Chapter 295

On the main street, Li Fei walked side by side with Elder Luo Shi, a cabinet member sent by the Zhige Pavilion.

As a cabinet member and a level-16 official, he naturally had a dedicated car for travel, but Elder Luo Shi had received the news suddenly and rushed over at top speed, so there was no car; they had to walk back to the Zhige Pavilion headquarters with Li Fei.

Along the way, Elder Luo Shi kept sizing Li Fei up, and seeing Li Fei remain calm and composed from beginning to end, he couldn't help but marvel.

Is the person ranked first in the annals of history really this bold?

Li Fei noticed Elder Luo Shi's gaze and thought with a hint of amusement:

"If he knew the last thing I whispered to the First Imperial Prince, he probably wouldn't dare walk with me right now."

He was not worried that the First Imperial Prince would expose those words.

The other party had already lost enough face by losing to him today; he wouldn't slap his own face again.

Even taking a step back, even if he really did say it, others would have to believe it first.

As for the First Imperial Prince telling the Emperor those words, Li Fei was even less worried.

As long as the other party still had even the slightest thought of the throne, it would be impossible for him to run off and complain, because doing so would only make the Emperor think the First Imperial Prince was even more incompetent.

Of course, even without those last words, Li Fei's series of actions today were already arrogant enough.

And since he spoke his true thoughts, it was also intentional; he wanted to use this opportunity to test the reactions from above.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

Having finished the morning court session, the Emperor and Grand Secretary Ye Ye Zean were playing a game of chess inside the Imperial Study.

The current system of the Great Lan Dynasty is a dual monarchy, meaning the Emperor and the cabinet ministers govern the world together.

On the surface, the Emperor still possesses supreme status and power, and holds veto power over all cabinet resolutions.

That is to say, as long as the Emperor is willing, he can prevent the cabinet from accomplishing anything!

But likewise, without the cabinet's cooperation, the Emperor cannot accomplish much either.

The two exist in a relationship of mutual dependence and mutual restraint.

The current Grand Secretary, Ye Ye Zean, has been Grand Secretary since the year the current Son of Heaven ascended the throne.

For as many years as the current Son of Heaven has sat on the throne, Ye Ye Zean has sat in the position of Grand Secretary.

It is no exaggeration to say that if this Grand Secretary were to say a word, at least one-third of the cabinet members would applaud!

Precisely because of such powerful influence, some political enemies maliciously refer to Ye Ye Zean as the "Second Emperor."

However, these malicious words cannot shake Ye Ye Zean's position as Grand Secretary in the slightest.

Looking across the court, only this Grand Secretary is qualified to play chess with the Emperor.

"Your Majesty."

A eunuch on duty suddenly called out softly from outside the Imperial Study.

"Come in."

The Emperor was holding a chess piece, staring at the board in thought.

At this moment, he had completely lost the powerful, almost tangible aura he had in the Zheng Lan Hall.

Ye Ye Zean, who was born with double pupils, sat opposite him, sitting upright.

The eunuch on duty bowed and entered the Imperial Study, never raising his head from beginning to end, and came to the wooden table where the two were playing:

"Your Majesty, news has just arrived from outside the palace that the First Imperial Prince and Li Fei, who was just appointed as an imperial envoy, had a public duel on Niu Sha Street..."

The eunuch on duty recounted the general process of the duel between Li Fei and the First Imperial Prince, including the words Li Fei shouted publicly and the kick he delivered at the end.

After hearing his description, neither the Emperor nor Ye Ye Zean had the slightest change in expression on their faces.

The Emperor's eyes remained fixed on the chessboard, and he asked very casually:

"Is the Crown Prince asking on behalf of Li Fei for a secret manual from the Imperial Library?"

The eunuch on duty: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is asking for one from the 'Eight Jin Gang Sections'."

"Pass on my imperial decree: permit Li Fei to enter the Imperial Library, and he may choose any two secret manuals."

The Emperor casually increased the number of secret manuals by one, and permitted Li Fei to go and choose them himself.

"As you command."

The eunuch on duty exited the Imperial Study.

After he exited, the Emperor finally placed the chess piece in his hand:

"What does the Grand Secretary think?"

It was unclear whether he was asking about this move or this matter.

Ye Ye Zean looked at the chessboard seriously, and only spoke after a moment:

"Your Majesty's move is beyond my expectations."

"Oh?"

The Emperor laughed, looked up at Ye Ye Zean, "Then how much chance of winning do you think I have in this game?"

Ye Ye Zean shook his head: "The game has just begun; I cannot say for sure."

"You, clearly there are many ministers in the cabinet with brilliant chess skills; do you know why I like playing chess with you the most?"

The Emperor asked with a smile.

This time, without waiting for Ye Ye Zean to answer, the Emperor continued:

"Because those people don't dare to win against me; every time they have to rack their brains to lose to me just right, yet they can't hide it from me. Playing chess with them is truly boring."

Then he smiled and pointed at Ye Ye Zean:

"Only you, on this chessboard, don't give me any leeway at all, and your chess skills happen to be equal to mine, so playing chess with you is the most interesting!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ye Zean immediately rose from his seat and bowed to the Emperor:

"I am terrified."

"Eh, what is this for?"

The Emperor waved his hand, "Sit, continue playing chess; I truly enjoy playing with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ye Ye Zean sat back down, still sitting upright, his expression as usual.

He thought for a while, picked up a chess piece, and placed it on the board.

The Emperor looked down and saw that the person who was just saying "terrified" had no intention of giving any leeway on this board at all.

He was stunned, looked up to meet Ye Ye Zean's eyes, and was the first to laugh out loud.

Subsequently, Ye Ye Zean also laughed, which was rare.

The hearty laughter of the monarch and his subject rang out inside the Imperial Study.

The eunuch on duty guarding outside couldn't help but smile knowingly, feeling that this scene was very beautiful.

Truly a harmonious monarch and subject.

"This is the Zhige Pavilion headquarters, please."

Elder Luo Shi stood outside a grand mansion and gestured to Li Fei.

"After you, Lord Luo."

Li Fei replied very politely, and then the two walked into the mansion together.

As the headquarters of the Zhige Pavilion, the mansion was naturally filled with experts.

After Li Fei walked in, he had already seen several Dao Foundation experts.

The Zhige Pavilion has over twenty cabinet members in total, all of whom are Martial Arts Masters!

One Pavilion Master and three Deputy Pavilion Masters are all Grandmasters!

Such a force could easily wipe out those top martial arts sects in the pugilistic world that do not have a True Person or Martial Saint sitting in charge.

When Elder Luo Shi walked through the mansion with Li Fei, many people looked at Li Fei with strange gazes, while looking at Elder Luo Shi with sympathetic ones.

Soon, Elder Luo Shi led Li Fei into a courtyard and entered a room.

"Lord Luo."

Several staff members were sitting in the room working, with a large number of files placed on the desks in front of them.

Seeing the two enter, they all stood up and bowed.

"This Lord Li Fei is an imperial envoy appointed by His Majesty, responsible for investigating the 'Lost Longevity Pill Case'."

Elder Luo Shi introduced him expressionlessly.

"Greetings, Lord Li."

The staff members in the room bowed to Li Fei one after another.

Li Fei returned the salute very politely.

"Process the paperwork for Lord Li."

"Yes."

Subsequently, a staff member asked Li Fei for some personal information according to the procedure and recorded it in the files.

"Lord Li, for this investigation, you can bring at most twenty people from the pavilion to accompany you and assist you in the case."

Elder Luo Shi said to Li Fei.

Li Fei looked at him: "Are there any restrictions on the candidates?"

"At most one cabinet member, no more than five seat officials, the rest are at your discretion."

"For this cabinet member, do I have no choice but to have you, Lord Luo?"

Li Fei asked.

Elder Luo Shi's face darkened: "Correct, the other cabinet members have been busy lately and cannot get away for the time being."

Li Fei looked at him with a half-smile: "It seems Lord Luo's popularity in the pavilion isn't very good?"

These words made the other staff members in the room freeze, and they hurriedly lowered their heads.

Elder Luo Shi's face darkened even more: "Average."

"Offended someone?"

Li Fei asked curiously.

A flash of annoyance crossed Elder Luo Shi's eyes; it had been a long time since a martial artist with a lower cultivation base than his own dared to speak to him like this.

But he immediately remembered the kick Li Fei delivered to the First Imperial Prince on the street, and immediately felt relieved.

This person in front of him didn't even take an Imperial Prince seriously, let alone him?

"Lord Li, you'd better ask questions related to work."

Elder Luo Shi said helplessly.

"Lord Luo will be my partner from now on; we are all in the same boat, so naturally, I need to understand you better."

Li Fei looked into Elder Luo Shi's eyes and said very sincerely.

In this investigation, he still hoped to be able to cooperate sincerely with the cabinet member in front of him.

Elder Luo Shi froze, his expression softening a lot: "There will be opportunities in the future."

Li Fei glanced at the staff members in the room who were lowering their heads and pretending to hear nothing, and said to Elder Luo Shi: "Lord Luo knows the Zhige Pavilion better than I do; why don't you choose the remaining candidates?"

"Good."

Elder Luo Shi did not stand on ceremony and immediately reported a string of names to the staff member in front of him.

Clearly, he had already thought about it, which meant he had known long ago that this errand would fall on him.

"Lord Luo, Lord Xu Bai and Lord Chang Wenji were just sent out to perform a mission; you might have to change two people."

The staff member said to Elder Luo Shi cautiously.

The Xu and Changhe mentioned were both fourth-rank seat officials, Dao Foundation experts.

A flash of anger crossed Elder Luo Shi's eyes, along with a bit of shame and annoyance.

This time he could only bring five seat officials in total, which meant five Dao Foundation experts, but Elder Luo Shi had picked five people, and two of them were not there.

To be sent out to perform a mission at this time—anyone could guess the trickery involved.

Although Elder Luo Shi was a cabinet official, Xu and Chang also had cabinet officials behind them; he knew he definitely had no way to forcibly pull the two of them.

Fortunately, Li Fei stood where he was with his usual expression and did not mock or show any strange look, making Elder Luo Shi feel less awkward.

"Then change two."

Elder Luo Shi said two more names.

This time there was finally no problem.

"Lord Li, let's go sit in my room."

Elder Luo Shi said to Li Fei.

"Good."

"Please."

Soon, Elder Luo Shi led Li Fei into his own private office.

After he ordered a maid to brew tea, he had people leave, leaving him alone with Li Fei in the room.

"All personnel will be here today; when does Lord Li plan to set off?"

Elder Luo Shi asked.

Although his status and cultivation base were above Li Fei's, Li Fei was the imperial envoy appointed by His Majesty this time, so Li Fei would be the lead for this investigation.

"No rush, I want to wait a bit longer."

Li Fei picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and spoke.

Elder Luo Shi frowned slightly: "Lord Li, forgive my bluntness, but since you have already accepted this case, you definitely cannot drag it out."

Li Fei shook his head: "Lord Luo misunderstood; I don't want to drag it out, I just want to wait for a result."

Elder Luo Shi froze: "What result?"

Just as he finished speaking, someone outside came running to the room:

"Lord Luo, Lord Li, the eunuch delivering the imperial decree from the palace has arrived; please ask Lord Li Fei to come and receive the decree."

Li Fei was also somewhat surprised; he turned his head and said to Elder Luo Shi:

"It seems the result has arrived."

Elder Luo Shi was lost in thought.

Subsequently, the two went together to the gate of the Zhige Pavilion headquarters and met the eunuch who came to deliver the decree.

Li Fei bowed and waited for the decree.

"His Majesty's oral decree: permit Li Fei to enter the Imperial Library and choose any two secret manuals."

Hearing this decree, Elder Luo Shi, who was on the side, was shocked!

Li Fei beat up the First Imperial Prince on the street, and even insulted him and kicked him.

And the result was actually being rewarded by His Majesty with permission to go to the Imperial Library and choose any two secret manuals?!

One must know that, apart from a very small number of secret manuals not open to the public by the royal family, there are many peerless martial arts in the Imperial Library.

Some secret manuals, let alone Martial Arts Masters, would even make Grandmasters tempted!

And now, Li Fei could choose any two.

Beating up an Imperial Prince has such benefits?

Actually, Li Fei himself was also stunned for a moment; this result was something he hadn't expected either.

"Lord Li."

The eunuch delivering the decree reminded him softly.

Li Fei reacted and hurriedly said:

"I receive the decree, thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!"

"Lord Li may enter the palace at any time within today to enter the Imperial Library."

The eunuch delivering the decree said to Li Fei in a low voice.

"Understood, thank you, Eunuch."

The eunuch delivering the decree nodded at him with a smile and left with his people.

"Is this the result you wanted?"

Elder Luo Shi couldn't help but ask.

Li Fei: "Let's go back and talk about it first."

The two soon returned to Elder Luo Shi's room.

As soon as he sat down, Li Fei told Elder Luo Shi everything the Crown Prince and the Third Imperial Prince had said to him respectively.

In order to win over this Martial Arts Master, he had to show sincerity first.

After listening to Li Fei's description, Elder Luo Shi's expression changed constantly, finally revealing a look of sudden realization:

"So the reason you dared to treat the First Imperial Prince like that today was to test the reactions from above, so as to judge which of the two princes was telling the truth?"

Li Fei nodded: "Correct."

He had no way to judge who was telling the truth between the Crown Prince and the Third Imperial Prince, so he needed a third party to corroborate it, and the First Imperial Prince was the best candidate.

If the Third Imperial Prince was telling the truth, this investigation was a very good opportunity, potentially allowing Li Fei to soar to the sky!

Then the First Imperial Prince, who hated him to the bone, might be able to test some wind from above, and thus try every possible way to remove Li Fei's status as imperial envoy.

Or try to hinder Li Fei's investigation as much as possible.

And if the Crown Prince was the one telling the truth, and this investigation was truly a life-and-death situation, then the First Imperial Prince, out of a desire for revenge, would definitely not stop Li Fei from investigating.

In any case, with the First Imperial Prince's status and influence, he would definitely be able to find out some real inside information from above, and Li Fei could judge the truth through the other party's reaction.

As a result, he hadn't waited for the First Imperial Prince's reaction yet, but had waited for the reaction from the palace first.

The Crown Prince had originally promised Li Fei that he could take one "Eight Jin Gang Sections" from the Imperial Library, and the Emperor directly let Li Fei go and take one more.

This looked like the Emperor was thanking Li Fei for teaching his son a lesson.

But with the Emperor making this move, even if the First Imperial Prince really found out something, it would be impossible for him to have any reaction anymore.

"What does His Majesty mean by this?"

Elder Luo Shi fell into deep thought.

"The Emperor's heart is hard to fathom; let's not think about it, I'll go into the palace now to choose the secret manuals."

Li Fei stood up from his seat.

In any case, by choosing two peerless secret manuals, his strength could advance further!

PS: The second update will be tomorrow; there will be three updates tomorrow.

(End of chapter)