Chapter 1239: Overtax Oneself

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Zhang Weiyu asked Chongxuan Sheng if he would use the Chongxuan family to vouch for Jiang Wang.

This was both his confidence in achieving something in Qingyang Town and a warning to Chongxuan Sheng: if Jiang Wang was involved in treason, would he implicate the Chongxuan family?

This was a blow.

And Chongxuan Sheng decisively said that he shared honor and disgrace with Jiang Wang. If Jiang Wang was involved in treason, he would also be a part of it.

At this moment, Zhang Weiyu, on the contrary, actively tried to separate them.

Stepping Jiang Wang into the abyss and stepping Chongxuan Sheng down with him were two entirely different matters with vastly different costs.

It was permissible to say Jiang Wang was a traitor, but not Chongxuan Sheng.

Chen Fuchang often said that no matter one's position or what one does, one must always know the meaning of "propriety".

Zhang Weiyu kept this saying firmly in his heart.

His goal was clear: thoroughly defeat Jiang Wang and vie for the position of Northern Military Officer. For this, he would not hesitate to clash with Chongxuan Sheng.

But how to deal with Chongxuan Sheng was not his purpose.

He was very clear about the gap between him and noble sons from powerful families like Chongxuan Sheng. It might take generations of effort to bridge that gap. Just like the numerous storms now raining down on Jiang Wang, this rising star of the empire, it would never happen to people like Chongxuan Sheng and Li Longchuan.

If Chongxuan Sheng wanted to follow, then let him follow.

He hadn't planned any other tricks anyway, so he wasn't afraid of people following him.

The fruit of victory was already ripe, and he was simply going to pick it.

Here, Chongxuan Sheng and Zhang Weiyu were exchanging words, as if they were soulmates, with seemingly endless things to say to each other. Although upon closer listening, it was all nonsense, merely a refined version of a shrew's rant.

Over there, the fourth-rank Blue Plaque Ma Xiong's eyelids were twitching, but his face was expressionless, and he didn't utter a sound.

Last year, when Jiang Wang was a nominal Blue Plaque, he had already defeated Wang Yihao in the same realm, initially showing signs of being a Heavenly Chosen. At that time, he was also willing to offer some convenience, seeing the man's potential. But he never expected Jiang Wang to grow to this extent in such a short time.

It completely exceeded his imagination and refreshed his understanding of Heavenly Chosen.

Not only his personal strength and reputation, but also the political resources mobilized because of him were terrifying. Because of him, Linzi was almost engulfed by a hurricane!

Now, two celestial beings were fighting, and he couldn't afford to offend either of them.

He simply treated himself as a decoration, wishing he could even stop breathing.

Among the three core figures, two were arguing, and one was pretending to be foolish.

The investigation team proceeded towards Qingyang Town in this bizarre atmosphere.

Dugu Xiao had been restless these past two days.

The Desheng Merchant House's caravan had been stopped for two days.

As one of the best developing new merchant houses in Qi, especially since Chongxuan Sheng had opened up channels to the nearby islands, every day the Desheng Merchant House's caravan was stopped meant a huge loss.

And Fan Qingqing's special trip to Tianfu City to use the Tai Xu Corner Tower was also softly but firmly blocked.

They then understood that Qingyang Town had been sealed off.

What made Dugu Xiao uneasy was not Qingyang Town, but the meaning behind this event – Jiang Wang might really be in trouble.

Although there had been some rumors earlier, she had always believed that Jiang Wang could solve all problems and that this sudden storm would eventually pass.

She also strictly controlled the whispers within Qingyang Town.

At least in Qingyang Town, she would not allow anyone to disrespect Jiang Wang.

But she would think, she would always think...

What if Jiang Wang was really in trouble?

She had no answer.

Just thinking about this question felt like the sky was about to collapse.

"Xiao Xiao." In the town hall, Fan Qingqing looked at her with a scrutinizing gaze: "You have been with Lord Jiang the longest. Tell me the truth, does he have any connection with the Kingdom of Equality? This concerns our lives and property, and the situation is already very serious. You must think it through."

"Ah?" Dugu Xiao snapped out of her daze and was stunned for a moment before reacting to her question, shaking her head: "Master spends almost all his time cultivating. How could he have time to engage in conspiracies with those messy organizations?"

Her fearful and worried expression was truly pitiful to behold.

Fan Qingqing had been teaching her during this time, establishing a師徒 (master-disciple) relationship, and Dugu Xiao served diligently, naturally developing some affection.

She couldn't help but sigh: "It's my fault for thinking differently. Even if he really had a connection with the Kingdom of Equality, why would he let you know?"

"Master will let me know what I am qualified to know." Dugu Xiao lowered her head and said: "Sister Fan, don't talk like that, it's not good for others to hear. Master has nothing to do with the Kingdom of Equality."

"Heh." Fan Qingqing shook her head: "Silly girl."

She sighed: "You haven't realized the seriousness of the problem. His fief has been sealed off, which means he has lost the trust of the upper levels of Qi. A Heavenly Chosen who rises like a meteor often falls like one because too many eyes are watching him. Any small problem will be magnified, and he doesn't have enough foundation to withstand it. This time, the outcome is likely to be tragic..."

Speaking of this, she also felt somewhat disheartened: "After this matter is settled. Are you willing to come with me?"

Dugu Xiao looked up at Fan Qingqing, somewhat surprised: "Where?"

Fan Qingqing smiled and stroked her head: "Where can't we transcendents go? But you are used to being a maid, and you only know how to be a maid! Sister will take you to enjoy life and let you know what a transcendent's life is like."

"I don't want to go." Dugu Xiao bit her lip and said: "Master entrusted me with managing this place, so I must guard it well."

"Your master can't even protect himself." Fan Qingqing looked around and sighed: "When this place becomes someone else's fief, you won't be able to stay here either."

During this time, she had also invested a lot of effort in Qingyang Town, and saying this inevitably stirred some emotions.

"Something's wrong, Master Dugu!"

At this moment, a town guard rushed in, panicked: "A group of people suddenly came and said they want to search this town! And elite soldiers are accompanying them!"

Dugu Xiao and Fan Qingqing exchanged glances, and Fan Qingqing shook her head slightly.

"No need to panic, take me to see." Dugu Xiao said in a deep voice: "This is the fiefdom of Lord Jiang Wang, the number one Inner Mansion in the world. Who can presume to search it?"

"Ha! What arrogance!"

A forceful voice crashed into the town hall.

Following closely was a capable man in official attire: "This official, Zhang Weiyu, a Langzhong of the Ministry of Personnel, is ordered to search Qingyang Town! From now on, everyone is forbidden to move or whisper to each other. Anyone who disobeys will be considered attempting to destroy evidence or collude, and will be killed on the spot!"

These murderous words silenced the entire hall.

Town guards and minor officials who had rushed from various parts of the town hall, including Zhang Hai, the third transcendent force in Qingyang Town, all stopped in their tracks, not daring to move further.

And Fan Qingqing, the most cultivated and experienced person in Qingyang Town, didn't say a word, maintaining a fully cooperative posture.

At this moment.

Only Dugu Xiao, instead of retreating, advanced a step to face Zhang Weiyu.

"What evidence do you have to prove what you say?"

Under the pressure of the other party's aura, her heart almost exploded, but she gritted her teeth and said: "If you have an imperial decree, you should show it to me. If you have an order, you should let me examine it! Otherwise, you are trespassing on a private fief and making an enemy of the third-rank Golden Mace Warrior, Qingyang Zi Jiang Wang. I will fight to the death!"

Her tone was so firm that it made Zhang Hai, who was frozen outside the town hall entrance, almost recall the young man who had rushed out of the town first to face the Jia City army!

Zhang Weiyu looked at the thin and weak young girl in front of him, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

This was just a small character he could crush with a single finger, and he had come today under imperial decree, with great power. Was this person attempting to block a chariot with a praying mantis's arm?