Chapter 600

He Lingchuan saw that he still looked somewhat downcast, so he asked, "You're the victim here. What else do you have to worry about?"

"It concerns Prince Lingxu."

As soon as Fu Shanyue uttered those words, He Lingchuan understood his meaning: "Are you worried that because of Prince Huan, this farce will ultimately be downplayed and dismissed?"

Fu Shanyue remained silent.

Even before going to Lingxiao Palace, he knew the Emperor's intentions. Those in power don't need to treat everyone equally, but they must know how to appease people and downplay major incidents. In this process of weighing pros and cons, some individuals' interests are bound to be sacrificed.

"That's easy to handle."

Fu Shanyue's gaze shifted. "What cunning scheme do you have up your sleeve now, you rascal?"

"Just insist that you know who the mastermind is."

"The mastermind... who?"

"Whoever you think is most likely, you just latch onto them, attack fiercely in front of the Emperor, and declare that they did it!" He Lingchuan said with a smile. "As for the truth — the truth isn't important."

"Most likely..." Fu Shanyue thought for a moment, then also smiled, a particularly ruthless smile. "You're right. If I only seek an explanation from the Emperor, I'll probably be fobbed off. But if I don't let go of this person, they'll have to prove their innocence, and this matter won't just casually fade away."

He stood up and stretched. "Alright, I know what to do."

The cleanup of Panshanzhai and the compensation for the deceased were still ongoing, so He Lingchuan didn't need to worry about them. Nevertheless, he took out three hundred taels of silver and had his guards distribute it to the victims' families.

The cooks at Panshanzhai made exceptionally delicious pastries, especially the yam, walnut, and date cake. The servants in the back garden knew he liked to practice martial arts or meditate under the tallest pear tree, so they swept and tidied the area twice a day to keep it spotless. They even made two straw figures for He Lingchuan to practice spear fighting. They were all good people who had suffered an undeserved calamity.

As soon as He Lingchuan entered the inn courtyard, Old Shan returned and handed him a note:

"Young Master, these are Zhaifu Kua's birth characters."

"Excellent." Li Qingge's efficiency was remarkable.

Old Shan had passed Panshanzhai on his way, seen the tragic state of affairs there, and then found his way to the inn through Fu Shanyue's guards.

"Such a beautiful mansion, what a pity," Old Shan sighed. "The Marquis wants to ask Young Master if there's anything you need; just say the word."

He Lingchuan shook his head. "Please thank the Marquis for me. We'll just take care of our own affairs."

"The Marquis wants me to inform you that Zhaifu Kua will be arriving in the Lower City in two days."

He Lingchuan was genuinely surprised. "Is your Marquis's intelligence capability already that formidable?" Although Zhaifu Kua was a retired official, he lived on the floating island. There was a chasm separating the Upper and Lower Cities. Could Li Qingge, an outsider Daoist sect leader, really ascertain Zhaifu Kua's specific whereabouts for the next few days within a single day? If she possessed such ability, why couldn't she handle Nian Zanli? A slight doubt arose in He Lingchuan's mind.

Old Shan waved his hand and smiled. "The Marquis isn't a deity, nor does she have eyes planted in Zhaifu's household, so how could she know everything? She simply sent an invitation to Zhaifu Kua, inviting him to attend a tasting event hosted by Songyang Mansion in three days."

"Clever!" Li Qingge's move turned the tables, making He Lingchuan give a thumbs-up. "Did Zhaifu Kua agree?"

"The Marquis also invited many prominent figures and several of Zhaifu Kua's friends. She also mentioned that Songyang Mansion's new products could be taken home for trial, with a full refund if not satisfied, so Lord Zhaifu gladly accepted." Old Shan asked him, "The Marquis wants to know how to coordinate with Young Master's actions at that time?"

"Me?" He Lingchuan took a large mouthful of strong tea, gargled vigorously, and then spat it out. "I'm not going."

"..." Old Shan froze.

The Young Master made one request, and the Marquis went to great lengths to organize a tasting event and gather all the people he wanted. And now the main person himself wasn't going?

"I need to avoid suspicion and cannot be present there," He Lingchuan said earnestly. "Please ask the Marquis to help collect Zhaifu Kua's hair, blood, or a drinking cup—anything that has been in contact with his body—and send it to me as soon as possible."

Old Shan noted it down. "I'll go deliver the message right away."

"Be careful when you leave the inn," He Lingchuan cautioned him. "Who knows how many pairs of eyes are watching this place now."

No sooner had Old Shan left than Fu Shanyue rushed over, stating solemnly, "The Emperor has decreed that you and I must proceed to the Heavenly Palace immediately!"

He Lingchuan's heart skipped a beat. Pointing to his own nose, he asked, "The Emperor also summoned me?"

"Did I not make myself clear?" Fu Shanyue urged him. "Hurry, change your clothes, something more presentable, quickly, quickly!"

"Why does he want me to go?"

Fu Shanyue grumbled, "Go ask the Emperor directly, why ask me?"

As He Lingchuan changed his outer garment, he asked, "Do you usually go to the Heavenly Palace when you have an audience with the Emperor?"

"Normally, we go to Lingxiao Peak. That's the Emperor's palace, where he handles state affairs and also rests." Fu Shanyue also frowned. "Prince Huan committed murder and arson. What does that have to do with the Heavenly Palace?" Why would the Emperor receive them in the Heavenly Palace? Anyway, overthinking was useless. Even if the Emperor wanted to summon them in the Grass Sea, they would still have to eagerly rush there.

And the first thought that popped into He Lingchuan's mind was that the Heavenly Gods had set their sights on him! The thought of countless malicious eyes watching him from the void made his heart sink into an ice cellar, and cold sweat seeped from his palms.

Should he just escape now? Find an excuse to go to the outhouse, then quietly leave the city on a Bighorn Sheep? This idea, once it appeared, grew wildly, almost uncontrollably. Lingxu City was so large that even if the Heavenly Palace discovered his escape, as long as he acted quickly enough, there was a good chance he could flee before the city was sealed.

And then?

What should he do then?

His heart pounded, wanting only to turn and flee; this was the physiological instinct when facing great terror.

"He Xiao?" Fu Shanyue saw him change clothes and then suddenly freeze, his belt not even tied. So he called him again, "He Xiao! Hey, what are you thinking about?"

He Lingchuan jolted, suddenly snapping back to reality.

That's not right! If the Heavenly Palace were certain the Great Pot of Vastness was on him, they would simply send people to apprehend him directly. Wouldn't that be faster, more convenient, and more in line with the Heavenly Gods' style? Why bother with the Emperor issuing a decree and having Fu Shanyue bring him up Mount Xu? One must know, delays can lead to complications.

So, was this still primarily a test?

Or perhaps just a simple appeasement?

"The Heavenly Palace Guard is already waiting outside, over two hundred people. They say it's an escort, but to me, it looks more like an arrest," Fu Shanyue urged again. "Hurry up, there are very few people in this world who dare to make them wait too long."

He Lingchuan's movements slowed. The Heavenly Palace even sent guards? Were they preventing them from escaping? In that case, the inn was probably already surrounded, and he couldn't leave even if he wanted to.

"It's fine," He Lingchuan said, putting on a smile. "I've always wanted to visit the Star-Plucking Pavilion and see what it's like."

If he fled now, wouldn't that confirm their suspicions? Then, the Emperor's wrath and the Heavenly Gods' might would all descend upon him alone. Moreover, could he really escape? That was a net from which there was no escape!

Even if he took a hundred steps back and assumed he could escape Lingxu City now, Beijia was so vast, and prying eyes were everywhere, both above and below. How far could he flee, and for how long? Unless he was like Xi Yunhe... However, Xi Yunhe had someone secretly assisting him. If He Lingchuan fled now, he would probably only be able to rely on himself.

He Lingchuan re-evaluated what he had said in front of Bai Ziqi.

How many flaws could there be?

"Let's go." He Lingchuan straightened his clothes, dusting a speck of dirt off his lapel. "Don't keep the Emperor waiting."

Was this walking willingly into a trap? But if he turned and fled, on one hand, the chance of escaping Beijia was too small; on the other hand, all his previous efforts would be for naught. All the clues he wanted to investigate in Lingxu City would be cut short.

Did he still remember his original purpose for coming to Lingxu City?

Things had come to this. He Lingchuan clenched his fist, secretly telling himself that as long as he got through this immediate hurdle, things would surely turn bright afterward!

The autumn wind in northern Lingxu City was still as cold and biting. He Lingchuan's journey north this time was completely different from his previous sightseeing trips; he felt as if the distance had significantly shortened. Mount Xu, which seemed so far away, was reached in no time at all.

When summoned by the Emperor, they naturally didn't have to climb the mountain on foot; instead, they had the privilege of being transported by an array. Specifically, they took a special path forbidden to tourists, heading directly to the base of Tianzhu Peak, the main peak of Mount Xu where the Heavenly Palace was located. Here, there were checkpoints and garrison camps, clearly a well-equipped military town where idlers were unwelcome. And most importantly, inside the most unassuming building here, there was a teleportation array!

It was He Lingchuan's first time using a teleportation array, like a maiden going to her wedding sedan chair for the first time. As soon as he entered the room, he looked around curiously. The room was about ten square meters. In each of the four corners of the room, plus the center, there was a waist-high hexagonal pillar of unknown material, dark and gleaming. Intricate runes detached themselves from the pillars, glowing as they slowly circled around them. The array on the ground was perfectly round, each line shimmering with a faint blue light. He Lingchuan had seen similar array diagrams in his courses at Panlong City, but they were far more complex than this one. The array at the base of Tianzhu Peak, on the other hand, appeared simpler. But He Lingchuan tried to memorize it diligently, yet he couldn't remember the patterns or their flow. A typical case of seeing it and immediately forgetting it. It wasn't because he had a bad memory, but because the array had an external protective mechanism that prevented anyone from fully comprehending it.

Fu Shanyue pointed at the array and said, "This is a small one; only a few people can pass through it."

"There are bigger ones?"

Before Fu Shanyue could answer, a guard nearby barked, "Military secrets are not to be lightly discussed!"

Fu Shanyue scoffed with a laugh and fell silent.

He Lingchuan knew what he wanted to say. With people and supplies moving so frequently up and down Tianzhu Peak, there naturally had to be larger teleportation arrays. It was possible there was more than one. It was just that these guards, having basked in the divine and heavenly power of Tianzhu Peak for so long, spoke with a heightened sense of authority, even though they merely managed the lifts. Of course, Fu Shanyue wouldn't bother arguing with these gatekeepers; it would be beneath his dignity.

The two walked into the array and stood still around the central stone pillar. Fu Shanyue reached out and pressed the pillar. The blue light beneath their feet flared intensely, and the surrounding scenery suddenly blurred. Even He Lingchuan felt a slight dizziness. Of course, this change lasted less than two breaths, and then the surrounding scenery had completely changed.