Chapter 106: Ownership of the Inheritance
One year ago, during the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
While conducting his monthly routine inspection of the national treasury, the Chief Financial Officer of the court discovered that the national treasure, the Vast Sea Konoha Cover, which should have been displayed on the central pedestal in the treasury's central collection room, was missing and had been stolen under mysterious circumstances.
Besides a dozen or so golden particles found beneath the pedestal at the scene of the theft, there were no other clues.
Given the importance of royal dignity, the Chief Financial Officer did not cause a public uproar. Instead, he quietly reported the matter to Emperor Xue Ye.
Upon learning of the theft of the national treasure, Emperor Xue Ye, in addition to his shock and anger, ordered Prince Xue Xing and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe to jointly investigate the matter and apprehend the thief.
Therefore, at present, the only people in the entire royal family aware of the treasury theft are Emperor Xue Ye, the Chief Financial Officer of the court, Prince Xue Xing, and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe – a total of four individuals.
The only clue to the case was the dozen or so golden particles left at the scene. Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe spent over a year painstakingly searching along this sole clue, but they found nothing.
Let alone any progress in the case, they didn't even figure out what those golden particles were.
There was no other way. Dragon Whisker Needles, a rare crystal formed only within Crystal Clear Quartz, were known only to blacksmiths of Grandmaster level or higher.
In the current era, blacksmiths held a low status, and blacksmiths of Grandmaster level were primarily concentrated in Gengxin City.
Even if Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe had inquired about the golden particles with blacksmiths in Heaven Dou City, ordinary blacksmiths would not have been able to identify their origin.
...
Observing the golden particles at Salas's feet, a hint of surprise flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes. He thought:
Interesting. After all my calculations, I never expected Tang San to be the one who stole the national treasure.
But how did he do it? How did he manage to bypass the treasury's numerous anti-theft barriers and steal the national treasure so silently?
And what was Tang San's motive for stealing the national treasure? I've been undercover in the Xue family for so many years, and I only know that thing is extremely valuable, but I have no idea of its specific function.
Xue Xing, witnessing the scene before him, suddenly had numerous possibilities flash through his mind. However, he and Xue Qinghe shared the same thought: they both firmly believed Tang San was the mysterious thief who stole the national treasure.
However, the royal family could not publicly announce the scandal of the national treasure's theft, especially given Tang San's rather peculiar identity.
Thus, the uncle and nephew reached a rare consensus on the same matter: they would report the situation to Xue Ye upon their return and let him decide how to handle it.
However, this incident was destined to make it impossible for Tang San to marry Xue Ke, and the relationship between the royal family and the Tang Sect would not become overly intimate.
Consequently, Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe tacitly returned to their seats, ignoring the events unfolding before them and letting them take their course.
Ning Fengzhi, sensing this change, immediately cast a sharp gaze upon the golden particles that had caused it. A trace of worry flickered across his face as he thought:
Truly an eventful period. Another unexpected event has occurred.
What's been happening lately? Why are things unfolding beyond my predictions?
The storm is gathering, and the waters are becoming muddied. Is the continent on the verge of a great change?
If a great change truly occurs, where will my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect stand?
Meanwhile.
Salas was in a difficult position.
The actions of Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe in suddenly ignoring Tang San left him bewildered and at a loss.
Damn it, why is no one acting according to the script?
If you people from the royal family aren't going to smooth things over, how am I supposed to save face? You're counting on me not daring to kill this kid Tang San, aren't you!
In the end, Salas had no choice but to use his Soul Power to control Tang San's body, forcing him to kowtow three times as a way to maintain his dignity.
"An adult does not stoop to the level of a petty person. I, this Bishop, am magnanimous enough to accept three kowtows from you today as punishment."
"If you dare to offend me again, do not blame me for being impolite!"
"Hmph! Let's go!"
With that, Salas led his entourage away.
After Salas left, the nobles present who had not yet offered flowers exchanged glances, looking at Tang San, who had collapsed on the ground, hesitating whether to present their white chrysanthemums.
...
The next day.
Tang San, recuperating in bed, finished drinking a bowl of bitter medicine. As he handed the bowl to Tailong, who was serving him, he inadvertently noticed Tailong's somewhat unnatural expression.
So, Tang San casually asked:
"What happened?"
"Um, um..." Tailong stammered, "Young Master, you just finished your medicine and need to rest. I won't disturb you any longer and will take my leave."
Tang San watched Tailong's hurried departure and sternly reprimanded him:
"Stop right there! I asked you a question, Master of the Sect. Why are you avoiding my gaze and changing the subject!"
"Confess the truth!"
Tailong turned to face Tang San with a bitter expression, lowering his head in silence.
On the bed, Tang San saw that his command was ineffective. To coax information out of Tailong, he said:
"It's nothing, go ahead,"
"After everything that's happened, what else could our sect master not bear?"
Hearing this, Tailong slightly raised his head and tentatively said:
"Then I'll speak."
Seeing Tang San nod, Tailong told him everything.
"Young Master, your aunt's inheritance, including Moon Xuan, has all been seized by the royal family."
Tang San couldn't quite believe it, and asked with a tone of doubt:
"What are you talking about? Why would the royal family seize my aunt's inheritance for no reason?"
"Young Master, it's true." Seeing Tang San's disbelief, Tailong quickly explained:
"The royal family's public reason is that Moon Xuan was founded with royal funding, and after Madam Yue's death, it rightfully belongs to the royal family."
"Not only that, but all the assets within Moon Xuan also belong to the royal family."
"Young Master, this means you won't get a single cent of your aunt's inheritance."
"Finally, this is a list of funeral expenses given by the royal family yesterday, demanding you repay these debts within a time limit!"
Leaning against the bed, Tang San listened to these words, his consciousness suddenly swimming and his ears buzzing incessantly.
Upon seeing the funeral expense list Tailong produced, the sky-high figures on it caused Tang San's eyes to roll back, and he spat out a mouthful of dark blood before losing consciousness.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
Seeing Tang San fall unconscious, Tailong regretted telling him the news.
After shaking Tang San for a long time without him regaining consciousness, Tailong immediately ran out of the room to find a pharmacist to treat him.
...
The Imperial Palace, in the Grand Hall.
Upon receiving the news of Tang San's coma, Prince Xue Xing asked Emperor Xue Ye:
"Brother, are we just going to let this matter slide? Although Moon Xuan is valuable, how can it compare to our Xue family's Vast Sea Konoha Cover?"
"In my opinion, we should make Tang San hand over the blueprints for his hidden weapons to our Xue family. Only then can we barely recover the national treasure we've lost."
On the throne, Xue Ye's expression was unreadable. He didn't directly answer his younger brother's words, instead saying:
"That's enough. I have my own plans for this matter, you don't need to ask any more questions."
"Instead of worrying about these things, you should focus more on the academy."
"For the next tournament, I don't want to see a repeat of what happened in this one!"
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