[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-346":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2289181,4475,"Chapter 346","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-346",346,"\u003Cp>The old man was brought before Jiang Mingyu, and soldiers forcibly pinned him to the ground. Jiang Mingyu asked in a low voice, “Who are you? What is your connection to Xin Youli? Why did you try to kill me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man sneered. “I don’t know who Xin Youli is. I killed you solely to avenge my two sons who died in the Tang Xiang battle!” As he spoke, his eyes filled with blood, his voice roaring, “Jiang Mingyu, ask yourself—do you deserve to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes now streaked with blood, the old man thrashed violently, howling like a beast: “Jiang Mingyu, you beast—I should have killed you! Today I failed, but when I die, I’ll become a vengeful ghost and haunt you until the heavens strike me down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu fell silent. The old man was clearly no cultivator, yet his poison technique was astonishingly refined. Could he truly have acted out of grief for his sons?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All the civilians outside Tang Xiang City are my accomplices—kill them all!” the old man added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuke Sulu, enraged by his escalating insolence, kicked the old man hard, seized his collar, and roared, “Old dog, how dare you insult our Great Jiang monarch? You’re begging for death! Confess your accomplices now, and I’ll give you a quick death!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gasped for breath but still grinned wickedly. “Accomplices? I alone can kill you beasts! Jiang Mingyu, even as a ghost, I won’t let you go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Complete nonsense!” Li Goudan blurted out. “Your Majesty, this old scoundrel is twisting the truth—we must investigate thoroughly and eliminate all threats forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded, his expression grave. “Ask him where he learned this poison technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuke Sulu glared at the old man, fire in his eyes. “Old dog, where did you learn this poison technique? If you don’t confess the truth, I’ll end your life today!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gave a sinister smile. “You taught me. You said once Jiang Mingyu was gone, you’d seize absolute power. Don’t pretend ignorance, Tuke Sulu!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lies!” Tuke Sulu roared, punching the old man square in the face. Blood gushed from his mouth, yet he still grinned. Jiang Mingyu watched coldly, his mind made up. “Enough. Take him out and behead him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty!” Tuke Sulu stepped forward. “The truth isn’t clear yet. Rushing to execute him only clouds the matter. Please reconsider!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest assured, I have my plans.” Jiang Mingyu spoke calmly, his eyes glinting coldly at the old man. “Say another word, and I’ll have you dragged out immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soldiers dragged the old man off the execution ground, he continued cursing: “Jiang Mingyu, you beast! I die with eyes wide open! I’ll watch you—wait for the plague to come!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His final scream was cut short by the sound of the blade falling. Jiang Mingyu stared at the gushing blood from the old man’s neck, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long silence, Tuke Sulu approached. “Brother, why did you kill him so quickly? What’s your reasoning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu nodded. “This man isn’t just a lone avenger. When he mentioned his poison master, his tone was strange—there’s more beneath the surface. The water runs deeper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuke Sulu suddenly understood. “So that’s it, Brother—your foresight is unmatched!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s face remained cold, his voice devoid of emotion as he ordered: “Immediately summon every civilian within a twenty-li radius for questioning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tuke Sulu acted swiftly, gathering soldiers to scour the area. Soon, three hundred and forty pale, trembling Xixia civilians knelt before Jiang Mingyu, all too terrified to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu pointed to the bloodstained head on the ground. “Does anyone here recognize this man’s identity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elderly, sturdy man trembled as he rose, legs weak, nearly collapsing. He stammered, “R-Your Majesty… this man is Zhang Physician from our village…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to ask why Zhang Physician had been executed, but seeing Jiang Mingyu’s icy, merciless expression, he clamped his mouth shut, swallowing his questions whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Then elaborate,” Jiang Mingyu said coolly, pressing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man dared not withhold anything. “Your Majesty, we didn’t know Zhang Physician well. Rumor says he once studied poison-making in the former Dongyue Kingdom. Because such arts easily kill innocents, everyone avoided him. Everyone knows this. After his two sons were killed outside Tang Xiang City, he grew even more reclusive and strange. As far as I know, no one in the village has seen him in a full month.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu paused, then fixed his gaze on the man’s eyes. “He intended to murder me, and his plot has been exposed. Is there anyone among you who conspired with him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At once, every one of the hundreds of civilians—including the man who had just responded—turned pale, stumbling to kneel and bang their heads on the ground, crying out in protest: “Your Majesty, we had nothing to do with this! Please investigate thoroughly—do not punish the innocent!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the crowd, a scholar in a long robe wore a strange expression, frequently reaching into his chest, his movements secretive and suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu scanned the trembling, terrified crowd. He saw no signs of accomplices. Tuke Sulu stepped forward, troubled. “Brother, if the truth is now clear, how should we handle this? Can we just let it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu hesitated, then decided: “Release them, Tuke Sulu. A doctor’s personal vendetta isn’t worth sparking a larger uprising among the people.” He turned to the civilians and waved. “All of you—go. This matter ends here. You have nothing to fear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civilians exhaled in relief, murmuring thanks, weeping with gratitude as they bowed deeply before fleeing in pairs, like deer escaping predators. Tuke Sulu watched, uneasy. “Brother, letting it go so easily feels wrong… the truth may run far deeper than this…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stared at the retreating backs of the civilians, speaking softly: “I feel the same. But wronging innocent people is a grave sin against the state. I cannot endanger the innocent for my own safety.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His quiet words carried boundless sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the civilians scatter like frightened birds, Jiang Mingyu could not calm the turmoil within him. He sensed this matter was far from simple—the old man’s words of “retribution” echoed in his mind. But the army loomed ahead; he shook off his thoughts and ordered Tuke Sulu: “From now on, march with utmost caution. No more such incidents. Sound the order—resume the advance!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the next several days, Tuke Sulu remained hyper-vigilant, tightening security at every village. Yet, miraculously, nothing unusual occurred. The march proceeded smoothly and safely. By mid-July, the army reached the border of Cangzhou, not far from Shangmu. In another ten days, they would cross Cangzhou and return to Shangmu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Jiang Mingyu rode at the front when a thunder of hooves erupted ahead. A swift horse charged straight toward them, blocking the path. The rider was young, sweat carving tracks down his face, his expression frantic. Jiang Mingyu’s heart tightened. “Who are you? Why so urgent? Report—any critical military news?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youth bowed hastily. “Your Majesty, I’ve ridden nonstop from Nanjiang’s Choukou on the Empress’s orders. I bring urgent military intelligence!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s eyes widened. The Empress had sent news from Nanjiang? What had happened? “Speak! What’s happening in Nanjiang?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger caught his breath. “Two months ago, hearing of Your Majesty’s eastern campaign against Xixia and the kingdom’s emptiness, King Wei Yangyao of Nanjiang convened his ministers to plan an invasion. But Crown Prince Wei Jiaci vehemently opposed it. A month ago, Wei Yangyao imprisoned Wei Jiaci. Nanjiang is now fully mobilized for war—any day now, they may strike our three southern provinces!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu and all his generals turned pale. This was no minor matter—no delay allowed. Jiang Mingyu immediately ordered all commanders to assemble for an emergency war council.\u003C\u002Fp>",1297,"2026-06-20T03:28:18.279Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f98d83ed5464dae4b78cd3d16264cfed03dc238c51c9dfb739a6c7eb41e1e9d6","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-347","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-345",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]