Half-asleep, Tan Cong suddenly sensed something was off. He opened his eyes to find an unfamiliar Daoist standing in front of him.
He was startled, but he quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The Daoist saluted him and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, this humble Daoist is Shi Yue. I've been entrusted by Zhang Xuanzheng to invite Vice Academy Head Tan over to explain some matters."
Tan Cong's heart sank. At the same time, he was shocked and angry. He hadn't expected Xuanfu to really come to arrest him.
He looked outside and saw an eagle spreading its wings, soaring in the sky. However, it was frozen in the sky, not moving at all. It looked like a particularly realistic painting. Not only that, but the two guard ships were also like this.
He looked at Shi Yue and said, "Do you know the consequences of doing this?"
Shi Yue said, "Shouldn't Vice Academy Head Tan be more concerned about yourself right now?"
Tan Cong calmed down and said, "What about the charges? Since you've come to arrest me, what are my charges? "
Shi Yue said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, there's no need to ask. Since we've come to invite you, of course we have evidence. Everything will be clear once you return with us."
Shi Jiang suddenly said, "You can't take Teacher away!"
Shi Yue looked at her.
Shi Jiang said anxiously, "Teacher is a person with a noble title. According to the rules, you can't take him away!"
Shi Yue said, "What Artisan Shi said is normal. I've come with Xuanzheng's imperial edict. It shouldn't be a problem to invite Vice Academy Head Tan back for a few days."
Generally speaking, if one wanted to arrest someone with a noble title like Vice Academy Head Tan, they would need the signatures of two prefectures and the approval of the Ministry of Works.
However, Xuanfu held the highest position in the etiquette system. As Xuanzheng, Zhang Yu could bypass this rule and directly arrest someone if he felt that they were a threat to the continent.
But at the same time, he could not do whatever he wanted. If there was no evidence, or if he could not find anything, he would naturally have to bear the consequences. When the time came, the governor and the imperial censor would report to the Yujing and Xuanting. Xuanting would also send people to hold him accountable.
Shi Jiang said anxiously, "But the news that the Xuanfu wants to capture all of the Tenki-in Hall's Master Craftsmen and Master Craftsmen is spreading everywhere. Everyone is already panicking.
Have you thought about the consequences if Teacher is caught as well? Perhaps everyone in the Tenki-in Hall will speak out against you. If someone with ulterior motives uses this against you, the continent will be in chaos. "
Shi Yue said warmly, "Don't worry, Artisan Shi. There won't be any trouble. Someone will come out to calm the situation."
Shi Jiang still wanted to say something, but Tan Cong stopped her. He stood up and said, "So that's how it is. It seems that Jiang Gong inviting me to Qi Province was also arranged by you." He nodded and said, "With Jiang Gong coming out to calm the situation, there won't be any chaos in the continent. Alright, I'll go with you."
Shi Yue took a step to the side and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, please."
Shi Jiang bit her lower lip and said, "Teacher, you can't have no one to take care of you. I'll go with you!"
Tan Cong thought for a moment and said, "Alright."
He then said to Shi Yue, "I still have a lot of letters here. They're all sent by some youngsters with ideas. They're still waiting for my reply. Can you let me arrange these letters again?"
Shi Yue's gaze flickered as she swept a glance over the letters. Knowing that there were no problems, she nodded and said, "Alright, I'll give Vice Academy Head Tan some time to deal with your personal matters."
Tan Cong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your accommodation."
Shi Yue nodded to him, then turned around and walked out.
After waiting for less than half an hour, Tan Cong and Shi Jiang walked out. He took the two of them to another flying boat and returned to the Liang Province.
In order to ensure safety along the way, there were many cultivators hidden in the clouds in the surroundings. They were responsible for guarding along the way. After a day and a night of galloping, they successfully returned to Liangzhou and stopped in Zhang Yu's manor on the outskirts of Liangzhou City.
Tan Cong and Shi Jiang were arranged to a guest room. Here, there were people who served hot dishes and a few servants to help, but Shi Jiang was politely asked to go back.
Nevertheless, she was relieved and said, "Teacher, fortunately, they still have scruples about your reputation and didn't use force."
Tan Cong shook his head and said, "My reputation isn't worth much here, and they don't have to do that. What secrets can't they tell with a few divine abilities and spells?"
When Shi Jiang heard this, she realized that she couldn't hide her privacy in front of others at all. She panicked and said, "Teacher, they won't do that, right?"
Tan Cong said in a deep voice: "Although the Profound Palace is not allowed to casually use divine abilities and spells on ordinary people, a rule is only a rule. In reality, it is another matter. As for what they will do, we still don't know."
He looked at the pale Shi Jiang and said, "But you don't have to worry too much. That Zhang Xuan is Xia Shi, so he probably won't do that. Moreover, I've been a master craftsman for so many years, so I'm more or less prepared. If they use any tricks, they won't get anything in the end. "
At this moment, Shi Yue came to Zhang Yu's study and said, "Xuan Zheng, we've brought them here. What should we do next? Do you want us to use divine abilities … "
Zhang Yu shook his head and said, "That's not right." He was going to investigate violations of the law, so he naturally couldn't take the lead to break the rules.
At this moment, a cultivator came in with two metal pieces and placed them on the table. He cupped his hands and said, "Xuan Zheng, we've already checked. That Vice Headmaster Tan and his student aren't creators, so they should be the real person."
Zhang Yu nodded and said, "I know, thank you for your hard work. You can leave."
The cultivator cupped his hands and left.
Shi Yue said, "Xuan Zheng, if these two are substitutes …"
Zhang Yu said, "If they're substitutes, then that's a good thing. We can directly use the excuse that the higher-ups were replaced by substitutes and send a notice to the two prefectures. We can also immediately search the Tenki-in Hall."
Creating substitutes had to be recorded in the book, and this Vice Headmaster Tan had never been recorded in the book. Therefore, if they caught a substitute this time, it would be a great help to them.
Moreover, this time, they invited Tan Cong in the name of Jiang Gong. The latter had always been respectful to his elders, so it was unlikely that he would use a substitute to meet this senior.
Zhang Yu said, "Fellow Daoist Shi, I'll have to trouble you to make a trip with the other Fellow Daoists. However, there are still some things I need you to do. Since we caught Tan Cong, I'm sure there will be some changes in the Tenki-in Hall. I'll need you to keep an eye on it and report to me immediately if there are any changes."
Shi Yue said solemnly, "Xuan Zheng, don't worry, we'll keep an eye on that side."
After Tan Cong and Shi Jiang were arranged to stay in the manor, they waited for five days straight. However, no one came to look for them, nor did anyone come to ask them anything. It was as if they had been forgotten.
Shi Jiang was puzzled and asked, "Teacher, since they caught us, why did they leave us here?"
Tan Cong said in a deep voice, "This is to tell us that they're not in a hurry at all. It seems that the outside world has been pacified. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so calm.
However, this is also good news. It means that they don't intend to use any extra means to deal with us. Otherwise, there would be no need for them to do something superfluous. "
He felt a lot more relaxed. Although he had the means to free himself and was confident that he could escape with some secrets, it was still better to be alive. He still had a lot of things to do, and there were still many things he wanted to see that he hadn't seen yet.
After another three days, a cultivator finally came to look for them and invited them to a spacious and bright study room.
Zhang Yu was standing there waiting for the two. He looked at Tan Cong and nodded in greeting, "Vice Academy Head Tan, we meet again."
Tan Cong raised his hand and greeted, "Zhang Xuan Zheng." Shi Jiang also greeted him by the side.
Zhang Yu waved his sleeve and made an inviting gesture, saying, "Please take a seat."
Tan Cong and Shi Jiang thanked him and sat down at the table on the side.
After Zhang Yu served the fragrant tea, he placed a file on the table and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, you can take a look."
Tan Cong looked down and Shi Jiang immediately took out a pair of glasses and handed it to him. He took it and put it on. Then, he picked up the file and flipped through it.
It took him a long time to finish reading the file. Finally, he put it down and said, "So this is the problem. These Yujing Master Craftsmen are really cautious."
Zhang Yu asked, "So these things are true?"
"It's true."
Tan Cong admitted, "I think I'm a decent person. These Master Craftsmen wouldn't go so far as to falsely accuse me."
Zhang Yu asked, "Then, Master Craftsmen Tan, do you have any explanation for this?"
Tan Cong said expressionlessly, "There's nothing to say. I'm willing to take responsibility for my violations. However, I don't know anything else."
Zhang Yu looked at him and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, have you thought it through?"
Tan Cong said, "I've thought it through very clearly."
Zhang Yu looked at him again and raised his hand. Immediately, a servant spread out a confession in front of him and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, please sign your name on this confession."
Tan Cong didn't hesitate and immediately picked up a pen from the table. Shi Jiang couldn't help but call out to him, "Teacher …"
He paused for a moment and said, "I'll take responsibility for my own actions." Then, he quickly wrote down his name on the confession form and stamped it with his personal seal. Finally, he pushed the confession form forward.
Zhang Yu looked at the confession and said, "Since Vice Academy Head Tan is willing to take responsibility for your violations, I'll hand this confession to the two Prefectures."
Tan Cong looked at him and said, "I've said it before. I'll take responsibility for it."
Zhang Yu nodded and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan and Craftsmen Shi, you may go and rest."
Tan Cong was stunned. He slowly stood up and hesitated for a moment before he asked, "Zhang Xuanzheng, aren't you going to ask me anything else?"
Zhang Yu said indifferently, "I believe Vice Academy Head Tan has his own set of judgment and won't be easily swayed by others. However …" He looked up at Tan Cong and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan is confident in yourself, but do those people have confidence in you?"
Tan Cong was suddenly shocked. At this moment, a cultivator came up and said, "Vice Academy Head Tan, please."
Tan Cong turned around and slowly walked out with a gloomy face. However, as soon as he returned to his residence, his calm appearance completely disappeared. He began to fidget.
Shi Jiang watched as he kept pacing back and forth and asked softly, "Teacher? What's wrong? "
Tan Cong looked anxious. He said, "Things are a little troublesome."
Just as Zhang Yu had said, after being locked up here for so many days, he believed that he could hold on. However, the people outside did not necessarily think that he would keep his mouth shut.
Those people would definitely think that even if he didn't say anything for now, when the cultivators' patience ran out, would they do something to him?
Moreover, once Zhang Yu handed him the confession, he would be legally detained for a long time. That would be even more troublesome.
He couldn't help but feel a little anxious. He originally wanted to take responsibility and not implicate others. However, he didn't expect Zhang Xuanzheng to not want to gain anything from him at all. Instead, he was purely using him as bait.
It wasn't hard for him to imagine that as time passed, those people would most likely not be able to hold themselves back and do something. Not only would that disrupt the original plan, but it might also expose some things that were hidden well.
… …
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