Chapter 166 Spring is Coming

The years passed silently and it was deep winter in the blink of an eye.

The world has never been at peace this winter. All kinds of things are happening in the wind and snow that cover the earth, bringing endless excitement.

I heard that after Xie Yinglian returned to the Xie family, he was punished by kneeling in public, kowtowed to his ancestors, blamed himself and apologized, and personally explained his past arrogance and rudeness. He was then confined to a temple outside the city and was not allowed to go out.

Many people thought that the Xie family was using her knees and the pride and complacency that was shattered on the spot to tactfully express to the lady that the assassination that Lin Wanyi encountered had nothing to do with the Xie family, and asked the lady not to blame them, as a sign of submission.

Gu Zhuo didn't completely think so, because he had a serious conversation with the noble lady of the Xie family, and he was sure that there were many people in the Xie family who disliked her and were very willing to add insult to injury at this time and make her lose face.

What's more, the storm is unlikely to be settled just like that.

After this failed assassination attempt, Wuyou Mountain underwent a comprehensive retreat to avoid a head-on confrontation with the Sky Patrol, but many people still died.

At the same time, the investigation into Xiu Hu Zhenren has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to indicate that he is the elder of the Tianming Sect. The force that came to this conclusion is Cihang Temple.

The Li family was very dissatisfied with the tone set by the monks. This was because many of the evidences presented by the Li family were denied and rejected by the monks, and some were even rejected in a rather arrogant manner.

Even though the evidence was all far-fetched and fabricated, isn't it too much for you to deny my fabrication?
——It’s like some people don’t want Xiu Hu to become the elder of Tianming Sect.

However, because this investigation was not made public and remained in the dim study, after Cihang Temple promised that the matter would not be publicized, the Li family of Southern Qi finally accepted this fact reluctantly after a brief period of silence and thinking.

However, because of this incident, the Li family became even more angry about the provocation from the Tianming Sect.

The Southern Qi Dynasty was extremely lively at the end of the 38th year of Zhengsheng.

The aftermath of Lin Wanyi's failed assassination attempt has not yet dissipated, and the power center of Daqin is also facing a secret storm.

This incident directly points to Pei Jinge.

There is only one core issue.

——Gu Zhuo.

As early as when he suddenly appeared in the eyes of the world and traveled to the 480 temples in the south, some people questioned why he suddenly appeared there and made such a inexplicable choice.

However, all the strangeness and unreasonableness disappeared because of Pei Jinge, because she gave a reasonable and impeccable explanation.

No one doubted this explanation.

The reason is that everyone believes she is loyal.

Therefore, no one expected that this matter would be brought up again, because doing so would send a clear message - Pei Jinge no longer has the full trust of His Majesty the Emperor.

Compared with this, the struggle between the Li family of Southern Qi and the Tianming Sect is really not worth mentioning.

Pei Jinge has been in charge of the Sky Patrol for decades and has long become a banner of the Qin Dynasty that cannot be easily shaken.

The dispute about this matter lasted for a long time, mainly because Pei Jinge had not returned from his travels. However, everyone had reviewed the conclusion again and again beforehand and did not think there were any mistakes or omissions in it.

It is deep winter now.

Pei Jinge returned to the capital and went straight into the imperial city.

The lights in the imperial study stayed on that night, and several important figures at the power center of the Qin Dynasty discussed the matter until noon the next day.

Until the end, the conclusion that Pei Jinge gave for Gu Zhuo still remained unconfirmed.

Just as she had said at the beginning, she was fully capable of making up a perfect story and deceiving everyone.

More importantly, she is qualified to present evidence in this matter.

Without solid evidence, no one can shake her position unless the Emperor himself expresses his opinion.

Then... His Majesty the Emperor expressed his position.

——You can take a break for now.

Before that, Pei Jinge went to Jinghai and met with the White Emperor, to whom he had been loyal for many years, and they sat by the lake and had a serious talk.

The conversation did not last long, and she finally accepted the emperor's opinion and calmed down.

The Emperor's reason for convincing her was simple.

"You are close to metamorphosis."

"Why not take this opportunity to be idle and seek a change?"

"I hope that in the spring of a few years, when the grass grows and the birds fly, I can hear the good news that you have broken through."

……

The impact of this turmoil, which occurred at the highest level of the empire, was minimized thanks to the concerted efforts of the pillars of the country.

Pei Jinge's old subordinates will not be subjected to any purge or harsh treatment, just like she is still the director of the Sky Patrol Department. This is just a layoff that has nothing to do with power changes, nothing more.

Maybe this is not true, but at least that is what is said on the surface.

Then comes another problem.

Who will temporarily replace Pei Jinge's position?

Qing Xiaoyue was the first person to be excluded, because the light and dark sides of the Sky Patrol were not suitable to fall into the hands of the same person, which would make many people feel deeply uneasy.

At first, everyone thought that the promotion should be made from within the Sky Patrol Bureau, and finally Pei Jinge agreed, which was considered appropriate.

The only problem is that this process is a bit troublesome, and once the news leaks out, it will inevitably cause a big uproar.

In the end, the matter was resolved satisfactorily in an unexpected way.

The chief of the Sky Patrol Department, who was famous for his mystery, came out of seclusion.

Faced with the current predicament, the elderly man calmly took on his responsibilities and took back the power in his hands.

No one can be dissatisfied with this result.

……

This far-reaching storm was caused by Gu Zhuo, but not a single bit of the aftermath fell on him.

He walked alone in the prosperous capital, enjoying the snow and sightseeing every day, and lived a very comfortable life.

One day, he ran into Lin Qianshui. The noble lady of the Lin family recognized him at first sight, even though he was holding a black umbrella and looked no different from an ordinary tourist.

The two of them traveled together and chatted along the way. At the end of the conversation, Lin Qianshui made a joke that was not sure whether it was true or not.

Let’s talk about the summer festival four years later. If she hasn’t found a sect that suits her, will she be able to become Gu Zhuo’s disciple?

Gu Zhuo smiled and said nothing.

Lin Qianshui also laughed.

Time keeps passing by in such trivial matters, and there is often no difference between the previous day and the next day, just like Gu Zhuo's practice.

Spring is coming.

In the last cold wind, Gu Zhuo finally waited for the person he wanted to see.

That person is Pei Jinge.

Deep in her seemingly calm eyes was an unconcealable fatigue, and beneath her cold face was icy anger. All these emotions eventually turned into three words that flowed out from her lips.

"why?"

Gu Zhuo smiled and said, "Just like why you let Xiu Hu die."

Pei Jinge said expressionlessly: "I let Xiu Hu die because it is the cleanest way to do it and it is least likely to leave any traces and be discovered."

"And what about you? You made me suspicious, brought up the past, and put me in a position of unemployment. What good will that do you have?"

Her voice was extremely cold: "The Sky Patrol will definitely re-investigate you, and it is very likely that the head of the department will do it himself."

Gu Zhuo continued to smile and said, "You once told me that the story you made up was perfect and could deceive everyone. I believe that after the investigation by the Division Master, I will be more innocent."

Pei Jinge looked into his eyes and was silent for a long time.

A long silence.

The dead silence was not broken until the water droplets on the eaves were blown down by the wind and hit the floor, making a dripping sound.

“Do you want to die?” she asked.

Gu Zhuo suppressed his smile and said, "Who would want to die if there is a possibility of survival?"

This sentence is still referring to Xiu Lake.

Pei Jinge frowned and said in a deep voice: "It's hard for me to understand why you care about Xiu Hu's death."

Gu Zhuo said: "Everyone ultimately lives in their own world. I think it is common knowledge that there are some incomprehensible stubbornness in that world."

Pei Jinge said coldly: "Even if this stubbornness is stupid?"

“I don’t think it’s stupid.”

Gu Zhuo paused and said, "Even if it's really stupid, it doesn't matter. This is the best proof that a person is truly alive."

Having said this, Pei Jinge finally couldn't help it.

"fart!"

After many years, she cursed for the first time in a long time: "Fuck you!"

Gu Zhuo said: "Yes, I am just talking nonsense."

As he said this, he laughed happily, as if all the unhappiness he had felt in recent days had dissipated at this moment.

Pei Jinge looked at him in silence.

Gu smiled and said frankly: "Why am I saying these words? Why am I doing this? There is no other reason, just to make you unhappy, because your decision at that time made me very unhappy."

Pei Jinge was silent for a moment and then asked, "Is that all?"

Gu Zhuo said: "That's all."

I don’t know why, but after hearing these words, Pei Jinge looked away, and the anger in his eyes suddenly faded.

Then she said, "Until this moment, I still think your decision is stupid and unreasonable, and it is an extremely absurd choice, but I can accept the reason you gave."

Having said this, she just stood up and left.

Along with her footsteps, a few words were uttered.

"Our cooperation ends here."

"You and I will forget everything related to the cooperation."

"Just pretend nothing happened."

Without giving Gu Zhuo time to say a word, Pei Jinge pushed the door open and left the mansion.

There was a huge crowd of people outside the mansion. The gods were never lonely after nightfall. The fireworks from countless restaurants were slowly brought in by the cold wind of late winter, carrying with them the tempting aroma from the boiling hot pot.

Her cascading hair was blown up by the wind, and the thoughts in her eyes were also confused.

The last thing Xiu Hu said to her was metamorphosis.

There were only a handful of people who had achieved enlightenment in the capital of the gods at that time.

There is only one person who is most likely to become the ghost, and that is certainly not the Emperor, but... the most mysterious chief of the Sky Patrol Department.

When Pei Jinge realized the existence of this possibility because of Si Zhu's timely release, no matter what Gu Zhuo said to her today, she would eventually end this extremely absurd alliance.

Because this is the business of the Sky Patrol Department and should have nothing to do with outsiders.

Thinking of this, Pei Jinge raised his head slightly and looked towards a place not far away.

The imperial city stands at the end of the long street, with lights as bright as day.

The long winter is about to pass and spring is coming.

Is this how it should be?
Pei Jinge withdrew his gaze into the darkness of the alley beside him and calmly took the first step forward.

This is what she should do.

　End of this volume
　　
　
(End of this chapter)

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