My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

Chapter 179: Chapter 84: One Wrong Step Leads to Miscalculation at Every Turn! (Please Subscribe)_5
 

Ordinarily, to gain some achievements, one had to either investigate cases or gather intelligence, most of which were time-consuming and involved meticulous work. However, at this moment, during such a large-scale battle, killing or capturing a member of the Devil Clan was considered an achievement.

The tasks varied in difficulty, but they had the advantage of being straightforward and quick!

Many constables from the Bureau of the Lamp, in just one night, had accumulated more achievements than they had in the first half of the year. Despite their injuries, they were all smiles.

After tidying up, they escorted the valuable devils towards the Capital city.

Along the way, the appearance of the devils attracted many onlookers. Even after reaching the Capital city, those who had been following the battle over the canal basin since last night rushed to the city gate at dawn to await the return of the Bureau of the Lamp’s constables.

Under the watchful eyes of the public, many constables from the Bureau of the Lamp couldn’t help but raise their heads higher and puff out their chests. This was a rare opportunity for them to show off in front of others and was quite treasured.

While the constables of the Bureau of the Lamp were escorting the devils back to the Bureau, on the opposing street, a Luxurious Jade Carriage slowly approached.

Heading straight toward the line of people from the Bureau of the Lamp.

Many noticed the oncoming carriage and their expressions shifted subtly.

“Is that… the Queen of the South Ming’s carriage?”

“Why is the Queen of the South Ming out? Doesn’t she usually stay within her residence and seldom goes out?”

“Maybe she’s in high spirits and wants to see what’s going on at the Bureau of the Lamp.”

“Everyone, please step aside and don’t block the Queen of the South Ming’s path.”

The crowd hurriedly cleared the way.

Standing at the forefront of the Bureau of the Lamp’s troop, Qian Siyuan also noticed the South Ming Queen’s carriage slowly approaching from the distance. He made no attempt to avoid it even though it was heading straight for the group of constables.

Qian Siyuan’s brows furrowed slightly as he didn’t understand why the South Ming Queen, who usually kept a low profile in the Capital city, would suddenly appear and block the Bureau of the Lamp’s path.

“Does the Princess have any matters?”

Qian Siyuan asked loudly.

“Nothing important, it’s just that last night, when I saw the commotion at the Bureau of the Lamp across the canal basin, curiosity got the better of me and I came to have a look,” said the Queen of the South Ming.

“Where did you find out that there were such devils hidden within the canal? I too have passed through there before, and in hindsight, it’s quite frightening.”

The autumn wind was bleak, the weather cool, and the grass withered with frost.

The Luxurious Jade Carriage slowly approached, its bead and brocade curtains gently lifted by a jade hand, and a pleasing voice reached Qian Siyuan’s ears, leaving him uncertain about how to answer for a moment.

In theory, he ought to respond to the questions of the Queen of the South Ming.

But as a member of the Bureau of the Lamp, these matters were a secret, not to be disclosed.

Not to answer would be disrespectful.

To answer, inappropriate.

Qian Siyuan’s complexion darkened a bit, like dew-covered frosty grass, obscured and indistinct.

“It was discovered by our Princely Heir, but how the Princely Heir came to know of it is not within my knowledge.”

Qian Siyuan answered ambiguously.

The Queen of the South Ming waited quietly for a moment, hoping to hear a more detailed explanation from Qian Siyuan, but seeing his tight-lipped demeanor, she seemed to lose interest and let the curtain fall back, “It seems Mr. Qian does not wish to bother with the matters of a lady like myself. Let it be then.”

With that, she instructed her bearers to drive the Jade Carriage away, opening up the path.

Qian Siyuan let out a sigh of relief and respectfully nodded to the Queen of the South Ming. He led the constables of the Bureau of the Lamp, escorting the devils back to the Bureau.

The King of South Ming was the Emperor Zhou’s half-brother, not assertive or competitive, content with a life as a leisurely Prince.

As such, he enjoyed the trust and affection of Emperor Zhou.

Though powerless and without influence,

his status within the Great Zhou Dynasty was incomparably honorable.

Given the esteemed status of the King of South Ming, his Princess was naturally no ordinary figure. While outsiders didn’t know the background of the Princess of South Ming, she was known for her stunning beauty and was a hidden gem within the Capital city.

However, for some unknown reason, the Princess had lately come to the Capital city for a visit and had not yet returned to the territories of the King of South Ming.

And now she had even begun inquiring about the affairs of the Bureau of the Lamp.

Although it seemed like a casual inquiry, Qian Siyuan still had the faint feeling that the South Ming Queen’s sudden interception of the Bureau of the Lamp was not so simple.

Yet he could not fathom any deeper reasons behind it.

After pondering it for a while without coming to any conclusion, he decided not to dwell on it any further and led everyone back to the Bureau of the Lamp.

Now that the devils within the canal had been uncovered, the most pressing matter was whether it was possible to extract information about the whereabouts of the crown prince from these devils.

It was confirmed that the crown prince had certainly colluded with the Devil Clan.

The nature of their mutual benefits and their collusion, as well as their purposes, Qian Siyuan felt it needless to delve deeper. They were undoubtedly planning treason, nothing surprising there.

And just as Qian Siyuan and the others from the Bureau of the Lamp had returned,

within the Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

Taihe Hall,

a solemn and majestic atmosphere pervaded the grand hall of the Imperial Palace. The towering dome overhead was adorned with glittering decorations that complemented the hall’s luxurious and exquisite furnishings.

The golden curtains above the throne cascaded down like a flowing waterfall of gold. The throne itself was carved from precious sandalwood, elaborately sculpted with intricate patterns, and the seat was covered with luxurious silk cushions.