Volume 4: Holy Capital Tribulation Chapter 266: Lushan Gong
"Hurry!" Xu Zun walked out of the alchemy room quickly and ordered the guards, "There may be a secret passage in this alchemy room, come and find it!"
"Ah?" Zhao Yu rushed in and asked, "Where? Where?"
"It's the wall behind the alchemy furnace. I just knocked on it and it's empty!" Xu Zun pointed and said, "You guys quickly break the wall open, and the rest of you search the alchemy room to see if there's anything else going on.
"You guys," Xu Zun ordered again, "go check Li Ren's residence. Since there is a secret passage here, there might be one there too!"
"Yes!" Someone took the order.
"You," Xu Zun ordered another team of internal guards, "you are to arrest all of Lushan Gong's family members and bring them to the hall for questioning. Quick!"
"yes!"
The internal guards did not dare to delay and took quick action.
"You," Xu Zun pointed at the son-in-law of Lord Lushan and pretended to say, "Come with me, I have something to ask you! Let's go..."
As he spoke, he pulled his son-in-law toward him and led him toward the front hall.
When they arrived at the mourning shed, the family members of Lord Lushan had already been taken to the front hall, and the mourning shed was empty.
The son-in-law didn't hesitate for a moment. He immediately lay down under the coffin, reached his hand underneath, and fiddled with something.
Then, there was a sound of mechanism moving from under the coffin, as if something was being opened.
The son-in-law quickly lifted the curtain under the coffin, but saw that there was an entrance under the coffin!
Wow...
Xu Zun secretly admired that this Mr. Lushan really had his own way.
As early as when Xu Zun came here for the first time to investigate, he had already arranged for the internal guards to search the Li Mansion, but who could have thought that there would be a problem under the coffin?
It’s absolutely amazing!
Xu Zun pondered that even though Xuanmen's heavenly tribulation operation had failed, if he could not find any fault, then this "Lord Lushan" would be able to hold the funeral smoothly according to the procedures.
From now on, no one would have any doubts about him. As for the secret passage under the coffin, no one would find it.
"Hurry!" The son-in-law lifted the curtain and was about to get in, wanting to shout to his father-in-law to escape and evacuate.
However, as soon as he lowered his head, someone covered his mouth with force.
But Zhao Yu's face appeared from the shadows. He covered his son-in-law's mouth with one hand and strangled his son-in-law's neck with the other.
Almost in the blink of an eye, the son-in-law fainted.
Soon after, Hou Zhen, Ashuzi, Li Yun and others appeared, followed by Cai Kun.
Everyone tacitly agreed not to make any sound. They raised their weapons, opened the curtains, and carefully entered the secret passage.
After everyone went in, Xu Zun and Cai Kun looked at each other, then followed behind into the secret passage.
The secret passage was not long. After entering, we soon discovered a light coming from the distance.
Then, Zhao Yu and others shouted, "Don't move, don't move..."
Swish…
Swords were swung through the air, but there was no fight.
Xu Zun and Cai Kun quickly quickened their pace. When they passed through the dark and narrow passage, an unusually wide hall suddenly appeared in front of them.
Wow...
After just one look, Xu Zun and Cai Kun were stunned.
This hall was as big as two basketball courts, and was surrounded by various stone statues.
Each statue is tall, majestic and lifelike.
However, Xu Zun recognized at a glance that these statues were almost the same as the statues in the Queen Mother's Wanfu Palace Hall. They were all various gods in the legends of Xuan Dao.
There is a shrine built in front of the statue, on which various fresh fruits are offered, and the smoke from incense burners is curling, which is particularly mysterious.
And at the deepest part of this underground hall, stands an extremely huge statue, which is the ancestor of Xuan Dao Tianshi.
The statues of the ancestors stand majestically, giving people a heavy sense of oppression.
At this moment, Zhao Yu and other guards surrounded a person in the middle of the hall.
There was a ritual platform standing there, and on the platform sat a white-haired old man, cross-legged.
Facing the swords of the guards, the old man remained unmoved and still sat firmly on the platform.
"This..." Cai Kun seemed to have realized something and quickly took a few steps forward to come to the front of the old man.
Although the old man is very old, he does not look frail. Instead, his face is rosy and he looks vigorous, just like an immortal in the legend.
"Ah?" Cai Kun carefully identified it and finally found something. He asked in astonishment, "You...you are the real Lord Lushan!!?"
Hearing the question, the old man opened his eyes slightly, and his eyes were as bright as torches, with an indescribable sharpness.
The old man looked at Cai Kun for a few seconds, then laughed out loud: "I thought it was someone else! Turns out it was Cai Ge who got it!"
Gurgle...
For some reason, Cai Kun swallowed instinctively and felt uncomfortable all over.
"It's really you..." Cai Kun said with eyes wide open, "So... the one outside is just your stand-in! But... but..."
"Why?" the old man laughed, "You've come all the way here, but you still haven't figured it out?"
"Because this stand-in has been his replacement for many years!" At this time , Xu Zun walked around to the front, stared at the old man and said, "It is true that the stand-in was addicted to alchemy outside and ruined his body.
“So, the assassination of Lord Lushan will not arouse anyone’s suspicion!
"I can't believe it," Xu Zun said admiringly, "For this great plan of heavenly calamity, you actually endured hardships and hid underground for so many years. You really put a lot of effort into it!"
"Oh?" The old man looked at Xu Zun, and after taking a good look at him, he said, "If I'm not mistaken, you are the new judicial officer Xu Zun, right?"
"That's me," Xu Zun said, "Mr. Lushan has a really good eye!"
"The great roc spreads its wings and hates the sky to be low. Its initial display of brilliance is astonishing," the old man praised. "This is not the first time I have heard of your great name!"
When the old man said this, he was admitting that he was the real Lord Lushan.
"Yeah, I didn't expect that we would meet in such a scene!" Xu Zun smiled slightly, "Mr. Lushan, let's have a good chat, shall we?"
"Okay," Li Ren asked without hesitation, "Where do you want to start? Or... first tell me how you suspected me?
"I feel like I've considered everything to the utmost. Logically speaking, no one should suspect me!"
"The main thing is that special fragrance," Xu Zun said, "When I was investigating in your house a few days ago, I smelled a special fragrance that felt familiar.
“The mourning hall, the alchemy room, and even your study all have that fragrance.
"At first I thought it was just a normal fragrance," Xu Zun took out a pill from his pocket, "but when we found this thing in the kitchen of the Northern Ya Imperial Army, I realized that the problem lies with you!"
"..." After hearing this reason, Li Ren opened his mouth, but closed it again. An embarrassed look appeared on his face, and he had completely lost his previous composure.
It seems that he could never have imagined that he had planned so carefully, but in the end, he would lose because of the taste of this little pill.
"Of course," Xu Zun explained, "the scent alone can't prove anything. What really aroused my suspicion was your previous identity as the Minister of the Imperial Clan."
"Oh?" Li Ren was puzzled. "Zong Zhengqing?"
"Yes," Xu Zun said, "Shangyuan City Changping Marquis Lu Jinlong and Shuzhou Wuping Marquis Ye Hanchen, although they are marquises, they are all willing to serve the Xuanmen rebels.
"I naturally suspect that they were all persuaded by the same person. And you have served as the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs for many years, and you have had the opportunity to come into direct contact with these marquises.
"Then, your resume is even more impressive," Xu Zun said, "You were the chief academic officer of the Imperial College and served in the Sixteen Guards before. You know everything about the Holy Capital, the palace and the army!
"Besides, I heard that you used to be a very talented person, especially good at dealing with people, and you were well-liked by the royal family." Xu Zun said, "But a few years ago, you suddenly became addicted to alchemy. I always felt that something was wrong."
"Oh?" Li Ren narrowed his eyes and asked incredulously, "You doubt me based on... just a few points?"
"Yes," Xu Zun nodded, "In fact, I just had a little doubt, and I couldn't be sure of anything. It's a pity that Bi Sheng was exposed too early!
"In order to protect you, he deliberately gave me less information about you. How can I not be suspicious of you?"
"Ah..." Li Ren's body trembled, and his expression suddenly changed...
