The First Lackey Under The Empress

Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment: "It's that... Wait a minute."

He suddenly realized something, and his expression became a little subtle:

"Senior Brother, what did you encounter when you cultivated the 《Six Chapters Sutra》? Or rather... generally speaking, what would one see?"

Ma Yan's thin, donkey-like face met his gaze calmly, seemingly having guessed something, and slowly said:

"The so-called 《Six Chapters Sutra》 is that the Emperor Taizu drew some powerful figures in a scroll. Later generations of martial arts inheritors can enter it to spar with them, and even learn from them as teachers.

Don't look at me with that kind of eyes. Emperor Taizu was able to create inheritance because he drew on the strengths of many schools. Moreover, Emperor Taizu was so open-minded that he naturally wouldn't mind these false titles..."

As far as I know, this second painting does depict more than one historically real powerhouse, but normally, after you enter, you will first encounter a martial general on the battlefield, appearing on a battlefield to fight and learn.

If you are smart enough, you can obtain some methods from him.

Well... after you defeat this martial general, you can meet other people, such as monks, Taoists, and even Jianghu martial artists... However, it is not necessary to meet all of them to advance.

When I was cultivating in the palace, I was taught that mastering one person's skills in the painting is far better than trying to learn too much... As for the red-clothed female warlock you described, I have never heard of her."

Ah, this... What's with this sense of déjà vu of opening a hidden instance...? Zhao Du'an was taken aback: "Is that... is that so?"

Ma Yan looked at him deeply, hinting something:

"At least, that's what I know. You can also ask the Sea Offering to inquire if there is such a person."

As the Empress's knife, the cold and stern Grand Eunuch, although he didn't know that Zhao Du'an possessed the "Dragon Soul" after the battle between Buddhism and Taoism, he guessed that he had some secrets.

The social interaction of adults lies in knowing when to stop.

"...I understand," Zhao Du'an said thoughtfully, cupping his hands in farewell.

After taking a few steps, Ma Yan's reminder came from behind:

"By the way, the further back Emperor Taizu's paintings go, the higher the spirituality of the characters in the scroll. Unlike the first Martial God Painting, the ancients in the second Six Chapters Sutra, although drawn, can communicate to a certain extent. It's very strange.

Therefore, it is not necessary to fight. If you can gain their approval, the benefits may be even greater... I have heard that someone once gained the favor of a character in the painting, and when in danger, visualized them appearing in the mortal world... Of course, this is just a rumor, and I have never seen it."

...

Pear Blossom Hall.

Zhao Du'an returned to the hall, feeling more excited than uneasy.

He suspected that if the powerful figures depicted in the Six Chapters Sutra were arranged from low to high, then the woman with the golden mask he encountered was one of the very last ones.

"This can also explain why she is so much stronger than me, and I have no resistance at all... If I am instantly killed, it means that the level difference between the two sides is too great, and I can't learn anything at all..."

Zhao Du'an pondered, preparing to enter the palace in the afternoon to inquire about news from the Shadow Guard.

However, he didn't have much time to relax before a group of uninvited guests came to the hall.

"Master Zhao, we are ordered to verify the details of the Gao Lian case," a strange official from the Ministry of Justice said as he entered Pear Blossom Hall, holding a document.

"Hasn't the prisoner already been handed over?" Zhao Du'an said casually.

The official from the Ministry of Justice said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "After all, you are the chief officer in charge, so..."

"Alright, ask away," Zhao Du'an waved his hand, answering the inquiries of the Ministry of Justice officials one by one.

Finally, he asked curiously: "How long will it take to convict Gao Lian?"

The official from the Ministry of Justice hesitated: "After the investigation is clear, a conviction will naturally be made."

Saying that is the same as saying nothing... Okay, I won't make it difficult for you... Zhao Du'an was bored.

And when the people from the Ministry of Justice left, the people from the Court of Judicial Review followed closely, also to inquire about the case.

Because of the dispute with the Court of Judicial Review, these people were particularly nervous and more polite than the Ministry of Justice. Zhao Du'an patiently cooperated again.

Asking the same question, the latter's reply was still very official.

"This is a bit interesting," Zhao Du'an rubbed his chin, discerning something from the ambiguous attitude of these two groups of people.

Fortunately, Chen Hong was in the Censorate, so no one was sent to disturb him.

...

Noon.

Zhao Du'an invited Haitang and other colleagues to go to a restaurant in the city to eat and drink together.

— The food in the Imperial Prison was outrageous, so those who could afford it ate outside.

During the meal, the people could hear many discussions about the Gao Lian case in the restaurant through the screens and bamboo curtains.

Obviously, the case of the Taicang Silver Mine had already spread.

The guests were not very concerned about the embezzlement, but were extremely interested in the power game behind the life and death of a Provincial Administration Commissioner and the undercurrents in the court.

Each one pointed fingers at the country and analyzed it in a logical manner.

"How can the news spread so quickly? Why are the people already discussing it?" Haitang was stunned for a moment, muttering in confusion.

Zhao Du'an held his wine glass, hinting something: "I'm afraid someone is fueling the flames."

"Are you saying..." Haitang was stunned for a moment. The female detective was a master at solving cases, but she was slightly naive in the higher-level struggles.

Zhao Du'an shook his head and didn't explain much. Even in this feudal era, many games would still use public opinion to exert pressure and guide the trend.

"Public opinion" can have a miraculous effect at certain critical junctures of the game.

The people of Taicang Prefecture knew how to incite the people to petition and put pressure on themselves, so naturally, the adults in the capital would not give up this method.

After the meal, Zhao Du'an let his colleagues return to the yamen first, and he walked alone through the streets and alleys, secretly listening to the trends at the lower levels.

Sure enough, unlike the guests with status in the restaurant, the people of the capital were discussing Gao Lian's crimes of adultery, kidnapping, framing, and killing innocent people for his own personal gain.

The common people were indignant, angrily scolding the dog official for deserving to be killed.

Hmm... If there are no accidents, this should be the wind released by Yuan Li or the Imperial Party... As Zhao Du'an was thinking, a servant-like person came over and said respectfully:

"Sir, my master invites you to have a talk."

"Which family are you from?" Zhao Du'an asked in confusion.

The servant raised his hand and pointed to a secluded intersection in the distance, a carriage parked on the side of the street.

At this moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a somewhat familiar face.

The Minister of Rites!

Zhao Du'an was surprised. He didn't have much interaction with this important minister who was in charge of one of the six ministries.

The deepest impression was only that his son, Wang You, was one of the scholars in the Cultivating Literature Hall.

Later, he met several times, mostly in public, and they were considered acquaintances who attended together.

What is he looking for me for? Is it just a chance encounter? Or is he looking for me specifically?

In his mind, Zhao Du'an quickly recalled the person's position. The Wang family was one of the great clans of the Dayu Dynasty, but not a Jiangnan clan.

This person is also not a member of the "Li Party" or the "Purist Party."

He is barely considered a "Royalist Party," but not a backbone member, but a party that has been won over.

"Minister Wang, what a coincidence. I wonder why you are looking for me?" Zhao Du'an walked to the carriage and cupped his hands.

The Minister of Rites had been a noble young master since he was a child. Although he was middle-aged, he had the demeanor of a great noble family. He smiled and said, "Master Zhao, why not get in the carriage and have a talk."

"Hehe, no need. I still have some things to do, so I'll just stand here and say a few words," Zhao Du'an politely refused.

What a joke.

Is this carriage free for anyone to board?

Minister Wang's eyes flickered, but he didn't offer any dissuasion. Several servants discreetly walked away before he sighed, "It's nothing much, just that I heard that Envoy Zhao had apprehended Gao Lian and brought him back to the capital, which greatly astonished the court officials…"

Zhao Du'an smiled and said, "Lord Wang, I prefer to be straightforward. Just say what you need to say; there's no need to beat around the bush."

Minister Wang gave a wry smile: "It seems I'm being long-winded. In that case… very well!"

His expression turned serious as he said, "Regarding the handling of Gao Lian, I wonder what Envoy's thoughts are. As for me, I don't have much interaction with Governor Gao, but I've heard that he's always been known for his refined character and integrity. It's truly hard to believe that he would commit such acts, which leaves me puzzled…"

Zhao Du'an smiled slightly: "Is Lord Wang criticizing me for wrongly accusing a loyal official?"

"Oh! Not at all," Minister Wang quickly waved his hand, saying:

"Everyone at court knows of Envoy's capabilities. However, even a sage can be deceived by villains. In my opinion, Envoy might have been deceived by that Wang Chusheng, or perhaps someone else.

My point is that this involves a Provincial Governor, which is akin to a regional authority. We must not be careless. Moreover, even if we take a step back and assume Gao Lian is indeed guilty, at this moment, the rebel factions are still rampant, and the court is not yet stable.

Gao Lian is but a small matter, but if heavy punishment leads to the alienation of the Jiangnan gentry, it would be more detrimental than beneficial to our Great Yu Dynasty, and the same goes for Envoy.

These words are not suitable for public discussion. Consider this my private reminder. Officially, Gao Lian's case should be carefully investigated. Privately, Envoy has already rendered great service, so there's no need to push things too far."

Zhao Du'an quietly stared at the other man, calmly saying:

"Lord Wang, who are you representing in saying these words to me today? Or who are you speaking for?"

Minister Wang vehemently denied it, with a righteous demeanor:

"Envoy misunderstands. I am wholeheartedly devoted to the public good, to the court, and to His Majesty. If I represent anyone, it would be the court and His Majesty. If I speak for anyone, it would be the common people and the realm."

What a fine speech about speaking for the common people… Zhao Du'an cursed inwardly, finding him slippery and evasive. He said with a nonchalant expression:

"Lord Wang is wholeheartedly devoted to the public good, and I admire that. However, I have already returned to the capital and am no longer an Imperial Envoy. The follow-up to this case is also none of my concern. It is now a joint trial by the Three Supreme Courts. Lord Wang should go and tell them these words. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After speaking, he turned around and left.

"Envoy Zhao? Lord Zhao?"

Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites called out twice, but seeing that he couldn't get him to stop, he sighed dejectedly and finally said:

"Some things, doing them now is doing someone a favor while it's easy. If you don't do it, they can still resolve the issue, but the favor will turn into enmity. Think it over carefully."

After speaking, Minister Wang seemed to have completed a task, as he retreated into the carriage and urged the driver to leave.

Zhao Du'an stopped, turned his head to watch the other party disappear into the crowd, and pondered thoughtfully.

…

Afternoon.

Zhao Du'an went to the palace once again, but not to see the Empress. Instead, he used his "Imperial Guardian" badge to enter the palace gates and headed towards the armory.

He found the office where the Imperial Clan Guardians were located.

The last time he was here was when he received his guardian badge. After arriving, he first asked where Eunuch Hai was, and received the reply:

"The Eunuch is resting and not seeing any visitors."

Resting? Still sleeping at this hour? Zhao Du'an grumbled inwardly. Wasn't it said that old people slept less?

The duty eunuch in the office knew that Zhao Du'an had a special status and said cautiously:

"If you have something important, you can also go and report it."

"No need," Zhao Du'an waved his hand and said:

"I want to view the Shadow Guard's information. Where can I see it? Or, can I access it with my permissions?"

The young eunuch smiled and pointed to the opposite side of the office:

"The basic information of the Shadow Guards is all in that archive. You can go and access it yourself. Only a small portion of the top-secret information is not here."

Being able to check it himself was best… Zhao Du'an nodded, went out to the archive, showed his badge, and entered smoothly.

He successfully found the records of the "Linfeng Golden Token Shadow Guard" on a bookshelf in the archive.

"This is it!"

Zhao Du'an picked up a record covered in a thin layer of dust, opened it, and the first page showed a portrait of the woman wearing the bronze mask.

"Hongye? Her name is Hongye?" Zhao Du'an finally learned her name.

The members of the Shadow Guard generally consist of three types of people: one is hereditary, where the old Shadow Guard can recommend their descendants to join after retiring or dying.

One is transferred from soldiers in the army, often selected from the outstanding "military scouts."

Finally, there is absorption from the outside, such as some Jianghu people, or even merchants, who will be absorbed as members of the Shadow Guard.

However, these are often on the periphery, mainly responsible for collecting intelligence and providing some assistance.

The information shows that this Shadow Guard named "Hongye" was inherited internally. Her specialty is assassination and tracking.

As for the inherited skills, there is no name, but it has been passed down through a single line.

It is a unique martial art that combines "Swordsmanship" and "Great Mother Divine Arts."

"Oh, she also cultivates both martial arts and magic? Hmm… but this doesn't seem to be the same as the Martial God inheritance…

The Martial God integrates the two into one, while this Hongye is simply based on the cultivation method of a mage, while practicing martial arts sword moves… Well, if I have to make an analogy, it's like the Tianhai Monk of the Buddhist sect?"

Zhao Du'an tried to understand.

"So, she is essentially a mage, but her fighting style is more inclined to a martial artist… Hiss, it reminds me of a magician who wields a magic wand for physical attacks…"

"Great Mother God? One of the righteous gods, only women can worship this god, but it is not in the list of gods mainly cultivated by the Tianshi Mansion and Shenlong Temple…

She was more active a thousand years ago, but because this god's magic combat power is poor and leans towards assistance… so she gradually declined… Well, I understand why she has to practice martial arts as well…"

Zhao Du'an turned the pages of the file, suddenly realizing.

He continued to flip through, seeing dense rows of records about Hongye's battles on the paper.

He quickly skimmed through, and sure enough, at the end, he found a description of the origin of this inheritance:

"Those who practice this inheritance wear a mask to gather mana. In times of life and death, lifting the mask can grant additional power… This inheritance can be traced back to about six hundred years ago, to the same era as Emperor Taizu, to the number one female mage in the Jianghu, Pei Niannu.

History records that she fought with Taizu and was evenly matched. Later, in a battle with an enemy, she lifted her mask, stepped into the False Celestial Realm, and chased and killed a powerful enemy for three thousand miles before dying of exhaustion."

"Note: 《Taizu's Edicts·Volume Six·Family Letters》 records that Pei Niannu often frequented teahouses, listening to storytellers, and was often fascinated and unable to extricate herself. Whenever a storyteller left a story unfinished, she would imprison them with secret methods until the story was finished, before releasing them."

…

Not in good condition, one chapter today, try to write more tomorrow to make up for it.

Thanks to: he2004 for the 200 coin reward support!