Chapter 113: Secret Message
Jing Heng took over an empty shell of the Ministry of Revenue, turning it into a dull affair. Returning home, he went straight into Jing Tianlie’s study, where the Minister of Justice Hu Chengfu, Minister of Rites Wang He, Director of the Court of State Ceremonials Xu Zhong, and Vice Minister of War Wang Wei were seated.
“Congratulations, Young Master, on regaining control of the Ministry of Revenue,” they all stood up to offer their congratulations upon Jing Heng’s arrival.
They addressed him as Young Master rather than Minister, seeking to cultivate camaraderie and closeness.
Jing Heng was full of bitterness but dared not voice it in front of the four; he could only respond perfunctorily, “It’s just the Ministry of Revenue, nothing special.”
Jing Tianlie sensed something amiss and said, “Gentlemen, let us continue this another day.”
The four bowed and left the study, and Jing Heng closed the door behind them.
“What’s wrong?” Jing Tianlie asked coldly.
Before he could answer, Jing Heng shivered slightly and said in a low voice, “Father, I went to the Ministry of Revenue today and found… the Ministry has no funds.”
Jing Tianlie’s expression darkened. “Long Cheng’en made so much money, how could there be no funds?”
Everyone knew Long Chen and the Tianxia Society, the Dragon Gang, had earned vast sums through their ventures. Yet Jing Heng said the Ministry was empty?
Jing Heng, full of grievance, cursed, “That damned eunuch put all the money in the treasury; the Ministry of Revenue only handles the accounts—it’s an empty shell.”
Smash!
Jing Tianlie slammed his palm down on the tea table, standing up to curse, “He dares to deceive me!”
He had thought he was gaining a great advantage, that the Ministry’s silver would fall into his own hands again, but instead he found nothing.
Jing Heng trembled all over, nearly wetting himself, lowering his head in shame, unable to meet Jing Tianlie’s gaze.
“Father, actually… the Ministry of Works is the richest. Everything Long Cheng’en has been manipulating is produced there.”
After a moment, Jing Heng spoke quietly.
Jing Tianlie immediately grasped the key point and said coldly, “No wonder that damned eunuch readily handed over the Ministry of Revenue but clung tightly to the Ministry of Works.”
Jing Heng said, “Father, he’s a eunuch who holds both the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works posts. I…”
Jing Tianlie shot him a cold look and scolded, “If you had Long Cheng’en’s ability, would I still have to worry about you?”
Jing Heng was silenced by the rebuke.
“You may leave now.”
Jing Tianlie sat down, and Jing Heng hurried out of the room.
“How soon will they return?” Jing Tianlie asked.
Wuming suddenly appeared in the room and said, “They will be back tomorrow, though the snow has slowed their pace.”
Jing Tianlie calculated the dates and said, “The court assembly is the day after tomorrow. They’ll return tomorrow…”
...
In the Western Palace, at Qiuxing Hall.
Long Chen wielded a spear in the snow, with Zhang Qian and several others, along with palace maids from the Western Palace, watching.
The eunuchs in the palace looked neither masculine nor feminine, but Long Chen’s posture was vigorous and upright. When practicing spear techniques, he deliberately bared his chest, giving the lonely palace maids a treat.
“Wow, the Chief Steward is so manly, such a real man!”
“If only I could marry a man like that, I’d die happy.”
“Even if he’s a eunuch, I’d want him!”
“I heard Xiao’e and Daiyu shared a bed with Lord Long; they say he’s incredible.”
“That’s nonsense—they only bathed with Lord Long together, never shared a bed.”
Long Chen twisted and turned in the snow, the iron spear in his hand whistling through the air. The snowflakes on the ground were swept up by the wind, forming a swirling snow tornado.
“Has Lord Long’s cultivation advanced again?” Zhang Qian was surprised.
Qing Yue shook her head. “No way. He’s already at the peak of the King stage. If he advanced further, he’d reach the Martial Emperor realm. As a eunuch, he has no Yang fire to ignite the breakthrough; it’s impossible.”
Long Chen retracted the iron spear, and the snowy tornado dissipated.
Just now, he had the faintest sign of breakthrough but was still a bit short of crossing over.
Below the King stage, one trains martial skills and the body.
Upon breaking through the King stage into the Martial Emperor realm, one’s martial energy condenses to a degree that can influence the surroundings, like the snowflakes swirling just now.
“Still just short of the mark.”
In just over a year, going from a cripple to the peak King stage was already lightning speed. Long Chen dared not be greedy.
Martial cultivation is a path of bitter hardship; he had taken shortcuts and could not ask for more.
Back in the corridor, Xiang Ning hurried over with a towel, attentively wiping Long Chen’s chest.
The watching palace maids were green with envy.
“Xiang Ning is the only one who has really shared a bed with Chief Steward Long.”
“I’m so jealous; she’s wiping his body… ah, so jealous.”
“I want to wipe the sweat for Chief Steward Long too.”
Zhang Qian saw the maids’ lovestruck expressions and couldn’t help but say, “You’d better go inside. Be careful or they’ll devour you, leaving not even a bone.”
Long Chen deliberately turned and beckoned, stirring a chorus of screams.
Xuan Yi couldn’t stand it and pushed Long Chen inside, complaining, “Little Long Long, I didn’t expect you to be such a flirt.”
Long Chen smiled. “What do you know? This is called charm, not flirtation.”
Qing Yue mocked, “It’s flirtation—strutting and preening.”
Leaning the iron spear against the wall, Long Chen spread his arms wide and said, “Alright, time for some privileges. I’m going to bathe. Who’ll join me?”
Qing Yue and Xuan Yi immediately said, “Me!”
Zhang Qian sneered, “You just called him a flirt. Ladies, can you please be more restrained?”
Xuan Yi said, “I know Qian Qian is always very restrained, so don’t bother.”
The two pulled Long Chen into the bathhouse, leaving Xiang Ning looking despondent.
“I was clearly first—why is that?”
Xiang Ning threw the towel on the ground, feeling wronged.
Zhang Qian picked up the towel and comforted her, “He’s just a scumbag… a scumbag eunuch, forget it.”
With two beauties attending him, Long Chen enjoyed a comfortable bath.
Coming out of the bathhouse and back into the room, Xuan Yi and Qing Yue slowly brushed their hair while Zhang Qian brewed tea.
“Where’s Xiang Ning?”
Long Chen noticed she wasn’t in the room.
“She went out of the palace to buy a few things,” Zhang Qian said just as Xiang Ning returned, holding a letter.
“Sir, someone just asked me to deliver this to you.”
Another secret letter?
Long Chen took it, opened the envelope, and found only one sentence inside: “The secret guards will return to the capital tomorrow with Shui Han’s body.”
Zhang Qian quickly locked the door and looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.
“Jing Tianlie has dug up Shui Han’s corpse?”
Qing Yue found it hard to believe.
The dead deserve to rest in peace, yet Jing Tianlie actually exhumed Shui Han’s grave.
Long Chen sneered, “Political struggles are a fight to the death. To get rid of me, what wouldn’t Jing Tianlie do?”
Grave robbing is a heinous crime, but when it comes to eliminating political enemies, what does it matter?
“The final showdown is coming,” Zhang Qian said coldly.
Long Chen thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go to the princess.”
Xiang Ning stayed in the room while the four of them, carrying the secret letter, went to the Western Palace’s residence. Di Luoxi was meditating and cultivating.
“Princess, Shui Han’s body has been exhumed. It will arrive in the capital tomorrow,” Xuan Yi said quietly upon entering.
Di Luoxi opened her eyes slowly and said, “Arriving tomorrow, with the court assembly the day after—that means the day after tomorrow.”
Long Chen shook his head. “Jing Heng came to the Ministry of Revenue today and found nothing. Jing Tianlie must be furious. I suspect he will demand the assembly tomorrow.”