less than two feet square, held two sleek, black birds with white bellies.

Their beaks were bound with rope, presumably because the Shadowfang Guards found them too noisy.

One of them had a broken wing.

"Brown Crows?" He Lingchuan wasn't a birdwatcher, but these creatures were ubiquitous in Beijia, and he'd encountered them often, so he recognized them instantly.

"These things are all over Xuncheng! At first, they shadowed us covertly, but lately, they've become bolder, openly perching on branches to spy!" Jin Bai said with a grim face. "We've caught a few before, but none were demon-creatures, so they couldn't speak."

In such a species, typically only one or two would be demon-creatures; the rest were ordinary animals, but the entire group would follow the demon-creature's commands.

Han Kun added, "The swift messengers we send back and forth to our country have been intercepted by these creatures midway. Fortunately, we discovered it."

Jin Bai was too far from Mu Kingdom to send messages by any means other than birds. If these brown crows kept them under constant surveillance and blocked aerial routes, their communication with Mu Kingdom would be forcibly cut off.

Han Kun said resentfully, "It seems King Bo's court truly has a guilty conscience!"

Why else would they send brown crows to watch them if they weren't guilty?

"We set traps, and we finally caught these two leading demon-creatures," Jin Bai said, pointing to the caged birds. "They claim to work for King Bo's court, specializing in intelligence gathering and tracking political enemies. About half a month ago, they received orders to spy on us—ha, spies!"

"Who issued the orders?"

"King Bo's court has a special agency that deals with demon-creatures, called the Feather Gathering Bureau," Jin Bai sneered. "I asked them how the Feather Gathering Bureau noticed us. They said we frequently entered and exited Xuncheng, associated with rebels, and often operated around King Bo's palace."

Dong Rui asked, surprised, "Rebels? You're involved with rebels?"

That was a taboo matter, something no ruler would tolerate, even from Mu Kingdom's Shadowfang Guards.

"Pure fabrication!" Jin Bai shook his head. "I don't even know who the rebels are. I asked these two brown crows, but they didn't know the details either."

He Lingchuan murmured, "It really is King Bo's court, then?"

"Just now, two of my brothers in the team argued with me; they wanted to make a trip to King Bo's palace..." Jin Bai's face was grim. "By the way, Mr. He, do you need anything from me?"

Facing the Cloud Weaver Envoy, he still maintained self-control and politeness.

Jin Bai's words were polite, but "make a trip to King Bo's palace" clearly meant trying to steal the Heart Lantern. He Lingchuan was dumbfounded. "Yes, we have made progress."

Then, he explained how Imperial Physician Chen had presented the secret method, adding, "I used a little trick, so when Imperial Physician Chen confessed, he was unaware of it, thinking it was just a dream. Thus, he won't report it to his superiors."

"Mr. He is brilliant, you've helped us immensely!" The more Jin Bai listened, the more energized he became. He couldn't sit still, pacing around the room a few times.

Dong Rui asked him, "What do you plan to do?"

"Imperial Physician Chen, as a witness, must be kept under control."

"Hey, how exactly was the Lantern of Enlightenment stolen? That part hasn't been fully clarified yet."

"That's not important!" Jin Bai said without hesitation. "As long as Imperial Physician Chen is here, it proves that Bo Kingdom did indeed steal our tribute!"

For guards operating like them, the process was irrelevant; the outcome and conclusion were paramount.

As long as it was confirmed that the Heart Lantern was truly in Bo Kingdom, that was enough!

He Lingchuan asked him, "What then? Do you need to wait for further instructions from Emperor Mu?"

Jin Bai paced a few steps in the room. "Bo Kingdom took the Lantern of Enlightenment from us and then sent brown crows to monitor us. It's unlikely they'll give us ample time to respond calmly. Even if we secure Imperial Physician Chen, they might still break in and silence him."

He looked at He Lingchuan and said, word for word:

"With Imperial Physician Chen as a witness, I also want to infiltrate the palace, retrieve the Heart Lantern, and then depart from Julu Port!"

"Breaking into the palace to steal is a serious crime in any country. Even if you were originally the victims, acting this way would complicate things beyond explanation." He Lingchuan frowned. "Now that the Lantern of Enlightenment has been refined into the Heart Lantern, will it still be useful even if returned to your country?"

"After all, what's done is done. If the Heart Lantern is useless, His Majesty might not want to bother retrieving it; if it's useful, Commander Jin, your burden will be heavy."

If Emperor Mu truly wanted the Heart Lantern back, Mu Kingdom and Jin Bai would have to act.

"Let me ask you again: after retrieving the Heart Lantern, will Mu Kingdom drop the matter?"

Jin Bai pursed his lips tightly.

Emperor Mu wanted the original Lantern of Enlightenment from the Carefree Sect's Great Snow Mountain, not a refined Heart Lantern!

Would taking the Heart Lantern back appease Emperor Mu's anger?

Jin Bai had no idea.

However, if he snuck into King Bo's court to steal, and Mu Kingdom later pursued the theft of the tribute, King Bo's court would likely turn the tables.

Due to the distance involved, long-distance diplomacy between nations sometimes required an appeal to "reason."

Having served Emperor Mu for many years, he knew He Lingchuan spoke the truth.

Serving the imperial family meant accounting for countless details.

His mission to escort the tribute had already dragged him into a quagmire; he couldn't expect to return unscathed.

The only difference was how he could appeal to Emperor Mu for clemency and minimize his punishment.

He Lingchuan sympathized with him. "From the moment the Lantern of Enlightenment was stolen, you were destined for this dilemma. Unless the tribute wasn't lost under your care."

Jin Bai sighed deeply. "So, are we supposed to submit a formal document to King Bo's court, demanding the return of the Heart Lantern?"

"Exactly," He Lingchuan said with a smile. "Instead of sneaking into the palace to steal it, why not go into the palace and ask for it? You can openly request an audience with King Bo as a foreign envoy, state that Mu Kingdom's tribute has been stolen, and demand he return the Lantern of Enlightenment. See how he reacts."

"When you directly ask for the lantern, King Bo will have to give you an explanation. Whether he agrees or not, it will be a clear statement, and you can report back to His Majesty."

Jin Bai slapped his forehead. "Mr. He is right! I hadn't thought of that approach at all."

The Shadowfang Guards were so accustomed to clandestine operations that they hadn't even considered diplomatic negotiation.

He looked a little embarrassed. "None of us have ever served as foreign envoys, so we're not familiar with the procedures. To avoid trouble, cough, perhaps Mr. He, you could handle it for us?"

In the few days they had known each other, he had seen that He Lingchuan was meticulous, articulate, and quick-witted. Besides, could an outside helper invited by the Royal Grand Tutor be an ordinary person?

Since the esteemed Deputy Commander of the Shadowfang Guards had asked for help, He Lingchuan thought it wouldn't be too difficult and agreed.

Jin Bai was overjoyed. "Thank you very much, Mr. He!"

Back at their lodging, Dong Rui sighed again. "Hey, are we stuck here again? Your mission was already completed."

The mission He Lingchuan had accepted was to find the whereabouts of the Lantern of Enlightenment.

As soon as Imperial Physician Chen confessed, the facts became clear: the Lantern of Enlightenment had been stolen by Bo Kingdom and refined into the Heart Lantern.

The object was right there in King Bo's palace, so He Lingchuan's mission was complete.

As for Mu Kingdom's next plans, what did that have to do with him?

He Lingchuan, however, shook his head. "No hurry. The other tasks Fang Canran assigned aren't time-sensitive anyway."

There was one reason he couldn't tell Dong Rui:

He didn't want to let go of the case involving the Lantern of Enlightenment yet.

One hundred fifty to sixty years ago, Shao Jian had hurried to the Shanjin Plains to find the Lantern of Enlightenment for General Hong, to help her combat Mitian's ambitions.

The Lantern of Enlightenment matured once every thirty years.

Chronologically, the Lantern of Enlightenment on the Great Snow Mountain would not have been in season for harvesting at that time. Therefore, to acquire one, Shao Jian must have had to search someone else's inventory.

In real history, he likely succeeded in obtaining it. He Lingchuan had once conversed with a Naraku avatar and learned that during the final battle in Panlong City, General Hong showed no trace of Mitian's aura.

Naraku's conclusion was that General Hong had broken the divine seal mark in her sea of consciousness and was no longer merely Mitian's vessel.

Could her success be attributed to the Lantern of Enlightenment?

He yearned to explore the secrets of the Lantern of Enlightenment and understand why both General Hong and Mu Kingdom needed this treasure.

"Going into the palace now, isn't the risk considerable?" Dong Rui asked bluntly. "Will Bo Kingdom try to harm Mu Kingdom's envoy?"

"There are two sides to that. If King Bo didn't steal the Lantern of Enlightenment, he'll be righteous and shouldn't mind meeting Mu Kingdom's envoy," He Lingchuan said, holding up a second finger. "If the Lantern of Enlightenment was indeed stolen by King Bo's orders, then as soon as our envoy calls, it will reveal that their actions have been exposed, and Mu Kingdom is fully aware of their scheme! In such a scenario, King Bo would have no reason to silence us."

"So, regardless of whether King Bo stole the Lantern of Enlightenment or not, he shouldn't lay a hand on Mu Kingdom's envoy."

'Shouldn't.'

He could only deduce based on logic.

If King Bo was a lunatic who didn't play by the rules, that would be a different story.

Nothing in life was absolute, and it was impossible to eliminate all risks. Besides, He Lingchuan had several backup plans; if they couldn't win, they could always run.

Since the mission had progressed this far, He Lingchuan didn't mind if Mount Ling and Mu Kingdom owed him another favor, considering it an unexpected bonus.

The more entangled they became, the harder it would be to turn against each other in the future, wouldn't it?

In the evening, myriad rays of twilight painted the entire city crimson. He Lingchuan strolled through the streets, noticing a delicate rose, white-petaled with a yellow pistil, emerging from a broken wall. It swayed in the slanting sun and evening breeze, exuding a desolate, haunting beauty.

The next morning, He Lingchuan, Dong Rui, and Jin Bai visited Bo Kingdom's Ministry of Guests, explained their purpose, and submitted their official tokens.

Jin Bai accompanied them into the palace because He Lingchuan was not a native of Mu Kingdom and could not use a Mu Kingdom official's badge to prove his identity.

Mu Kingdom was a great power of the age, and local officials had heard of it. Upon seeing the glow from Jin Bai's official badge, they immediately invited the delegation to rest while the Ministry of Guests swiftly reported their arrival.

Two hours later, the Mu Kingdom delegation was welcomed into the royal palace.

A great power commanded respect; even an unannounced delegation could immediately be granted an audience with King Bo.

King Bo's palace was vast and magnificent, reportedly built eighty years ago. It had been partially destroyed twice by war, with successive dynasties undertaking repairs to demonstrate national strength and prestige.

The most recent renovation had been completed just five years ago.

In this season, the palace grounds were lush with vibrant plants and blossoming flowers, exuding an air of peace and prosperity, as if it were a world apart from Xuncheng beyond its high walls.

Yet, beneath the splendor, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of decay. This reminded He Lingchuan of the鸢 Kingdom's court.

Dong Rui looked around nervously throughout the journey, his guard fully up.

They were openly requesting an audience, and cough, also personally venturing into danger. Would King Bo, with a guilty conscience, arrange for assassins to chop them into mincemeat along the way?

Although He Lingchuan considered this possibility extremely remote, Dong Rui found the palace too gloomy, which dampened his initial excitement about serving as an envoy for a great nation for the first time.

Fortunately, that scenario never materialized.

As they ventured deeper into the palace, they finally met the main figure.

King Bo was very thin, with a long, gaunt face and slightly sinister eyes. His hair and beard were flecked with white, giving him an air of natural authority even without anger.

It was the height of summer, yet deep within the palace, among the blazing phoenix trees, there was a faint chill in the air.

King Bo even had a thin, embroidered gold blanket covering his knees.

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui entered the hall and bowed to him as envoys. His first command was:

"Be seated."

As the envoys had not been searched, the hall was filled with stern, armored guards.

A palace guard presented a brocade stool. He Lingchuan thanked him and sat down unceremoniously at the lower end of the hall, about two zhang away from King Bo.

Apart from Dong Rui and Han Kun standing behind him, the rest of the delegation had to wait in a side hall.

King Bo coughed, then straightened himself, pressing on the armrest.

As he leaned forward, a palace attendant brought a soft cushion and placed it behind his lower back.

"You've traveled a long way; it must have been arduous. What brings Mu Kingdom to my attention?"

"Our Shadowfang Guards were escorting a tribute item back from the Carefree Sect when it was suddenly stolen in Julu Port." King Bo's question was impolite, so He Lingchuan's answer was concise, without a single wasted word. "Following the clues, we traced it to your esteemed country, and were surprised to hear that this item is now within your royal palace."

Upon hearing this, King Bo's brow furrowed.

"Tribute? What tribute item did Mu Kingdom lose?"

Mu Kingdom's guards had lost something on his territory, so they could request assistance from the host.

"The Lantern of Enlightenment," He Lingchuan uttered these three words, carefully observing King Bo's reaction.

The old man's eyes suddenly widened, and his voice rose three octaves. "What did you say?"

"Forty-seven days ago, the Lantern of Enlightenment, a tribute item escorted by the Shadowfang Guards, was stolen," He Lingchuan replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly. "To this day, the investigation is still ongoing."

The Heart Lantern was now incredibly significant to King Bo, so He Lingchuan had to choose his words carefully.

King Bo suddenly asked, "How do you know the Lantern of Enlightenment is in the palace?"

He Lingchuan said softly, "The Second Prince of Bo's condition improved because of the Heart Lantern, and the Heart Lantern is made from the Lantern of Enlightenment. This is not difficult to ascertain."

He didn't mention Imperial Physician Chen at all, instead setting a trap for King Bo.

King Bo suddenly burst into loud laughter, slapping the armrest several times.

For a moment, his laughter echoed throughout the great hall.

"The Lantern of Enlightenment?" he chuckled. "The Lantern of Enlightenment is Mu Kingdom's tribute?"

He Lingchuan's voice was calm, yet it was not drowned out by the king's laughter.

"Precisely!"

"What have you investigated?" King Bo stopped laughing, slamming the armrest heavily. "You lost the Lantern of Enlightenment, and my son used the Heart Lantern, so you assume I stole Mu Kingdom's tribute?"

The recovery of Bo Kingdom's Second Prince from his madness was a joyous event known throughout the country, yet Mu Kingdom had come to slander him for stealing tribute?

His eyes showed a ruthless glint, and the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop by several degrees.

Dong Rui's eyes flickered. He thought, 'This old man is like an old wolf; though his fur has whitened and his teeth are gone, his ferocity is undiminished.' He began to consider the best escape route should a fight break out.

There was an eighty percent chance that there were arrays here that prohibited escape techniques, so Snail Toad wouldn't be usable.

Seeing King Bo's anger, He Lingchuan gently said, "Perhaps there's been some misunderstanding?"

He certainly couldn't say, 'Yes, that's exactly what we think.'

"The Lantern of Enlightenment matures once every thirty years. May I ask where your esteemed country acquired the Lantern of Enlightenment it used?"

His most important reason for entering the palace today was to clarify the origin of the Lantern of Enlightenment.

King Bo gave a mirthless smile. "My son's medicine didn't need to be stolen or snatched. That Lantern of Enlightenment was purchased by our country."

This statement was truly unexpected. He Lingchuan and Dong Rui's immediate reaction was the same four words:

Nonsense.

This thing could be bought?

"Within a thousand li radius, the Lantern Grass only grows on the Carefree Sect's snowy peak, correct?" He Lingchuan had to say. "Such a vast snowy peak only yields a single stalk of Lantern Grass."

This item was unique wherever it grew; even in ancient times, only one would grow within several thousand li, for unknown reasons. To this day, it was unknown if it grew anywhere else besides the Carefree Sect.