Chapter 587 - 333: Saving the Collapsing Edifice
Chapter 587: Chapter 333: Saving the Collapsing Edifice
After coming to an agreement, Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying went their separate ways. One went to the Governor’s Office, while the other headed to the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office. They also instructed Ma Guan to visit the Xiao Family’s residence to see Chen Yi. The three of them, accompanied by the rest of the academy’s scholars, marched out of Guiyun Academy in a grand procession.
Under the overcast sky, the crowd surged like a river, heading straight south along Kangning Street. A few people branched off at the intersection of Chuansi Street. The remaining group split into two factions at South Street, taking up positions outside the Governor’s Office and the Prefectural Magistrate’s Office. Naturally, more scholars arrived after hearing the news. They mingled with the unaware commoners, all trying to pry into what exactly had happened the night before.
Annoyed beyond endurance, Liu Si—who couldn’t risk exposing the existence of the White Tiger Guard—ordered the Imprisonment Department to step forward and handle the situation. Several Thousand Households of the Imprisonment Department were equally troubled. After passing the buck back and forth, the task ultimately fell onto Fang Hongxiu’s shoulders.
She straightened her official robes and rested a hand on the hilt of her blade. Stepping outside the Government Office with a solemn expression, she swept her gaze over the crowd and announced sternly, "This is a restricted area of the Government Office. All unauthorized personnel must step back at once!"
The four Imprisonment Officers who accompanied her looked astonished. Turning their heads to look at her, they were left somewhat speechless.
"Lord Hundred Households is truly as brave as ever..."
She was indeed brave. However, the surrounding scholars were even fiercer.
A teacher from Guiyun Academy stepped out from the crowd. Cupping his hands in a salute, he raised his voice, "Mr. Lingchuan of our Guiyun Academy has been arrested and brought to the Imprisonment Department. Dare I ask, what law has he broken?"
"That is classified. No comment!"
"Then how dare you arrest him?"
"We have conclusive evidence!"
"What evidence?"
"No comment..."
Facing over a hundred scholars entirely on her own, Fang Hongxiu didn’t take a single step back. Her only response remained a steadfast "No comment."
The teacher grew somewhat irritated. "If you do not give us a proper explanation today, we will not leave!"
"That’s right, we’re not leaving!"
"We’d like to see just what your Imprisonment Department is capable of..."
Hearing this, Fang Hongxiu furrowed her brow tightly. Her fingers tightened around her blade’s hilt; clearly, these people were annoying her to no end. Yet, she couldn’t afford to lose her temper. Most of the scholars present held official degrees and were backed by influential families. Any slight injury or mishap would bring her considerable trouble. Left with no choice, Fang Hongxiu could only try to stall for time, inwardly cursing those Lords Thousand Households to hell and back.
Meanwhile, the situation outside the Governor’s Office was far better. Although Chen Yunfan was dressed in his official robe, he lacked the slightest self-awareness expected of an Assistant Governor of the Governor’s Office. Sitting on the steps by the entrance, he casually chatted and joked with the people around him.
"Everyone here has read the teachings of the sages. Surely you’ve heard of ’see no evil’ and ’speak no evil,’ right? Keep quiet. You’ll have your answers once your teachers come out."
"Lord Assistant Governor, could you tell us what exactly happened?"
"What happened? I am in the dark as well."
"Then why did you come out..."
Chen Yunfan waved his hand and said with a smile, "The air inside the Government Office is too stuffy. I just came out for some fresh air."
"This..."
"No ’this’ or ’that.’ Either disperse now and go back to your respective homes, or wait quietly for news."
Chen Yunfan couldn’t care less about why these people were here; he only knew that staying outside was much better than handling official duties inside the Government Office. Of course, he also couldn’t tell these scholars the truth. At least, not before the dust had settled. If certain people caught wind of it and ended up running away or dying by accident, it would cause unnecessary trouble for the people in the Government Office.
While dealing with the noisy crowd, Chen Yunfan occasionally cast a glance back at the Governor’s Office. In truth, he was somewhat gloating. Unlike Zhu Hao, Liu Hong was the Governor of Shu State; his intellect, political maneuvers, and family background were all leaps and bounds ahead of Zhu Hao’s. Zhu Hao’s downfall was purely his own stupidity—carelessly letting the White Tiger Guard find evidence of his crimes. Liu Hong, on the other hand, had his claws and fangs systematically shattered one by one by Brother Yi. To have such a perfect advantage ruined by a single person meant he deserved his fate.
What Chen Yunfan found most amusing, however, was that Liu Hong would likely go to his grave without ever knowing "Liu Wu’s" true identity. How could he not find it entertaining that Liu Hong would die with such lingering grievances?
Just as Chen Yunfan was pondering this, a calm voice rang out from behind him.
"Assistant Governor Chen."
Hmm?
Chen Yunfan turned to look, his pupils suddenly shrinking. He saw Liu Hong standing at the top edge of the steps outside the Governor’s Office, looking down at him.
That alone wouldn’t have been a big deal. Although Liu Hong was dressed impeccably in his grand red official robe and black jade belt, his posture still somewhat upright, his face was almost unrecognizable. His thick hair, now mostly white, was neatly combed and coiled into a bun at the back of his head, secured with a hairpin. His face was covered in dense wrinkles, radiating sheer old age. Most notably, his eyes were incredibly cloudy, resembling those of a frail old man who had just suffered a severe illness.
While Chen Yunfan was in a daze, a faint smile tugged at Liu Hong’s lips. He looked at him with a half-smile and said, "Assistant Governor Chen, you are blocking the way."
Snapping back to reality, Chen Yunfan stood up and stepped to the side. With a slight bow, he greeted, "Lord Liu."
"Assistant Governor Chen, being amicable with the people is a good thing, but remember one thing," Liu Hong said, tilting his head to look at him. "You are the Assistant Governor of the Governor’s Office. An official must carry an air of authority. Blind humility and strict adherence to etiquette will only cause the base and petty to look down on you."
Chen Yunfan was slightly taken aback. Meeting his gaze, he hesitantly accepted the advice, "Your Lordship is right to lecture me."
Liu Hong smiled and nodded. Clasping his hands behind his back, he walked straight toward the crowd. His emaciated frame radiated a feeble aura, yet it felt as though he carried an immense, unyielding weight. With every step he took, several people directly in his path stepped aside and bowed in respect. In just over a dozen steps, Liu Hong had passed through the crowd, heading toward the East Market.
Among the scholars and commoners gathered outside the Governor’s Office, not a single person dared to clamor and make noise like before. No one even dared to meet his gaze. It was only after Liu Hong had walked far away that these people finally opened their mouths to speak.