Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 266 - 263 Turmoil

"Do you really not need me to help you find out?" Chu Zhiyuan said, "You know how fast I can investigate this."

"...Let me think about it," Li Hongzhao pondered.

Su Qiuyan remained silent.

Li Hongzhao turned her head to look at her.

Su Qiuyan sighed, "How about we investigate ourselves first?"

"Mr. Su, can you really find it out?" Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "I fear it’s unlikely, isn’t it?"

Su Qiuyan gently said, "There are always clues."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If they weren’t confident, how could they act? It’s very hard for you to find out quickly."

"We can!" Li Hongzhao gritted her teeth.

She understood Su Qiuyan’s concerns.

Family shame should not be made public, but that’s just one aspect; there’s likely a lot of secrets involved.

Secrets that should not be known to Chu Zhiyuan.

This was the most important.

"Then forget it," Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Even when people are eager to help, this world really is..."

"Really, thank you for your kindness," Li Hongzhao said angrily, "You’re so passionate!"

This Chu Zhiyuan was not a warm-hearted person but a lazy fellow who avoided trouble.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "So should we still go to Lu Yaofeng’s Cave Mansion?"

"I’ll go when I get a real Detoxification Pearl."

"Get two real Detoxification Pearls, get me one too."

"Got it!" Li Hongzhao readily agreed.

She turned around with a sullen face and walked away.

Chu Zhiyuan deliberately escorted them out of the mansion, watching them disappear into the distance of Prince Qing Mansion Street, and only when they turned the corner did he look away, smiling.

Is this a fight for the imperial throne, an Evil Sect master, or another force?

Will this stir up a bloody storm in Da Meng?

It depends on the Da Meng Emperor’s attitude toward this Princess, which would reveal his true stance.

He could see Li Hongzhao’s ambition, and surely the Da Meng Emperor could too, or perhaps it wasn’t hidden at all.

Will Da Meng really produce a female Empress?

But this is Da Meng, a nation rugged and valorous.

——

With a mind set on watching the excitement, he first visited the Inspection Department, asking Ma Tianhe and the others to monitor Da Meng’s Tianjing to see if there was any major event, and who was behind it.

Chu Zhiyuan didn’t rush away and spoke about other matters, "Lord Ma, do you know what Da Meng uses to send messages?"

Ma Tianhe said, "Mostly golden eagles."

Chu Zhiyuan asked, "What about us?"

"We use startled cloud sparrows, which are slightly slower."

"Is there anything faster?"

"...That I don’t know," Ma Tianhe hesitated, finally shaking his head, "Golden eagles should be the fastest."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Can golden eagles reach Tianjing from here within a day?"

Ma Tianhe shook his head, "Golden eagles should take two days; they probably can’t fly at night."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "As far as I know, they have a method of sending messages that can reach Tianjing within a day."

This was a secret Li Hongzhao inadvertently revealed.

She didn’t think much of it.

But Chu Zhiyuan considered it important.

The speed of message delivery is crucial.

Not only for daily affairs but more critically for war orders.

"Look into it," Chu Zhiyuan said, "finding this out might earn you a promotion, Lord Ma."

"Yes!" Ma Tianhe’s eyes lit up instantly.

Chu Zhiyuan got up to leave.

Ma Tianhe fawningly escorted him to the entrance of the Inspection Department, turning back only after Chu Zhiyuan’s figure disappeared completely.

——

Since he was at the Inspection Department, Chu Zhiyuan thought he might as well take a stroll around the Ministry of Rites.

To avoid gossip, saying that this Princely Heir was lazy, neglecting his duties while taking a salary for nothing.

No matter how high the status of the Da Jing Imperial Family, there are always those displeased with them.

The Imperial Censors, and others who aimlessly muddle through for the day, will nitpick a few words, fully displaying their acrimony.

Not to mention the common custom of discussing politics, where everyone criticizes the powerful.

When Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the Ministry of Rites, Gao Lingfeng was still overwhelmed with work, barely having time to lift his head.

He was busy at his desk, surrounded by tall stacks of documents, with clerks constantly bringing more.

The clerks all saluted.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, indicating they need not speak.

Gao Lingfeng suddenly sensed something unusual, looked up abruptly, and upon seeing him, quickly got up from the desk and saluted with clenched fists.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand with a smile, "Lord Gao, you’re truly working hard."

Gao Lingfeng laughed, "Why would you say that, Your Excellency? The busier I am, the happier I get."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, indeed it was good.

He didn’t want to be busy with governmental affairs and trivial matters, but Gao Lingfeng liked to handle them.

The two complemented each other perfectly.

"What’s the urgent matter?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Gao Lingfeng immediately became solemn and presented a document with both hands.

Zou Fang stepped forward to take it, glanced at it, then handed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan quickly read it through, frowned, and said, "Several sect conflicts, what about the Military Suppression Department?"

"The Military Suppression Department has already gone to suppress, but by the time they arrived, the situation was already very bad."

"Didn’t they notice earlier?"

"Someone deliberately concealed the situation. I’ve already ordered a thorough investigation; the officials of Xunzhou City, whitewashing peace, will not be lightly spared!"

"Hmm, heavy punishment," Chu Zhiyuan nodded, laid down the document, and pondered silently.

"Do you think something is amiss?" Gao Lingfeng asked.

Chu Zhiyuan snorted, "Several sects in a chaotic battle, the cave mansion of Da Meng’s Great Grandmaster Lu Yaofeng a thousand years ago, haven’t found out who spread the rumor?"

The direction of Lu Yaofeng’s Cave Mansion and Xunzhou City are completely different, clearly a rumor.

Gao Lingfeng shook his head, "Too many died; it’s difficult to investigate clearly. In the end, the Military Suppression Department might just gloss over it."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, "It’s quite a coincidence, I recently heard about this Great Grandmaster’s Cave Mansion, and then it spread and caused such a large impact."

Is this the handwriting of Da Meng?

But Xunzhou City isn’t a crucial place, just an ordinary small city.

If it were a crucial town or a big city, the Military Suppression Department would have reacted immediately at the slightest anomaly.

And it’s Lu Yaofeng’s Cave Mansion!

But those who knew about this, it was only Li Hongzhao.

If Li Hongzhao knew this, she would definitely seal the information, not letting it leak.

But considering that her Detoxification Pearl was switched, her ability to keep secrets can’t be entirely trusted.

"Lord Gao, have you considered why spread this message in Xunzhou City?"

"Could the Cave Mansion be in Xunzhou City?"

"As far as I know, it’s not in Xunzhou City."

"Then..."

"Let’s not discuss where it is, let’s focus on why spread such a rumor."

"Your Excellency, could it be the Evil Sect’s revenge?"

"It’s possible."

"As for Da Meng..."

"Also possible."

"...I can’t think of anything else," Gao Lingfeng admitted.

Chu Zhiyuan gazed at the evening sun in the sky and sighed, "We can’t rule out any party, including Da Zhen."

Gao Lingfeng’s expression changed slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "And we can’t completely exclude the major sects either... This is really troublesome, can the Military Suppression Department handle it?"

"I don’t think so," Gao Lingfeng replied.

"Then ask the Grandmaster Mansion," Chu Zhiyuan said solemnly.

Gao Lingfeng hesitated.

The Grandmaster Mansion is not the same as the Grandmaster Mansion; it’s not easily moved, and he knew he couldn’t move it.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I will personally speak with the Great Grandmaster... First, thoroughly investigate the officials of Xunzhou City; go over them, maybe there are some hidden rats."

"Yes," Gao Lingfeng solemnly agreed.

He could imagine that the officials of Xunzhou City would experience a major upheaval, with storms and tempests coming, not knowing how many could survive.

Chu Zhiyuan left with his hands behind his back, pacing as he pondered the intricacies of the situation.

He felt that this matter was shrouded in fog, seemingly targeting Lu Yaofeng’s Cave Mansion, but not entirely.

When he arrived at Li Hongzhao’s place, he found the atmosphere in the entire Da Meng embassy to be relaxed, with no sense of oppression.

This was unexpected.

He thought Li Hongzhao was rigorously investigating those around her, interrogating them one by one, but she had no intention of conducting a strict investigation at all.