They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 47 Someone is lying

After listening to Li Jing's account of the bizarre abrupt end in the clues about the two "farmer" murderers, Chen Guangrui was not surprised at all.

"It seems that evil spirit is behind this again."

He put down his teacup, his tone resolute, "This evil spirit is extremely adept at changing its appearance and even more skilled at bewitching minds. Otherwise, how could it turn two ordinary farmers into desperate warriors in an instant, and then wipe them clean afterward? It can even disrupt the whereabouts and memories of those involved."

Li Jing deeply agreed, his anger replaced by solemnity. "Exactly! As long as this thing remains hidden in Chang'an, it will disturb the peace of the city! This case cannot be dropped; we must continue to investigate!"

"General Li is absolutely right."

Following his words, Chen Guangrui casually suggested a direction, "To investigate this evil spirit, perhaps... we could investigate the Daxingshan Temple."

"Daxingshan Temple?" Li Jing raised his thick eyebrows, his eyes sharpening.

Chen Guangrui nodded and analyzed, "That day, the only clear thing about my whereabouts was that I was on my way to Daxingshan Temple to become a monk. I was assassinated on the way. If those two assassins weren't targeting you, General, then they could only have been after me."

He looked at Li Jing and said, “Now that you know His Highness has no suspicions, the other party’s target is very likely me. And my biggest misfortune at that time was that I did not go to Daxingshan Temple that day.”

Li Jing's eyes suddenly lit up. "That's right! Their eagerness to ambush you halfway shows they don't want you to step into the gates of Daxingshan Temple!"

"That's exactly what it means."

Chen Guangrui affirmed Li Jing's idea, "Their purpose is to prevent me from becoming a monk. Therefore, that evil spirit or someone related to it must have left traces inside and outside the temple. If the general is willing to investigate, Daxingshan Temple may be able to uncover clues."

Li Jing slapped his thigh and said decisively.

"Alright! I'll go investigate right away! I want to see what kind of demons and monsters dare to cause trouble in this sacred Buddhist place!"

His decisive nature suppressed his caution and hesitation, and he got up to instruct his attendants to make arrangements.

……

As evening fell, Chen Guangrui, following his usual routine, carried a bag of pig's head meat and a pot of not-so-good old wine, and entered Wei Zheng's residence with practiced ease.

The old butler took the items with practiced ease, a mixture of helplessness and amusement on his face.

In the study, Wei Zheng had already set out rough porcelain bowls and plates. Seeing Chen Guangrui enter, he stroked his sparse beard and joked,

"The wine and meat from the top scholar arrived more punctually than the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel."

Chen Guangrui smiled and placed the wine and meat on the table, replying, "Lord Wei is diligent in his duties, so I must bring some 'supplies' to help him out, lest he become thin from working so hard for the country. Your Highness would not be so forgiving. The wine I brought this time is better than the last one. Is this not a bribe?"

"Grumpy."

Wei Zheng snorted, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out, and the two were much more harmonious than when they first met.

Pour in the wine and enjoy it with the fragrant meat.

Wei Zheng swallowed a mouthful of meat, his brows furrowing slightly as usual. "You'd better be careful lately. A lot of eyes are on me, and even you, the top scholar who always comes to me, have become a thorn in their side."

Chen Guangrui poured Wei Zheng some more wine and said casually, "Zhang Changling already reminded me today." Wei Zheng was somewhat surprised: "Oh? Zhang Bangyan? He is indeed better than some people. But... Guangrui, back then regarding Yin Kaishan, you knew his residence was a 'good place,' why did you insist on telling him, thus giving away the opportunity?"

His gaze was scrutinizing, clearly puzzled by this behavior. "Why is that? You should know that if you latch onto this powerful figure, your career will be secure."

Chen Guangrui put down his chopsticks, his back unconsciously straightening slightly, his eyes calm and open.
“Lord Wei, whether you seek fame or fortune, you must rely on your own true talent and upright conduct. Scheming, currying favor, seizing by trickery, or even sacrificing others for your own benefit is not the way of a gentleman. Zhang Changling has the opportunity, that is his ability. If I knew this and deliberately concealed it, or even framed him, that would be the path of a petty person.”

"What I, Chen Guangrui, seek is to stand upright and honest, so that I have no shame before Heaven and Earth. Fame and fortune, if obtained through crooked means, are tasteless and not lasting."

Chen Guangrui felt that there should be applause here, because his words would surely make him appear much more impressive in Wei Zheng's eyes.

As expected, his words were frank and open, resounding with conviction. Wei Zheng listened, his hand holding the wine cup hovering in mid-air, and for the first time, his gaze towards Chen Guangrui held clear appreciation and seriousness. After a long pause, he slowly nodded and said with conviction,
"Excellent! What a fine 'upright conduct'! I underestimated you. Scholar Chen's breadth of vision and insight are beyond the reach of ordinary people!"

He greatly admired this proud and upright spirit.

Immediately, Wei Zheng frowned again.
"But if this happens, you'll probably be implicated by me after the Qionglin Banquet. If those petty people find a pretext to frame and ostracize you, I'm afraid... you really won't get a good position."

Chen Guangrui casually picked up a slice of meat and said lightly,

"Lord Wei is overthinking it. As long as one has the people in one's heart, it doesn't matter where one works. Even if one is assigned to a remote and impoverished area as a lowly clerk, it is still serving the country. Official positions may be high or low, but one's heart is not. Being able to do something truly practical for the country and the people is always better than spending one's time in luxury and engaging in petty squabbles with those people."

His words revealed a sense of open-mindedness and perseverance.

Wei Zheng remained silent for a moment, looking into Chen Guangrui's clear eyes, a trace of guilt flashing across his face, "In the end... it was I who dragged you down."

He needed Chen Guangrui to understand that Wei Zheng was aware of the weight of this relationship.

"Lord Wei, you flatter me. I have benefited greatly from your association." Chen Guangrui immediately waved his hand politely, refusing to accept the favor, but he was very satisfied. That was exactly what he wanted; he just wanted Wei Zheng to remember this favor.

After all, you are a human official, an envoy of the Jade Emperor on earth, and the only deity Chen Guangrui knows who can reach the heavens. Of course, you must establish a good image and maintain a good relationship.

Looking at it now, the results are quite good.

At this moment, Wei Zheng seemed to remember the important matter and said seriously,

"By the way, there's some progress on that assassination attempt you made on Tocha last time."

Chen Guangrui pretended to listen attentively.

Wei Zheng cleared his throat, adopting an official tone.
"The yamen investigated the area near the Jing River in the direction you provided. Indeed, some villagers glimpsed a stranger talking to the two perpetrators who later committed the crime from afar by the riverbank. That person... walked towards Chang'an City."

Chen Guangrui chuckled inwardly. "Old Wei, you're putting on quite a show! I'm clearly an official in charge of the Ministry of Personnel; I've questioned the Dragon King and the Earth God. I know this better than anyone. Yet you insist it's two people investigated by the government..."

Wei Zheng then changed the subject, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"But the strange thing is yet to come! Following this lead, the constables immediately started asking people along the only route to Chang'an, but the people they asked, who were there all day, said they hadn't seen anyone. The trail really went cold there. Even I..."

He shook his head, looking as if the case was "difficult".

This time, Chen Guangrui didn't laugh. Instead, he made a decisive conclusion with a firm tone: "He's lying."

(End of this chapter)