“This reason is indeed outrageous, but it shouldn’t be false,” Xiao Jianren said, pointing to the dossier. “This is an investigation report issued independently by the Embroidered-Robe Envoy within the territory of Yan, and it matches the investigation conducted by the local government.”

"How could a gold medalist drown?" Zuan still couldn't believe the result, especially since the seventh-ranked gold medalist was someone he had met before.

“If all of this is fake, then unless the local Embroidered Robe Envoy system has been completely corrupted and is colluding with the local government…” Xiao Jianren’s expression turned serious halfway through his sentence, “If that’s really the case, then it’s terrifying.”

Born into the Embroidered Robe Envoy system, he has a deep understanding of the Embroidered Robe Envoys. His ability to do this job is secondary; loyalty is the most important thing, and he is also recognized as the least likely to betray them.

If the embroidered envoys of the entire Yan Kingdom colluded with local officials to commit fraud, the implications are self-evident.

“Not necessarily,” Zu An chuckled, seeing Xiao Jianren’s alarmed expression. “I had contact with the seventh-ranked Gold Medalist in Yi County last time. If all the Embroidered-Robed Envoys in the area had problems, he would definitely have asked me for help.”

Xiao Jianren breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

If all the Embroidered-Robe Envoys in the entire Yan Kingdom were to run into trouble, then the world would truly be on the verge of collapse.

Zuan then continued, "If we assume that most of the Embroidered-Robe Envoys in the Yan Kingdom are still reliable, then the death of the seventh-ranked Gold Medalist is very intriguing."

Xiao Jianren nodded. He had risen through the ranks from a low-level official and was more familiar with handling cases than Zu An. He then analyzed, "There are a few possibilities. One is that the seventh-ranked Gold Medalist did not actually drown, but rather created the illusion of drowning. However, with so many Embroidered-Robe Envoys, it was impossible for them not to see the cause of his death. Therefore, the seventh-ranked Gold Medalist most likely did drown."

Zuan rolled his eyes: "Isn't that the same as saying nothing at all?"

Xiao Jianren then explained, "Of course it's different. There's much more room for maneuver here. For example, we can first find a way to make the seventh gold medalist unconscious or incapacitated, then throw him into the water. When it's finally investigated, his cause of death will still be drowning. The reason he was unconscious could be either that the drugs in his body would disappear over time, or that the relevant personnel could cover it up. It's much easier than changing the cause of death, which is a crucial issue."

Zu An was greatly impressed upon hearing this; indeed, only an experienced person like him would know the key to it.

"Are you implying that there have been embroidered-robed envoys who have betrayed the local area?"

Xiao Jianren nodded: "If nothing unexpected happens, there should be some. The number of people should not be large, but their status must be high, otherwise it would be difficult to cover all this up."

As he spoke, he suddenly exclaimed, "Wait a minute, why does this black pool look so familiar?"

As Xiao Jianren spoke, he suddenly rushed to the archives room, then brought back a stack of case files. After flipping through them, he said, "It really is the one I remember. There is a black pool in Sanhe Township, Ningzhi County, Yijun. Passersby occasionally disappear and drown for no reason. Among them are even cultivators. The local government has never been able to find out the reason, which has led to various strange legends circulating in the village."

"Can't find the cause?" Zu'an was taken aback. "Could there be some ferocious beast lurking inside?"

Xiao Jianren shook his head slightly: "The local authorities even invited the Embroidered Robe Envoy and people from the local academy to check it out. They searched inside and out, but it was just an ordinary pool of water, at most a bit deep. There was nothing unusual about it. Later, it was said that it was discovered that some local thugs were trying to get money back for their lives. In order to escape punishment, they deliberately fabricated some ghost stories, and the matter was dropped."

Zu An said in a deep voice, "If you use your intentions to attack someone who is not, an ordinary cultivator might be defeated by a commoner, but a gold-plated embroidered robe would never be able to."

"Unfortunately, there's too little information. Many things can only be clarified by going to the scene." Xiao Jianren flipped through the files but couldn't find anything new.

Zuan said, "You should gather some relevant information in the meantime, and then come with me to Yi County."

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"Yes!" Xiao Jianren's eyes lit up. Finally, a mission had arrived. He had been so bored lately.

After leaving the embroidered tower, Zu An changed back into his own clothes and was about to leave the palace when Xiao Zhuozi came to him again: "Lord Zu, the Empress wants to see you."

Zu An was somewhat surprised. This empress was really bold. Knowing that the emperor was investigating, she still came to see me every now and then.

He initially wanted to refuse, but then he thought that he was about to leave the capital, and if he didn't make things clear, who knew what kind of trouble this woman might cause.

He found himself somewhat unsure of the Empress's temperament; she seemed to possess a strange madness deep within her, and whatever she did was never surprising.

Soon they arrived at the Empress's palace with Xiao Zhuozi. Xiao Zhuozi gestured for them to enter and then stood guard outside.

Zuan smiled and nodded at him. Along the way, he noticed that the little eunuch seemed to be particularly attentive to him. Since he came from the modern world, he naturally wouldn't look down on the other person like people in this world, so he was also friendly.

After entering the palace, the Empress, dressed in a white casual robe, was practicing her martial arts. Time had left no trace on her; her abdomen was as flat as a young girl's, and her limbs were soft and graceful. Rather than practicing martial arts, she looked as if she were performing a beautiful dance.

With Zuan's current level of insight, he could tell that this was a rather advanced martial art. However, because the Empress's energy level was not yet sufficient to support her in fully executing it, she could only slowly practice the basic moves first.

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