Chapter 1399: Only Pride Left

“Did Feng Gu leave naught else?” Jiang Wang asked Lin Youxie.

“Naturally, there were other clues, but they were merely feigned trails,meant to bewilder both those who investigate and the one behind the scenes.His clues were meant for me, for he knew I could pierce through the mist,”Lin Youxie spoke. “This is because my father was Lin Kuang.”

“Forgive my bluntness,” Jiang Wang said calmly, “but without irrefutable evidenceas solid as iron, all that you do is utterly without meaning. Our analyses hereremain but mere analyses.”

Lin Youxie declared, “I cannot prove who was the assailant in the attackupon Consort Lei, but I need only prove that my father's death is linkedto the current Empress. The very reason Feng Gu wished for me to partakein this case lies precisely here.”

Lin Kuang perished whilst investigating the assault upon Consort Lei. If it could beproven that his death was not a suicide, and furthermore, connected to the Empress,it would indeed serve as a pivotal piece of evidence, potentially tying the currentEmpress to the demise of Consort Lei.

“How do you intend to prove it?” Jiang Wang inquired.

“That is my affair,” Lin Youxie replied.

Jiang Wang had assumed Lin Youxie sought his aid today, and was even preparedto offer his assistance. Unexpectedly, this was not the case. It was as if shehad leaped into the carriage mid-journey merely to apprise Jiang Wang of the truthas she perceived it.

“Why tell me this?” Jiang Wang asked.

Lin Youxie paused, then said, “My father was the most exceptional since theestablishment of the Green Card, solving countless cases in his lifetime,utterly devoted to his duty. He would not have committed suicide, nor shouldhe have… I wish that if something untoward were to befall me, someone wouldstill remember these matters.”

“I hope naught untoward befalls you,” Jiang Wang said softly, “for besides you,no one will remember him for so long.”

Lin Youxie’s eyes, which seemed capable of discerning all, lowered slightly,her gaze settling upon the hem of her garment. “Back then, amidst the near-seaislands, you told me you were going to the Sea Sacrifice Grand Ceremonyto save someone.

I thought you were surely deceiving me, and with a reason so absurd andunrealistic.

Yet, strangely… I still believed you.

Later, I pondered, how would you accomplish it?

I could not conceive of it.

But I witnessed it.

I saw you ascend the Horizon Platform, pausing the Sea Sacrifice Grand Ceremony.I heard that you journeyed to the Maze Realm, completing a task of atonementthat was nigh impossible.

You ascended the Horizon Platform a second time, vanquishing Ji Shaoqing,your sword suppressing the Fishing Sea Tower, none of your peers daring tochallenge you.

For a time, your name was echoed throughout the entire realm of the near-seaislands.

You returned in the guise of a hero…

Perhaps you do not believe it, but you inspired me.

I am not as powerful as you, but my resolve is as unyielding as yours.”

Jiang Wang said, “The reason you believed me then was that you too were pursuingthe impossible. You too are a person of such unwavering determination. I havebeen involved in this case for but a few days, yet I already feel the suffocatingpressure. And you, beneath this very pressure, have toiled for so many years…Do you now harbor some impetuous intention?”

“You think too much,” Lin Youxie stated. “It is merely that you are the mosttalented person I have ever known. I believe that one day, you will stand atthe very apex. I speak of if… if some unforeseen misfortune were to befall me.I wish to earnestly implore you, when you have strength to spare, to reopenthe case of my father.”

Having spoken, she faced Jiang Wang, bowing her head low within the carriage.

Jiang Wang reached out and pressed upon her shoulder, urging her back into herseat. “Constable Lin, the position at the apex is not so easily attained?Seeking others is not as good as seeking oneself.”

He pondered for a moment, and at last inquired, “There is a man named Du Fang,a former Green Card member. Do you know him?”

Lin Youxie was first startled, then fell silent for a long while, before finallyspeaking. “The one who flung my father’s corpse before me that year… was namedDu Fang. He was a subordinate of my father, and could even be considered halfa disciple. His explanation at the time was that he was ‘overcome with emotion,unable to accept it for a time.’”

She recounted in a voice devoid of fluctuation, “Li Youjiu investigated Du Fang,and the conclusion reached later was that—due to the rules of the Green Cardfamilial clans, my father was unwilling to teach many secret arts to Du Fang,thus Du Fang gradually developed resentment, and after my father’s death,desired to destroy me. Soon after, Du Fang perished unexpectedly in the courseof handling a case, and the matter was left unresolved.”

Li Youjiu…

“Who was responsible for Du Fang’s death?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Before, I would have firmly told you, either it was a true accident, or hewas silenced, absolutely unrelated to the Four Great Green Card Clans. Becausethe teachings we received from childhood instructed us to act within the boundsof rules, following the law in all matters. Furthermore, Du Fang’s death onlysounded peculiar; the actual case was quite normal. The suspect he pursuedwas indeed only in the Soaring Dragon realm, but the one who truly killed himwas the suspect’s father…”

Lin Youxie stated, “But now I cannot be certain.”

Since Li Youjiu had secretly joined the Nation of Equality, the ancestral preceptsof the Four Great Green Card Clans naturally could not constrain him. Even Lin Youxieherself could not dismiss the possibility of the Four Great Green Card Clansretaliating with murder…

Hence, Lin Youxie said she too could not determine the cause of Du Fang’s death.

Jiang Wang remained silent for a time.

Lin Youxie continued, “When Li Youjiu was being punished, I was at the execution ground.I should not have gone, but I could not but go.”

“Li Youjiu’s relationship with my father was actually quite strained. Old Man Wu saidhe always vied with my father for everything, yet could never win… But aftermy father’s death, Old Man Wu resigned his office and vanished for a long time;it was Li Youjiu who looked after me the entire time.”

“I saw him at the execution ground, someone slicing his flesh, piece by piece,falling away. I saw his expression; I knew he desperately wished to curse,to curse words such as the court’s unfairness to the Four Great Green Card Clans…”

“He desperately wished to curse but did not.”

“Because there were still living members of the Four Great Green Card Clans,because I was still alive, he did not wish to bring me trouble.”

“Old Man Wu no longer intends to accept disciples. Of the Four Great Green Card Clans,only I remain as a successor.”

Having reached this point, Lin Youxie finally seemed to restrain her emotions.She looked at Jiang Wang once more with that perceptive gaze. “Why did you suddenlymention this person?”

The state of Qi had developed too swiftly, grown powerful too rapidly. In this process,too many people had been overlooked…

Li Youjiu was not aligned with the Nation of Equality from the outset; his situationwas entirely different from Yan Tu’s.

He found no outlet amidst the glorious history and dilapidated present of theGreen Card Clans. As a Green Card member, he was powerless in the face of Lin Kuang’sdeath. Lin Kuang, who was far more exceptional than he, had died so insignificantly.What could he do?

Where lay the future of the Four Great Green Card Clans? Clearly, he was confusedand lost.

He made a different choice than Wu Lie and Lin Youxie, yet his concern for Lin Youxiewas not feigned.

Humans are thus complex.

The more Jiang Wang witnessed, the less he dared to easily pass judgment upon a person.

He merely said, “There is a man named Gu Xing, a compatriot whom Du Fang knew well.He was formerly a Major in the Gale Chasing Army, relieved of his military dutiesin the thirty-eighth year of Yuanfeng and went out to sea. He is now the Island Lordof Overlord’s Horn Island.”

Lin Youxie’s eyelids twitched.

Overlord’s Horn Island belongs to the Tian clan of Great Marsh!

And she had originally suspected the Tian clan!

Wu Lie had resigned his office for so many years, secretly investigating the Tian clan.He had already accumulated a considerable amount of clues, but had never been ableto obtain core evidence.

If Gu Xing, the Island Lord of Overlord’s Horn Island, was connected to Du Fang’sactions back then, it would undoubtedly be crucial evidence binding the Tian clanof Great Marsh to the attack upon Consort Lei!

“I understand,” she said, giving Jiang Wang a deep look. “Thank you.”

With that, she directly rose.

Observing her decisive manner, Jiang Wang could not help but say, “Actually, lifeis long. Having waited all these years, there is no need to rush for the moment.”

Lin Youxie reached out to hold the carriage door, saying faintly, “But the EleventhPrince can only die this once.”

Jiang Wuqi would only die this once, and the Qi Emperor would only grieve for this one time.

The opportunity to thoroughly investigate the old case might never arise again.

Because the child who was cut from Consort Lei’s belly that year… was no longer here.

The carriage curtain fell, and the person was gone without a trace.

Only the faint scent of medicinal herbs remained, describing her.

Jiang Wang was silent for a long time.

If…

If the current Empress was indeed the mastermind behind the attack on Consort Lei,and the Tian clan was the blade she used back then.

If Du Fang’s actions were truly related to Gu Xing, a manifestation of the currentEmpress’s will, carried out under the Tian clan’s control.

Then smashing Lin Kuang’s corpse before Lin Youxie, in addition to intimidation,also carried a strong sense of venting spite.

Regardless of what Lin Kuang did, or how he was “unyielding,” he was already dead,yet they still vented their spite upon a three-year-old girl. This truly revealeda narrow mind.

If the Empress of a nation were so narrow-minded… could this be a blessing for the realm?

If the one behind the scenes were the Empress, it could indeed explain many things,connecting all the existing clues.

But why would the Empress harm Consort Lei?

Going back seventeen years, Jiang Wuqi had not even been born, and the Lei family’sinfluence was likewise unremarkable. What threat could Consort Lei pose?

Jiang Wang could not comprehend it for a time.

However, he had already grasped his inner choice—

He too was seeking the answer.

Time moved forward with difficulty. Jiang Wang assiduously cultivated whilstawaiting news.

The Shadow Guard’s investigation into Gongsun Yu’s severed tongue, Lin Youxie’sinvestigation into Gu Xing, the Island Lord of Overlord’s Horn Island…

Jiang Wang did not feel the need to do everything himself. Professional matterswere left to professionals. Extraordinary power was his foundation.

Hence, waiting, hence cultivating.

But the first to call upon him was Zheng Shangming.

It was the month of winter, and the frost winds were already cold.

From the steward to the doorman, everyone in the Jiang manor was dressed in newcotton padded clothes.

Their spirits were renewed.

At least there was some semblance of a noble household.

Zheng Shangming arrived amidst the north wind, his warrior’s attire neat andefficient, the authority in his demeanor becoming increasingly apparent. Havingmanaged in the Northern Yamen for so long, he was gradually taking over Zheng Shi’sauthority.

Any new Commandant of the Northern Yamen not approved by their father and sonwould find it difficult to escape their influence in the Northern Yamen.

But at the same time, Jiang Wang had no doubt that if he were to take overas Commandant of the Northern Yamen, he would cooperate with him very pleasantly.

For the current Zheng Shangming was already a qualified successor, a sufficientlyclear-headed person.

He understood very well what should be done and what should not be done.

Zheng Shi was even more a figure of exquisite measure, one who could surelyfind the comfortable point for all parties.

It was just that at times, he would inexplicably feel a sense of pity. The originalZheng Shangming was, after all, no longer to be seen.

Recalling past events, like the north wind blowing upon the southern tower.

Jiang Wang, in a simple blue robe, stood alone in the courtyard. A flame flowerbloomed and withered at his fingertips.

The words of the “Flame Flower Burning City Explained” flowed slowly in his heart.

Speaking solely of “Flame Flower,” this Daoist art created by Zuo Guanglie,Jiang Wang had yet to see many at the same level of fire-elemental Daoist artsthat could stand alongside it.

As the foundation of “Flame Flower Burning City,” it could almost be said to haveconstructed Zuo Guanglie’s system of fire-elemental Daoist arts.

Upon this art, Jiang Wang had long since bloomed his own flowers, imbued witha unique vitality. Therefore, his “Flame Flower Burning City” was also boundto differ from Zuo Guanglie’s.

Zheng Shangming stepped into the courtyard and saw this flame flower, bloomingand perishing without end. His most direct feeling was one of “beauty,” and thenhe marveled at its vitality.

“Your Flame Flower should have surpassed Zuo Guanglie’s by now, shouldn’t it?”he could not help but ask.

The flame flower at his fingertip converged into a single spark, which then sankback into his fingertip, not wasting a single bit of Dao origin.

“At this level alone, there are limits. Everyone is at that position; there isno talk of surpassing. As for higher-level applications, I am still far from it,”Jiang Wang looked at Zheng Shangming. “It seems you are ten parts certain regardingthis case.”

“Eight parts only,” Zheng Shangming said. “There is still a bit of crucial evidencemissing.”

“Then I must congratulate you,” Jiang Wang said.

Zheng Shangming retorted, “Should I not be congratulating you?”

Jiang Wang remained in the courtyard, gesturing for him to sit. “I have alwaysfelt that perhaps Lin Youxie would find the truth first.”

“We could have kept Lin Youxie out of the case. However…” Zheng Shangming sat down,saying faintly, “Although the Four Great Green Card Clans have vanished likesmoke and clouds, they are, after all, the cornerstone upon which the Green Cardsystem was first built. Their remaining influence cannot be underestimated. Eventhe Son of Heaven feels he owes them an explanation, and even more so, we of theNorthern Yamen.”

“Your so-called explanation is to have her participate in a case she was meantto participate in?” Jiang Wang sat across from him, asking softly.

A small brazier stood on the stone table, a pot of tea brewing upon it, steamrising in curls.

“It’s hard not to admit that if the Northern Yamen hadn’t nodded, she wouldn’teven have the chance to seek the truth.” Zheng Shangming’s words were cold,but they were indeed heavy truth.

“Are you so certain that you can find the truth before her?” Jiang Wang said.“Lin Youxie has the will to die. How dare you underestimate a person who actswith the resolve to die?”

“That is her choice,” Zheng Shangming said faintly, looking at Jiang Wang.“Brother Jiang, I merely wish to know your choice.”

It should be said that after Zheng Shangming proactively showed goodwill in theCapital Inspection Bureau, their interaction with Jiang Wang has been pleasant,even to the point of being called “friends.”

Conversely, Jiang Wang and Lin Youxie had a great deal of friction before this.

From the very beginning, Lin Youxie had been relentless with Jiang Wang, becauseof the suspicions surrounding the Gate of Hell. She wished she could immediatelyfind evidence to nail Jiang Wang in the Heavenly Prison.

For a long time, Jiang Wang kept a respectful distance from Lin Youxie.

But at this moment.

Jiang Wang could only say, “Brother Zheng, the position of Commandant of theNorthern Yamen is one I cannot accept.”

Zheng Shangming did not seem very surprised. After all, Jiang Wang had hesitatedon this matter for too long.

But he still asked, “Why?”

Jiang Wang looked up at the clouds on the horizon, asking with some emotion,“Brother Shangming, what do you say the position of Capital Inspection BureauCommandant and Chief Inspector represents? Is it power, or responsibility?”

Zheng Shangming did not think much, answering directly, “It represents theimmense power of controlling the Green Card system. As for authority andresponsibility… authority and responsibility are one. Holding the Green Cardmeans bearing the responsibility of the Green Card.”

Jiang Wang asked again, “Then what is the responsibility of the Green Card?In the words ‘Capital Inspection Bureau Commandant,’ which is more important,‘Inspection’ or ‘Commandant’?”

“I think I understand what you mean,” Zheng Shangming said slowly. “You wishto choose the so-called truth. But Brother Jiang, have you ever considered,‘Eat the king’s salary, serve the king’s affairs’? The Capital Inspection Bureauis directly under the Son of Heaven, not your fiefdom of Qingyang Town. Theposition of Inspection Bureau Commandant… what is important is neither‘Inspection’ nor ‘Commandant,’ but the words not written.”

Jiang Wang let out a long sigh, stating frankly, “Therefore, I cannot sit inthis position.”

Zheng Shangming looked at him. “Brother Jiang, I have always admired you, and Iknow you are a person of firm will. But today, I wish to sincerely advise you—the Son of Heaven’s trust in you is known throughout the realm. Have youconsidered how disappointed the Son of Heaven will be if you refuse thisposition? You are not only refusing the Northern Yamen Commandant, but alsoan opportunity to express loyalty to the Son of Heaven. Do you know that yourfuture career advancement is likely to be difficult because of your choice today?”

Of course, Jiang Wang knew.

Even if he did not know, Zhong Xuan Sheng had already told him.

But he merely said calmly, “The state of Qi is vast; it should have the soil toaccommodate all kinds of people. If it does not, I think it is not my loss.”

Zheng Shangming was silent for a moment, then said, “Although I do not approve,I respect your choice.”

He sighed deeply. “Brother Jiang, sometimes I feel that you are truly anenviable person.”

“What is there to envy about me?” Jiang Wang chuckled lightly. “Alone andunattached, merely possessing arrogant bones. Though I am a Third Rank official,how many listen to my words?”

“People always envy those they cannot become.” Zheng Shangming pursed his lips.“Then, Brother Jiang, I shall take my leave.”

He rose and walked out.

As he was about to reach the courtyard gate, he heard Jiang Wang’s voice frombehind—

“Brother Zheng. Speaking of it, when you were being manipulated by Wen Lian Mu’sscheme… if I had accidentally killed you there on Mount Ganma, therebytriggering the wrath of your father, the Northern Yamen Commandant. Have youever considered that you would need the truth?”

Zheng Shangming stopped in his tracks.

“I have thought about it, I have thought about it very seriously.”

He said, “What I thought was, I needed power.”

He stood there at the courtyard gate, his back to Jiang Wang.

He said in a calm tone, “Brother Jiang, not everyone can be like you, with thetalent to break legends, with the courage to break rules. I am merely… makingthe effort of a mediocrity.”