When Queen heard Elder Xu call out "Zhu Fu," her heart sank halfway. When she heard "fatuous monarch," she went cold all the way through.
Also chilled from head to toe was Zhang Yuanqing. Not only was Elder Xu of the Azure Dragon Gang a Swordsman, but he even recognized Zhao Shun. This turn of events practically cut off all his avenues.
Zhang Yuanqing simply dropped the act and asked coldly, "You know me?"
Elder Xu's expression shifted from shock to excitement, then from excitement to deep hatred. "Three years ago, during the autumn hunt in the southern suburbs, several assassins snuck into the Ram Palace to kill you. They failed. Three died, and one escaped. The one who escaped was me. Has Your Majesty forgotten?"
*The entire dungeon is full of unruly peasants wanting to harm this emperor!* Sensing the intense enmity and hatred in the man's emotions, Zhang Yuanqing said nothing more. He tilted his head slightly and directed his gaze toward Queen.
As the fatuous monarch whom the Azure Dragon Gang hated to the core, whatever he said would only be met with scorn. Speaking too much would only provoke the man further, so he simply kept his mouth shut.
Elder Xu would undoubtedly wonder why a sovereign ruler had ended up a petty thief and why he had appeared here, so he wouldn't kill him just yet.
Under these circumstances, he could only leave the stage to Queen.
"Elder Xu, I have something to report." Proving she had brains to match her beauty, Queen read Lord Tianzun's gaze and seized the opportunity to speak.
Taking a deep breath to steady his emotions, Elder Xu regained his stern composure and said, "Beiwang, take them to the basement."
After a moment's thought, he personally hauled Zhang Yuanqing out of the carriage, grabbed him by the scruff of his collar, and strode off.
Suspended in the air like a chick, Zhang Yuanqing felt rather embarrassed and snapped angrily, "I am the ruler of a nation! How dare you be so insolent! Put Me down at once!"
Wang Beiwang stared dumbfounded at the receding figures of Elder Xu and Zhang Yuanqing. Even now, he had not recovered from the shock.
*My cousin Li Erdan is the reigning Son of Heaven, Zhao Shun?! Why would the emperor show up in my house? I spent an entire day with the fatuous monarch Zhao Shun and didn't kill him? No, I stabbed him with my sword! I actually stabbed the emperor with my sword?!*
Wang Beiwang's mind was a complete mess. Only when Elder Xu's figure vanished down the corridor did he snap out of his stupor. Hurriedly scooping up Jiang Jingwei and Queen, he strode after him.
Candlelight flickered in the dim basement.
Shackled in handcuffs and fetters, Zhang Yuanqing sat stiffly against the wall, unable to move.
Elder Xu had taken him very seriously. Not only had he refrained from curing the Tendon-Relaxing Powder, but he had also sealed his acupoints. Several of his acupoints were now bruised and numbed by finger force. Recovering would take at least a few hours.
Beside him was Jiang Jingwei, who had received the exact same treatment.
Queen was absent, having been escorted by Elder Xu into an adjacent secret chamber.
In the secret chamber just one wall away, Queen recounted everything that had transpired in the imperial palace in one breath. "...And that is how it all happened. After escaping the palace, I encountered His Majesty by the river in the southern city and hid in a civilian residence with him, never expecting it to be Wang Beiwang's home."
Seated by the table, Elder Xu clutched a porcelain cup in his palm, motionless and silent for a long while. Even as an elder of the Azure Dragon Gang, he needed time to digest intelligence of such magnitude.
The Zheng family was staging a rebellion, the emperor had fallen on hard times, and the Southern Dynasty might be facing an unprecedented coup.
Although the Azure Dragon Gang was a martial sect, its members still harbored hearts dedicated to the realm and the common people. They could not turn a blind eye to such momentous events.
After a full seven or eight minutes, Elder Xu suddenly asked, "Since you escaped the palace and were with the fatuous monarch, why didn't you bring him here?"
Facing those eyes that were as sharp as swords, capable of piercing through anything, Queen did not panic in the slightest. She honestly voiced her thoughts, "Because I didn't want His Majesty to die."
Before a Swordsman, lying would only squander the advantage of her identity and destroy his trust. Since lying was futile, she might as well be candid.
Hearing this, Elder Xu snorted coldly. "What, have you fallen for the emperor? Back then, your father petitioned for the people, only to have his entire family exterminated. Out of admiration for your father's integrity, the Sect Master stepped in to save you. Now that your enemy is right before your eyes, you develop sympathy? Are you worthy of Lord Zhu? Are you worthy of the Sect Master?"
"Elder, please allow me to explain." Queen took a deep breath and smoothly laid out her prepared argument. "Zhao Shun is indeed foolish and corrupt, but he is not the chief culprit. According to my observations over the years, Zhao Shun cares only for pleasure in the palace and has no interest in state affairs. Most matters in court are decided by Zheng Wenhan. He is merely like a blade, while Zheng Wenhan is the hand holding it. Zheng Wenhan is the true villain."
All of this was true.
Seeing Elder Xu unmoved, Queen continued, "I have one more matter to report to you, Elder. I know who the mastermind behind the Zheng family is."
Elder Xu raised an eyebrow. "There's someone behind the Zheng family?"
Queen nodded repeatedly. "The Imperial Preceptor!"
Elder Xu's expression changed abruptly. "Absurd nonsense! The Imperial Preceptor is an attained transcendent who practices medicine to save the world, devoted to his country and its people. How could he commit treason?"
Queen looked directly into Elder Xu's eyes. "Elder, you possess eyes that can see into the human heart. Whether I speak truth or falsehood, you can tell at a glance."
The two stared at each other for several seconds. Elder Xu's expression gradually grew solemn. He murmured contemplatively, "The fatuous monarch is incompetent. Perhaps the Imperial Preceptor is backing the Zheng family to push forward reform."
*Is Elder Xu actually a fan of the Imperial Preceptor?* Queen sneered, "Reform by sacrificing three hundred virgin boys and girls? Yesterday's notice was posted after His Majesty fled the palace, pushed by both the Zheng family and the Imperial Preceptor. Does Elder Xu still believe the Imperial Preceptor loves his country and its people?"
Elder Xu froze.
Queen continued, "There is yet another matter to report to you, Elder. The Zheng family is secretly colluding with Tuoba Guanghe, the supreme commander of the Northern Dynasty. Once the Zheng family usurps the throne, they will find a way to eliminate the Yang family and feed the fifty thousand troops at the frontline to the Northern Dynasty as a pledge of allegiance. Tuoba Guanghe's army will then march straight to the imperial capital to support the Zheng family."
"Such a thing?!" With a sharp crack, Elder Xu shattered the porcelain cup, consumed by fury.
The shock of this intelligence was even greater than Zhao Shun appearing before his eyes.
Zheng Wenhan, who headed the cabinet, was actually colluding with the north!
He was reluctant to believe it, but Zhu Fu's micro-expressions told him she wasn't lying.
Queen struck while the iron was hot. "Therefore, the root cause of everything is Zheng Wenhan, not His Majesty. Though he is foolish, his crimes do not warrant death."
He quickly realized his loss of composure, reined in his emotions, and said indifferently, "This matter is of grave importance. I must report it to the Sect Master. Whether what you've said is true or false, the Sect Master will judge."
Queen pressed, "Then His Majesty..."
Elder Xu's expression turned ruthless. "As the ruler of a nation, incompetence and fatuity are the greatest of crimes. You say Zheng Wenhan is the chief culprit? No. Zhao Shun, who favored and trusted traitorous ministers, is the true villain. He must be executed."
Queen argued vehemently, "But Elder, His Majesty is a vital chess piece! With him, we can bring down Zheng Wenhan."
Elder Xu snorted. "That is an affair of the court and has nothing to do with the Azure Dragon Gang. The creed of the Azure Dragon Gang is to slay the fatuous monarch and eliminate harm to the people. However, I will spare his life for now and report everything together to the Sect Master for him to decide."
Queen relaxed slightly, thinking that as soon as Elder Xu left, she would rescue her teammates.
Unexpectedly, just as the thought crossed her mind, Elder Xu said, "You are coming with me to see the Sect Master."
Queen had no choice but to nod. "Before we go, I want to see His Majesty once."
Elder Xu did not refuse. The two immediately left the secret chamber and went next door.
Looking at Jiang Jingwei and Yuanshi Tianzun sitting rigidly against the wall, Queen curtsied gracefully. "Your Majesty, I must accompany Elder Xu to meet the Sect Master. The Sect Master is reasonable and righteous; he will surely set you free."
She cast a grave glance at Zhang Yuanqing before reluctantly taking her leave.
Guarding the doorway, Wang Beiwang immediately slammed the iron door shut.
Elder Xu looked at his subordinate and disciple, instructing, "I am stepping out. Guard this place. No one is permitted near. If anything happens to the fatuous monarch or if he escapes, your head will be on the line."
Wang Beiwang lowered his head. "Yes, sir!"
Listening to the footsteps of the three fade into silence, Zhang Yuanqing could no longer maintain his composure and drew in a sharp breath.
By now, he had roughly guessed who the greatest threat and enemy of the seventy-two-hour side quest was.
The Sect Master of the Azure Dragon Gang!
Once that chivalrous sect master who loathed evil as an enemy arrived, he would be dead without question. After all, Zhao Shun was a genuine, unadulterated fatuous monarch.
Even if he had a silver tongue, the Sect Master of the Azure Dragon Gang would never spare him. If not for an utter hatred of the fatuous ruler, why would he have arranged for a beauty to infiltrate the palace for an assassination?
*Trapped in this godforsaken place, any chance of calling for reinforcements is gone. What do I do? What do I do?!* Zhang Yuanqing racked his brain for a way out.
Beside him, Jiang Jingwei said cheerfully, "We don't have to die after all."
"Once the Azure Dragon Sect Master arrives, we're definitely dead. Still, dying a few hours later is better than nothing. Jingwei, what do you think we should do?"
Jiang Jingwei's eyes darted back and forth as she tried hard to think. After a long silence, she suggested tentatively, "Should I self-detonate to blast a hole in the wall for you?"
"Comrade, it's not time to sacrifice yourself for the revolution yet. Besides, if you self-detonate from that spot, you'll take me down with you." Zhang Yuanqing sighed. Ever since teaming up with Jingwei, he had sighed more times than in his entire past life.
"Can you use an item for Fire Traveling?" he asked.
Jiang Jingwei shook her head. "That old man damaged my meridians with his acupoint strikes. The spiritual energy inside me can't circulate smoothly, so I can't use Fire Traveling, not even with an item."
"Then how were you going to self-detonate?"
"Self-detonating doesn't require technique."
"...Fair enough!" Zhang Yuanqing let out another sigh. He thought to himself, *I truly must be at wit's end to start expecting anything from Jingwei.*
Under the current circumstances, self-rescue was impossible. They could only hope that teammates or allied forces in the dungeon would come to their rescue. Yet they were hidden among the populace, their tracks well concealed; if enemies couldn't find them, neither could their allies. Now trapped here, the probability of friendly forces finding them was practically zero.
Just as he was scowling in distress, hurried footsteps came from the corridor outside the iron door.
Immediately following was Wang Beiwang's bark: "A'niu, halt! Elder Xu has ordered that no one is permitted to approach!"
Dressed in plain hemp clothes, the burly A'niu stopped at a distance and cried out frantically:
"Beiwang, disaster! Terrible disaster!
"Your father is outside! Your little sister was picked in the court's lottery to be sacrificed to the heavens as one of the virgin children!"
Chapter 860