Chapter 462: Chapter 426: Suspicion
Hua Qianmian secretly encouraged herself, maintaining a calm demeanor as she approached Qiu Wanjun.
Qiu Wanjun had been watching Hua Qianmian, who was disguised as Zuo Jinye, and only when she came closer did he withdraw his gaze, lowering his eyes to greet her with a salute.
Hua Qianmian raised her hand for an empty gesture of support, "Are you feeling better?"
Qiu Wanjun nodded slightly and countered, "Didn’t the Prime Minister say they were going to..."
The sentence trailed off, leaving the destination of Zuo Jinye unspoken. Hua Qianmian had often played other people over the years, having been questioned and tested many times, already well-versed in such battles.
Hua Qianmian glanced aside, guiding Qiu Wanjun’s attention to the tied-up Sang Que behind her, cryptically saying, "Make the false seem true, and the true seem false."
Qiu Wanjun pondered briefly, then suddenly understood, "The Prime Minister is wise!"
So the Prime Minister deliberately spread news of his departure to lure these people in, only to hide in secret and catch them when they showed themselves!
"Does the Prime Minister need me to help lock her in the Evil Ghost Bureau?" Qiu Wanjun volunteered.
Hua Qianmian sighed, declining, "No need, this is a family matter, not state business. Find a quiet room; I have much to discuss with her without interruptions. Ahem, cough, cough."
Qiu Wanjun gave a deep look at Sang Que, who, even when bound, stood upright with an unyielding demeanor.
Outside of Jianshui City in Qinzhou, Qiu Wanjun had seen Sang Que before. When Zuo Jinye appeared, she was immediately bound by Black Impermanence with the Soul Hook, a situation much like the current one.
Qiu Wanjun had no reason to suspect and stepped aside to allow Zuo Jinye passage to the back of the council chamber.
Zuo Jinye knew the layout within the Evil Suppression Bureau well and had her own space to handle matters solo, with no need for guidance.
If not for Sang Que’s prior inquiry with He Buning, she might truly be at a loss.
Hua Qianmian led Sang Que inward, and with Qiu Wanjun still standing there watching, Hua felt like thorns were on her back, feeling immense pressure.
Though Qiu Wanjun didn’t suspect this Prime Minister was an imposter, as a sixth-level Yin Walking General, his senses were sharp, feeling something was amiss yet unable to pinpoint what it was.
In Shengjing City, any minor incident could escalate, allowing no room for sloppiness.
Qiu Wanjun pondered momentarily before decisively heading towards the Inspection Bureau.
The story splits into two paths.
Hua Qianmian led Sang Que deeper into the Evil Suppression Bureau. The layout of the Shengjing Exorcism Bureau formed a small Eight Diagrams, situated within the eye of one of the fishes of the grand Eight Diagrams of Shengjing City, with the Imperial Palace within the other fish eye.
And within the Evil Suppression Bureau, these two fish-eye positions were replaced by the underground Evil Ghost Bureau and the courtyard where Zuo Jinye handled public affairs.
He Buning had told Sang Que there were two places in the Shengjing Exorcism Bureau one must not enter: one was the Evil Ghost Bureau, and the other, Zuo Jinye’s courtyard.
But to play the role fully, Hua Qianmian headed straight to Zuo Jinye’s courtyard with Sang Que, and upon arrival, Sang Que entered first.
Just as Sang Que set one foot over the threshold, an immense force hit her, expelling the Yin Child from her body, which was then confined by this invisible power.
The Yin Child was furious and ready to struggle, but Sang Que discreetly signaled it not to move, not to reveal the Yin Child’s current sixth-level strength.
Throughout the Deceit Dynasty, besides Zuo Jinye, who had half a foot into the Ghost God Realm, the sixth level was the peak. Even in the Shengjing Exorcism Bureau, the strongest Feng Shui formations and all yin objects, secret artifacts, could at best contend with sixth-level Evil Ghosts.
If the Yin Child fully resisted, it might break through the Feng Shui Formation’s restrictions in this courtyard of Zuo Jinye.
At that time, Day Traveling Envoys tasked with guarding and patrolling the courtyard were already aware, sure to report to Qiu Wanjun afterwards.
Hua Qianmian sighed at the right moment, putting on a look of care and helplessness, made her disguised Black Impermanence Painted Skin Ghost tug the fake Soul Hook, pulling Sang Que two steps back away from the threshold, making the Yin Child disappear on the spot, returning to Sang Que.
"Someone, go clean up the next courtyard," Hua Qianmian instructed.
Separated by a bamboo grove was another empty courtyard, intended for officers and captains needing to reside within the Evil Suppression Bureau.
After much effort, Hua Qianmian finally brought Sang Que into a safe, small courtyard.
After closing the door and ensuring everyone left with no eavesdropping, Hua Qianmian’s legs, unsteady, gave way, collapsing into a Taishi Chair in the small courtyard’s hall, taking a sip of the hot tea just delivered, in Zuo Jinye style.
At such a critical moment, even when alone, Hua Qianmian must adhere to character, her actions matching the identity she’s portraying.
Sang Que remained silent, neither speaking to Hua Qianmian nor shedding the Soul Hook, sitting quietly with eyes closed, waiting for Hua Qianmian’s time playing the role to conclude, to proceed with the next step.
Hua Qianmian had started the role-playing at Chen hour in the morning, and it wouldn’t complete until the next day’s Chen hour.
Over on the modern side, Sang Que had informed researchers, who would see news of heroic deeds spread in a sparsely populated city at night, a way to quickly boost incense for Hua Qianmian to smoothly achieve the five-layered Heart Lamp.
Sang Que gazed outside the window, hoping the night wouldn’t be too long.
...
Qiu Wanjun sat by the brazier. After hearing his subordinate’s report, though seemingly no issue, his sense of something amiss grew stronger.
Dismissing his men, Qiu Wanjun entered the inner room, retrieving a box from the secret compartment of the bookshelf. Opening it revealed a thumbnail-sized piece of white paper.
This was a piece from the Mourning Stick of White Impermanence, commanded by Zuo Jinye, left with Qiu Wanjun before his departure, instructed to burn the paper if urgent matters arose, prompting Zuo Jinye’s swift return.
Qiu Wanjun was deep in thought. Prime Minister Zuo was currently afflicted by a Blood Curse, barely restraining Black and White Impermanence; leaving even this piece of paper was no small feat.
After all, Prime Minister Zuo was in Tibet, separated from Shengjing by Jinzhou, and even the Five Ghosts couldn’t relay messages over such distances, especially as Tibet was a Buddhist Holy Land, a place Five Ghosts dared not tread.
After much contemplation, Qiu Wanjun closed the box, tucked it under his arm, and ordered dinner packed in a food box, delivering it personally to the Prime Minister.
Qiu Wanjun’s unexpected visit was within Hua Qianmian’s expectations. She acted naturally, opening the door herself to welcome Qiu Wanjun in, accepting the food box in his hands.
Qiu Wanjun had something in mind to say, yet Hua Qianmian turned to the main hall with the food box, laying out the dishes one by one on the tea table beside Sang Que, with the warmth of a fatherly figure.
Hua Qianmian had been informed of the relationship between Sang Que and Zuo Jinye.
While arranging the meal, she said, "I’ve explained all afternoon, why don’t you understand yet? Everything I’m doing now isn’t for power or for myself. You just need to tell me how to reach the Immortal Country, and I won’t trouble you anymore. I can also meet all your conditions, including releasing the people of Nine Songs."
The mention of Immortal Country brightened Qiu Wanjun, making him forget his purpose, completely captivated.
As one of the most trusted by Zuo Jinye, Qiu Wanjun had heard Zuo talk about the Immortal Country.
At the time, Zuo Jinye asked him, ’General Qiu, if there were a world without ghosts, no imperial rule, where everyone was free and equal, would you want to go?’
Qiu Wanjun hadn’t thought much then, assuming it was just the Prime Minister’s dream.
Could the Immortal Country truly exist?
Qiu Wanjun’s gaze fell expectantly on the ever-stoic Sang Que, awaiting her answer.
