Chapter Twenty-Four: Pride Without Substance

and fortunes are all tied to me. With such a heavy burden, every step is difficult. I can't make any decisions lightly.">"I completely understand." Jiang Wang sighed inwardly, once again realizing h..."Did Feng Gu leave anything else" Jiang Wang asked Lin Youxie.

“Of course, there are some other clues, but they are all red herrings. To mislead the investigators, and even more so the people behind the scenes. His clues were for me to see, he knew I could see through the fog.” Lin Youxie said, “Because my father is Lin Kuang.”

"Frankly speaking," Jiang Wang said calmly, "without irrefutable evidence, whatever you do is pointless. All our analysis here can only be an analysis."

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Lin Youxie said, "I can't prove who the murderer of Lei Guifei was, but I only need to prove that my father's death is related to the current empress. The reason why Feng Gu hopes I participate in this case is because of this."

Lin Qing died during the investigation into Empress Lei's assassination. If it could be proven that his death was not suicide and was related to the empress, it would indeed be a crucial piece of evidence, linking the current empress and Empress Lei's death together.

"How do you plan to prove it" Jiang Wang asked.

"This is my business." Lin Youxie said.

Jiang Wang originally thought that Lin Youxie had come today to seek help, and even made preparations to help. Unexpectedly, she didn't. It seemed like she jumped into the carriage halfway, just to tell Jiang Wang the truth she believed in.

>

"Why are you telling me this" Jiang Wang asked.

Lin Youxie paused for a moment, then said: "My father was the most outstanding one since the establishment of Qingpai. He solved countless cases in his life and was dedicated to his duty. He wouldn't commit suicide, nor should he… I hope that if something happens to me, someone will still remember these things."

"I hope nothing happens to you," Jiang Wang said softly. "Because besides you, no one would remember him for so long."

Lin Youxie's eyes, which seemed to be able to see through everything, drooped slightly, his gaze falling on the corner of his own clothes: "When we were in the Qun Dao Islands, you told me that you wanted to save someone at the Haiji Grand Ceremony."

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I think you're definitely lying to me, and using such absurd and unrealistic reasons to deceive me.

But strangely enough...I still believed it.

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>Later I thought, how could you do that

I can't think of anything.

But I saw it.

I saw that you ascended to Tianya Platform and suspended the sea-offering ceremony. I heard that you went to the Realm of Illusions and completed a nearly impossible atonement mission.

This is your second time on the Tiandao platform, you have defeated Ji Shaoqing in a duel, and pressed Jian Yaoding Hailou. No one in the same realm dares to challenge you.

At that time, the entire archipelago was abuzz with talk of your name.

You return as a hero...

Maybe you don't believe it, but you inspired me.

I may not be as powerful as you, but my heart is just as resolute.

Jiang Wangdao: "The reason you believed me back then was because you were also chasing the impossible. You are just as resolute a person. I've only been involved in this case for a few days and I already feel suffocated by the pressure. Yet, under this pressure, you have persevered for so many years... What are your impulses now"

“You’re overthinking it.” Lin Youxie said, “However, you are the most talented person I know. I believe that one day, you will stand at the peak. I mean, if…if something happens to me. I want to sincerely request you, when you have the ability, to reopen my father's case.”

Having said that, she faced Jiang Wang and bowed deeply inside the carriage.

Jiang Wang reached out and pressed her shoulder, pushing her back into her seat: "Captain Lin, the peak is not so easy to reach. It's better to rely on yourself than others."

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He thought for a moment, then finally asked: "There's someone named Du Fang who came from the Green Card background. Do you know him"

Lin Youxie was stunned for a moment, remained silent for a long time, before saying, "The one who left my father's body in front of me... was called Du Fang. He was my father's subordinate and could also be considered my father's half-disciple. His explanation at the time was, 'Because I was too emotionally agitated and couldn't accept it for a while.'"

She spoke in a voice that showed no emotion: “Li Youjiao investigated Du Fang, and her conclusion was — because of the Qingpai family's rules, my father refused to teach Du Fang many secret techniques, so Du Fang gradually developed resentment. After my father’s death, he wanted to destroy me. Soon after, Du Fang died unexpectedly during the investigation, and that was the end of it.”

...Li Youjiu...

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"Who killed Du Fang" Jiang Wang asked.

"I used to firmly tell you that it was either an accident or someone being silenced, absolutely nothing to do with the Four Great Qingpa Clans. Because from a young age, we were taught to act within the rules, following every procedure. Besides, Du Fang's death only seemed suspicious on the surface; in reality, the case was quite normal. The suspect he was pursuing was indeed only at the Tenglong Realm, but the one who truly killed him was that suspect's father..."

Lin Youxie said: "But now I'm not sure."

Li Youjiu, since he secretly joined the Equal Nation, the ancestral teachings of the Four Great Green Card Clans naturally could not interfere with him. Even Lin Youxie himself couldn't rule out the possibility of the Four Great Green Card Clans taking revenge for killing...

Therefore, Lin Youxie said that she could not be certain of Du Fang's cause of death.

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Jiang Wang was silent for a moment.

Lin Youxie continued, "When Li Youjiao was being punished, I was at the execution ground. I shouldn't have gone, but I couldn't stay away."

Li Youjiao's relationship with my father was actually very bad. Grandpa Wu said he argued with my father about everything and couldn't win... But after my father died, Grandpa Wu resigned and disappeared for a long time. It was Li Youjiao who took care of me all along.

“I saw him in the courtroom, someone was cutting his flesh, piece by piece, letting it fall down. I saw his expression, I knew he really wanted to shout, to curse things like 'the court is unjust towards the Four Great Qingpai Clans'…”

He really wanted to yell but didn't.

"Because there are still living members of the Four Great Clans, and because I am still alive, he doesn't want to cause me trouble."

"Master Wu is not planning to take on any more disciples. Of the Four Great Qingpai Clans, I am the only one left who carries on the lineage."

>

Having said that, Lin Youxie seemed to finally have controlled her emotions. She looked at Jiang Wang again with those insightful eyes: "Why did you suddenly bring this person up"

Qi Guo developed too quickly and became too powerful too rapidly. In this process, too many people were overlooked...

Li Youjiao wasn't originally part of the Equal Nation. His situation was completely different from Yan Tu's.

He was lost in the grand history and current decline of the Qing dynasty family. As a member of the Qing clan, he was powerless in the face of Lin Kuang's death. Even Lin Kuang, who was far more talented than him, had died so insignificantly. How could he possibly do anything

Where is the future of the four major Qingpai families Obviously, he is confused and lost.

He made different choices from Uriel and Lin Youxie, but his concern for Lin Youxie was also not false.

Human beings are so complex.

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The more Jiang saw, the less he dared to speak definitively about a person.

He merely said, "Du Fang has an acquaintance from his hometown named Gu Xing. He used to be a general in the Zhui Feng army, and he was removed from his post and went out to sea in the 38th year of Emperor Yuan Feng. Now, he is the island lord of Ba Jiao Island."

Lin Youxie's eyelid twitched.

Hagakure Island belongs to the Oze clan!

And she originally suspected the Tian family!

For many years since Urie resigned, he has been secretly investigating the Tian family. He has gathered a considerable amount of clues, but has never been able to obtain core evidence.

If Hakkaku Island's lord, Gu Xing, and Du Fang's past actions are related to the assassination of Dazetian and Lei Gui, it is undoubtedly important evidence linking them to the case!

“I understand.” She gave Jiang Wang a deep look: “Thank you.”

After saying that, she got up directly.

Looking at her resolute and decisive appearance, Jiang Wang couldn't help but say: "Actually, life is long. You have waited for so many years, there's no need to rush it."

Lin Youxie reached out to support the car door and said softly, "But His Highness the Eleventh can only die this once."

Jiang Wuqidi died only this once, and the Emperor of Qi grieved for him only this once.

The opportunity to thoroughly investigate old cases may never come again.

Because the child born from Lei Guifei's womb that year is no longer...

The curtains fell, and the person had vanished.

Only a faint scent of herbs lingered about her.

Jiang Wang remained silent for a long time.

If...

If the current empress is indeed the mastermind behind the assassination of Lady Lei Gui, then the Tian family's blade was the one she used back then.

If Du Fang's actions are truly related to Gu Xing, then they are the implementation of the current empress's will under the control of the Tian family.

Then, smashing Lin Kuang's corpse in front of Lin Youxie serves not only as a deterrent but also carries a strong sense of venting anger.

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No matter what Lin Qing did, no matter how "out of line" he was, the person is already dead. It's truly petty to vent anger on a three-year-old girl.

>

If a queen of a country is so narrow-minded... would that be a blessing for the world

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If the mastermind behind the scenes were the Empress, it would indeed explain many things. She could connect all the existing clues.

But why would the Empress want to harm Lei Guifei

Seventeen years ago, Jiang Wukui hadn't even been born yet, and the Lei family was just ordinary. What threat could Lei Guifei possibly pose

Jiang Wang couldn't figure it out for a moment.

However, he already understood his heart's choice—

He is also looking for answers.

Time trudged forward in hardship. Jiang Wang diligently cultivated while awaiting news.

... Ying Wei's investigation into Gongsun Yu's tongue-cutting incident, Lin Youxie's investigation into Gu Xing, the island master of Bajiao Island...

Jiang Wang wouldn't do everything himself. He would leave professional matters to professionals. Superhuman power was his foundation.

Therefore, wait, therefore cultivate.

But the first to arrive was Zheng Shangming.

It was winter, and the frost wind had already grown cold.

From the head of the household to the lowest servant, every member of the Jiang household had donned brand new cotton clothing.

The mental outlook is refreshed and vibrant.

At least it has the appearance of a wealthy and influential household.

Zheng Shangming strode in with the biting wind, his martial attire sharp and practical. His bearing exuded an even more pronounced air of authority. After operating within Beiya for so long, he had gradually taken over Zheng Shi's power.

Any newly appointed Beiya Wei who is not recognized by the father and son will find it difficult to escape their influence in Beiya.

But at the same time, Jiang Wang had no doubt that if he took over as the head of Beiya Duwei, he would cooperate with him very pleasantly.

>

Because Zheng Shangming now is a qualified successor, a sufficiently clear-headed person.

I understand what to do and what not to do.

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Zheng Shi is a master at reading the room and knowing how to make everyone feel comfortable.

Sometimes I inexplicably feel a sense of regret. The original Zheng Shangming is gone now.

Recalling past events, like the north wind blowing on a southern building.

Jiang Wangqing wore a green shirt, standing alone in the courtyard. A flame flower bloomed and withered at her fingertips.

The text explaining the burning of the city with fireworks slowly flowed through my mind.

As for "Yan Hua" alone, this left-light right-fierce technique created by Zuo Guanglie, Jiang Wang has yet to see any techniques of the same level in fire-walking arts that can rival it.

It serves as the foundation for the burning city of fireworks, and can be said to have almost constructed Zuo Guanglie's fire-walking art system.

In terms of technique, Jiang Wang had already bloomed his own flowers, imbued with a unique vitality. Therefore, his Burning City Flame Blossom would inevitably undergo changes compared to Zuo Guanglie's.

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Zheng Shangming stepped into the courtyard and saw this ever-blooming flame flower. The first feeling that came to him was "beauty," followed by admiration for its vitality.

"Your fireworks should have surpassed Left Light already, right" he couldn't help but ask.

The sparks of fingertips converged into a single ember, then fell back onto the fingertip, wasting not a trace of their essence.

“At this level, there are already limits. We're at our peak, so it's not about surpassing anything. As for more advanced applications, we're far from there.” Jiang Wang looked at Zheng Shangming: “It seems you have a 100% grasp on this case.”

"Eighty percent, that's all," Zheng Shangming said. "We still need some crucial evidence."

"Then I have to congratulate you," Jiang Wang said.

Zheng Shuming countered, "Shouldn't it be me congratulating you"

Jiang Wang was in the courtyard, extending his hand to invite him to sit: "I have always felt that perhaps Lin Youxie found the truth first."

"We could have kept Lin Youxie out of this. But…" Zheng Shangming sat down and said calmly, "Although the Four Great Azure Rank Families have faded away, they were the foundation for building the Azure Rank system in the first place. Their remaining influence shouldn't be underestimated. Even the emperor felt he should give them an explanation, and our Beiyuan is even more so."

"What you call 'explaining things' is letting her participate in a case she should already be involved in" Jiang Wang sat opposite him, asking softly.

A small stove stood on the stone table, with a teapot simmering on it. The steam rose warmly at this time.

“You can hardly deny it, if Beiyamen doesn't give the nod, she won't even have a chance to seek the truth.” Zheng Shangming’s words were cold, but they undeniably held weight.

"Are you so certain you can find the truth before her" Jiang Wang said, "Lin Youxie has made up his mind to die. How dare you underestimate someone who acts with a death wish"

"That was her choice." Zheng Shangming said softly, looking at Jiang Wang: "Jiang brother, I just want to know your choice."

It should be said that after Zheng Shangming proactively showed goodwill in the Imperial City Patrol Department, until now, his interactions with Jiang Wang have been pleasant, and can even be called "friends."

On the contrary, before Jiang Wang and Lin Youxie, there were many disagreements.

Lin Youxie had been holding onto Jiang Wang tightly from the start. Because of the doubts surrounding Hell's Gate, he wanted to immediately find evidence and nail Jiang Wang to the prison cell.

For a long time, Jiang Wang kept his distance from Lin Youxie out of respect.

But at this very moment.

Jiang Wang could only say, "Zheng brother, I can't accept the position of Northern Court Commandant."

Zheng Shangming didn't seem too surprised, after all, Jiang Wang had hesitated for far too long about this matter.

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But he still asked, “Why”

Jiang Wang looked up at the clouds in the sky and asked Shang Ming with some emotion, "Shang Ming, what do you think this position of Chief Inspector of the Imperial City Inspection Department, also known as the Inspector General, represents Is it power, or responsibility"

Zheng Shangming didn't hesitate and answered directly, “It represents the immense power of controlling the Qingpai system. As for responsibilities... responsibilities are inherent. Whoever controls the Qingpai must bear the responsibility for it.”

This is just a simple paragraph.

Jiang Wang asked again, "Then what is the responsibility of the Qing Pai In the four words 'Patrol Inspection Lieutenant', is 'Inspection' more important, or 'Lieutenant'"

“I think I understand what you mean,” Zheng Shangming said softly. “You want to choose the so-called truth. But, Brother Jiang, have you ever considered ‘eating one’s salary and being loyal’ The Imperial City Patrol Department is directly under the emperor, not your Qingyang Town territory. The position of Patrol Captain…what's important isn’t ‘patrol’ or ‘captain,’ but the unspoken words.”

Jiang Wang took a long, deep breath and said frankly, "Therefore, I can't sit in this position."

Zheng Shangming looked at him: "Brother Jiang, I have always admired you and know that you are a resolute person. But today I want to earnestly advise you—the emperor's trust in you is known throughout the world. Have you ever thought about how disappointed the emperor would be if you refused this position What you refuse is not just the post of Northern Palace Commander, but also an opportunity to express your loyalty to the emperor. Do you know that your future career path will likely become difficult because of your choice today"

Of course, Jiang Wang knew.

Even if he didn't know, Chongxuan had already told him.

But he just calmly said, "Qi State is very large; it should have room for all kinds of people. If not, I don't think it would be my loss."

Zheng Shangming fell silent for a moment, then said: "Although I don't approve, I respect your choice."

He let out a long sigh: "Brother Jiang, sometimes I feel that you are truly an enviable person."

"What's there to envy" Jiang Wang chuckled lightly: "Solitary and proud, I stand alone. Though a third-rank official, how many people even listen to my words"

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"People always envy those they cannot become." Zheng Shangming pursed his lips: "Then, Brother Jiang, I'll take my leave."

He got up and walked out.

Just as I was about to reach the gate, I heard Jiang Wang's voice behind me—

"Zheng brother. Speaking of which, when you were being manipulated by Wen Lianmu... If I had missed my aim and killed you at Ganma Mountain, provoking the anger of your father, the Northern Camp Commander. Have you ever thought about whether you need the truth"

Zheng Shangming came to a halt.

“I’ve thought about it, very seriously.”

He said, "I thought to myself, I need power."

He just stood at the entrance of the courtyard, with his back to Jiang Wang.

"Yuqi said calmly, "Brother Jiang, not everyone can be like you, with the talent to shatter legends and the courage to break rules. I'm just... making an effort as an average person."of a warrior and the unwillingness to yield of a prodigy.As Jiang Li Meng, how could I ever stop here!She raised both hands, endless brilliance gathering in her palms, condensing into a massive, incre...