Chapter 237 Dragon's Roar Sword
Minglu said sarcastically, "Ma's wife has been living in the Marquis's mansion for several years, hoping to marry into a high-ranking family. However, Ma was sent to the estate, and her marriage was delayed."
"This cousin is quite capable. With Madam Ma losing power and the Marquis's mansion no longer having her backing, she has managed to win the old lady's favor and stay."
Zhan Xingzhuo slowly sipped the lukewarm hangover soup and remembered—it was that woman who always hid behind Madam Ma.
He had a long face, a narrow forehead, and large but lifeless eyes, like a paper horse-faced figure from a funeral shop.
She had also bullied Yao Qingling, and Zhan Xingzhuo still remembered reprimanding her a few times in person.
Now, he is the "high branch" that Ma Peizhen has her eye on.
"Second Master, I know you want to see the young master and the young mistress, but the way the young mistress treated you..." Minglu glanced at his master, and seeing that he didn't get angry, he continued, "You can't just keep waiting outside the door, hoping that the young mistress will change her mind."
"Why not take advantage of this young lady? That way, we'll have more opportunities to come and go from the Marquis's residence. Who knows, the young mistress might get jealous?"
Zhan Xingzhuo paused slightly, glancing at him.
Minglu forced a smile.
Zhan Xingzhuo didn't say anything. He finished the hangover soup, put it aside, and got out of bed.
He returned to his new residence, changed into his official robes, and went to the morning court session.
Because I slept quite well and even drank some hangover soup, I didn't have dark circles under my eyes today.
However, the emperor's temper was even worse than a few days ago. The investigation into counterfeit goods in the palace had spread from the Imperial Pharmacy to the Imperial Storehouse. The case was extremely serious, and several officials from the Imperial Pharmacy and the Imperial Storehouse had been detained and interrogated. Many palace maids and eunuchs had been arrested, and even some of the imperial guards had been implicated.
Corruption had spread into the palace, and the emperor wanted to investigate thoroughly, putting pressure on all the important officials, but none of them stepped forward to take on the case.
Everyone is making excuses.
The emperor was furious and threw down the memorial, but the officials in the front row remained expressionless, as if watching the emperor go mad.
Unlike a few days ago, when everyone was afraid of being implicated in the case and living in fear.
The emperor, unable to save face, coughed heavily in anger.
This is not just a matter of corruption in the palace, but also a matter of the dignity of the imperial power.
He was the emperor, yet none of his court officials respected him!
At that moment, a voice rang out from outside the hall: "Your subject is willing to take on this case!"
Everyone turned around and saw Lin Shiyuan, dressed in a dark blue official robe, walking steadily to the entrance of the main hall.
The high threshold that lay before them was like a natural chasm, separating the inside and outside of the hall into two worlds.
Outside, low-ranking officials were exposed to the cold wind; inside the hall, several thick bronze pillars supported the main hall while waves of heat surged outwards.
The high-ranking officials inside were all stretching out, unlike the officials outside who were hunching over and tensing up to resist the cold.
The emperor couldn't see Lin Shiyuan's face clearly, so he told him to step forward.
Lin Shiyuan stepped over the high red-lacquered threshold, walked on the dark, shiny gold bricks, and stood before the emperor. He lifted his robe and knelt down: "Your subject is willing to take this case into account!"
He once again made a loud statement.
The emperor's tense face relaxed slightly at this moment.
Lin Shiyuan accepted the case of corruption in the inner court in front of the palace. The emperor demanded that he solve the case within a month and bestowed upon him the Dragon Roar Sword. Anyone who disobeyed the investigation could be executed immediately.
However, if he cannot close the case within a month, he will also lose his head.
After the court session ended, the high-ranking officials left the palace with smug satisfaction, regardless of the emperor's actions, which did not affect their power and status in the slightest.
In the end, only Lin Shiyuan, that reckless man eager to rise to power, will die.
Zhan Xingzhuo thought so too.
This major case, just like the Yellow River corruption case five years ago, clearly reveals the involvement of imperial relatives and powerful clans.
A martial artist from a humble background, how could he possibly shake these people?
ridiculous.
Two men walked at the very back.
Lin Shiyuan, carrying the Dragon Roar Sword, walked at a leisurely pace. This was his first time entering the Golden Palace. Above him was a high dome, and under his feet were gleaming gold bricks. What he saw was either bright red or bright gold, a solemn symbol of power.
He was filled with emotion, but he tried hard to suppress it and not show it on his face.
This time, Zhan Xingzhuo didn't rush off as if he wanted to shake him off. He glanced at Lin Shiyuan indifferently, and sneered with one corner of his lips: "What is Lord Lin reminiscing about?"
He glanced at the main hall and chuckled, "You must be excited to enter the Golden Palace for the first time, right? Such a grand and solemn place, where only powerful officials are allowed to enter, and you, a mere military man, have actually managed to get in. Tsk, cherish this rare opportunity, because who knows when you might not even have the chance to open your eyes again."
He mocked him, saying that not only would he fail to solve the case, but he would also lose his head.
The two stepped out of the high threshold at the same time. It was almost noon, and their two silhouettes were just two short lines in the sunlight.
Lin Shiyuan's gaze flickered slightly as he glanced into Zhan Xingzhuo's eyes, then replied calmly, "Lord Zhan, you are overthinking this. I have always been blessed with good fortune and a long life; not only do I manage to escape with a glimmer of hope, but I also always have unexpected gains."
"But Lord Zhan, did you sleep well last night?"
Lin Shiyuan naturally knew that Zhan Xingzhuo's quilt had been urinated on, and he also knew that Ma Peizhen was fawning over him, and this "affectionate ex-husband" accepted all her advances.
Zhan Xingzhu snorted arrogantly through his nose: "I rise early and retire late, devoting myself solely to the affairs of the court. Unlike Physician Lin, who always takes shortcuts. He rushes forward whenever he sees something 'good,' but he doesn't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing."
He subtly criticized Lin Shiyuan for abandoning Yao Qingling for the sake of power and morality.
Lin Shiyuan smiled and said, "Lord Zhan, isn't it almost time for Madam Yao's child's one-month celebration? Have you held the baby yet?"
Zhan Xingzhuo's face fell, but then he smiled broadly, looking quite pleased with himself. He said, "That's my child. When he learns to speak, he'll call me 'Daddy.' Doctor Lin may not know this, but I can not only enter and leave the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence at any time, but I can also rest there whenever I want. So, holding the child is just something I can do whenever I want."
Lin Shiyuan wanted to laugh when he heard this.
No one knew better than him what he truly wanted to know.
This Vice Minister really knows how to cover up his shame.
Being shameless is a skill in itself.
He suppressed a laugh, raised his eyebrows, and said in a serious tone, "Then this humble official will wait and see."
I'm afraid the child's first "Dad" was directed at Lin Shiyuan.
The child would hug his neck, kiss him on the left cheek, then on the right, just like Yao Qingling, who loved to cling to him.
Well, let's not talk about it yet.
We'll wait and see when Zhan Xingzhuo coughs up blood.
Lin Shiyuan coughed lightly, not forgetting to pour cold water on Zhan Xing: "Lord Zhan, I think Madam Yao is a very resolute person, but I don't know how you intend to win her over."
He walked away with a smug grin on his lips.
Zhan Xingzhuo took a deep breath and glared fiercely at his back. His eyes flickered, he bent down to pick up a small pebble, and with a flick of his finger, the pebble flew out.
Lin Shiyuan suddenly turned around, raised his hand to pat the dust off his sleeve, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the small stone missed its target and rolled twice on the ground.
Fool, when it comes to hidden weapons, he's far superior to Zhan Xingzhuo.
Lin Shiyuan said calmly, "Lord Zhan's martial arts skills should be practiced more. If he goes to the battlefield, he will probably be laughed at as a sick man."
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