Li Mu looked at the county magistrate who was extremely nervous and comforted him. "Sir, don't be nervous. You've caught the wrong people. Just release them. Relax, it'll be fine …"
"Yes, yes, yes …" The county magistrate repeatedly agreed. He bowed to the two female ghosts who had been released and said, "The county government didn't investigate properly and caught the wrong two. I apologize to the two ladies here …"
The two female ghosts, one adult and one child, had never seen such a scene. They were so nervous that they couldn't even speak.
Li Mu saluted the county magistrate and said, "Since it's a misunderstanding, can I take my two friends and leave?"
The county magistrate immediately extended his hand. "Sir Li, please."
When he walked out of the prison, he probed again, "Sir Li, you don't blame me, do you?"
Li Mu smiled and asked, "Do I look like such a petty person?"
The county magistrate's expression changed and he immediately said, "That's not what I meant. Please forgive me, Sir Li …"
"I'm just kidding." Li Mu smiled and said, "Yangqiu County is my hometown. I'll come back to visit often. You're the parent official here. You must govern Yangqiu County well …"
The county magistrate promised, "Don't worry, Sir Li. I'll do my best."
Li Mu looked at Constable Zhou and said, "I'll have to trouble Constable Zhou."
Constable Zhou immediately said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Li Mu smiled at him and said, "I came back this time because I have something important to do. I have to report back to Fairy's Capital immediately. The next time I return to Yangqiu County, I'll find you for a drink."
Constable Zhou's expression changed. With his experience, how could he not understand that Li Mu's words in front of the county magistrate had a deeper meaning?
Although he still didn't know why the county magistrate was so afraid of Li Mu, with Li Mu's words, although he couldn't do whatever he wanted in the county government, at least the county magistrate wouldn't dare to touch him easily.
Li Mu and the two female ghosts bid farewell to Constable Zhou and left the county government.
County Magistrate Yang Qiu wiped the sweat off his forehead and realized that his back was drenched in cold sweat.
Constable Zhou looked at him and asked, "Sir, Li Mu, he …"
Yangqiu County Magistrate swallowed his saliva and said, "He's actually from Yangqiu County …"
He had only been in Yangqiu County for a few days. Before that, he had been working in the Ministry of Justice.
He knew everything Li Mu had done in Shen 'du.
He had pointed at the doctor's nose and scolded him in the Ministry of Justice. He had chased and beaten up the children of influential families on the street. After that, he had swaggered out of the Ministry of Justice. He had seen all these with his own eyes.
He had scolded hundreds of officials in the imperial court and fought with the deputy director of Dongxuan County. In addition, he had caused Zhou Chu to be punished by heaven. After that, the Zhou family didn't even fart. If such a person held a grudge against him, he didn't even dare to think about the possibility.
After a while, Yangqiu County Magistrate Yang Qiu took a deep breath and patted Constable Zhou's shoulder, saying, "Do a good job. I have faith in you …"
…
After walking out of the county government, Li Mu turned to look at the two female ghosts and said, "Sister Su is still in a deep sleep. It should take some time for her to wake up. You two, do you want to find a cave to cultivate or follow me and wait for her to wake up?"
The two girls said almost at the same time without hesitation, "Follow you …"
They had already experienced the fate of two lonely souls drifting about in the outside world.
They were either devoured and enslaved by stronger ghosts or captured by the government. The days in Clearwater Bay were the most comfortable and peaceful days in their two lives.
Following Sister Su, not only did they not have to worry about being bullied, but they could also receive guidance in cultivation. This was something that the two lonely ghosts could not even dream of.
The two female ghosts made a decision. Li Mu threw them a few pieces of spiritual jade and let them cultivate in the Flask Heaven Space. They also took care of the tree demon.
Only then did he return home. Tonight was the last night he would spend with Liu Hanyan.
In the next two months, he had to prepare for the imperial examination. The imperial examination policy was originally set by him, so he knew better than anyone how to take the examination. After the imperial examination, he would be busy for some time.
In this way, the next time he returned to Beijun would be at least three or even four months later.
This meant that he could accompany them for a period of time like this. If it was just meeting and dual cultivating for a night, he could come back at any time as long as he asked for leave from the Empress.
However, Liu Hanyan also had to go into seclusion for a period of time when she returned to Mount Baiyun this time. She had to master some of the divine powers and spells that she had just learned. The possibility of the two of them meeting often was not high.
The next morning, after sending her and Wanwan back to the mountain, Li Mu and Xiao Bai did not delay. They used high-level Divine Travel Talismans to rush back to the Fairy's Capital at the fastest speed. They did not rest along the way and finally made it back in the early morning of the third day.
Ziwei Palace.
The morning assembly had just begun.
After Li Mu was summoned into the palace, he cupped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, I was ordered by Your Majesty to go to Beijun to investigate the incident 20 years ago. When Princess Yunyang's son-in-law, Cui Ming, killed a woman from Yangqiu County, he was ambushed by a Fifth Realm demon. I used the Dharma treasure Your Majesty gave me to capture this demon and found out that it was sent by Cui Ming to find that woman's soul to silence her …"
As soon as Li Mu finished speaking, all the officials were shocked.
The previous incident had already caused Cui Ming to lose his position. Unexpectedly, Li Mu did not plan to let him go. It was obvious that his goal was to kill Cui Ming …
In order to protect himself, Princess Consort Cui did not hesitate to send a demon to assassinate Li Mu. However, he did not expect that Li Mu had a treasure from His Majesty. Not only did he fail to assassinate him, but he was also captured by Li Mu and betrayed him …
The assistant minister of the Ministry of Personnel stood up and said, "Your Majesty, this is only Censor Li's side of the story. The truth has yet to be verified."
Li Mu's mind moved, and the trussed up tree demon appeared in the palace. He said calmly, "I brought this demon here. Your Majesty, you will know if I am slandering Cui Ming by searching its soul."
As long as it was not treason or rebellion, one could not search the soul of an official in the imperial court.
However, for non-officials of the Great Zhou, especially demons and ghosts, there was no such restriction. If one wanted to find out the truth, searching the soul was the simplest and most convenient method.
The minister stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing to search the soul of this demon."
Shangguan Li looked back and said, "I will have to trouble you, minister."
Although Cui Ming was from the old party and the minister was from the new party, the minister was from the Zhou family. Li Mu and the Zhou family had a death feud. Now, Cui Ming was no longer of any use in the imperial court. The minister did not need to help Li Mu lie to get rid of him, and he would not help Li Mu. It was most suitable for him to step forward.
Shangshu Ling stepped forward and placed his hand on the tree demon's forehead.
He closed his eyes and said slowly, "This demon is indeed Cui Ming's subordinate. It was ordered by Cui Ming to go to Yangqiu County to silence him …"
Hearing this, the officials had an idea.
Princess Consort Cui had already used the golden medallion to avoid death once. If this case was confirmed, it would be enough to make him lose his life.
Li Mu really wanted to kill Cui Ming.
While the officials were discussing in low voices, the Minister's eyes suddenly opened.
His face darkened, and he said sternly, "Cui Ming is really bold. How dare he collude with the Demon Sect!"
The moment he said this, the entire hall fell silent for a moment. Then, there was a huge uproar.
"What? Princess Consort Cui colluded with the Demon Sect?"
"How is that possible?"
"Wasn't the Jiujiang County Chief the one who colluded with the Demon Sect? Princess Consort Cui was the one who exposed it …"
"Could there be another story behind the Jiujiang County Chief's case?"
"Could it be that the one who colluded with the Demon Sect was Cui Ming? He first colluded with the Demon Sect and then joined forces with the Demon Sect to frame the Jiujiang County Chief?"
…
The minister's words were like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing huge waves.
Li Mu had a look of realization. If the one who colluded with the Demon Sect was Cui Ming, then Phantom Princess must have been sent by Cui Ming. If Cui Ming had colluded with the Demon Sect, he could have worked with the Demon Sect more than ten years ago to frame the Jiujiang County Chief for a promotion …
Why would the Demon Sect help Cui Ming?
Perhaps Cui Ming didn't collude with the Demon Sect. He was originally a member of the Demon Sect!
Li Mu thought of Phantom Princess. She and Cui Ming had something in common. Both of them were unusually beautiful. Phantom Princess was from the Meizong Sect. Could Cui Ming also be a spy from the Meizong Sect in the imperial court?
If Li Mu could think of this, so could everyone else in the imperial court.
The minister had finished searching the soul of the tree demon. He said with a murderous tone, "Your Majesty, from this demon's memory, I found out that Cui Ming is a member of the Demon Sect. He is also a spy from the Meizong Sect. More than ten years ago, the case of the Jiujiang County Chief colluding with the Demon Sect was also framed by Cui Ming and the Demon Sect …"
"Preposterous!"
"How dare he!"
"A spy from the Demon Sect. He actually has a high position in the imperial court and has been hiding by our side for so many years …"
…
At this moment, an old man stood out and said, "Your Majesty, this is a serious matter. Can you let me search the demon's soul again to confirm it?"
Shangguan Li heard the Empress's telepathic message and nodded. "I'll have to trouble you, minister."
All the officials looked at the old man.
The minister was very experienced. He was an old official from the previous emperor's era. He was neither a friend nor a foe and was deeply loved by the people. He was also a Sixth Realm powerhouse. Both the new and old parties respected him very much.
The old man slowly walked forward and pressed his skinny right hand on the demon's head.
After a while, he slowly opened his eyes and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the minister is right. Cui Ming is a Guardian of the Meizong Sect. The case of the Jiujiang County Chief was framed by Cui Ming and the Demon Sect …"
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