Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 484 Ohno So Good, Nothing More Than That
The case of the censor impeaching Cui Ling, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, for embezzlement was investigated and found to be true by Zu Ting, the legal officer of the Ministry of Justice. Cui Ling was dismissed from his post and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice prison.

"I want to see Zu Ting!"

Cui Ling, who had never gotten her feet wet walking along the river in her entire life, was defeated by a "newborn calf" and couldn't swallow this insult.

After being thrown into prison, he kept demanding to see Zu Ting and even went on a hunger strike in protest.

The official in the Ministry of Justice couldn't withstand the pressure and ultimately sent Zu Ting instead.

However, Zu Ting, who had been forced to come, was very impatient.

"Master Cui, what business do you have with me?"

At this moment, Cui Ling was in a very excited state. Seeing Zu Ting arrive, he couldn't help but sneer:

"I thought that if you threw me into this jail, you'd be able to wear scarlet robes, but in the end you didn't even make it into light scarlet and are still wearing this green uniform."

Zu Ting stared at Cui Ling, remaining silent for a long time before finally speaking:

"Finished?"

Seeing Zu Ting's expression, Cui Ling became even more excited and rushed over, saying:
Why did you frame me?

Zu Ting listened and laughed:
“If you were an honest official, putting you here would be considered framing you. But you are a corrupt official, so how can this be considered framing you?”

"Stop rambling."

Cui Ling gritted her teeth, but her eyes were clear.

"I offered you a promising future, but you refused, insisting on taking those back roads offered by the barbarians of the Six Garrisons. Does someone like you not know the fate of those cruel officials throughout history?"

"Lord Cui, in this life, you have relied on your lineage from the Cui family of Qinghe to stay in Luoyang, thinking that you are standing on a high peak and can look down on all living beings, but you have no idea how high the sky is?"

Zu Ting put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle. A ray of sunlight shone on Zu Ting's cheek through the ventilation window of the cell. His thoughtful expression made Cui Ling stare blankly.

"What are you going to do?"

"The road ahead is long and arduous, but I will go even if it means facing a million people! Today, Ohno Sou will summon me in Jinyong City, and that will satisfy me!"

Cui Ling took a step back, increasingly uneasy as she listened, and her tone became urgent.

"What are you doing?!"

"If it weren't for Master Cui, I wouldn't have been able to meet Da Ye Shuang so easily. For thousands of years to come, this story will be told, and Master Cui will be mentioned by people."

Cui Ling panicked completely and asked:
"What are you doing?!"

Zu Ting bowed to Cui Ling, then took his leave.

Cui Ling shouted from behind:
"Zu Xiaozheng, let's make peace. I won't let anyone cause you any trouble, okay? You're still young, don't be impulsive. Besides, this matter has nothing to do with me!"

……

Jinyong City.

Hou Jing led Zu Ting to the front of Jin Yong Palace. While waiting, Zu Ting could not hide his excitement. He subconsciously straightened his clothes and asked Hou Jing a question.

"Lord Liang, is my attire appropriate?"

Hou Jing rolled his eyes and asked:

What are you doing?!

"As a foreign envoy, how can I not pay attention to etiquette when I come to see the King of Qin?"

Hou Jing nodded, but felt a sense of crisis in his heart.

Damn it, there are too many sycophants these days.

These young people, when they get into a fawning mood, they all abandon all sense of martial ethics.

As Hou Jing was pondering this, an order to summon him came from within the palace.

The two entered the palace and saw Li Shuang standing in front of the throne, slowly turning around.

Zu Ting was shocked when he saw it.

A true hero!

However, he was shocked, but his movements were not slow at all. In fact, he bowed even faster than Hou Jing, which made Hou Jing very dissatisfied.

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain."

After Li Shuang finished speaking, he looked at Zu Ting and asked:
"Why did you come?"

Zu Ting was somewhat excited after hearing this, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:
"I have come for a name that will last for eternity." "A good name? A bad name?"

"My lifelong ambition is to be a person of great evil and to accomplish great good."

Li Shuang took a few steps forward, and Zu Ting felt his breathing become heavy.

"Back then, Zu Ti rowed his boat midstream to fight against the northern barbarians, vowing to restore the Han dynasty's land. What heroic ambition he had! It's a pity that all his achievements were ruined by his brother Zu Yue. Today, I have heard your words and know your aspirations. The world is not yet at peace. I hope you will fulfill your ambitions and not follow the example of Zu Yue, becoming a laughingstock."

"I will never forget the King of Qin's teachings!"

"Therefore, I hereby summon you to serve as my secretary in the Prince of Qin's palace. Would you be willing to accept this offer?"

"Your humble servant... no, Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

Just as Zu Ting was about to kneel down, Li Shuang stepped forward to help him up.

"That doesn't have to be the case."

Zu Ting wiped away his tears, deeply moved, which only made Hou Jing more and more displeased.

After Zu Ting left, Hou Jing finally couldn't help but say:
"Your Majesty, this fellow is no ordinary scholar; his character is quite bad. If you summon him to be your secretary, who knows what kind of trouble will ensue in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang asked:
"Are you referring to his theft of Ao Cao's jade disc?"

"Not only that!" Hou Jing quickly said, "He also stole Cui Ling's golden cicada and the books in Ganquan Palace. He's a habitual offender. I think that even if he is talented, he shouldn't let small things ruin his life."

Li Shuang nodded and said:

"Wan Jing, why do you think he came today?"

Upon hearing this, Hou Jing suddenly realized he was awake. He first checked himself, finding nothing missing, then carefully examined Li Shuang and said:

"Where is the jade pendant that Your Majesty carried, carved from ancient Lantian jade?"

Li Shuang pointed in the direction Zu Ting had gone, and Hou Jing immediately understood.

“This brat is asking for trouble, daring to steal from Your Majesty. I will tie him up and give him two hundred lashes to appease Your Majesty.”

"Who said I'm angry?"

Hou Jing was taken aback and asked in return:
What does Your Majesty mean?

"That's a fake."

"what?"

Seeing this, Li Shuang felt a little regretful and said:
"The craftsmanship is good, but it's still a bit lacking in refinement."

Hou Jing was completely baffled and asked:
"Since Your Majesty discovered his theft, why didn't you arrest him on the spot?"

“If he takes this jade pendant, he will surely sell it in the gold market as soon as possible. We can arrest him then.”

Hou Jing scratched his head, completely unable to understand.

"How could Your Majesty know he would sell it? Isn't that courting death?"

"Wan Jing, you don't understand, we thieves..."

Hou Jing looked at Li Shuang with her large, watery eyes, her expression somewhat embarrassed. Li Shuang snorted and said:
"—What are they doing, thieves, especially thieves who aren't afraid of being discovered at all?"

"Why?"

"That is your great name!"

Li Shuang whispered a few words in Hou Jing's ear, which piqued Hou Jing's interest.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this matter is entrusted to your subject."

……

Having left Jinyong City, with no pursuers behind him, Zu Ting finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Holding the gold-inlaid jade pendant in his hand, Zu Ting turned around and realized that his back was covered with fine beads of sweat, which stained his clothes.

I have now crossed this peak.

Zu Ting smiled, then strode off toward the gold market.

"Ohno Sou, he's nothing special!"

……

(End of this chapter)