Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 23 Entrusted Investigation
"Brother! Brother!"

"Jiechi is finished! He's been removed from his position as the guest monk!"

"Hmph, he deserves to back up Hu Xiba!"

Just two days later, Chen Xiuhan excitedly brought good news.

The guest master monk indeed played an important role in welcoming and seeing off guests, and his status was particularly prominent in a place like the Great Xiangguo Temple.

However, in essence, this kind of position is the same as that of the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. They are given a share of power after gaining the favor of the nobles, and thus they use this power to bully others, but they do not have any real power.

Once someone dislikes you, you'll be instantly banished from the mortal realm.

This is what it means to overcome delusion.

He had previously made many appearances in front of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and he was also arrogant and domineering among the monks of the Jie generation in the temple. He was ridiculed as a "lay monk," but he was not ashamed of it, but rather proud of it.

As a result, due to just one sentence from Princess Zhaoning, the temple swiftly removed him from his position as the guest monk.

They are still monks, of course, but they have lost their high status. Whether they can accept this change is unknown.

"There are still quite a few people like this in the temple. We should clean them up properly in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao felt relieved, but not overly joyful.

Falling out of power is ultimately an isolated case; the norm is that such people often thrive and become protectors of certain villains.

Ultimately, people have to rely on their own abilities!

Chen Xiuhan had originally greatly admired the monks who served guests, but he also had many feelings about this lesson.

Of course, at this stage, he will not give up on currying favor with influential people. After all, only with such a ladder can he gain the temple's favor, be taught superior martial arts, and have the opportunity to develop and strengthen himself.

Flattering the princess could be very rewarding if it worked, but if one was not careful, it could incur the displeasure of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, which would be a great loss.

It would be better to just go directly to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor!
Perhaps there is also the Eighth Prince.

He was a powerful figure in the court, bestowed with a golden mace by the late emperor, to uphold the Song dynasty and protect the people. He struck down the corrupt emperor and executed treacherous officials who were in power.

More importantly, in terms of bloodline, His Majesty is that person's son. He grew up in the Prince's Palace. A few years ago, the Empress Dowager's own son passed away. In order to avoid the position of Crown Prince being vacant, he entered the palace to inherit the throne.

But then, Chen Xiuhan couldn't help but sigh, "Princess Zhaoning is truly beautiful! I wonder which lucky prince consort will be born to her..."

'Chen Shimei, who else could it be?'

Zhan Zhao continued sweeping and cultivating, silently complaining. Thinking of the little princess's beautiful face, he also felt it was a pity.

Chen Shimei, a man who was ungrateful and not only abandoned his wife and children but also tried to kill them, must be beheaded.

But the princess was truly unjustly struck down, becoming a widow without even realizing it.

It's a pity, but also a bit frustrating.

Because he sensed a soft, feminine aura approaching once again.

Sure enough, a figure rapidly approached; it was the young eunuch from before.

This man was named Guo Huaiji, and he was Princess Zhaoning's personal attendant.

'Why are you here again?'

'I didn't want to come either!'

Seeing the clear meaning in Zhan Zhao's eyes, Guo Huaiji felt even more helpless.

The princess had been somewhat absent-minded since returning to the palace these past two days, frequently breaking into a smile with a lively curve at the corners of her lips.

The strangest thing is that His Highness actually wants to paint.

When I was learning to paint, I was the least serious person ever.

Now, he was clamoring to paint a picture himself, and at his command, the Hanlin Painting Academy sprang into action, as did the Yifeng Pavilion.

Compared to the flustered palace maids and servants, Guo Huaiji was assigned a task: to go to the Daxiangguo Temple again to find someone and make sure to explain things clearly.

The two met, but remained silent.

Finally, Zhan Zhao took the initiative to ask, "What brings Eunuch Guo here?"

Guo Huaiji hesitated for a moment, then managed to say, "Your Highness greatly admires Master Jian's defeat of Zhao Xingyao..."

"I don't deserve the title of master."

Zhan Zhao originally didn't want to get involved in this matter, but seeing that the other party was unwilling to give up, he could only continue, "Does Your Highness have a grudge against Zhao Wujiu?"

Guo Huaiji asked in surprise, "Aren't you and Zhao Xingyao enemies?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head: "No."

Guo Huaiji asked in confusion, "Then how did you start the fight? Even if you're not enemies, why would you fight?"

Zhan Zhao explained: "Conflicts between us are sometimes due to differences in ideology, sometimes due to different sects' positions, and sometimes due to sudden encounters. Not all of them are enemies."

“Oh, each serves their own master…” Guo Huaiji roughly understood the situation based on his living environment in the palace.

"The Four Great Constables are not only people of the martial arts world, but also loyal ministers and generals of the dynasty."

Zhan Zhao then recounted a legendary feat: "More than a year ago, when Liao spies stole secret intelligence, it was Zhao Wujiu who risked his life to penetrate deep into Liao territory, pursued them for thousands of miles, killed the Liao spies, and then fought his way back, preventing a major loss. Why does the princess despise such a minister?"

Guo Huaiji hesitated for a moment: "Because of this matter, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have praised it countless times, which has greatly angered His Highness, who is very displeased with the returning Detective Zhao..."

'Is it just pointless jealousy?'

Zhan Zhao was speechless.

What does jealousy mean?
He was never jealous of others.

However, despite their seemingly high status, the imperial family and nobles are often confined to the inner palace for most of their lives, and their minds are not necessarily broad.

Many of the conflicts seem quite inexplicable to outsiders.

Guo Huaiji noticed the disdain and quickly spoke up for his master: "It's not just for that reason. Zhao Xingyao is also the Eighth Prince's adopted son and frequently visits the Prince's residence..."

"Oh?"

Zhan Zhao and Chen Xiuhan, who had been eavesdropping, were both taken aback.

Is Zhao Xingyao's surname Zhao actually a royal surname?
"Even the master couldn't have imagined this, could he?"

Guo Huaiji immediately said, "Don't be fooled by Zhao Xingyao's outward appearance of being an upright man and one of the Four Great Constables who punish evil and uphold justice. In reality, he is a completely different person. He sowed discord in the Prince's mansion, which angered the Eighth Princess Consort so much that she fell ill. The Eighth Princess Consort has always been the best to Your Highness. How can Your Highness not avenge her?"

'I really didn't expect that!'

Chen Xiuhan was hesitant to listen, but he couldn't resist, so he shrank back to minimize his presence and continued to listen to this earth-shattering gossip.

Zhan Zhao found it hard to imagine that the famous constable who had fought him not long ago was the kind of person who stirred up trouble in the inner quarters.

However, since the other party was not someone close to him and could not fully understand the situation, he did not say anything like "impossible." Instead, he asked, "What exactly did Zhao Wujiu do?"

“He spread the word in the Prince’s mansion that he was the true son of the Eighth Prince and that he would soon be entering the Imperial Clan Court.”

Guo Huaiji said in a low voice, "This is the one thing that the Eighth Princess Consort finds most intolerable!"

'Does entering the Imperial Clan Court grant one a right to the throne? Is that why the Princess is anxious?'

Zhan Zhao roughly understood.

Zhao Wujiu's identity caused discord between the Eighth Prince and his consort. Princess Zhaoning, who was close to the Eighth Prince's consort, disliked the famous constable. Upon hearing that he had been defeated and had even given away his jade mirror, she rushed over to mock him.

"All right……"

After a moment's thought, Zhan Zhao shook his head.

It was indeed a pointless game played by the powerful and wealthy; it was wise of me not to get involved.

However, this matter may also be related to the situation of the Six Doors. They may be using Zhao Wujiu's background as a pretext to target him.

It seems the Four Constables are in a rather chaotic situation!

Is the enemy trying to keep them constantly on the defensive?
As Zhan Zhao pondered silently, Guo Huaiji stared at him and asked, "Does Master have something to say to His Highness?"

'I'll tell the princess to keep her eyes open when choosing a husband; even the royal family has to listen to me…'

Zhan Zhao clasped his hands together and said, "May Your Highness enjoy good health and longevity."

Seeing that he had no intention of showing off or vying for credit, Guo Huaiji knew that this person truly did not care about the princess's favor, and he was somewhat impressed. He bowed slightly and said, "Then I shall take my leave."

"please."

The other party remained polite, so Zhan Zhao politely saw them off and then put the matter behind him.

What he didn't know was that Guo Huaiji had just returned to the capital and hadn't even entered the inner palace when he saw a eunuch standing there.

Guo Huaiji was shocked and quickly knelt down, his voice filled with heartfelt reverence: "Godfather!"

Without turning his head, the eunuch asked, "How is Zhan Zhao?"

Guo Huaiji opened his mouth and slowly said, "Not being greedy for fame and fortune makes one a true monk."

"Oh? There are still real monks at Daxiangguo Temple?"

The eunuch was somewhat surprised, but then even more satisfied: "Now everyone in the capital is saying that this young man was able to defeat the Four Great Constables with his sword. But I am more concerned about the fact that he solved the case of poisoning the morning prayers at the Great Xiangguo Temple in just two days."

Guo Huaiji was somewhat confused. His godfather, as the Grand Eunuch and the Empress Dowager's confidant, would he also be a painter?

Though not quite there yet, it's not far off. The eunuch slowly turned around and instructed, "Huaiji, tomorrow you will come with me to the Great Xiangguo Temple. There is a case that I have already entrusted to a friend to investigate, but that's too late. It seems that Zhan Zhao is more suitable to be the investigator."

"what?"

Guo Huaiji couldn't hide his curiosity: "What case?"

"A painting of Zhong Kui!"

(End of this chapter)