Chapter 497: Is this still the He He Zongzhu I know!

Hearing that the Emperor was going to speak, everyone around, whether standing or sitting, straightened their backs.

That feeling was as if they were waiting for Li Chen to give instructions.

Yuan Tianhe immediately put down the wine cup in his hand upon hearing this, his gaze focused on Li Chen, fearing he would miss a single word.

The entire Lanyue Pavilion was silent; even the disciples standing by held their breath.

Li Chen put down his cup and said: "Regarding the issue of sect docking, I have established a Sect Affairs Department, yet your Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall has never registered."

Before the words could finish, Yuan Tianhe immediately stood up and gave a respectful salute: "Your Majesty, please be discerning. This matter was indeed my negligence. I will immediately send the Great Elder responsible for this matter in the sect to personally go to the Sect Affairs Department to register. Our Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall will definitely follow May Tian Ce's policies closely and carry forward the sect under Your Majesty's wise leadership!"

These words were said flawlessly, leaving everyone present stunned.

Who could have imagined that this usually rigid and serious master of a hidden sect could say such official jargon?

In the corner, a white-haired Elder couldn't help but mutter in a low voice: "When did the He He Zongzhu learn this set of tricks?"

Another Elder beside him whispered: "What do you know? The He He Zongzhu spent time in officialdom when he was young, and was only later taken in as a disciple by the old He He Zongzhu."

It turned out that Yuan Tianhe did not come from a cultivation family.

His father was once an official in a small city in southern May Tian Ce, and he had been influenced by that set of officialdom since childhood.

Later, by chance, he was spotted by the previous He He Zongzhu of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall who was traveling, and only then did he step onto the path of immortality.

Pretending to be rigid on weekdays was just a matter of face for the hidden sect.

It can also be said that there were few people in this world who could make him act polite, but the one in front of him could.

Li Chen nodded slightly, quite satisfied with this answer: "He He Zongzhu Yuan is indeed reasonable."

He picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and said again: "There is one more thing that requires He He Zongzhu Yuan's assistance."

"Your Majesty, please speak." Yuan Tianhe immediately cupped his hands, lowering his posture even further.

"Does your sect have a person named Tang Chen imprisoned?"

Yuan Tianhe's peripheral vision swept over Mother Tang, and he understood in his heart.

He answered without changing his expression: "Returning to Your Majesty, there is indeed such a person. This person stole our sect's supreme treasure, the 'Immortal Fate Crystal', and according to sect rules, he should be imprisoned for a hundred years."

Mother Tang's fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes upon hearing this.

Because she was born in the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, she naturally knew that the person who was caught could not be let go so easily.

If this could be let go, then where would the dignity of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall as a hidden sect be?

If the matter spread, everyone might feel that stealing things from the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall was not a big crime.

This belongs to the problem of the sect's face, and it is also something the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall cannot retreat on.

This is also why Mother Tang felt it was very difficult for Li Chen, and even asked Li Chen to forget it many times.

Li Chen put down his wine cup, his tone flat: "This person is a wanted criminal in May Tian Ce. I heard he was caught by you, and I want to take him back for trial."

Yuan Tianhe slapped his thigh, showing an expression of sudden realization: "So that's how it is. Being able to assist May Tian Ce in capturing a wanted criminal is the honor of our Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall! I will order someone to bring him here immediately."

This conversation left Mother Tang dumbfounded.

She had originally thought there would be a fierce battle, or at the very least, various conditions would be opened before starting a game of chess, but she didn't expect it to be solved in a few words?

What shocked her even more was that the He He Zongzhu didn't even have the slightest hesitation!

Is this still the He He Zongzhu she knew?

One must know, Yuan Tianhe had pursued Mother Tang, and since he didn't succeed, how could he not hold a grudge against Tang Chen.

Xuan Ji nodded secretly from the side.

His Majesty's "wanted criminal of the imperial court" argument was truly brilliant; it both gave Yuan Tianhe a way out and preserved the face of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall.

After all, "handing over to the imperial court" and "being forced to release someone" sound like two different things.

If Li Chen had said, "Release Tang Chen," then as the He He Zongzhu of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, where would Yuan Tianhe put his face? ===== CHAPTER 498 =====

With Yuan Tianhe as the He He Zongzhu of the Eight Gates Heaven-Tilting Hall, where would he put his face?