Chapter 693

He Lingchuan whistled, and the rock goat darted out from behind, still chewing on a few tender grass leaves. The two galloped all the way, as if no one else was around.

"Is this the direction to Jinghong Ferry?"

"Hahahaha!" Fu Shanyue looked up and laughed. "Hurry up and congratulate me, there's another major breakthrough in the longevity elixir case."

He Lingchuan laughed: "Why, who did the Preceptor of Qingyang implicate?"

"How did you..." Fu Shanyue was startled, then said "Oh." "You guessed it?"

Seeing Fu Shanyue's beaming appearance, He Lingchuan didn't need to guess: "It must include the Zhongsun family, right?"

Fu Shanyue snapped his fingers: "Sharp!"

"As you wished." This guy had a feud with the Zhongsun family, so of course he was happy to see them fall. Come to think of it, the Zhongsun family was the first to be dragged into the longevity elixir case; even if the old merman of the Zhongsun family denied it flatly, everyone in Beijia knew clearly that Zhongsun Chi had likely taken the longevity elixir.

It could be said that the role the Zhongsun family played in this case was not very honorable, the impact was also very bad, and they were pushed to the forefront.

Now that the Preceptor of Qingyang had been caught, the commoners didn't care about the source of the divine blood; they only wanted to see the powerful figures who defied the divine will and secretly bought the longevity elixir suffer.

Then the Zhongsun family must be on the list.

"Doesn't this also vent your anger?" Fu Shanyue scolded with a smile. "Don't pretend to be magnanimous with me; the explosion and poisoning at the post house, the Zhongsun family must be involved in one of them. You kid know it clearly in your heart, right?"

"That is my wish." He Lingchuan perfunctorily cupped his fists to the north. "The Tiangong is still wise, returning the truth to the world!"

He emphasized the two words "truth."

"The Goshawk Wu came to report that the Emperor just approved the arrest of Zhongsun Chi, and the Court Marshal is about to go take him." Fu Shanyue was beaming. "They are slow in their work; if we rush there now, we can still see it while it's fresh."

The two arrived at the floating island via the Jinghong Ferry on the ground and quickly rushed to the Zhongsun family.

This was the first time He Lingchuan had come to this place. The island's characteristic was that the lake and mountains were reflected and connected, creating a magnificent view of a lake within an island and an island within a lake. In the past, the Zhongsun family bought two houses here and connected them, creating a unique underwater grand garden on a floating island.

The gate of the Zhongsun family was also different, actually set on the shady side, with lush vegetation, humid air, and beautiful ferns everywhere, quite like a primitive marshland.

Standing here, He Lingchuan felt like he was staring at a super-large tropical rainforest aquarium.

Outside the Zhongsun family gate stood a few guards holding spears, driving away idlers who got too close.

Unlike what He Lingchuan expected, there were a few hundred spectators, but they weren't surrounded three layers inside and out.

Right, there were only thirty thousand people on this island.

But the sound of discussion was already very loud.

Usually, the gates of these aristocratic families were quiet and peaceful, or else they were bustling with carriages and wealth; how could there be such an anomaly today?

Fu Shanyue asked curiously: "Did the Court Marshal come so quickly this time? It's unreasonable."

As time passed, the number of onlookers outside grew, many of them dressed in silk and satin, obviously there to scout for news for their masters.

Fu Shanyue actually recognized quite a few, and the other party came up to pay their respects.

Just as Fu Shanyue was about to turn this into a tea party, the crowd stirred: "They're coming out, they're coming out!"

The two focused their attention and saw a squad of soldiers walking out of the garden, followed by a large group of blue-glowing mermen.

The merman walking at the very front was old and shedding scales, with white spots on his skin. He Lingchuan knew at a glance that this was probably the family head, Zhongsun Chi.

Among the young mermen, there was a familiar face:

Zhongsun Ce, whom He Lingchuan had seen at the Dunyuan Auction.

The mermen looked anxious; some were confused and uneasy, others looked as if they had lost their parents.

Fu Shanyue whispered to He Lingchuan: "The one at the very front is the Court Marshal, Huo Ji'an."

He Lingchuan looked carefully and saw that this man had a square face and a full beard, looking rough, but his gaze was as sharp as a knife; with one glance, everyone lowered their heads and didn't dare to meet his eyes.

When this group reached the gate, Fu Shanyue greeted him: "Lord Huo!"

The Court Marshal Huo Ji'an recognized him, and a smile appeared on his cold face: "Why is Your Highness here?"

"I happened to be going to Lord Wu's house, and passing by here, I came to watch the fun."

He Lingchuan secretly despised him; happened my foot, this guy rushed from the lower city to the floating island, almost running his horse's legs off.

Huo Ji'an also understood, but couldn't say it out loud. At this moment, he only said: "I have official business and still need to escort Lord Zhongsun. Shall we talk later?"

Fu Shanyue's gaze fell on Zhongsun Chi, and he feigned shock: "Oh, what happened to Lord Zhongsun?"

Zhongsun Chi had blue skin, so He Lingchuan couldn't tell if his complexion had changed, but the look of despair couldn't be hidden.

The old man drooped his eyelids, his spirit gone. There was no sun today, yet he felt the daylight was blinding.

Just now, when the Court Marshal brought troops to the door and said in an official tone, "The Preceptor of Qingyang testified that you privately purchased the longevity elixir," Zhongsun Chi felt the world spinning.

After worrying for so many days, the Zhongsun family still couldn't escape it.

To Fu Shanyue's provocation, the Zhongsun family remained silent, with no one responding, only a few youths staring at him with dissatisfaction.

Zhongsun Chi suddenly looked up and asked Fu Shanyue: "Who else has been arrested?"

The law doesn't punish the masses; if the number of people implicated in the longevity elixir case was too large, then he might still be able to...

He had just asked Huo Ji'an this question, but the other party ignored him.

The Court Marshal was right there, so how could Fu Shanyue answer?

Huo Ji'an said: "Lord Zhongsun needs to go back with me to cooperate with the investigation; Your Highness will know the reason in a few days."

Fu Shanyue said "Oh" and immediately stepped aside: "Lord Huo, official business is important!"

Zhongsun Chi walked a few yards, then suddenly turned to look at Fu Shanyue: "Fushan kid, you and your father won't have a good end either."

He seemed to have come to his senses, his eyes full of hatred.

"Is that so?" Fu Shanyue waved at him. "I'm afraid you won't live to see that day. Old man, have a safe journey."

Watching Zhongsun Chi and Zhongsun Ce being taken away by the officials, the other mermen of the Zhongsun family were crowded at the gate, at a loss. They had lived comfortably on this island for decades and had never imagined that one day they would have to face such a situation.

Fu Shanyue smiled mockingly and took a long breath: "The air on the island is really nice today."

He Lingchuan played the straight man for him: "The feng shui here is excellent."

"In a year or a year and a half, this underwater garden should be for sale." Fu Shanyue cracked his whip in the air. "When the time comes, it wouldn't be bad to buy it to raise fish."

Someone from the Zhongsun family glared at him: "You nonsense-talking..."

Before he could finish, he was pulled back by his family.

This group of mermen soon walked back into the manor amidst the pointing and whispering of the crowd, and the gate closed, blocking everyone's view.

"No more fun to watch, let's go back." Being able to send off the old man Zhongsun on his last journey, Fu Shanyue was already satisfied.

The two turned their mounts around and walked back. Fu Shanyue said coolly: "The Zhongsun family is finished."

"With so many people in the Zhongsun family, can't they think of a way to fish the old man out?"

"His family is full of mediocre people; how could they have such ability?" Fu Shanyue sneered. "Even if they did, it would be hopeless. The Emperor is determined to deal with his family this time. The old man's face looked ugly just now; he probably figured this out too."

He gestured behind him: "Believe it or not, if there are a few smart ones among these mermen, after closing the door, they won't be thinking about how to get the old man out, but how to divide the family property and get more money. Before the tree falls, the monkeys have to grab more fruit."

"In two months at most, the treasures the old man Zhongsun collected for many years will appear in the Ghost Market. Maybe the next Dunyuan Auction will have them."

The Zhongsun family is probably finished this time. Two hundred years of glory, gone in the blink of an eye, it's also very fast.

Earn money in the imperial capital, spend it in the imperial capital, don't even think about taking a cent home. Heh, can't escape this rule.

"Besides the mermen, the Preceptor of Qingyang also implicated six other families." Fu Shanyue continued. "Some can summon wind and rain, some are insignificant small officials; some have already retired, and some are still serving in the Wang Ting. I heard the Court Marshal is also sending people to invite them."

Using the word "invite" is too polite.

The news He Lingchuan heard was that one of the families was in the lower city, and it was already in chaos. The army sent by the Court Marshal was like wolves and tigers, and the onlookers blocking the gate were squeezed like sardines.

"It seems the Heavenly Prison will soon be full." He Lingchuan thought for a moment and added, "So, there are only seven families who bought the longevity elixir?"

It clearly doesn't match the facts.

Fu Shanyue coughed lightly: "It's not bad to be able to find seven families; at least it gives us an account."

Some things are understood without being said.

How could there be only a mere seven families who privately purchased the longevity elixir? But if all the officials involved in the case were dealt with, the impact on the Wang Ting would be no less than a tsunami.

When the involvement is too broad, it's time to bring out that powerful old saying—

The law doesn't punish the masses.

Catch a few typical ones, give an account to the Vassal Demon King, and block the mouths of the world; as for the others, turn a blind eye, just open the net a little wider.

Water that is too clear has no fish.

As for the public's questioning of "catching too few," you commoners aren't the ones handling the case; do you have solid evidence in your hands?

Without evidence, what are you questioning? Believe it or not, I'll accuse you of false accusation?

"How will Lingxu City deal with these buyers?"

"It won't be light." Fu Shanyue laughed. "Since they were pushed out, they have to bear the anger of the Heavenly God and the Vassal Nation." Double.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment: "What about Cen Boqing?"

"The Preceptor of Qingyang has fallen, so he is an accomplice." Fu Shanyue stroked his chin. "It depends on how the Grand Minister of Agriculture operates, and Yao Xingning, tsk, she will also do her best."

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture is fine?"

"Punishment is unavoidable." Fu Shanyue wasn't sure. "Whether he will be convicted, that's not certain, right?"

There's a lot to this; He Lingchuan didn't understand Lingxu City's laws at all.

"Then, what about the Preceptor of Qingyang herself?"

"That's the hardest to say." Mentioning the Preceptor of Qingyang, Fu Shanyue said seriously, "The Preceptor of Qingyang has deep roots with two generations of Emperors; I'm honestly surprised she was actually taken down this time."

"Perhaps because the Tiangong's attitude is firm?" The game between the Emperor and the Tiangong wasn't something a small Crown Prince of Chi Yan like him could know. "This matter is settled, I'm returning to Chi Yan. What about you, are you coming back with me?"

(End of chapter)