Chapter 1401: Unspoken Words

The final deed of Jiang Wuqi in his life was to offer himself as bait,sweeping clean the land of Qi from the spies of the Equal Nation.Li Youjiu of the Divine Presence realm, Yan Tu of the Profound Understanding realm...all were purged.With such wisdom and courage, what enemy could not be overcome?The hatred for his mother's murder, why did he remain silent, why did he not seek vengeance?The grudge of the bone-chilling poison entering his fate, why did he not wash it away?Even more so, why did he let Gongsun Yu leave on the Eve of the Lunar New Year last year?Yet the contradiction lies in...Jiang Wuqi spoke not a word, while Gongsun Yu severed his tongue to silence himself.And why did Feng Gu, in the end, use death to force out the truth of that year?

Jiang Wang focused his mind, pondering deeply. He faintly felt that he was very close to the clue.But like looking at flowers through mist, there was always something in between.What was it?Jiang Wuqi, Feng Gu, Gongsun Yu, Yang Jing...Gongsun Yu... severed tongue!Unable to speak, called "mute" (Ya).The door in his mind, long blocked, burst open with a roar.Among the chaotic clues, one suddenly became clear, leaping before his eyes.

Jiang Wang turned and exited the door, immediately ordering the steward to prepare a carriage,and headed directly for the Palace of Eternal Life.He wished he could fly there directly, but being in a place like Linzi,and at such a sensitive time, he had to abide by certain rules.His heart was already galloping like a wild horse, yet within the steady carriage, Jiang Wang's expression remained calm.The more urgent the moment, the more one must seek tranquility.Tranquil, one can guard oneself, and not lose one's original heart.He even cast aside distracting thoughts and began cultivating.In the practice of Daoist arts, time always flows leisurely.

The Palace of Eternal Life was not far, and it did not take much time to arrive.Jiang Wang felt that his emotions had also settled, and he lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage.He walked directly into the Palace of Eternal Life.

"Esteemed sir. According to the rules, someone must accompany you to enter,"the leading blue-badge constable blocked his path.The blue-badge constables guarding the Palace of Eternal Life had been replaced.Of course, there were none among the Linzi blue-badge constables who did not know Jiang Wang.Even if they had not met him in person, they must have seen his portrait.Though it was their duty, they were still respectful.

"Then you accompany me in," Jiang Wang said directly.The leading constable shook his head: "None of us are qualified to enter the Palace of Eternal Life."Jiang Wang, whose mind was focused on the clue, suddenly remembered at this momentthat as the crime scene, the Palace of Eternal Life was under lockdown,and only he, Lin Youxie, and Zheng Shangming, the three blue-badges specificallyresponsible for the case, could enter.Furthermore, they could not enter alone; at least two people must be present to supervise each other.Of course, he was fully capable of quietly sneaking into the Palace of Eternal Life,and these constables likely wouldn't discover it.But in such a tense situation, there was no need to break the rules.Sometimes, a seemingly nearby "shortcut" is an incredibly circuitous "long road."If he were to quietly sneak into the Palace of Eternal Life, no matter what evidence he obtained in the end,it would no longer be credible.

"Go and invite Zheng Shangming," Jiang Wang directly ordered."Say that I asked him to accompany me to search for evidence.If Zheng Shangming is not available, Vice Envoy Lin Youxie can also.In short, whoever you see first, please invite them. I will wait here."With his standing today, within the blue-badge system, few would refuse to comply.Not to mention the subtle rumors that he was about to take over as the Commandant of the Northern Prefecture.Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a blue-badge constable immediately hurried away to the Northern Prefecture to invite someone.Jiang Wang then stood outside the palace gate, and before long, his spirit submerged into the sea,and he began his cultivation.Although time was limited, waiting was a waste, and cultivation would always yield some progress.Accumulating small steps to reach a thousand li, small streams to form rivers and seas,reaching the peak of the extraordinary is also climbing step by step from the foot of the mountain.

When Zheng Shangming hurried over, Jiang Wang had just opened his eyes."What's wrong?" Zheng Shangming asked.Jiang Wang only said: "Let's talk inside."With two of the three people responsible for the case present at the same time, the palace gates of the Palace of Eternal Life opened.This palace became even more desolate and cold, its vitality completely gone.Jiang Wang had a clear objective and walked directly towards the screen wall with the painting of all living beings.

"Did you find anything new?" Zheng Shangming asked again.Jiang Wang stood before the screen wall, carefully examining the mural left by Jiang Wuqi,and did not speak.Zheng Shangming also remained silent.In this mural of all living beings, there are too many figures, and the scene is too complex,almost encompassing all of Jiang Wuqi's observations of "people."Anyone who looks carefully can notice its extraordinary nature.But if there are any clues hidden within, they are scattered in a thousand directions,and cannot be found without a "key."

Jiang Wang had been thinking if he had missed any clues. He had repeatedly studied this mural before.But it wasn't until today, thinking of Gongsun Yu's severed tongue, that he suddenly connected the dots.In this mural of all living beings, not to mention those with intact limbs, there are also blind peopletalking incessantly to deaf people, deaf people gesturing and pointing to blind people,and someone without a sense of smell fishing by the river...It can be said to depict all living beings.But the so-called "deaf, blind, *yong*, mute, the four defects" (*yong* means unable to smell),Jiang Wuqi painted all living beings, and since there are deaf, blind, and *yong*,how could he miss a "mute"?The answer is actually very simple. The position where the mute person should be isJiang Wuqi's "mute," his unspoken words!And the position where the mute person should be is also easy to find; Jiang Wuqi did notintentionally hide it too deeply.Divide this painting of all living beings into nine sections.The deaf and the blind are in the lower left corner of this painting, in the Gen sector.The *yong* is in the middle of the right side, in the Dui sector.A small river flows from the Dui sector to the Qian sector, passing out of the painting.On the riverbank, a farmer carries manure, and the *yong* holds a fishing rod.Using the position of the deaf and the blind in the entire painting as the basic reference points,the position corresponding to where the *yong* is located should be the direction of the Li sector,which is the middle position of the upper layer of this painting.And in this place, what is painted is a barren mountain, with a continuous mountain rangeextending out of the painting.Specifically, using the position of the *yong* as a reference, the precise corresponding position is on the barren mountain...An isolated grave!This is an inconspicuous isolated grave. Jiang Wang had seen it before, of course,but only glanced at it briefly.Now focusing on this position and observing carefully, he noticed the tombstone in front of the grave.Only four characters were inscribed on the stone.It was different from the format of any epitaph.These four characters were the words Jiang Wuqi wanted to say.Inscribed were—"The departed is gone."

Jiang Wang was stunned for a moment.In his analysis, he had thought that Gongsun Yu's act of cutting his tongue was bothto sever the truth of that year and to hint at the answer left by Jiang Wuqi on the screen wall.His muteness itself was a key.Therefore, Jiang Wang naturally thought that Jiang Wuqi had hidden the truth of that important case from that year here.But Jiang Wuqi only left his choice here...This is Consort Lei's tomb...And "The departed is gone" on the tombstone is Jiang Wuqi's choice, and also a word of dissuasionto those who pursue the truth to this point.The mute person who was not painted is Jiang Wuqi himself.He depicted all living beings in a painting, telling too many stories.When it came to himself, there was only a sigh of "Enough"...

Jiang Wang did not know what to say.That assassination case from that year led to Consort Lei's death and caused Jiang Wuqito be born with bone-chilling poison in his fate.It also led to the death of the famous constable Lin Kuang and caused Lin Youxie's phobia.The enormous vortex it created continued to claim lives seventeen years later.He gave up the position of Commandant of the Northern Prefecture, which was within reach,and chose the word truth, not without a hint of repaying Jiang Wuqi's appreciation for a fellow hero,and seeking the truth for him.But the truth of the case, Jiang Wuqi had already found.This Eleventh Prince chose silence.This could also explain why Gongsun Yu left the Palace of Eternal Life and why he told Yang Jing,"Fear it will be hard to cease speaking."It is likely that Gongsun Yu was one of the key members involved in investigating the truth at that time.After learning the truth, Jiang Wuqi chose to remain silent and required everyone to keep it confidential.Gongsun Yu feared that he could not keep the secret, so he voluntarily cut his tongueand retired to Biwu County at a young age.What kind of truth required such a measure?That truth...What exactly was it?

Furthermore, Jiang Wang also clarified another key question.Feng Gu's use of suicide to trace the old case was indeed not Jiang Wuqi's decision.It was more of Feng Gu's own initiative.Feng Gu was indeed loyal to Jiang Wuqi, but as a living person, he also had his own independent will.He said that Jiang Wuqi had already obtained what he wanted; these words were not false.He said that he himself had not yet obtained what he wanted; these words were also sincere.Jiang Wuqi chose silence.And he wanted Zhang Ming.Why did he make a different choice from Jiang Wuqi?The answer to this question might be unknown to anyone after his death.Perhaps he was deeply bothered by Consort Lei's death, or perhaps after Jiang Wuqi's death,he had also lost heart and no longer wanted to consider the political situation...In short, things happened that way.

And what Jiang Wang needed to consider was—Should he still pursue the truth now?The greatest victim of the assassination case against Consort Lei, the person most qualified to seek justice,had already made his choice!

"This painting is very complex, and also very vivid," Zheng Shangming asked at this point."Are there any clues you need inside?""You've already seen it, haven't you?" Jiang Wang retorted.Zheng Shangming shook his head: "I didn't understand it."Perhaps he meant that he didn't understand this painting.Perhaps he meant that he didn't understand Jiang Wuqi's choice.In any case, regarding the truth of Consort Lei's assassination case, after Jiang Wang refusedthe position of Commandant of the Northern Prefecture, he would no longer share it with Jiang Wang.And the reason Jiang Wang came to the Palace of Eternal Life today without hiding it from Zheng Shangming,even proactively inviting Zheng Shangming to accompany him, was because he knew he couldn't hide it.If he came to the Palace of Eternal Life, Zheng Shangming would definitely follow.He might as well be open and frank, without concealment.

"Have you decided who will take over as the Commandant of the Northern Prefecture?" Jiang Wang asked.Zheng Shangming smiled bitterly: "How much power do you think my father really has?Is this something we can decide just by talking behind closed doors?We came to you because you can sit in this position, because you are Jiang Qingyang.Do you really think anyone I name can be the one?"Jiang Wang did not believe that Zheng Shi would not have alternative plans.How could such a person who played the blue-badge system so clearly and thrived in Linziput all his eggs in one basket?In the end, he refused the position of Commandant of the Northern Prefecture,and his friendship with Zheng Shangming would also stop at that of ordinary friends.

"Let's go!"Jiang Wang turned and walked outside."Aren't you going to look elsewhere?" Zheng Shangming asked while walking behind him."No need," Jiang Wang said. "There's only one last key missing to unlock the truth.""I thought only Chong Xuan Sheng liked to speak in riddles. Why are you learning the bad habits?"Zheng Shangming's tone was light, perhaps he was certain that Jiang Wang would not get that last key,or perhaps he himself was closer to the truth.In short, what he was more concerned about now was who would bridge the power vacuumbetween him and his father.Someone not powerful wouldn't be able to sit as the Commandant of the Northern Prefecture,but someone too powerful usually has too much ambition.It's not impossible that once they are in power, they will kick him aside and not give himthe chance to succeed.

The two stayed in the Palace of Eternal Life for a very short time,so short that the team of constables outside the palace gate had not even finished their second topic.This period of time was also very long, long enough for another blue-badge constablecarrying a message to reach the outside of the Palace of Eternal Life.

"Lord Zheng, the latest news!"Zheng Shangming quickly stepped forward, took the urgent message from the hand of this blue-badge constable,and opened it to take a look.He paused slightly, then handed the letter to Jiang Wang.Jiang Wang was quite curious about what emergency news did not need to be concealed from him.He took it, unfolded it, and read—"The death of the former Divine Constable Wu Lie has been confirmed. His body was foundin the waters near Haimen Island and has been urgently sent back to Linzi."

Wu Lie is dead...Did Wu Lie just die like that?Thus, the once glorious "Southern Wu Northern Lin," famous throughout the Eastern Region,has become nothing.To the news of Wu Lie's death, Jiang Wang was surprisingly not surprised.As early as when he learned that Wu Lie was investigating the Tian family of Daze alone,and that Tian Huanwen had already attacked Wu Lie, Jiang Wang had faintly felt that this day would come.Wu Lie was already on a road of no return.As he himself said, life and death had long been put aside.It was just that Jiang Wang did not expect it to come so suddenly.After so many years.He had survived so many storms and waves, yet he fell when the truth was about to surface.

"Who went to receive the body?" Zheng Shangming asked.The constable replied: "Vice Envoy Yang Weitong personally went to receive it,and the Commandant is receiving the coffin in the Northern Prefecture."Wu Lie dedicated most of his life to the blue-badge system and only left the blue-badgesafter Lin Kuang's death. His contribution to the blue-badge system, to the Northern Prefecture,can never be erased.It was only right that someone with real power like Vice Inspector Yang Weitong went to receive the body,and that the Commandant of the Northern Prefecture personally waited at the Inspectorate to receive the coffin.Even if strictly speaking, Wu Lie had left his post for many years and no longer wore a blue badge on his waist,who could deny that he was a totem-like existence in the blue-badge system?The so-called Divine Constable Yue Leng, before him, was nothing more than a junior follower.To this day, there are too many rules for handling cases in the blue-badge system that were set by people of Wu Lie's generation.Too many investigation methods follow the old ways. Among them, the influence of the two Divine Constables, Wu Lie and Lin Kuang, is the greatest.Wu Lie and Lin Kuang were equally famous, and Wu Lie was much older than Lin Kuang. They were friendsregardless of age, and it can be said that they were both mentor and friend.Relatively speaking, Wu Lie also had a higher status in the blue-badge system.The Inspectorate must express sufficient respect for Wu Lie's death. Everyone wearing a blue badgemust express sufficient respect for Wu Lie himself.This is even unrelated to personal feelings, but a kind of inheritance of past history.

Zheng Shangming looked at Jiang Wang, his tone complex: "Let's go, we'll wait at the Northern Prefecture together.""We should wait," Jiang Wang said.However, he knew.The clue from Gu Xing on Baja Island... should be broken.In other words, he and Lin Youxie had lost the last key to unlocking the truth.

*Yong*: yong, unable to smell, called yong. — Han Dynasty, Wang Chong, *Lun Heng: Bie Tong*