Chapter 781

These seasoned ministers all sensibly fell silent.

For a moment, the main hall was utterly still.

After quite a while, a figure flashed past outside the hall, and only after entering did he begin to step forward cautiously.

"It's Xuan Jian!"

Hu Hai was overjoyed—this Xuan Jian had not only made it onto the Heavenly Dao Golden List, but was also a top-tier assassin of the Net.

Now the foremost capable general under Hu Hai's command was none other than this Xuan Jian.

"Xuan Jian kowtows to Your Majesty, pays respects to the Crown Prince, pays respects to the Eighteenth Prince…"

After ascending the hall, Xuan Jian dared not commit the slightest breach of etiquette, and immediately paid his respects separately to Hearing Ying Zheng, Hearing Fusu, and Hu Hai.

Although Hearing Fusu had not yet been established as Crown Prince, he was after all the Emperor's eldest son and enjoyed Hearing Ying Zheng's deep trust.

Therefore, on public occasions, after paying respects to Hearing Ying Zheng, everyone by default paid respects to Hearing Fusu as well.

As for Hu Hai, it was because he now oversaw the overall affairs of the Net, and was Xuan Jian's highest superior.

"No need for such ceremony."

Hearing Ying Zheng waved his hand, signaling Xuan Jian to rise.

Before Xuan Jian could even stand, Hu Hai immediately asked,

"Xuan Jian, how did the matter I entrusted to you go?"

This time, in order to make contact with the Qinglong Society and to get ahead of Hearing Zhang Han and Li Si, Hu Hai had spared no expense in dispatching Xuan Jian.

In his heart, as long as the Qinglong Society was truly willing to cooperate, Xuan Jian would surely bring it about without difficulty.

After all, Xuan Jian's cultivation was already outstanding, not to mention his extremely high status within Great Qin Realm.

With him on the job, it was sure to succeed!

"Your Highness…"

Xuan Jian's face looked terrible; recalling his experience during this period, he could not help but be filled with shame.

Originally, Xuan Jian had indeed, like Hu Hai, believed this mission was in the bag.

Even facing the Qinglong Society, he remained neither overbearing nor obsequious.

Through intelligence, he finally made contact with an outer branch of the Qinglong Society, requesting a meeting with its inner members.

That outer branch was merely a small inn within Great Qin Realm.

Seeing Xuan Jian arrive at the door, they all wore expressions of terror.

After hearing his request clearly, they also expressed willingness to pass it along.

When he went again the next day, Xuan Jian did not see the expected Qinglong Society members.

Instead, the inn's Shopkeeper, no longer showing his earlier terror, wore a condescending look,

"The Qinglong Society ordered me to tell Great Qin: if you want to cooperate, show some sincerity—you, Xuan Jian, are not qualified enough!"

Hearing these words, Xuan Jian was so angry he nearly exploded.

He almost drew his black and white twin swords to hack that low-cultivation Shopkeeper into pieces.

Fortunately, his cultivation was solid, and he did not let rage control him.

He understood in his heart that although this inn Shopkeeper's attitude was arrogant and his tone insufferably cocky,

let alone himself—even the Net's master Zhao Gao, or even the Eighteenth Prince Hu Hai himself coming in person—

hearing such words, they would not dare do anything to this Shopkeeper.

Standing frozen on the spot for a good while, Xuan Jian finally, under the Shopkeeper's mocking gaze, slunk away in dejection.

Only then did he remember that Hearing Ying Zheng and the others in Xianyanggong were still waiting for news.

Although this news was not particularly good, Xuan Jian still returned.

Seeing the Eighteenth Prince's eager gaze now, he could not help but look embarrassed; how could he bring himself to say what was on the tip of his tongue?

"What on earth happened? Speak up, you slave!"

Seeing Xuan Jian hesitate for so long, Hu Hai grew frantic with anger and publicly berated Xuan Jian as a slave.

"Outrageous!"

Hearing Ying Zheng flew into a rage, sternly rebuking Hu Hai on the spot,

"Hu Hai, you are only temporarily managing the Net, not its true master.

Moreover, even Zhao Gao cannot be considered the Net's true master.

How dare you, before all the civil and military officials, rebuke a Heavenly Dao Golden List-level expert like this.

Apologize to me at once!"

Today under heaven, the Qinglong Society stands alone in the top tier, but it remains aloof and rarely involves itself in the mundane affairs of the Nine Provinces.

Beneath it, the three great imperial dynasties, the Yunzhou imperial dynasty, and You Dongying along with many other major powers contend for the realm.

To seize the realm, the most important thing is naturally the quantity and quality of experts.

The reason the Qinglong Society stands alone in the top tier is that it has too many experts under its banner, including the Nine Provinces' foremost taboo figure, Ximen Wudi.

Hearing Ying Zheng's dream was precisely to unify the Nine Provinces under his own hand!

Therefore, every single expert was an object he needed to win over.

Moreover, Xuan Jian's strength had already reached the level of a Heavenly Dao Golden List expert.

How could such a person be publicly berated like this?

Hu Hai had been frantic with urgency, but upon hearing Hearing Ying Zheng's thunderous rebuke, he finally came to his senses.

In his haste, he had indeed done something foolish.

Although in private he had always treated his subordinates as slaves,

doing so openly before a great crowd like this had indeed gone too far.

But if he were to truly apologize to Xuan Jian now, wouldn't that tarnish the Eighteenth Prince's reputation?

While he was still hesitating, it was Xuan Jian who spoke first.

He saw him drop to his knees in fright, pleading with Hearing Ying Zheng on behalf of Hu Hai,

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Eighteenth Prince only acted so out of urgency, and it is this subordinate who deserves death for not speaking plainly."

This could also be considered giving both Hu Hai and Hearing Ying Zheng a way out.

If Hu Hai were to offer a slight apology before the crowd now, the matter would be considered passed over, and he would even earn a reputation for magnanimity.

But for some unknown reason, Hu Hai insisted on saying at this moment,

"Exactly! At such a troubled time, you still speak evasively, truly…"

"Enough!"

Hearing Ying Zheng could not understand why his usually clever and quick-witted eighteenth son seemed so foolish at this moment.

Before he could finish speaking, he immediately cut him off,

"Enough, Hu Hai. From today, you are relieved of your duties as acting overseer of the Net. Return to the palace and reflect on yourself!"

Hu Hai felt as if struck by lightning upon hearing this, at a loss for what to do.

"Father, Father…"

"Father, Eighteenth Brother was merely worried about state affairs; this matter cannot be blamed entirely on him."

At this moment, Hearing Fusu stepped forward and pleaded on Hu Hai's behalf.

Then he personally walked before Xuan Jian, helped him up, and said to him,

"Xuan Jian, you are a Great Qin Guardian of the Nation, and although you are also a member of the Net, you need not be so restrained.

Just now, Eighteenth Brother was young and a bit impetuous, and his words offended you. Please be magnanimous.

Hearing Fusu offers you an apology here."

As he spoke, Hearing Fusu actually prostrated himself deeply before the crowd, like a mountain of gold collapsing or a jade pillar falling.

Xuan Jian was at a loss, but still instinctively supported Hearing Fusu.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, absolutely not! Are you not shaming me to death?"

At this moment, Xuan Jian actually developed quite a bit of goodwill toward Hearing Fusu.

Chapter 586: Hearing Zhang Han Can Actually Contact the Altar Master?

"Wanting you to play the good man…"

Hu Hai felt extremely wronged at this moment, seeing Xuan Jian looking so grateful and tearful.

He instinctively assumed Xuan Jian had been won over by Hearing Fusu just like that, and without a care rushed forward, pulling the two of them apart.

"Xuan Jian, you…"