Holy Bone

Chapter 2024 The Corpse Painting Cave: An Old Friend from the Mortal Realm, Former Grand Secretary Xun
Tonight, Jin'an did not return to the Wuzang Taoist Temple in the capital.

Instead, they stayed at Feihe Mountain, drinking and chatting with Mr. Bai and the others, sharing their experiences during the past six months.

The old Taoist priest and Fatty Li also benefited, getting plenty of good wine and meat, and enjoying a wonderful night of fine food and drink.

Of course, lamb is an essential garnish.

When Jin An used the eighteenth transformation of the Seventy-Two Transformations, the Earth Travel Technique, to lead the old Taoist priest and Fatty Li back to the Five Organs Taoist Temple in the capital, it was already the next day at dawn.

With only an hour left until dawn, Jin'an told the old Taoist priest and Fatty Li to rest for an hour before getting up to work. He was to take care of cleaning the Taoist temple and lighting the incense in the various shrines.

Jin An is at the late stage of the fourth realm, so losing a day or two of sleep won't affect him.

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and seven more days passed, leaving only three days until Emperor Kangzhao's ancestral worship ceremony.

During these days, Jin'an did not see Young Master Yiyun again.

Young Master Yiyun never appeared in the capital. He couldn't even manage a "chance encounter." It seems the old Taoist's prophecy has once again come true.

"Master Jin'an, it's time to leave the office. Why aren't you leaving yet?"

"These past few days I've noticed you standing in the courtyard, lost in thought. Has something happened to you, Master Jin'an?"

"Is it about the Immortal Cauldron of Inquiry?"

Fatty Li came to Jin'an's study, intending to ask Jin'an to leave the yamen and return to the Wuzang Taoist Temple together. However, as soon as he arrived at the study, he saw Jin'an standing in the courtyard outside the door, gazing at the void, just like always.

"I'm fine, I'm just waiting for my shift to end."

Jin An smiled slightly and changed the subject of Fatty Li's words.

Fatty Li looked suspiciously at Jin An, then at the direction Jin An kept staring. He nudged Jin An with his elbow and whispered, "These past few days, Daoist Jin An has been spacing out whenever he has time, and every time he does, he's staring in the same direction..."

"If Daoist Jin'an still can't let go of Young Master Yiyun and wants to catch up with him again, have a chat, and rekindle old friendships, he can go directly to Prince Zunyi's residence. I, Fatty, will drive you there without hesitation."

Fatty Li patted his chest as he spoke, looking like he was ready to risk everything.

He had already noticed that Jin An had been standing in the same spot and looking towards the same place for the past few days, which was in the direction of Prince Zunyi's residence.

Jin An was amused by Li Pangzi's words and said with a laugh, "Go away, Li Pangzi, you're just thinking nonsense again."

"Since you're so free, Fatty Li, after we get off work, take me somewhere, and then we'll go back to the Five Organs Taoist Temple."

Fatty Li became interested and asked curiously, "Where are we going?"

Jin An said, "It is the family of Xun, the former Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet."

Hiss!

Fatty Li gasped, then exclaimed in surprise, "Master Jin'an, you know Scholar Xun?"

Oh?
Jin An asked curiously, "What, is this Scholar Xun famous in the capital? Judging from your surprised look, Fatty Li, people will think I've found a thousand taels of silver." Fatty Li raised his voice a few notches and said, "That's Scholar Xun!"

"If we were to say who in the capital has the most literary talent, it would undoubtedly be Scholar Xun. All the officials in the capital combined cannot match the high moral character and prestige of Scholar Xun."

"Master Jin'an, you should know that Scholar Xun was on the side of the late emperor. After the late emperor died and the emperor changed, Scholar Xun had some unpleasant experiences in court and resigned to retire at home. Emperor Kangzhao did not mind that Scholar Xun was a favorite of the late emperor and wanted to give him an important position. So he summoned Scholar Xun three times in a row, trying to win him over and recruit him. However, Scholar Xun declined each time, saying that he was unwell and could not enter the palace. Emperor Kangzhao saw that he could not recruit Scholar Xun, so he approved the memorial allowing Scholar Xun to resign early and retire at home."

"And how popular was this Scholar Xun during the late emperor's reign? Let me put it this way: when the late emperor was still alive, he wanted to appoint Scholar Xun as prime minister several times, the head of all officials, to oversee the overall situation of the country. But Scholar Xun was unwilling, he was only willing to be a Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet, responsible for cleaning up the court of corrupt officials and awakening the wise ruler, and he was not willing to take a higher position."

At this point, Fatty Li raised his voice several octaves and said, "That's the Prime Minister!"

"The head of all officials!"

"He is truly second only to the emperor!"

"Throughout history, what have so many officials spent their entire lives striving for? Isn't it just to become the prime minister, oversee all the important affairs of the country, and enjoy the prestige and wealth second only to the emperor? But Scholar Xun refused, unwilling to become prime minister, letting the late emperor decide who should be prime minister, he just wouldn't!"

"The fact that Scholar Xun refused the position of Prime Minister was well-known during the late Emperor's reign. The late Emperor wanted the people to nominate Scholar Xun as Prime Minister, but Scholar Xun refused. In the end, the late Emperor had no choice but to temporarily put the matter aside, leaving the position of Prime Minister vacant until the late Emperor passed away without appointing a Prime Minister..."

After introducing Scholar Xun's personal background, Fatty Li lowered his voice and whispered, "Master Jin'an, give me a hint, do you really know Scholar Xun?"

"Scholar Xun is not easy to meet. Unless you are on very good terms with him, I suggest you don't go to his house easily... Since the late emperor died, Scholar Xun's personality has changed drastically. He has become withdrawn and indifferent to people, only occasionally interacting with a few close friends in the court."

Upon hearing this, Jin An laughed and said, "Whether Scholar Xun will see us or not, we'll find out when we get there."

Fatty Li sighed and said, "Scholar Xun has a really strange temper, and it's really hard to see him under normal circumstances."

"Master Jin'an, you should give me a heads-up first. If we are rejected when we visit Scholar Xun, I won't be too embarrassed."

Jin An laughed heartily, then strode out of the Criminal Investigation Department without answering Fatty Li's question about whether he was familiar with Scholar Xun or not.

Fatty Li gritted his teeth, stomped his feet, and then quickly followed.

"Who told me to live at the Five Organs Taoist Temple all this time, eating, drinking and lodging for free? Even if I lose face today, I'll just lose face with you, Master Jin'an."

Soon after, the carriage carrying the commander of the Criminal Investigation Department left the department and headed in another direction from the capital.

It's not the direction to return to the Five Organs Taoist Temple.

"Master Jin'an, let me knock on the door first to see how Scholar Xun is in a mood today, so I can prepare you accordingly."

"You should be prepared in case Scholar Xun is in a bad mood today."

As Li Pangzi drove, he said earnestly to Jin An, "However, we are from the Criminal Investigation Department. Even if Scholar Xun doesn't like dealing with people, he should still welcome us into his home."

"After all, the power of the Criminal Investigation Department is neither too great nor too small. It is in charge of criminal cases nationwide. We must have something important to discuss with Scholar Xun."

"By the way, Daoist Jin'an, what exactly is the purpose of our visit to Scholar Xun's house this time?"