Li Huan remained calm and looked at the five copies of "The Forty-Two Chapters Sutra" on the table.
Suddenly, he understood.
Of these five scriptures, the two he had previously acquired were not among them.
Holy crap, that fake Empress Dowager is extremely cunning; she's trying to trick me into revealing information!
Li Huan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this humble subject has truly never seen any 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra.' This humble subject is only interested in cooking recipes, not scriptures!"
The fake empress dowager said, "If you don't confess, I'll send you to the imperial prison to keep Ao Bai company!"
Li Huan said, "The Empress Dowager is determined to frame me, and I have no choice but to ask the Emperor to intervene and uphold justice!"
The fake empress dowager said, "Don't try to intimidate me with the emperor! If he knew you were a member of the Heaven and Earth Society, he would definitely have your head chopped off!"
Li Huan was startled again.
Damn, the fake Empress Dowager's information network is too extensive!
"The Heaven and Earth Society?" Li Huan feigned panic. "How could this humble subject be a member of the Heaven and Earth Society? Your Majesty, please don't wrong this humble subject!"
The fake Empress Dowager said, "When you went to the brothel with Wei Xiaobao, who did you see? Do you want me to tell you?"
Li Huan said, "Your humble servant and Wei Xiaobao went to the Lichun Brothel and met his older sister, Wei Chunhua!"
The fake Empress Dowager sneered: "Besides Wei Chunhua?"
Li Huan said, "As an official of the court, I am strict with myself and would never have such an affair in a brothel. I beg Your Majesty to investigate."
The fake empress dowager said angrily, "You just entered the Lichun Brothel, and Chen Jinnan entered the Lichun Brothel right after. Do you dare to say that you have no connection with Chen Jinnan?"
Li Huan feigned ignorance: "Chen Jinnan? Who is he? Why would I want to meet him?"
The fake Empress Dowager said, "Chen Jinnan is the Grand Master of the Heaven and Earth Society! If you haven't met Chen Jinnan, you're no hero! You must have heard this saying before, right?"
Li Huan said, "Can Chen Jinnan cook? Is he famous? I've never heard of him!"
"Insolence!" the fake Empress Dowager roared. "Still playing dumb with me, spouting nonsense! Guards, take off Li Huan's shoes and socks!"
Four palace maids held Li Huan down, attempting to remove his shoes and socks.
Li Huan exclaimed in surprise, "Empress Dowager, what are you trying to do? This is not appropriate! This humble subject is still a virgin!"
"A virgin?" The Empress Dowager raised her head and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, I saw everything you and Jianning did. You're nothing but a worthless virgin!"
Soon, Li Huan's two pairs of shoes and socks were taken off, revealing her bare feet.
The fake empress dowager examined the soles of Li Huan's feet and was immediately taken aback.
"Huh, why isn't there any Heaven and Earth Society code?"
Li Huan feigned grievance and said, "What code? This humble subject is not a member of the Heaven and Earth Society at all! I'm innocent, I'm innocent!"
The fake Empress Dowager said, "Everyone who joins the Heaven and Earth Society must have four characters engraved on the soles of their feet—'Overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming!' You must have secretly removed those four characters!"
Li Huan laughed, "Hahaha, are the people of the Heaven and Earth Society really that stupid? They insist on carving words on the soles of their feet, and four particularly treasonous characters at that! They could easily use code words when they make contact; it would be both convenient and safe!"
Seeing that there were no words on the soles of Li Huan's feet, the fake empress dowager had no choice but to give up.
Li Huan continued to act, complaining as she put on her shoes and socks.
The fake empress dowager said, "There are eight copies of the Manchu 'Forty-Two Chapters Sutra.' I originally had one, and Aobai had another! The five sutras on the table are ones I recently acquired! The last one is in the hands of Wu Sangui, the Prince of Pingxi."
"Once you obtain these eight scriptures, you will gain access to the treasures of the Qing Dynasty—a secret unknown to ordinary people!"
"Li Huan, who exactly sent you to sneak into the palace and steal the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra?"
After hearing what the fake empress dowager said, Li Huan breathed a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, the scriptures hidden in the garden walls and in the Grand Secretary's residence remained safe.
Li Huan's expression was serious, and he raised his voice: "Empress Dowager, I swear to Heaven that I did not steal your scriptures, nor was I ordered by anyone!"
An oath made to a fake empress dowager doesn't count.
The fake empress dowager glared at Li Huan: "If you don't confess honestly, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Instantly, Li Huan's palms began to itch.
Upon hearing the phrase "unable to live and unable to die," Li Huan immediately wanted to create a "life-and-death talisman."
He continued to hold back, smiling as he said, "Since the Empress Dowager insists on framing me, I won't bother with her anymore. I'll go tell the Emperor right now that you're a member of the Divine Dragon Sect!"
"Hahaha..." the fake empress dowager laughed, "Do you think the emperor believes you or me?"
Li Huan said, "Don't be so arrogant. Once I find the real Empress Dowager, you'll be exposed for who you really are!"
The fake empress dowager's expression changed slightly, then she laughed and said, "Since we've come this far, I'll be frank! That's right, I am the Holy Maiden of the Divine Dragon Sect. What can you do to me?"
"The Empress Dowager is imprisoned in a secret place, and no one else knows about it except me!"
"You think you can mess with me? You're still too green! Quickly tell me where you've hidden those two scriptures."
Li Huan said, "I'd rather die than tell!"
The fake empress dowager said, "Today is a fasting day strictly observed by the Divine Dragon Sect, and I cannot kill any living beings."
Li Huan patted his chest and joked, "You should have said so earlier! You scared my heart so much it was pounding."
The fake empress dowager then changed the subject: "However, there is someone who hates you to the core and wants to kill you!"
“Ao Bai!” Li Huan blurted out.
soon.
Li Huan was taken to the imperial prison by the fake empress dowager.
Rather than saying she was brought here by the fake empress dowager, it would be more accurate to say she came along with the fake empress dowager as if she were going with the flow.
Inside the imperial prison, Ao Bai, disheveled and shackled, angrily cursed.
"Tell me! Where exactly are those two copies of the Forty-Two Chapters Sutra hidden?"
The fake empress dowager questioned him sharply, her gaze piercing.
Li Huan said, "Don't waste time, just throw me down."
The fake Empress Dowager was so angry that her eyebrows shot up: "You brat, you won't listen to reason, so go and keep Ao Bai company!"
She grabbed Li Huan by the collar and threw him into the prison.
Upon seeing Li Huan, Ao Bai became even more enraged, baring his teeth and claws at Li Huan, wishing he could skin him alive and tear him apart.
Li Huan remained calm and stood in the corner.
Because his hands and feet were shackled, Ao Bai couldn't reach that position at all.
Li Huan said with a smile, "Ao Bai, you're about to meet the King of Hell, and you're still so arrogant."
Ao Bai roared, "I'm going to kill you! Kill you!"
Li Huan said, "Since you're here, I might as well tell you! I'm acting on the Emperor's orders to confiscate your assets, which total over thirty million taels of silver!"
"We also found a foreign gun and a Heavenly Silk Armor in your treasury! By the way, the Emperor likes the Heavenly Silk Armor and has already put it on. As for the foreign gun, he bestowed it upon me!"
Ao Bai's eyes blazed with fury, and his steel teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.
Li Huan continued, "Besides, I've already dismissed all your beautiful wives. You should thank me for not taking them for myself, nor letting Duolong or anyone else take them."
"Pah!" Ao Bai spat at Li Huan.
Li Huan nimbly dodged the question and laughed, "I've also made proper arrangements for your eighty-year-old mother. Guess where she is now?"
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