Chapter 159

It took less than two hours for Cheng Guang to arrive at the Bureau of the Lamp.

This time, his return to the Bureau of the Lamp was with a changed mindset.

As soon as Cheng Guang reached the Bureau of the Lamp, his figure attracted the attention of the crowd. However, the numerous constables of the bureau were not in the mood to engage in much conversation with this Princely Heir. After a simple salute, they hurried off.

It seemed as though there was some major event unfolding at the Bureau of the Lamp, leaving many people in a state of panic.

Cheng Guang’s brow furrowed slightly, not understanding what was happening.

But it was not appropriate to stop someone to ask, seeing how they were all in such a rush, it didn’t seem like they would have time to mind him.

Cheng Guang didn’t care, and walked slowly into the Bureau, stepping on the bluestone path. In no time, he had reached the depths of the Bureau.

Along the way, Cheng Guang faintly overheard conversations. Even though he couldn’t make out everything quite clearly, he could pick up on certain words and phrases.

“Why does Your Majesty demand that we find the crown prince within a month… That’s simply a wild goose chase!”

“The crown prince has been so well hidden, even for dozens of years. If he were easy to find, we would have found him by now. After all this time with no success, how could it be possible in just one month…”

“Alas, we have no choice but to look now. If we can’t find the crown prince within a month, the Director will be replaced.”

“Indeed, it’s really vexing. Why would Your Majesty want to replace our Director, and with that eunuch…”

“Shush…”

“You shouldn’t talk like that. Don’t you know the walls have ears? It’s quite an oversight for someone who’s a constable at the Bureau of the Lamp. Keep your words to yourself. Zhao Jin may be a eunuch, but at least he’s someone whose Cultivation Realm is not inferior to Director Cheng.”

Hearing the discussions of the others, Cheng Guang’s expression gradually grew odd.

He couldn’t imagine that the reason for the grim expressions and hurried demeanors of the Bureau members was all because of this…

Does Your Majesty intend to remove Cheng Zhihai from the position of Director of the Bureau of the Lamp?

Why? For what reason?

Could it be because of the recent chaos caused at the martial arts competition between the Great Wei Dynasty and Great Zhou Dynasty?

While deep in thought, Cheng Guang walked up to the grand hall of the Bureau of the Lamp.

Before he even approached, he heard the voices of Cheng Zhihai and Qian Siyuan, along with another voice, low and slightly hoarse, in conversation inside the hall.

“Director, the whereabouts of the crown prince are still unclear, and the black-robed men we caught last time are mostly weak with low realms of power and knew nothing substantial, rendering them dead soldiers with little value for interrogation.”

That was Qian Siyuan’s voice.

“Your Majesty has given us too little time. One month is simply impossible.”

The voice that was slightly hoarse belonged to another person.

Cheng Zhihai then spoke, “Enough. His Majesty’s actions must have his reasons. We, as his subjects, need only to obey and should not question His Majesty’s decisions.”

The hall fell silent upon the conclusion of Cheng Zhihai’s words.

Their silence was a form of protest against what Cheng Zhihai had said.

Cheng Zhihai’s temperament was completely different from Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan’s. If it were Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, he certainly wouldn’t defend the Emperor’s words like this.

In their view, the Emperor was clearly trying to reclaim the power from Cheng Zhihai’s hands.

Currently, under Cheng Zhihai’s leadership, the Bureau of the Lamp was operationally independent, even without the need for Cheng Zhihai.

Perhaps the Emperor was thinking…

The power of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was simply too great.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, had a million-strong Northern Expedition Army under his command at the Border Area, arguably the most powerful army in the Great Zhou Dynasty, all within the grasp of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

If turmoil were to strike the Great Zhou Dynasty, Duke Zhen’s Mansion could easily raise their own banner.

The million-strong lions under Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan’s command were something Emperor Zhou neither dared, nor could, interfere with.

After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty’s borders needed Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, to keep them secure.

Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan, who had long been stationed at the Border Area, earned his merit for the Great Zhou Dynasty and even Emperor Zhou himself had no real grounds to strip away the authority from his hands.

Furthermore, there was no reason, nor means, to take back the Northern Expedition Army from Duke Zhen Guo, Cheng Shiyuan.

Even if Emperor Zhou forcefully reclaimed military power over the Northern Expedition Army, it wasn’t certain that they would heed Emperor Zhou’s command.

The million-strong Northern Expedition Army was nominally the army of the Great Zhou Dynasty but in reality, it was a force raised solely by Cheng Shiyuan.

It was the private army of Duke Zhen’s Mansion.

They only acknowledged Duke Zhen.

Perhaps, they would also recognize the future Duke of the State.

Not Emperor Zhou.

Thus, even if Emperor Zhou felt the power of Duke Zhen’s Mansion was too great, he did not make a move against Cheng Zhihai.

Consequently…

If Emperor Zhou still wanted to exert some pressure on Duke Zhen’s Mansion, he could only seek a breakthrough from Cheng Zhihai.

Fortunately.

The recent events provided Emperor Zhou with such a pretext.

It could serve as a reason to strip the Bureau of the Lamp from Cheng Zhihai’s control.

Though Emperor Zhou wanted to take the Bureau of the Lamp away from Cheng Zhihai, he did not completely disregard Cheng Zhihai’s dignity or chances.

If Cheng Zhihai could find the whereabouts of the crown prince within a month, the Bureau could still remain in his hands. Otherwise, Emperor Zhou could not be blamed for showing no mercy.