Chapter 124: On the Record

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: On the Record

In the Imperial Capital of the Great Derivation, the entire court of civil and military officials debated for what felt like half a day, yet failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

And they were unwilling to adopt the method of drawing lots proposed by the Fourth Turn experts.

"In that case, let us first summon back all the imperial princesses from their various posts," Prince Qing said, seeing the impasse.

The other senior ministers nodded helplessly. The priority was to recall the candidates as quickly as possible to prevent any mishaps.

"Most of the imperial princesses are within the capital. Only one is away from the Capital City visiting family."

"However, she should have received the news by now and is rushing back. According to my divination, she happens to be near Cangren City at this very moment," a senior minister calculated, pinching his fingers.

Prince Qing inquired, "In that case, who will go and escort her?"

"I will handle it. I have a First Turn family elder who happens to be in that vicinity," a third-rank Minister of Communication said calmly, drawing the attention of the assembled officials.

They all knew that this man, Wan Mingxuan, had previously been a staunch royalist.

With the recent deaths of the emperor and the Crown Prince, the subsequent power shuffle had hit the Wan family the hardest. It was only natural they would be desperate to place their bets early.

But how could it be such a coincidence that a First Turn expert from the Wan family was right there, near the imperial princess outside the Capital City?

As if sensing their gazes, Minister of Communication Wan Mingxuan explained, "That elder is accompanying and protecting my unworthy grandson."

"You must mean Wan Chenyu," an official chimed in, stroking his beard. "To make it onto the Rising Dragon List at such a young age... his future is limitless."

"You’re too kind. My grandson is mischievous and still needs much refinement," Wan Mingxuan said, though he couldn’t suppress the smile playing on his lips.

"I have that elder’s Soul Lamp right here. You can all use it as a medium to contact him," Wan Mingxuan said as a faint wisp of Soul Fire appeared in his palm.

This display made the expressions of the others change.

The Soul Lamp technique was tantamount to stripping away a part of someone’s very essence. With it, and the right sorcery, locating or even curse-killing the person was frighteningly easy.

’Even close relatives would be hesitant to hand over their Soul Lamp. So what’s his game, carrying it around with him?’

Wan Mingxuan explained, "My fellow ministers, please don’t be alarmed. That elder of mine is no saint. He caused some trouble in the past, and I had to use a few tricks to subdue him. I even made him change his surname. I carry his Soul Fire simply as a precaution."

As he spoke, a civil official stepped forward, took the Soul Fire, and chanted, "Magic Mirror, Magic Mirror, heed my will and quickly appear."

As he finished, a strange, indescribable aura flared, and a watery mirror materialized before the official.

Through the water mirror, the crowd could see the scene within: an old man and a youth, running in a great hurry.

As if sensing something, the gaunt old man stopped in his tracks and scanned his surroundings.

"Uncle Ghost, what happened?" Wan Chenyu asked.

"The Patriarch is using my Soul Fire to send a message," the old man explained.

Through the mirror, the Wan Patriarch commanded, "Ghost Declaration, the imperial princess’s retinue is near Cangren City. Find them. You and Chenyu are to escort her back to the palace, one in the open and one in the shadows. If anyone stands in your way, kill them without mercy!"

Hearing the voice, Wan Guixuan and Wan Chenyu acknowledged the order. "We obey the Patriarch’s command."

Watching the two in the mirror accept their orders, the official waited a moment. Seeing that the Wan Patriarch had nothing more to say, he was about to dispel the water mirror when another voice suddenly came through.

"Uncle Ghost, since the Patriarch ordered us to stay here, why don’t we go and give that scoundrel Fang Can a thorough humiliation first?"

At the voice from the mirror, a sudden, dead silence fell over the great hall. Every single official instinctively turned to stare at Wan Mingxuan.

The official who had cast the spell instinctively muted their end of the connection, but the image in the mirror remained visible.

With all eyes on him, Wan Mingxuan’s mouth twitched. "My grandson is mischievous," he said reflexively. "He’s just a child. Everything he says is in jest. You mustn’t take it seriously."

"If I’m not mistaken, that would be the same Fang Can who topped the Rising Dragon List just a few days ago," Prince Qing said thoughtfully.

"And didn’t Jiejian Mountain vouch for him as well?" a veteran general added. If not for that, he would have already recruited Fang Can into the Imperial Guard himself.

’Take note of that.’

As Wan Chenyu spoke, several officials silently made a note of it.

In the Great Derivation’s current state, the status of any Fourth Turn expert was nearly on par with imperial authority. And according to the news from Jiejian Mountain, Fang Can was a nominal Disciple of their Sect Leader.

For Wan Chenyu to say such a thing now was akin to publicly declaring his intent to harm a royal prince.

Private squabbles were one thing, but saying it in front of so many court officials was another matter entirely. It wasn’t something that could be easily dismissed—one only had to look at Wan Mingxuan’s face, which had already turned a ghastly shade of green.

Meanwhile, in the water mirror, Wan Guixuan reacted to Wan Chenyu’s demand, nervously raising a hand. "Young Master, watch your words."

He paused, waiting warily for a moment. When nothing happened, he relaxed, assuming the Patriarch was no longer watching.

Wan Guixuan then advised, "Young Master, Jiejian Mountain is a formidable power. I urge you to abandon this idea. We must complete the Patriarch’s orders first."

’Take note of that.’

"Now that the Crown Prince is dead, the Wan family has lost its standing. We must put the family’s interests first and personal honor second. The Patriarch has ordered us to protect the imperial princess. If you can win her favor, wouldn’t that be the key to restoring our family’s fortunes?"

’Take note of that.’

In the great hall, the faces of the civil and military officials were filled with unconcealed glee as they watched Wan Mingxuan’s expression.

Although Wan Mingxuan was a Third Turn expert and wouldn’t be brought down by a few careless words, this lack of discretion was enough to land him in a world of trouble.

"Elder Li, I don’t think we need to watch any more of this," Wan Mingxuan said through clenched teeth.

’I’m kicking myself right now,’ he thought. ’I never should have opened my mouth. Let someone else escort the damn princess! Why did I have to run my mouth? My luck is just the worst.’

"Oh, that won’t do," one of his political rivals chimed in, enthusiastically fanning the flames. "The princess’s safety is at stake. This First Turn expert isn’t truly one of your Wan family, after all. His background is unclear. How can we let him escort the princess without supervision? We must watch the entire journey."

"Then at least warn them! Are you all just going to stand there and watch?" Wan Mingxuan was seeing red. If this loose-lipped nonsense continued, his entire clan would be implicated.

"Ahem. It would be best to warn them," Prince Qing spoke up, settling the matter. With that, the two-way communication was opened.

"Grandson!" In the small grove, a voice thick with suppressed rage boomed from the air, freezing Wan Chenyu in place.

"We heard every word you just said! Get back here this instant! Let Wan Guixuan escort the imperial princess by himself!"

"But—"

"I said, get back here! After the Grand Tournament, you will receive two hundred strokes with the rod and face a wall in confinement for ten years! You are forbidden from taking a single step outside the Wan Mansion!"

At these furious words, Wan Chenyu gritted his teeth. "Your grandson obeys!"

Meanwhile, in a city market, a gaunt, bespectacled man with two naked female slaves in his arms spoke. "You’re saying that Fang Can... he’s in Cangren City?"