Chapter 1135: Entering the Palace

"Correct, he borrowed force to get rid of Wang Chuanyi and sat in the position of Assistant Imperial Physician himself, so he had the qualifications to treat the Second Prince." He Lingchuan also drank some water. "At this time, he brought out the symptomatic treatment, and as long as the Bo King could get the Bright Lamp, the Second Prince's illness would be no problem." Ling Guang clicked its tongue.

The human world is truly complex; fortunately, it stays far away, and every day just tinkering with medical skills and researching drugs is enough.

Dong Rui heard this and suddenly said: "Hey, you analyzed so much, why did the person behind the scenes give the secret method to Imperial Physician Chen? Actually, wouldn't it be better to give it to the original Assistant Imperial Physician? The one surnamed Wang couldn't be unable to recognize good goods, right?"

This point still wasn't clear.

"Indeed, specifically giving it to Imperial Physician Chen is superfluous; even if given to Wang Chuanyi, the Bo Nation would still go to the Carefree Sect to steal the treasure. Hmm, perhaps he understood Imperial Physician Chen's character and means, perhaps..." He Lingchuan was also pondering. "Look, what is different about Imperial Physician Chen and the other medical officials in the Imperial Medical Bureau?"

"How would I know?" Dong Rui thought this topic was too broad. "There are too many ways people are different."

"But after Wang Chuanyi died, Imperial Physician Chen was targeted by Imperial Physician Liu and other medical officials, at least those with reputations." He Lingchuan stroked his chin. "In other words, Imperial Physician Chen and they are not on the same side."

"Did the original Assistant Imperial Physician Wang Chuanyi's side have any problems themselves?"

He Lingchuan pondered for a long time before shaking his head: "Can't tell, we know too few clues to piece together the truth."

Dong Rui immediately said: "But don't you think your mission can already be completed?"

He Lingchuan smiled: "That's true."

Having said that, the two went to find the Shadow Tooth Guards.

When the two visited, they keenly felt that the atmosphere here at the Shadow Tooth Guards was a bit strange.

Jin Bai's face was tight, and he didn't hide his displeasure when he saw He Lingchuan.

"What happened?"

As soon as he asked this, He Lingchuan heard a *pitter-patter*, and there seemed to be other creatures in the room.

Rats?

No, there seemed to be the sound of wings vibrating.

"Over the past ten days or half a month, we've always felt watched. No matter where we go, Giant Deer Port or here, there's always a prying gaze in the dark."

After speaking, Jin Bai walked to the corner of the wall and lifted a black cloth.

Below it was an iron cage!

The rectangular cage was less than two feet square, containing two sleek black birds, but their bellies were white.

Their beaks were all tied with ropes; the Shadow Tooth Guards estimated they were too noisy.

One of their wings was broken.

"Brown Crows?" He Lingchuan wasn't a bird-watching enthusiast, but these things were everywhere in the Beijia Nation, and he had dealt with them plenty, so he could recognize them at a glance.

"Xuncheng is full of these things! At first, they followed us secretly, but recently they've become bolder and bolder, openly standing on branches to keep watch!" Jin Bai said with a dark face. "We've caught a few, but none were spirits, so they couldn't speak."

Like this kind of group, probably only one or two were spirits, and the others were ordinary animals, but the whole group would follow the instructions of the spirits.

Han Kun added from the side: "The swallow messengers returning to our country were intercepted halfway by these guys; fortunately, we discovered it."

Jin Bai was too far from the Mou Nation and could only use birds to send letters. If these Brown Crows were watching them all day and blocking the air route, their contact with the Mou Nation would be forced to break.

Han Kun said hatefully: "Sure enough, the Bo court is guilty of a guilty conscience!"

If not for a guilty conscience, why send Brown Crows to watch them?

"We set a trap, and these two leading spirits were finally caught by us." Jin Bai pointed to the birds in the cage. "They claimed to work for the Bo court, specializing in spying on information and tracking political enemies. About half a month ago, they received a mission to watch our group of, heh, spies!"

"Who gave the order?"

"The Bo court has an agency specifically for dealing with spirits, called the Feather Meeting Department." Jin Bai sneered. "I asked them, how did the Feather Meeting Department notice us? They said we frequently enter and exit Xuncheng, have dealings with rebel armies, and often move around the Bo King's palace."

Dong Rui wondered: "Rebel armies? You still have dealings with rebel armies?"

This is a taboo; no monarch can tolerate it, even if they are the Shadow Tooth Guards of the Mou Nation.

"Baseless!" Jin Bai shook his head. "I don't even know who the rebel armies are. Asking these two Brown Crows, they don't know the details either."

He Lingchuan murmured: "Is it really the Bo court?"

"Just now, two brothers in the team were arguing with me; they wanted to take a trip to the Bo King's palace..." Jin Bai's face was as dark as water. "By the way, Mr. He, do you have something for me?"

Facing the Returning Cloud Envoy, he still maintained restraint and politeness.

Jin Bai was also saying it nicely; what trip to the Bo King's palace, they clearly wanted to sneak in and steal the Heart Lamp. He Lingchuan couldn't help but laugh: "Yes, we have progress."

Then, he told the story of Imperial Physician Chen presenting the secret method, and then said: "I used some means; Imperial Physician Chen was muddled when he confessed, only thinking he was dreaming, so he won't report it upward."

"Mr. He is brilliant, you've helped us a lot!" Jin Bai became more energetic the more he heard, unable to sit still, walking back and forth in the room a few times.

Dong Rui asked him: "What do you plan to do?"

"Imperial Physician Chen, this witness, must be controlled."

"Hey, how did they steal the Bright Lamp? This matter hasn't been cleared up yet."

"That's not important!" Jin Bai said without hesitation. "As long as Imperial Physician Chen is here, it can prove that the Bo Nation indeed stole our country's tribute!"

For guards like them who handle affairs, the process isn't important; the result and conclusion are the most important.

As long as it's confirmed that the Heart Lamp is truly in the Bo Nation, that's enough! He Lingchuan asked him: "And then? Are you going to wait for further instructions from the Mou Emperor?"

Jin Bai paced back and forth in the room a few times: "The Bo Nation took the Bright Lamp from us and sent Brown Crows to monitor us; it seems they won't leave us time to respond calmly. Even if we control Imperial Physician Chen, there's no guarantee they won't come to our door and silence him."

He looked at He Lingchuan, word by word: "Since there is this witness, Imperial Physician Chen, I also want to sneak into the palace, snatch back the Heart Lamp, and leave from Giant Deer Port!"

"Breaking into the palace to steal is a serious crime in any country. Even if you were originally the victim, if you do this, you won't be able to explain it clearly." He Lingchuan frowned. "Now that the Bright Lamp has been refined into a Heart Lamp, even if you take it back to your country, is it still useful?"

"..."

"After all, the wood is already made into a boat; if the Heart Lamp is useless, the Emperor might not want to spend effort to take it back; if it is useful, the burden on you, Commander Jin, will be heavy."

If the Mou Emperor really wants to take back the Heart Lamp, the Mou Nation and Jin Bai must take action.

"I'll ask you again, after snatching back the Heart Lamp, will the Mou Nation not pursue this matter?"

Jin Bai pursed his lips tightly.

The Mou Emperor wants the original Bright Lamp from the Carefree Sect's Great Snow Mountain, not a refined Heart Lamp! If he snatches the Heart Lamp back, can it appease the Mou Emperor's anger?

Jin Bai had no bottom in his heart.

But if he sneaks into the Bo court to steal things, and the Mou Nation pursues the theft of tribute later, the Bo court might turn the tables.

Because it's far away, long-distance diplomacy between countries sometimes has to rely on "reason."

He had served the Mou Emperor for many years and knew He Lingchuan's words were not empty.

Serving the imperial family requires caring about countless details.

His trip to receive the tribute had already stepped into a mud pit, and he shouldn't expect to return clean.

The only difference is how to strive for leniency from the Mou Emperor and suffer less punishment.

He Lingchuan sympathized with him: "From the moment the Bright Lamp was stolen, you were destined to be in a dilemma. Unless the tribute wasn't lost in your hands."

Jin Bai sighed: "Then, do we have to submit a formal document to the Bo court, demanding they return the Heart Lamp?"

"Exactly." He Lingchuan smiled. "Instead of sneaking into the palace to steal, why not enter the palace to ask! You seek an audience with the Bo King as a foreign envoy, stating that the Mou Nation's tribute was stolen, and demand he return the Bright Lamp, and see what his reaction is."

"If you ask for the lamp to his face, the Bo King will inevitably have to give you an explanation. Whether he agrees or not, it's a definite stance, and you can report back to the Emperor."

Jin Bai slapped his head: "Mr. He is right! I didn't think of this way."

The Shadow Tooth Guards had done too many things in the dark and had never thought of using foreign affairs negotiations.

He felt a bit embarrassed: "We haven't been foreign envoys and aren't familiar with this process. One matter shouldn't trouble two masters, *cough*, how about Mr. He, you, you do it for me?"

Having known each other for these few days, he saw that He Lingchuan was meticulous, articulate, and quick-witted. Besides, could the foreign aid invited by the State Preceptor Wang be a mediocre person? The Deputy Commander of the dignified Shadow Tooth Guards had opened his mouth to ask for help, and He Lingchuan thought about it and felt there was no difficulty, so he agreed.

Jin Bai was overjoyed: "Thank you, Mr. He!"

Returning to his own residence, Dong Rui sighed again: "Hey, we can't leave again? Originally, your mission was already done."

The mission He Lingchuan accepted was to find the whereabouts of the Bright Lamp.

Once Imperial Physician Chen confessed, the facts were very clear; the Bright Lamp was stolen by the Bo Nation and refined into a Heart Lamp.

This thing was in the Bo King's palace, so He Lingchuan's mission was already completed.

As for what plans the Mou Nation had next, what did that have to do with him?

He Lingchuan shook his head: "No rush, anyway, the other missions Fang Canran gave aren't urgent."

There was a reason he couldn't say to Dong Rui: he didn't want to let go of the case involving the Bright Lamp.

One hundred and fifty or sixty years ago, Shao Jian rushed to the Flash Gold Plains to find the Bright Lamp for General Red, to help her resist Lady Mitian's ambition.

The Bright Lamp matures every thirty years.

Calculating from the time, the Bright Lamp on the Great Snow Mountain wasn't in the picking period then. So Shao Jian should have had to flip through someone else's inventory to get the Bright Lamp.

In real history, he likely got it. Because He Lingchuan had talked to a clone of Naluotian and learned that in the final battle of Panlong City, there was no aura of Lady Mitian on General Red.

Naluotian's conclusion was that General Red had broken the divine mark in her sea of consciousness and was no longer Lady Mitian's skin bag.

Did her success have the credit of the Bright Lamp?

He really wanted to explore the secret of the Bright Lamp and wanted to know why both General Red and the Mou Nation needed this treasure.

"Entering the palace now, the risk isn't small, right?" Dong Rui said bluntly. "Will the Bo Nation deal with the Mou Nation's envoys?"

"There are two sides to the story. If the Bo King didn't steal the Bright Lamp, he is upright and shouldn't mind meeting the Mou Nation's envoys." He Lingchuan raised his second finger. "If the Bright Lamp was indeed stolen by the Bo King's men, as soon as the Mou envoy comes to the door, it shows their tracks have been exposed and the Mou Nation knows everything about their dealings! In this situation, the Bo King has no need to kill to silence them."

"So, whether the Bo King stole the Bright Lamp or not, he shouldn't take action against the Mou Nation's envoys."

Should.

He could only infer from logic.

If the Bo King was just a madman who didn't play by the rules, then this matter was another story.

Nothing in the world is absolute, and it's impossible to rule out all risks. Besides, He Lingchuan had prepared several backups; if he couldn't beat them, he could run.

The mission had progressed to this point, and He Lingchuan didn't mind having Spirit Mountain and the Mou Nation owe him another favor, which would be an unexpected harvest.

With more entanglements, it wouldn't be so easy to turn against each other in the future, right? In the evening, the sunset glow was everywhere, dyeing the whole city crimson. He Lingchuan strolled through the alleys and saw a weak rose growing from a broken wall, white petals and yellow stamens, swaying with a desolate and beautiful charm in the sunset and evening breeze.

The next morning, He Lingchuan, Dong Rui, and Jin Bai visited the Bo Nation's Guest Office to explain their purpose and submit their credentials.

Jin Bai accompanied them into the palace because He Lingchuan himself wasn't a person of the Mou Nation and couldn't prove his identity with the Mou Nation's official plaque.

The Mou Nation was a great power of the time, and the local officials had heard of it. Seeing the light on Jin Bai's official plaque, they immediately asked the delegation to rest, and the Guest Office reported it quickly.

Two hours later, the Mou Nation delegation was welcomed into the palace.

A great power has face; even if they visited suddenly, they could be received by the Bo King immediately.

The Bo King's palace was large and grand, said to have been built eighty years ago, twice half-destroyed by war, and subsequent dynasties had repaired it to show national strength and majesty.

The last repair was completed five years ago.

In this season, the palace was lush with grass and trees, full of flowers, a scene of peace and wealth, as if it were two worlds from the high walls outside.

But amidst the beauty, there was a decadence that couldn't be hidden. This also reminded He Lingchuan of the Yuan Nation's palace.

Dong Rui looked left and right along the way, full of vigilance.

They were here openly seeking an audience, *cough*, also risking their lives; would the Bo King be guilty of a guilty conscience and arrange for executioners on the way to chop them into meat paste? Although He Lingchuan thought this possibility was extremely small, Dong Rui always felt the palace was too gloomy, diluting his freshness as a great power's envoy for the first time.

Fortunately, this scene never appeared.

Walking into the deep palace, they finally saw the main character.

The Bo King was very thin, his face long and gaunt, his gaze slightly gloomy, his beard and hair half-white, with some imposing manner that was not angry but awe-inspiring.

It was midsummer, but in this deep palace, in the depths of the phoenix flower sea blooming like fire, there was actually a chill.

The Bo King even had to cover his knees with a gold-embroidered thin blanket.

He Lingchuan and Dong Rui entered the hall and bowed to him as envoys; his first order was: "Give them seats."

Because the envoys hadn't been searched, the hall was full of guards, with weapons and armor.

The court guard handed over a brocade stool; He Lingchuan thanked him and sat down boldly two *zhang* below the Bo King.

Except for Dong Rui and Han Kun standing behind him, all other members of the delegation had to wait in the side hall.

The Bo King coughed and sat up straight, pressing on the armrests.

As he leaned forward, a palace servant behind him brought a soft cushion and placed it behind his waist: "You have come from afar, you have worked hard. How did the Mou Nation think of me?"

"Our country's Shadow Tooth Guards escorted a tribute from the Carefree Sect back to our country, and it was suddenly stolen at Giant Deer Port." The Bo King asked impolitely, and He Lingchuan also spoke concisely, without a word of waste. "We followed the clues to your country and actually heard that this item is in the palace."

As soon as the Bo King heard this, his brows furrowed.

"Tribute? What tribute did the Mou Nation lose?"

Mou Nation guards lost something on his territory; they could request assistance from the host.

"The Bright Lamp." He Lingchuan threw out these three words and carefully observed the Bo King's reaction.

The old man's eyes suddenly widened, and his pitch even rose three degrees: "What did you say?"

"Forty-seven days ago, the Bright Lamp, a tribute escorted by the Shadow Tooth Guards, was stolen." He Lingchuan's answer was neither humble nor arrogant. "As of today, it is still under investigation."

The Heart Lamp was of extraordinary significance to the Bo King now, so He Lingchuan had to be cautious with his words.

The Bo King suddenly said: "How do you know the Bright Lamp is in the palace?"

He Lingchuan said softly: "The Second Prince's condition improved because of the Heart Lamp, and the Heart Lamp is made from the Bright Lamp; this is not hard to check."

He didn't mention Imperial Physician Chen at all, but set a trap for the Bo King.

The Bo King suddenly burst into loud laughter, slapping the armrests several times.

In the great hall, his laughter echoed for a while.

"The Bright Lamp?" He laughed a few times. "The Bright Lamp is a tribute of the Mou Nation?"

He Lingchuan's voice was peaceful, yet not drowned out by his laughter:

"Exactly!"

"What did you investigate?" The Bo King stopped laughing and slammed the armrest heavily, shouting sharply, "You lost the Bright Lamp, and my son used the Heart Lamp, so you think I stole the Mou Nation's tribute?"

The Bo Nation's Second Prince's madness improved, a great happy event known to the whole country, yet the Mou Nation came to the door to slander him for stealing tribute?

His eyes were fierce, and the temperature in the whole hall seemed to drop a few more degrees.

Dong Rui's eyes flickered, inwardly thinking this old guy was like an old wolf; although his fur was white and his teeth had fallen out, his ferocity hadn't diminished from his younger years. He began to calculate where it would be better to break out if they had to fight?

There were likely arrays here that forbade escape techniques, so the Snail Toad couldn't be used.

Seeing the Bo King's anger, He Lingchuan said gently: "Perhaps, there is some misunderstanding?"

He couldn't say: Yes, that's exactly what we think.

"The Bright Lamp matures every thirty years. May I ask where your country's Bright Lamp came from?"

The most important purpose of his entering the palace today was to ask clearly about the origin of the Bright Lamp.

The Bo King smiled without smiling: "My son uses medicine, without stealing or robbing. That Bright Lamp was bought by our country with money."

This statement was truly unexpected; He Lingchuan and Dong Rui's first reaction was four words: nonsense.

This thing could still be bought?

"Within a radius of a thousand *li*, the Bright Lamp grass only grows on the snow peaks of the Carefree Sect, right?" He Lingchuan could only say, "The vast snow peak only grows one Bright Lamp grass."

This thing was a unique copy everywhere; even in ancient times, it would only grow one plant within a radius of several thousand *li*, for reasons unknown. Today, it's even more unknown where else it grows besides the Carefree Sect.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1136 =====