All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 211: Forcing the Emperors Hand

A grand feast was held in Iron Horse City. Prince Yu had spared no expense, buying up all the wine and meat from surrounding cities to entertain the victorious soldiers.

Looking at the table full of food and drink, Zhanyue couldn’t help but marvel. This was the best meal he’d had in this world. Known and unknown people came to toast him, and Zhanyue politely reciprocated. Fortunately, at the banquet table, everyone was focused on pleasantries and celebration, not discussing any serious matters. After all, with so many people around, it wasn’t the place for such conversations.

Outside the banquet, however, a bloody storm was brewing.

“What are you doing? I’m from the Divine Dragon Guard!” A man held up a golden badge, but his body trembled, and his voice was unsteady.

“Divine Dragon Guard? What a coincidence, that’s exactly who I’m here to kill!” The black-clad figure before him reached out, a terrifying suction pulling the man in. He grabbed the man’s neck, and with a crisp sound, the man’s life was extinguished. Just like that, an expert from the emperor’s most renowned secret organization died easily.

The black-clad man looked at the corpse, his eyes glancing to the side. He could sense someone hiding nearby but showed an almost imperceptible smile before leaving nonchalantly. Long after he left, the hidden person emerged, looking at the body on the ground with a sense of shared fate.

“To so brazenly attack the Divine Dragon Guard, it seems Prince Yu and General Yue truly have some conspiracy. I must report this to His Majesty quickly.” He didn’t bother with the body, instead hurrying away.

After the banquet, Zhanyue and Feng Xueqing didn’t stay at the general’s mansion but returned to their lodgings at the medical hall. Still posing as a married couple sharing a room, they exchanged stories of their experiences. Strangely, though both had completed their missions perfectly, there was no prompt for the next task.

“So, not only did I get mysterious divine incantations, but I also obtained two extraordinary treasures. This low-level martial world is far more complex than we imagined. Although these people have no cultivation, some of the relics left behind are truly remarkable. Even I almost failed. Once we find these treasures, they become ours, so we must cherish such opportunities. By the way, did you gain anything while managing the plague in Wu South?” Zhanyue asked.

Feng Xueqing didn’t hide anything, answering, “Yes, we found a mountain village completely unaffected by the plague. It turned out an old doctor there had controlled the epidemic using secret formulas from an ancient book. That book eventually came into my possession and was very helpful. It’s a medical text that can use ordinary herbs to achieve effects close to spirit herbs and plants. It’s incredible. The book has no name, but its author’s understanding of pharmacology far surpasses mine, no, even my master’s. That’s when I realized this world isn’t simple.”

Hearing her words, Zhanyue nodded. It seemed they had come to the same realization: this world was not simple!

“By the way, throughout my journey, everyone I met talked about fox gods or fox spirits. But I never actually encountered any. What about you?” Zhanyue asked.

Feng Xueqing thought for a moment and said, “It is indeed strange. I’ve seen many fox god shrines, and many patients prayed to fox gods, but I’ve never personally seen these so-called fox gods. Could they be hiding too deeply?”

“It seems we know nothing about this world. Who knows what tasks will be given to us next,” Zhanyue sighed.

As they conversed, a major event was unfolding in the general’s mansion.

In a secret room, Yue Feipeng stared at the box sent by Prince Yu, reluctant to open it. It was a gift from Prince Yu, and Yue Feipeng didn’t want to know what was inside.

Soon after, one of Yue Feipeng’s trusted subordinates entered, reporting, “General, I have results from the investigation you ordered. There was indeed an infant’s skeleton buried in that place, likely a female infant, from long ago.”

“I see. You may go,” Yue Feipeng waved his hand, and the man left. Only Yue Feipeng remained in the secret room. “Could it be… everything in that secret letter was true?”

With a long sigh, Yue Feipeng opened the box. Inside were not treasures or gold and silver, but account books and secret correspondence.

As Yue Feipeng carefully read through these, his whole body trembled. These were evidence of a series of dirty deeds committed by the current emperor, including things Yue Feipeng knew and didn’t know. For instance, he knew about the construction of a thousand golden temples depleting the national treasury, but he didn’t know about the sacrifice of a thousand boys and girls in these temples. The list went on, each revelation more shocking than the last.

“Incompetent ruler! What an incompetent ruler!” Even the usually loyal Yue Feipeng couldn’t help but grit his teeth. The crimes listed in this box were innumerable. That dog emperor had done countless heinous deeds in pursuit of immortality. After a while, he calmed down. Prince Yu’s intention in sending these things was clear. He had said nothing, yet said everything. Yue Feipeng didn’t think these were fabricated by Prince Yu, as each incident could be verified.

Soon after, another subordinate came to report.

“General, we’ve discovered some troubling matters,” the man said.

“Speak,” Yue Feipeng didn’t think anything could be more troubling than what was in this box.

“We found several bodies around the general’s mansion. After our investigation… they might… they might be from the Divine Dragon Guard,” the man reported.

“Divine Dragon Guard?” Yue Feipeng rubbed his temples. He naturally knew who had done this. Prince Yu was forcing him to make a choice, the simplest of conspiracies.

“Prince Yu, Prince Yu… why does it all happen at such a time?” Yue Feipeng sighed deeply.

As the sun rose, Zhanyue and Feng Xueqing received an invitation from Prince Yu. At the previous banquet, with so many people around, Prince Yu had only exchanged pleasantries. This invitation likely meant serious business.

“What do you think?” Feng Xueqing asked.

“Let’s go. I don’t believe it’s some trap. Perhaps our next task is related to this,” Zhanyue said.

“Alright.” Feng Xueqing was quite calm. With much of her cultivation restored, she feared nothing.

Soon after, they arrived at the place mentioned in the invitation, a teahouse that Prince Yu had reserved for the day. Before they even reached the upper floor, they could hear elegant music. Prince Yu was playing the zither. In the spacious teahouse, there were only Prince Yu and two maids behind him, three people in total. After Zhanyue and Feng Xueqing arrived and listened to the music for a while, Prince Yu stopped playing and stood up to welcome them: “This prince was so engrossed in playing that I neglected my honored guests. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Your Highness is too kind. Your zither skills are extraordinary, like heavenly music. It’s our fortune to hear it,” Zhanyue replied.

Prince Yu laughed heartily, “No need for such formalities. It’s just a trivial skill.”

Prince Yu personally poured tea for them to show respect, then asked, “You two divine-like figures are not from our Great Fortune Kingdom, are you?”