As the emperor made his entrance, a heavy silence fell over the hall. Su Chen observed the emperor's commanding presence—he was not only the ruler of this kingdom but also a man who bore the weight of countless decisions, each one affecting the lives of his subjects. The emperor's gaze briefly swept the room, and upon noticing Su Chen, his expression softened slightly.
"Thank you for coming, Master Immortal," the emperor said, his voice warm but carrying the weight of his position. "Your sect's aid in this troubling time is invaluable to us. I trust the journey has been acceptable?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Su Chen responded, maintaining a respectful tone. He was used to the formalities but had little interest in feigned pleasantries. "However, I would prefer to address the situation directly. The matter at hand requires swift action."
The emperor gave a small nod, acknowledging Su Chen's straightforwardness. He gestured to a nearby servant, signaling for the banquet to begin.
"Of course, Master Immortal. We will discuss matters in due course. But for now, I ask that you join us in this modest gathering. Your presence here tonight will offer some comfort to the people who fear what is happening in our kingdom."
Su Chen nodded in acknowledgment but remained focused. He had already assessed the situation with the bandits and the disappearances, and something about the events felt off. He suspected that the connections were deeper than just bandits and evil cultivators—there was something more insidious at play. A mole in the palace, as Chen Cuxi had mentioned, was no coincidence.
The banquet continued with the emperor making speeches, thanking the Taiyi Sect and Su Chen for their timely intervention. The food was lavish, and the room filled with nobles and high-ranking officials, all eager to show deference to Su Chen. Despite the fine display, Su Chen could sense the unease beneath the surface. The kingdom's problems were not so easily solved with banquets and grand speeches.
As the evening wore on, the emperor signaled for the formal discussions to begin. A large table was set up in a private side room, and Su Chen followed the emperor, who gestured for him to sit at the head of the table.
"Now, Master Immortal," the emperor began, once they were seated, "let us speak plainly. We have been fighting an unseen enemy for months now. While we have been focused on the bandits and their monstrous leader, I believe you might uncover something we have missed."
Su Chen leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. "Tell me everything you know."
The emperor exchanged a look with Minister Chen, who had also joined them at the table. Chen Cuxi cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Your Majesty, Sir Immortal, our kingdom has been plagued by unexplained disappearances. People vanish without a trace, most of them from the outskirts of the capital. At first, it seemed like simple banditry. But the scale of the disappearances... it's more than that."
"Indeed," the emperor added, his face grim. "The bandits were only a distraction. We believe someone within the palace has been orchestrating the chaos. We've been unable to pinpoint the traitor."
Su Chen's gaze shifted to Minister Chen. "Who holds the highest authority within the palace besides the emperor?"
Chen Cuxi hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the question. "That would be the Grand Chancellor, Lord He. He holds immense power in the court and commands much of the military."
"And where does Lord He stand in all this?" Su Chen asked, his voice flat, not betraying the suspicion that was already forming in his mind.
"I cannot say," Chen Cuxi replied, his eyes averted. "But his position is... precarious. Some believe his loyalty is to the people, but others suspect otherwise. He has always been ambitious."
Su Chen nodded slowly, processing the information. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fall into place. A mole within the palace, the increasing bandit activity, and the strange transformations—they all pointed to a larger, more organized force at play.
"How do you intend to deal with this?" Su Chen asked, his voice low and commanding.
The emperor looked at him, his expression filled with both gratitude and hesitation. "Master Immortal, we cannot act without evidence. We need you to uncover the truth, to find the mole and those behind these events. We cannot afford another failure."
"I will investigate," Su Chen replied. "But I need complete access to the palace, its records, and its people. I will not be hindered by politics."
The emperor nodded solemnly. "You have my word. Whatever you need, it shall be yours."
---
That night, after the banquet, Su Chen was led to a private chamber where he could rest and prepare for his investigation. However, as he entered the room, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. His instincts, honed through years of training, told him that the mole was closer than anyone realized.
A sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. He opened it to find Minister Chen standing in the hallway, his expression tense.
"Master Immortal," he whispered, "there is something you must see. It's about the Grand Chancellor."
Su Chen followed him silently, a sense of urgency rising within him. As they made their way through the darkened halls of the palace, the quiet tension of the night deepened.
Minister Chen quickly took Su Chen through the dimly lit corridors of the palace, his steps quick and deliberate. The urgency in his movement conveyed the gravity of the matter. They arrived at a secluded wing, far removed from the busy sections of the palace where the nobility often gathered. Inside, the room was sparsely furnished, with only a large wooden desk at its center.
Without speaking further, Minister Chen gestured to a servant standing near the door. The servant, sensing the importance of the moment, immediately scurried to fetch something from a nearby shelf. A few moments later, the servant returned with a roll of parchment, holding it carefully as if it were fragile or dangerous.
He presented it to Su Chen with great respect, his hands trembling slightly.
"This is the information we found," Minister Chen said in a low voice, watching Su Chen intently.