Chu Li rolled his eyes and squinted at Qiao San, "Loyal, that's rare."
Qiao San scoffed, "The Imperial Crown Prince has such a high status. Even if you, Head Chief Chu, have a high position, you can't talk to him like that!"
Chu Li asked, "What rank is he?"
"Rank isn't everything." Qiao San scoffed.
Chu Li snickered and turned to look at Leng Tao, "Imperial Crown Prince Tao, it seems like this Protector of yours doesn't care about rank at all. His courage is commendable, I'm impressed!"
Leng Tao coughed and swung his fan, "The people of the martial arts world don't care about rank. What they care about is bloodline. I'm of the royal bloodline!"
"It's a shame that you didn't inherit the Emperor's excellence." Chu Li shook his head, "A good-for-nothing, what a pity!"
"Chu Li, you're already in this state, what are you so proud of!" Leng Tao could no longer keep up the act. He might as well go and guard the Imperial Mausoleum. There was nothing to worry about and they would never meet again.
Chu Li said, "Guarding the Imperial Mausoleum is a nice job."
"Haha, nice job!" Leng Tao laughed in disdain, "You sure know how to comfort yourself. Nice job!"
Chu Li smiled, "I can focus on cultivating my martial arts, it's no different from isolated cultivation."
"It is isolated cultivation, but it's death!" Leng Tao pouted, "Once you enter the Imperial Mausoleum, don't even think about coming out. What's the use of cultivating martial arts? There's no place to use it, isn't that sad?"
"I believe the Emperor will summon me back." Chu Li said.
"What a joke. You deceived the Emperor. With such a crime, even the new Emperor won't dare to use you." Leng Tao glanced at him and shook his head, "Grandfather hates you, he'll never let you out!"
"Who can see the future clearly?"
"Stubborn!" Leng Tao said in disdain, "Your proud days are over. The Imperial Mausoleum is boring, let's see if you can take it!"
Chu Li smiled.
Siao Shi's face darkened and Siao Qi's face darkened.
Leng Tao closed fist saluted, "Third Aunt, I'll take my leave!"
Siao Shi said coldly, "Leng Tao, is what you said true?"
Leng Tao smiled and said, "In any case, Head Chief Chu is finished. Third Auntie should also be prepared. Make proper arrangements and plan ahead!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and left. He could not be bothered to argue with Chu Li. Instead, Chu Li was an insignificant person.
"This fellow!" Xiao Shi shook her head and looked at Chu Li.
Chu Li looked at the worried faces of the three women and smiled. "Ignore him, there will be a way."
"I hope so," Siao Shi sighed.
She had always been confident in Chu Li, but the news she had heard was getting worse and worse. It was as if entering the Imperial Mausoleum was like entering the Cold Palace, and there was no way for him to get out. This made her feel a little diffident and worried.
Xiao Qi muttered, "Looks like it's easier to get in than to get out. You have to be careful."
Chu Li nodded.
The four of them returned to King An's Imperial Residence dispiritedly. Just as they reached the main entrance, the External Chief Chief Zhu ran over and said in a low voice, "Princess, Head Chief, King Jing is waiting in the residence. He has been here for an hour!"
Chu Li nodded. "I'll be right there."
Siao Shi and Xiao Qi entered the residence and returned to Tianshu Courtyard while Chu Li went to the main hall.
The main hall was brightly lit. King Jing was dressed in a purple robe and was sitting in an armchair reading a book. He looked focused and solemn, and his aura was faintly discernible.
The sound of footsteps coming from outside interrupted him. He put down the book and saw Chu Li coming in with a fist salute, so he stood up and did a fist salute.
"Thank you for waiting, Your Royal Highness. Please forgive me!" Chu Li did a fist salute and sat opposite King Jing.
A pretty maid served a cup of tea and retreated gracefully.
Chu Li took a sip of tea and put down the teacup. "Your Royal Highness, why did you come to the Imperial Residence in person?"
It was his first time meeting King Jing in King An's Imperial Residence. King Jing had never been to King An's Imperial Residence before.
King Jing sighed. "I heard the imperial edict. Chief Chu, are you really going to guard the Imperial Mausoleum?"
"The Emperor has given me the imperial edict. I can't defy it!" Chu Li nodded.
King Jing frowned and looked at him. "What happened that made Father so angry?"
Chu Li said, "I found the mastermind behind Consort Ping's assassination and told King Ping about it."
"Who's the mastermind?" King Jing asked. "Don't tell me it's me?"
Many people were saying that he had sent someone to assassinate the Consort to affect King Ping's mood so that he would not be able to lead the army to war.
"It's not Your Royal Highness." Chu Li shook his head. "It's Zheng Dynasty's Mysterious Pavilion."
"Zheng Dynasty?!" King Jing was in disbelief. "How can it be them? Isn't it the Holy Church of Light? "
He shook his head. "Mysterious Pavilion hid a pawn in the Holy Church of Light and used it at the critical moment. Everyone thought it was the Holy Church of Light."
King Jing clenched his teeth and sneered. "Mysterious Pavilion is ruthless!"
This was a vicious move. It was hard for anyone to link it to them. Everyone guessed that the murderer was either the Holy Church of Light from the Li Dynasty or him.
Chu Li sighed.
King Jing said, "I heard that Fourth Brother wants to give up his military power. He's disheartened after the Consort's assassination and refuses to return to the border. He wants to live in seclusion and ignore the world. I heard that he's going to guard the Imperial Mausoleum too!"
Chu Li looked at him in shock. He did not expect King Ping to be so decisive and give up his military power. What was worse was that he was going to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.
"Speaking of which, Fourth Brother is really pitiful. Sister-in-law is the most innocent. Mysterious Pavilion deserves to die!" King Jing's face darkened at the end of his speech. He gritted his teeth and his voice was cold and murderous.
When he thought about his Consort being assassinated, he felt a chill run down his spine and his heart beat faster. He dared not imagine how painful it would be.
Mysterious Pavilion's move was too vicious. It was intolerable.
"The Emperor agreed to let King Ping guard the Imperial Mausoleum?"
"How's that possible!" King Jing shook his head and smiled bitterly. "After listening to the Emperor's imperial edict, I suddenly realized that Fourth Brother was probably fighting with Father. He must've said that because his pleas for you were unsuccessful."
Chu Li nodded slowly. "If King Ping didn't plead for me, the Emperor would've killed me. Back then, the Emperor sent Commander Xu to the Imperial Mausoleum to hide this news. He thought that I didn't know who the mastermind was. In the end, King Ping sent someone to question me. I couldn't bear to lie so I told him the truth."
King Jing sighed. "Chief Chu, you're a sentimental person too!"
He could guess Chu Li's situation at the time. If he had gone against Father's intentions and revealed the mastermind, he would've been killed. However, Chu Li had revealed it. He was lucky to be sent to guard the Imperial Mausoleum.
If Fourth Brother had not pleaded for him, Chu Li would've been dead according to Father's temper!
Chu Li said, "I can't change this temper of mine. Moreover, as a cultivator, it'll be difficult for him to achieve perfection if he betrays his own heart."
"I thank you on behalf of Fourth Brother!" King Jing fist saluted.
Chu Li smiled. "Your Royal Highness, you're relieved now, aren't you?"
King Jing smiled bitterly. "I didn't expect Fourth Brother to be like this. However, I'm really worried without Fourth Brother at the border."
Chu Li smiled without saying a word.
King Jing's words had a deeper meaning. Clearly, he was not worried about the Li Dynasty. Instead, he was worried that King Ping's subordinates would be dissatisfied. If that happened, it would be difficult to control the army.
King Ping had a high prestige in the army. If he left suddenly without a word, how could his subordinates be at ease? They might think that the Emperor had forcefully taken away King Ping's military power and would be dissatisfied.
King Jing picked up his teacup and took a sip. He lowered his head and said nothing.
Chu Li smiled. "If King Ping comes to see me, I'll ask him to write a letter to his subordinates."
"That would be the best!" King Jing stood up and fist saluted solemnly.
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