Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1345 - 1341: Obstructions

She didn’t say anything more, lest she become annoying.

Guo Mingxue was dressed in yellow, bright and striking. Smiling, Yingying, she said, "Junior Sister Xiao, don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on my sixth younger brother and stop him from acting rashly. Many thanks for the reminder, Junior Sister. I really hadn’t thought about the possibility of going astray into madness."

"Senior Sister, it only occurred to us by chance as well."

"The mental method passed down in our Imperial Family splits into two branches. What my sixth brother cultivates is the safest branch. In theory he shouldn’t go astray into madness."

"So that’s how it is. Looks like I was worrying too much."

"Those covert attacks were able to injure precisely because they were unexpected. It’s exactly because the mental method my sixth brother cultivates is so steady that he would never think of going astray into madness."

"The other Princes won’t let it go?"

"From what I know of these brothers, they’ll never be reconciled. My sixth brother will have to be even more careful."

"Luckily it’s only for one month," Shen Hanyue said with a smile.

Guo Mingxue’s bright eyes flickered. "Shen, how do you know it’s one month?"

Shen Hanyue froze for a moment, then smiled and said, "Weren’t we planning to stay for a month in the first place?"

She forcibly suppressed her heartbeat, not allowing it to speed up and send her blood surging.

Inwardly she secretly cried out, That was close, that was close, I almost slipped and exposed the Princely Heir’s ability.

This ability absolutely could not be spread outside, could not be leaked.

"So that’s it. But one month may not be enough," Guo Mingxue said with a smile.

"If one month’s not enough, then two. If two months aren’t enough, then add more. Senior Sister Guo, you should only leave once everything’s settled."

"Exactly." Guo Mingxue smiled. "So long as the imperial throne isn’t settled, I truly can’t feel at ease."

"Senior Sister, you’re just born to worry," Shen Hanyue said. "If it were me, I wouldn’t care that much. They’re all your own brothers anyway—no need to let the fat water flow into outsiders’ fields."

"I don’t want to meddle either, but the Great Wei Dynasty has enemies outside. If they make too much trouble, those Three Dynasties outside, eyeing us like tigers, will never let such a fine opportunity slip. Once war breaks out, who knows how many innocent commoners will die."

Shen Hanyue laughed. "Senior Sister Guo, that imperial throne ought to be yours."

Guo Mingxue rolled her eyes at her. "What would a woman like me be Emperor for?"

Shen Hanyue cast a glance at Chu Zhiyuan.

Guo Mingxue said with a smile, "Shen, what are you looking at Mr. Chu for?"

Shen Hanyue giggled. "In our Little Outer Heaven there was once an Empress. She was a friend of the Princely Heir’s and later ascended to Biyuan Heaven and entered the Heavenly Sword Sect."

Guo Mingxue looked at Chu Zhiyuan in amazement. "A woman actually became Emperor?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Guo Mingxue sighed. "In this world, for a woman to become Emperor is indeed incomparably difficult. People’s hearts are hard to shake. I’m not doing that kind of thankless, backbreaking job!"

"Then Senior Sister Guo, just guard the Sixth Prince well. After one month, it’ll all be fine."

"I’ll hold the line!"

Guo Mingxue’s eyes shone brilliantly, her red lips pressed tight.

...

"Still haven’t found it?!"

A deep shout suddenly rang out in the main hall of the Evil Extermination Department.

Huang Zhengyang furrowed his brows tightly, pressing a hand on the table as he glared coldly at the thin, middle‑aged Mo Qiuqiu.

"Director, we truly haven’t found it." Mo Qiuqiu stood at the foot of the steps, expression grave. "We’ve already expanded the search radius to five hundred li, three hundred and thirteen villages, and there is no Black Tree Village."

"Expand further out!"

"If we go further, the back‑and‑forth paperwork will take far more than three days."

"Three days is enough!"

"Director, these officials do everything by the book, neither fast nor slow. No matter how I press them, they remain unhurried, saying that you can’t rush it or mistakes will happen in the chaos... Even with eight‑hundred‑li express dispatches, three days still wouldn’t be enough."

"A bunch of useless parasites in office!"

"..."

"Do you have any solution?!"

"This..."

"At a time like this, what are you hemming and hawing for? If you’ve got a fart, let it out!"

"Director, is this matter truly that urgent?"

"It concerns human lives—far more than just one or two lives!"

"Then... we can only use special means."

"Directly send our own people?"

"Director, think twice. If we directly send our people to the local Government Offices, we’ll likely be attacked by all of them afterward."

"Then what other way is there?" Huang Zhengyang frowned.

He also knew that method was inappropriate.

If they sent people to negotiate with the Six Ministries, that would be ordinary official business.

But if they directly sent people to the local Government Offices, that would be overstepping their authority, an act of overreach.

The local Government Offices would refuse to cooperate, fob them off perfunctorily, and then submit memorials of impeachment.

"What about offering a reward?"

"A reward?"

"Post a few reward notices in every city. Maybe we can find it in a short time."

Huang Zhengyang nodded. "Send people out at once. From the largest city to the smallest town, don’t overlook a single city or town. Within three days, find it!"

"Yes!"

After Mo Qiuqiu left, Huang Zhengyang paced the hall with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression dark.

Nothing was going smoothly!

First, they actually couldn’t find Black Tree Village.

If they couldn’t find the place, how were they supposed to set an ambush?

Next, the Tribute experts and Spiritual Artifacts were hard to mobilize.

Those top‑tier Tribute experts were not easy to invite, and the Spiritual Artifacts were even harder to borrow.

Though he had become Director, compared to Zhou Sizheng, his prestige and connections were far inferior.

If this matter were in Zhou Sizheng’s hands, he would easily invite those Tribute experts and borrow the Spiritual Artifacts as well.

This gap made each step he took feel heavy and unbearably stifling.

Especially since it concerned an enormous number of lives. If something went wrong—especially because his prestige was insufficient—it would be hard for him to forgive himself.

He thought for a while, clenched his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "Someone come!"

A handsome young man slipped in lightly and cupped his fists. "Director."

"Go to the Heavenly Sword Branch yourself and see if Mr. Chu has returned."

"Yes."

"If he hasn’t returned, then wait there until he does. No matter when he comes back, invite him over."

"Yes."

Huang Zhengyang let out a long breath and shook his head.

In the end, he still had to keep troubling Chu Zhiyuan. It was truly a huge irony—a huge irony for the Evil Extermination Department.

...

Huang Zhengyang rubbed his brow and looked out the window.

The morning sunlight was brilliantly golden, pouring through the window and spilling a sheet of golden radiance across the hall.

He rose from behind the desk and walked out of the hall.

Ten‑thousand‑zhang Golden Light stabbed straight into his eyes.

He squinted slightly and swept his gaze around.

Two Guards were standing quietly at either side of the steps like statues.

He turned his head and asked, "Xiaogu still hasn’t come back?"

One Guard said, "Director, Xiaogu has not returned at all."

"And Old Mo?"

"Mo Sizheng hasn’t come over either."

Huang Zhengyang waved his hand, then descended the steps with his hands behind his back, walking into the small pavilion by the flower pool beside them and looking at the fish swimming in the water.

Watching the fish, he quickly sank into his own thoughts.

Footsteps sounded. He snapped around to look and, seeing it was Mo Qiuqiu, his eyes quickly dimmed.

Mo Qiuqiu’s steps were hurried. He was about to enter the hall, but on seeing Huang Zhengyang in the small pavilion by the flower pool, he hurriedly turned and came over.

"Director, I’ve already sent out two hundred and thirty‑five experts."

"Mm."

"I’ve ordered people to keep watch. Any news at all will be reported immediately."

Huang Zhengyang let out a sigh. "If we still can’t find it..."

"..." Mo Qiuqiu fell silent.

If they made such a grand move and still couldn’t find it, there really wouldn’t be any good options left.

Huang Zhengyang said, "Think again. See if there’s any other method. We’ll attack from two directions at once!"

Mo Qiuqiu said, "If it really doesn’t work, we can only present it on the imperial desk."

To alarm the Emperor over a tiny Black Tree Village would draw even more criticism.

His own position as Director would be finished.

Unless there was absolutely no other choice, he must not take that step.

Huang Zhengyang slowly nodded.

Just then, footsteps sounded. The handsome young man from earlier strode quickly inside and came up to them. "Director, Mr. Chu has returned to his courtyard."

"Good!" Huang Zhengyang’s eyes lit up. "Has he come over?"

"Mr. Chu said he’ll change his clothes and then come."

"Excellent!" Huang Zhengyang strode out of the little pavilion in great strides, heading for the front gate.