Chapter 45: The Burial Place of the Two of Them

Thinking of all this, Yuan Tianze could not help but feel a surge of secret delight.

It seemed that the rumors of the Empress showing three parts of fear toward the Prime Minister in the imperial court were entirely true.

Otherwise, why would the special commissioner she personally dispatched to investigate the case—someone whose martial arts prowess was clearly several times superior to his own—show any trace of timidity?

Since that was the case, he could only offer his silent apologies to these two officials.

A moment later, under the pretext of fetching their silver taels, he would lure the pair to his private quarters, summon all the assassins in his estate, and catch them in a turtle in a jar!

As for the man, he would be executed on the spot; and as for that woman, hehe...

After mentally arranging the upcoming script in his mind, Yuan Tianze could not help casting two more lingering glances at Tian Yueying.

Yet this time, apart from once again admiring her breathtaking beauty, he caught a subtle sense of something amiss.

Tsk tsk, why did the more he looked at this woman, the more he felt an emperor-like aura emanating from her?

Could this woman actually be the Great Qi Empress herself?

At this thought, he immediately shook his head.

No, no, no, absolutely impossible!

Legend had it that for the past three years, the Empress had been incessantly searching for the elixir of immortality, leaving her with no time whatsoever to manage state affairs.

Her sudden return this time, accompanied by Yang Chuan, clearly stemmed from realizing that there were too many powerful ministers in the court. If she did not cultivate her own faction, she would soon lose the Great Qi empire to someone bearing another surname.

That Grand Commandant Cao Ding had long coveted the Great Qi throne. He had heard that on the very day Yang Chuan assumed office, Cao Ding found an excuse to throw him into the death row of the Dali Temple.

And what about his own master, Prime Minister An?

He merely enjoyed establishing factions everywhere to ensure a peaceful old age; as for the Great Qi empire itself, he seemed to have no interest in it whatsoever...

If that were the case, then shortly after eliminating Cao Ding's faction, the Empress would undoubtedly resume her quest for the elixir of immortality of her heart's desire.

Affairs of the court would naturally be left to Yang Chuan to maintain the balance of power.

After making these deductions based on his impression of the Empress, Yuan Tianze finally set his mind slightly at ease and led the two of them straight toward his estate.

Before long, Yang and Tian caught sight of the most lavish and opulent private residence in Xiao City.

Even before stepping through the grand gates, Tian Yueying gazed at the boundary walls, nearly three meters high, and fell into a state of deep reflection.

"Yang Ze, look at this wall... Not only is it tall and magnificent, but the tiles on the crest seem to be crafted from extremely luxurious materials. Even within the palace of the capital, it is rare to find tiles fired from such materials."

After a single glance, Yang Chuan smiled helplessly.

He had already witnessed plenty of corrupt officials and how meticulous they were about their own residences back in the Great Kang Kingdom.

Because these people had amassed vast fortunes through a lifetime of corruption, their hearts were naturally filled with constant trepidation.

To pacify their inner anxieties, they would specifically hire feng shui masters to design the layout of their estates.

Making the mansion appear more dignified and imposing was a common technique among feng shui practitioners.

Designing such an estate was meant to let the air of grandeur continuously imbue the master of the house.

Over time, the private guilt and fear harbored toward the Sovereign would be eradicated.

Clearly, this method had proven remarkably effective for Yuan Tianze.

Having seen the Empress in person today, his expression had remained astonishingly calm, without the slightest ripple, as if he had merely encountered an ordinary passerby.

Yet Yang Chuan knew just how unmistakable the natural, regal aura was that pervaded Tian Yueying, even though she had deliberately concealed her identity.

As the saying goes, great vessels mature slowly; those born with an imperial aura were destined in this lifetime to become rulers of a nation.

After admiring the exterior of the estate, the two were "invited" inside by Yuan Tianze.

Gazing at the sprawling estate covering thousands of square meters, had she not needed to maintain the act in front of him, Tian Yueying would have dearly loved to execute this scoundrelly, corrupt official on the spot!

A mere private residence spanned several thousand square meters.

Judging by a rough estimate, the servants bustling back and forth numbered well over a hundred, not to mention Yuan Tianze's own family members.

The total number of residents, large and small, within the entire compound likely approached a thousand!

Yet he was merely a minor official of the upper second rank within a vassal city-state of Qi!

"It is unimaginable how massive the residence of the prefectural governor of Xiao City would be if he were equally corrupt..."

Tian Yueying could not help but sigh with emotion. Seeing Yuan Tianze make another inviting gesture, she took Yang Chuan's hand and followed him into the reception hall.

Stepping inside for the first time, one was greeted by a hall far more luxurious than the exterior. Seated upon the grand master chairs facing the entrance were two elderly individuals.

Flanking them on both sides sat five women—these were the wives and concubines taken by Yuan Tianze.

Even while remaining indoors, these wives and concubines had dressed themselves with extreme extravagance, adorned with countless pearls and gemstones of gold and silver that nearly obscured every inch of exposed skin.

Accustomed to such a life of luxury for so long, the occupants of the hall did not even offer a word of greeting when the two young newcomers were brought in by Yuan Tianze.

There was no help for it; after all, this son of theirs was the official with the greatest real power in all of Xiao City.

Even the prefectural governor treated him with exceptional respect on ordinary days. Unless they were distinguished guests sent by Prime Minister An from the capital, the two elders were not required to show any formal courtesy whatsoever to visitors.

Yet on this occasion, Yuan Tianze still formally introduced the two guests.

"Father, Mother, these two are special commissioners dispatched by Her Majesty the Empress. Having the fortune to pass through Xiao City today, I happened to cross paths with them and wished to bring them along to tour the most luxurious parts of our Yuan estate."

At first, upon hearing that Yang Chuan and his companion hailed from the capital, the two elders shifted slightly in their seats.

Just as they were about to rise and offer their salutes, they suddenly heard their son mention taking the guests to tour the most luxurious part of the estate, and instantly grasped the underlying meaning.

It seemed these two visitors harbored malicious intentions?

The "accidental encounter" spoken of by their son undoubtedly meant that these were the very people sent to Xiao City to investigate this power-hungry son of theirs.

Yet in a place like Xiao City, it was only ever their son who manipulated others; how could he be intimidated by two imperial court officials?

Though they were the Empress's people, who in the present Great Qi did not know that even the Empress had to show three parts of respect to the Prime Minister?

Since they came with ill intentions, this Yuan estate would serve as their final resting place!

The primary wife, seated in the front row, seemed to realize this as well. After rising to offer a slight bow to Yang Chuan and the other, she found an excuse and walked out of the main hall.

She knew her husband far too well.

Allowing outsiders to see the most hidden and forbidden parts of the Yuan estate meant that these two were destined to leave their lives behind here today.

In an instant, the female dependents of the Yuan household began making their own arrangements, busily laying out a trap for Yuan Tianze behind the scenes.

As for Yang Chuan, he had already caught the scent of danger in the air.

Reflecting that he now possessed not only the foundation of a seventh-tier martial artist but also the perfected mastery of the Myriad Origins Returning to Truth Scripture, he followed Yuan Tianze deeper into the hall without the slightest hesitation.