Chapter 1629: Chapter 17: Within Reach (Extra for Alliance Hierarch Wo Ben Dengtuzu)
Zhongxuan Sheng was startled there.
Jiang Wang nearly slipped, his foot almost stepping into the pool.
With his level of cultivation, he certainly wouldn’t be so out of control, but Zhongxuan Sheng’s mind was just too quick!
He had only started discussing the matters of the Beiyar Commander, and hadn’t even finished, when Zhongxuan Sheng had almost pieced together the entire picture of the Long Life Palace incident.
This made his previous pondering in the Long Life Palace seem quite sluggish.
He had to use his skill at weaving words and sharing information on two channels to arrive at some sort of understanding...
"You guessed it correctly." Jiang Wang didn’t show the slightest surprise, instead wore a ’this boy can be taught’ expression, and calmly said, "Lin Youxie has concluded that Feng Gu’s death was a suicide. She believes Feng Gu chose to commit suicide to expose the Concubine Lei case."
"Suicide?" Zhongxuan Sheng pondered for a moment: "That explains it..."
...Explain what?
"What are you referring to?" Jiang Wang analytically inquired.
"Who could be stupid enough to silence someone after all these years? Who would be foolish enough to provoke the Son of Heaven at this time?" Zhongxuan Sheng said, "I’ve been pondering these questions for a long time!"
"What if Feng Gu has been secretly investigating all these years and just now found clues to that old case?" Jiang Wang protested slightly.
"Feng Gu just happened to die right after the funeral ended, indicating that everything is not a coincidence. Such a precise timing sufficiently proves that his death was premeditated rather than impulsive." Zhongxuan Sheng gave Jiang Wang a glance: "Whether suicide or homicide, since it was premeditated, how could it be ’just discovered’?"
Jiang Wang nodded earnestly: "You make a good point."
Zhongxuan Sheng ignored his nonsense and said with some annoyance, "Seeing Zheng Shangming and Lin Youxie appear together, I should have realized it. Even if Feng Gu’s death was truly a murder, how could these two be investigating it... I shouldn’t have let you go!"
"Why can’t these two be involved?" Jiang Wang habitually retorted.
Zhongxuan Sheng angrily bit a piece of fruit, "One is seeking to prove loyalty, the other wants to find the truth. It’s not suitable for them to get mixed up in such a case. Unless this case happens to satisfy both of them... I’ve really played chess with amateurs for too long, losing my sensitivity!"
"What amateurs?" Jiang Wang is very sensitive now.
"Surely not Horse Face Wang, hmph hmph... and the likes." Zhongxuan Sheng mumbled through a mouthful of fruit, then asked, "Want one?"
"No." Jiang Wang wasn’t in the mood for eating, he walked around the pool: "Oh right, before Feng Gu died, Lin Youxie received a dissection knife, one Lin Kuang used back then. That’s why she wanted to get involved in this case."
Zhongxuan Sheng stopped with the half-eaten fruit in his hand: "I see!"
Jiang Wang: ?
What do you mean ’I see’?
What is it that you’ve ’seen’? Jiang Wang thought he was being profound: "Oh?"
In "Thousand Beauties of All Countries," it’s noted that Emperor Wu of Qi, whenever faced with complex harem battles and beauties seeking power, would first respond with a ... "Oh?" before having a clear understanding of the situation.
It made him seem calm and self-assured, taking control of the situation without rush, gleaning information from others without a trace, understanding the actual scenario...
A wonderful tactic indeed!
Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t think too much about it, casually remarked: "I initially thought Feng Gu had notable spirit but poor wisdom, I didn’t say it out of consideration for your feelings. Thinking about it now, he’s not entirely without sense."
"Oh?" Jiang Wang asked again.
Zhongxuan Sheng, already trained by Jiang Wang to be patient, earnestly explained: "Concubine Lei’s assassination case was unresolved back then due to historical reasons."
Jiang Wang nodded, gesturing for him to continue.
Zhongxuan Sheng exclaimed: "In Yuan Feng’s thirty-eighth year, Duke Loulan raised an army openly, and the Son of Heaven personally battled it, eventually quelling it... Though the war was subdued, the aftermath lasted ten years. The assassination of Concubine Lei occurred during this period, with renowned Lin Kuang dying in this case, causing a great stir... The Son of Heaven had to prioritize stability due to the situation, allowing the case to be indefinitely shelved."
"Duke Loulan?"
Jiang Wang was genuinely curious, as neither Qi Country nor the imperial court possessed a duke, and the name of Duke Loulan was unfamiliar.
"Due to historical reasons, Daqi has no hereditary dukes. In Yuan Feng’s thirty-eighth year, the only duke was Duke Loulan. Early on, Duke Loulan battled alongside Your Majesty, conquering cities and destroying nations, earning illustrious war achievements. His reputation was no less than today’s War God. His name has become taboo, so you’re not aware... Let’s not talk about him now."
Zhongxuan Sheng continued, "In short, Concubine Lei’s assassination case was not resolved back then not because it couldn’t be, but due to political reasons for shelving. I think Feng Gu chose to pursue the old case now because he saw the Son of Heaven decisively ordering the execution of Yan Tu. Daqi is currently capable of enduring some turmoil."
Jiang Wang frowned: "Investigating Concubine Lei’s assassination case would cause national turbulence?"
"At least during Yuan Feng’s thirty-eighth year, it would. As for now..." Zhongxuan Sheng remarked: "Unless the War God is the killer, no one can shake the Son of Heaven’s authority."
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, then said: "Does this mean... the Son of Heaven knows who killed Concubine Lei?"
"Who knows? The mind of the Son of Heaven is hard to fathom." Zhongxuan Sheng replied softly: "Regardless of whether the Son of Heaven knew at that time, since there has been no outcome for so many years, the current Son of Heaven surely doesn’t know. As for whether the current Son of Heaven will know... it depends on whether you can govern."
Zhongxuan Sheng’s words were a bit awkward.
Jiang Wang merely replied—
"Oh?"
Zhongxuan Sheng had completely clarified his thoughts, polished off the fruit in his hand with two bites, and said in a relaxed tone: "First investigate, find the truth of the past. If this truth is something the Son of Heaven should know, then present it to the Political Affairs Hall publicly. If not, present it to the Son of Heaven privately."
He chuckled: "Indeed, Zheng Shi has a discerning eye! Zheng Shangming was right. Seize this opportunity, and you’ll be the Beiyar Commander!"
"What if the truth can’t be uncovered?" Jiang Wang asked.
"How could it not be uncovered?" Zhongxuan Sheng responded: "As long as you agree to the terms of Zheng Shi and his son, they’ll find a way to deliver the truth to you. And perhaps... not just them. Many people want you to have the truth."
"How do we determine if this truth is something the Son of Heaven should know?" Jiang Wang asked again.
"Isn’t it simple? You just need to..." Zhongxuan Sheng thought about it, perhaps still feeling uneasy, changed his tone: "Forget it, just ask me directly when the time comes, Zheng Shi and his son will also help you make the assessment."
Jiang Wang was silent for a moment, grinned: "Everything is handed to me, all I have to do is reach out."
"Yes, just reach out." Zhongxuan Sheng said meaningfully: "But only because you have this value, you have the opportunity to reach out. Because you shone brightly on Star Moon Plain, because you’re famed throughout the world, because you’ve fought desperately so many times, worked hard for so long... Honor and wealth are now within your grasp."
His tone was earnest: "This is what you’ve earned, Jiang Wang. Don’t miss this opportunity."
Opportunity...
Jiang Wang silently gazed at the pool.
A slight breeze passed by, rippling the water.
