This group of people finally chose to ask for money.
But the names they revealed were completely unknown, Chuzheng didn’t even know who they were.
Chuzheng took out a porcelain bottle and placed it on the ground: "Drink this, and you can leave with the silver note."
"This... what is it?"
"Poison," Chuzheng said matter-of-factly, "You don’t think I’d just let you leave like that, do you?"
"..."
"Don’t worry, it won’t kill you." Chuzheng reassured them, "As long as you keep your mouths shut once you’re outside, you’ll be fine."
The group hesitated.
Whoosh—
A long sword was unsheathed and placed against one person’s neck. That person’s body sank, and they fell back onto the ground.
The woman holding the sword spoke coldly, "Drink or die."
The group simultaneously felt a wave of intimidation, especially the one with the sword to their neck, who felt it even more acutely.
"Drink... Drink!!"
The group gradually drank the so-called ’poison,’ the taste... indescribable, but thinking poison probably doesn’t taste good, they had to accept it.
To convince them, Chuzheng even had Yin Xian perform a demonstration on the spot, ensuring the group was sufficiently intimidated before being released.
"Miss Yann, this isn’t proper..."
Shi Yi stopped Chuzheng.
The crowd: "..." Proper, very proper!!
"Don’t worry, they won’t say anything."
The group nodded vigorously, with their lives in others’ hands, they dared not speak out.
The group finally escaped the clutches and disappeared quickly.
The secret chamber felt much more spacious with so many people gone.
Shi Yi looked at Chuzheng, not speaking. The atmosphere felt strange; even Ying Xiang, as oblivious as she was, sensed something was off.
"I... I’ll go out and take a look first." Ying Xiang found an excuse to slip away.
Chuzheng twirled the long sword in the air before handing it to Shi Yi.
When Chuzheng drew the sword, it was so quick that by the time Shi Yi noticed, she had already placed the sword against someone else’s neck.
Shi Yi took a deep breath inwardly and reached out to grab the sword, but Chuzheng didn’t let go.
"Miss Yann?" Shi Yi called out.
Chuzheng’s fingers slightly relaxed, Shi Yi felt a sudden itch in his palm, as if someone had scratched him.
Chuzheng nonchalantly stepped back and walked towards the exit of the chamber.
"What should we do with these?" Scattered on the ground was that Dragon Robe.
Chuzheng turned back and glanced, and casually said, "Leave it there."
Shi Yi: "??" Are you sure?
Clearly, Chuzheng was sure, as she had already left.
-
It took longer for the search in the Yann Residence than elsewhere. The leading officer mentioned leaving several times, but the deputy general kept insisting to wait, as some people had not returned yet.
However, in the end, nothing unusual happened.
"Since everything’s been checked, let’s not delay your further searches." Yann Qin gestured for them to proceed.
"Minister of the Appointments, please stay." The leading officer signaled for the group to leave, and the vast mansion soon emptied out.
Yann Qin folded his sleeves and stood for a moment, then had the doors closed and strolled inside.
-
The name given up by the captives was unknown to Chuzheng, but Yann Qin knew it belonged to someone from the Prime Minister’s side.
It seemed because there was trouble on the Prime Minister’s side, they feared Yann Qin would take this chance to wipe them out, thus resorting to this desperate measure.
Even if Yann Qin survived this, it would temporarily bind him, buying them some time.
Yann Qin really didn’t expect they’d have the guts.
If Chuzheng hadn’t seen it today, perhaps something could have indeed happened.
Yann Qin looked at Chuzheng: "You did me a big favor today, what do you want?"
Chuzheng pointed with her delicate hand.
Shi Yi, not knowing what they were talking about, only saw Chuzheng suddenly pointing at him.
"No, pick something else." Shi Yi was not his servant; he couldn’t just hand him over to her.
"..."
He’s the only one I want!
Chuzheng withdrew her hand. "There’s nothing I want."
Yann Qin watched Chuzheng leave and sighed softly.
"Lord Yann."
"Shi Yi, what do you think of Xiao Chu?"
Not knowing Yann Qin’s intention, Shi Yi replied cautiously, "Miss Yann is very good."
"Is that so?"
"Mm."
Yann Qin: "After you avenge yourself, what do you plan to do?"
Shi Yi: "I don’t know." He hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Yann Qin seemed about to say something but ultimately said nothing, patting Shi Yi’s shoulder, and took him along to handle the next matters.
-
Taking advantage of the night, Chuzheng went out to settle those few people to prevent them from backtracking.
The Emperor kept searching for the Prime Minister.
When finally no one could be found, things settled down again.
The entire city was shrouded in an atmosphere of extreme calm, like the calm before the storm.
The Prime Minister had been missing for too long, with so many things to handle, the Emperor couldn’t let the position remain vacant for so long.
Very soon, someone was promoted to temporarily take over as Prime Minister.
But before this acting Prime Minister sat for two days, they too disappeared.
"..."
Like with the Prime Minister, they vanished without a trace, leaving no clue, not even a ghostly shadow.
This frightened many people.
Everyone speculated whether the place was haunted.
The situation was so bizarre that this theory gained many supporters, causing panic as everyone feared they’d be the next to vanish without reason.
To ease public anxiety, the Emperor even sought out a Taoist for a ritual.
Since the people were with Yann Qin, seeking a Taoist naturally had no effect.
Everyone could see that ultimately, it was Yann Qin who benefited from this situation.
But there was no evidence.
The Yann Residence had been thoroughly searched, yet nothing was found.
Yann Qin’s power grew, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Those who couldn’t stand against him had no choice but to join him.
The Emperor felt uneasy in court day after day, and every sight of Yann Qin made him dizzy, wanting to have him dragged out and executed.
In a short time, Yann Qin took the opportunity to replace who he could, and those he couldn’t replace were no longer capable of resisting him.
Now, who could stand against Yann Qin in court?
If Yann Qin truly rose in rebellion, who would be his opponent?
The court officials and the Emperor had to bow their heads in submission.
But to everyone’s shock, the first thing this Minister of the Appointments did after gaining power was to expose the crimes of the Prime Minister.
Everyone: "???"
Instead of seizing the opportunity, he started investigating the Prime Minister?!
-
No matter what’s happening outside, Chuzheng didn’t care; she was pondering how to get the Good Person Card.
This was the most important matter.
Knock out? Drug?
Sigh.
So difficult.
Chuzheng listlessly lay on the table, staring at the fruit plate in a daze.
No!
I can’t just sit and wait for death!
Chuzheng slapped the table and stood, startling Ying Xiang on the other side.
"Miss... is something wrong?"
"Where is Shi Yi?"
"Young Master Shi Yi seems to be out, I haven’t seen him for several days..." Taking things to his room these days, no one was there, and no one saw him.
He must have gone to handle matters for the Lord.
Chuzheng: "..."
The balloon that had just been inflated hadn’t even taken off before someone popped it.