Chapter 2239: Chapter 1929: He Dongqi’s Plan

Upon hearing the commander’s question, He Dongqi’s face instantly darkened.

If he sent someone to Zhen Nan Prince Manor to inquire whether Prince Zhen Nan had turned into a malicious demon, he’d be risking his life.

Even if Zhen Nan Prince Manor was in decline, it still wasn’t something the Deceit Suppression Bureau could afford to provoke.

If that Wolf Demon was indeed transformed from Prince Zhen Nan, it would be up to Zhen Nan Prince Manor to handle it. If the Deceit Suppression Bureau dared to intervene, Zhen Nan Prince Manor might decide to deal with the Bureau before disbanding.

Wait...

At the mention of Prince Zhen Nan, He Dongqi felt he had forgotten something, something extremely important.

Seeing He Dongqi remain silent for a while, everyone present from the Deceit Suppression Bureau understood he likely didn’t want to get involved with Zhen Nan Prince Manor’s affairs. After all, the manor was filled with powerful figures, and offending them would make future days difficult for the Bureau.

He Dongqi had just become the commander of the Deceit Suppression Bureau, and naturally, he didn’t want to bring trouble upon himself.

Yet, even if He Dongqi wished to avoid provoking Zhen Nan Prince Manor, the matter of the Wolf Demon couldn’t be ignored.

At this point, a commander said, "Actually, it might not necessarily be Prince Zhen Nan. If it were indeed him, there would definitely have been some whispers about it."

It was obvious to everyone that He Dongqi didn’t want to meddle in Zhen Nan Prince Manor’s affairs, so the commander thus spoke to offer He Dongqi a way out, preventing embarrassment.

However, the head of the Bureau’s department, Evil Suppression, spoke up: "Even if that Wolf Demon is indeed Prince Zhen Nan, Zhen Nan Prince Manor wouldn’t let news of such a transformation spread. If Prince Zhen Nan were compromised, it would signal the end of the manor, so they’d do everything possible to cover it up."

The Deceit Suppression Bureau has five departments. Evil Suppression deals with suppressing malicious entities. The Investigation Bureau investigates them. Secret Storage manages the treasures used to suppress them. The Night Patrol Office keeps vigil at night. The Criminal Law Department oversees the Bureau’s guards.

Of these departments, Evil Suppression wields the most power, and before He Dongqi became vice commander, he was the department’s head.

Thus, the head of Evil Suppression often harbors great ambition, perhaps enjoying seeing their superiors face setbacks, as any issue with the commander might advance their own prospects.

Right now, the head of Evil Suppression was eager to see how He Dongqi would proceed.

After hearing the department head’s words, He Dongqi’s expression grew darker; he could easily see this man was causing him trouble.

Just then, the head continued, "By the way, sir, Your Majesty recently ordered Prince Zhen Nan’s heir to join the Deceit Suppression Bureau. The former commander advised him to report in half a month, but now that you’re in charge, why not have him report early, and maybe glean some inside information about Prince Zhen Nan?"

Upon these words, He Dongqi’s mind jolted, and he finally remembered what he had forgotten.

A while back, Emperor Zhou’s decree had every senior member of the Bureau on edge. Though the Bureau seldom engages in court intrigues, they’re by no means politically naive; rather, they’re highly sensitive to political matters.

Emperor Zhou sending Lu Chen, a wayward youth, into such a dangerous place as the Deceit Suppression Bureau clearly signaled that the royal family intended to act against Zhen Nan Prince Manor.

Later, however, news spread of Emperor Zhou lifting Ji Yunmeng’s house arrest, and since Ji Yunmeng aligned with Zhen Nan Prince Manor, the Bureau’s senior members breathed a bit easier. This indicated an internal division in the royal family’s stance towards Zhen Nan Prince Manor.

With someone backing them, the Bureau need only find a way to protect Lu Chen, and could thus deflect accountability to Emperor Zhou.

Lu Chen’s delayed arrival at the Bureau amid daily pressing matters almost led He Dongqi to forget. Yet, the department head’s reminder made him realize he’d fallen into a trap.

He thought Fan Yaodong, the old man, had generously ceded his position due to serious injury and a desire to retire.

Now it was evident Fan Yaodong was not injured but had used this pretext to pass the buck, letting the new commander deal with the conflict between Zhen Nan Prince Manor and the royal family.

If anything happened to Lu Chen at the Bureau, Zhen Nan Prince Manor would surely hold He Dongqi, the commander, accountable. Conversely, if Lu Chen stayed safe, the Empress Dowager would likely trouble him.

With the Empress Dowager now in power, dealing with a Bureau commander would be a simple matter for her.

Understanding all this, He Dongqi clenched his fists tightly.

Fan Yaodong, the old scoundrel!!!

No way, Lu Chen mustn’t encounter any trouble at the Bureau. Thinking this, He Dongqi coughed, glanced at the department head, and said, "Then, I’ll assign Lu Chen to Evil Suppression."

Upon hearing this, the department head’s face turned instantly dark as he quickly replied, "Sir, that’s impossible; Lu Chen’s weak, placing him in Evil Suppression could soon lead to trouble. Better he go to Investigation Bureau."

Upon this suggestion, the Investigation Bureau head protested, "Our bureau is constantly on assignments; if he faces danger during a mission, who’s responsible then?"

Furthering the point, the Investigation Bureau head looked towards the Criminal Law Department, whose head promptly said, "Don’t look at me. Our department supervises colleagues from the Bureau; if one encounters spiritual evil backlash, turns malicious, and harms Lu Chen, I couldn’t bear such responsibility."

Seeing every department head unwilling to accept Lu Chen, He Dongqi said coldly, "Since none of you want him, let Lu Chen organize the malicious entity files from home."

He Dongqi thought to himself, Lu Chen absolutely cannot come to the Bureau, but this is an imperial decree taken by Zhen Nan Prince Manor, and defying it is not an option.

That said, the decree only ordered Lu Chen to join the Bureau, without specifying what he must do.

Assign Lu Chen a Chief Banner role and send a few Deceit Suppressing Guards to assist him in file handling at Zhen Nan Prince Manor, thus integrating him into the Bureau.

He Dongqi continued, "Alright, Lu Chen’s matters are settled for now, let’s proceed with the Wolf Demon issue."

Lu Chen’s situation could still be postponed, but the Wolf Demon case couldn’t; the Wolf Demon had already orchestrated a massacre, and if allowed to rampage through the capital, He Dongqi’s term as commander would end quickly.

Even aware that Fan Yaodong appointed him to take the fall, He Dongqi was still unwilling to relinquish the commander’s position.