frightfiction Chapter 149 My Master Has Seen Through Me
Chapter 149 My Master Has Seen Through Me
In the capital of the Great Shun Dynasty, the most bustling place on the first day of the Lunar New Year was undoubtedly the eastern part of the city.
The reason is simple: the East City is where the City God Temple is located. Aristocratic families seeking official positions, poor scholars hoping to pass the imperial examinations, and unmarried young women seeking marriage all come here to offer incense.
Linden was a candidate from Xunchun City. He came to the capital last summer to participate in this year's imperial examination, hoping to achieve a good ranking and embark on a career in government.
At that moment, he was standing outside the City God Temple, receiving three incense sticks from a vendor.
Looking around, there were only some ordinary people like Linden in front of the City God Temple. The tall carriages that used to surround the City God Temple during festivals were nowhere to be seen.
So he asked the vendor across the street, "Young man, why is the City God Temple so deserted today?"
Upon hearing this, the vendor also began to complain: "How would I know? In previous years, the horse-drawn carriages in front of the temple would have overwhelmed my stall on the first day of the Lunar New Year. This year it's definitely too quiet."
Despite saying that, neither of them took it to heart. After exchanging a few casual pleasantries, one continued hawking his wares, while the other took incense and went into the City God Temple to offer it.
They were just two ordinary people, naturally unaware of the treacherous events that had unfolded in the palace the previous night. They went about their own business, and the entire capital remained as calm as if nothing had happened.
But what has happened has happened, and you can't pretend nothing happened by deliberately hiding the news.
Moreover, Xie Xiao had no intention of hiding it.
Three imperial edicts were issued in succession, spreading throughout the streets and alleys. The families of the officials who lost their heads at the palace banquet last night were selected, and a group of people with murder on their hands were interrogated overnight in the Ministry of Justice prison. The information was then sent to Caishikou for execution at noon.
After this news spread, even fewer people went to the City God Temple. Xue Tong knew that Xue Lan had met with the City God of the capital, and they would probably have another discussion.
She couldn't understand the discussion, nor dared to sleep, so she followed Yu Niang and Xu Shi to join the excitement of the execution site early in the morning.
Xue Lan arrived at the City God Temple, but the main hall was empty. A few incense sticks appeared in the girl's hand, and the tips lit automatically.
Xue Lan stepped forward, placed the incense sticks in the incense burner, and bowed in greeting.
"Xue Lan of the Xuanhuang Sect requests an audience with the City God."
As soon as the girl said this, the hem of the City God statue in front of her began to move without wind. A middle-aged man, eight feet tall and with a dignified bearing, slowly walked out of the statue, followed by an old man wearing a black square crown.
"Bai Jing, the City God of Yun Gui City".
"Xu Zheng, the judge of the underworld in Yun Gui City".
"I have met Miss Xue."
Xue Lan was initially taken aback by the mention of Yun Gui City by the two, but after a moment's thought, she understood the reason. During the years since the establishment of the Great Shun Dynasty, the capital had been moved once due to the invasion of the demon race, from the south to a city located in the center. The original name of the current capital was Yun Gui City.
That relocation of the capital took place exactly six hundred years ago.
Xue Lan bowed to the two men before her again, saying, "You two are too kind."
Seeing that there was no one around, Xue Lan got straight to the point: "Actually, Xue Lan has come to see Lord City God to ask for a favor."
The White City God readily waved his hand: "Please speak, young lady."
Xue Lan bowed again and slowly stated her request: "Xue Lan has come to Yun Gui City to investigate someone's life record."
The White City God's expression remained unchanged. The middle-aged man looked at the old man beside him and asked, "Judge Xu, what do you think of this matter?"
The judge sighed: "This matter is not difficult in itself, but a part of the ancestral tablets of my Yun Gui City from five hundred years ago is missing. I don't know if it will affect Miss Xue."
A bad feeling welled up in Xue Lan's heart.
The girl spoke softly, "Which part is missing?"
The old man sighed: "Five hundred years ago, that part of the Great Shun royal family."
Xue Lan's heart sank completely. The girl asked again, "May I ask, Your Honor, is this account book lost, or was it taken by someone?"
The old man replied, "Of course it was taken by someone. And that person has quite a close relationship with the young lady."
Hearing this, Xue Lan was already feeling a bit overwhelmed.
As expected, Judge Xu smiled and said what Xue Lan had already guessed: "That person is Immortal Master Ling Yuanzi of the Xuanhuang Sect."
Xue Lan wanted to pat her head; her good master really understood her!
Or perhaps she was the reincarnation of a dignified wolf king, and in just over a decade, that old man taught her to be exactly like him.
Seeing the girl's appearance, Judge Xu forced himself to speak: "Miss Xue, in fact, Immortal Ling Yuanzi left something for you before he left."
As he spoke, the old man took a letter out of his sleeve.
Xue Lan reached out and took the letter; it was clearly short. She opened it right in front of the two deities and took out a single sheet of paper. She then used her divine sense to read it.
The paper wasn't large, and on it was a very abstract drawing. Xue Lan struggled for a long time before she could tell it was a map. It depicted not only mountains and rivers, but also various cities.
In Yun Gui City, there was a small figure dressed in red, which looked very simple and ugly, but Xue Lan's intuition told her that it was herself.
At the end of the map's route lies Guangye City, the capital of the Great Li Dynasty, located in the far north. Beside it is another small figure, still simple and somewhat ugly, but the brushstrokes are much better than the one at the beginning. It is an old man with a white beard.
Below the map were a few lines of small print:
"First, we must follow the route. If you go straight to Guangye City, I'll run!"
"Secondly, observe more, learn more, and laugh more on the road; don't be so lifeless all day long!"
"Third, remember to wear the red dress your master bought for you. The little girl looks like she's going to a funeral every day."
Xue Lan put away the map, calming her anger. She then thanked the two gods before her, saying, "Thank you both. I'll take my leave now."
"Miss Xue, please wait. I heard from the underworld messengers that you also witnessed the palace banquet tragedy last night in the palace. I wonder what your thoughts are?" Bai Chenghuang suddenly called out to Xue Lan.
Xue Lan pondered for a moment, realizing that this was the only thing left to do in the capital, and it was not yet noon.
The girl smiled brightly: "Since the City God is also interested in this matter, why don't we go together and watch an execution?"
Upon hearing the suggestion, both gods nodded in agreement. The group then slowly walked towards the execution ground at Caishikou.
Along the way, this strange combination of three generations of a family attracted a lot of attention, but most people were there to watch the execution, so they just glanced at the three of them and ran ahead.
At this moment, the White City God asked Xue Lan, "What does Miss Xue think about the Great Shun Emperor executing corrupt officials on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"
The young woman smiled brightly: "Of course it's wonderful. Farmers in the north are hoping for a heavy snowfall to freeze all the insect eggs in their fields. This is what is meant by 'a timely snow promises a good harvest.' And now, Your Majesty is executing corrupt officials in early spring. Isn't this also like a heavy snowfall killing these parasites that have been clinging to the people?"
There's no better Chinese New Year gift than this!