Chapter 55 Priceless Treasure

Fengxi County.

Due to a sudden rebellion that disrupted the marching schedule of the three armies, Dou Yuan ordered the troops to rest here for a day.

During this brief wait, Miaofa arrived, leading a thousand elite soldiers escorting over a thousand imperial prisoners.

Because Zheng Yi was gravely injured, he was rushed to receive medical treatment the moment he entered the city.

It was two hours before he finally regained consciousness.

In the meantime, Miaofa went to see Gao Changsheng and informed him of everything that had transpired during the journey.

"I hope Your Highness will not blame Miaofa for making such a decision on my own authority," Miaofa said, looking cautiously at Gao Changsheng.

He was referring to his instruction to Zheng Yi not to mention Gao Changsheng in the official memorial.

Instead of harboring any resentment, Gao Changsheng understood Miaofa's intentions completely after careful consideration.

"You did the right thing," Gao Changsheng said with a serious expression. "Now that I am removed from the imperial court, all empty fame not only offers no substantive help to me, but would rather become a burden. Furthermore, my imperial father is naturally suspicious. If all the major events in the dynasty within the span of a few days were linked to me, it would easily arouse his wariness. Not only must the matter of saving Zheng Yi be kept hidden, but we must also avoid standing out too much even when we reach the northern frontier."

"Your Highness is truly wise!" Miaofa could not help but smile with relief.

Only a truly great man knows how to yield and stretch as circumstances demand. Although Gao Changsheng was young, his composure and temperament were extraordinary. This was the deep reticence and strategic depth expected of someone destined for grand undertakings.

"However, with a mind like yours, Miaofa, I doubt this was your only reason," Gao Changsheng said, looking at Miaofa with a playful smile.

"Hehe, nothing escapes Your Highness's notice, of course. First, poor priest did this to pacify the Divine Martial Emperor and the officials of the court. Second, it was for our esteemed Commander Zheng here. Although Your Highness saved Zheng Yi's life in the midst of danger during this trip, it is still not enough to completely win him over. From my observation, although Commander Zheng has his own self-serving motives, he is by no means an unscrupulous scoundrel like Du Wei. To truly subdue him, one must win his heart. If Zheng Yi comes to believe that Your Highness is an enlightened ruler, contrasted against the tyranny and lawlessness of the crown prince and the two imperial princes, he will willingly and wholeheartedly pledge his allegiance to Your Highness!" Miaofa expounded eloquently.

Going to such great lengths for the sake of winning over a single person was not merely because Zheng Yi was worth the price. More importantly, Zheng Yi's identity was far too sensitive.

The Qingwu Guard was the exclusive agency of the Divine Martial Emperor, loyal to him and him alone. One might say that the Qingwu Guard was the Emperor's unmentionable scale—touch it, and you die!

Even the currently flourishing Crown Prince Gao Changling would never dare to cast a covetous eye upon the Qingwu Guard.

Gao Changsheng was clearly challenging the supreme might of the imperial authority. The risks involved were immense. If he failed to completely secure Zheng Yi's loyalty, Gao Changsheng would essentially be digging his own grave. The ultimate cost was too terrible to contemplate!

Therefore, the process of bringing Zheng Yi to his side had to be executed with absolute flawlessness. Not a single slip-up could be tolerated!

"Your Highness, there is one more matter, concerning Du Wei..." Miaofa recounted the relationship between Du Wei and Zheng Yi to Gao Changsheng. To a daoist priest whose intelligence bordered on the demonic, even the dead retained their utility. However, Miaofa left the decision of how to utilize Du Wei entirely up to Gao Changsheng.

"Your Highness, Commander Zheng has awakened!" At that moment, Han Cong rushed in to report the news.

Hearing this, Gao Changsheng immediately brought Miaofa with him and hurried over. Since the outcome of their meticulous plan was about to be decided, neither of them dared to be negligent.

When the group arrived at the medical clinic, they found that Dou Yuan was already there. Seeing Gao Changsheng approach, Dou Yuan eagerly stepped forward.

"Your Highness, I have just received word," Dou Yuan said with a grave expression. "Lang Qingzao is personally leading the Qingwu Guard toward Fengxi County. Furthermore, Lang Qingzao has already sent messengers ahead, stating that he intends to personally escort Song Ziyong and the others back to the capital."

Lang Qingzao?

This was not the first time Gao Changsheng had heard this title. Yet, like everyone else, he remained completely in the dark regarding the true identity of this Lord Lang Qingzao. He had not even been able to find out what the man's actual name was.

"Does the Great General believe that Lang Qingzao's arrival serves some other purpose besides escorting the imperial prisoners?" Gao Changsheng perceived the anxiety etched clearly across Dou Yuan's face.

"Your Highness does not understand," Dou Yuan replied, deeply worried. "This Lord Lang Qingzao is not only a figure of utter mystery, but a synonym for danger itself. If the Divine Martial Emperor we see on ordinary days represents the human side of his majesty, then this Lang Qingzao embodies the emperor's dark side. No matter who you are, catching a glimpse of him is equivalent to stepping with one foot into the gates of hell. I fear that Lang Qingzao's personal trip to Fengxi County bodes ill for Your Highness!"

"Targeting me?" Gao Changsheng was momentarily startled. He truly could not fathom why the Divine Martial Emperor would target him—unless his intentions regarding Zheng Yi had already been detected by the Emperor. Yet, no matter how miraculous the Qingwu Guard might be, they could hardly transform into flies like the Monkey King and eavesdrop on Gao Changsheng at every turn.

"When does he arrive?" Gao Changsheng asked casually.

"He will enter the city within a quarter of an hour," Dou Yuan said, still fraught with concern.

Before his voice had even faded, Gao Changsheng strode into the inner room with Miaofa trailing behind him. He needed to secure Zheng Yi's allegiance before Lang Qingzao arrived; otherwise, he might never find such an opportunity again.

"Creeeak!"

The door swung open.

Zheng Yi, just recently awakened from unconsciousness, looked up. Seeing Gao Changsheng and his party enter, he immediately tried to struggle to his feet in agitation.

"Commander need not stand on ceremony," Gao Changsheng said with a faint smile.

"This humble life of Zheng Yi was saved by Your Highness; bowing in gratitude is only proper!" With that, Zheng Yi gritted his teeth against the searing pain and kowtowed to Gao Changsheng. "Your Highness saved my life, yet I concealed Your Highness's merits in my official memorial. Although that was the counsel of Daoist Master Miaofa, the brush was in my hand, and Zheng Yi still feels deeply apologetic toward Your Highness!"

"Hehe," Gao Changsheng laughed lightly. "Commander Zheng worries too much. Had you not heeded Miaofa's advice, that truly would have placed this prince in a difficult position. To be frank with you, Commander Zheng, whether I can return alive from this northern expedition is an unknown. If by chance I have the fortune to see you again in the future, I shall certainly drink a goblet of wine with you. What do you say?"

Gao Changsheng laughed heartily, as though he had long since cast aside thoughts of life and death. However, to those who understood the nuances, his words carried an entirely different meaning—he was deliberately playing the pitiful card to win Zheng Yi's sympathy.

"Your Highness is setting forth on a northern expedition to fight for the country, yet treacherous elements plot against Your Highness. No subject of Dayong with a shred of conscience could tolerate this," Zheng Yi declared righteously. "Moreover, Zheng Yi is the Commander of the Qingwu Guard! Your Highness may rest assured; the intelligence network at my disposal within the Qingwu Guard surpasses anything ordinary people can imagine. Once I gather intelligence concerning Your Highness, I will undoubtedly have it sent to the northern frontier to help Your Highness avert any crisis!"

Success at last!

A surge of great joy blossomed in the hearts of Gao Changsheng and Miaofa.

An intelligence network powerful enough to control the entire Dayong Dynasty—this was a priceless treasure possessed solely by the Divine Martial Emperor. For Gao Changsheng to dip his fingers into it, even just slightly, was equivalent to commanding thousands upon thousands of troops!

"Du Wei's corpse has already been placed within the clinic," Gao Changsheng said softly. "Since Commander Zheng's memorial makes no mention of Du Wei, let him return to the capital under the banner of having fallen in battle. That way, Commander Zheng will have an explanation to offer Du Wei's family."