Chapter 39 I am the Puppeteer.
Impatient, Shi Mi said, "I'm not a horse; I can't carry him anyway. What use am I?"
Therefore, if we're talking about who's the most clueless about romance in the world, this woman is second to none. She has absolutely no understanding of the subtle emotions between men and women, and she's completely unaware of the Grand Tutor's painstaking efforts to cultivate their marital relationship amidst his busy schedule.
The official tucked his hands behind his back and gave a dry laugh. “Your Majesty is able to uplift the Lord’s spirits! The two of you slept in separate beds last night, and the Lord must have tossed and turned all night without a good night’s sleep. He must have been thinking of Your Majesty since this morning, which is why he sent me to invite Your Majesty.”
Knowing he couldn't refuse, Shimi had no choice but to get up. As soon as he stepped out the door, he saw him standing in the corridor ahead, looking refreshed and energetic, showing no sign of weakness.
She turned to look at the advisor, "Is this what you call laziness?"
The official chuckled, "I don't know either. It was my lord who told me to say that. Perhaps my laziness is in my heart, but it's not outwardly apparent."
Never mind, there's no point in pursuing this. She walked up to him and raised her sleeve, "Please."
The two walked side by side down the wide alley, with tall buildings and statues rising on either side, as if they were walking through an endless Buddhist world. There was no eye contact, no conversation, each lost in their own thoughts, perhaps both embarrassed by what happened the night before.
“You don’t need to wait,” he spoke first. “I won’t apologize. What’s done is done. Love between men and women is only natural. There’s no need to feel ashamed.”
Shimi touched his nose and said, "Indeed, a gentleman is open and honest."
"You must be very angry!" he asked. "Are you furious that I was so abrupt with you, and you're grinding your teeth in resentment?"
Shi Mi thought he was being petty, so she turned her head and pointed to her own face. "Do I look like I'm gritting my teeth? Actually, I can understand you. No matter how trustworthy an ally is, no one is as reassuring as a real spouse. Besides, a woman as beautiful as me would make anyone's heart flutter. You're a man too, so it's understandable that you were a bit abrupt."
He smiled faintly after hearing this, "You just don't believe I would fall in love."
“Yes,” Shi Mi said, “who would fall in love with someone who holds the power of life and death? You can win them over, but never fall in love with them. You are the Grand Tutor; you understand the greater principles of life far better than I do.”
A hint of disappointment flashed across his face, but he quickly composed himself and said with his hands behind his back, "In any case, I am very satisfied with everything that happened last night, and I hope the young lady feels the same way."
The astute person said, "It's the same thing, after all, you're good-looking."
Then he smiled happily, his smile bathed in the morning light, sweeping away his somber and reserved demeanor. Because his strides were longer than hers, he missed her by half a body length, then turned around and walked backwards, his gaze lingering on her, never leaving her for a moment.
Shi Mi frowned. "Why are you acting like you're experiencing first love? Is that a good thing?"
His lips curled up even more. "What's wrong with it? Who dares to say it's wrong?"
She curled her lip in disdain, truly an invincible minister, her acting was incredibly convincing.
However, the spring sunshine was warm and the scenery was beautiful. In May, Chong'an City had completely shaken off the chill, and even the distant Yinshan Mountains had shed their snow and become graceful and charming.
Let's chat a bit. She wanted to ask him about his official duties for the day and whether he wanted to take the censor out for a night of revelry. But before she could even open her mouth, she was suddenly met with a kiss from him.
Shi Mi immediately yelled, "What are you doing in broad daylight?!"
He didn't care at all; even though there were guards standing guard everywhere, he kissed them whenever he felt like it.
Shi Mi finally blushed at his shamelessness, wiped his mouth sullenly, and rolled his eyes in anger, "You're really crazy, I think you're not right in the head... No, I have to find some time to get you checked out properly."
She pulled a long face, but the more dissatisfied she was, the more he wanted to offend her, and once again, with lightning speed, he kissed her on those chattering lips.
This enraged Shimi completely. He jumped up and started hitting him, yelling as he did so, "Just because I'm not showing my teeth doesn't mean I'm a pushover! I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget, you madman!"
He took several blows, but the girl didn't use any special moves; how much pain could it hurt from just punching? It was more like a playful squabble between lovers.
Panting, Shi Mi braced himself against his back and said, "No, you must have some kind of scheme. What exactly do you want? If you're trying to win me over by selling your body, let me tell you, you'd better work even harder."
By the time she realized she had said the wrong thing, it was too late. He cupped her cheeks, showing no tenderness whatsoever, and forcefully squeezed them together. He squeezed her lips until they were distorted, and then, as expected, he became even more vigorous, taking another big, hard suck.
Shi Mi was about to cry. What kind of bizarre encounter was this? It was completely out of the ordinary. She had imagined that this person both feared and hated her, and she had also imagined that he would use insidious means to control the whole situation. She never expected him to take such an unconventional approach.
It's like steaming your mother, do you understand?! His body came from her tireless hard work day and night, and in the end, he showed her no respect whatsoever, and even took liberties with her repeatedly... The meteorite sword is already poised to strike, and if he still doesn't restrain himself, she'll find a chance to rip out his heart!
"You just wait!" she yelled, then quickly covered her mouth as he moved closer again.
He smiled, his face warm and radiant in the morning light. He didn't say anything more, but simply took her hand and held it tightly in his palm.
The commotion along the way had already been noticed by the censor standing in front of the council hall. As they approached, Censor Li smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, "The Grand Tutor and his wife are so loving, it's the envy of everyone."
Lu Min did not feel embarrassed and returned the greeting generously, saying with a smile, "I had a misunderstanding with Madam yesterday, and it was only after much effort that I managed to get her forgiveness and agree to send me to the council hall. The Imperial Censor is on an inspection tour of the capital, and my wife and I have not yet properly entertained him. Let me first introduce Madam to the Imperial Censor, and then we will set a date to welcome him back."
Shi Mi finally understood his intentions. The censor's visit to Zhongdu wasn't just about the case of the Grand Princess and Yan Shi; the Grand Tutor's political achievements and personal affairs were also within his investigation. His sudden recovery and the inexplicable marriage—if he had deliberately tried to connect the dots, there would be too many inconsistencies, making it easy for others to notice. Therefore, he needed to deliberately break down the estrangement between the couple. Public restraint wasn't enough to create a genuine image of affection in the emperor's ears; only through this method could he convince the censor that his marriage wasn't a transaction.
He introduced her to Imperial Censor Li, whose rank was far below his own, yet he still praised him highly.
Shi Mi bowed respectfully, "I have long heard of the Imperial Censor's esteemed name, and it is an honor to meet you today. When I return, I will have someone reserve a table at the pavilion, and see when Imperial Censor Li is free, so that I may have the opportunity to appreciate the local customs and culture of Zhongdu."
Imperial Censor Li hurriedly returned the courtesy, saying, "Madam, you are too kind. I dare not trouble you. I have been very busy with official duties these past few days and have not been able to find the time to visit you. I will pay my respects to you after this period of busyness is over."
As long as you've shown courtesy, that's fine. If they don't respond, it's because they're being polite and courteous.
Lu Min turned his head and said gently, "You should go back first. There are many things to do today, and you may be busy until very late."
Shi Mi nodded, stepped back, and watched him go. He and Imperial Censor Li entered the council hall side by side, discussing official business as they walked. Even when they reached the end of the long steps, he did not look back once more.
Very well, it was all just a temporary measure; there were no real feelings involved. Shimi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. She had been worried that she wouldn't be able to make a move later, but it seems she had been worrying unnecessarily.
Turning around, she strolled back leisurely. Judging by the time, her message should have already reached Lady Chongqi's ears. Unlike the officials of the Judicial Bureau, the Six Guards Generals were not required to conduct business in Jiuzhang Prefecture every day. They spent more time in the military camps and on the construction site of the Sacred Way, where their movements were unrestricted, giving them ample opportunities to act.
Next, it was all about timing and completing all the arrangements. General Yang's new body had already been delivered to the newly built courtyard, and the puppet bearing her face was waiting outside the silk shop in the East Market. She went back to change her clothes and, with Ran Dian and the others, headed to the East Market. Shortly after she entered the silk shop, Ran Dian and Yan Dian followed her other self, carrying two bolts of cloth, onto a carriage, and headed to the next shop where they needed to make purchases.
Shi Mi, wearing a veil, slipped out through the back door and drove to a small courtyard not far away. About half an hour later, a light carriage drove straight into the courtyard.
The servants waiting in the courtyard stepped forward, lifted the unconscious person off the carriage, and silently carried them into the dark room at the back. Madam Yang, still somewhat uneasy, pressed on, asking, "How long will it take? Won't something go wrong?"
The cyborg coldly replied, "Two quarters of an hour. I'll let you take me away alive."
When she pressed for answers, no one paid any attention to her. She could only sit alone in the hall, lost in thought, staring blankly at her toes.
Nothing bad will happen, she thought. Actually, even if something does happen, it doesn't matter. The man is the real troublemaker. With the troublemaker gone, she'll be in charge at home. At most, she'll lose the title of General's wife, but with her official title, she can ensure a comfortable life for the rest of her days. That little slut can't take the torment; she'll run away sooner or later… She can't let her run away. She'll sell her to a brothel and let her experience the ruthless methods there. And that little beast who's always going against her—send him to the army as a recruit, and then find an obedient cousin to adopt him. It'll be perfect.
Of course, those were all worst-case scenarios. If a strong, healthy man suddenly died, the interrogation would be enough to cause her a lot of trouble. But she, so unremarkable, had accomplished such a feat of deception; what reason did she have not to be proud of herself?
She slowly stretched out her feet and put them into the light strip in front of the door. Previously, she was always upright and unyielding, but this time she was no longer bound by dogma, swaying happily, her whole body radiating freedom.
These two quarters of an hour were filled with hope. She vaguely understood the feeling of a man waiting for his wife to give birth; when she saw him again, he would be someone she could manipulate at will.
So I held my breath and listened intently to what was happening inside, but unfortunately I couldn't hear anything except the soft rustling of leaves as the wind blew through the branches.
Finally, footsteps sounded, and soon the person was carried out and put back into the carriage. The expressionless Yanren instructed, "Ask the judge for leave, saying you were seriously injured in a fall from your horse. You must take care of him personally for the next ten days, and do not entrust him to anyone else." He then handed her a small box, "Every five days, drip two drops onto the red line on his chest. Before the remaining amount is used up, someone will send it to you."
Madam Yang gripped the box tightly and nodded, then turned to look at the ashen face. "Will my husband be in danger?"
Yanren stared blankly at her, not answering her question, and said stiffly, "Remember to keep your mouth shut and don't tell anyone."
Madam Yang paused for a moment, then said yes, turned around and quickly boarded the carriage.
Shi Mi watched the carriage leave the courtyard through the window, quite satisfied with today's smooth progress. However, the general's blood was plentiful and thick, making it difficult to clean. Fortunately, it was all dealt with properly. Senior Brother Gu gave her a bottle of medicine he had found at the Ghost Market, which could dissolve bones and make them invisible. With a rinse of water, it flowed away down the ditch.
Looking up at the sky, he realized it was getting late and he needed to hurry back to Lirenfang to meet up with Ali Dao and the others. However, upon opening the gate, he saw three people lying in the quiet alleyway. Upon closer inspection, he saw that they had all been hit by swords and knives, and blood was splattered all over the walls of the alley. Because the location was so secluded, they must have been dead for a long time without being discovered.
She had a premonition that this was aimed at her. When she went over to check, she immediately recognized the person lying on his back as Censor Li Qiaozhen, whom she had seen outside the council hall that morning.
She was startled and quickly retreated, instructing the servants to close the gates before driving away from the East Market Ward via the other side of the ward.
Back at Lirenfang, after confirming that Senior Brother Gu had left, I felt a little relieved, but I couldn't linger any longer and had to hurry back to Jiuzhang Prefecture.
She kept muttering "something's broken" the whole way. Ran Dian and Yan Dian didn't understand and asked in a low voice, "Ami, what's broken?"
Shi Mi murmured, "The imperial censor sent by Emperor Shengyuan to oversee Zhongdu is dead. He died in an alley in the East Market Ward. It seems I've fallen into someone else's trap. I thought it was foolproof, but someone was lurking in the shadows."
Ran Dian panicked immediately, "Who is this person, and how is he so powerful?"
Shimi sighed, "He won't be able to hold out for long; he'll be coming to see me soon."
Yan Dian finally realized, "Could it be the Grand Tutor?"
Shi Mi leaned against the carriage wall, dejected, and said, "I thought I could control his life and death and bring him under my control, but I never expected to shoot myself in the foot... Why did I have to marry him!"
Ran Dian comforted her, "It wasn't a wasted marriage. Otherwise, how would you have made friends with the ladies of the Six Guards? How would you have had the opportunity to enter Dragon City?"
That's true. In fact, it's inevitable that the truth will eventually come out; it doesn't matter whether it comes sooner or later.
Despite saying that, he was still uneasy. Shi Mi returned to the solitary building feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, pacing back and forth in the courtyard until dark, but Lu Min still did not appear.
It seems he's just going through the motions of investigating the case. The death of the censor is no small matter; Bai Yujing will definitely inquire about it. Now we'll see whether he lets the news spread or keeps it quiet. If he doesn't, then he should come to see her now.
Sure enough, he appeared at the door shortly afterward, holding a water ladle in his hand, and said, "Li Qiao really died in the alley of Dongshi Ward. This matter cannot be reported to the court. Please ask the young lady to convey my message and ask the craftsman to make a fake based on his features and build, so that we can temporarily maintain the situation."
So that was the purpose: to go to extremes in order to completely lure out Yan Shi.
Shimi bent down to scoop water from the bucket and continued watering her flowers. "Yanshi is not in Zhongdu, so please forgive me for not being able to convey the Grand Tutor's message."
But he took the water ladle from her hand, his eyes fixed on her like a hawk's, "Then I'll trouble you, young lady, to do it yourself."
Shi Mi was startled. Sure enough, no matter how careful she was, she couldn't escape the old fox's eyes. It seemed he had already seen through her. Even if he couldn't be sure she was a puppeteer, he knew she must know puppetry.
What to do? Just don't panic when something unexpected happens. Just deny it to the death, and he can't do anything about it.
"Grand Tutor, you jest. I can certainly make a couple of simple puppets, but I don't have the skill to create a humanoid puppet."
He spoke with great familiarity, enunciating each word clearly: “It’s not difficult. Carve hardwood into bones; mix fine sand with glue into skin; polish bronze mirrors with water to make eyes; and there are materials for liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, intestines, limbs, skin, fur, teeth… all of which can be made to look real. The young lady has been by Yanshi’s side for many years, and through her exposure, she must have already learned it.”
Shimi stared at him blankly for a long time before saying, "Since it's so easy, why doesn't Grand Tutor do it himself?"
He was very patient. Seeing that she was still stubborn, he leaned close to her ear and said, "Ami, I'm also gambling. I have fourteen days left. I'll gamble on whether the puppeteer will show up because of you within these fourteen days."
She then realized why this guy had asked her to prolong his life last night; it was so that he would have enough time to carry out this high-stakes gamble.
Even more unexpectedly, he suddenly raised his hand and struck her on the back of the neck, instantly rendering her unconscious. When she awoke, she found herself locked in a cage made of gold thread. This cage hung in the center of a magnificent hall, where tall Buddha statues stood at the four corners, gazing down at her with compassionate expressions.
She frantically tried to sit up, and what she saw before her was enough to drive her mad. She saw that Ali Dao and Ran Dian Yan Dian had their arms removed, spears piercing their bodies and pinning them firmly to the wall.
It turned out that during the time she was unconscious, a fierce battle had taken place. Upon seeing her locked in the cage, the Yanren immediately attacked the person who had imprisoned her. But just how strong was Lu Min? Probably far beyond her imagination; she had managed to defeat them all single-handedly!
Shi Mi grabbed the cage bars and shook them, gritting his teeth and cursing, "Lu Min, you traitor, let me out!"
The man standing there with his hands behind his back still possessed the refined and elegant demeanor of a scholar. The fierce battle hadn't left him looking disheveled at all. He looked up and laughed, "Don't be angry. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted them to find the puppeteer for me. I didn't expect these three puppeteers to be so crazy. They drew their swords without saying a word. I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. Puppete have no flesh and blood, so repairing their arms shouldn't be difficult. I didn't break their necks; I showed them mercy after all."
So this is the real Lu Min, whose name sounds so compassionate, but whose nature is only treacherous and calculating.
She looked at the three men; they refused to yield, but having lost their arms, no matter how hard they kicked with their legs, they could not break free from the spears.
“Let them go find the puppeteer and bring him back.” He said calmly, “Ami, we are all in the same boat, why be so wary? As long as you obey and do as I say, I will never hurt you. Putting you in the cage is just to let them know the consequences.”
No, he wanted to use her to blackmail them, but the Yan people were straightforward, and their first reaction was to rescue her.
The cyborgs, now freed from their silver pins, were only focused on fighting and lacked any ability to discern right from wrong. Shimi had no choice but to blow his whistle to calm them down, and the three, their eyes bloodshot, gradually quieted down.
Lu Min walked up to them, gracefully pulled out the spear, and looked at the cyborg lying on the ground, saying, "Please ask the cyborg to return to Lirenfang and tell him that Lu Min has something to ask of you. Ami is with me, so you don't need to worry. As long as the cyborg returns, everything can be discussed. But if the cyborg still chooses to avoid me, then don't blame me for not remembering the kindness I showed you in giving me a second life."
Ran Dian and Yan Dian glared at him fiercely, while Ali Dao looked at Shi Mi with a wronged expression, "We can't beat him..."
Shi Mi's heart sank to the bottom, knowing that he had been utterly defeated this time. His own life or death was not important; what mattered was not dragging his senior brother into this. He let out a long breath and said with his sleeves hanging down, "You don't need to look anymore. I am the puppeteer. If you want the puppeteer for the Imperial Censor, I will make it for you. First, let me out so I can repair them."
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