Song of Adolescence

"Your Excellency, we have completed the search. Nothing." A vice minister of the Court of Judicial Review returned and reported solemnly to Shen Xiduo.

Shen Xiduo nodded. "Understood."

Ling Jun retorted in annoyance. "I told you there's nobody here. How can our dignified Court of State Ceremonial harbour fugitives from the court!"

"Ling Jun!" Jin Xian counted the Buddhist beads on his rosary slowly. "Don't be rash."

The Court of Judicial Review vice minister glared at Ling Jun and drew his long sword. "Don't think I won't lock you up in the Heavenly Prison right now."

"Pah."

A crisp and clear sound.

"Pah."

Another crisp and clear sound.

The first was the sound of the vice minister receiving a slap across his face. The second was the sword in his hand snapping in two.

"Minister Shen needs to properly discipline your subordinates." Jin Xian tossed the broken sword on the ground.

"You!" The vice minister snapped angrily. 𝐟𝗿𝚎𝐞𝓌e𝒃𝑛𝒐ѵ𝒆𝑙.c𝚘𝓶

"Back off," Shen Xiduo said evenly. The vice minister immediately picked up the broken sword on the ground, waved his hand, and led the rest of his men out of the Court of State Ceremonial. Shen Xiduo faced Jin Xian Gonggong and bowed. "Gonggong, excuse us for the disturbance."

"Your Excellency shares in His Majesty's burden. You've worked hard." Jin Xian Gonggong bowed his head.

"I'm just running errands now. The hard work has yet to come," Shen Xiduo said lightly. "Jin Yan is holding onto a document of cosignatories that is said to contain the names of the officials who supported him in bringing the Langya Army into the city. If I can get that document, do you think the Heavenly Prison will overflow?"

"If the Heavenly Prison is full, that is the misfortune of the imperial court, but Your Excellency's glory," Jin Xian Gonggong replied.

Shen Xiduo smiled and did not reply.

After he left, Ling Jun couldn't resist walking up to his master and he asked, "Where did Jin Yan Gonggong go?"

"He went to a place that even Shen Xiduo cannot search," Jin Xian Gonggong said.

Ling Jun pondered for a moment. "The imperial palace?"

Jin Xian shook his head. "No, Bai Xiao Hall."

Bai Xiao Hall.

Ji Xue took off the black cloth covering Jin Yan's eyes. He opened his eyes and saw six men with iron masks sitting opposite him.

"The legendary Six Iron-Masked Officials of Bai Xiao Hall, in charge of all intelligence under Heaven." Jin Yan smiled. "I didn't expect to have the honour of meeting such mysterious persons."

"You've already met the Hallmaster. Why bother with the iron-masked officials?" Ji Xue tapped Jin Yan's head with her staff.

One of the iron-masked officials spoke up, "The document of cosignatories in his hand is currently the most important piece of intelligence under Heaven."

"Name your price," another iron-masked official said.

Jin Yan spread his hands and said, "You want me to name a price first? That's too cunning. I need to know your bargaining chip."

"Bai Xiao Hall has always offered a fair bargain, and has always offered the most appropriate price." The iron-masked official who was in charge said solemnly, "It's just that the bargaining chip in your hand is indeed priceless, so you can only name what you want. Some people want money, some people want power. Everyone will get what they want. If Bai Xiao Hall can afford it, we will definitely meet your price."

"I have no use for money. In recent years, I've hoarded quite a bit of money and hidden it in a place only I know. I want power but power is useless now. This world will no longer have me. What I want is very simple - my life. Can you give it to me?" Jin Yan smiled.

The iron-masked official in charge glanced at Ji Xue. Ji Xue frowned slightly, pondered for a while and then said, "Say it."

One of the seated iron-masked officials stood up, walked into the back room, then came out holding a booklet. He sat down again, flipping through the booklet as he read out loud, "Shen Xiduo, Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, has received a decree from Mingde Emperor to personally investigate and handle this case. The Court of Judicial Review has already dispatched all hands to handle this case. Earlier today, they visited the Court of State Ceremonial. Similarly, Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan has also visited the Court of State Ceremonial. In addition, thirteen spies from Nanjue stepped into Heavenly Revelations. Eight of them are within Bai Xiao Hall's control and five have disappeared. Thirty-seven officials of Heavenly Revelations City, both low and high-ranking, have sent their warriors to search for Jin Yan's whereabouts. Under the present circumstances, if you want to leave Heavenly Revelations City, Bai Xiao Hall will have to turn out in full strength. Even then, we can only be seven-tenths sure that you will not die."

"I want absolute certainty," Jin Yan said bluntly.

Ji Xue frowned and said, "There is no business under Heaven that's an absolute certainty."

"Why not?" Jin Yan demanded angrily.

"If the person standing in your way is Baili Dongjun or Luo Qingyang, and they're determined to kill you, who under Heaven can save your life?" Ji Xue retorted.

"Then let's compare the offers. Bai Xiao Hall can achieve seven-tenths. What if another party can offer nine-tenths?" Jin Yan spread his hands and said, "Why do I have to choose yours?"

The six iron-masked officials discussed in hushed tones while Ji Xue wrapped her arms around her staff, a frown on her face in deep thought. After half an incense stick, the iron-masked official in charge knocked on the table. "We agree with you. Bai Xiao Hall is willing to protect you while you meet with the various parties and bargain for the best offer. You can make your choice after that."

"But?" Jin Yan naturally knew that there was no free lunch in this business.

"With the exception of what's on that document, you need to tell us everything else you know at no cost," Ji Xue knocked on the table with her staff and said solemnly.

"And if I don't?" Jin Yan asked.

The iron-masked official slapped the table with his hand, and the iron door behind him opened slowly. "There's your path. You can walk right out. We Bai Xiao Hall will do nothing, but within the time of one incense stick, you will become a prey for the entire Heavenly Revelations City."

"I won't kill you. That was my promise to Jin Xian, but there is no lack of people who want to kill you in this city." Ji Xue smirked.

"Help me to contact three people." Jin Yan sighed.

"Speak." The iron-masked official picked up a brush and flipped open the booklet.

"Yong'an Prince Xiao Se."

"Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan."

"Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Xiduo."

The iron-masked official stopped writing, tore off the page from the booklet, and hid it in a black box. Then, he walked into the back room and when he came out again, he was empty-handed. "You will be able to meet them tomorrow afternoon."

"Where?" Jin Yan frowned.

The six iron-masked officials stood up at the same time, and the one in charge replied, "Naturally, we will choose the most suitable place. The Court of State Ceremonial."

Court of Judicial Review.

Shen Xiduo looked at the golden invitation before him. There were four words written on it - All-Knowing Under Heaven.

"Your Excellency, do you think we should send our people to surround the Court of State Ceremonial when the time comes?" The Court of Judicial Review vice minister suggested. Half his face was already red and swollen, and his eyes were full of resentment. "Are they crazy? Negotiating terms with officials of the imperial court? "

"You want to discuss court regulations with Bai Xiao Hall? You must be crazy too." Shen Xiduo sneered.

The vice minister blinked in confusion. "What does Your Excellency mean?"

"You have a lover you're paying for in Jade Elegant House in the west, right?" Shen Xiduo asked rhetorically.

The vice minister turned red. "How did Your Excellency know?"

"Furthermore, you visited Grand Golden Terrace to gamble and lost three hundred taels of silver, which is still on your tab. Tu Er-ye didn't settle the account with you because you promised to let him visit someone in the Heavenly Prison. Am I right?" Shen Xiduo asked again.

The vice minister was so frightened that his legs went soft, and he knelt down. "Your Excellency, I was wrong! I was impulsive…"

"I know all about this, and so does Bai Xiao Hall. Nobody under Heaven is perfect. Everyone has something they don't want others to know. Bai Xiao Hall has come to do business in a proper manner. If we bring our men to take him by force, it won't end well." Shen Xiduo sighed.

"So tomorrow, are we really going?"

"We're going. We'll bring our bargaining chips and go."