364: The widely circulated storybook

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the water mirror was reflecting the street scene of Kaifeng Prefecture.

Morning light had just washed over the Drum Tower, and long queues had already formed outside the bookstores.

Buyers brandished copper coins, clamoring for "The Secret History of Prince Jing," while the shop assistants stood on tiptoes to replenish the bamboo baskets with newly printed storybooks; the sound of flipping pages mingled with the clamor of discussion, rising straight to the clouds.

"Have you heard? Prince Jing has locked Minister Li in a secret chamber and is using the Soul-Devouring Gu of the Blood Shadow Cult!"

"That’s not all! The storybook says he embezzled three million in military funds, leaving the soldiers at the northern border to wear thin clothes through the winter!"

"Such scum deserves to be sliced into a thousand pieces! Master Shi Nai'an writes well!"

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips lightly against the table surface; the sounds of discussion from the water mirror seeped in along the ice veins, carrying the distinct, fiery air of the marketplace.

Zhao Gao slid out from the shadows, holding an ebony tray stacked with three scrolls of intelligence reports.

"Young Lord, the storybook by Shi Nai'an is already in its third printing. People from the Prince Jing's estate smashed three bookstores last night, but they were surrounded by crowds of commoners."

Zhao Gao opened the first intelligence report; the lines of text, with ink still wet, were full of chaos. "Also, the Cultists of the Blood Shadow Cult have started to retreat, seemingly afraid of being implicated by Prince Jing."

The water mirror suddenly flickered, and the image shifted to Prince Jing's estate.

The vermilion-lacquered gate was banged against with a loud clatter. Prince Jing rushed out in his sleeping robe, pointing at his servants and cursing: "A bunch of useless trash! You can't even stop my carriage? Send the Imperial Guards to arrest them! Arrest everyone selling those books!"

"Your Highness, the commander of the Imperial Guards says... says that without a decree from Your Majesty, he dares not touch the commoners."

The steward tremblingly handed over a torn storybook, the words "Prince Jing and the top courtesan of the Music Bureau reveling all night" on the page were blotted out by a glob of ink.

Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertip at the ink blot in the water mirror and gave a cold sneer.

"He's panicked."

He turned to the summoning array. The spiritual energy at the array's core had risen to 92% due to the boiling public opinion. As the runes flowed, a line of text emerged: [Target's credibility collapse detected, can trigger linked summoning].

[System Prompt: Current atmosphere suitable for character — — Lord Bao]

[From: "Justice Bao" world]

[Realm: Peak Grandmaster Realm (Martial Dao), Wenqu Star (Fate)]

[Martial Skill: Seal of Justice (can suppress evil spirits, break through falsehoods), Tiger-Head Guillotine (exclusive weapon, executes anyone below the rank of Prince)]

[Loyalty trigger condition: Reveal the truth, uphold justice]

[Summoning cost: 90% spiritual energy]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip landed on the two characters for "Summon".

A gale suddenly swept through the underground palace. A crescent moon mark emerged from the golden light of the summoning array. Lord Bao's figure, dressed in official robes, gradually appeared. The wings of his black gauze hat trembled slightly, and the gavel in his hand slammed with a "crack" onto the virtual official desk.

"Commoner Bao Zheng pays his respects to the Young Lord."

As Lord Bao cupped his hands, ice patterns formed where his sleeves swept. "Hearing that petty villains are causing trouble in Kaifeng Prefecture and confusing the public, I am willing to clarify right and wrong for the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Lord Bao]

[Status: On standby]

[Special Ability: Judgements by day for the living, by night for the dead (can interrogate souls, discern: although the storybook is crude, it contains three parts truth, requires finding material evidence)]

Zhao Gao suddenly whispered: "Young Lord, the water mirror is moving!"

In the image, the Mayor of Kaifeng was leading constables toward the bookstore, but they were surrounded by commoners at the street corner.

"Is the Mayor trying to shield Prince Jing?" Someone shouted, and rotten vegetable leaves immediately flew like rain.

The Mayor's official hat was knocked askew, and he hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs: "This official is here to investigate the case!"

Lord Bao's brows furrowed deeply. He took three tokens from his sleeve and handed them to Jun Xiaoyao.

"Young Lord, these are the tokens for the Joint Trial by the Three Judicial Departments."

The tokens shimmered with verdigris. "With these, one can requisition the account books of the Ministry of Revenue, the files of the Ministry of Justice, and the deployment maps of the Imperial Guards. If we are to try Prince Jing, we are still missing one thing."

Jun Xiaoyao took the tokens, and the water mirror suddenly switched to Li Song's study.

Flying was crouching on the beam, his fingertips tracing a hidden compartment behind the bookshelf — — hidden there was a purple sandalwood box, the bloodstains on the corner of which matched perfectly with the traces on the stone platform in the secret chamber.

"Found it."

Flying's blade pried open the box lock. The account book inside was marked in red ink with the words "Prince Jing privately mints copper coins and trades with the Northern Di." Attached to the page was a token of the Blood Shadow Cult, with the word "Venerable" engraved on the back.

Lord Bao's gavel sounded again: "With this ironclad evidence, we can open the court."

He looked at the summoning array. "However, to try a Prince, one must request the Imperial Sword. Is the Young Lord willing to summon another person?"

[System Prompt: Linked summoning — — Zhan Zhao]

[From: "three heroes and five gallants" world]

[Realm: Early Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: zhanlu sword (cuts iron like mud), Lightness Skill (Treading Snow Without a Trace)]

[Loyalty trigger condition: Follow Lord Bao, protect the loyal and righteous]

[Summoning cost: 85% spiritual energy]

When the golden light rose again, Zhan Zhao was already standing beside Lord Bao, the zhanlu sword slung diagonally at his waist; as he cupped his hands, a gust of wind arose.

"Zhan Zhao, the Southern Hero, pays his respects to the Young Lord and Lord Bao."

[Character Panel: Zhan Zhao]

[Status: On guard]

[Special Ability: Jianghu Informant (well-versed in all walks of life, well-informed)]

[Current thought: The Blood Shadow Cult's token... is related to the escort robbery case from three years ago]

In the water mirror, Prince Jing was directing his servants to load gold and silver onto a carriage. The steward wailed from the side: "Your Highness, you cannot leave! The Imperial Guards have already surrounded the estate!"

Prince Jing kicked over a chest, sending gold bars rolling across the floor. "If we can't leave, then we fight! Burn all those storybooks! Let's see who dares to gossip then!"

Flames suddenly shot up; it was the people from Prince Jing's estate who had set fire to the bookstore next door. Thick smoke, mingled with paper ash, drifted into the sky.

The waves of angry curses from the commoners grew louder; some were throwing storybooks at the estate, shouting "Burn this dog Prince to death."

Lord Bao's expression was as dark as ink: "Zhan Zhao, take men to put out the fire and protect the account books and evidence."

He then turned to Jun Xiaoyao. "Young Lord, the fire's spread will harm the commoners; we need someone to control the fire."

[System Prompt: Emergency summoning — — Pei Donglai]

[From: "Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame" world]

[Realm: Late Stage Grandmaster Realm]

[Martial Skill: Scarlet Flame Blade (can ignite fire, and also extinguish fire), Tracking Technique (can track for a hundred miles by scent)]

[Loyalty trigger condition: Investigate the truth, prevent miscarriages of justice]

[Summoning cost: 80% spiritual energy]

Crimson flames ignited within the golden light of the summoning array. Pei Donglai's figure appeared in the fire, his copper face mask reflecting the light. As he knelt on one knee, his Scarlet Flame Blade traced a firebreak line on the ground.

"Pei Donglai, awaiting orders."

[Character Panel: Pei Donglai]

[Status: Preparing for battle]

[Special Ability: Fire Control Art (can control flames at will)]

[Current thought: This fire is not right; there is something suspicious]

Zhan Zhao had already lifted his sword and swept out of the underground palace. In the water mirror, his figure swept across the sky above the fire scene; the Sword Qi cleaved out by the zhanlu sword severed burning beams, saving several bookstore workers who had been trapped.

Pei Donglai's Scarlet Flame Blade was thrust into the ground; the firebreak line suddenly emitted a blue light, forcing the fire toward the inner courtyard of the estate. The commoners clapped and cheered.

Lord Bao stood behind the virtual official desk, his fingertips tapping on Li Song's account book: "Young Lord, at the hour of the Horse (noon), we can set up the public court at Kaifeng Prefecture, conduct a Joint Trial, and invite all officials to observe."

His Seal of Justice lit up with golden light on the desk. "I will ensure Prince Jing has no way to deny it."

Jun Xiaoyao watched the chaotic Prince Jing's estate in the water mirror; the red ink markings on the account book shimmered with a cold light in the firelight.

Zhao Gao suddenly handed over the fourth intelligence report, the ink smudged like blood: "Young Lord, the leader of the Blood Shadow Cult sent word, saying they are willing to offer Prince Jing's head in exchange for their safe retreat."

In the water mirror, the Men in Black of the Blood Shadow Cult were fighting with Prince Jing's servants. The cult leader smashed the window of Prince Jing's carriage, roaring: "The money you embezzled is enough to buy how many lives?"

Prince Jing huddled under the carriage seat, clutching his head; his former arrogance had vanished completely.

"No need."

Jun Xiaoyao closed the intelligence report. The spiritual energy of the summoning array still had 75% remaining. Runes flowed at his fingertips. "Let Lord Bao try him."

The bell for noon tolled from the water mirror, and the drums of Kaifeng Prefecture were struck thunderously by the commoners.

Zhan Zhao escorted Prince Jing through the crowd, and Pei Donglai brought up the rear, carrying the Scarlet Flame Blade; the firebreak line moved with them, like a protective fire dragon.

Lord Bao's black gauze hat shimmered in the sunlight. When the gavel fell, the entire Kaifeng Prefecture heard a shout — —

"Court is now in session!"

The paper ash from the storybooks swirled outside the court. A child picked up an unburned page, reading the words "Prince Jing brought to justice" on it, their voice as crisp as a wind chime.

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips left the ice table. The sunlight in the water mirror fell right upon the Tiger-Head Guillotine; the patterns on the blade flowed in the light, as if telling a story.

Zhao Gao whispered: "Young Lord, the reputation of Beyond Heaven should now reach the northern border."

Jun Xiaoyao did not speak, simply watching the spiritual energy in the summoning array slowly recover.

The runes at the array's core reflected the court in the water mirror, as if saying: this game of chess has only just reached the mid-game.