Yinshan Record

Chapter 311 A small gift is prepared, if possible.
Wang Jian remained silent, his eyes fixed on Su Che's face.

Young Master Su smiled, like the Buddha holding up a flower.

Shi Chibao, caught in the middle, suddenly remembered a document he had once read.

It seems, perhaps, probably, I've heard, I've heard rumors...

When this wife of Chief Secretary Wang was still unmarried, she seemed to have a good relationship with Xiao Su, the Criminal Inspector. Xiao Su seemed to have a rather unpleasant nickname in Jiankang: "Little Tyrant with the Iron Whip".

"Brother, this is not the place to talk. Let's go inside and talk, please."

Wang Jian snorted and stepped into the Hall of Affairs.

Su Che and Shi Chibao followed them inside.

The hall had been set up with talismans to separate the inside from the outside, and all the people inside had been cleared out. Tables and chairs were placed in the middle, and fruits and tea were laid out on red lacquered wooden trays, thus providing a place for meetings.

Wang Jian didn't stand on ceremony with the imperial guards; he walked over and sat directly in the main seat originally prepared for Shi Chibao.

Su San Gongzi and Shi Chibao exchanged a glance, but neither of them intended to compete with him. They sat down on either side of him.

"There were some things I wanted to say that weren't convenient to say outside."

Shi Chibao smiled and asked, "Chief Secretary Wang, what brings you here?"

Wang Jian ignored him, treating Shi Chibao as if he were invisible, and turned to Su Che, speaking to himself.

"It's been years, Su San, you've really made something of yourself."

Su Che was filled with doubt.

Why do this Wang couple act like they know our family so well?

"Thanks to you, my brother, I've only managed to become a disciple of Immortal Master Yu Lizi, handled a few minor cases, and made some progress in my cultivation. How can I compare to you, my brother, who has achieved early success, with a beautiful wife and a promising career, serving as the Chief Secretary to the Prince of Wuling, and having already reached the seventh rank of cultivation at such a young age, cultivating both metaphysics and Confucianism? I admire you so much..."

Su Che poured himself a cup of tea.

"Let's be frank. You are the last person to see my wife."

"I did meet your wife; it was in Tian'an County."

"Okay, I heard from my family that my wife even hosted a banquet for you?"

"That's true, my sister-in-law has excellent cooking skills."

Su Che looked at Wang Jian and said, "Our Su San has always been upright and honest, so I'm not afraid of your questions."

"Let me ask you again, I heard you also met the Prince of Wuling?"

"Indeed, Your Highness possesses a magnanimous spirit and is a young hero."

"That's right."

Wang Jian nodded and said, "Now that His Highness and my wife are nowhere to be found, you, Su San, are the last person to see them. Do you want to give me an explanation?"

Su Che smiled upon hearing this.

"Was what I said funny?"

"No."

"Then why are you laughing?"

“I understand how you feel right now, but taking your anger out on others won’t solve anything.”

Wang Jian looked coldly at Su Che, while Su Che put down his teacup.

“Brother Wang, do you think what I said is correct? His Highness is going to take up his post as the Acting Censor of Cizhou, as the governor of a prefecture, and my brother is going to take up the post as his chief secretary.”

"good."

"I don't know why, but Your Highness and my brother went separately. Your Highness and your sister-in-law went ahead, while my brother lagged behind and is still in Jiankang."

"There are still many things in the capital that need my attention, what's wrong?"

"Well, the two of you entered Cizhou territory just like that, and I was in Tian'an County at the time, so we happened to meet."

"exactly."

"Forgive my intrusion, but how many years have you been assisting His Highness, brother?"

"It has been four years now."

"Is the relationship harmonious?"

"Your Highness is kind and benevolent, and treats me like a teacher and a friend."

"A close family relationship?"

"Move around frequently."

"Has anyone else gone missing from your family, Brother?"

"There's also a maid who came with my wife after she married into the family."

"Brother, please hear me out. Is it possible that His Highness is a young hero, and your wife is a beautiful woman? They've been together for a long time, and something unspeakable has developed between them. This trip south to Cizhou is a perfect opportunity to leave you behind and enjoy themselves. That maid is your wife's confidante; she must have played a part in this, so..."

"Su Che, are you saying that His Highness gave up his position as a Prince of the County and eloped with my wife, who comes from the Xie family of Chen County?"

Wang Jian, enraged, laughed and slammed his hand on the table, cutting off a piece from the corner.

“I can understand your feelings, but you are not in our industry and do not know that there is a truth in our industry: when you eliminate all the impossible, what is left, no matter how unbelievable, is the truth.”

Su Che then turned to Shi Chibao on the other side and asked.

"Chief Justice, is that right?" "Ah, this..."

Shi Chibao almost burst out laughing. It was fortunate that he was a highly skilled cultivator; otherwise, he would have suffered internal injuries from holding it in.

"Su Che, let's not talk about official business today. Not only have you slandered His Highness, but you also dared to insult my family. A common man's anger can lead to bloodshed. Do you dare to fight me?"

"Oh dear, Your Excellency..."

Young Master Su looked at Shi Chibao on the other side with a troubled expression.

Shi Qianhu was a little puzzled, wondering what Su Che was up to.

You're a sixth-rank expert, are you afraid of this kind of trash? You're afraid you might accidentally kill him, and then it'll be hard to explain to the Wang family of Langya...

“Don’t blame me for bullying the weak,” Wang Jian sneered. “You only have yourself to blame for not being able to control your sharp tongue.”

"What am I afraid of?" Su Che chuckled. "It's just that we are both officials appointed by the imperial court, and we both come from respectable backgrounds. If this private feud goes wrong, the court's questioning is secondary; what matters is that it doesn't affect the harmony between our two families."

“Let us sign a contract, and each of us shall bear the responsibility for life and death, regardless of anything else.”

"Forget it, forget it. You two are both high-ranking officials of the imperial court. Such a serious matter has occurred; how can you let your personal feelings lead to a quarrel?"

Shi Chibao quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

It was obvious that Young Master Su had dug a huge pit for Wang Jian to fall into.

These young masters from wealthy and powerful families had never seen the dangers of the martial world, so how could Wang Jian possibly tell what level of cultivation Su Che possessed?
They were just waiting for an opportunity to beat Wang Jian senseless.

Alas, Su Che doesn't know the gravity of the situation. Shi Chibao, of course, does.

It didn't matter if Wang Jian and Su Che got injured in their fight; they were all family after all.

But both the Langya Wang clan and the Duling Su clan will remember their sin of stirring up trouble here.

What a disaster.

"There's no paper or pen here, I'll write it down later, brother, about this case..."

Wang Jian thought Su San Gongzi was a coward. This fellow was like this back in Jiankang. He thought he would grow up a bit after leaving the capital, but he didn't expect him to still be so pathetic.

The Deacon Hall is where the Secret Service officers work, so how could it be without writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones?

Wang Jian was indeed a man of cultivation; he immediately got up, took out his writing implements, and began to grind ink and write.

Shi Chibao immediately realized something was wrong and inwardly blamed Su San Gongzi.

What kind of time is this? The Prince of Wuling has already been lost, and they're still here arguing about personal feelings.

He immediately tried to get up to stop Wang Jian, but before he could get up, he felt a sword intent hanging over his throat, abdomen, and other vital points.

Turning his head, he saw Su Che staring at him with cold eyes.

Mumble.

Shi Chibao swallowed hard, but remained seated in his chair without moving.

"Su San, sign here."

Wang Jian was highly skilled in writing; he immediately drafted a death warrant and presented it to Su Che, demanding that Su Che sign it.

"This……"

Young Master Su was in a rather difficult position.

"If you don't sign, then I'll have you arrested by the Censorate and I'll make sure you know how you lost your title as Prince of Wuling."

Wang Jian threw the death warrant on the table and threatened him.

So you were planning to use me as a scapegoat, kid.

Su Che picked up a pen and hastily wrote his name on the life-or-death contract, understanding Wang Jian's intentions.

The disappearance of the Prince of Wuling is truly an unbelievable case.

Such a major case must have someone take the blame and shoulder the responsibility.

Wang Jian probably has too much of a self-deception and wants to use me as a scapegoat.

As for this document, perhaps it reflects his dissatisfaction with his predecessor and his desire to take revenge.

Perhaps there really was some unclear relationship between that Lady Xie and his predecessor, otherwise why would Wang Jian have gone to such lengths?

As soon as the letter for the duel was finished, a commotion broke out outside.

Shi Chibao was struggling with his thoughts, searching for a way to salvage the situation, when he heard the commotion outside and became furious.

If I can't deal with those surnamed Su or Wang, I can at least deal with you guys.
Commander Shi pushed open the door of the deacon's hall and shouted at the outside.

What's all the noise about?

At this moment, dark clouds gathered above the Imperial Guard's office, and a sinister wind blew incessantly.

A demon king, entirely black in color, hovered in mid-air on a demonic wind, clad in black scale armor and carrying a huge bundle, and stood there with his hands clasped in a fist salute.

"I am Tie Lin, a humble cultivator from Canglang Xianye, and I offer this small gift to wish Huang Tiandao Su Zhenren success in achieving his elixir of immortality and that his blessings will last forever."

Iron-Scaled Demon King.

Shi Chibao looked at the demon king above.

What did he just say? What was this about achieving the Elixir of Immortality?
(End of this chapter)