Chapter 236: The Hand of Prince Jing'an

Chen Mu acted with swift, decisive efficiency, quickly arranging people to spread the news to the public: "Huang Kaiyuan, fearing investigation for his embezzlement, deliberately spread rumors to frame the Inspector."

The moment the news broke, the whole city erupted in uproar once again.

"So that's what happened! I knew Inspector Chen didn't seem like the kind to kill indiscriminately!"

"Huang Kaiyuan is brazen indeed — how dare he slander the Inspector!"

"Tsk, tsk. A Divine Bridge master of the Earth Altar realm, brought to such an end over a bit of money and goods — was it really worth it…"

"…"

Many believed this version of events; after all, it was plain as day for everyone to see that Huang Kaiyuan had made a move against Chen Mu, and the motive seemed reasonable enough.

But plenty of others harbored doubts.

"Hmph, who knows if Chen Mu simply used his power to force Huang Kaiyuan to take the fall?"

"Exactly. Huang Kaiyuan was, after all, an Earth Altar realm master who'd operated in Zhenzhou for years — would he really risk everything over a bit of embezzled silver, just to frame a rising genius with limitless potential? It doesn't add up!"

"But if that wasn't the case, why would Huang Kaiyuan make a move against Chen Mu? Surely he didn't just go mad for no reason?"

"There… there must be something fishy going on here!"

……

The outside world buzzed with debate.

In the main hall of the Zhenwu Division, Chen Mu also summoned Yu Shoujiang.

After dismissing everyone around them, Chen Mu asked directly, "Lord Yu, how deep do Huang Kaiyuan's ties with the Jing'an Wang Fu actually run? When did he start colluding with Prince Jing'an?"

"…"

At these words, a flicker of struggle crossed Yu Shoujiang's face. After a moment's silence, he finally chose to come clean, lowering his voice as he said, "To answer you, my lord — the reason Huang Kaiyuan was able to break through to the Earth Altar realm was mainly the precious cultivation resources Prince Jing'an provided him over the years."

After a brief pause, he continued explaining, "Although Prince Jing'an holds no real power and his own martial talent is ordinary, because his mother raised the current Your Majesty, Your Majesty, remembering the old kindness, bestows resources on the Jing'an Wang Fu every year — measured by the cartload."

"Accumulated over nearly twenty years, the Jing'an Wang Fu's stores far exceed imagination. Since Prince Jing'an himself can't use it all, he uses this as capital to secretly buy off and collude with a considerable number of people."

"I won't hide it from you, my lord — within every major faction in Zhenzhou, I'm afraid there are more or less people who've been lured over by Prince Jing'an with resources."

Hearing this, a flash of understanding crossed Chen Mu's eyes. He then asked curiously, "Oh? Even a major jianghu faction like the Hidden Sword Palace has people who've been bought off?"

"Yes!"

Yu Shoujiang nodded firmly. "Although the Hidden Sword Palace has stood for centuries and has many experts, precisely because there are so many people and competition is fierce, the resources it can provide are limited. Those who grow restless will seek other methods. And Prince Jing'an happens to have no shortage of resources for Breakthrough Realm and cultivation advancement — these things are simply too tempting for martial artists of a certain realm."

At the end, Yu Shoujiang sighed with feeling.

"Tsk, tsk." Chen Mu also remarked with feeling, "This Prince Jing'an truly knows his way around the 'thousand gold to buy a horse's bone' strategy."

Even as he spoke, his gaze swept subtly toward Yu Shoujiang.

The Hidden Sword Palace had fierce competition.

What about the Zhenwu Division?

Don't be fooled by the Zhenwu Division's massive power and abundant resources — it has even more people!

If you want pills or techniques, you have to exchange merit points for them.

Merit points aren't something you just have because you say so.

Chen Mu had successively rooted out Pei Renguang and Lin Shen before barely being promoted to a C-rank Inspector, and the merit points he'd accumulated had only been enough to exchange for a few treasures.

For high-grade goods like Earth Origin Pills, having enough merit points isn't even enough — you still have to wait in line.

Yet Prince Jing'an never lacked such high-grade goods. Even though his own talent was ordinary and his realm barely reached Innate, Zhou Huang still lavished rewards on him all the same.

To grow stronger, Huang Kaiyuan was bought off by Prince Jing'an and received secret cultivation.

What about Yu Shoujiang?

Eight or nine chances out of ten, he'd taken Prince Jing'an's benefits too!

……

Just as he was pondering, a Zhenwu Division guard strode in to report, "Reporting, my lord! The steward of the Jing'an Wang Fu is outside requesting an audience."

Chen Mu was first taken aback, then laughed helplessly. Looking at Yu Shoujiang, he said, "Lord Yu, look — we just clamped the lid down, and the 'reward' has arrived right on cue!"

The corner of Yu Shoujiang's mouth twitched slightly, and he forced out a helpless smile.

Sure enough, moments later, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, fair-complexioned and beardless, with a sharp, capable air, stepped into the main hall.

The man was impeccably courteous, bowing respectfully to Chen Mu. "Zhou Fu, of the Jing'an Wang Fu, pays his respects to Inspector Chen!"

"Steward Zhou, no need for such ceremony. I wonder what instructions the Prince has for me?" Chen Mu leaned back in his chair and asked lazily.

"It's like this."

Zhou Fu's face broke into a smile. "The Prince sent me here specifically to thank Inspector Chen for your magnanimity in not spreading word of the Third Young Master's momentary youthful 'mischief,' thereby preserving the Wang Fu's face."

"Mischief?"

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Framing an imperial court official for murder — and in Steward Zhou's mouth, it's merely 'mischief'? The Prince's household teachings are truly an eye-opener for me."

"Heh heh."

Zhou Fu's expression didn't change; he remained all smiles. "The Third Young Master is young and ignorant, his actions were inevitably absurd. The Prince has already punished him, and will certainly discipline him strictly in the future.

"This is a small token of the Prince's gratitude — it's hardly worthy, but I hope the Inspector will graciously accept it."

As he spoke, he presented an exquisitely crafted brocade box with both hands.

Chen Mu sneered inwardly, but considering that his core mission in coming to Zhenzhou was to thoroughly investigate Prince Jing'an, it wasn't the moment to tear off all pretense.

Immediately, his expression shifted; he forced a seemingly pleased smile onto his face, took the brocade box with polite insincerity, and exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries.

"Steward Zhou, you flatter me. I was merely considering the bigger picture. Since the Prince is so generous, I shall not refuse. Please convey to the Prince — everything is fine!"

"In that case, many thanks to the Inspector."

Seeing Chen Mu accept the gift and his attitude "soften," Zhou Fu achieved his purpose. After a few more pleasantries, he departed well-satisfied.

Once Zhou Fu's figure disappeared, the smile vanished from Chen Mu's face in an instant. He tossed the brocade box carelessly onto the table, snorted coldly, and said with open mockery, "If that bastard Huang Kaiyuan hadn't been sensible enough to take all the blame on himself, I would have reported to headquarters and asked Lord Zhang to file a complaint against that Wu Youting! A mere Young Master of a Wang Fu dares to frame me — he truly doesn't know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth!"

"…"

Yu Shoujiang stood to the side with his hands at his sides, listening to Chen Mu's "indignant" words. He merely bowed slightly, his face wearing just the right amount of reverence, not daring to casually interject or take a stance.

Chen Mu glanced at him, not expecting a response.

Those words had been spoken for any ears that might be listening, to maintain his persona as an Inspector who was "arrogantly proud" yet "wary of the Wang Fu's power."

……

Night fell.

Chen Mu took out the "Tongxin" bamboo slip and transmitted the day's events to Zhao Fuzhou.

Soon, the bamboo slip flashed with flowing light, and a reply came back.

【Wu Youting spreading rumors about you was likely pushed from behind the scenes by Prince Jing'an】

Hmm?

【What do you mean?】