Nightwatcher Chapter 167: Taking Sister and Auntie to See the House

# 167. Taking Sister and Auntie to See the House

Minister Sun arrived at the imperial study, as within the wide and resplendent room were only three people. They were Emperor Yuanjing sat on his high chair, the cunning and wry Pri Minister Wang, and the great Azure Cloak, with his whitening temples.

He unconsciously glanced towards old brother Pri Minister, discovering that his expression was grave, and his gaze dim. This made Minister Sun, who originally had thought that this was just a regular small court, suddenly start in surprise.

*What black magic is Wei Yuan up to* he imdiately turned to inspect the great Azure Cloak, but the inscrutable great eunuch maintained a warm expression, deep and reserved, leaving one unable to see a hint of what he was feeling inside.

Suddenly, a sense of unease arose within Minister Sun. After carrying out his regular formalities, he silently stood at his usual spot.

Ti slowly ticked by, as civil servants slowly trickled in, bowing and assuming their positions. Throughout this process Emperor Yuanjing had his eyes closed, ditating, until he heard the voice of the Minister of Industry.

Emperor Yuanjing opened his eyes, and surveyed his servants. Anyone who was able to be invited to attend the small court, were all the most senior of the senior in governnt, less important civil servants simply didnt have the qualifications.

Dear Lord Wei, you may tell all the lords present.

Wei Yuan stepped out, speaking: Last night, in the inner city the Nightwatchers discovered a house housing catamites and unregistered prostitutes, the won there ca from good backgrounds, and the young boys were also from normal families. They were kidnapped and trafficked there, and were forced to serve the guests who stayed over there

Last night, the Nightwatchers launched a secret raid on the residence, and rounded up this nest of criminals. We arrested thirteen patrons of the brothel, ten amongst them with official ranks, and three are influential rchants in the capital. Furthermore, the Nightwatchers also retrieved the skeletons of forty corpses from the well in the back courtyard, they were all slaughtered innocents.

Wei Yuans words worked up a torrent in the Imperial Study, as the great civil servants all started discussing the matter, not caring about the regulation of keeping silence.

Human trafficking, illegal prostitutes, political favours for sex any of these would bring down a myriad calamities upon any official, especially during the ti of the Official Evaluation. However much one tried, this could not be covered up.

Yet Wei Yuan hadnt finished talking, as he revealed another huge bombshell: From our investigations, the owner of the house had relations with the Church of the Warlock God, evidence given by the magical runes carved on the well entrance. The owner of the residence confessed that he was working under the orders of the Minister of Industry. That residence was not only used as a place for building cliques, but also secretly a relay point for communication with the Church of the Warlock God.

The uproar was imnse.

If one could say that before they maintained so of their deanour, now it was like the vegetable market, with so cursing Wei Yuans slanderous accusations, and so shouting for Wei Yuans damn head to go rolling.

The head eunuch, standing beside Emperor Yuanjing, shouted three tis for order, yet he could not suppress the chaotic scene.

Forming cliques and selling prostitutes, kidnapping and trafficking people, forcing innocent won into sex work, these were all cris with tolerable consequences, but colluding with the Church of the Warlock God? That was a different matter; that was treason.

According to the laws of the Great Feng, all guilty of treason, were sentenced to nine familial exterminations.

Crack! Emperor Yuanjing smacked his hand on the table, and the Imperial Study imdiately returned to silence. His icy gaze scanned over his officials, and fell on Pri Minister Wang Zhenwen.

What does dear Lord Wang think?

The Pri Minister stood out, and said solemnly: This matter must be investigated to its fullest, and not dallied upon.

Although his words sounded like he was trying to smooth things over, but the Ministry of Laws Minister Sun could clearly tell that big brother Wang was leaning more towards Wei Yuan. He imdiately understood big brothers intention.

If one stood by the side of the Minister of Industry, then at most they would be owed an incredible favour, as well as smacking down so of Wei Yuans pride.

But if one stood by Wei Yuan, if this matter was found true, then the Minister of Industry would be dood, and the Qi clique would have lost one of its leaders.

In the Sangpo Case, the Wang clique had wanted to shift the bla onto the Ministry of Industry, and land a heavy blow on the Qi clique. Even though they had failed, but there was indeed another opportunity.

Emperor Yuanjing looked towards Wei Yuan: Where is the perpetrator?

Wei Yuan shook his head, sighing, Last night, the perpetrator was murdered by the Warlocks curse of death, and died without giving evidence.

Emperor Yuanjing frowned.

The Imperial Study imdiately fell into deathly silence, as everyone looked with strange expressions towards Wei Yuan, as if saying: *What was all that about then?*

The ever cool and collected Pri Minister Wang tilted his head, also frowning at Wei Yuan.

The Minister of Industrys mouth curled, as he stepped out with a cold smile, exclaiming: Your Majesty! Your servant has been wronged! Wei Yuan is trying to slander your servant, please may Your Majesty take the lead.

Emperor Yuanjing made a dark expression, Wei Yuan, what do you have to say?

Wei Yuan was incomparably self-assured, as he replied: Your servant asks Your Majesty to summon Bronze Gong Xu Qian.

*Bronze Gong Xu Qian* Hearing this na, many great officials expressions beca rather distorted. Based on last ti on the situation with Zhou Chixiong, in these tis asking to summon Xu Qian must an that this matter has not ended, and Wei Yuan has left a hidden ace up his sleeve.

Especially, mbers of the Wang Clique had already developed a slight amount of PTSD from hearing the words summon Xu Qian.

The Minister of Industrys face turned slightly, but he quickly hid his emotions, and kept his calm.

Emperor Yuanjing went silent for a few seconds, before saying: Summon him.

Several minutes later, Xu Qian, in his black robes, bronze gong, and black cloak entered the Imperial Study. The long sabre that usually hung about his waist was temporarily confiscated from him.

With him also were Chu Caiwei and two other white cloaks from the Sitianjian.

Your servant greets Your Majesty. Xu Qian bowed and saluted.

Emperor Yuanjing gazed expressionlessly at this small Bronze Gong. Wei Yuan turned his head, smiling: Recount your findings to His Majesty.

Xu Qian imdiately started recounting, from planning to use the silver His Majesty had given him to buy a house, to finding said house was haunted, then through channelling with the spirit, finding out about this place everything was said as it was.

The more the Minister of Industry listened, the uglier his expression beca, as his heart slowly sank into the depths.

*The mans already dead, last night the Nightwatchers were clearly unbelievably angry they dont have evidence, theyre bluffing * the Minister of Industry cald his emotions, and scoffed internally.

*This official has served half his life, gone through countless winds and rains, do you think this small trick will stop , heh.*

Xu Qian finished, and saw that Emperor Yuanjing seed quite aloof, without any expression on his face. So he added one final sentence: The female spirit is sealed in the feng-shui plate of the Sitianjians Miss Caiwei, if Your Majesty wishes for evidence, Your Majesty can pick a trusted aide to channel with the ghost.

Internally, he thought: *Get a guy to do it!*

Emperor Yuanjing thought for a while, before looking to the head eunuch beside him. Of all the people present, the one he trusted most naturally was this peorson that had attended to him all his life.

I will serve Your Majesty with my life. the head eunuch knelt down.

My lord, there is no need for fear, there will be no significant effects. Xu Qian saw that the eunuch was sowhat frightened, and reckoning that he did not know much about what a channelling is, tried to comfort him.

*At most it will be seeing a man riding between your legs in first person, but dont worry, its like watching a movie, you wont feel anything.*

Xu Qian felt that for these eunuchs, who had all missed their chances (cocks) to sleep with any won, that this was a blessing. You couldnt sleep with anyone, so being fucked by a guy would make up for missing out.

Chu Caiwei took out her feng-shui plate, and walked towards the head eunuch. Bright light emanated from her plate, as the yin-yang koi started spinning around, expelling a ball of black mist.

She lightly shook it, launching the black mist towards the eunuchs forehead. The latter instinctively leant his head back, attempting to evade, but in the next mont the black mist had entered his soul. Chu Caiwei pointed a finger at his temple, helping him and the ghosts spirits to rge, otherwise with the fortitude of the eunuchs soul, he was at risk of being taken over by the ghost entirely, unable to tell who from who.

Emperor Yuanjing, and the many officials in the study, all looked intently at the eunuch, seeing his expression suddenly being frightened, suddenly being furious, suddenly hopeless, suddenly bitter.

This process continued for about fifteen minutes, before Chu Caiwei pulled back her finger, simultaneously pulling out the black mist, putting it back into the feng-shui plate.

The great eunuch whimpered, as he opened his eyes, and fell to the floor crying: Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please take charge for your concubine

As he cried and cried, he finally ca to his senses. He was a man, at least he used to be. The experiences just then were the experiences of the female ghost, and not himself.

Once he realised this, the head eunuch wiped his tears, as his expression slowly cald. However, his voice still carried a tinge of grief: Your Majesty, your servant has seen everything

Emperor Yuanjing nodded: Speak.

He imdiately glanced at Chu Caiwei, and the other white-cloaks, seeing azure light glowing in their eyes, before turning satisfied back to the eunuch.

Your servant saw that she was kidnapped, and sent to the capital. Every day she was forced to serve the patrons of the brothel no, none of the patrons paid.

The great officials exchanged glances amongst themselves. Hearing his words, what Wei Yuan said was not slander. This was indeed a place where kidnapped innocents were forced into prostitution.

Later, she served a patron called Tamraha, and gained his appreciation, becoming his mistress.

Tamraha that was a foreign na.

Emperor Yuanjing narrowed his eyes, glancing towards the Minister of Industry, nodding, And then?

One night, she accidentally overheard a secret conversation, and heard cannons, weapons, amongst other words, and because of this was brutally murdered, and thrown into the well. Your servant saw, that the person talking with Tamraha

He turned his head, pointing towards the Minister of Industry, exclaiming in his sharp voice: was Minister Liu!

Emperor Yuanjings face imdiately turned iron-grey.

The imperial study exploded. The winds course changed, as all the great officials turned their spear-heads towards the Minister of Industry. Amongst them, the reactions of the High Court Censor was especially extre, sighing with emotion, and condemning Minister Liu for his abhorrent actions.

Under a flurry of conversation, the colour of Minister Lius face was like mud, with no sign of life, stiff as a wooden doll.

Leaving the imperial palace, Xu Qian rode beside Wei Yuans carriage.

Duke Wei, the Minister of Industry is one of the leaders of the Qi clique. With him in your hand, you can pull up the Qi clique by its roots.

From within, ca Wei Yuans laughter, Its not the ti to pull up the Qi clique. Without the Qi clique, the greatest benefactor would not be us.

Xu Qian with his silver rank in political intrigue did not try to argue the matter, changing the conversation: So I can use this rit to atone for my cri?

Wei Yuan grunted assent: the Ministry of Law wont arrest you. As for the others, we need to see His Majestys intent. Later, I will sent a letter to the palace.

*Mn, this matter is best left to Wei Yuan my promotion to Silver Gong should be all but guaranteed lets go ho first, and comfort Auntie and Uncle.*

Xu Qian thus asked for a day off, and bade farewell to Wei Yuan. Slapping his horse on the buttock and urging her on, they rushed back ho with fiery vigour.

Second Uncle was still on duty, and not at ho, leaving Auntie and his two sisters there.

Auntie sat in the front hall, drinking tea and eating desserts, occasionally feeding Little Pea, who was otherwise playing with a wooden doll to the side. She was wearing a dark blue gauze dress, her silken hair was held tight in a bun, with a beautiful golden hairpin through it. The makeup on her beautiful face was exquisitely done.

Seeing that her unfortunate nephew had co ho, Aunties expression turned slightly, as she lowered her voice, speaking quickly: What are you doing here? Your uncle said that theres spies from the Ministry of Law all around, go, shoo!

Big bwother, big bwother Xu Lingyin happily ca to greet him, making an ergency stop right in front of him. Her little body swayed with the inertia, as her round face looked up at her brother:

Did you bwing back sothing to eat?

No.

Xu Qians coldness shattered his tiny sisters hopes and dreams.

Oh.

Xu Lingyin though was a pragmatic young woman, though, and imdiately discarded Xu Qian like a worn out shoe. She waddled away, going to play by herself.

Xu Qian didnt want to bother with Auntie, going directly to the table to pick up a cake, only to be slapped away. Auntie stared at him forcefully: Im talking to you.

Xu Qian replied casually: The situation has been resolved, Ive just co ho to tell everyone.

Hearing that all has been resolved, Auntie let out a small smile, yet she quickly wiped it off her face, and scolded him: All you do every day is get into trouble, can you let the family live in peace for a while?

From the tax silver case, incidents have co one after another without rest, every couple days sothing else cos up. At the start Auntie was worried and scared, but now she had gotten sowhat used to it.

Which was not necessarily a good thing.

Xu Qian did not respond to Aunties scolding, saying: Ive already picked out a house, I want to take Lingyin and Lingyue to look at it, will Auntie go too?

Hearing that he had picked out a house, Aunties beautiful eyes lit up, as she replied reservedly: Well I have nothing better to do, might as well go with you to take a look.