Chapter 563: Censor Wang Yanling

The candle flame flickered as a celadon tea cup from Longquan kiln was gently set down.

The cup's base touched the sandalwood table, producing a crisp sound.

Li Yan regarded the man without expression.

This censor was named Wang Yanling.

His skin was dark, his features square and imposing, and paired with his crimson robe and cinnabar cap, he perfectly fit the image of a high-ranking court official.

But upon closer inspection, many details emerged.

His eyebrows slanted sharply upward, with a faint scar above the brow bone; though his back remained straight as a pine, his left pinky was missing, and his right thumb callus was thick…

In an instant, Li Yan deduced much.

The scar on his pinky and brow bone came from torture—he had clearly suffered in prison…

The thick callus on his right thumb was not from martial training, but from years of holding a brush to review case files—indicating deep scholarly learning…

He had learning, and he had endured hardship.

Such men were usually difficult to deal with.

To be honest, Li Yan did not particularly wish to interact with such a man.

The official world differed from the Jianghu; many were honey-tongued and cunning, and one misstep could trap you—his temperament simply did not align.

Yet strangely, this Censor Wang knew him, and was unusually warm—Li Yan had no choice but to stay and probe his intentions.

Beside him, Xu Yongqing was lost in grief over his family's massacre, eyes bloodshot, fingers gripping the tea cup so tightly it seemed ready to shatter.

But Censor Wang Yanling was not in a hurry; after sipping his tea, he soothed gently: "I've heard of the matter, Brother Xu—you refused to join their corruption, so why keep the Longshi seal…?"

"It's nothing but a death warrant!"

Comfort was useless; truth hurt more.

Wang Yanling's words shattered Xu Yongqing completely—he wept uncontrollably, voice trembling: "Wang… that villain once saved me—I thought he wouldn't be so ruthless, that at least he'd spare my family…"

He could no longer speak, only sob.

Li Yan cast a cold glance, saying nothing.

He felt no pity for Xu Yongqing.

Many things become clear when one is calm.

Who could serve as a Prince's Longshi, managing every matter of the Wang Fu, without being ruthless? He gathered evidence secretly—not out of righteousness, but to protect himself…

When he sensed danger, he didn't send his family away immediately—he waited, hoping for a turn of fortune, blinded by power, having long forgotten his own kin.

What good is crying now…?

The censor Wang Yanling saw through Xu Yongqing's nature too, yet showed no urgency; instead, he took from a nearby bookshelf a faded ancient volume titled *Records of Mount Qingcheng*.

He opened to a page, his finger tracing a passage worn smooth by repeated touch: "I read here that Master Jingxu once observed the stars at night and saw a guest star intrude upon the Purple Forbidden Enclosure—but the matter was never followed up."

"It was mentioned only once, but I recall that incident clearly—someone reported this news in court, was falsely accused and imprisoned, and only released three years later…"

"To be frank, that unfortunate man was me."

So that's how it was…

Li Yan suddenly understood.

He'd heard this Censor Wang had come to Shu and constantly opposed the Shu Prince like a mad dog—now he knew why.

Or rather, it was no longer personal grudge—it was a matter of stance.

This censor had been imprisoned for accusing the Shu Prince, simply because the timing was wrong; after three years in prison, senior court officials realized the Shu Prince was growing more dangerous, judged the moment ripe, and released him.

Therefore, this censor must cling to the accusation against the Shu Prince.

If he succeeds, this single case will secure his legacy for life.

The censor was indeed candid—but not to Li Yan; he was giving Xu Yongqing a guarantee, assuring him he wouldn't be betrayed again.

After all, Xu Yongqing was now a homeless dog—pitiful on the surface, but cornered and fiercely guarded.

Even after being saved by Li Yan, he wouldn't speak truthfully.

Hence, Wang Yanling had thrown out this bait.

True enough—the moment he spoke, Xu Yongqing hesitated no longer; gritting his teeth, he rose and kowtowed: "The Shu Prince seeks immortality, consorts with demons to harm the people, harbors treacherous ambitions, and plots rebellion—I beg Your Excellency to uphold justice for me."

Wang Yanling's face broke into a smile; he stepped forward and helped Xu Yongqing up, speaking solemnly: "Rest assured, Brother Yongqing—I will not let his schemes succeed."

"If I recall correctly, you passed the imperial examination in Jiayou—should you accomplish great merit, you may serve under me."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

After a round of hollow formalities, Xu Yongqing rose and said gravely: "I have gathered evidence of the Shu Prince's rebellion—all recorded in a ledger."

Wang Yanling's pupils contracted sharply. "Where is the ledger?"

"Burned!"

Xu Yongqing gritted his teeth: "When I sensed danger, I burned it—but every entry is etched in my mind, word for word."

As if fearing Wang Yanling wouldn't believe him, he immediately began reciting.

"In Bingchen year, heavy rains in Shu collapsed the riverbank outside Chengdu—every villager died; the Ministry of Public Works reported a landslide, but the Shu Prince ordered men to detonate the ancient Ba people's altar…"

"On the sixteenth day of the first month of Jiachen year, at the third watch of You hour, thirty oil carts left Chengdu—by nightfall, the Qingyang Palace burned; also ordered by the Shu Prince…"

"Two years ago, the Ministry of Rites' official document stated 'worship the Three Pure Ones, save and guide the people'—yet in the Shu Prince's private temple, the incense ledger recorded monthly consumption of two hundred jin of cinnabar and eighty liang of mercury—no one knows why…"

"Last year, during Frost's Descent, seventy-three miners died in the Zigong mine; the Ministry of Public Works' *Register of Miner Casualties* listed only nine names—dogs and pigs—because the coal mine had yielded vast quantities of coal-jade…"

"Enough!"

Wang Yanling's eyes lit with delight; he quickly halted him.

Shu was still the Shu Prince's domain, long cultivated—he'd achieved some successes since arriving, like securing key posts in Chongqing and expelling the Shu Prince's men.

But all were opportunistic gains—none struck at the root.

With this intelligence, he was now like a tiger with wings.

Xu Yongqing added gravely: "I rewrote the ledger last night—time is critical, Your Excellency…"

"Not yet."

Wang Yanling shook his head: "The key to bringing down the Shu Prince isn't here—it's in the capital. The Emperor still clings to old ties; without ironclad proof, he'll simply let the Shu Prince erase these records."

He then changed the subject: "You say the Shu Prince acquired demonic arts and has reversed aging—what do you mean?"

Xu Yongqing quickly recounted what he had witnessed.

Wang Yanling pondered, then turned to Li Yan: "Li Shaoxia, I've heard your name. Minister Yuan Feng of the Ministry of Public Works' Bureau of Weights and Measures once asked me to look after you."

At this, Li Yan instantly understood; he bowed and asked: "I haven't been in touch for a long time—how is Minister Yuan?"

Minister Yuan Feng of the Ministry of Public Works' Bureau of Weights and Measures had another identity: Elder of the Momen—he and Li Yan had a decent relationship.

At the very least, he never worried about acquiring new gunpowder.

He hadn't expected the old man to have arranged for his protection.

The old man was still meticulous.

Hearing Li Yan's question, Wang Yanling smiled and stroked his beard: "Minister Yuan is well. I heard he presented some treasure that delighted His Majesty—now he holds a special token granting him free access to the palace, day or night."

"In all these years, only Minister Yuan has received such honor—no one knows what he's doing, not even the Chief Minister has been permitted to inquire…"

His words seemed casual, but carried subtle probing. It was the Momen's strange steam engine!

A flash of insight struck Li Yan—he immediately guessed the reason.

The device had been invented by the Momen's Grand Master during the late Tang chaos; realizing the time wasn't right for its revelation, they hid it in a tomb, where it was later found by accident.

Ordinary people might not recognize its value.

But the Momen had many experts in mechanism—how to generate power was their primary focus, so they clearly understood its worth.

Moreover, he had specifically warned them then.

Now the Momen was acting mysteriously—likely under imperial support, studying how to replicate it.

Once successful, the Momen's rise would be imminent.

These court officials might not understand technology, but they knew how to read the wind—because of Elder Yuan, they treated him with such courtesy.

Of course, Li Yan would never speak of this; he feigned ignorance: "Minister Yuan and I took to each other at first sight—if I ever get the chance, I'll visit to thank him personally."

Not a single word was out of place!

"Oh."

Wang Yanling sensed Li Yan's caution and shifted topic: "I know nothing of the Xuanmen—Li Shaoxia, do you believe the Shu Prince truly obtained the elixir of immortality?"

Li Yan replied coolly: "Most likely some dark art—if he truly achieved immortality, heaven would punish him; then you wouldn't need to worry."

Wang Yanling's heart tightened—he remembered Li Yan's other identity.

Though they couldn't comprehend the Living Yin Chai, they still kept their distance.

Thinking this, Wang Yanling nodded and said: "Good—I now understand. Thank you, Li Shaoxia, for your righteous act tonight."

"Minister Yuan has already instructed me—if you need gunpowder, come to the yamen anytime; here is my personal order."

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

"No need for formality—my men just reported the Shu Prince's men are still lurking outside; they haven't the courage to attack the yamen. You may rest here tonight."

His words were polite, but clear: leave.

Li Yan understood; he said nothing, rose, and departed under the guidance of the Bagua Sect disciple to a small courtyard.

No sooner had he left than Xu Yongqing collapsed to his knees, shedding all pretense, weeping uncontrollably: "I am utterly ruined—Your Excellency, please save me!"

"What are you doing, Brother Xu?"

The censor sighed, helped him up again, and shook his head: "I'm not acting now because the timing isn't right."

Xu Yongqing's face turned pale. "The Emperor?"

The Shu Prince had endured precisely because the Emperor still cherished old ties—if he truly intended to protect him, no amount of evidence would matter.

"No."

Wang Yanling shook his head slightly, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "His Majesty's grand ambitions would never tolerate such indulgence indefinitely. He ignored it before because he wished to honor the brotherly bond, given the Shu Prince's advanced age and grave illness, to prevent historians from spreading falsehoods."

"But the Shu Prince seeks immortality through forbidden arts—that is a grave transgression!"

Xu Yongqing instantly understood and finally relaxed.

Seeing his expression, Wang Yanling, though filled with contempt, kept his face neutral and continued: "Of course, this alone is not enough. We must wait for another event."

Xu Yongqing's curiosity was now fully aroused. He couldn't help asking: "Your Excellency, what is this other matter?"

To be honest, he had already developed a disdain for this censor.

In officialdom, knowing when to keep one's mouth shut is vital. Yet this man, barely met, blabbed endlessly, revealing everything.

He seems merely lucky.

As long as I survive this crisis, I can use his power, carefully curry favor, and perhaps still have a chance to rise again.

Then, it won't be me who kneels.

"The southwestern campaign has ended."

Wang Yanling seemed not to hear him. He sipped tea and spoke calmly: "On the twentieth of last month, the imperial army breached Loushan Pass. With no defenses left, the Yang family retreated to Hailong Tun."

"On the eighteenth of the twelfth month, the imperial forces converged beneath Hailong Tun. The Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain summoned heavenly thunder to shatter their formation, while the Ministry of Works deployed Lu Ban's wooden magpie to guide the artillery. The Yang family was utterly crushed, and we are now mopping up."

"Good news."

Xu Yongqing muttered absently, then asked: "But how does this relate to the Shu Prince?"

Wang Yanling spoke coolly: "The Yang family entered Bozhou during the Tang Dynasty's Qianfu era. Through Tang, the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Song, Da Xing, and Da Xuan—over seven hundred years—they endured. Do you think they are fools?"

"Why did they not rebel earlier, but choose now?"

"I learned something: the policy of replacing hereditary chieftains with imperial appointees was not the main cause. The Yang family has long terrorized the region; countless petitions accused them. But each time, they came to Chengdu bearing lavish gifts—and the complaints were buried."

"Three years ago, the Yang family sensed the court's displeasure. They realized their danger and submitted a petition, offering to become vassals. They even sent their eldest son to Chengdu, intending to travel to the capital as a hostage, seeking to ease relations with the court."

"But as soon as he reached Chengdu, he was murdered. They appealed to the Shu Prince's mansion—but the Shu Prince refused to see him…"

At this, Xu Yongqing turned deathly pale.

Wang Yanling's gaze turned dark. "This need not have cost so many lives, Xu my lord. Wasn't it you who handled this matter back then?"

Xu Yongqing trembled violently, sweat pouring down.

Wang Yanling smiled faintly. "Remember: don't act rashly. No matter the outcome, only one of you—the Shu Prince or you—will survive…"

Neither of them noticed that, among the roof tiles, a black paper doll swiftly dissolved into blue smoke…

In another courtyard's side room.

Li Yan sat cross-legged on the bed, slowly opening his eyes, lost in thought.

Though the Chengdu Prefecture Ya seemed calm as still water, it concealed hidden depths. Beyond those few Bagua Men disciples, there were other elite guards.

Yet even so, he had a way.

The black paper doll within the straw effigies excelled at concealment and reconnaissance. It could evade the wards outside the door; inside, nothing could stop him.

He hadn't expected the southwestern rebellion to be tied to the Shu Prince.

The timing was three years ago…

Slowly, Li Yan pieced together a thread.

Ten years ago, Zhao Changsheng and Lu Sheng entered the Shu Prince's mansion. Later, Zhao Changsheng left, but Lu Sheng stayed behind…

After that, the Shu Prince began showing interest in the Xuan Men, gathering many martial artists—still within normal bounds…

Three years ago, the Shu Prince's behavior turned brutal…

The key to it all likely lies with Lu Sheng!

With so many demonic entities lurking in the shadows, what are they plotting…?

…………

As Li Yan headed toward the Chengdu Prefecture Ya, Nie Sangu, who had fled, arrived at Chengdu's northern suburbs.

This was Chengdu's graveyard of the forgotten—broken steles scattered everywhere, mounds of unmarked graves.

Deep within the graveyard, Nie Sangu circled a headless stone guardian, and before her, thick mist rose.

Faintly, a mansion appeared: green bricks, black tiles, a faded wooden plaque hanging above the gate.

On it, four large characters: "House of Accumulated Virtue."

(End of Chapter)