Chapter 2251: Chapter 1941: This Humble Official Lacks the Ability, and Fears He Cannot Shoulder This Great Responsibility

He Dongqi stared at the memorial on the desk for a long time. After a while, he had a sudden flash of inspiration and thought of a brilliant way to extricate himself.

He finally understood why an Earth Realm Wolf Demon was able to injure Fan Yaodong.

If Fan Yaodong could use his injury to extricate himself, why couldn’t he do the same?

Now, as long as he could find this Wolf Demon and, like Fan Yaodong, be severely injured by it, he should be able to smoothly relinquish this position.

Thinking about this, He Dongqi sighed. He had held this position for only a few days and he was still somewhat reluctant to give it up, but there was no choice. For his own life and for his family, this position had to be relinquished.

As long as he remained alive, as an Earth Realm Strong Person, he could hold a certain status in any faction, though he wouldn’t hold as much power.

...

Late night, the Imperial Palace.

The cold moonlight shone onto the window, illuminating the dignified and delicate face of Pei Shuhua standing by the window, looking out at the night.

At this moment, a middle-aged man entered the Imperial Study Room.

Upon entering, the man immediately bowed to Pei Shuhua by the window and said, "My humble self pays respects to the Empress Dowager!"

Upon hearing the man’s voice, Pei Shuhua slowly turned and glanced at Xiong Qingcang with her beautiful eyes before indifferently saying, "Raise."

Xiong Qingcang was somewhat puzzled at this moment; why would the Empress Dowager seek him out at such an hour?

If the Empress Dowager needed anything from the Deceit Suppression Bureau, it should be He Dongqi she looks for, being the Commander; he was merely a Director of a subordinate department and in theory had no qualifications to directly converse with the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, Pei Shuhua asked, "Director Xiong, have you broken through to the Earth Realm earlier than your Commander?"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Qingcang hesitated, then quickly replied, "In response to Her Majesty, my humble self did break through earlier than Lord He." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

By now, Xiong Qingcang gradually understood why the Empress Dowager sought him out; mentioning He Dongqi at this time clearly indicated that the Empress Dowager wished to replace the Commander and promote him.

Thinking of the Commander’s position, Xiong Qingcang’s heart began to pound. The Evil Suppression Bureau is the most powerful department within the Deceit Suppression Bureau, and those who have tasted power always crave more.

He Dongqi felt this way, and so did Xiong Qingcang.

However, the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s Commander is not an easy position to hold; Earth Realm Strong Persons can live thousands of years, possess myriad ways to protect themselves, and are hard to be killed by evil entities. If not for Fan Yaodong voluntarily stepping down this time, it would have been impossible for this position to go to He Dongqi for hundreds of years.

Pei Shuhua continued to ask, "I wonder if Director Xiong is interested in the position of Commander of the Deceit Suppression Bureau?"

Seeing Pei Shuhua indeed wanted him to assume the problematic role of the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s Commander, Xiong Qingcang felt even more excited. It’s a position rich in power and benefits, and should he take the role, various factions would surely try to court him.

However, Xiong Qingcang quickly calmed down. While the Empress Dowager indeed had the authority to replace the Commander, removing a Commander without significant fault isn’t beneficial. The colleagues within the Deceit Suppression Bureau wouldn’t recognize him.

This Commander, pushed up by Fan Yaodong, didn’t gain much recognition; he believed He Dongqi lacked ability. If the Empress Dowager forcibly made him the Commander, his colleagues would surely not recognize him, believing him to be merely the Empress Dowager’s puppet.

If the colleagues in the Bureau didn’t recognize him as Commander, conducting any work in the future would be nearly impossible. The position, although powerful, is also greatly constrained internally.

Of course, should he gain the colleagues’ recognition, executing his tasks would be easy; however, without such recognition, he would be a one-man band, and few would heed his orders.

If no one followed his orders, eventually leading to a worsening evil entity situation in Dazhou, it wouldn’t be long before he would be removed from the position.

Xiong Qingcang then said, "Your Majesty, my humble self indeed has thoughts about such a position; within the Deceit Suppression Bureau, there’s no Earth Realm Spirit Warrior who wouldn’t want to be Commander. However, the Bureau is a place that values ability; not just anyone qualifies to be Commander. Without ability, even as Commander, one cannot lead, nor effectively manage the entire Bureau. Lord He has just assumed the role; his abilities have yet to manifest. Forcing a change now seems unfavorable."

Upon hearing Xiong Qingcang’s concerns, Pei Shuhua indifferently replied, "He Dongqi may soon voluntarily submit his resignation."

Xiong Qingcang was instantly stunned.

He Dongqi voluntarily resigning?

How could that be possible?

Could it be the Empress Dowager threatened him?

He Dongqi dreamt of achieving that position, and now that he finally became the Commander, it seems impossible to relinquish it so easily.

Xiong Qingcang thought about earlier when Pei Shuhua summoned He Dongqi to the palace and couldn’t help but suspect whether the Empress Dowager said something that forced He Dongqi to resign.

Hold on...

Xiong Qingcang’s brain quickly realized that the Empress Dowager didn’t force a resignation right after He Dongqi took office; she must have wanted He Dongqi to handle something, but He Dongqi refused, thus leading to his resignation.

Whatever task He Dongqi refused to accept must be exceedingly significant.

A possibility instantly flashed in Xiong Qingcang’s mind.

Earth Realm Strong Persons have lived for centuries, and many are quite shrewd. Xiong Qingcang immediately guessed that the Empress Dowager wished to act against Lu Chen, thus seeking the Bureau to shoulder the blame, which He Dongqi didn’t want.

Considering this possibility, Xiong Qingcang quickly said, "Your Majesty, my humble self lacks the capability, and such an enormous responsibility may exceed my competencies."

Upon seeing Xiong Qingcang’s sudden unwillingness, Pei Shuhua’s complexion turned cold as she sternly asked, "Director Xiong, are you certain about passing up this rare opportunity?"

Upon hearing Pei Shuhua’s words, Xiong Qingcang’s back broke out in cold sweat; what rare opportunity? Such a grave responsibility, and should he bear it, not much time would pass before family ruin and personal demise followed.

Before the dissolution of Zhen Nan Prince Manor, dealing with them by the Deceit Suppression Bureau would be problematic. Although refusing the Empress Dowager now means another opportunity in the future might be difficult, he’s already the Director of the Evil Suppression Bureau, holding substantial power within the Bureau as second only to the Commander.

There’s no need to risk his life for that position.

Xiong Qingcang continued, "Your Majesty, if Lord He were to resign, I propose reinstating Lord Fan to the Deceit Suppression Bureau. Currently, the Wolf Demon matter remains unresolved; the massacre events near the Capital city are significant. Should the Commander change frequently at this time, effectively fulfilling the Bureau’s duties of suppressing evil entities nationwide would be challenging."