"Geng Jing. The man in charge of that warship was called Ye Liao, and he has escaped."

"Find him for this emperor. Alive, this emperor wants the man. Dead, this emperor wants the body."

The Xuan Emperor said it coldly.

Geng Jing said quickly, "Your subject obeys the command."

The Xuan Emperor's eyes came to rest on Ji Mingchen, and he said flatly, "The men on that warship were all vetted and posted by the Ministry of War. How have you been doing your work?"

Ji Mingchen went down on his knees with a thump in fright, white in the face. "Your subject knows his fault. Your subject begs Your Majesty's mercy."

The Xuan Emperor said coldly, "Beloved Minister Ji. Have every man on that ship looked into down to the roots... And every official at the Lingzhou landing, great and small, investigated through and through."

"This emperor wants to know who has nerve enough to scuttle a warship and try to kill Ning Chen... If this is not done properly, do not blame this emperor for having no feelings to spare."

The cold sweat stood out on Ji Mingchen's forehead, and he said in a shaking voice, "Your subject receives the command."

The Xuan Emperor gave a cold snort and looked at Li Zhixing. "The Ministry of Justice is to assist. Everybody concerned is to be investigated, without exception."

Li Zhixing said in fright, "Your subject obeys the command."

At that same moment, in the sealed room of a certain house in the capital.

The Right Chancellor and the plump, pale young man sat facing each other.

The plump, pale young man's face was cold and dark, and he crushed the cake in his hand to crumbs.

"This Ning Chen has a lot of life in him. Even that could not kill him."

The Right Chancellor said heavily, "I have already sent the Dark Moon Tower's men to lay ambushes along his road. The Ghost-Shadow Sect is under the court army's guard now, and without them to interfere with us, Ning Chen will not get back to the capital…