Chapter 126: Uninvited Guest

Chapter 126: An Uninvited Guest

Chengdu County, the County Office.

Raindrops strike the pond, red koi lift their heads above the water, their movements creating ripples.

A veil of hazy rain, a scene of poetic charm and artistic beauty.

In such weather, even the two proud stone lions standing at the entrance of the County Office show a hint of laziness.

Yet within this hall, the atmosphere is gravely solemn.

Six yellow sandalwood armchairs hold the gathered figures, their minds far from appreciating the beauty of the rainy night; each lowers their gaze and remains silent.

Only Pei Xingjian remains composed, sipping tea leisurely, awaiting the climax of this farce.

"In recent years, the scholars of the Confucian school have grown increasingly inept, allowing such a pivotal victory to slip from their grasp, wasting a golden opportunity to settle the matter."

The old man glances at the restless Wu Gong, shaking his head slightly.

"No wonder the Wu family sent him here to make money; with only a cunning and vicious nature but no thunderous methods, how could he hope to defeat others? Long peace has bred incompetence in the descendants."

After commenting on Wu Gong, his gaze shifts leftward to the other side.

Gu Xi, at this moment, keeps his eyes and nose in check, though his arm resting on the chair's armrest trembles slightly, his bearing is far more composed than Wu Gong's.

"This young man, though a bit arrogant in nature, has a nimble mind. To remain calm in the face of danger and turn a losing game into a stalemate, his tactics are commendable."

"To find such a gem in a place like Chengdu County, a den of filth, is rare indeed."

Gu Xi, sensing Pei Xingjian's gaze, quickly focuses and responds with a humble smile.

The old man offers no reply, merely lowering his eyes to continue sipping his tea.

Zhang Xian, on the side, lets a playful smile creep onto his lips.

Among the two aristocratic figures nominated this time, Pei Xingjian clearly favors Gu Xi.

For Zhang Xian, if Gu Xi can resolve the current dilemma, he would gladly go with the flow and let the other be chosen.

If he can also gain some goodwill with Pei Xingjian, then his tireless efforts in applying to come to Chengdu to oversee the nomination would not be in vain.

The halls of power and the sea of officialdom, with towering winds and raging waves.

A thread of goodwill at a critical moment might be the favorable wind to lift one to the heavens or the life-saving straw to prevent drowning.

Recalling this, Zhang Xian nods slightly toward Gu Xi, about to speak.

A sudden rush of footsteps echoes!

A guard stationed outside nearly stumbles in, shouting, "Sir, someone wishes to see you."

"What great figure in Chengdu County could frighten you so?"

Pei Xingjian jokes lightly, his teacup clinking gently on the table, "Speak slowly—what sort of person seeks me?"

The guard swallows hard, "They claim to be from the Chengdu Jinyiwei!"

As the guard speaks, the wind and rain outside suddenly intensify.

Torrential rain pours down, in the dense curtain almost obscuring sight, several figures with black umbrellas step inside.

These four uninvited guests do not rush in but stop beneath the eaves, standing silently in the heavy rain.

All inside lift their eyes to gaze outward, Zhang Xian included.

Long robes with straight sleeves, broad shoulders and narrow waists, their massive black umbrellas concealing their faces, wearing the same yellow hemp shoes.

A badge hanging from their belts, resembling wood and copper, engraved with the bold characters "Bei Zheng Fu Si"!

Tiger arms, wasp waist, mantis legs.

The famed Jinyiwei of the Great Ming Empire.

"True guests of honor."

Pei Xingjian eyes the Jinyiwei, "Dressed so neatly, it seems your Jinyiwei have come to show off in my Chengdu County Office?"

"We dare not; we have received a report of an official's corruption and malpractice, and have come to investigate."

Feng Huang's startled eyes quickly glance over, seeing the Jinyiwei with hawk-like gazes, coldly staring at him.

He entered service during the late emperor's reign, naturally experiencing the dark period ruled by the Ministry of Rites and Bei Zheng Fu Si.

At this moment, Feng Huang feels a bone-deep fear, long forgotten, surge from his genes.

"Why are you looking at me..."

He stammers, unable to utter a complete sentence.

Zhang Xian glances at him with disgust; having taken office in the second year of Jiaqi, he cannot understand Feng Huang's fear.

In his view, these Jinyiwei are but toothless hyenas, not even as fierce as household dogs.

"Where did you get this report? Have you verified its authenticity?"

Zhang Xian's tone is cold, glaring at the leader of the Jinyiwei.

The other does not flinch, replying in a low voice, "In response to this gentleman, the informant is named Li Jun, a Chengdu Jinyiwei captain."

Bang!

Wu Gong suddenly rises, his movement so forceful it knocks over the teacup, shattering it on the floor.

At this moment, his face is filled with uncontainable joy!

He hadn't expected Li Jun's true identity to be a Jinyiwei informant; then the person who sent him this file must also be from the Jinyiwei!

In that case, does he need to verify the authenticity of the evidence in his hands?

Gu Xi, you're doomed this time!

Wu Gong glares at Gu Xi, whose face is pale as paper, his brows furrowed in fury.

"That's the expression I want to see. Yes, I'll let you lose to one of your own, unable to accept it, yet powerless to change it!"

The triumphant Wu Gong doesn't notice the strange expression on Yao Chongli beside him, staring at him with the gaze of one looking at a dead man.

He even silently moves his chair back a few inches, trying to create distance.

An aged laugh suddenly echoes, reverberating through the depths of the Chengdu County Office.

It holds no trace of satisfaction or arrogance, but is filled with self-mockery and helplessness.

All eyes widened in surprise, turning to see Pei Xingjian laughing uproariously, his eyes sparkling with tears that glistened faintly at the corners.

“In just a decade, such a fool has emerged among the Confucian aristocrats—how absurd, how utterly ridiculous!”

Suddenly, all eyes turned in unison toward Wu Gang.

Though Pei Xingjian had not named him outright, everyone knew he spoke of Wu Gang.

“Am I a fool?!”

Wu Gang's expression, once bright with joy, froze in bewilderment as he stood rooted to the spot.