Chapter 516: Saintly Heart

On the main street, Li Fei walked side by side with Luo Shi, a cabinet member sent by the Stop-War Pavilion.

As a cabinet member and a level-16 official, he would naturally have a dedicated vehicle for travel, but Luo Shi had received the news suddenly and rushed over at top speed, so he had no vehicle and could only walk back to the headquarters of the Stop-War Pavilion with Li Fei.

Along the way, Luo Shi kept observing Li Fei, and seeing Li Fei remain calm and composed from beginning to end, he could not help but marvel.

Is the courage of the first in the history books really this great?

Li Fei noticed Luo Shi's gaze and thought with some amusement:

"If this person knew the last thing I whispered to the First Imperial Prince, he probably wouldn't dare to 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 would not slap his own face again.

Even if he did say it, one would have to believe him for it to matter.

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 go 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, using this opportunity to test the reaction from above.

The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.

The Emperor, having finished the morning court session, and the Senior Grand Secretary Ye Ze 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, holding veto power over all cabinet resolutions.

In other words, as long as the Emperor wishes, he can prevent the cabinet from accomplishing anything!

But likewise, without the cooperation of the cabinet, the Emperor cannot accomplish many things either.

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

The current Senior Grand Secretary, Ye Ze, has been the Senior 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 Ze has sat in the position of Senior Grand Secretary.

It is no exaggeration to say that if this Senior Grand Secretary says 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 Ze as the "Second Emperor."

However, these malicious words could not shake Ye Ze's position as Senior Grand Secretary in the slightest.

Looking across the imperial court, only this Senior 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.

"Enter."

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 Ze, who was born with double pupils, sat opposite him, sitting upright with great decorum.

The eunuch on duty bowed and entered the Imperial Study, never once raising his head, and arrived at 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, held a public duel on Niu Sha Street..."

The eunuch on duty gave a rough account 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 Ze showed the slightest change in expression.

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

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

The eunuch on duty: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is requesting one of the volumes from the 'Eight Sections of the Diamond'."

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

The Emperor casually increased the number of manuals and permitted Li Fei to choose them himself.

"As you command."

The eunuch on duty withdrew from the Imperial Study.

After he withdrew, the Emperor finally placed his chess piece:

"What does the Senior Grand Secretary think?"

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

Ye Ze looked at the chessboard earnestly, and only after a moment did he speak:

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

"Oh?"

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

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

"You, there are clearly many ministers in the cabinet with excellent 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 Ze 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 Ze:

"Only you, on this chessboard, do not yield to me in the slightest, and your chess skills happen to be equal to mine, so playing chess with you is the most interesting!"

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

"I am terrified."

"Eh, what is this for?"

The Emperor waved his hand, "Sit, let's continue the game; I truly enjoy playing chess with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Ye Ze 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 had just been saying "terrified" showed not the slightest bit of yielding on this board.

He was startled, looked up to meet Ye Ze's eyes, and was the first to burst into laughter.

Subsequently, Ye Ze also laughed, which was a rare occurrence.

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

The eunuch on duty waiting outside could not help but smile knowingly, feeling that this scene was very beautiful.

Truly a harmonious relationship between monarch and subject.

"This is the headquarters of the Stop-War Pavilion; please."

Luo Shi stood outside an imposing mansion and gestured for Li Fei to enter.

"After you, Lord Luo."

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

As the headquarters of the Stop-War Pavilion, the mansion was naturally filled with experts.

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

The Stop-War Pavilion has over twenty cabinet members, all of whom are martial arts masters!

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

Such a force could easily annihilate those top martial arts sects in the pugilistic world that do not have a True Lord or Martial Saint presiding over them.

When Luo Shi led Li Fei through the mansion, many people looked at Li Fei with strange gazes, while casting sympathetic looks at Luo Shi.

Soon, 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 stood up one after another to salute.

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

Luo Shi introduced them with a blank expression.

"Greetings, Lord Li."

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

Li Fei returned the salute very courteously.

"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 take up to twenty people from the Pavilion to accompany you and assist you in the case."

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 seated officials, and the rest can be anyone."

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

Li Fei asked.

Luo Shi's face darkened: "Correct, the other cabinet members are all busy with matters recently 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?"

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

Luo Shi's expression turned even darker: "Average."

"Offended someone?"

Li Fei asked curiously.

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

But he immediately remembered the kick Li Fei had delivered to the First Imperial Prince in the street, and he was instantly relieved.

This gentleman before him didn't even care about an Imperial Prince, so why would he care about him?

"Lord Li, you had better ask questions related to our work."

Luo Shi said helplessly.

"Lord Luo will be my partner from now on. Since we are all in the same boat, I naturally need to have a better understanding of you."

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

In this investigation, he hoped to be able to cooperate with this cabinet member in good faith.

Luo Shi was taken aback, his expression softening significantly: "There will be opportunities for that later."

Li Fei glanced at the staff members in the room who were keeping their heads down and pretending to hear nothing, and said to Luo Shi: "Lord Luo knows the Stop-Conflict Pavilion better than I do; why don't you choose the rest of the personnel?"

"Fine."

Luo Shi did not stand on ceremony and immediately reeled off a string of names to the staff members present.

Clearly, he had already thought it through, which meant he had long known this task would fall to him.

"Lord Luo, Lord Xu Bai and Lord Chang Wenji have just been sent out on a mission; you might need to replace those two."

The staff member said to Luo Shi cautiously.

The Xu and Chang he mentioned were both fourth-rank officials and powerhouses at the Dao Foundation realm.

A flash of anger and a bit of shame crossed Luo Shi's eyes.

He could only bring five officials this time, meaning five Dao Foundation realm experts, yet of the five people Luo Shi had picked, two were missing.

To be sent out on a mission at exactly this time—anyone could guess the trickery behind it.

Although Luo Shi was a cabinet official, the two men, Xu and Chang, also had cabinet officials behind them, and he knew he certainly couldn't force their reassignment.

Fortunately, Li Fei stood where he was with a calm expression, neither mocking him nor showing any strange look, which made Luo Shi feel less embarrassed.

"Then replace them with two others."

Luo Shi said two more names.

This time, there were finally no problems.

"Lord Li, come sit in my office for a while."

Luo Shi said to Li Fei.

"Fine."

"Please."

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

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

"All personnel will arrive today. When does Lord Li plan to set off?"

Luo Shi asked.

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

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

Li Fei picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke.

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

Li Fei shook his head: "Lord Luo has misunderstood. I am not trying to drag it out; I am just waiting for a result."

Luo Shi was startled: "What result?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than someone came running to the outside of the room:

"Lord Luo, Lord Li, the eunuch delivering the imperial decree from the palace has arrived. Please, Lord Li Fei, come to receive the decree."

Li Fei was also somewhat surprised. He turned to Luo Shi and said:

"It seems the result has arrived."

Luo Shi was lost in thought.

Afterward, the two went together to the entrance of the Stop-Conflict Pavilion headquarters and met the eunuch who had come to deliver the decree.

Li Fei bowed to pay his respects and waited for the decree.

"His Majesty's oral decree: Li Fei is permitted to enter the Royal Library to select two secret manuals at his discretion."

Upon hearing this decree, Luo Shi, who was standing to the side, was shocked!

Li Fei had beaten up the First Imperial Prince in the street, even insulting him and kicking him.

And yet, he was actually rewarded by His Majesty with the right to choose two secret manuals from the Royal Library?!

One must know that, excluding a very small number of manuals not open to the public, the Royal Library contained many peerless martial arts.

Some of these manuals would make even a Grandmaster of the martial Dao feel tempted, let alone a martial arts master!

And now, Li Fei could choose two of them.

Beating up an Imperial Prince had such benefits?

In fact, Li Fei himself was stunned for a moment; this result was something he had not anticipated either.

"Lord Li."

The eunuch delivering the decree reminded him in a low voice.

Li Fei came to his senses and hurriedly said:

"This subject accepts the decree. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great grace!"

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

The eunuch whispered to Li Fei.

"Understood, many thanks, Eunuch."

The eunuch smiled, nodded at him, and left with his men.

"Is this the result you wanted?"

Luo Shi couldn't help but ask.

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

The two soon returned to Luo Shi's room.

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

To win over this martial arts master, he had to show sincerity first.

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

"So the reason you dared to treat the First Imperial Prince that way today was to test the reaction from above, and thereby judge which of the two princes was telling the truth?"

Li Fei nodded: "Correct."

He could not determine 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 right, this investigation was a great opportunity that could allow Li Fei to soar to the heavens!

Then, the First Imperial Prince, who hated him to the bone, might be able to probe for some information from above and try every possible way to strip Li Fei of his status as imperial envoy.

Or, he would do his best to hinder Li Fei's investigation.

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

In any case, with the First Imperial Prince's status and power, he would certainly 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 it turned out, he hadn't even waited for the First Imperial Prince's reaction before he received the reaction from the palace first.

The Crown Prince had originally promised Li Fei that he could take one "Eight Sections of the Vajra" from the Royal Library, and the Emperor had directly let Li Fei take one more.

This looked like he was thanking Li Fei for teaching his son a lesson for him.

But with the Emperor making such a move, even if the First Imperial Prince really found out something, he would no longer be able to have any reaction.

"What does His Majesty mean by this?"

Luo Shi fell into deep thought.

"The Sacred Heart is hard to fathom. I won't think about it anymore; I am going into the palace now to select the secret manuals."

Li Fei stood up from his chair.

Regardless, by selecting two peerless secret manuals, his strength could advance even further!

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

(End of chapter)