[At these words, Cui Jianxing's brow furrowed slightly.]
[Chen Wujiu's face showed no fluctuation whatsoever, his smile remaining unchanged.]
[However, regardless, both figures stood up together.]
[Except, before the two of them could even step forward, the main doors were pushed open.]
[A figure clad in a dark green robe, along with another familiar figure in red robes, stood at the door together.]
[You raised an eyebrow slightly. Li Wanchun's arrival was within expectations, but Li Taohong following along was indeed something you hadn't anticipated.]
["Immortal Li, how is it that you have time to come to the Yamen today..."]
[Cui Jianxing, who could barely be considered an old acquaintance of Li Wanchun, bowed from afar, his previously furrowed brow having long smoothed out as he spoke with a smile.]
[However, Li Wanchun didn't give him any face at all. The eyes of both father and daughter quickly swept over to you, and only after seeing that you suffered no abnormalities did their expressions warm slightly—though it was truly only 'slightly'.]
[Following that, this old man with white hair and beard displayed a side of himself you had never seen before.]
[Old Li grinned:]
["Why? Is this Lin'an Six Doors Yamen of yours His Majesty's Golden Throne Hall? Even if it were the Golden Throne Hall, this old man could still enter after sending word."]
[Cui Jianxing smiled: "Immortal, you joke. The Immortal's reason for coming this time..."]
[Before he could finish his sentence, Li Wanchun continued:]
["I heard that a disciple of my Medicine King Valley was rumored to be connected with demonic heretics from the Changle Palace? Naturally, this old man had to come see for himself!"]
[As soon as Old Li's words fell, before Cui Jianxing could speak, Li Taohong on the side paid no mind to the identities of the two seated at the head of the hall and sneered directly:]
["My Medicine King Valley has served the Great Qian Court for hundreds of years. Every generation of Imperial Physician Chief has come from within the Medicine King Valley—loyal and noble for generations! How is it that in the mouths of Lord Cui and Eunuch Chen, my Martial Nephew has suddenly become a demonic heretic?"]
[The moment these words were spoken, even Chen Wujiu, who had been smiling all along, changed his expression slightly. On the other hand, Sun Huang, who had previously looked fierce and cold, quietly sat down to the side, even finding time to pick up a teacup from the table and take a sip.]
[You also raised an eyebrow slightly, glancing at Li Taohong, whose pretty face was flushed with anger and who was practically bristling with rage. You had to admit, you had previously felt this Martial Aunt of yours was a bit reckless, and seeing her today proved it was indeed so.]
[Cui Jianxing let out a sigh, a helpless look in his eyes. Ignoring Li Taohong, he looked toward Li Wanchun:]
["Immortal, when all is said and done, nothing has been determined yet. Siming and I are old acquaintances; this time, I merely asked him over to assist in the investigation. There is absolutely no final verdict on this matter, so why must the Immortal be in such a hurry?"]
[Li Wanchun let out a cold snort and didn't speak.]
[Li Taohong's satirical sneer didn't abate in the slightest as she continued:]
["Lord Cui, the imperial court's interrogation focuses on soul-snatching and soul-suppressing secret arts. Under interrogation, a person would spill everything—even what age they stopped wetting the bed! Although my Martial Nephew comes from a special background, when all is said and done, he has already inherited much of my Medicine King Valley's legacy.
Now there is no one else in this hall. If my father and I had not come, what then? Don't tell me you intend to have Siming disclose all of our Medicine King Valley's complete legacy, martial arts, and alchemy methods to you?
At that time, would it become another line of secret martial arts inheritance for your Cui Family? Why don't you also hand over the draft for the Imperial Physicians and the duties of the Imperial Physician Chief to your Cui Family's descendants in the future?"]
[At these words, Cui Jianxing's expression finally changed. He pursed his lips:]
["Immortal, please ask Fairy Li to refrain from speaking! With such words, is she treating Cui as someone who covers the sky with one hand? Eunuch Chen is still here representing His Majesty to inspect the Southeast—how could such a thing be? What kind of treacherous villain, what kind of despicable hypocrite does the Medicine King Valley take Cui for?"]
[However, facing Cui Jianxing, Li Wanchun merely sneered coldly once again:]
["Human hearts are separated by skin. Who knows what you people are truly thinking in your hearts?"]
[Cui Jianxing's face sank. He let out a long breath, seemingly trying to calm himself down. He reached out his hand directly and spoke forthrightly:]
["I swear by my Scholar's Mind..."]
["Lord Cui!"]
[You finally speak up. At this juncture, it seems only you can speak up.]
[At this juncture, it seems only you are suitable to speak up.]
[You truly never expected that this Martial Aunt of yours, whose ability isn't great, whose martial arts aren't great, and whose alchemy and medical skills don't seem like much either, could press Old Cui to such an extent with her words.]
[Therefore, you interrupt Cui Jianxing's self-vindicating oath:]
["There's no need for this. I also believe that Lord Cui would not commit such despicable acts. Grandmaster and Martial Aunt are merely letting their concern cloud their judgment."]
[System Notification: Cui Jianxing's favorability toward you +10. Current favorability: 70 points (Close Friends)]
[Sure enough, you glanced at the favorability rating. Over the past two days, especially last night, Cui Jianxing had probably lost a good chunk of favorability toward you.]
[However, you paid it no mind at all, instead looking at Li Wanchun and Li Taohong:]
["Thank you, Grandmaster! Thank you, Martial Aunt! But rest assured, Grandmaster—Lord Cui saved my life once before. As for his character and integrity, I believe he is by no means such a treacherous person!"]
[Faced with your words, Li Wanchun's expression softened slightly. He let out a sigh and glanced at you:]
["Silly boy, this guy named Cui is already preparing to move against you, and you're still like this? You are ultimately too young to see through the treacherous nature of human hearts, sigh..."]
[Cui Jianxing's chest heaved up and down. He explained helplessly:]
["Immortal Li, in the Six Doors, aside from constables returning from cases, everyone must report under the 'Mirror of Clarity Suspended in Hall' without making the slightest error! When all is said and done, this is merely routine procedure. How am I preparing to move against Siming?"]
[This was your first time seeing Cui Jianxing in this state. Now, in a true sense, you also saw the status of Old Li and the Medicine King Valley.]
[Setting everything else aside, a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel—a genuine High Official—was at this moment being cornered by Li Taohong to the point of almost shouting curses in the street.]
[Of course, theoretically, Li Taohong and Cui Jianxing belonged to the same generation, but it was very much a case of 'a scholar encountering a soldier'.]
[And equally clearly, Li Taohong following along had absolutely no intention of letting things end so easily:]
["Oh? Lord Cui, then why don't you have that Fourteenth Young Lady or Third Master Long from the Water Transport Sect undergo this Mirror of Clarity?
Why don't you have the 'Bright Dawn Sword Lord' of the Taibai Sword Sect, the 'Moon Soul Sovereign' of the Spirit Void Dao Pavilion, or the 'Precious Light Arhat' of the Great Brightness Temple undergo this Mirror of Clarity?
If I remember correctly, ten years ago, the Bright Dawn Sword Lord had some rumors linking him with 'King Songdi', the Hall Master of the Third Hall of the 'Yanluo Palace'—one of the Five Demonic Paths.
Why? Back then, why didn't you, Lord Cui, travel to the Yongliang Region, climb Mount Taibai, and ask the Bright Dawn Sword Lord to come to your Six Doors to undergo this Mirror of Clarity?
When all is said and done, isn't it simply because you didn't dare go, Lord Cui? Isn't it simply because the Bright Dawn Sword Lord had long reached the Land Immortal realm? To speak so grandly now is nothing more than relying on the personal friendship between you and my Martial Nephew Siming to presume upon your seniority and demand gratitude for past favors."]
[At this moment, watching Li Taohong's sharp-tongued mockery, you were dumbfounded. Terrifying beyond measure, truly terrifying beyond measure!]
[No wonder Old Li brought this Martial Aunt Li along this time. Old Li was clearly not good with his tongue, but this Martial Aunt Li Taohong was truly relentless when she had the upper hand!]
[This could be seen from Cui Jianxing's rapidly heaving chest—this Lord Cui's face had already turned slightly red, and in the end, Old Cui finally couldn't hold it in any longer:]
["Nonsense and unreasonable harassment! Truly, only women and small-minded people are difficult to deal with!"]
[However, the moment these words left his mouth, suddenly, another voice came from outside the door:]
["Who is Lord Cui cursing at?"]