CHAPTER 597: CHAPTER 597: THE MASTERMIND GUO NENG

Guo Neng thought through these matters. He slowly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and convinced himself.

"Those thieves have such shrewd minds, they must have calculated the timing perfectly!

As a man, I must be flexible. Let’s make a deal then, it’s just an old thief after all.

As long as I get through this critical period and clean up all the matters written on this paper, those thieves will not be able to touch me afterwards, and then..."

Guo Neng opened his eyes, which were already clear and bright.

After the guard who was passing the message left, he said to the people around him with a cold voice, "Return to the residence!"

"Yes, young master."

In the night, Ma Neng’s carriage raced towards the Guo residence.

On a nearby rooftop, a gust of wind blew by, as if a figure had flitted across.

In the courtyard, only the Servant Boy was left, lying on the ground, ignored by all.

When the Servant Boy regained his strength, it was silent all around, and there was no one...

Star Palace.

When Hu Miaomiao returned with someone, Chen Fa from the Internal Guard Bureau was already in the palace, reporting on the generals under Chen Bian who had come to the Capital.

Those generals under Chen Bian were almost at the Capital, with at most a day’s journey left to arrive.

Hu Miaomiao walked into the palace from outside and overheard a few sentences. He thought to himself that His Majesty really had a great strategy. Originally, those generals wanted to delay their arrival in the Capital until the day of the Longevity Festival.

After His Majesty had scolded them at the court meeting, the generals panicked and hurried their previously leisurely journey, treating one day as three in their eagerness to catch up, fearing that any further delay would lose them the relaxed pace they once had.

By the time they reached the Capital, both men and horses would be exhausted, with no strength left for other matters, let alone be ready for the Longevity Festival.

The Emperor nodded after hearing this and then asked, "Have all the people who have emerged over these days been investigated thoroughly?"

Chen Fa responded, "Your Majesty can rest assured, everything has been thoroughly investigated, and the Internal Guard Bureau is ready. We are just awaiting Your Majesty’s command."

"Hmm," the Emperor did not inquire further, but turned to Hu Miaomiao who had just returned, signaling him to report the results of the investigation.

Hu Miaomiao immediately reported, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the mastermind behind the scenes has been revealed. It is Guo Neng of the Guo family in the Capital. According to the father and son of the He Family, they knew only that this person was a merchant with vast capabilities, having a mysterious backer that even the government dared not provoke, one of the Imperial Merchants supplying tea exclusively to the palace..."

"...Beauty Lian’s family, along with the local official who died and the He family, were framed by this person and have been imprisoned and sent into exile. My lord, a complete investigation will take some more time. I fear that if it takes too long, the mastermind, Guo Neng, might escape. I have taken the liberty to come back and report, asking for Your Majesty’s instructions."

He briefly explained the situation.

He had not yet completed the investigation, but as soon as he knew the identity of the mastermind, he immediately came to report, fearing any delay might allow the mastermind to escape.

He had also brought a subordinate with him and, after leaving, would be ready to serve at Your Majesty’s command at any moment.

The Emperor laughed with anger, "Just an Imperial Merchant, yet he dares to commit crimes so blatantly, treating laws as if they were nothing? Who exactly is backing him up behind the scenes?"

Hu Miaomiao hesitated for a moment and speculated, "We haven’t had the chance to confirm it yet, but the Guo family has marital ties with the Xue Family. I suspect that the Guo family’s backup might be Master Xue, Minister of Revenue Xue Ping."

This Guo family, he had actually looked into them and knew whose relatives they were.

During the re-examination at the Imperial Academy’s Shanxue Square, some unrest had occurred in the markets. Hu Miaomiao had sent people to follow up and investigate. It was this Guo family at that time, whose servants were caught and blackmailed, causing a commotion in the market.

If it is this Guo family, Chen Fa also knows about it. He took over the conversation, "Your Majesty, the Internal Guard Bureau has investigated all relatives of the Xue family, and this Guo family is one of them. The person in charge is not the Guo family’s old master but the young master, Guo Neng."

He paused and then continued, "It’s strange to say, Guo Neng’s aunt is the wife of Xue Ping, but the relationship between the Guo and Xue families seems not good. They seldom interact, even during festivals and holidays, attracting very little attention. We had overlooked this Guo family in the past, until recently when two people came forward with clues, bringing this Guo family into the light. The place the Ancestral Master went is indeed related to the Guo family’s Grain Transport Team."

The Emperor’s eyes shone with a cold light, his tone thick with murderous intent as he coldly said, "Xue Ping, it’s Xue Ping again! No wonder a mere merchant has such gall, it turns out he has the support of Xue Ping, ha!"

Chen Fa bowed his head, thinking about the implications and the current situation, he expressed his worry, "Your Majesty, if we act against the Guo family now, we might alert the enemy, and on Xue Ping’s side..."

If the likes of Xue Ping became alert, all the undercover work done by the Internal Guard Bureau these days might be all for naught, and the investigation the Ancestral Master was conducting is also related to the Guo family...

Hu Miaomiao’s smile on his face stiffened, his plump fists clenched then released. If that was the case, for the greater good, they probably couldn’t act against the Guo family just yet.

The Emperor gazed sharply at Chen Fa, a slow smile forming, "I can endure for the sake of the Altar of Soil and Grain, for the sake of the dawn’s commoners, but what is the Guo family that it merits my patience?"

If he needed to tolerate a merchant like a minor character, that would be too pathetic for him as an Emperor.

Even if they did take action, would Xue Ping dare confront him over such a trivial character?

Ha, such a fuss over startling the grass to scare the snake, the plans of many days have been set, and Xue Ping can no longer turn the tide.

Unless... Xue Ping wants to rebel, otherwise, he will have to endure it.

A person like Xue Ping, who fears death and clings to life, setting off all sorts of ruckus in the former court, only dares to hide behind the scenes, stirring things up to save himself, not daring to rebel until death stares him in the face.

The Emperor saw clearly, he stepped down from his throne, his icy gaze slid over Chen Fa: "A mere jumping clown, what’s the harm in dealing with him? Right now, our Ancestral Master is not in the Capital, the Internal Guard Bureau must not lose its vigor, nor can it tarnish his reputation."

This statement resounded like thunder, causing a great shock in Chen Fa, who knelt on one knee, "Thank you for Your Majesty’s teaching."

Under the leadership of Cao De, the Internal Guard Bureau was decisive and swift, rooting out the Rebel Prince, thoroughly investigating Treacherous Officials, and so intimidating that all court officials dared not speak out. Even returning to the shadows after many years, their deterrent effect on the court officials remained.

Even now, wherever the Internal Guard Bureau went, terror spread among those who heard of it.

The Internal Guard Bureau should have this kind of overbearing presence.

Chen Fa knew in his heart that he had been indecisive. The Guo family was just a minor role, if the Ancestral Master were here, he would have directly led a team to raid them, leaving no faults for the world to pick at, instead of hesitating like he did, looking forward and backward, not daring to take a step forward.

Hu Miaomiao, hearing this, was overjoyed, his spirits lifted, and he decisively said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to take on the mission to capture the mastermind behind the case involving Beauty Lian’s relatives, to catch the murderer who silenced witnesses, and the thugs at the Ma Xiapo post station!"

"Good!" The Emperor directly ordered, "Hu Miaomiao, I command you to set out immediately with your men to capture the culprits, without mistake."

"As Your Majesty commands, I will set out at once." Hu Miaomiao responded loudly, ready to leave.