Chapter 105: Chief Clerk of the Jishi Factory

The Crown Prince departed, and the three officials collectively known as the Crown Prince’s Tutors—the Junior Tutor, the Junior Grand Tutor, and the Grand Protector—arrived and seized control of the entire Donggong with swift, decisive action, rapidly organizing all affairs.

This left Chu Danqing slightly embarrassed.

Primarily because, as the lead investigator of this assassination, he had no idea what to do next.

He was no criminal investigator, nor did he understand the inner workings of the Donggong.

Moreover, his official position had not yet been confirmed, so he dared not overstep his bounds.

Fortunately, someone soon came to attend to Chu Danqing—it was Wang Qi, the Junior Tutor, an old man with a hunched, feeble appearance.

Yet beyond his role as Junior Tutor, he was also a cabinet minister.

It was precisely because of his presence and strategic counsel that the Crown Prince had the confidence to challenge the Qiutan Faction.

“Night is falling; His Highness will likely not return tonight,” Wang Qi said, though aged, he was alert and full of vigor.

“I’ll have someone arrange lodging for you. Once the coroner examines the madman, you, Left Guard Commander Chu, can begin your investigation without delay.”

Chu Danqing felt a wave of relief—he had encountered a man with real authority.

And someone summoned by the Crown Prince at this moment was undoubtedly a trusted confidant.

Chu Danqing spoke: “In my view, though the madman appears deranged, his assassination was executed with clear method.”

“The martial art he used is almost certainly the Canghe Heart Method; his staff movements follow the Pi-Gua style, and his footwork bears seven-tenths of the Xiao Sheng Step’s signature.”

At these words, Wang Qi paused, then gestured to a nearby attendant: “Go and verify this.”

“Left Guard Commander Chu has traveled far and wide and possesses extensive knowledge of martial arts—you are truly a pillar of the realm,” Wang Qi praised, then added: “Not only examine the corpse, but also take the iron staff for inspection.”

“The palace artisans have examined it—the iron itself is ordinary, but the reinforced head contains impurities of blue-spotted ore.”

“The head was newly cast, and this ore is found only near the capital.”

“Moreover, the casting technique is highly refined—the caster’s skill is far beyond that of an ordinary artisan.”

“If all goes well, we will know who cast it before dawn tomorrow,” Wang Qi revealed further details.

His sudden change of heart was naturally due to Chu Danqing’s sharp eye and ability to assist.

Originally, he had assumed Chu Danqing and Da Bao’s roles as Left and Right Guard Commanders were merely ceremonial—token appointments to legitimize their positions.

He had not expected Chu Danqing to actually discern something meaningful.

“When will the autopsy be completed?” Chu Danqing continued. “This man’s madness is not congenital nor the result of mental collapse—it is almost certainly drug-induced.”

“I share that view. We should have results before dawn,” Wang Qi replied.

Just as he was about to speak further, one of Wang Qi’s attendants rushed in, bowing low and whispering: “Master, the Chief Clerk of the Jishi Factory, accompanied by a group of Jishi agents, demands to take the assassin’s corpse.”

“They arrived quickly,” Wang Qi said without surprise. When the Crown Prince entered the palace to meet the Emperor, the Emperor would inevitably have brought along Li Wanwu, the Jishi Factory’s Provincial Military Commander.

The reason for taking the corpse is simple—they intend to manipulate it.

Wang Qi turned his gaze to Chu Danqing: “Left Guard Commander Chu, shall you handle this, or shall I?”

Chu Danqing understood Wang Qi’s intent—he was testing Chu Danqing’s capabilities further.

“I’ll handle it,” Chu Danqing said bluntly. “But I’ll need assistance; I cannot manage this alone.”

“Of course. The entire Donggong is at your disposal,” Wang Qi said, then summoned another attendant to give orders.

Chu Danqing promptly made a request: “Bring me several sheets of white paper, then draw them up as…”

Wang Qi was puzzled but did not stop him.

Then he watched Chu Danqing select several bold and articulate palace maids and eunuchs, instructing them on specific tasks.

He turned to Wang Qi again: “When the Chief Clerk eventually seeks you out, find an excuse to provoke him—make him come back to me.”

At this, Wang Qi smiled: “Understood. Left Guard Commander Chu’s tactic of pitting one hand against the other is truly remarkable.”

But he quickly realized the problem—Chu Danqing was merely a wandering cultivator, with no questionable background.

Then where had he learned this tactic of pitting one hand against the other? It must have come from the bureaucratic methods of the Taichang court.

His smile vanished instantly.

Chu Danqing, however, paid him no mind, and left with Da Bao.

He soon encountered the Chief Clerk. As the man opened his mouth to speak, Chu Danqing calmly produced a form, his demeanor strictly official.

“The Crown Prince’s assassination is a matter of grave importance. Please, Chief Clerk, and your subordinates, fill out this form first.”

“Take it to the Left and Right Gate Guard Commanders for signatures and seals—leave a documented trail,” Chu Danqing said, leaving the Chief Clerk utterly stunned.

“We act on the orders of Provincial Military Commander Li!” the Chief Clerk refused.

“What? Does Provincial Military Commander Li outrank the Crown Prince?” Chu Danqing sneered. “Without full procedures completed, even Provincial Military Commander Li himself cannot take a single blade of grass from the Donggong.”

The Chief Clerk dared not refute this.

If he had uttered even one word, the Donggong guards would have seized him on the spot.

“Who are you? You hold no official rank—how dare you speak here?” The Chief Clerk shifted his target to Chu Danqing, certain the Donggong had no such figure.

“This is Left Guard Commander Chu of the Zhangyu Guard, newly appointed by the Crown Prince and granted the Donghua Token,” a guard interjected on Chu Danqing’s behalf.

The Chief Clerk fell silent.

Chu Danqing did not know the significance of the title or token, but he did.

The Zhangyu Guard Commanders were responsible for the Crown Prince’s safety and commanded all Donggong guards—among the Crown Prince’s most trusted lieutenants.

They ranked only below the Three Tutors of the Donggong.

To question him? He was mad. Outside the palace, impersonation might be possible—but here, inside the Donggong? Impossible.

“Fine. We’ll go to the Left and Right Gate Guard Commanders for signatures and seals,” the Chief Clerk muttered, picking up the form and finding a corner to fill it out.

The Jishi Factory could indeed challenge the Donggong—but what did that matter to him? He did not represent the entire Jishi Factory.

If he dared to escalate or act arrogantly, Chu Danqing would be delighted—he would have him arrested and thrown into prison immediately.

At this moment, even the Taichang Emperor or Li Wanwu could not save him.

Nor would they bother to save a mere Chief Clerk—another could be substituted easily.

So the matter was simple—so simple that Dimension Park didn’t even generate a task for it.

After completing the procedure, Chu Danqing sat back, sipping tea with ease.

The group finished filling the forms and scurried about the Donggong for nearly an hour before returning with the documents.

Chu Danqing took them, placed them on the table, and said to a nearby attendant: “Fetch the Registrar to verify, log, and archive these.”

The attendant’s face twisted with difficulty: “Commander Chu, the Registrar has already left for the day.”

Hearing this, Chu Danqing slammed his hand on the table: “Insolent!”

“At this hour, how dare you leave your post?”

“Immediately send someone to bring the Registrar back,” Chu Danqing ordered. The attendant bowed repeatedly and hurried off.

The Chief Clerk watched coldly—he knew perfectly well Chu Danqing was deliberately tormenting him.

He was furious, his lungs ready to burst, yet dared not retaliate.

“Bring tea for Chief Clerk,” Chu Danqing smiled sweetly. “This is an unexpected emergency—please bear with us.”

The Chief Clerk remained silent. Another half-hour passed.

Finally, the Registrar arrived, panting, and began reviewing the forms with glacial slowness, feigning intense concentration.

At this point, the Chief Clerk had already prepared to make the trip again.

“Commander Chu, the content is correct. It may be archived and reported,” the Registrar said.

The Chief Clerk’s spirits lifted—had he misjudged this Zhangyu Guard Commander? Perhaps the man was truly just following procedure.

“Very well. Dismissed,” Chu Danqing said, dismissing the Registrar, then turned to the Chief Clerk: “You wish to take the assassin’s corpse, correct?”

“This matter involves broader procedures. You must have these documents completed, signed, sealed, and accompanied by supporting materials.”

At these words, the Chief Clerk’s brief relief darkened again.

“Don’t worry—it’s only a few forms. You may send subordinates to handle them; no need for you to go yourself.”

“The scope is extensive—please bear with us,” Chu Danqing placed the documents down, his posture clear: no documents, no corpse.

The Chief Clerk had no choice—he sent several subordinates with one form to seek signatures and seals.

Within minutes, they returned—all had been refused. The Gate Guard Commanders were all officers; they ignored a mere Jishi agent and refused to cooperate.

They demanded the Chief Clerk come himself—or leave and not disturb their duties.

“Clever,” the Chief Clerk snarled, crumpling the form and hurling it to the ground. “I will report this to Provincial Military Commander Li.”

“By all means,” Chu Danqing replied without hesitation. “I will report to the Crown Prince—let him know how arrogantly the Jishi Factory behaves, how it disregards Donggong rules and imperial dignity, relying solely on Provincial Military Commander Li’s backing.”

The Chief Clerk’s face turned black. He said nothing, rose, and left.

To say more might get him detained himself.

“Send the Chief Clerk and his men off,” Chu Danqing ordered. The Donggong guards escorted them out.

Once they were gone, Chu Danqing called out: “Collect the remaining forms—save them for next time we deal with these blind fools.”

Chu Danqing’s tone carried a hint of regret—he had expected the Chief Clerk to endure until the final stage, but he cracked at the second.

Had he reached the final stage, Chu Danqing would have made him go to Li Wanwu himself for signatures and seals.

Refuse? Then Chu Danqing would ask: “How do you prove this corpse was ordered by Li Wanwu?”

(End of Chapter)