School Transmigration: I, Chosen as the Saint by Dragons at the Start-Chapter 241 --Investigating the National Preceptor
Alison, with a blush spreading across her cheeks, protested, "Who said I wanted to share it with you, making it a token of our love?"
"If you don’t want it, that’s fine. Just don’t regret it later."
Seeing Armando pretend to walk away, Alison called out, "Well, split it then! Were you waiting for me to do it?"
"Alright."
Armando held the jade pendant against the tip of a golden spear hanging beside his saddle and with a swift motion, split the pendant into two halves, handing one half to Alison.
"Here you go."
Alison snatched the half that was being handed over.
"Come on, I’ll take you back to your place."
...
At this moment, National Preceptor Blois was quietly admiring the work of several master sculptors from different regions, who were continuously carving on a massive, unparalleled piece of jade, none other than the Imperial Jade.
The jade revealed the visage of a beautiful woman, not yet completely carved out, but still recognizable.
The woman depicted in the jade was none other than the current queen.
"My sister, how could you be so foolish to marry a man who doesn’t love you? He only wanted our family’s support to ascend the throne sooner, that’s why he married you. How could you be so naive?"
"But all of this is going to end now."
"If that man doesn’t pass the throne to Owen, I’ll make him disappear from this empire."
Blois’s face twisted malevolently as he spoke.
"Report..."
"What is it?"
The servant replied in terror, "Crown Prince Armando and Marwan have arrived."
Blois muttered to himself, "It seems Marwan has discovered my embezzlement of the offerings. Hmph, you meddlesome fool. But it’s too late now. Once my plan succeeds, I’ll make sure you, Marwan, will wish for death but won’t be able to achieve it."
"Let’s go. Take me to them."
Blois emerged from the dark castle into the hall, offering a forced smile, "Ah, it’s Crown Prince Armando and Lord Marwan! What brings the two of you to my humble abode?"
"What are you talking about, uncle?"
Hearing Crown Prince Armando call him uncle, Blois beamed, "Ha-ha, bring forth the pastries I had brought back from the Eastern Woods, let my nephew have a taste."
"Yes!"
Shortly after, a maid presented a plate of exquisitely made pastries.
Armando hadn’t even reached for one when Marwan grabbed a piece and began eating.
My goodness, how can someone lack so much tact? Armando truly wondered how Marwan had managed to safely hold his office for so many years.
Blois, too, seemed slightly displeased.
After all, it was Marwan who had stirred up this mess, yet he didn’t show any restraint.
Armando also picked up a pastry, praising, "Mmm, delicious, truly delicious."
Marwan kept eating silently, one piece after another, as if he had been reincarnated from a starving ghost.
Armando and Blois paid him no further mind.
"Uncle, my visit today isn’t for any other reason.
This morning, my father heard that you were unwell upon your return from the Snow Realm and specifically asked me to check on you."
"Ah, ha-ha."
Blois laughed heartily, "Thank the king for his concern. My illness will soon be cured, and I will be ready to discuss the affairs of the state with His Majesty once again."
Armando thought to himself: You look as healthy as a horse; hardly the image of someone recovering from a severe illness.
And what state affairs does my father have to discuss with you, anyway? Don’t you overestimate your importance.
Maintaining his composure, Armando said, "That’s even better. I also wish for your swift recovery, uncle. Speaking of which, you haven’t been sparing any expensive medicinal herbs during your illness, have you? If there’s anything you need that isn’t available in your residence, the palace has a complete stock of herbs. Feel free to ask me, and I’ll make sure to supply them to you, uncle."
Blois, sensing the underlying message in Armando’s words, responded, "There’s no need. How could the residence of the national preceptor possibly lack a few herbs?"
Armando thought to himself: Shameless! You don’t lack anything because you’ve diverted all the offerings meant for the palace to your place.
How could you possibly be in want?
"Well, in that case, I won’t disturb your rest any further, uncle."
Just as Armando was about to leave without having achieved anything, a familiar voice called out, "Wait."
It was Marwan, again.
Armando couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and resignation.
How could it be you again? I’m utterly convinced now.
Ignoring Armando’s pleading looks that begged him to say no more, Marwan continued, "We are here on the king’s orders to investigate allegations of you, Blois, embezzling and withholding offerings meant for the palace. Please, National Preceptor, cooperate with us."
Is he a fool? Armando was at a loss for words.
Hearing Marwan’s statement, National Preceptor Blois angrily retorted, "How dare you, Marwan, accuse me of such things?"
"Ha-ha, if the National Preceptor truly has nothing to hide, then perhaps you’d allow us, the Crown Prince and myself, to have a look around your residence, could we?"
"Hmph, I’m very busy, but go ahead and search if you must! However, let me be clear: if you find nothing, I will demand justice from the king."
With that, National Preceptor Blois didn’t spare the two another glance and turned to leave the hall.
Armando thought to himself: Well played, Marwan.
If National Preceptor Blois is embezzling, he’s surely prepared for scrutiny.
Isn’t this just alarming the snake in the grass?
Marwan glanced at Armando and signaled with a look, suggesting, "Let’s go. We’ll conduct a thorough investigation."
Armando rolled his eyes, resignedly nodding in agreement.
The pair were led by the steward of the National Preceptor’s residence to the storeroom.
"Your Highness, this is where the National Preceptor’s residence stores various medicinal herbs. And this is the ledger containing all accounts of the residence. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave."
"Alright, you may go. We’ll call you if we need anything."
"Yes, Your Highness. I will be leaving then."
After the steward left for Blois’s study, Armando picked up the ledger, but Marwan’s voice interrupted him.
"There’s no use looking through that ledger, Your Highness. You won’t find anything of note in it."
Armando looked at Marwan, asking, "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"We don’t need to examine the ledger or count the herbs here. It’s just a stalling tactic by the National Preceptor."
"So, what should we do?"
"Let’s check other parts of the National Preceptor’s residence discreetly."
"Alright, then."
Following their departure from the storeroom, the duo moved to other parts of the National Preceptor’s residence in search of evidence that might implicate Blois in corruption.
Meanwhile, the steward made his way to Blois.
"Steward, did you take them to the storeroom?" Blois inquired.
"Yes, I’ve led them there and also provided them with a falsified ledger," the steward confirmed.
"Good, you’ve done well. You may leave if there’s nothing else," Blois commanded.
After reporting to Blois, the steward turned and left the study.
Blois murmured darkly, "Hmph, trying to outwit me? You two are still too green."
He then approached a bookshelf in the study and subtly adjusted a seemingly ordinary book.
Following this adjustment, a hidden and inconspicuous door on the wall slid open, revealing a dark tunnel leading underground.
Blois picked up an oil lamp from the desk, its flame already extinguished.
Muttering an indistinct chant, he blew gently on the lamp, which spontaneously ignited with a "pop."
Holding the lamp, now glowing with an eerie green light and casting ominous shadows, Blois proceeded down the dark tunnel.
Armando and Marwan had been wandering around the National Preceptor’s residence for two hours.
"Brother, where else do you think we’re going? We’ve turned the National Preceptor’s place upside down and found nothing," Marwan lamented.
"It can’t be right, there must be something we’re missing," Marwan muttered.
Feeling exasperated, Armando asked, "Marwan, what should we do next?"
"Your Highness, from what we’ve seen, there must be some hidden places within the National Preceptor’s residence, like secret chambers or something similar. If we could find them, we might uncover something new."
Armando thought to himself: Obviously, but if we could find it so easily, would it still be a secret?
Resigned, Armando remarked, "Considering how vast the National Preceptor’s residence is, searching for such hidden places is like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"Yes, Your Highness, you’re right! It seems we need to look for breakthroughs elsewhere."
"The most critical issue now is that National Preceptor Blois has already mentioned that if we can’t find evidence of his embezzlement, he will seek justice from my father. That would put my father in an awkward position!"
"You’re absolutely right, Your Highness!" Marwan agreed.
Armando, running out of patience, thought: Isn’t it your fault we’re in this predicament? I’m beginning to wonder how you got this position. Was it bought with money?
After this matter is resolved, it seems a thorough investigation is in order.
Armando warned, "Next, I’ll go find National Preceptor Blois. This time, please refrain from speaking out of turn, understand?"
Marwan nodded repeatedly.
Thus, Armando and Marwan made their way to the hall of the National Preceptor’s residence to wait for Blois.
"Where has that steward gone?"
"Your Highness, let’s not wait here in the hall for the National Preceptor. Why don’t we go directly to find him? Would that be alright?"
