Chapter 1534: Burning with Rage

**Burning with Rage**

On the fifteenth day of Prefect Xiao’s stay at the small temple, as he was eating breakfast, his confidant rushed in to report:

“Prefect, it’s terrible!”

The Prefect was already in a foul mood; he didn't need the emphasis. This small temple couldn't even make apple-cinnamon pastries properly; they tasted bitter. Prefect Xiao threw down his spoon, his face darkening. "Do you know how to speak properly?"

“Forgive me, Prefect, forgive me!” The confidant quickly corrected himself, but his face remained pale. “Our temple, Xilin Temple, has been dismantled!”

Prefect Xiao stared at him blankly. On the day the main hall collapsed, didn't the authorities already dismantle the remaining structures to prevent further self-destruction, ground fissures, and damage to the surroundings?

Even Chief Envoy Liang was speechless; Xilin Temple had mostly collapsed anyway, so what difference would it make to dismantle it or not?

“Dismantled, and transported away! Taken to the new city!” The confidant realized he hadn’t been clear. “The set of commemorative pillars recently erected in front of the new official residence—three of them were originally stone pillars from our temple!”

Prefect Xiao sprang to his feet in surprise. "Are you sure?"

“I saw it with my own eyes. Although they’ve been re-polished and fitted together, and their appearance has changed, the patterns, the traces of moss, and even the finger impression left by the Great Divine Emissary a hundred years ago—they’re all still there!”

Prefect Xiao’s mind raced, and he remained silent for a moment.

The confidant urgently added, “I sent people back to investigate near Xilin Temple. The local residents and devotees said that after the authorities cordoned off Xilin Temple, no one knew what they were doing inside. Elephant carts and horse carriages went in and out constantly, and the ground shook all day long. Everyone thought they were just hauling away excavated dirt, debris, and ruined walls. One late night, nearby residents saw two giant puppets pass by their homes, dragging the main temple’s stone pillars!”

Prefect Xiao flicked his sleeve. "Prepare the carriage! We're going to the new city!"

Late that night, he drove back to Tianshui City to visit Chief Envoy Liang at the Goddess’s Main Temple.

When Chief Envoy Liang heard the purpose of his visit, his half-grey eyebrows knitted together.

“Items from Xilin Temple were used for the new city’s commemorative pillars? Are you certain?”

“I spent the entire afternoon at Sandiepo, examining every single commemorative pillar!” Prefect Xiao stated firmly. “Three of them were made from the main stone pillars of my Xilin Temple!”

“I also sent people back to Xilin Temple. There...” He was so choked with anger that he had to pause before continuing. “It has been completely emptied. Not just the stone pillars, but even the reliefs, structural components, and even the stone steps of the main hall are gone! Ha, such a huge Xilin Temple, and nothing is left but shattered tiles and broken walls!”

Chief Envoy Liang nodded. “I’ve heard that the new city’s construction is progressing too quickly, and materials haven’t been able to keep up.”

For a country as vast as Yao, the one thing it doesn’t lack is manpower. However, this system has never operated at such a rapid pace, causing many peripheral tasks to fall behind.

The procurement of materials has become the most significant limiting factor for the new city’s construction progress, almost without exception.

There’s a shortage of stone, wood, and all finished or semi-finished products!

Laying roads and building houses isn’t difficult; the challenge lies in producing high-quality finished products that require meticulous craftsmanship.

“Not long ago, when He Lingchuan was building the Youhu Villa, Regent Qingyang made things difficult for him, preventing him from acquiring the green square stones needed for the official residence,” Chief Envoy Liang said. “For this new city construction, the most difficult material to acquire should be Panjin stone.”

Panjin stone is exclusively used for temples and royal buildings. Of course, the commemorative pillars, which showcase the strength of the nation and the prestige of the royal family, must and can only be carved from Panjin stone.

Chief Envoy Liang knew very well that the supply of Panjin stone near Tianshui City had always been insufficient. Just for instance, the Goddess’s Temple has been under renovation for two and a half years and still isn’t finished because it’s waiting for stone. The Yao King’s traveling palace in Youhu Lake also appears to require renovation, which would likewise need a large amount of Panjin stone.

Now they’re building commemorative pillars again; where would the stone come from?

If new materials couldn't be found, they would have to turn their attention to old ones.

Prefect Xiao saw his solemn expression and added another point of suspicion.

“The Yao Court’s covert appropriation of Xilin Temple’s building materials was likely premeditated.”

“How so?”

“What a coincidence that Xilin Temple completely collapsed overnight just when they were short of Panjin stone?” Xilin Temple had been built and adorned over several generations of Yao kings, becoming exquisitely beautiful, which also meant it contained a large amount of Panjin stone—the very Panjin stone that was most scarce for the new city’s construction.

Chief Envoy Liang warned him, “Your accusation is very serious.”

“The very day we moved out, they moved in, and that night the temple collapsed,” Prefect Xiao said in a low voice. “Who knows if it truly collapsed, or if they caused it to collapse?”

Chief Envoy Liang pondered in silence.

“Furthermore, at the beginning of the year, the Spiritual Seer Xiangzhuan clearly stated that although Xilin Temple’s underground had severe water seepage, it could hold for another three to five years without issue,” Prefect Xiao continued. “Then, a hole suddenly appeared from the lakeside to the temple’s underground, water poured in, and the temple was declared an emergency. Do you think this hole could have been man-made?”

Chief Envoy Liang had also read this report. "Didn't Spiritual Seer Xiangzhuan say it could also be naturally formed? And that this seepage hole appeared before the new city's construction began?"

“The new city’s construction has only been underway for a month, but the preliminary planning and discussions had already been ongoing for several years!” Prefect Xiao clenched his teeth. “Spiritual Seer Xiangzhuan also said she couldn’t determine the cause of the seepage hole, and didn’t rule out human influence!”

Chief Envoy Liang pondered for a moment, then instructed his attendants:

“Prepare the carriage, I’m going to the palace.”

That night, You Rongzhi approved several payments, taking the opportunity to nap for a while in his partitioned office.

Those who can truly fight a long war must know how to balance work and rest; one shouldn't collapse before the battle is over. After losing seven catties in weight, You Rongzhi finally learned how to steal moments of leisure amidst his busy schedule, which he concisely called "reasonable slacking off."

Even with just fifteen minutes, he could fall asleep and snore.

However, today’s troubles wouldn’t even grant him half a quarter-hour. You Rongzhi had barely sat down for fifty breaths, his breathing still uneven, when a palace attendant strode quickly to his office:

“Lord You, His Majesty summons you!”

It was almost midnight, yet His Majesty demanded an urgent audience? An ominous feeling rose in You Rongzhi’s heart.

“Do you know what it’s about?”

“Lord Qiu revealed it might be related to the newly erected commemorative pillars. You and Master He must go to the palace immediately!”

Qiu Long leaking the news was to prepare him mentally. But even He Lingchuan had to go?

Soon after, the two boarded a carriage bound for the royal palace together.

“Island Lord He, I hear His Majesty’s late-night summons is related to the commemorative pillars.” You Rongzhi’s face was solemn. “Do you know anything about it?”

“The commemorative pillars aren’t finished?” He Lingchuan looked baffled. “Haven’t they already been completed? Commoners have been coming in waves to admire them, and they’ve received rave reviews in Tianshui City. Three more delegations are also scheduled to visit in the next few days. Lord You, do you know more details?”

You Rongzhi shook his head.

“What’s meant to be will be. If it’s trouble, there’s no escaping it. We’ll find out when we get there.” He Lingchuan yawned and found a comfortable position. “It’s still an hour until we reach the palace; I’ll just nap for a bit.”

The Soul-Capturing Mirror in his arms asked him, “Is it about to begin? Should you prepare to escape?”

He Lingchuan gently shook his head, feigning it as a result of the carriage’s sway.

This trip to the palace certainly carried some risks.

But with the solid foundation he had laid beforehand, he was confident he could navigate through it.

He had come to the Yao nation to accomplish great things; how could he possibly avoid any risk from beginning to end?

Passing by Yuquan Palace at night, You Rongzhi couldn’t help but rub his arms. “It’s truly cold!”

Ever since the old pear blossoms withered, no plants could survive here. Even the two flower spirits transplanted here froze to death.

Yuquan Palace should now be renamed "Cold Palace." There wasn’t a single living creature there.

Further on, the Yao King’s study was brightly lit.

You and He entered. Besides the Yao King, two other important figures were prominently present.

You Rongzhi introduced them to He Lingchuan: “This is Chief Envoy Liang, and this is Prefect Xiao!”

Chief Envoy Liang, needless to say, was the Goddess’s earthly representative in Tianshui City. “Prefect Xiao is Xilin Temple’s Prefect.”

He Lingchuan acknowledged their presence with a bow.

However, he had actually met Prefect Xiao by the lake on the very day the Spiritual Seer entered the city.

The Yao King’s expression was also displeased.

Chief Envoy Liang had suddenly demanded an explanation from him in the middle of the night, and had even denied him the chance to privately summon You and He, insisting on an immediate confrontation.

This put the Yao King in a very passive position, with no room for maneuver.

But he didn’t want to offend Chief Envoy Liang directly, so he got straight to the point:

“Chief Envoy Liang tells me that building materials dismantled from Xilin Temple have been used for the commemorative pillars outside the new city’s official residence! Can either of you tell me what this is about?”

Upon hearing this, You Rongzhi’s eyes widened.

“Such a thing happened?!”

How could he not know?

The Yao King’s gaze turned to him. “My dear You, you speak first!”

“I...” You Rongzhi’s mind raced. “The materials for the commemorative pillars were approved by me, but...”

But he truly didn’t know what had happened. This was also the first time he had heard about Xilin Temple’s building materials being diverted for use in the new city’s commemorative pillars. No one would dare make such a decision, nor did anyone have the authority, except for—

You Rongzhi’s eyes flickered, but he avoided looking at He Lingchuan.

However, He Lingchuan, standing beside him, stated openly, “I gave the order.”

Just as expected.

Chief Envoy Liang said calmly, “Your Majesty also heard it. This man has presumptuously used temple property and should be arrested and punished!”

The Yao King felt a headache coming on. “He Lingchuan, what is the meaning of this?!”

“Your Majesty, Xilin Temple has already collapsed, and there’s severe water seepage underground. It’s impossible to dismantle and rebuild it in its original location.”

Prefect Xiao pointed at He Lingchuan and angrily said, “Is that your excuse for misappropriating Xilin Temple’s stone materials?!”

He Lingchuan immediately said, “The aftermath of Xilin Temple is entirely our responsibility, and both Your Majesty and Chief Envoy Liang approved it.”

The expressions of the two he had named were not pleased. Yao officials would never dare to shift the blame back onto them in such a manner.

Indeed, both the Yao King and Chief Envoy Liang had approved it, but they both assumed... Chief Envoy Liang, displeased, said, “He Lingchuan, my approval was for you to eliminate the hidden dangers at Xilin Temple, not to appropriate Panjin stone materials!”

“Xilin Temple is filled with massive stones, and the ground beneath is soft from water seepage. If we didn't remove these massive stones, the temple grounds would become a lake within a month,” He Lingchuan said earnestly. “You can invite Spiritual Seer Xiangzhuan to verify this again: if Xilin Temple isn’t dismantled, it will soon turn into a lake area, submerging the surrounding neighborhoods as well, and many commoners will become homeless.”