Chapter 851: Barging Through the Gate

Niu Youdao had never expected Lingjian Mountain to treat him politely. The fact that they had not attacked him outright was already good enough. He simply pretended not to hear the mockery and smiled at the others. "May I ask where His Majesty is?"

Shen Baochun, Elder of Zijin Cave, replied, "At morning court. What, you came to see the Emperor?"

"I have lived in Yan all this time yet never had the chance to meet him. Since I've come to the capital today, I'd very much like to see him."

Shen Baochun warned, "Don't do anything reckless. This is not a place where you can run wild."

"Elder Shen worries too much. I only want to meet him. With all of you here, I wouldn't dare do anything reckless."

Niu Youdao's gaze shifted to one side. Ga Miaoshui was approaching with several eunuchs and stopped a short distance away to watch them.

"I see an old acquaintance. I'll go say hello." Niu Youdao pointed toward Ga Miaoshui and walked over, Guan Fangyi and Wu Zhaoxing following behind him.

The people from the three great sects said nothing more. Even Luo Mingjian did not continue his excessive sarcasm. All of them knew their sects were currently searching everywhere for Niu Youdao, and they knew why. The matter concerned enormous interests for all three sects, and this side had already been ordered to report immediately if he was found.

Now that they had confirmed the man truly was Niu Youdao, the three sects quickly ordered disciples to send messages back to their respective sects.

Until definite instructions came back, they were unlikely to let Niu Youdao slip away.

After exchanging a few courtesies with Ga Miaoshui, Niu Youdao walked beside him and chatted idly.

Without either seeming to notice, the two gradually arrived outside the main audience hall. Niu Youdao showed no hesitation. He raised a foot toward the jade steps, apparently intending to walk straight into morning court.

Ga Miaoshui's expression changed slightly. He flashed forward and barred the way with one arm. "Brother Niu, this place cannot be entered without permission!"

The guards on either side of the jade steps immediately raised swords, spears, sabers, and halberds, all aimed toward them as they went on high alert.

Seeing that something was wrong, the Elders of the three great sects flashed over as well and took up positions on the steps. They were the cultivators stationed in the imperial palace to maintain order. How could they allow anyone to make trouble here?

Xi Yao, Elder of Xiaoyao Palace, asked heavily, "What are you trying to do?"

"I want to go inside and take a look. Is that not allowed?" Niu Youdao looked genuinely puzzled.

Xi Yao had no idea what there was to be puzzled about. He warned, "The civil and military officials are in court. No one is permitted to disturb the proceedings without authorization."

"Morning court?" Niu Youdao said. "Yan has been ruined to this state under their hands. What does a pack of useless bastards have to discuss?"

Shen Baochun's voice sank. "Bastards or not, every place has its rules. Those rules cannot be disrupted lightly, or chaos follows. You'd best not act recklessly. If you truly want to see the hall, you may go in after court has adjourned. Not now!"

Rules—Niu Youdao understood them.

This was the center of Yan's political order.

When the three great sects upheld the rules here, they were protecting the stability of their own interests within Yan. Misty Pavilion was no different. It upheld the rules beneath Heaven to ensure a stable flow of benefits. If everything descended into chaos and the existing order of interests was shattered, the nine supreme experts beneath Heaven themselves would probably have to jump into the fray, fighting, killing, and plundering without end.

Just then came a resonant clang of jade and metal from inside the audience hall.

The people below the steps looked up. Those familiar with palace protocol knew morning court had ended.

A short while later, several men emerged from the hall first, followed gradually by a large crowd of officials.

The first three were Tong Mo, Shang Yongzhong, and Gao Jiancheng.

The tense scene below the jade steps immediately drew the attention of the officials leaving court.

Gao Jiancheng knew Niu Youdao. The moment he recognized him, he froze in surprise.

Why had this man come here?

Now Gao Jiancheng more or less understood why the Emperor had seemed somewhat distracted during morning court.

So this was the reason.

Niu Youdao's gaze paused briefly on Gao Jiancheng's face, then settled on the old man walking between Gao Jiancheng and Shang Yongzhong.

Tong Mo did not know Niu Youdao. As he descended the steps, he quietly asked the men beside him, "What's going on?"

Shang Yongzhong shook his head.

Gao Jiancheng knew Niu Youdao but naturally would not say anything, so he too shook his head to indicate ignorance.

Once the officials had descended along the side paths of the jade steps, Niu Youdao spoke.

His voice was cold.

"Which one is Tong Mo?"

He did not address him as Grand Minister of Works or Prime Minister. He simply called him by name.

The assembled officials were astonished.

Who was this young man? He did not look old, but his tone was certainly enormous.

Tong Mo?

Gao Jiancheng was secretly surprised.

Had Niu Youdao come for Tong Mo?

Tong Mo paused. His gaze first swept over the three Elders from the great sects. Then he walked over at an unhurried pace, his bearing and authority inferior to no one present.

He looked directly at Niu Youdao and said slowly, "I am Tong Mo. And who might you be?"

Officials both above and below the steps could not help stopping. Everyone wanted to see what was happening.

Niu Youdao calmly gave his name.

"Niu Youdao."

The moment the name was spoken, many people felt a chill.

So this was Niu Youdao, the man behind Prince Yong?

They had heard his name for years. Today, at last, they saw him in person and examined him carefully.

The grievances and entanglements between Nanzhou and the imperial court were hardly secrets to these officials.

Tong Mo was startled inwardly. His eyes flickered only once, while outwardly his expression barely changed.

He nodded. "So it is Cultivator Niu. I have long heard of your great name. What business brings you to me?"

His nerves were already stretched taut, but with the people of the three great sects standing here, he was not afraid of Niu Youdao.

"I have a few questions. I came specifically to ask Prime Minister Tong."

At the top of the steps, outside the great hall, Shang Jianxiong had not left through the rear passage. After learning what was happening outside, he came out through the main doors and looked down from above, with Chief Steward Tian Yu beside him.

He could not hear what was being said below, but Shang Jianxiong's expression was not pleasant.

In the past, they had searched everywhere for this bastard without finding him. Now he had come barging straight through the gate and up to their doorstep.

What was he trying to do?

As someone who understood Yan's political situation intimately, Shang Jianxiong could roughly guess that Niu Youdao's willingness to come here now meant nothing good. The present circumstances were precisely when the imperial court's influence over the three great sects was at its weakest.

Tong Mo smiled. "What is it that you wish to ask me?"

Niu Youdao stood with both hands resting on his sword. "Yan Baoru. Does Prime Minister Tong know her?"

Yan Baoru?

Why bring up Yan Baoru now?

The secular officials knew little, but many of the cultivators had heard something. Rumor said Yan Baoru had clashed with Niu Youdao inside the Secret Realm.

Why had he come asking Tong Mo about her?

The cultivators looked toward Tong Mo in confusion.

Tong Mo considered the name briefly. "It sounds somewhat familiar." He glanced behind him.

An official immediately stepped forward and reported, "Prime Minister, she is the expert ranked second on the Golden Core Ranking."

"Oh!" Tong Mo nodded as though enlightened. "So it is that renowned heroine. I have heard of her for a long time, but never had the chance to meet her. I do not know her."

"Is that so?" Niu Youdao smiled faintly. "Yan Baoru caused me trouble inside the Secret Realm, and I captured her. After a severe interrogation, she said she had a very close relationship with Prime Minister Tong and that you had been supporting her all these years."

"She also said she entered the Secret Realm to kill me on Prime Minister Tong's orders. What does Prime Minister Tong have to say about that?"

The words sent a wave of shock through the crowd.

There was actually such a secret behind the matter?

Guan Fangyi and Wu Zhaoxing exchanged a glance.

True or false, everyone knew perfectly well that Tong Mo was fully capable of sending someone to kill Niu Youdao. Given Tong Mo's power, it would not be surprising if he had the ability to command someone like Yan Baoru.

Had Niu Youdao come to settle accounts with Tong Mo?

The cultivators from the three great sects were immediately stirred. The three Elders nearby fixed their gazes on Niu Youdao's hands.

All ten fingers resting atop the sword hilt were rising and falling in a steady rhythm, creating the unmistakable impression that he was itching to act.

The three great sects instantly became highly vigilant.

They would not allow Niu Youdao to attack one of Yan's most important ministers here.

Tong Mo, however, merely smiled, utterly unruffled.

"Cultivator Niu jokes. I may possess some standing in Yan, but I have no authority over the list Misty Pavilion draws up for entry into the Tiandu Secret Realm."

"Whether this Yan Baoru entered the Secret Realm had nothing to do with me. To say I ordered her into the Secret Realm to kill you is giving me far too much credit."

"I do not know what this matter you describe is about. If such a thing truly happened, then Yan Baoru must be slandering me."

"In serving His Majesty and administering Great Yan, I inevitably affect people's gains and losses. Perhaps I offended her, or someone else, without realizing it."

"Oh?" Niu Youdao asked. "Is that so?"

Tong Mo nodded. "Every word is true."

"If Prime Minister Tong admits it now, then the guilt belongs to you alone," Niu Youdao said. "But if you refuse to admit it and I later prove the matter true, I will not spare a single person in the Tong household."

"I will cut the weeds and tear out the roots."

"Niu Youdao says what he means. I have never broken my word."

Every court official listening felt his heart pound.

Quite a few cultivators from the three great sects frowned.

This bastard had actually come all the way into the imperial palace, to the very steps of the audience hall, and openly threatened one of the chief ministers of the court.

He was truly going too far.

"The clear remain clear; the muddied remain muddied." Tong Mo looked entirely unconcerned. Then he asked in return, "Does Cultivator Niu have any other instructions?"

Niu Youdao said, "So you truly won't shed tears until you see the coffin."

"Since I've come, this matter must be settled. I will not allow petty villains to keep causing trouble behind my back. There will be no muddling through this."

"I advise Prime Minister Tong to think carefully. Please."

He raised one hand in a gesture inviting Tong Mo to leave.

Tong Mo gave a slight nod. His bearing and authority remained unchanged as he walked away at an unhurried pace.

The officials gradually dispersed as well.

On the surface, nothing seemed to have happened.

In reality, Niu Youdao's words had struck them like a stone hurled into a thousand layers of waves.

No one knew how deep the matter went, nor whether Niu Youdao truly possessed the ability to do what he had threatened.

Yet if he had no confidence, why would he have dared come here personally?

The officials belonging to Tong Mo's faction felt as though they had just passed through a violent storm. The morning sun shone warmly upon them, yet many felt cold to the bone.

"Is that man standing so high above us His Majesty?" Niu Youdao looked toward the figure atop the steps.

As soon as he finished speaking, he moved to climb the stairs, only to be blocked again by the people from the three great sects.

Luo Mingjian, Elder of Lingjian Mountain, said heavily, "This is not a place where you can act presumptuously!"

They had already watched him frighten the Grand Minister of Works.

How could they now let him go frighten the Emperor as well?

If that happened, where would the faces of the cultivators stationed here be left?

"Please pass on a message," Niu Youdao said. "I'd like to speak with His Majesty."

His words were directed at Ga Miaoshui.

Ga Miaoshui immediately flashed to Shang Jianxiong's side and reported.

Shang Jianxiong gave a cold snort, raised his sleeve, and pointed down the jade steps.

"Anyone who dares overstep by a single pace is to be killed without mercy!"

With that, he swept his sleeve and left, giving Niu Youdao no face whatsoever.

At his order, a group of eunuchs with cultivation immediately rushed over from both sides and formed a barrier before the steps.

"Elder Shen, didn't you just say that after morning court I could go inside and take a look?" Niu Youdao asked the Elder of Zijin Cave.

Shen Baochun shook his head. "The Emperor has issued an order. You cannot go in."

[End of Chapter 851]