Chapter 619: Casting the Blade

"Marquis of Jing'an, these are your belongings."

An elderly eunuch handed the items in his hands to Li Fei with a respectful expression.

At this time, the morning court session had already concluded, and the imperial eunuch who had previously read the imperial decree had personally brought people to deliver the items belonging to Li Fei:

A deposit slip from the Taijia Bank, containing a deposit of one million yuan.

A land deed and a set of keys; this was the imperial-bestowed residence. Li Fei only needed to press his thumbprint on the deed, and the house would be his.

A square waist pendant the size of a palm, carved from jadeite; this was the symbol of a Marquis's status.

Officials of the Great Lan Dynasty were ranked by the style of their official robes, while the nobility were ranked by their waist pendants.

The lowest, a Baron, wore a bronze waist pendant; a Viscount wore a silver one, and a Count wore a gold one.

Li Fei's Marquis waist pendant was made of jadeite.

The Duke waist pendant, one rank higher, was gold-inlaid jade.

The highest, the Prince rank, had an additional gemstone inlaid on the gold-inlaid jade pendant.

Li Fei took his waist pendant; the front was engraved with the two characters "Jing'an" in the center, surrounded by a carving of a Qilin treading on clouds, while the back was engraved with the two characters "Great Lan."

This was the symbol of a Marquis's status!

From this moment on, by relying on this waist pendant, Li Fei could claim the various benefits belonging to a Marquis and enjoy the various treatments a Marquis was entitled to.

For example, the acquisition of cultivation resources; he previously had to rely solely on Wu'an University, but now he could receive a portion of elixirs for free every year, and he could also purchase various mid-to-high-tier implants, protective clothing, exotic weapons, and martial arts techniques through the imperial court's channels.

This type of purchasing channel directly defined a person's class!

Why did so many people desperately want to enter universities and join top-tier sects?

It was because the vast majority of high-level resources required for cultivation were monopolized.

Although Li Fei now had the support of Wu'an University and did not lack resources, he could not stay at Wu'an University forever, and many of the university's resources could only be used by himself and could not be given to others.

But now it was different; with the status of a Marquis, Li Fei truly had his own purchasing channels and did not need to rely on others.

This meant he could establish his own faction.

Every Marquis estate in the Great Lan Dynasty was a behemoth, no worse than many of the great sects in the martial world!

"His Majesty has designated Xingcheng as your fiefdom. The relevant documents will be sent from the Central Cabinet to Xingcheng within the next two days. At that time, you can coordinate with the people in Xingcheng to determine tax matters and other affairs."

The imperial eunuch continued to speak to Li Fei.

"Xingcheng?"

Li Fei was startled; he had not expected the fiefdom the Emperor had designated for him to be so large.

Although Xingcheng was small, it had a population of over seventy thousand and more than twenty thousand households!

Designating the entire Xingcheng as Li Fei's fiefdom—in the past, this would have been a proper "Marquis of Ten Thousand Households"!

However, the titles of the Great Lan Dynasty were not actual fiefs; Li Fei did not have governing power over Xingcheng, only the right to collect taxes.

"You may build your Marquis estate in Xingcheng, and all necessary expenses will be provided by the Central Cabinet. In addition, you may possess a private guard of no more than five hundred men; the relevant details are all written in this booklet."

The imperial eunuch handed Li Fei another booklet.

Li Fei took the booklet.

The nobility of the Great Lan Dynasty were all allowed to have their own private soldiers and could equip them with weapons.

This meant that Li Fei's future five hundred private soldiers could legally possess firearms and armor.

Li Fei could not help but feel a bit moved.

The Xingcheng Inspection Bureau only had three hundred people with guns in total—not even as many as his own private soldiers!

"Finally, there are the matters regarding your position as the Lan Patrol Special Envoy. Your official robes, command tablet, and gold seal must be collected at the Supervisory Pavilion, and all case files related to the assassination at the Temple of Heaven are also there. Is there anything else you wish to ask?"

The imperial eunuch looked at Li Fei with a smile on his face.

"No, thank you, Eunuch."

Li Fei expressed his gratitude to the other party.

"You are too polite, Marquis."

The imperial eunuch bowed and then took his leave.

Wearing the dark gold Jade-Qilin Armor and holding the set of keys and the waist pendant, Li Fei first went to the side hall where he had been waiting to retrieve his Ghost-Slaying Blade.

Then, he encountered the Crown Prince, who had been waiting specifically for him, inside the hall.

"Your Highness."

"Congratulations, Marquis Li."

The Crown Prince's smile was as usual, and he spoke in a teasing tone.

Only, there was a hint of complexity in the gaze he directed at Li Fei.

"Your Highness is joking."

"Eh, one must enjoy life to the fullest; you shouldn't always restrain yourself so much."

"Hahaha, I am indeed used to it."

"..."

After the two chatted for a few moments, the Crown Prince said:

"I had guessed about the ennoblement, but I didn't expect Father to have you serve as the Lan Patrol Special Envoy. This assassination case at the Temple of Heaven is not easy to investigate."

This was the purpose of him coming to find Li Fei; he wanted to tell Li Fei some "inside information":

"Father had said at the beginning that this case should not be investigated with great fanfare, but the Stop-Conflict Pavilion and the Supervisory Pavilion did not dare to delay in the slightest. Over the past half month, they have truly been investigating with all their might, but the results they found have left them at a loss."

Li Fei frowned slightly: "Why?"

The Crown Prince looked at him: "Because it is not that they couldn't find any information; on the contrary, it is that they found too much information, implicating too many people!"

Li Fei suddenly understood.

The Crown Prince: "The person behind the scenes did it intentionally, deliberately arranging for someone with ties to all sides to be the assassin. In this way, once an in-depth investigation begins, the consequences could potentially be very serious!"

Li Fei nodded, understanding the Crown Prince's meaning and the thorny nature of this case.

The assassin was linked to many big figures; if it were truly investigated, first of all, it would offend many people, and secondly, it would easily cause internal chaos in the imperial court, which was certainly something the Emperor would not want to see.

Finally, everyone has secrets; among so many big figures in the court, how many could withstand a detailed investigation?

It was very likely that these people were indeed unrelated to the assassination, but as the investigation proceeded, some other secrets would be uncovered...

But the matter involved "assassinating the monarch"; if it were not investigated in detail, how could the truth be uncovered?

When Li Fei first heard about this assassination case, his first reaction was that the person behind the scenes was trying to "punish the heart."

Arranging an assassin with a Dao Foundation realm cultivation base could never succeed in an assassination; it was nothing more than making a fuss in people's hearts.

But now, hearing the Crown Prince say this, he realized he had still thought too simply.

The true intent of the person behind the scenes in arranging such an assassination was not just that one sentence the assassin shouted in public.

The opponent's true killing move was the "thorn" buried in the shadows!

The assassin's identity was carefully arranged; as long as it was investigated in detail, it could lead to a series of problems.

But if it were not investigated in detail, this thorn would remain buried there forever.

Could the Emperor tolerate that?

Would the officials of the court not suspect one another?

"It seems this Lan Patrol Special Envoy position is indeed not easy to hold."

Li Fei said with a bitter smile.

The Crown Prince also smiled and gave his own promise: "If you encounter any difficulties in the process of investigating the case in the future, or if there is anything you need my help with, just speak up."

"Good, thank you, Your Highness."

"Eh, today I help you, tomorrow perhaps it will be you helping me; friends should be like this."

The Crown Prince patted Li Fei's arm and then left.

Li Fei took his belongings and, led by a eunuch, prepared to leave the imperial palace.

But the eunuch leading the way did not take him out of the palace himself; instead, he led him toward a secluded area.

This scene gave Li Fei a sense of familiarity.

He was thoughtful, and sure enough, he soon saw a black sedan, as well as the plain-looking maid standing next to the car.

"Marquis, the Third Prince requests your presence."

The eunuch leading the way bowed and said to Li Fei.

Li Fei stepped toward the car parked in front.

The maid named Xiaohua opened the rear door for Li Fei, and the Third Prince sat inside, flashing a smile at Li Fei.

The python robe on the other party remained the same, but he now held a folding fan in his hand, and he himself appeared a bit more dashing, like a refined young master.

Li Fei leaned in and sat down.

"People really cannot be compared to one another."

The Third Prince sighed, "When we last met, you were only an Imperial Envoy, a Level 9 Secret Inspector. A few months later, we meet again, and you are already the youngest Marquis, a Level 15 official. Congratulations, congratulations."

"Thank you, Third Highness; I also want to thank the Third Highness for your previous advice."

Li Fei said.

The Third Prince tapped the folding fan in his hand against his palm: "It was you who seized the opportunity yourself; with your temperament, even without my advice, I'm afraid you wouldn't have easily backed down back then."

Li Fei was noncommittal, looking at the other party:

"I wonder what kind of advice the Third Highness has for me this time by meeting me in private?"

The Third Prince's lips curled upward.

Last time, Li Fei had finished the morning court session and received the task of the "Life-Prolonging Elixir Case."

The Third Prince had given him advice in this very manner.

This time, Li Fei took on the assignment of the "Temple of Heaven Assassination Case," and the Third Imperial Prince met him in the same manner; he surely must have had some advice as well.

"If I haven't guessed wrong, the Crown Prince must have met with you first. What advice did he give you?"

The Third Imperial Prince asked.

Li Fei replied candidly: "His Highness the Crown Prince said he would support my investigation with all his might."

"Oh?"

The Third Imperial Prince was somewhat surprised. "It seems I have underestimated him."

Li Fei: "Does Your Highness think the Crown Prince will, just like last time, advise me not to investigate too deeply?"

The Third Imperial Prince did not answer, but instead asked in return:

"Why do you think His Majesty wants you to investigate this case, and even granted you the position of Blue Patrol Special Envoy?"

"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

"Because His Majesty wants you to be a lone official."

"."

"The first time you were sent to investigate the Longevity Pill case, it was actually a test for you, because the truth of the case was not important at all; His Majesty had already decided on the disposal of the Great Luo Sect and True Person Qingxu in advance. Letting you investigate was merely a casual move, as His Majesty wanted to observe your temperament.

Now the results of the assessment are in: you are firm in temperament, courageous, gifted, and dare to do what others cannot. If you are used as a blade, you might one day become the sharpest knife under heaven!"

"."

"Now, by promising you the rank of Marquis and granting you the authority to patrol the world, he intends to forge you into a sharp blade. Letting you investigate the Temple of Heaven Assassination case is simply a process of sharpening that edge."

The Third Imperial Prince snapped open the folding fan in his hand and looked into Li Fei's eyes:

"A nineteen-year-old Marquis with the greatest talent in history—if you are not a lone official, who would dare to use you with peace of mind?"

Li Fei was silent for a moment, then said calmly: "Your Highness's words always strike straight to the heart."

The Third Imperial Prince laughed: "You don't think I'm here to attack your heart again this time, do you?"

Hearing this, Li Fei also laughed: "How could I dare?"

The Third Imperial Prince shook his head, his eyes fixed directly on Li Fei, as if he could see through a person's heart:

"I know you don't care about being a lone official, but the advice I want to give you this time is not to investigate the Temple of Heaven Assassination case too deeply."

"Oh?"

"His Majesty asked you to investigate, but he didn't set a time limit. You are now a Blue Patrol Special Envoy; you could completely choose to investigate the case you most want to solve first. There is no need to get stirred into the muddy waters of the capital."

The Blue Patrol Special Envoy has the authority to patrol the world. Although the Emperor did not directly order Li Fei to retry the case of Shangguan Xiao, granting him this position was equivalent to giving him the power to do so.

Li Fei met the Third Imperial Prince's gaze and said word by word:

"Your Highness, aren't you afraid of causing a misunderstanding by saying such things?"

The Crown Prince knew full well that the Emperor wanted him to be a lone official and to sever his ties with all factions during the investigation, yet he still expressed full support for his investigation.

The Third Imperial Prince, however, advised Li Fei not to investigate too deeply, which naturally invites suspicion.

The smile on the Third Imperial Prince's face remained unchanged as he snapped his folding fan shut again:

"I am merely giving you advice. Just like last time, whether you listen or not is for you to decide."

This was his way of seeing a guest out.

Li Fei cupped his hands in a salute: "Many thanks for your advice, Your Highness."

He then stepped out of the carriage and left under the guidance of that eunuch.

Xiao Hua sat in the driver's seat, started the car, and drove slowly away from the area.

"Do you think he will listen?"

The Third Imperial Prince suddenly spoke from the back seat.

Xiao Hua, who was driving, casually replied that she did not know.

The Third Imperial Prince laughed: "True. A person like him will only follow his own heart."

Li Fei left the Imperial Palace and found a random guard, asking him to take him to the Cabinet Office.

He needed to "report" to the Supervisory Pavilion to collect his official uniform, command tablet, and golden seal.

With these items, he would truly be a Blue Patrol Special Envoy, a Level 15 official.

Being a Marquis really is different; after Li Fei showed his waist tablet to the guards in the Imperial City, they immediately arranged a dedicated vehicle to take him to the Cabinet Office.

Sitting in the car, Li Fei reflected on what the Crown Prince and the Third Imperial Prince had said.

Combining the information provided by both, he could be almost certain that the Emperor indeed intended for him to be a lone official.

Back then, he had defeated the First Imperial Prince on the street and kicked him flying with one blow.

After the news was reported back, the Emperor allowed him to choose an extra secret manual from the Imperial Library.

Looking back now, perhaps the Emperor already had the idea of making Li Fei a lone official at that time.

To sever ties with all parties, to not be close to any side, and at the same time, to dare to offend anyone!

This is what the Third Imperial Prince meant—forging the sharpest knife!

To promise it with the rank of Marquis and grant it the authority of a Special Envoy—such "blade forging" is indeed grand and makes one admire it.

Some of the Third Imperial Prince's words had struck a chord with Li Fei.

He truly did not care about being a lone official; what he cared about was the case he wanted to investigate.

After going around in such a circle, he had finally obtained the blade he could use for revenge!

"Marquis, we have arrived at the Cabinet Office."

The driver in the front seat slowly stopped the car, turned around, and said respectfully to Li Fei.

"Good, thank you."

"Marquis, please don't say that! It is only what this lowly one should do."

"Mm."

Li Fei pushed the car door open, stepped out, looked up at the gate of the Cabinet Office ahead, and walked inside.

This was the first step toward revenge.

PS: Still busy with renovations, only one chapter today.

(End of chapter)