Chapter 1400: Difficult to Curb Speech

Zheng Shangming strode away.He kept one sentence unspoken in his heart— yet even you, Jiang Wang, the legends you now forge are but at the Inner Mansion stage.Beyond the Outer Tower lies Divine Ascension, beyond Divine Ascension lies Cavern Truth, and beyond Cavern Truth is the Manifestation of the Dao. This world is too vast! Mighty powers are too mighty! Can you truly alter some matters?Once staunchly refusing to rely on ancestral glory, concealing his name to join the army, stubbornly striving alone, Zheng Shangming, in that game with Wen Lianmu, before the Town-Protecting Marshal's Residence, had all his pride shattered by Wang Yiwu's fist.Thereafter, he resolutely joined the Green Card system and adapted to the Northern Yamen with utmost speed.Today, he and Jiang Wang made different choices, but his choice was not made today.Whether this constitutes growth and transformation, or compromise and decline, is also difficult to say with certainty.Each person lives within their own moral system.All struggles, beliefs, excuses... throughout one's life, are merely to justify oneself after making a choice.Sometimes a person's change is but in a single night.But there are also those who will never change.Perhaps?Buddhism states, within the blooming and wilting of a flower, a world is born and extinguished.Who can be certain they are not a person within the flower?Jiang Wang sat quietly before the stone table in the courtyard, raised another finger, and amidst the bitter wind, watched the flame flowers bloom and fade, contemplating the profound mysteries of the Daoist arts.Perhaps this day was not suitable for cultivation, for not long after, Steward Xie returned to announce a visitor.A calling card, exquisitely crafted.The visitor, Yang Jing of Biyu County.Jiang Wang extinguished the flame flower and gently furrowed his brow.Zheng Shangming's visit was expected, but Yang Jing was unexpected.Unexpected matters, after all, inherently lack a certain sense of security.Despite this, he still rose and walked out to personally welcome the guest.Regardless, his uninvited arrival last time was indeed abrupt. It was also the other party's grace that they did not dwell on it. There was no reason for him to put on airs when the other party visited in turn.He could not yet assume such airs.Lord Jiang's arrogance was usually reserved for close friends. It was only occasionally that he could vex those detrimental friends like Chong Xuan Sheng and Xu Xiangqian.Yang Jing wore a black robe today, appearing somber. He had brought no attendants, standing alone outside the gate. Both bow and sword were sheathed, yet the sharpness about him remained undiminished.Jiang Wang strode out a few steps to greet him, "To think a distinguished guest would visit, this Jiang has been remiss in not welcoming you sooner!""Lordship is too kind." Yang Jing looked at him, "How about speaking inside?"Jiang Wang immediately turned aside, "Come to my courtyard!"Fortunately, Chong Xuan Sheng was not here today, otherwise, he might have come to meddle. The incident of his Shadow Guard being beaten in Biyu County greatly displeased him.The two entered the courtyard one after another.Yang Jing offered no greetings, and spoke directly, "Gongsun Yu is dead."Jiang Wang was startled, "How did he die?""I don't know." Yang Jing said, "That is why I came to Linzi."How vast is Linzi!How numerous are the officials and nobles!In Yang Jing's calm statement, there was a sense of lone courage amidst a thousand troops.It seemed he and Gongsun Yu were truly very close friends.Jiang Wang said very earnestly, "It is absolutely unrelated to me. I assure you I am completely unaware of his death."Yang Jing said, "Otherwise, I would not have come to your residence alone."It seemed he had already investigated privately...Jiang Wang thought for a moment and asked, "When did he die?"Yang Jing said, "After you left, I stayed with him for a while. At that time, his condition was still good, and he was still reading. The next morning, when I had arranged a new place of seclusion and went to pick him up, he was already gone. There were no external injuries, he died with his Sky-Connecting Palace and Five Mansions completely shattered.""What did your brother say?" Jiang Wang asked.Yang Luo, the Prefect of Biyu County, was undoubtedly a figure of considerable political weight. If one could leverage his influence...Yang Jing said flatly, "Gongsun Yu is my friend, not my brother's friend.""I misspoke." Jiang Wang admitted his mistake.But in fact, the murderer of Gongsun Yu was not difficult to guess.Those who would kill Gongsun Yu at this time were none other than a few groups of people— those who sought the truth, and those who sought to conceal the truth.Since Jiang Wang himself did not act. Then only those on Lin Youxie's side, those on Zheng Shangming's side, and the true culprit of the assassination of Consort Lei remained."I had someone investigate. The case you are currently supervising is the death of Feng Gu, the Chief Eunuch of the Everlasting Palace." Yang Jing asked directly, "I want to ask you, is this case related to Gongsun Yu? Why did you go to Biyu County to find him with such difficulty?"Without knowing the specific details of the case, his questions went directly to the crux. Because the murderer likely sought Biyu County for the same reason as Jiang Wang."Gongsun Yu was a confidant of the Eleventh Prince during his lifetime, and a frequent visitor to the Everlasting Palace. I went to Biyu County specifically to ask him some questions about the Everlasting Palace." Jiang Wang said earnestly, "I cannot conveniently tell you the specific details of the case. But if you can help provide some clues, perhaps I can find the true culprit faster."Yang Jing was noncommittal and asked in return, "With your current identity, status, and responsibilities, why did you have to go to Biyu County stealthily to investigate the case? This case is probably not as simple as the death of Feng Gu. Who are you opposing? Is someone monitoring you in secret? Is it possible that the murderer tracked you and only then found Gongsun Yu?"Jiang Wang was relieved that Chong Xuan Sheng was not present earlier, but now he wished that fat man was here.Yang Jing was truly no simple person!Many rumors circulated that he was merely a fledgling sheltered under the wing of his brother Yang Luo, but after interacting with him personally, Jiang Wang discovered that this person was clearly measured in his advance and retreat, possessing both courage and cunning.He could both honor his friendship with Gongsun Yu and minimize his responsibility, so as not to affect his brother the Prefect, and he could also keenly perceive the core of the problem with sharp eyes...Speaking of which, his deliberate effort to keep his brother out of it, was that not also because he sensed the danger of this matter?After careful consideration for a while, Jiang Wang said, "I truly cannot disclose the details of the case, this is a rule of the Green Card. As for the possibility you mentioned... I truly cannot rule it out. Brother Yang, please be assured, I will definitely give you an explanation for Gongsun Yu's death.""Gongsun Yu was my friend, and he died in my manor." Yang Jing said flatly, "I came to Linzi to give myself an explanation.""Then you should cooperate with me even more." Jiang Wang said very sincerely, "The murderer killed Gongsun Yu, perhaps precisely because he knew something. I am fully responsible for supervising the handling of the Everlasting Palace case, and there are people everywhere in the Northern Yamen, in the court. Chong Xuan Sheng lives in my residence, the Li family of Shimen and I are like family, Yan Fu is my closest friend, Zheng Shangming and I have a deep friendship... No matter who the murderer is, or what forces are involved, I can definitely investigate to the end and find the truth."Jiang Wang kept boasting here, and he did not know which sentence touched Yang Jing.After a moment of silence, he finally said, "But Gongsun Yu did not tell me anything.""Just tell me what you know." Jiang Wang said quickly."Where do you want to start hearing from?"Jiang Wang thought for a moment and asked, "When did his tongue break?""On New Year's Eve last year, Gongsun Yu came to find me..." Yang Jing slowly recounted, "At that time, his tongue was already broken."New Year's Eve of the Dao Calendar year 3918, was precisely the time of the Zhuang-Yong War...Having come this far, striving with all his might without pause, only today did he suddenly realize how many things had happened in this year.Jiang Wang, of course, could not forget that rainy night, never could. But it was clear that on the same New Year's Eve, the story that changed Gongsun Yu's life had also already unfolded.What happened in the Everlasting Palace on New Year's Eve of the Dao Calendar year 3918?"How did it break?" Jiang Wang asked."I asked him the same thing at the time..."Yang Jing looked at the texture of the stone tabletop, lost in recollection, "It was snowing that night, heavy snow. I had too much to drink and returned to my room alone, and he was waiting for me in my courtyard. I was very happy, what could be more joyful than a friend coming to see you on a snowy night? I asked him if he wanted to drink, I said I had hunted a very fat deer, I said a self-proclaimed fellow with a glib tongue came to the city a few days ago, just in time for you to curse him to hell... But he only opened his mouth and showed me his broken tongue.""What's wrong? I asked him what was wrong. He had no reaction.""I was anxious and angry. I said I wanted to kill, I had to kill a few people. My heart was like fire!""The courtyard was covered with snow, he squatted down and wrote a line on the snow— I have been sharp of tongue my whole life, fearing I cannot refrain from speaking, thus I break my tongue to show my resolve, never to speak again in this life.""That line of writing was quickly covered by snow, and he truly never communicated with me again."Yang Jing said with a hint of sadness, "I asked him many times, and each time he just looked at me. I don't know what happened to him, I think he didn't want me to know."In other words... Gongsun Yu's tongue was cut off by himself, and the reason was to "refrain from speaking."Why did he refrain from speaking?Did he know something he shouldn't have known, and was that the reason he left the Everlasting Palace? Could it be related to the truth of the assassination of Consort Lei?"Did he have any contact with the Everlasting Palace afterwards?" Jiang Wang asked."Not that I know of." Yang Jing said, "He did not leave the manor a single step."Jiang Wang said earnestly, "I think, Gongsun Yu did not tell you anything. Perhaps it was to protect you.""Perhaps. But protecting him is what I, as a friend, most wanted to do." Having said this, Yang Jing rose and said, "Since you cannot conveniently tell me anything, then let us part ways here."Jiang Wang instinctively asked, "Where are you going?""I have told you everything I know." Yang Jing looked at him, "Next, I will find the answer in my own way."You will die.This thought appeared in Jiang Wang's mind almost immediately.He said very seriously, "Investigating the case is naturally our job as Green Cards. The information you have and the information we have are completely on different levels. Rashly joining will not help. Why don't you return to Biyu County and wait for news? I will notify you as soon as there is a result."The true culprit of the assassination of Consort Lei, even if not affiliated with the current Empress, is definitely a force at a level similar to the current Empress.As for the murderer who killed Gongsun Yu, it would be fine if Yang Jing could not track them down. If he truly found them... the outcome would likely be very unpleasant.Putting aside everything else, solely for Yang Jing's loyalty to his friend, Jiang Wang did not want to stand by and watch him go to his death."It seems my guess was correct. The force behind the murderer is very powerful, my Yang family cannot afford to provoke them." Yang Jing twitched the corner of his mouth, seemingly in mockery, "Yes, otherwise how could they dare to kill my friend so casually?""Please believe me." Jiang Wang, after all, could not say more, he could only emphasize, "I will not give up on this case, and I have already touched upon the truth.""I know you are very trustworthy. But I apologize, I cannot entrust the death of my friend entirely to someone I do not know."Yang Jing turned and left without the slightest hesitation.He came suddenly and left decisively.This was a smart and sober person.He came to Linzi alone, perhaps he had already made preparations.In the courtyard, where the cold wind fell, only Jiang Wang remained once again.He sat alone on the stone chair, quietly contemplating the case.This case could no longer be delayed.But where was the key evidence?Would Lin Youxie's side have any gains?Jiang Wuqi, Feng Gu, Gongsun Yu... have died one after another.If Yang Jing collides with the forces behind the scenes, it would also be extremely dangerous.Who is next? Is Lin Youxie absolutely safe?Even himself?That major case from seventeen years ago, like an infinitely deep, dark vortex, is constantly expanding, and trying to drag more and more people in...From all aspects, a result needs to be produced as soon as possible.Either tear open the curtain that obscures it, letting the sunlight shine in, illuminating every corner within.Or, bury it completely, and never mention it again thereafter.Clearly, Gongsun Yu chose the latter.No...Thinking of Gongsun Yu at this moment, Jiang Wang vaguely felt as if he had touched something.He seemed to have been overlooking something extremely important all this time.What was it?Jiang Wang furrowed his brows and stood up, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.What exactly was he overlooking?The cold wind blew noisily, he simply walked into the room and closed the door. Isolating all sounds, allowing himself to think quietly.What was he overlooking?He walked back and forth alone in the bedroom, and suddenly stopped, seeing a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall—It was the last piece of writing by Jiang Wuqi during his lifetime, which he had specially requested a craftsman to mount."Heaven does not abandon Great Qi, giving birth to me, Jiang Wuqi!"A flash of inspiration exploded in Jiang Wang's mind.That's right... Jiang Wuqi!He understood what the question he had been overlooking all along was!Since Feng Gu used his death to stir up an investigation into that major case from back then, and clearly left clues pointing to the Empress of Great Qi.And it now seemed that Gongsun Yu also knew something.That is to say, Feng Gu and Gongsun Yu both possessed some information regarding the truth of the assassination of Consort Lei back then.Then, as the Master of the Everlasting Palace, could Jiang Wuqi have been completely unaware?Could such a supreme figure be completely kept in the dark by his subordinates?This is unreasonable!But since Jiang Wuqi also knew the truth, why did he not deal with this matter himself?With his wisdom, identity, and influence, whatever he did would have been more effective than Feng Gu.But he never mentioned it until his death.Why?!