Chapter 336
Chapter 336
‘Shen Lang, I have not treated you poorly, yet this is how you repay me? I could overlook you toying with Ha Wanwan's fate just to kill a single Li Wenzheng, but how dare you play me for a fool? That scarecrow cursing the Crown Prince in Li Wenzheng's house—that was your doing too, wasn't it? You truly have a vicious heart. You wouldn't even hesitate to stir up factional strife just to eliminate one minor enemy? And you dared to curse my son, the Crown Prince? No wonder the investigation into Li Wenzheng's cursing of the Crown Prince turned up nothing.’
His failure in the battle had forced Ning Yuanxian to suppress an unbearable rage, leaving him with little reason. He was a volcano on the verge of eruption, merely waiting for the right moment to explode. That moment had now arrived, and the king roared like a madman.
“He wants to die! He truly wants to die! I treated you so well, and you betray me? How can a man's heart be so callous and cruel? Vicious bastard! Blackwater Terrace, go! Go... arrest Shen Lang! Throw him in the Blackwater Terrace prison!”
***
*Rumble.*
The dark clouds hanging over the capital descended, and finally, a fierce clap of thunder echoed. It was enough to make one tremble, to shake the very earth. Hundreds of warriors from the Blackwater Terrace stormed the Jin Clan's villa like a tidal wave to arrest Shen Lang.
***
Inside the Marquis of Zhenyuan's estate.
“Father, warriors from the Blackwater Terrace have stormed the Jin Clan's villa and arrested Shen Lang.”
Su Nan stretched his hands upward and looked to the sky, as if eagerly awaiting a downpour.
“That bastard is about to die!”
***
The Blackwater Terrace was originally one organization with the Silver-Clad Imperial Censors, with one handling civil matters and the other military, assisting the king in overseeing the realm. Later, civil and military officials pooled their wisdom and strength to finally dismantle this legendary, monstrously powerful organization. The Silver-Clad Imperial Censors were absorbed into the Censorate, and the Blackwater Terrace became an independent entity. Of course, while the Silver-Clad Imperial Censors are nominally subordinate to the Censorate, they still follow the orders of the Grand Commandant of the Blackwater Terrace.
Yan E, the Grand Commandant of the Blackwater Terrace, was a man who appeared and vanished like a ghost. Rumor had it that he was a master of supreme martial arts, in no way inferior to grandmasters like Yan Nanfei. But this was a world where power reigned supreme; those who rose to high positions of immense authority rarely displayed their martial skills, no matter how great. Zhang Chong, too, possessed formidable martial prowess, but he had never used it after his official rank surpassed the fifth grade.
Whether counting the most powerful figures in the State of Yue or measuring the degree of fear they instilled in the masses, Yan E, the Grand Commandant of the Blackwater Terrace, always ranked near the top. The mere sight of him could make people's faces change color. In the past few years, every powerful figure who had died in the State of Yue had been dealt with by Yan E.
When Ning Yuanxian was still the Crown Prince, the military officials supported Ning Yuanwu. But when Bian Wu defected to the State of Yue and supported Ning Yuanxian, the situation was instantly reversed, and he ascended the throne. After his ascension, how many people did Ning Yuanxian kill in his purges? Countless military magnates and powerful aristocratic families were toppled and exterminated. The one who dealt with them then was Yan E.
Later, the Yan Clan (the family of Yan Wuqi, mentioned previously) was implicated in a treason plot, and most of the family was annihilated. After that, the General Who Pacifies the South, Zhuo Guangbu, was embroiled in another treason case, and nearly the entire Zhuo Clan was wiped out. On that occasion, too, it was Yan E who handled them. He was a true King of Hell.
In recent years, however, he had spent most of his time within the Blackwater Terrace, living in quiet seclusion, never venturing out or showing his face at court. Because the King of Hell had not emerged for many years, many people had never even seen him. The same was true for Shen Lang. From beginning to end, he had never caught even a glimpse of the King of Hell's face.
***
The Blackwater Terrace was located within a fortress. The entire structure was built of black ashlar, so much so that whenever it rained heavily, the water running down its walls appeared black. It was unclear whether the black stone naturally held a chill or if it was because the King of Hell resided there, but the entire fortress of the Blackwater Terrace always exuded an icy, cold aura. Consequently, anyone who entered the fortress could not help but tremble in fear.
Whether officials or commoners, people would usually take a long detour to avoid passing it. They felt that too many had died within the Blackwater Terrace, that countless vengeful spirits lingered there. Every night, from a great distance, one could almost hear the sounds of wretched wails coming from within. It was a true hell, situated in a cold, deep place.
And now, Shen Lang had been brought to this very hell. Leading his arrest was a Thousand-household Commander of the Blackwater Terrace, Yan Weiyi. Yes, from his name alone, it was clear he was a disciple of Yan Nanfei. Many warriors of the Blackwater Terrace hailed from the South Sea Sword Sect. The Xue Clan of the Count of Wu'an's Estate also held significant influence within the Blackwater Terrace. When Ning Yuanxian fought for the throne, the Count of Wu'an's estate had stood firmly by his side, thus gaining immense power.
The Blackwater Terrace was loyal only to the king, but due to the close relationship between the Xue Clan and the Third Prince, everyone at court believed the Blackwater Terrace supported the Third Prince. With the support of the Zhong and Xue Clans, the Third Prince could stand on relatively equal footing with the Crown Prince. If one were to compare the power held by the Xue Clan and Su Nan, Su Nan's influence in the court was immense enough to blot out the sky and was openly displayed, while the Xue Clan's power was just as formidable but hidden in the shadows.
“Senior Brother, I've brought the son of a bitch.”
Said Yan Weiyi, the Thousand-household Commander of the Blackwater Terrace.
The forms of address within the Blackwater Terrace were unique. Those of the same rank called each other Senior or Junior Brother. Their terms for prisoners were also distinctive: a great noble was called a 'beast,' a high official an 'animal,' and an insignificant person a 'dog.' To the men of the Blackwater Terrace, Shen Lang was, without a doubt, an insignificant person.
“And a pale-faced one at that,” a black-armored Thousand-household Commander guarding the fortress gate sneered, looking at Shen Lang.
*Rumble.*
Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder.
“Senior Brother, it looks like it's about to rain, so open the gate. Brothers, let's give this pale-faced bastard a proper interrogation today. If he doesn't talk, we'll peel his ass raw.”
The words Yan Weiyi had just spoken were all Blackwater Terrace slang. 'Peeling his ass,' needless to say, referred to an extremely brutal form of torture. The Thousand-household Commander on the fortress wall said.
“No rush.”
“Senior Brother, this one may be a small dog, but he's committed a pretty big crime.”
“It is not urgent. The Ancestor said this dog might not even be qualified to enter the Blackwater Terrace, so let's wait a bit.”
***
Let us turn back time. The king was in his magnificent palanquin. Having vented his fury, Ning Yuanxian radiated the heat of an erupting volcano, his eyes bloodshot. It seemed he had genuinely been fond of Ha Wanwan to some extent. Bian Fei had a temperament like his first wife's, and while Ha Wanwan's looks were not similar, that night, dressed in that unique skirt and singing *When Will the Bright Moon Appear?*, she had reminded him of his first wife, who had been dead for many years.
The king had favored her for one night but had not seen the mark of her purity. Ning Yuanxian did not kill her; instead, he sent her back to her hometown under house arrest, with people constantly watching her. Thus, the king had been informed of Ha Wanwan's visit to Shen Lang at the Langjun courier station that night, and he had felt a bit displeased at the time.
After being placed under house arrest, Ha Wanwan had sent a letter almost every three days. The first three-quarters discussed current affairs, while the last part expressed her longing for Ning Yuanxian. Her calligraphy in those letters was exquisite. But this final letter was written in a blunt, straightforward hand, revealing the depth of her indignation and sorrow. The end of the letter was similarly direct, stating that she truly wished to cut open her own belly to show the king her heart.
Ning Yuanxian had internally condemned Ha Wanwan as an unchaste woman, which was why he had kept her under house arrest for over a year. But now that she was dead, he felt a lingering attachment. The thought of the person who killed her filled him with such rage that he ground his teeth, consumed by the regret of not being able to flay the man's skin and pull out his tendons. To make matters worse, the one who killed her was a young man he had recently grown to favor, which only deepened his sense of betrayal. The more the king reread Ha Wanwan's final letter, the more the flames of anger in his heart blazed.
“Lü Zhun, can a man's heart be so callous and cruel? Can a mere live-in son-in-law like Shen Lang be so audacious, so vicious? To kill a single Li Wenzheng, he dares to play me for a fool, kill my beloved concubine, and even curse the Crown Prince. How has this man become so utterly crazed?”
The Great Eunuch Lü Zhun lay prostrate on the floor, not moving a muscle. Ning Yuanxian spoke in a furious tone.
“Hey, old man. I am asking you a question.”
Lü Zhun said.
“This slave does not know whether he should speak.”
“Since you've brought it up, you might as well speak. Are you, an old man like you, also plotting against me?”
“This matter is too coincidental.”
The king picked up the chilled sour plum soup beside him and took a sip. The fire in his heart seemed to subside slightly.
'That's right. It is a bit too coincidental, isn't it?'
After the defeat in the battle at the border, Ning Yuanxian had been enraged and needed an outlet for his anger. In other words, he needed to kill someone. And just then, Ha Wanwan dies, and Shen Lang becomes the scapegoat to absorb the volcanic eruption?
Ning Yuanxian said coldly, “Are you trying to make excuses for him? You know how vicious he is. Shen Lang's talent is so abundant that he can casually spout classic verses. It wouldn't be strange at all if he wrote *When Will the Bright Moon Appear?* Furthermore, he and Li Wenzheng were enemies, and he wanted Li Wenzheng dead, so his motive is sufficient. He is an extremely cunning man, possessing the ability to orchestrate the entire situation. He has the talent, the motive, and the ability. He must have been the one to carry this out. Who else could have done it but him?”
“Even so, this matter is too coincidental.”
“Old man, eunuchs are not to meddle in state affairs.”
Lü Zhun pressed his entire body to the floor and said.
“Yes. This slave does not care for Shen Lang's life or death... but I do not wish to see someone use Your Majesty to commit murder.”
Hearing this, Ning Yuanxian's eyes grew cold. He forcibly calmed the explosive anger within him, just a little. He had to handle this matter. He would never let someone who dared to play him for a fool go unpunished, especially not Shen Lang. But the Blackwater Terrace could not investigate this case.
The Blackwater Terrace always handled major cases, the last of which was the Zhuo Clan's treason, which had incurred the wrath of the Great Yan Dynasty. Cases handled by the Blackwater Terrace ended with the annihilation of the entire family, with almost all members of the clan being exterminated. The Yan Clan and Suo'an's Zhuo Clan were almost entirely wiped out by the Blackwater Terrace. If Shen Lang's case were also handed to them, wouldn't it send a certain signal to the world?
'The king intends to kill the Jin Clan? He's turning on Jin Zhuo as soon as he becomes Count Xuanwu?'
Sending such a dangerous signal could pressure Jin Zhuo into plotting a rebellion.