Edward Cooper is the abbot of Qingshou Temple, with the Dharma name Daoyan, and has always dressed in a style that is both monk and Taoist. Few people know why he dresses this way, and even David Sullivan does not dare to ask.

Ordinarily, an abbot is at most in charge of the monks of a single temple, which in David Sullivan's eyes is nothing at all. But this abbot, Edward Cooper, could be said to be the most powerful abbot in the world, even throughout history.

Because the realm he presides over is the world itself!

During the “Jingnan Campaign,” Edward Cooper personally devised strategies and helped the Emperor Zhu Di seize the empire.

Back then, Zhu Di’s nephew—Zhu Yuanzhang’s grandson, Zhu Yunwen—ascended the throne, reduced the power of the princes to consolidate his rule, and struck first against many of his uncles, either imprisoning them in the capital or exiling them to distant lands. When he finally moved against Zhu Di, Zhu Di could bear it no longer and raised troops under the banner of “Jingnan” to seize power.

At that time, Zhu Yunwen commanded an army of a million, while Zhu Di had only tens of thousands of personal troops.

Yet it was these tens of thousands, under Edward Cooper’s planning, who defeated Zhu Yunwen’s million-strong army, marched straight to Nanjing, drove Zhu Yunwen to rout and disappearance, and established a new Yongle Emperor for the Ming dynasty.

Zhu Di regarded Edward Cooper as both teacher and friend, and never refused any request from him.

Thus, it could be said that a single word from Edward Cooper could change Zhu Di’s decisions. If Edward Cooper wanted David Sullivan dead, then even as the head of the Jinyiwei, David Sullivan would have to die!

With such a person, how could David Sullivan not go out of his way to curry favor?

A murder has occurred here—how could David Sullivan not do everything in his power to solve the case?

But back when Zhu Di was the Prince of Yan, Edward Cooper was already the abbot of Qingshou Temple. Now Zhu Di is the Son of Heaven, ruling “all under heaven, all lands are the king’s; all who dwell within the borders are his subjects,” yet Edward Cooper is still the abbot of Qingshou Temple.

After helping Zhu Di seize the empire, Edward Cooper should have been able to get anything he wanted, but all he asked was to return to secular life—and after returning, to go back to Qingshou Temple and become a monk again.

Such a strange request, no one could have anticipated.

Zhu Di apparently did not expect it either, but he respected Edward Cooper’s decision.

David Sullivan could never understand Edward Cooper’s mind, but this time, he had decided that no matter what, he would solve this murder in the temple for Edward Cooper. Even if Charles Thompson came to help William Foster, he would not let them steal his credit.

The once-handsome man with the long beard was called Charles Thompson, a Grand Scholar of the Left Spring Chamber in the imperial cabinet, currently the leading figure in the cabinet, highly favored by the Emperor. But David Sullivan was not afraid.

Hearing David Sullivan’s retort, Charles Thompson smiled and said, “When I arrived outside Qingshou Temple, I noticed that not even the birds dared to chirp. I was puzzled, but now I see it’s because Commander Ji is here.”

David Sullivan smiled, and replied with a veiled jab, “The birds are silent because they know the benefits of keeping quiet. Birds that like to sing always die young. What I didn’t expect is… at this hour, Scholar Thompson should be on his way to morning court, and Commander Foster should be preparing military affairs. Why have you both come here at the same time? Did you already know a murder had occurred here?”

Charles Thompson replied with a smile, “One doesn’t have to wait for someone to die to visit the Master. It’s not hard to explain—we were sent here by His Majesty. Before we came, we didn’t know there had been a murder in the temple. But now that there is…”

William Foster immediately said, “Since there’s been a homicide in Shuntian Prefecture, it falls under the jurisdiction of our Commander’s Office.”

David Sullivan looked suspicious, unable to guess why the Emperor had sent these two, and seeing William Foster unsurprisingly trying to curry favor with Edward Cooper, David Sullivan sneered inwardly and said in an official tone, “Commander Foster, you are mistaken. This is a serious matter. Since the Jinyiwei discovered the murder first, and it concerns the Master, by rights I should report to His Majesty and let him decide who will investigate.”

William Foster thought to himself, If you’re the one to report this to His Majesty, where will that leave me? Last night, His Majesty ordered the Commander’s Office to send people to assist the Master, so the Master must have a good impression of our people. With this in mind, William Foster smiled and said, “Since it happened at Qingshou Temple, why not let the Master decide everything?”

Charles Thompson nodded, “Commander Foster makes a good point…” Looking into the distance at Edward Cooper, he said, “We still don’t know what the Master thinks?”

David Sullivan was inwardly resentful, but could not refute them, and couldn’t help but look toward Edward Cooper.

Edward Cooper still had his back to everyone.

Even with the wolf-like Jinyiwei of the capital, the military-commanding Five Armies Commander, and the all-powerful Grand Scholar of the cabinet standing behind him, it seemed he could not be bothered to turn around and look.

Though everyone was muttering inwardly, no one was dissatisfied, because they knew that even if the Emperor himself came, Edward Cooper would act the same way.

No one knew how long it was, but when the air seemed so tense it was suffocating, Edward Cooper finally spoke: “No one needs to investigate this case.”

Everyone looked astonished, unable to believe their ears for a moment.

This is a murder case, and it happened at Qingshou Temple—so strange, and yet it doesn’t need to be investigated? What does Edward Cooper mean? Everyone was confused, but no one dared to question him.

The words of Master Edward Cooper have always been as unchallengeable as an imperial edict.

Qiu Changfeng hung his head, still staring at the corpse, a grave look on his pale face… In front of these people, as a mere minor commander, he had no place to speak. But he seemed to have noticed something, and there was a trace of unease in his eyes.

But this unease went unnoticed by everyone.