Chapter 58: Fang Chen, do you know the crime of deceiving the emperor?
Hearing his words, Fang Cangyou lightly dusted off the blanket draped over his legs, casually saying, "You want to see Chen'er? What's the matter?"
"Fang Chen is related to the disappearance of Qin Dong, the deputy minister of rites. We’re here to bring him back for interrogation.” Chief Pacifier Liu chuckled. "I have an official warrant for his arrest, issued personally by the commanding officer, and approved by His Majesty. Second Master Fang, you won’t try and hinder the arrest, will you?”
Fang Cangyou's expression changed, and the guards of the Fang family stared at Chief Pacifier Liu, ready to strike the moment he gave orders to his personnel.
Actually, the Valiant Saber Guards were nothing in the eyes of the Fang family guards. Every one of them had come from the military. They had all fought either under Fang Canghai or Fang Cangyou, and there were even some who joined Fang Chen in his expeditions.
As long as Fang Cangyou gave the word, none of the Valiant Saber Guards would leave the manor alive.
Fang Cangyou spoke unhurriedly, "Chen'er has no connection with Qin Dong. I'm afraid you’re mistaken."
"Some people saw Fang Chen together with the minister in the Hall of Compassion. Minister Qin went missing right after that. I have a reason to suspect that things can't be that coincidental. Naturally, we need to investigate what exactly happened. I hope Second Master Fang can notify Fang Chen of our presence and have him follow us back to the station,” Chief Pacifier Liu said with a faint smile.
Fang Cangyou was about to speak when he saw Fang Chen approaching slowly.
Seeing that Fang Chen had arrived, the expressions on the faces of Chief Pacifier Liu and his subordinates flickered, but they regained their composure shortly later.
Chief Pacifier Liu showed him a smile and greeted while cupping his fists together. "Divine General Fang, we meet again."
"Second Uncle, please head back and rest. The injury to your legs makes it really inconvenient for you.” Fang Chen smiled at Fang Cangyou.
Seeing that Fang Chen was ignoring him, Chief Pacifier Liu's expression sank. He said in a gloomy tone, "Divine General Fang, come with us."
Fang Chen suddenly whipped his head and glared at Chief Pacifier Liu, his gaze as sharp as lightning. "I'm talking to my uncle. What qualifications do you have to interrupt us? Shut up and stand there."
Chief Pacifier Liu's face turned extremely grim, but he no longer spoke. He was afraid Fang Chen would slap him in front of everyone.
"Chen'er, how bad is the situation?” Fang Cangyou asked in a low voice.
“It’s nothing.” Fang Chen chuckled. “I’ll be back before dinner.”
Hearing that, Fang Cangyou laughed heartily. "Alright then!” Then, he ordered someone to push him away.
Under the watchful eyes of the guards of the Fang family, Chief Pacifier Liu and Fang Chen left the manor.
Shortly later.
"This isn't the way to your station." Suddenly, Fang Chen’s voice cut through the silence.
"We’re on the way to the Imperial Palace. His Majesty will preside over the hearing in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. With the addition of Deputy Minister Qin’s disappearance, your reckless slaughter of soldiers of the Longdu Empire will be dealt with.” A light flashed through Chief Pacifier Liu's eyes as he smiled cold.
Fang Chen nodded slightly. "Indeed, what’s coming will come. It’s time to settle everything.”
The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The ministers were locked in fervent discussion, their voices filling the court as they discussed Minister Qin’s disappearance. The man hadn’t attended the morning court the day before, which many people had found strange.
As the deputy minister of rites, Qin Dong was a second-ranked official of the Grand Xia Empire. There was no way he could miss morning court! After all, doing so was a crime equivalent to deceiving the emperor!
When he hadn’t appeared yesterday, Prime Minister Li Guozhu immediately sent someone to inquire about him in his residence. Upon learning that Minister Qin had not returned since the day before, he promptly reported the matter to the emperor, who promptly instructed Xiao Shenace to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Finally, all the tracks led to the incident back at the Hall of Compassion. They had discovered that the last person who had seen the minister was Fang Chen.
"Divine General Fang and Minister Qin have no grievances or enmity. It wouldn't make sense for him to harm Minister Qin, right? Moreover, Minister Qin is a second-ranked official of the Grand Xia Empire. Even Divine General Fang knows how to show some restraint when handling things.”
"You can't really say that. Divine General Fang is a martial artist at the end of the day. It's not uncommon for martial artists to violate the law. Perhaps Minister Qin offended Divine General Fang...”
"Hmph. Well, if you put it that way, doesn’t that make all of us just a bunch of lambs that those martial artists could slaughter on a whim? Such a line of thought cannot be tolerated; we must be offered an explanation!"
"That’s right! We need to see Minister Qin if he’s alive. If he’s dead, we need to see his corpse! He’s a second-ranked official. He can’t disappear without a trace!”
Everyone continued to discuss the matter as they made their positions clear.
In the crowd, Li Huafeng remained indifferent. He would occasionally glance at the fifth prince, who was joking and laughing with the others, off to the side. At other times, his gaze would fall on the crown prince.
He quietly assessed everything. He was like a leopard lurking in the jungle—always ready to make a move.
"Your Highness, Divine General Fang has grown too arrogant. He even dared to act against a second-ranked official like Minister Qin. No matter what, I must be offered a satisfactory explanation!” Beside the crown prince, Zhou Xiu smiled ambiguously.
The crown prince smiled and replied, "Of course, Viscount Zhou. Rest assured that we’ll give you a satisfactory answer.”
"Fang Chen has arrived!” A stern voice suddenly emanated from outside the hall.
The crowd looked on in curiosity as Chief Pacifier Liu led Fang Chen into the Hall of Supreme Harmony and knelt before the emperor to pay his respects.
"Your Majesty, I have brought Divine General Fang," he reported.
All the eyes fell on Fang Chen, who—in contrast to Chief Pacifier Liu— did not kneel. He was exercising his privilege of remaining standing in the emperor's presence.
The moment Zhou Xiu saw him, resentment filled his heart, and his expression turned grim. He wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.
"Mmhmm.” The emperor nodded indifferently. “You may step back."
Chief Pacifier Liu immediately withdrew and stood behind Xiao Shence.
The emperor then stared at Fang Chen, and calmly asked, "Do you know why I’ve summoned you?"
"I heard Minister Qin has gone missing," Fang Chen replied with a smile.
"Yes. Now, give me an explanation. Why did you order General You Longchang to raid the Hall of Compassion in the northern suburbs?" the emperor inquired. Many were puzzled by Fang Chen's focus on the Hall of Compassion. How did the Hall of Compassion offend this supposed mighty figure?
"Your Majesty, that has nothing to do with me. I was merely visiting the Hall of Compassion by chance when I came across their immoral activities. On my trip, I had learnt that they were heavily involved in human trafficking, thievery and prostitution. They were extremely corrupt. That was why General You made his move,” Fang Chen explained with a smile.
"I don't care about those matters. All I wish to know is where Deputy Minister Qin went! They’re saying you’re the last person to see him. As a second-ranked official of this empire, his sudden disappearance is unacceptable. I need an explanation," the emperor declared sternly.
Fang Chen muttered, "Your Majesty, Minister Qin is no handicap. How am I supposed to control his movements?”
"Are you claiming that you haven’t played a part in the disappearance of Deputy Minister Qin?”
Fang Chen grinned. "Exactly."
"Fang Chen, do you know the crime of lying to me?" The emperor's voice was growing colder, and he cast a glance at Xiao Shence.
Xiao Shence immediately stepped forward and said to Fang Chen, "I have found out that Minister Qin was once involved in a case about a missing person, a maid to be exact, a maid from his manor. The Grand Brilliance Bureau had thoroughly investigated this case in the past and had cleared Minister Qin of any wrongdoing. Recently, you reopened the case privately with the officials from the Grand Brilliance Bureau. Deputy Minister Qin went missing next. All these events seem to be connected!"
Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Therefore, we have a reason to suspect that the disappearance of Deputy Minister Qin is related to you! I hope you can tell us the truth!”
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