During an investigation, he was arrested. The person in charge at that time was Mo Qianzhi.
It was seven years ago when Chen Huo’e, the leader of Guangchun Hall, informed him about the background of Mo Qianzhi, the Governor of Yingzhou. It was then that he realized the powerful backing behind Guangchun Hall, with connections so far-reaching that they not only knew the news from various quarters in Yingzhou, far from the capital, but also Mo Qianzhi’s deeply hidden secrets that were almost forgotten.
With the support from someone in the capital, Wang Buzui’s courage grew imperceptibly. He began to act fearlessly and started another task given by Chen Huo’e: to be arrested and imprisoned to bewitch Mo Qianzhi.
The process of bewitching was surprisingly smooth. That upright official Mo Qianzhi, with his determined gaze, spirited demeanor, lofty aspirations, and unwavering character, was so easily bewitched.
“He once mentioned wanting to avenge someone,” Wang Buzui suddenly recalled the act he put on during that jailbreak. Mo Qianzhi’s words at that time resurfaced in his mind. “But I’m not sure if that’s what he truly thought.”
At that time, he also spoke of establishing a peaceful and prosperous world.
Apart from Wang Buzui’s bewitching words, Mo Qianzhi’s deep-seated obsessions also caused him to sink deeper.
In this way, he was brainwashed by Wang Buzui, became a member of Guangchun Hall, and Wang Buzui was released.
From that time on, Mo Qianzhi outwardly remained that benevolent official who cared for the common people and sought their welfare, just as Shen Du and Zhu Yan had witnessed on their first day in Yingzhou. He showed no air and was wholly concerned with the people’s well-being.
But in reality, Mo Qianzhi had been working for Guangchun Hall all along, becoming a two-faced person.
The only thing that remained unchanged was that he truly kept his hands clean. No matter what methods Wang Buzui’s side used, Mo Qianzhi never accepted a single coin.
It was strange that he had decided to side with the “true god” yet refused to accept its rewards.
“It’s not so much about helping as it is about covering up when cases involving the Half-faced Ghost appear. That’s not difficult for him.”
Shen Du frowned: “If the cover was already in place, why did you arrange for Ji Dafu to hire Pan Chi to help solve the case?”
“And why did you have Mo Qianzhi report the ‘Half-faced Ghost’ case to the capital?”
Wang Buzui shook his head. He tried to stand up but the pain made him sit down again. His eyes regained clarity for a moment before becoming clouded again. He looked around, suddenly remembering what he had done and said earlier, and a look of dejection crossed his face:
“Well, since it’s come to this, let me explain more clearly.”
Shen Du fixed his gaze on him, carefully shielding Zhu Yan behind him, not relaxing his vigilance at all.
“West of Gannan Road is the territory of the Wusun Kingdom. Pan Chi’s reputation is quite renowned in this area. He’s a high-profile person, and his family background and origins are well-known. But Pan Chi has been traveling abroad for years and doesn’t understand Gannan Road.”
“Hiring him was just to provide cover for Ji Dafu and me. We had set up the trap and were just waiting for him to come.”
So that’s how it was.
Shen Du said, “In other words, in the end, Pan Chi would discover that the murderer of Li Kaixiang was the Half-faced Ghost, and nothing more.”
Wang Buzui nodded, not wishing to say more.
“If that’s the case, what would you have done if Pan Chi had been lucky enough to uncover the connections?”
Wang Buzui laughed wildly, lifting the messy hair covering his face, and said disdainfully, “So what if he uncovered it? With Mo Qianzhi in front and Leader Chen behind, what could he do?”
“At worst, we’d dispose of him and say it was the Half-faced Ghost’s doing. What could Governor Pan do about it? We’re far from the emperor’s reach. However, we say he died is how he died.”
The surrounding Imperial Guards were all infuriated upon hearing this. They hadn’t expected to find such a brazen outlaw so far from the capital, who viewed human life as worthless. Even these well-trained Imperial Guards found it hard to restrain themselves from teaching this desperado a lesson.
“Silence!”
With Shen Du’s command, the scene immediately quieted down. Wang Buzui glanced at Shen Du, a flash of admiration in his eyes.
“Why arrange to report this matter to the imperial court?” Shen Du asked again, a glint of sharpness in his dark eyes. If Wang Buzui dared to speak nonsense, he wouldn’t have an easy time of it.
Wang Buzui naturally sensed that intimidating force. He smiled, “The Fire Moth Party can’t be completely eradicated. Do you know who that person in the capital is? I advise you…”
Jing Lin kicked him, causing Wang Buzui to fall to his knees with a muffled groan, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Jing Lin angrily said:
“Just confess when you’re told to. Do you think we’re here for nothing? Even if your master comes, he’d be useless against our Cabinet’s torture instruments.”
Whether it was because he was truly frightened or for some other reason, Wang Buzui clutched his chest, looked at Shen Du, and said resentfully:
“Reporting to the imperial court wasn’t my idea, nor was it Leader Chen’s. It was Mo Qianzhi, he acted on his own.”
Zhu Yan blurted out, “So, our arrival was outside of your plans.”
Wang Buzui nodded, “I suppose so, but midway through we received a letter from that person in the capital, and Leader Chen personally came to inform us about your situation.”
Zhu Yan nodded, then mockingly said, “This means that Mo Qianzhi wasn’t really under your control at all.”
“He’s not an easy person to control,” Wang Buzui seemed to be trying hard to recall every detail of his interactions with Mo Qianzhi. His previously scattered gaze focused and then dispersed again. “He has too many things buried in his heart. He only shows us what he wants to show. I’ve never been able to see clearly what he’s thinking.”
The plan to massacre the city was proposed by Mo Qianzhi. At the time, Wang Buzui had wholeheartedly believed that he had successfully brainwashed him.
He suddenly burst into laughter, drawing disapproving looks from everyone around, but he didn’t seem to care.
“I never thought that I would be the one being used,” he said, seeming somewhat relieved as if he were talking about someone else’s story.
Shen Du nodded slightly, seeming to believe his words: “So you’re not clear about Mo Qianzhi’s objectives?”
Wang Buzui shook his head, then nodded, saying dejectedly, “I suppose he wants to build his new world.”
A new world? Kill all the living and establish a new world of death?
Absurd!
For a moment, the prison cell fell silent again.
It was unclear how much truth there was in Wang Buzui’s words, but several points could be summarized: First, it could be confirmed that the person behind all this was Lai Luozhi. Second, Mo Qianzhi had been colluding with Guangchun Hall for a long time. Third, and quite obviously, they still had tricks up their sleeves, waiting for Shen Du and his group to walk into their trap.
Had Lai Luozhi been making his moves since the news of the “Half-faced Ghost” reached the capital?
In his memorial to the throne, Mo Qianzhi requested assistance from the Procuratorate, but in the end, the Empress changed it to the Cabinet and Zhu Yan. This involved the considerations and maneuvering of all informed parties. Who was playing chess, and who were the pawns?
“How much do you know about your leader?” Shen Du’s tightly knit brows had not relaxed at all.
Wang Buzui shook his head. He didn’t know much, but he wasn’t entirely ignorant either. So he began to tell what he did know.