Chapter 20

Chen Ji, suddenly freed from pressure, stared in shock at Lu Fang, who solemnly raised his token, and at Xiao Xun, who knelt with his buttocks raised and his body pressed to the ground.

His astonishment was beyond words.

How could this Confucian scholar named Lu Fang…

Crack!

The Disciple Token of Semi-Sage Xu Hanyi fell to the ground!

Lu Fang immediately collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Excessive use of righteous qi had left him unable to move even a single finger.

“You are a disciple of Semi-Sage Xu Hanyi!”

With the token’s pressure gone, Xiao Xun rose from the ground, his face dark with anger; after a moment’s hesitation, a flicker of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

If anyone else had learned Lu Fang was a disciple of the Semi-Sage, they would never dare act rashly—certainly not entertain murderous thoughts.

But Xiao Xun, born of the Xiao family, was different: the Xiao family and the lineage of Semi-Sage Xu Hanyi were irreconcilable enemies; it was said that Xiao Wanlin, the former Chancellor, had been publicly slapped by the Semi-Sage decades ago, sparking a deadly feud.

‘I can seize this chance to kill him!’

Xiao Xun was about to act.

Before Lu Fang appeared a refined middle-aged scholar—the other supervising academy head of Wenyuan Academy, Liu Wenyu.

“Liu Wenyu, step aside! This brat dared kill a Xiao family member—I must kill him today to pay with his life!”

Xiao Xun growled.

Liu Wenyu shook his head: “I’m afraid I cannot comply. The Confucian scholar behind me came to Wenyuan Academy by the Emperor’s decree. If you kill him, I cannot answer to higher authorities.”

“Is he the one who wrote ‘The Demon-Sweeping Ci’?”

Xiao Xun’s face turned black.

The palace had previously notified that a man named Lu Fang would come to study at the academy; as a supervising head, Xiao Xun was well aware of the general situation.

What he didn’t know was that Lu Fang was not only a disciple of the Semi-Sage, but had also condensed a Book Spirit.

“That’s him.”

Liu Wenyu replied honestly.

Upon hearing the two supervising heads’ exchange, the students on Bai Shi Square stared at Lu Fang in utter disbelief.

Almost everyone here had read the image-class “The Demon-Sweeping Ci,” the elegant prose “Liaozhai Yi Zhi: Nie Xiaoqian,” and today’s official gazette’s elegant prose “Dream of the Red Chamber.”

They all knew these were written by someone named Lu Fang.

Yet everyone had unconsciously assumed that someone with such scholarly depth and literary power must be an elderly master.

No one had ever imagined Lu Fang was a Confucian scholar around twenty years old—same age as them.

A disciple of Semi-Sage Xu Hanyi, who had even condensed a Book Spirit!

“Y-you’re Lu Fang?”

Chen Ji’s eyes widened.

Lu Fang lacked even the strength to speak; he finally understood the exhaustion Li Yu had felt after forcibly summoning the Great Confucian Inkstone: Four Directions.

“This isn’t over. Even if he is Lu Fang, he dared commit murder in public—killing a Xiao family member—I will report this to His Majesty.”

Xiao Xun sneered, swept his sleeve to retrieve Xiao Jincheng’s corpse, and angrily turned to leave Wenyuan Academy.

Seeing Liu Wenyu appear, he knew he could not kill Lu Fang now—so he decided to return swiftly to Xiao State Mansion and consult his elder brother on how to seek revenge.

Back at the mansion, Xiao Xun recounted every detail of the incident to his elder brother, Minister of Justice Xiao Qi.

Crash!

Upon seeing Xiao Jincheng’s corpse, Xiao Qi smashed the table with one palm, roaring in fury:

“Damned Lu Fang! I don’t care if he’s the Prophecy Man or Xu Hanyi’s disciple—he killed my son, and he must die! Come with me to the palace to petition His Majesty.”

“I agree.”

Xiao Xun hesitated, then said: “Should we summon Father?”

“He is in seclusion—do not disturb him.”

Xiao Qi shook his head.

…

Taihe Hall.

“What are the people saying about ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ on the gazette?”

Emperor Ji Feng, immersed in reviewing memorials, did not lift his head to ask.

The Chief Eunuch smiled: “Your Majesty’s insight is as sharp as a mirror.”

“Yesterday, it was said that ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ appearing on the gazette would spark lively discussion among the common folk. This morning, after its release, whether in teahouses, taverns, or streets, all were praising it endlessly.”

Ji Feng set down his memorial, puzzled:

“What on earth is in that Lu Fang boy’s head? How could he write such exquisite elegant prose?”

The Chief Eunuch’s eyes darted, then said:

“If I may say so, Your Majesty, Lu Fang is the Prophecy Man—sent to assist Your Majesty in unifying the realm. Yesterday, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau noted that Zhou’s destiny suddenly increased by half a foot. Of course, this also has much to do with Your Majesty being a wise and diligent ruler.”

Hearing this, Ji Feng could no longer suppress his laughter:

“I have been diligent for twenty-nine years, and Zhou’s destiny rose only one zhang. Yet yesterday, it inexplicably gained half a foot—how could that have anything to do with my diligence?”

The Chief Eunuch smiled, saying nothing further.

As a man close to the Emperor, he knew precisely when to speak and when to remain silent—to please the Emperor, and when to hold his tongue.

“Your Majesty! Minister of Justice Xiao Qi and Wenyuan Academy’s supervising head Xiao Xun await outside, requesting an audience.”

“They claim that Xu Hanyi’s disciple Lu Fang killed Xiao Qi’s son, Xiao Jincheng, and that supervising head Liu Wenyu is shielding the criminal—they have come to beg Your Majesty to uphold justice.”

A eunuch waiting outside hurried in to report.

The Chief Eunuch, who had just closed his eyes to rest, was startled.

“Lu Fang killed a Xiao family member?”

Ji Feng frowned, thought for a moment, then said: “Summon Liu Wenyu. I have questions for him.”

The Xiao brothers arrived first, yet waited half an hour outside without being called in—while Liu Wenyu was immediately summoned upon arrival.

After Liu Wenyu exited Taihe Hall and left the palace, no one called Xiao Qi or Xiao Xun inside.

“Brother, something feels off.”

Xiao Xun whispered telepathically.

Xiao Qi replied in the same manner:

“Perhaps His Majesty is occupied with urgent memorials. The fact that he hasn’t dismissed us proves he has no intention of favoring Xu Hanyi’s faction.”

Another half hour passed before Emperor Ji Feng finally summoned Xiao Qi and Xiao Xun into the hall.

“Your Majesty, Xu Hanyi’s disciple Lu Fang, relying on his powerful sect, bullied others at Wenyuan Academy and killed my son. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Xiao family.”

“I have heard the full account from Liu Wenyu and ordered an investigation. The incident began because Xiao Jincheng was arrogant and tyrannical. I have already ordered Lu Fang confined to his quarters for a month and given him thirty strokes of the cane.”

“Your Majesty cannot rely solely on Liu Wenyu’s word—I demand to confront Lu Fang face to face.”

“Lu Fang is injured and cannot come. I have several Record-Image Talismans—take them home and examine them carefully.”

Ji Feng waved his hand impatiently.

Record-Image Talismans were rare—they preserved both image and sound. Several talismans captured the confrontation between Lu Fang and Xiao Jincheng from multiple angles.

Xiao Qi, unwilling to yield, said: “Your Majesty…”

Ji Feng cut him off sternly: “You may go.”