Chapter 41 The Arrogance of a Scoundrel.
Upon emerging from the cage, Shimi's first priority was to check on Sanyan. Seeing them lying haphazardly in the carriage in a miserable state, he was immediately overwhelmed with sorrow.
A broken arm, a bruised neck—thankfully they felt no pain, and could still travel a hundred miles at night to find Senior Brother Gu and deliver a message. That bastard Lu Min—if she couldn't get revenge on him, she'd be letting them down.
Fifth Hai drove the carriage, which sped towards Lirenfang in the morning light. The carriage was quiet; Sanyan had been running for most of the night and returned lifeless. Gu Jingguan watched silently as she carefully inserted the silver tassels behind their ears, then bit her finger, drawing a line of blood between their brows. Soon, they awoke one after another, struggling to sit up, their eyes blankly fixed on her.
“When we get back to Lirenfang, I’ll fix your arms.” She said, her face pale, as she composed herself. “It’s alright, we’ll make them even stronger later, so they won’t break.”
Yan Dian carefully glanced at her face. "Ami, don't be upset. We've already talked to Fifth Hai, and we'll have him as our sparring partner from now on. We'll definitely improve even more."
Ali Dao and Ran Dian nodded repeatedly, "We can protect you, don't be afraid."
After struggling to stay calm for half a day, Shi Mi finally lowered her head and cried when she heard them say this. "It was because I acted too recklessly that I caused you all to be in this state. It was no use for you to find Fifth Sea to spar with. My skills are not good enough, so you can't beat him... I'm so angry. I thought I was being careful, but I had loopholes everywhere. He saw through me long ago."
Seeing her crying so miserably, Gu Jing could only reach out and pat her shoulder. "I told you long ago that this person is not easy to deal with. You've been with him day and night, how could you not have given yourself away? Anyway, it's already come to this, there's nothing to regret. Maybe you'll get lucky and escape this desperate situation."
Shi Mi said dejectedly, "He probably already knows my background. Yesterday he even said he would summon the Five Guards Generals and let me do whatever I want with them."
Gu Jingguan leaned against the carriage wall and thought for a moment before saying, "Don't worry, his life and death are always in your hands. Even if he has extraordinary abilities, you have a way to subdue him."
Shi Mi finally calmed down and thought it over carefully. He regretted, "Actually, I wasn't decisive enough and hesitated. If I had seized the opportunity after changing his body and ordered him to mobilize troops to attack Shangdu, things might not be like this now."
Gu Jingguan laughed, "If you had really been reckless, you would be bound hand and foot in that golden cage right now, serving as his food supply for every day you live. You know there are many strange and wonderful medicines in the Ghost Market, right? They can warp minds and even turn people into living dead. As long as he doesn't covet your puppetry skills and only wants you to live, he has plenty of ways to control you. Every cloud has a silver lining. You should know that the lesser wise control physical strength, while the wiser control the mind. Ordinary puppeteers can be controlled with puppetry skills, but it's not so simple with a half-puppet who has a heart. Controlling them with emotions is a higher level of puppetry."
Shimi blinked dryly. "Senior brother, you're really good at comforting people. I'm not so guilty anymore, and I even think I did a pretty good job."
She is such an open-minded woman. The worst thing in life is to get stuck in a rut. It's not scary to encounter difficulties. Go with the flow and there will always be a solution.
Gu Jingguan nodded. "According to what you said, Lu Min already harbored rebellious intentions, which is a good sign. Since we share the same goal, there's nothing wrong with traveling together."
So her senior brother and she had the same idea: to use Lu Min to control Zhongdu first, and then Shangdu Longcheng. Once they had killed all those who had given orders, dealing with Lu Min would be much easier.
Looking back now, it seems that Grandpa had foresight in letting her follow her master into seclusion, thus preserving this bloodline. Perhaps she was born for revenge, and once the mission was accomplished, she could simply turn to dust.
The carriage quickly entered the courtyard. After returning to the residence, the gate was tightly closed. Shi Mi searched for materials and repaired the arms and wounds of the three puppeteers. He then rushed to the mortuary with his senior brother to examine the body of Imperial Envoy Li.
A single, swift blow was all it took; the method was clean and efficient, clearly the work of the Nine Chapters Prefecture's secret guards. The two quickly measured the torso's length and arm span, meticulously recording the length of the fingers and knuckles. When it came to replicating the face, they first understood the bone structure, then used a knife to slice open the flesh along the facial contours, peeling off the entire face. In a moment of urgency, the method was bloody, but it was the fastest and most precise. Once all the necessary elements were gathered, they returned to Liren Alley and plunged into the secret room, dividing the work according to the parts and working diligently to complete the replica.
They were busy inside, while San Yan sat dejectedly on the steps with his hands clasped behind his back. The previous battle had almost destroyed all their confidence. They had thought that flesh and blood were no match for them, who knew that Lu Min was so capable.
“He must be a monster,” Ran Dian said. “He’s clearly a scholar, yet his internal strength is incredibly powerful.”
Ali sighed, his head drooping even lower. "I always wanted to find out what he was capable of, and now I have. He's even dislocated my arm."
“I don’t think Fifth Sea is necessarily his match either,” Yan Dian said. “We can hold out for a while against Fifth Sea in a three-on-one fight, but against him… we’ll be lucky if we don’t get our heads twisted off.”
Just then, Fifth Hai walked by in the yard carrying a vegetable basket. Ali Dao hurriedly invited him, "Fifth, next time you should try what it's like to have your hands and feet dismembered."
Fifth Sea frowned. "I don't want to try. Didn't Ami fix you all? Don't try to slack off, come and start a fire and pick vegetables."
So they divided the work: they prepared food, and the disciples sculpted and created human beings. They worked like this for three whole days and nights. On the morning of the fourth day, the newly appointed censor, driven by the magic of puppetry, emerged from the dark room.
As the crowd gathered around to look, he smiled and gestured without a hint of misunderstanding, bowing to them and saying, "I am new here and may have made some mistakes. Please forgive me."
Ali Dao exclaimed in surprise, "He speaks so convincingly! Before, when Xiao Wu woke up, he could only say 'hello,' but he actually said three!"
Yan Dian stepped forward and asked, "What's your name?"
He said, "My name is Li Qiaozhen, a native of Lumen. I have been ordered to inspect Zhongdu and investigate the case of the Grand Princess falling from the building."
Seeing this, the three Yans all clapped. When Gu Jingguan and Shimi came out, they happily told them that this new Yan was much better than they had been.
This was my first time working with my senior brother, and it proved true that no matter how many formulas you learn, they are not as effective as being taught step by step. The sect's procedures are strictly followed, but sometimes taking an unconventional approach can be twice as effective.
Overjoyed, she grabbed Gu Jingguan's hand and pleaded, "Senior brother, this is just a small test. Please give me more detailed guidance next time when we have ample time."
Unfortunately, before she could let go of his hand, the courtyard gate was opened. Lu Min appeared at the gate, his gaze sweeping over her hand, his expression unchanged. Instead, a smile appeared on his face as he cupped his hands to Gu Jingguan, saying, "Sir, you've had a good time. It seems everything went smoothly."
Gu Jingguan returned the greeting and led Yanren to him. "Simple questions and answers are not difficult for him now, but he is powerless when it comes to court affairs. If the Grand Tutor needs it, he can be taught in advance, but it is best to keep him away from people to avoid any oversights."
Lu Min nodded. "From now on, he only needs to show his face. I will take care of the rest." He raised his hand and clapped his hands. Bai Heliang rushed over from outside. He turned his head and instructed, "Send the Imperial Censor back to his residence. Send a few people to guard outside. If anyone comes to visit, say that the Imperial Censor is ill and will not receive guests."
Bai Heliang said yes, bowed and gestured, "Please, sir."
The cyborg strode out of the mansion, and unless it was revealed, no one could tell that he was no longer made of flesh and blood.
Now it was time for personal matters. Lu Min turned his gaze to San Yan, and the three of them fell silent in fear. He still maintained his gentle demeanor and said to them, "There are carriages waiting outside. You should return to Jiuzhang Prefecture first. The Lady and I will arrive shortly after."
Although he had frightened them, the Yan people were loyal by nature, and they all turned to look at Shimi, waiting for her command.
Shi Mi had no intention of dealing with him and blurted out, "I still need to learn about mechanical arts from my senior brother, I'm not going back."
These words clearly displeased him, and his brows slowly furrowed. "There's no rush to learn from you; there will be plenty of opportunities later. You've been away from Jiuzhang Prefecture for three days now. If the officials and eunuchs ask, I can't just give them the runaround. Go back now, and come whenever you want." Seeing her stubbornness and reluctance, he changed his tone, "If you really can't bear to leave, then take Mr. Gu back with you. I'll have someone set aside a quiet courtyard for you to come and go as you please."
This strategic retreat is a clear way to advance; those who are deluded will have no choice but to admit defeat. Jiuzhang Prefecture is now an impregnable fortress; it's easy to get in but difficult to get out. Even though this residence is under surveillance, with Senior Brother and Fifth Sea's skills, if they want to leave one day, no one can stop them.
Reluctantly turning around and walking towards the door, she heard Lu Min feigning thanks and farewell to Senior Brother Gu, before she herself got into the car like a wilted eggplant.
He got into the car shortly afterward and sat down next to her. She turned her head to look out the window, her attitude very clear: the feud was about to escalate.
"Are you still angry?" He wasn't in a hurry, and said slowly, "How can I calm you down? Nothing has really changed. The only difference is that the Puppeteer has moved from the shadows to the light, and we're just being honest with each other."
She ignored him, her neck twisting wildly, making her look even more forlorn.
"Are you still angry that I injured three puppets? They don't feel pain. After being repaired, they've all recovered."
She still didn't react. He waited and waited, then sneered, "Looks like you're outmatched and getting angry."
No matter what he said, she remained unmoved. Looking at her aloof demeanor, he raised a hand to his chest and said, "The stab you gave me was deep, and I bled a lot. But with the courtroom piled with paperwork, I had to endure the excruciating pain and not let anyone notice. Aren't I pitiful too, Ami? Please consider me. Perhaps we can find a mutually beneficial solution, wouldn't that be better than acting out of spite?"
She finally turned to look at him. "Stop with the sweet talk. Just tell me what you need from me."
She is indeed a straightforward and outspoken woman; she never backs down and always insists that he must be the one asking her for something.
He smiled slightly and slowly leaned closer to her ear. She noticed and glared at him angrily as if pricked by a needle, "If you touch me again, I'll slap you to death!"
He frowned. "To discuss important matters, you can't shout them from the rooftops. How can I discuss things with you if I don't lean close to your ear?"
Shi Mi reluctantly leaned forward a little, "If what you're saying is nonsense, I still won't be polite to you."
Therefore, he couldn't be vague; he had to be as concise as possible. The fan in his hand seemed to block out his voice as he whispered to his lips, "I've disliked that man in Dragon City for a long time. I'd like to ask you, young lady, for help in getting rid of him."
As expected, it wasn't nonsense; it struck a chord with her. Shi Mi looked him up and down, "Someone like you wants to be emperor?"
"Can't it?" He propped one elbow on a bamboo pillow and waved his folding fan. "The world was originally won through conquest and expansion. People strive for glory and success to ensure the peace and security of their families. If they can't even protect that, then why should they risk their lives for others?"
"Isn't it to satisfy your own ambition?" Shi Mi asked him sideways.
He thought for a moment, then smiled faintly, “I entered officialdom at the age of twelve. Seeing incompetent people sitting high in the halls of power and influencing the world, it was less about ambition and more about the well-being of the people.”
A person with a heart for the common people actually slaughtered 200,000 Yu people. Isn't he ashamed to admit it?
Therefore, all those who steal a country are like him, spouting grand words while committing heinous acts behind the scenes. She doesn't need to figure out why he stole Emperor Shengyuan's throne; as long as everything is in her favor, she doesn't care if others are brainwashed.
She asked him, "You've been plotting this for a long time, haven't you? How far along are you?"
When he talked about such things, he was as calm and composed as ever. “Not long after the Yan Dynasty established its capital at Baiyujing, I retired to Zhongdu to build my mausoleum. To the west of Chong’an City are the Thirteen Guards of the Capital Region and the Three Guards of the Eastern Palace, all of which belong to the emperor’s personal army. To the east of Chong’an City are the Sixteen Guards of the Border, which I personally cultivated. In terms of military strength, they are evenly matched.”
"So you're planning to start a war? Have us create a puppet army to help you storm Shangdu?"
But he fell silent, and after a long while said, "The Yan Dynasty unified the country after ten years of war. Ten years of war made the people suffer. If we continue to fight, there will be no point in gaining this world." As he spoke, he looked up at her, "Why not replace the people in Dragon City without anyone noticing? In this way, we can avoid war, the people will suffer less, and I can seize power and turn the world upside down according to my will."
After hearing his words, Shimi's heart pounded like a drum. She stared at him in astonishment, wondering if he truly possessed superhuman eyesight and hearing. He hadn't missed a single thing she thought was hidden. Yet, he didn't expose her; instead, he went along with it, simply because he didn't want to break the final barrier and push them to a level of absolute opposition.
Just as Senior Brother Gu said, if we share the same goal, we can still work together. Shi Mi said, "Shangdu is heavily guarded, and we really can only rely on you. But what do you plan to do after the replacement? Have Emperor Shengyuan abdicate and pass the throne to you? It's not uncommon for such things to happen before, but most of the successors are infamous. If you don't care, go ahead and do it."
He didn't show the greedy look he had when faced with supreme power. Instead, he said slowly, "Being an emperor and holding power are two different things. Perhaps we can let the Yan people hold the fort for a long time, have a child, and send him to Longcheng to be the crown prince. That would be good too. We should support our own flesh and blood. When we get old, we can find a quiet place to enjoy the flowers and the moon, and wait to die like ordinary people."
Shi Mi scorned him, "That arrogant brat actually wants to have my child!"
He said, "Is there anything wrong with that? We've gone through the wedding ceremony and drunk the nuptial wine. I only trust you, and I'll never be close to another woman in this lifetime. Let's have a child, a child with both our blood in it. All the grudges and grievances can be laughed off. Isn't that better?"
“Your thinking can’t be that simple.” She scoffed. “I advise you to give up on that idea. Even if you have a child, half of the mother’s blood in that child won’t be enough to prolong your life.”
He paused for a moment, then said, "I really had never considered that. You're thinking too badly of me."
What else can be said? A truly wicked person is complaining, and he has the nerve to argue back, but you have no ears to listen.
The back gate of Jiuzhang Mansion was wide open, and the carriage went straight through, speeding along the long street, and soon stopped in front of Hongdao.
Before he could get up, Shi Mi jumped off the carriage and hurried towards the secluded building. Seeing him following her, she said coldly, "From today onwards, I am busy and will not receive guests. Please do not disturb me, Grand Tutor."
He followed behind her, and for every word she said, he would disagree, his tone firm and unwavering: "To avoid arousing suspicion, it's best not to make any changes. Let's keep everything as it was before."
Shi Mi turned around angrily, "So, in other words, I already really wanted to kill you, but you still dared to bite the bullet and sleep with me?"
He smiled faintly, "Why must you kill me, Madam? Keeping me alive will actually be of great help. Whether it's Zhongdu or Shangdu, the chessboard is too big, and you don't have the ability to control the whole situation. What have the people done wrong? Don't let the change of power cause them to suffer from the ravages of war again."
Her words were confident and every sentence reasonable. In truth, after calming down, she had carefully considered the situation. War was always the worst policy, and even if the Six Guards of Zhongdu fell into her hands, she wouldn't have the ability to command such a massive army. A reckless war would only result in countless corpses. Her goal was merely to kill Emperor Shengyuan and his advisors to avenge herself; there was no need for a large-scale military campaign. As for that scoundrel Lu Min, she would spare his life for now and deal with him later.
Having made up her mind, she didn't argue with him anymore. As she entered the building, Ran Dian and the others were already waiting in the courtyard. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw her come in.
Anyway, there's nothing left to hide now; she's wasted a lot of time trying to maneuver. She left him behind and rushed upstairs to get busy, leaving Lu Min standing in the courtyard. When he turned around, he found San Yan watching him warily.
Facing these three puppeteers he had so severely hurt, he felt somewhat uneasy. He touched his nose and said, "I've reconciled with Ami, and you should understand me. Hurting you wasn't the goal, it was just a means. When people encounter insurmountable obstacles, they inevitably resort to such desperate measures..."
Ali Dao then chimed in, "Have you ever considered that the reason you can't get over this hurdle is because your legs are too short? You should ask Ami to lengthen your legs, instead of dislocating our arms."
Although Ran Dian and Yan Dian showed fear in their eyes, they still agreed with Ali Dao's words and gritted their teeth to agree: "That's right."
Even someone like Lu Min, when faced with the unintelligent Yanren, could only remain speechless.
As expected, like master makes like puppet. These three puppets perfectly inherited their master's way of speaking, which sometimes left people feeling deeply powerless, like a strange winter melon growing on an eggplant tree.
Should he argue with them? They didn't even have complex thoughts. In the end, he could only turn around and leave helplessly, thankful that he had the willpower to control his words and actions.
On the other hand, Shimi finally got to work, from the first day until the third watch of the next day, so tired that his shoulder blades were about to dislocate, before dragging his weary steps back to his inner chamber.
The inner chamber was lit, and the gold-flecked curtains reflected a flurry of golden light throughout the room. She had intended to throw herself on the bed, but instead, she was furious to find someone lying on the bed, fast asleep on their side.
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