Chapter 446

445. Chapter 440: He Lian Aodong's Backer

Emperor Wu Chang immediately seized a handful of immortal rice grains; their fragrant aroma penetrated deep into his heart, even slightly dispelling the poison in his dantian.

"Good, indeed top-grade mid-tier immortal rice…"

As Emperor Wu Chang spoke, he seemed to recall something, then picked up a single pale purple immortal rice grain from the very top of a winnowing basket.

"Indeed, it is high-tier immortal rice."

Emperor Wu Chang murmured to himself.

After a long while, he looked at Chu Xingren: "Standard-Bearer, who grew this immortal rice?"

Chu Xingren froze, then opened his mouth to name someone randomly—but immediately met Emperor Wu Chang's cold, piercing gaze.

He knew if he lied, his life would end here today. And if he lied, he'd be exposed instantly.

"Great Emperor, this was to cover up my failure—I later recruited a new Immortal Agronomist, and it was this agronomist who completed the one-month cultivation task, producing five mu of mid-tier immortal rice."

"What's his name? Where is he?" Emperor Wu Chang said coldly.

"His name is Lu Renjia; he should still be in the Immortal Farming Department…" Chu Xingren's forehead dripped with cold sweat.

Emperor Wu Chang sneered: "Chu Standard-Bearer, you're truly impressive—flip your hand and clouds form, turn it again and rain falls, not even blinking.

If I'm not deaf, you just claimed this Lu Renjia used a forbidden technique that killed every single plot of immortal rice in the Immortal Farming Department.

So now he's suddenly a newly recruited agronomist who produced mid-tier immortal rice? How did the scapegoat turn into a hero overnight?"

Chu Xingren's cold sweat streamed down his forehead; he wanted to strangle Ji Ti.

Couldn't this bastard send a message just one breath earlier?

"Great Emperor, I lied out of fear of punishment—please punish me." Chu Xingren could no longer stand; he collapsed to his knees.

"Speak." Emperor Wu Chang's killing intent was fully exposed, unmasked.

"Yes." Chu Xingren hurriedly said: "I panicked when all the immortal rice in the Immortal Farming Department withered. In my confusion, I followed my subordinate's advice and picked a scapegoat."

"The man you picked was Lu Renjia?" Emperor Wu Chang said coldly.

"Yes, it was Lu Renjia. He was meant to take the blame—but I never expected he actually grew mid-tier immortal rice. I am guilty." Chu Xingren knew he was finished.

"Bring Lu Renjia here." Emperor Wu Chang said.

"Great Emperor, Lu Renjia has left the Immortal Farming Department; we don't know where he went." Ji Ti quickly said.

Emperor Wu Chang's voice grew even colder: "I ordered you to bring Lu Renjia—you go and bring him. If you fail, you'll guard the underground ore veins."

Ji Ti and Chen Guan both shuddered and quickly withdrew.

Several Immortal Court laborers followed them without hesitation—clearly also sent to retrieve Lu Renjia.

Emperor Wu Chang picked up the pale purple immortal rice grain: "All you Immortal Ministers, can an Immortal Agronomist who grows this high-tier rice have produced only one grain?"

"Great Emperor, that's impossible. If even one grain of this high-tier immortal rice appears, the entire plant produces nothing but this type.

That means at least one jin of this rice exists. He only submitted one grain—that's an act of insubordination."

Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue stepped forward first.

Emperor Wu Chang nodded: "I agree. Someone."

A man in black stepped forward.

"Go to Lu Renjia's plot in the Immortal Farming Department and check how much high-tier immortal rice he actually produced." Emperor Wu Chang said.

"Yes." The black-clad man responded and vanished instantly.

Emperor Wu Chang stared at the three hundred jin of immortal rice before him, pondering how much to distribute among his ministers.

Giving none at all was impossible—this immortal rice carried clear Five Elements principles and a refreshing Dao resonance; everyone present was already eyeing it.

Just as Emperor Wu Chang was about to speak, Luo Yu stepped forward again: "Great Emperor, Luo Yu has something to say."

Emperor Wu Chang immediately ordered the laborers to move the rice aside and said gently: "Brother Pingwei, speak freely."

Though Wu Chang was the Immortal Court Emperor, Pingwei was also one of the Four Emperors—technically equal in rank.

In practice, the Four Emperors were under Wu Chang's command—but this was merely deployment, not appointment.

Luo Yu took a deep breath and said: "Great Emperor, I come today regarding an unjust case."

Emperor Wu Chang was momentarily stunned—what injustice warranted the personal intervention of Emperor Pingwei?

"More than a year ago, the husband of Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue's daughter, Bu Bu Yingyin, Xu Lun, died suddenly. The Flag-Bearer of Kui Shui Department, Xu Xu, reported Bu Bu Yingyin to the Immortal Court.

Since no one was willing to handle the case, the Court assigned it to Lu Chongdao, the head of the hermit Immortal Farmstead Qianyuan. As soon as Lu Chongdao took the case, he was falsely accused and imprisoned in the dungeon…"

Hearing Emperor Pingwei Luo Yu's words, Emperor Wu Chang's gaze fell on Bu Yue—how had he never heard of this?

Bu Yue quickly stepped forward: "At the time, Your Majesty was in seclusion. The Flag-Bearer of the Immortal Law Department, Ying Fang, avoided involvement to prevent suspicion.

All other colleagues were occupied with urgent matters, so I had no choice but to invoke Your Majesty's name and summon the hermit Lu Chongdao to preside."

Emperor Wu Chang understood Bu Yue's meaning—no one dared offend Bu Yue, so no one wanted to handle the case.

Assigning it to the hermit Lu Chongdao did fit the facts.

While he was in seclusion, the Left-Ming Minister using his name to appoint Lu Chongdao as chief judge was plausible.

Luo Yu said coldly: "But as soon as Lu Chongdao began investigating—even before gathering evidence—he was falsely accused of insubordination and embezzlement and thrown into prison. How unjust is that?

I knew nothing of this until recently, when Lu Chongdao's consort, He Lian Aodong, came to me. Only then did I learn the Immortal Court harbors such lawless and absurd acts."

Emperor Wu Chang's gaze turned to Bu Yue.

Bu Yue cursed inwardly—wasn't He Lian Aodong gone? How did he find Emperor Pingwei?

Emperor Pingwei Luo Yu, this thorn, didn't care whether Bu Yue was Immortal Chancellor.

He could only step forward now: "Lu Chongdao's embezzlement and insubordination are proven—there's recorded evidence on the image crystal ball. This case is not unjust."

Luo Yu declared loudly: "Great Emperor, this is merely one person's word. During Your Majesty's seclusion, how many such cases have occurred? If this continues, the Immortal Court is doomed."

Emperor Pingwei Luo Yu's words all pointed squarely at Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue; Bu Yue was furious but dared not retaliate.

He might be Immortal Chancellor, but Emperor Pingwei truly would strike him.

Emperor Wu Chang internally cursed Bu Yue's pig-brain: Who else could you provoke but Emperor Pingwei?

If Bu Yue knew about this, he would definitely step forward to cry foul—he truly had no intention of provoking Emperor Pingwei; it was Emperor Pingwei who provoked him, okay?

Emperor Wu Chang knew that since Emperor Pingwei had brought up this matter, he must provide an explanation:

"In that case, let us reopen this case immediately. I shall preside as chief judge; bring all parties involved forward."

With the Emperor personally presiding over the case, the subordinates moved with instant speed.

In a short time, He Lian Aodong, Lu Busi, Bu Bu Yingyin, Xiu Xu, and Lu Chongdao all arrived.

Lu Chongdao looked worn and haggard, his eyes filled with regret—regret for having taken on this case.

When he saw He Lian Aodong, his lips twitched several times, yet he could not utter a word.

He never expected that after being thrown into the dungeon, the one who came forward to speak for him was still that woman.

"Grandfather…"

Lu Busi called out.

Lu Chongdao froze—he thought everyone from Qianyuan Immortal Villa had been slaughtered, yet his direct grandson was still alive.

"Busi…" Lu Chongdao's eyes welled up with tears.

At this moment, he understood: kinship mattered more than the Dao.

When he first learned in prison that Qianyuan Immortal Villa had been massacred, he nearly rushed out to kill Bu Yue's entire family.

But it was merely a fantasy—not only could he not escape, even if he could, he was no match for Bu Yue.

Bu Yue didn't even need to lift a finger; any servant could instantly kill Lu Chongdao.

"Thank you for bringing Busi out," Lu Chongdao whispered, trembling as he thanked He Lian Aodong.

He Lian Aodong ignored him.

Emperor Wu Chang, seeing all present, spoke slowly: "This matter originated from the case of Xiu Xu's son, Xiu Lun. Since that is so, let Xiu Xu, the Standard-Bearer, recount the details."

Xiu Xu's eyes were also red—he had once petitioned the Emperor, but the Emperor had been in seclusion, and the petition had been submitted by Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue.

He had petitioned against Bu Yue's daughter, Bu Bu Yingyin; Bu Yue submitting the petition made the outcome obvious.

The result was as expected: no one even accepted his son's case.

Then came this fool Lu Chongdao, who took it on—Xiu Xu felt like crying inside.

He deeply appreciated Lu Chongdao's goodwill in wanting to help, but by taking the case, Lu Chongdao had sealed its fate.

His suspicions proved correct: Lu Chongdao had dragged himself into the mess.

Today, the Emperor had emerged from seclusion to announce something important; Xiu Xu had decided—he would petition the throne again.

What he hadn't expected was that Emperor Pingwei had moved first—though ostensibly to clear Lu Chongdao's name, it would inevitably involve his son's case.

Compared to his own petition, Emperor Pingwei's petition had countless times greater chance of success.