Young White Horse: The Poison Sword Master of the Wen Family, Shocking the Apocalypse

Chapter 453 The Heavenly Realm Medicine Man Zhuo Luo emerges from seclusion, and Imperial Censor Xu

But Wen Yanzhao didn't stop.

His flute playing changed again, transforming into a peculiar rhythm, the sound like chanting or whispering.

At the same time, he transformed his true energy into wisps of purple thread, which emanated from his fingertips and entered Zhuo Luo's major acupoints.

"Young master, what is this...?" The old poison master was puzzled.

“Since they are Heavenly Realm Medicine People, we cannot waste them,” Wen Yanzhao said calmly.

"I will use the 'Soul-Seizing and Spirit-Refining Technique' to fully unleash his remaining internal energy and fighting instincts, forging him into a true 'killing weapon'."

Wen Yanzhao's true energy and the sound of the flute flowed through Zhuo Luo's body, and wherever they passed, the dormant meridians became active again.

The true energy within Zhuo Luo's body was forcibly awakened, and with the enhancement of the Medicine Man Technique, it became vast and powerful, and exceptionally cold and bone-chilling.

Zhuo Luo's body began to tremble, and a thin layer of frost formed on his skin. The temperature inside the stone chamber plummeted, and his breath turned into white mist.

An hour later, Wen Yanzhao finished his practice.

Zhuo Luo stood quietly, emanating a faint chill from her body.

Those eyes were still empty, but if you looked closely, you could see ice crystals shimmering deep within the pupils.

"From this day forward, your name will be 'Xuan Yin'," Wen Yanzhao said calmly. "You will be the commander of my medicine practitioners, in charge of three thousand."

Zhuo Luo—no, or rather, at this moment he was no longer the former Grand Supervisor of the Northern Li Dynasty, but the Xuan Yin, the commander of the Wen Clan's medicine men!

Xuan Yin knelt on one knee, his movements fluid and natural, without the slightest hesitation.

Wen Yanzhao nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this. At this moment, the Xuan Yin combat power of the Medicine Man was probably close to the threshold of the Half-Step Free and Unfettered Realm.

On the battlefield, this will become an invincible weapon.

"Report——"

Hurried footsteps sounded outside the cave, and a scout from the Breaking Wind Army rushed into the stone chamber, kneeling on one knee: "Young Master Wen, the young master is looking for you, saying there's something going on in Tianqi City..."

Wen Yanzhao's heart skipped a beat: "Uncle, what could be so urgent that you need me for this...?"

Wen Yanzhao dared not delay. He put away the bone flute, raised his hand and gestured. The medicine man Xuan Yin quickly straightened up, closed his eyes, and slowly walked into the dark corner of the stone chamber, where he remained motionless.

A moment later, Wen Yanzhao arrived at the cave entrance. Baili Chengfeng, holding a scroll of paper, looked at Wen Yanzhao:

"Zhao'er, Hu Bufei, Uncle Hu's son, has gotten into trouble. The Hu family has a history with my Baili family!"

Wen Yanzhao, harboring doubts, asked:

"Isn't Hu Bufei an imperial censor? We've never had any dealings with him since the uprising in the southwest. What could he possibly have to do with us?"

Baili Chengfeng handed over the note, his expression grave:

"At the Tianqi court this morning... Censor Hu Bufei has been sentenced to death! He will be executed in the autumn!"

……

At the same time, in Tianqi City, at the Dali Temple.

In the courtroom, Hu Bufei knelt in the center, shackled and looking haggard.

After three days in prison, this once elegant censor was now disheveled and bloodshot.

Although he possessed the cultivation level of the Earth Realm and knew he had been framed, his entire family was in the city, so even if he had the ability, he dared not act rashly.

The presiding judge was Yan Zheng, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who was over fifty years old and had a face as hard as iron.

On the left sat Wang Youzhi, Minister of Justice, and on the right sat Xu Wei, head of the Censorate, who was being "assisted in the trial."

Below the hall, the audience seats were filled with court officials—the vice ministers of the six ministries, the junior ministers of various courts, and the censors of the Censorate, totaling more than thirty people.

Each person's expression was different, and their thoughts were even more different.

Among these people are many who are opportunistic and seek opportunities to curry favor.

This was the first major case after the new emperor ascended the throne, involving a fourth-rank censor on charges of treason and collusion with the enemy.

Everyone wants to know how His Majesty will handle this, and everyone wants to see which side this person should take in the future!

"Bring witnesses!" Yan Zheng slammed the gavel.

The bailiffs brought three people with them. The first was an old man who sold tofu and was a neighbor of the Hu family. He tremblingly recounted that he heard the sounds of drinking and playing drinking games coming from the Hu family's residence on the night of the ninth day of the fifth month.

The second person was a clerk from the Censorate, who confirmed that Hu Bufei often made mistakes due to drunkenness and that he did indeed write the wrong memorial last month.

The third one... was someone no one expected.

Hu Fu, the old steward of the Hu family.

Hu Fu, over sixty years old, had served three generations of the Hu family. Now, kneeling below the hall, tears streamed down his face.

“Master…Master did correspond with Marquis Baili before his death…This old servant…This old servant saw those letters with his own eyes…”

Hu Bufei suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief: "Uncle Fu! You... why did you want to harm me?!"

Hu Fu dared not look at him, but instead prostrated himself on the ground and wept bitterly.

Xu Wei sat in the audience, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves.

He recognized Hu Fu; this old servant was utterly loyal to the Hu family and would never willingly commit perjury.

Unless... someone threatens to kill his family.

It's obvious who it is now...

"Hu Bufei!" Yan Zheng shouted sternly, "The evidence and witnesses are all there, what else do you have to say?!"

Hu Bufei laughed loudly, his laughter shrill and piercing: "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext!"

I, Hu Bufei, have served as an official for over a decade, and I can confidently say that I have lived up to the expectations of the court and the late emperor!

"Today I've ended up like this, all because... all because I was blind!"

He abruptly turned his head, looking at the officials in the hall with eyes as sharp as knives: "You sit here today to judge me, Hu Bufei. Who will be next?!"

The hall was deathly silent.

Many officials lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Yan Zheng's face turned ashen. He slammed the gavel again: "Insolence! How dare you spread rumors and mislead the public in the courtroom! I ask you, do you admit to the crime of treason?!"

“I admit—” Hu Bufei said slowly and deliberately, “I admit that I’ve been a drunkard and caused trouble! I admit that I behaved improperly during the national mourning period!”

But according to the "Great Li Law," the most serious offenses committed by these individuals would only result in dismissal from office and a reduction in salary; how could they possibly constitute treason and betrayal of the country...?

Finally, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he forced out a voice through clenched teeth: "I, Hu Bufei, refuse to acknowledge this!"

"Fine! What a convenient excuse for denying it!" Yan Zheng picked up several letters from the table.

"These are the letters between your father Hu Cheng and Baili Luochen, in which he repeatedly defended Baili and said that his loyalty was 'verifiable'!"

Now that Baili Luochen has rebelled, and you, as Hu Cheng's son and holding a position in the Censorate—who can guarantee that you haven't secretly passed on information?!

"Absurd!" Hu Bufei laughed angrily. "Those letters are from over a decade ago! Back then, Baili Luochen was still a pillar of the court, and the late emperor trusted him implicitly!"

What crime did my father commit by speaking a few words of justice for his colleague?!

If we follow Lord Yan's line of reasoning, then who in the entire court hasn't spoken up for their colleague? Does that mean they're all traitors?!

Yan Zheng was speechless for a moment.

In the audience, Minister of Revenue Gao Shuyi suddenly stood up: "Lord Yan, I have something to say."

"Minister Gao, please speak!" Yan Zheng hurriedly smiled obsequiously upon seeing the official from the Ministry of Revenue speak.

Gao Shuyi walked into the hall, first bowed to Yan Zheng, then turned to Hu Bufei and sighed, "Imperial Censor Hu, you and I are colleagues. I shouldn't say much about today's events, but there are some things I have to say."

He paused, then raised his voice: "It is a fact that Hu Cheng did have a past relationship with Baili Luochen back in college."

"It is true that you, Imperial Censor Hu, are prone to alcoholism and neglect your duties. However, to convict you of treason based solely on this... is rather far-fetched."

Minister of Justice Wang Youzhi frowned: "Minister Gao, this is a case that His Majesty ordered to be thoroughly investigated, and moreover, the evidence in this case is conclusive..."

"Evidence?" Gao Shuyi turned around and looked directly at Wang Youzhi.

"Minister Wang has been in charge of criminal matters for many years, and he should know that conviction requires both witnesses and physical evidence."

The witness is merely an old servant, and the evidence is just an old letter from over a decade ago—is this enough to convict a fourth-rank censor of treason and be sentenced to death? If so, wouldn't the laws of our Great Li become a mere child's play?!

A buzz of noise rose from the hall below.

Many officials showed expressions of approval. While Hu Bufei was indeed wrong, the evidence against him for treason was insufficient.

Yan Zheng's expression darkened when he saw that Gao Shuyi was clearly favoring Hu Bufei, so he turned to look at Xu Wei:

"Censor Xu, you are the head of the Censorate, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Xu Wei slowly stood up.

Today, the old censor was dressed in full official robes, wearing a scholar's cap and a silver fish-shaped pouch at his waist. His expression was solemn and his eyes were firm.

He walked into the hall, first bowing to Yan Zheng and Wang Youzhi, then turning to Hu Bufei, looking at him for a long time before slowly speaking:

"Hu Bufei, you have been in the Censorate for seven years. In those seven years, you have impeached twenty-three corrupt officials, impeached nine generals and officers for dereliction of duty, and submitted dozens of petitions on behalf of wronged people—I remember all of this."

Hu Bufei's eyes reddened: "Master Xu..."

"but!"

Xu Wei's tone suddenly changed, and his voice became stern, "You are addicted to alcohol and often make mistakes because of drunkenness!"

Last month, you wrote a memorial to the throne with a mistake, almost causing a major disaster! Furthermore, during the national mourning period, you held a banquet and drank alcohol at home, which is extremely disrespectful! These are also facts!

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength: "As the head of the Censorate, I have failed to properly supervise and am responsible for my negligence."

After this matter is over, I will naturally apologize to His Majesty.

The hall was silent.

Xu Wei turned to face Yan Zheng and bowed deeply: "Lord Yan, Minister Wang. Hu Bufei has made a mistake..."

The punishment is warranted. However, the evidence for the charge of treason is insufficient, and forcibly convicting the defendant would likely fail to convince the public.

I implore you two—according to the "Great Law of Departure," drunkenness, dereliction of duty, and disrespect during national mourning are punishable by dismissal and exile. As for treason…that requires further investigation!

That was said with great tact.

By acknowledging Hu Bufei's mistake, they gave the new emperor a way out.

They insisted that there was insufficient evidence of treason, thus saving Hu Bufei's life.

If judged this way, Hu Bufei's worst fate would be exile to a distant place; at the very least, his family and life would be spared.

Yan Zheng and Wang Youzhi exchanged a glance, both seeing hesitation in each other's eyes.

They were well aware that the case was far-fetched. But it was His Majesty's decree...

Just then, a high-pitched announcement came from outside the hall:

"His Majesty's decree has arrived—"

That voice belonged to the Grand Eunuch Jinxuan!

……