Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Zhou Feng's lips curved into a smile. Wasn't the whole point of sending people over here for this moment?

He glanced at Gao Hu and nodded: "If Lord Gao has the opportunity, I will take you outside the city another day, as you cannot fully utilize your abilities within the city."

Gao Hu had been waiting for these words, and immediately beamed with joy, repeatedly bowing and saying, "Of course, of course! I'm sorry to have bothered you!"

Ke Zheng, sitting across the table, overheard the two whispering together. He snorted and slammed his teacup down on the table. "We officials are ashamed to associate with such opportunistic people. If Lord Gao finds the path of immortality interesting, then go ahead and do so. Why get in our way?"

Gao Hu, however, didn't care at all. With a thick skin, he simply grinned and said, "Lord Ke is joking. I was just asking a few questions out of curiosity because I admire the Celestial Master's supernatural powers. If Lord Ke finds me an eyesore, I'll just stay away."

As he spoke, he returned to his seat, but still winked at Zhou Feng from a distance.

Although Ke Zheng was demoted and exiled from Tokyo, his position within the Qingliu faction and the connections he had cultivated in the officialdom over the years far surpassed those of Xiao Qinyan.

Gao Hu naturally dared not argue with him, but when he noticed that Yao Yao raised her wine glass towards him, he quickly raised his glass in return, feeling flattered, and downed it in one gulp.

He couldn't afford to offend Ke Zheng, but Ke Zheng couldn't do anything about him either.

While the guests at the Xiao residence were forming cliques, Emperor Zhao Heng and the Eighth Prince Zhao Yuanyan were sitting facing each other, enjoying tea in the inner courtyard of the palace.

Although the two were chatting casually, it was clear that their attention was not on this.

"Your Majesty! The eunuch you sent to Prime Minister Xiao's residence to deliver the imperial decree has returned!"

Suddenly, a eunuch outside reported in a shrill voice, and Zhao Heng, who was still in the hall, immediately brightened up: "Quickly, summon him in!"

"I have met the Emperor and the Eighth Prince."

"No need for formalities, let me tell you about the situation at the Xiao residence!"

Zhao Yuanyan waved his hand, signaling the eunuch to speak directly. The eunuch stood up, pondered for a few seconds, and then spoke: "Your Majesty, Eighth Prince, after I read the imperial decree, Xiao Qinyan gave it to the young master of the Xiao residence, who then handed it to the steward with one hand. Although Master Zhou was also in the Xiao residence, he never came out of the hall to receive the decree from beginning to end."

When Zhao Heng and Zhao Yuanyan first heard Xiao Qinyan's attitude, their anger began to rise, but they were able to barely suppress it.

When he learned that Zhou Feng had even avoided the imperial decree, Zhao Heng couldn't hold back and smashed the teacup in his hand.

With a crisp bang, the Ding kiln porcelain bowl shattered on the blue brick floor of the warm pavilion, spilling tea all over the floor.

"This is outrageous!"

Zhao Heng suddenly stood up from the couch, his face extremely pale, and his chest heaving violently.

The eunuch immediately lay prostrate on the ground, trembling, not daring to raise his head, fearing that Zhao Heng would take his anger out on him.

"Alright, you can leave now."

Zhao Yuanran sighed softly and waved to the eunuch.

The other person glanced at the official and, seeing that he didn't stop them, breathed a sigh of relief and carefully left the room.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Zhao Yuanyan stood beside Zhao Heng and offered a word of advice in a deep voice, but Zhao Heng suddenly turned his head to look at him.

"Eighth Prince, how can I calm down? What was Zhou Feng's attitude? I personally sent someone to deliver the decree, and he dared not even show his face. Does he even respect me as the Emperor?"

Zhao Yuanran took another teacup from the table next to him and personally poured Zhao Heng some tea.

"Your Majesty, didn't my brother invite Zhou Feng to our residence the other day? His attitude was quite clear. Weren't you prepared?"

Zhao Heng suddenly fell silent for a long time before sighing and shaking his head: "I can't understand it!"

"Just a few days ago, when this Celestial Master Zhou first arrived in Tokyo, he presented me with magical artifacts and displayed supernatural powers, becoming very friendly with me. That's why I appointed him as the Celestial Master Protector of the Nation, even elevating him to a higher rank than other officials. What more could he possibly want? Why has he suddenly become like this?"

"Your Majesty, Zhou Feng may indeed be from Penglai, but he certainly did not come here to become a hermit!"

Zhao Yuanyan's expression was very solemn. Unlike Zhao Heng, he was not so obsessed with Taoist culture, so he had no bias towards Zhou Feng and was able to sort out what had happened over this period of time.

"Think about it, after this Celestial Master Zhou came to Tokyo, he first presented his magical artifacts and displayed his supernatural powers. After obtaining the position of Celestial Master, he began to befriend ministers and interfere in the market, taking every step carefully. Now, even I am not sure how much influence he has in Tokyo."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Heng's eyes widened in surprise: "You mean he wants to..."

The word "treason" was too heavy for even Zhao Heng to utter lightly.

Zhao Yuanyan nodded vigorously: "Your Majesty, if it's not what you think, Zhou Feng now has salt and grain in his hands, soldiers by his side, and public opinion in his hands. What do you think his motives are?"

Zhao Heng's face paled even more, but he didn't reply, only staring at the few broken pieces of porcelain on the ground.

After a short while, he suddenly raised his head: "How about I send the Imperial City Guard to arrest Zhou Feng first, so that we can at least find out what he is up to?"

"There's no rush yet."

At this point, Zhao Yuanyan raised his hand to stop Zhao Heng's idea: "Your Majesty, if Zhou Feng were an ordinary person, the Imperial City Guard could easily arrest him. But he is no ordinary person! Summoning lightning and controlling fire are commonplace for him! Putting aside whether the Imperial City Guard can capture him, we have never seen his true abilities. What if his trump card could endanger Your Majesty..."

Zhao Yuanyan didn't finish his sentence, but it made Zhao Heng's hair stand on end and his back break out in a cold sweat.

Zhou Feng's attitude is still ambiguous. He doesn't even dare to use those magical artifacts anymore, and just piles them up in a side hall.

"Eighth Prince, I'm entrusting this matter to you. The entire Imperial City Guard is at your disposal. You must uncover all of his secrets. As for the matter at the Xiao residence today, I'll let it slide. We'll settle accounts with them after you've given your findings!"

"yes!"

Zhao Yuanyan bowed his head in greeting before slowly retreating and leaving the hall.

The moment he closed the door, the sound of shattering porcelain came from inside the room.

The guards and eunuchs standing at the door seemed to have lost their hearing, their expressions remaining unchanged.

With a long sigh, Zhao Yuanyan made up his mind.

Regardless of Zhou Feng's identity or methods, since he has threatened the Zhao family's rule, they will have to confront him sooner or later.

Even if it costs them their lives, at least they will have found out the truth for the authorities!