The atmosphere turned slightly peculiar.
Everyone felt a touch of apprehension, recalling Zhu Mo's domineering and erratic nature. He would often turn hostile in casual conversation, catching people off guard, and his attacks were always deadly. They looked towards Mu Chaobi, thinking that with the powerful Duke Mu of Yunnan present, they might not need to fear Zhu Mo.
Zhu Mo said calmly, "As long as no important matters were delayed… Uh, the guards I brought are from the Zhongwu Battalion under the Zhoushan Gong Office. Uh, please arrange accommodations for them, Lord You. I will rest for a day or two before heading to the Yongchang Military and Civil Prefecture."
With that, he strode forward, leading the way into the main hall of the Governor's yamen.
It should be known that Zhongwu Commandant was already merely an official title.
Everyone else stood stunned on the spot.
What?
He wasn't taking his troops?
Wasn't he here to seize military power?
Was he just going for a visit?
Mu Chaobi and his few confidantes exchanged bewildered glances.
You Jijing, however, chuckled inwardly. "As people say, this Zhu Mo is unpredictable. Seeing him today, he certainly lives up to his reputation. He's completely stumped Mu Chaobi with this move…"
The group engaged in an hour of feigned pleasantries and empty talk in the main hall, discussing nothing of consequence. A welcoming banquet was to be held that evening.
Zhu Mo found it inconvenient to refuse and also wanted to observe if there were any lingering rifts among the Yunnan officials. He readily agreed.
…
In the evening,
The banquet was held at a restaurant in Jinma Biji Square.
Mu Chaobi had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Zhu Mo, he stepped forward with a smile. Beside him was a scholar with an air of otherworldly grace, but his eyes were shifty, revealing glimpses of greed and malice.
"Grand Academician Zhu, this is the Inspector Censor, Wang Daren. Brother Shizhou, this is the current Grand Academician Zhu Mo. Uh, Grand Academician Zhu comes from a Daoist background, so you two will have much to discuss later, haha…"
Zhu Mo, well aware that this man was currently the most crucial figure in Yunnan and Guizhou, offered a Daoist salute and smiled.
"Greetings, True Man Wang."
Wang Daren was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "Grand Academician Zhu, I am also a product of the imperial examinations and serve in the court. Your Excellency should address me by my name. Calling me 'True Man' is truly too humbling…"
Yet, everyone knew that Wang Daren had traveled extensively across the empire. While nominally an Inspector Censor, he was in fact the Emperor's secret envoy, handling the Emperor's private affairs. His status was undeniably supreme. Seeing Zhu Mo show him such respect solidified everyone's opinions.
Wang Daren was naturally boisterous and impetuous. Although he seated the highest-ranking official, Zhu Mo, at the head of the table, he became the focus of the banquet, recounting many wondrous and mysterious tales. The others had never heard such stories and expressed their admiration.
However, Zhu Mo noticed that Wang Daren had mentioned the immortal Zhou Dian from the founding of the dynasty, and that a secret scripture and elixirs were hidden in two immortal abodes by Qionghai and Fuxianhai respectively.
The others were highly interested, and Zhu Mo listened attentively, but was interrupted by Mu Chaobi.
Mu Chaobi said, "Brother Shizhou, what you say is so true. To be frank with everyone, after the Grand Ancestor completed his enfeoffments, he hosted a banquet for his meritorious officials. Before they departed, he gave each of them a handwritten cultivation technique, saying it was a gift from the immortal Dian. It could prolong life and, in the greater sense, lead to ascension… Everyone, my manor once had one, but it suddenly turned to ash. Isn't that strange? The scripture only had five to six thousand characters and was sealed in a sandalwood box bestowed by the Grand Ancestor. How could it have turned to ash?"
"Oh?"
Everyone was well aware of Zhou Dian's immortal deeds during the early days of the dynasty. Many had also heard that meritorious officials had received secret techniques, but it was only today that they learned the truth, and everyone was naturally deeply shocked.
Wang Daren chuckled, "You may not know this, but immortal books have their lifespan. When the time comes, they naturally turn to ash. Only those with predestined affinity can cultivate them…"
"No wonder, no wonder… so that's how it is. I thought a servant had opened it without permission, or that thieves had stolen it. It turns out its lifespan had ended. Shizhou, it seems I am also fated to be unfortunate…"
Mu Chaobi spoke with a hint of regret at this moment.
But Zhu Mo discerned the problem—
Perhaps such books were written with ink made from certain medicinal substances, which would decay over time. This was a common practice in the Daoist school. Not to mention this, the secret of talismans lay in the ink being prepared with medicines, often including lodestone, ox gall, and bezoar, which is why those with high fevers could be calmed by ingesting them. This was no secret in the Daoist school, but ordinary people rarely heard of it.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner, Lin Shu, who always kept a low profile and never involved himself in Yunnan and Guizhou affairs, saw that the conversation was interesting and said with a smile, "Brother Shizhou, is there truly an immortal trace of the Dian Immortal in Fuxianhai?"
Returning to the main topic,
Wang Daren nodded.
"Originally, I should not have spoken of this, but since it has now come to light, it is a great karmic connection… a propitious omen… You all may not know, but beneath the western shore of Fuxianhai there was a Daoist mansion. Later, the water rose and submerged it. It was originally a cave dwelling by the water's edge. Uh, the immortal Dian once refined elixirs here. Because this area had a mountain called Ailao, which was a tomb for the Daoist脉, the elixirs that severed the three poisonous passions had to be cultivated within the tomb脉…"
"Oh,
So that's how it is…"
Everyone marveled.
Zhu Mo was no stranger to such Daoist deceptions—
Whenever someone wanted to boast grandly, they would first fabricate such stories. This person had likely found something and was deliberately creating a stir here, claiming that Yunnan had produced immortal qi and auspicious signs, so that by reporting the discovery, they could enhance their reputation.
Thinking of this,
A flash of inspiration struck him: This person might be a fraud! Why don't I catch him red-handed and force him to comply?
He immediately smiled and said, "Lord Wang speaks wisely. I once cultivated at the Qingxu Temple on Mount Wutai and heard Daoist priests there say that the immortal Zhou Dian had many traces of his deeds left in the world. I imagine Duke Mu knew the Dian Immortal and traveled in Yunnan for some time."
"Hmm, hmm,
Yes, yes, yes,"
Everyone nodded in agreement, thinking that Zhu Mo, being of Daoist origin, had spoken quite reasonably. Mu Ying had a deep connection with the Zhu family, so it was natural for Zhou Dian to show them more care.
Mu Chaobi thought, "You're not difficult to get along with, but you insist on implementing reforms? If you weren't so aggressive, why would there be so many problems?"
Seeing that You Jijing remained silent, he said, "Governor, in Yunnan and Guizhou, you and I are the principal figures. Why don't we offer Inspector Censor Lord Wang three cups of wine?"
His implication was that Wang Daren was still nominally an Inspector Censor, and the frontier prefects should show him particular respect.
You Jijing thought, "If you want to bring me down, it won't be that easy. I have no skeletons in my closet, and I'm not afraid of this cunning Wang Daren."
He immediately stood up, raised his cup, and respectfully said,
"Lord Wang, if you require any cooperation from this official in your duties in Yunnan and Guizhou, please do not hesitate to ask. Come, I, You, toast Lord Wang!"
With that,
He drank it down in one go, ignoring Mu Chaobi. Mu Chaobi immediately gave an awkward smile, gently put down his wine cup, and a hint of malevolence flashed across his face.
At this moment,
Zhu Mo realized his speculation was correct: Wang Daren was likely here to cooperate with the Yan family to impeach You Jijing. Both sides were fully aware of this, which explained You Jijing's extreme caution.