Chapter 5

With the huge influence of the East Palace, it was very simple to investigate a person. Moreover, this person was an official in the capital, so it was even simpler.

Hu Wensheng was an imperial censor and a fifth-rank official. He came from a scholar’s background and lived in North City. He had spoken up for his officials all these years and dared to stand up for all injustice. On the surface, he was not afraid of power and was a good official.

However, from the information he had investigated in the East Palace, this person had been an official for more than ten years and was actually not greedy for a single cent. Even the courtyard he lived in had no secrets.

When Zhang Ronghua arrived, the Hu residence was holding a funeral. White silk hung in the courtyard. His wife and daughter were kneeling in the hall crying. Apart from them, there were two other people under them.

“Who are you?” Madam Hu asked with a cold expression.

“When did he die?” Zhang Ronghua asked.

“Master has always been in poor health and has a hidden illness. After returning from the palace this time, the hidden illness erupted. When the doctor rushed over, he had already died.”

Zhang Ronghua did not believe it. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?

He had just entered the palace to complain about the Crown Prince and died as soon as he returned to the residence. From the looks of it, there was a huge conspiracy hidden in this matter. The faction behind the scenes was not simple.

Otherwise, he would not be able to let the rumors spread throughout the capital after the Earth Fiend was executed and ordered Hu Wensheng to denounce the Crown Prince.

With a cold expression, he walked towards the coffin.

Seeing him come over, the mother and daughter hurriedly stood up from the ground, opened their arms, and stood in front of him.

Madam Hu said firmly, “Master is already dead. You’re not allowed to disturb his rest!”

Zhang Ronghua did not speak. He bent his finger and pointed. Two finger forces shot out from his fingertips and subdued them. He walked to the coffin and waved his hand to open the lid, revealing the dead Hu Wensheng.

His glabella was black, especially between his eyebrows. Clearly, he had died from poison.

‘It’s indeed as I guessed,’ Zhang Ronghua thought.

He revealed a mocking expression.

So what if he was dead? He still had a way to make Hu Wensheng speak.

“Last Breath!”

He used the secret technique and thick true essence condensed in his palm, condensing into a golden ancient seal that slapped the space between his eyebrows.

Last Breath was a secret technique that he had obtained when he killed demons.

It could make a dead person speak, provided that the other party’s death did not exceed two hours. Otherwise, he would really be powerless.

Under the stimulation of the secret technique, Hu Wensheng sat up mechanically.

In his current state, he was half-dead. He had been struck by the seal and listened to Zhang Ronghua. It could be said that he would answer whatever was asked.

“Who instructed you?”

Swoosh!

A powerful air-piercing sound sounded as a sharp sword light stabbed over from outside. The target was not Zhang Ronghua, but the dead Hu Wensheng, who wanted to destroy his corpse.

“How can I let it be destroyed by you after spending so much effort?” Zhang Ronghua grabbed domineeringly.

After grabbing the sword, no matter how sharp the blade was, it could not break through his skin. The person was shocked and abandoned the sword to quickly retreat, wanting to escape.

Zhang Ronghua was even faster than him. He leaned forward and roughly kicked him to the ground.

This person was a sacrificial warrior. He ruthlessly shattered the top of his head, afraid that he would “revive” like Hu Wensheng.

“What a pity.”

When he returned to the coffin, Zhang Ronghua said, “Continue!”

“Zhou Shan, the left vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel, blackmailed me with my son, asking me to denounce the Crown Prince, and if I did not agree, he would kill my son, and would also hand over the evidence of my secret corruption over the years to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice.”

“You have a son?”

“Yes!”

Hu Wensheng mechanically told him about his illegitimate son and the secret corruption.

“What a fool.” Zhang Ronghua sighed.

Putting away the secret technique, Hu Wensheng lay in the coffin again and closed the lid.

Zhang Ronghua unlocked the acupuncture points and quickly left.

He rushed towards Zhou Shan’s residence. He had to capture the mastermind before he attacked and bring him back to the East Palace.

With his cultivation, he used his movement technique with all his might and shuttled through the capital like an aurora.

After using a little time, he forcefully rushed into Zhou Shan’s residence, subdued him, and brought him back to the East Palace.

As for the aftermath, the Crown Prince naturally stepped forward to settle it. His mission had already been completed.

Xuanhe Hall.

Zhou Shan was knocked out and thrown to the ground.

After hearing Zhang Ronghua’s explanation, the Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction, “It’s been hard on you! Go down and rest. After this matter is settled, I’ll reward you again.”

Zhang Ronghua left.

The door closed. He had just taken a few steps when a miserable scream sounded from the hall. Soon, the voice stopped.

“How ruthless.”

It was already afternoon after being busy for so long. He had not eaten yet. He found something in the kitchen to fill his stomach and slacked in the back hall.

At night, just as he was about to be off duty, the Crown Prince returned from the palace. This matter had already been resolved. Zhou Shan’s family was imprisoned and their entire family was executed! Three days later, they were pulled to the market to be beheaded.

He was called to the hall again.

Qing’er held a tray and stopped in front of him. The tray was covered by a red cloth.

“Open it and take a look,” the Crown Prince said.

Zhang Ronghua removed the red cloth and saw a house deed on the tray. He picked it up. This was the house of the Vermilion Bird Workshop. It was one of the five most expensive markets in the capital. The price of a house was more than a million taels. It could not be bought with money. One still needed the qualifications of the Imperial Court to buy it.

The location was prosperous and extremely valuable. It was also close to the Serene Heart Lake and the scenery was beautiful. When he went out, he saw the lake that the Imperial Court had invested a large amount of money to build.

“This is a reward for you. As long as you work hard, I won’t treat you badly.”

“I understand.”

“You’re on leave tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Change it to the day after tomorrow. Accompany me to the Grand Tutor’s residence tomorrow.”

Zhang Ronghua agreed and left with the house deed.

“Your Highness, you’re too good to him, right?” Qing’er could not help but ask.

“His identity is clean, and he’s a third-generation Flood Dragon Guard. His cultivation is high…” After a pause, the Crown Prince frowned and asked, “Can you tell what realm he is in?”

“First level of the Grandmaster Realm!”

“His talent is not bad and is worth nurturing.”

…

When he returned home.

Zhang Qin and Zheng Rou were waiting for him in the lobby. When they saw him return, their serious faces finally smiled as if they had been relieved of a burden.

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhang Ronghua was puzzled.

“Your father told me. We were almost frightened to death.”

When she left, only the father and son were left.

The two of them sat across the table.

Zhang Qin asked, “What did the Crown Prince say?”

Zhang Ronghua took out the Golden Dragon Sword and the house deed of the Vermilion Bird Workshop and placed them on the table.

“Spiritual treasure?”

He picked up the house deed again and saw that it was a luxurious house. Zhang Qin could not believe it and stared at him with an even more serious gaze, “Tell me in detail about this.”

“Yes.” Zhang Ronghua told him what had happened today.

“This is both a good and a bad thing. Our Zhang family has long been tied to the Crown Prince. Once he loses his power, the other princes won’t let us go. However, we have to hold back and be prepared for everything. We can’t put the eggs in the same basket. Tomorrow, I’ll discuss it with your grandfather and prepare a large sum of money. Once the situation is wrong, we’ll immediately leave the capital and hide our identities. We’ll find a place where no one knows about us,” Zhang Qin said seriously.