Starting as a prodigy wanting milk? A world-destroying deception in the opposite direction.

The main council chamber of the temple was solemn and dignified, with crimson curtains hanging down.

Chief Celestial Official Gu Qing sat in the main seat, flanked by high-ranking officials from various departments of the temple.

Su Wenyuan and Wang Juan from the Ceremonial Court, Yue Kunlun from the Zhennian Hall, Mu Qingfeng from the Qitian Hall, and Ling Buyu from the Jingxie Division were among those present.

The topic of discussion was precisely how to handle the clues about heresy in the western border regions.

Ling Buyu spoke first, recounting the events of the Forget-Worry Winery case, emphasizing Shen Zhen's crucial role in it:

"...therefore,

In my opinion, it is most appropriate to send Shen Zhen as a special envoy of the temple to the western frontier to investigate this clue.

He is familiar with the case, possesses outstanding abilities, and has recently made numerous meritorious contributions; he is fully qualified for this position.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Yue Kunlun, the head of Zhennian Hall, boomed:

"What Chief Ling said makes sense!"

However, the western border region is located on the frontier, and the tribes are fierce and the situation is complex. Sending only Shen Zhen may not be enough to handle the situation alone.

Su Mingyuan of Zhen Niantang is a promising young man.

His cultivation has reached the late stage of the first rank. He is steady in his actions and showed no fear in the face of danger during the Great Battle of the Spirit-Soothing Ritual. He is a promising young talent who can shoulder heavy responsibilities.

This experience will enhance Gong's practical experience, enabling him to better serve the temple in the future.

On a personal level, it also allows the world to see that the temple and the imperial families are of one mind and share the responsibility of protecting all living beings.

His voice was calm and steady, and his reasons were plausible and respectable.

But everyone present knew that the Su family was incredibly wealthy and had intricate connections with the temple's "Divine Grace Treasury." Yue Kunlun's strong recommendation was clearly motivated by something else entirely.

Before Yue Kunlun could finish speaking, Mu Qingfeng, the Palace Master of Qitian Palace, calmly interjected:

"Master Yue's love for talent is evident to all."

However, the affairs of the western frontier cannot be accomplished solely through courage and strength.

In the land of barbarians, the environment is unpredictable and the customs are vastly different, requiring both resourcefulness and insight.

Although Ye Zhiqiu of my palace is somewhat lazy, he has a knack for stratagems, knowledge of local customs and even intelligence gathering, and is quite quick-witted.

Although my cultivation level is only at the late stage of the first rank, it is enough to protect myself.

Having him accompany him might assist Special Envoy Shen in identifying and addressing any shortcomings, providing support from the sidelines, and handling any unexpected situations.

He spoke tactfully, but when he mentioned Ye Zhi Qiu's strengths, he implied that Su Ming Yuan was only "brave and strong," clearly indicating that Qi Tian Palace did not want Zhen Nian Tang, or rather, the Su family, to monopolize the credit and future connections.

Su Wenyuan, the head of the ceremonial academy, his eyes flickered slightly, and he solemnly said:

"Palace Master Mu has considered things carefully."

Investigating heresy, gathering evidence and analyzing facts are fundamental.

Without detailed records and rigorous deductions, even with great effort, it may be difficult to achieve even a fraction of the results, and one might even give others a handle to use against them.

Qiu Zhengnan of our college is resolute in character and has solid academic knowledge. He is especially good at textual research, analysis, and document archiving.

Having her in charge of intelligence screening, clue organization, and even the final report writing along the way ensures that the investigation process is clear and verifiable, the conclusions are irrefutable, and can withstand scrutiny from all parties.

The expedition to the western frontier was not merely a display of military might.

More importantly, it concerns the rigor and dignity of our temple's operations, which necessitates such a balanced approach of firmness and flexibility.

He elevated the importance of document and archival work to the level of matters concerning the majesty of the temple, not only to secure a position for Qiu Zhengnan and the Qiu family behind him.

This also secured crucial control of the narrative for the Ceremonial Council in this operation and its subsequent conclusions.

Gu Qingjing listened intently to everyone's remarks, his gaze deep and unfathomable. Only after the noise subsided slightly did he speak slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight:

"What you all said is from the perspective of the overall situation of the temple, and each of you has your own emphasis, which is very good."

The affairs of the western frontier concern border stability and the movements of heretics, and therefore require serious attention.

Sending young talents for training is also an opportunity to cultivate future pillars of society.

Therefore, Shen Zhen will be the chief envoy, with Su Mingyuan, Ye Zhiqi, and Qiu Zhengnan as his deputies, to travel together. It is hoped that they will cooperate sincerely, each contributing their strengths, and live up to the important trust placed in them by the temple.

He paused briefly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd, and continued...

"Furthermore, my son has inherited the business and lived in the capital for a long time. He has been lacking in experience and his knowledge is inevitably shallow."

This was a rare opportunity, so he was allowed to travel with the team, experience some hardships, and broaden his horizons.

I hope that all my colleagues will consider his youth and provide him with more guidance and instruction, and not show him any leniency because of me.”

These words seem humble, as if he is asking for his son to have a chance to gain experience.

However, since it was proposed personally by the Chief Celestial Official, it carries significant weight.

This not only fulfilled the father-son relationship but also paved a smooth path for Gu Chengye to make connections with various parties and accumulate experience, leaving everyone present with no choice but to accept this subtle favor.

The day after a delicate balance was reached within the temple regarding the selection of the delegation, the royal family's reaction quickly followed, euphemistically described as:

Collaborative investigations and friendly relations demonstrate the shared commitment between the Empire and the Temple to protecting all living beings.

Contrary to some people's expectations,

The one who volunteered to serve as the official representative for this "joint investigation" was none other than the Third Prince Feng Yu, who was known for his "playboy lifestyle and lack of professional competence."

He said in court:

"Father, since the temple has already sent its elite troops to the western frontier to investigate heresies, if our royal family does not send anyone to accompany them, wouldn't that seem indifferent and chill the hearts of the people on the frontier and the gods of the temple?"

Although I am not very talented or learned, I am willing to represent the royal family and do my best to show that the empire and the temple are of one mind and one heart to jointly resist foreign evil.

Moreover, the scenery of the western frontier... well, the customs and traditions of the western frontier are unique, and I have long yearned to travel there. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

As he spoke, his eyes still habitually glanced at the palace maids standing in the hall, displaying a nonchalant and carefree demeanor.

His words, while grand and dignified, carried his usual flippancy, which was consistent with his usual image.

Feng Hongyi pondered for a moment.

Perhaps they felt that sending their seemingly unambitious son, whose reputation was not bad but whose only interest lay in romance, would both demonstrate the existence of the royal family and avoid excessively provoking the temple or triggering a fierce reaction from the other princes.

He nodded in agreement and instructed him:

"Observe more and speak less, and follow the instructions of the temple's special envoy. Do not act recklessly or arbitrarily."

When the news reached the council hall of the temple, Gu Qing and the others were fully aware of it.

The royal family did not want the temple to monopolize the power of investigation, so sending a prince was not only for supervision, but also for sharing the credit, and even more so for a political gesture.

Feng Yu appears to be a lecherous and incompetent man, but his ability to remain unscathed in the treacherous royal court suggests he may not be as simple as he seems.

The royal family's attitude in sending him appeared gentle and harmless, but in reality, they were cunning and treacherous.

Gu Qing's expression remained unchanged as he slowly said:

"His Highness the Third Prince is willing to personally go into danger to understand the situation on the border, which is a blessing for the empire and a boon for the people."

With His Highness representing the Royal Family in cooperation, this trip to the western frontier will undoubtedly further demonstrate the Empire's and the Temple's sincerity in joining hands to protect the people.

Thus, the delegation was set with Shen Zhen as the chief envoy, Su Mingyuan, Ye Zhiqi, Qiu Zhengnan, and Gu Chengye as deputy envoys, and the Third Prince, Prince Fengyu, representing the royal family.

Do any of you gentlemen have any further objections?

Your Highness and everyone else said:

"The Chief Celestial Official is wise and sagacious."

With this, the list of members for this complex investigation mission to the western frontier, each with their own agenda, was finalized.

......