Chapter 47: The Rescue! Yun Zhonghe’s Majestic Masterpiece!

This time, the dust had settled, and things really came to a close.

The female castellan, Jing Zhongyue, really did not limit herself to the conventional way of using talents. Third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. Was she really willing to give him that position?

Anyone could tell that, in the near future, the Embroidered Guard Division was going to be a heavyweight, and that it was going to hold an even more important position that of Black Blood Hall.

The weight of a third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division was already way beyond that of an adviser of the judicial department of the Bureau of Torn Gust.

When Jing Zhongyue announced the appointment of the first five people, there was not much of a reaction from everyone.

Everyone felt that those appointments were well-deserved and justifiable. Over the last three years, Chu Zhaoran had already been performing exceptionally well. He was originally a young man of outstanding talent that Lord Jing E had thought very highly of. He had been serving as the adviser of the judicial department and official registrar of the Bureau of Torn Gust for three years now.

If he had not had to return home to observe a mourning period, he would have risen higher up the ranks by then.

Furthermore, upon his return from mourning this time, he had immediately made such a meritorious achievement by completely wiping out one of the largest spy organizations that the Great Ying Empire had planted in the City of Torn Gust.

Of course, even if that was so, Jing Zhongyue’s decision with respect to Chu Zhaoran’s preferment was still very sudden.

Everyone believed that a more senior official should be appointed nominally to the position of the commanding general of the Embroidered Guard Division and that Chu Zhaoran would hold the real power and authority in his capacity as deputy commanding general. The senior official would first act as an escort for a few years, and after that, he would formally let Chu Zhaoran take over as the main commanding general.

No one had thought that Chu Zhaoran would be directly appointed to serve as the chief officer of the Embroidered Guard Division.

As for the other four people, there was simply nothing much that needed to be said.

Whether it was the left chiliarch or the right chiliarch, they were originally chiliarchs of the city guards. This time, it was not a promotion for them. They were only taking on more important responsibilities. That was all.

There was also nothing much to say for the first and second official registrars. These two men had been long-time subjects of Lord Jing E, and they both were Jurens of meritorious achievements. Between the two, one was transferred over from his position as the official registrar of the Bureau of Torn Gust while the other was transferred over from his position as the official registrar of Silver Territory.

Only, the moment when Yun AoTian’s appointment was announced, there was a sudden uproar!

All eyes were focused on Yun Zhonghe.

Simply outrageous!

Simply too much!

This Yun AoTian, where had he come from? What were his contributions? What were his achievements?

Who was he to skyrocket to the top overnight and directly become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division?

Everyone had toiled hard and had spent more than a decade climbing up the career ladder just to get to their current position. Why was this beggar, Yun AoTian, so special?

If that was the case, then where was the credibility of the official system of the City of Torn Gust?

Just because he had cured Jing Wubian of his illness? But Jing Wubian, that profligate lunatic, was originally a piece of trash. Even he was not qualified to take up this position of official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.

“My Lady, your humble subordinate feels that your appointment for the other five chief officers of the Embroidered Guard Division is still relatively appropriate. Only Yun AoTian remains to be discussed.” One of the older officials directly broke ranks with Jing Zhongyue and spoke his mind.

“Your subordinate seconds that!”

“Your subordinate seconds that!”

“Your subordinate seconds that!”

Suddenly, the dozen or so people present were all following suit in breaking ranks to object to Yun Zhonghe’s appointment as the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division.

There was a total of twenty old veteran officials. Only Wen Daofu of the Torn Gust Decree did not break ranks with Jing Zhongyue.

Jing Zhongyue cast a look of indifference at all the people present. She had expected that she would face this outcome.

After all, allowing a beggar to rise to the top overnight and become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division, was really quite damaging to the entire system. It would make the other officials feel that what they had striven so hard for had become meaningless.

One would need to be a sycophant to be able to rise up the ranks by a fluke in just one day. And those who appoint important positions to such sycophants were all just stupid and self-indulgent rulers.

“Your subordinate beseeches My Lady to retract your order!”

“Your subordinate beseeches My Lady to retract your order!”

Suddenly, over a dozen old veteran officials were kneeling all over the ground.

“My Lady, this person, Yun AoTian, has been wandering all over the place. He’s unlearned and unskilled and looks just like a beggar. If someone like him, who has not even achieved a single bit of accomplishment, is directly promoted to the top level, where is the regard for the law governing lords such as ourselves?”

“My Lady, don’t ever abolish the rules of the entire City of Torn Gust just because of one person. Don’t disappoint the hundreds of officials of the entire City of Torn Gust.”

Then, more than a dozen old veteran officials began kowtowing in a frenzy.

The crowd was raging.

The kind of reaction they displayed was very intense.

Jing Zhongyue simply sat there, allowing the dozen or so old veteran officials, who were kneeling on the floor, to mourn and grieve about their bitter hatred as much as they wished.

“My Lady, you’ve always been so wise and intelligent. Even for Blue Immortal, who you favored enough to even address him as an elder, you have not appointed him any official position at all. Yet now, you are appointing this absurd and unruly beggar as a third official registrar. What will the people of the entire Land of No King think of you as the monarch, my Lady?”

Jing Zhongyue still did not say anything. She only listened quietly.

It was only when everyone had grown tired of howling and were left with no more energy that she said with indifference, “This matter will be settled as such. Let’s end and disperse!”

Then, Jing Zhongyue left right away.

Once again, everyone present in the hall began to howl and mourn incessantly.

This was just what Jing Zhongyue’s character was like. She was extremely stubborn.

Before she issued an order, it would still be useful for someone to admonish her.

But the moment she gave the order, even if it was a most absurd order, it had to be executed to the end.

She was willing to bear any consequences, no matter what they were.

In short, she was a very difficult monarch to serve.

Her personality was very similar to Jing E. The only difference was that she was a woman, and therefore, she was slightly more intense.

After Jing Zhongyue left, the many officials cast their eyes at Yun Zhonghe, and the look in their eyes was as though they were about to shoot flames at him.

“Yun AoTian, such a filthy and lowly man like you, you dare to stand up above us all in court?”

“Just a beggar, so arrogant but with no true capability, so brazen with no sense of shame!”

As the crowd passed by Yun Zhonghe, they all covered their mouths and noses to express their disgust, or even worse; some spat directly at him.

As for several of Yun Zhonghe’s colleagues, they were quick to draw the line and express their unwillingness to be on the same team as him.

On the contrary, it was Chu Zhaoran who walked over and bow with hands clasped in front of him as he said, “Congratulations, Brother Yun. From now on, we will all be eating from the same pot. We are counting on you to take good care of us in the future.”

Then, without waiting for Yun Zhonghe to respond, he went off right away.

The few remaining officers of the Embroidered Guard Division also followed behind Chu Zhaoran and left.

Only Yun Zhonghe was left standing within that empty hall. His head of weed-like hair was swaying in the wind.

Lady Cold Jade said, “Rising up to the top overnight is traditionally a path to disaster. As for you, now you can only depend on the protection that our monarch can offer you. If you are unable to deliver any contributive results in a short time, the moment you lose the protection of your monarch, you will die without a proper burial ground. Jing Wubian will not be able to protect you either.”

Of course, Yun Zhonghe knew that the very day he lost Jing Zhongyue’s protection, there was no need for anyone else to do anything, as Chu Zhaoran would be first in line to kill him.

The key was that now, how much grace was Jing Zhongyue showering him with?

Very little, very little!

The reasons why she had appointed Yun Zhonghe as the third official registrar were because one, she had given her word to Yun Zhonghe that she would give him an official position that was not low.

And two, she did have some hopes for that certain talent in him, and she was going to use his talent by deviating from the conventional means of engaging them.

“Yun AoTian, do you know what a meritorious contribution is?” Lady Cold Jade asked.

“Yes,” Yun Zhonghe replied.

Lady Cold Jade said, “Tell me about it.”

Yun Zhonghe said, “Contributions that truly work to the benefits of Castellan Jing Zhongyue and the Valley of Torn Gust.”

“That’s right!” Lady Cold Jade said, “The case-solving ability that you showed in the Bureau of Torn Gust might have eventually allowed you to win yourself an official position, but that is not a worthy contribution. That is just you showing people your cleverness. If you truly want to gain our Lady’s favor, you must become someone indispensable in the Valley of Torn Gust.”

Yun Zhonghe said, “Sister Cold Jade, for you to give me advice like this, could it be that you are falling in love with me? That moment when I revealed my true face last night, the handsome face that was simply peerless and magnificent. Has it instantly penetrated your soul?”

Lady Cold Jade did not reply.

The next second!

Yun Zhonghe was lying on the ground with both arms dislocated. He was in such great pain all over that he was convulsing and breaking out in a sweat.

Who asked you to shoot your mouth off so carelessly? Who asked you to shoot your mouth off so carelessly?

***

When he just returned to his little courtyard in the residence of the castellan.

Yun Zhonghe saw Jing Wubian squatting at the doorstep like a little dog again.

Aye? Why are you here again? Haven’t you broken off ties with me?

“AoTian, you’re finally back. I heard you’ve become the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. Congratulations, congratulations,” Jing Wubian said. “You have to hear this. Last night, in the middle of the night, I was sleepwalking, and I actually saw a gigolo appearing in the hall of my sister’s residence. Without another word, I was going to hack him to death.”

And then? Yun Zhonghe waited for him to finish.

“So, AoTian, this image of yours is just fine. It’s very endearing. Don’t be superficial. Don’t be overly ambitious and be a gigolo like the others. You will only be inviting others to hack you up.”

“AoTian, do you recognize that gigolo from last night? If you do, please make sure that you remember, don’t ever allow him to appear again. Otherwise, I will beat him up every time I see him. In short, within the residence of the castellan, there is absolutely no one who can be more handsome than me, Jing Wubian!”

Yun Zhonghe looked at Jing Wubian, who was in front of him, and suddenly, he felt amazed.

Whoever said my brother was silly? Don’t think you’re so smart, alright?

At that critical moment, he was still able to act dumb and find such a well-carved stage for both of them to step out of an awkward situation.

Yun Zhonghe said, “No problem.”

Jing Wubian pounded his chest and said, “AoTian, it’s still the same line for me. You’re my brother. In the Valley of Torn Gust, I’ve got you covered! Even if you are so crazy and seek death so eagerly, I will still protect you with my life.”

“Thank you, brother, I will bear this in mind,” Yun Zhonghe said. “Is Lady Musk back yet?”

Jing Wubian was instantly angry and said, “AoTian, don’t go overboard. You’re human, after all. You want me to help you steal a moment with Sister Cold Jade, no problem. I did as you wished. Now you are lusting after my aunt as well. What do you want me to do? Should I knock her unconscious and tie her to your bed? Can you just stop thinking of harming the women of my family all day long? One should not be doing bad things in his own house.”

Yun Zhonghe said, “Just tell me if she’s back or not.”

“Back, back, you’re so annoying.” Jing Wubian said, “I wanted to find you so that we can have a drink to celebrate. But now, I’m no longer in the mood to do so.”

Then Jing Wubian left in a huff.

But Yun Zhonghe did not have the slightest intention of coaxing him at all. In less than half a day, he would be coming back here out of anxiety.

Because a lunatic like him was just too lonely, and he only had one playmate, Yun Zhonghe.

Lady Musk had returned, and this was good news.

***

Next, Yun Zhonghe had to determine the exact place where Sister Xu Antiing was locked up.

Was she in the prison of Black Blood Hall? Was it going to be very difficult to rescue her from there?

So once again, Yun Zhonghe went to fawn over Lady Cold Jade as obsequiously as he could possibly get.

“Sister Cold Jade, from now on, I am the third official registrar of the Embroidered Guard Division. But don’t worry, I will definitely play my role well as the black sheep of the Embroidered Guard Hall. No matter what move they intend to make, I will always come and report to you. I, Yun Zhonghe, am Lady Cold Jade’s man.”

“Sister, don’t worry. I will definitely help you deal with Chu Zhaoran. We shall join hands and destroy him. This way, you, Sister Cold Jade, you can become the monarch’s foremost confidante again.”

Yun Zhonghe followed behind Lady Cold Jade in a little jog.

No matter how Yun Zhonghe chattered on incessantly, Lady Cold Jade completely ignored him and went on walking while picking up pace.

“Sister Cold Jade, wait for me. Wait for me…” Yun Zhonghe sped up into a run.

“What do you want to do?” Lady Cold Jade asked coldly.

Yun Zhonghe said, “To suck up to you, to lick your boots. Sister Cold Jade, are you going to run some official errands now? Now I’m also a spy of the City of Torn Gust. Teach me, let me follow in your stead and learn from you.”

Lady Cold Jade said, “I’m now going to the underground prison of Black Blood Hall.”

Yun Zhonghe said, “Are you going to interrogate the prisoners? I can help. I’m most experienced. I am capable of using any kind of despicable and underhanded means.”

Lady Cold Jade said, “No need. You’re from the Embroidered Guard Division. I’m from Black Blood Hall. Without the monarch’s orders, it’s best for the two of us not to cross paths with each other. If not, we might be committing a cardinal sin.”

And it was also at that very moment!

A prison carriage, under the escort of five warriors, was seen making an exit from Black Blood Hall’s prison, and the person in the prison carriage was none other than Sister Xu Antiing. With the shackles on her and few spots of bruising on her body, she seemed so haggard and worn.

What kind of situation was this?

Where were they escorting Sister Xu Antiing?

Wait!

Lan Yu was actually sitting in front of the prison carriage. That was Blue Immortal’s disciple.

And he was wearing the official uniform of the Embroidered Guard Division.

Of course, his official position would not be as high as Yun Zhonghe’s. He was merely a centurion, but he actually wielded real power.

Unlike Yun Zhonghe, who was still a phony official registrar up until the present day.

Lan Yu was Yun Zhonghe’s arch-enemy and had wanted to inflict death on Yun Zhonghe on several occasions.

When had he become a centurion of the Embroidered Guard Division? Was he not just a little Taoist priest?

Had he pledged allegiance to Chu Zhaoran? Or was there some kind of collusion between Blue Immortal and Chu Zhaoran?

Lan Yu was taking Sister Xu Antiing away? Why?

Was it his own intention? Or was it under Chu Zhaoran’s command?

Seeing Yun Zhonghe, Lan Yu gave a cold sneer. His eyes were filled with disdain and provocation.

With regard to Yun Zhonghe being appointed to an official position, he did not make anything out of it at all. Instead, he thought that Yun Zhonghe was just like a clown. What bullsh*t official registrar, nothing more than humiliation.

Yun Zhonghe instinctively felt that he should intercept and stop the carriage immediately. There was absolutely no way he could let Sister Xu Antiing fall into Lan Yu’s, or Chu Zhaoran’s, hands.

Right at once, he fiercely lashed out his whip and pointed at Lan Yu. He said, “What are you looking at?”

Lan Yu said disdainfully, “Looking at what you’re doing.”

“Pa… Pa!” Without another word, Yu Zhonghe lashed the whip viciously towards the centurion Lan Yu’s face.