Infinite Mask Game.

Chapter 328 No rush at all

Back in Dian Miyi's study, Wei Miao was still pondering the probing she had just done.

She sat down in a chair, took out a jar of Pei Wenwei's treasured wine from a corner, broke the seal, and poured herself a glass.

She needs something to refresh and invigorate her.

As for Pei Wenwei's collection, he probably won't blame her.

After all, it was his body that was being consumed; if Wei Miao drank it, it was equivalent to Pei Wenwei drinking it as well.

Wei Miao took a small sip of the spicy liquor, put on the [Erudite] item, and began to ponder it carefully.

"The visualization method, combined with Pei Wenwei's cultivation memories and experiments, should essentially use a martial artist's mental power to nurture the seed of the heart and water the inner demon."

"Interestingly, Gu Fuhui was able to be corrupted by me, which means that his rank is lower than mine, which does not conform to the common sense of cultivation."

His strength was real, and his physical abilities were no less than hers.

Wei Miao seemed to be deep in thought: "In that case, we can actually draw a conclusion now, right..."

She leaned back in her chair quietly, lost in thought, and soon finished her glass of wine.

At the same time, the eye seed that remained in Gu Fuhui's body was also destroyed.

She gave the remaining wine to her subordinates who came to report, and then instructed Pan Junyang to prepare the reward.

Regarding the reward, the Imperial Secretarial Office and the Imperial Observatory would communicate with some departments in the capital, especially the Prefect of the Capital.

Although the Emperor himself had given the two institutions full authority to handle the matter and make their own arrangements without needing to inform others, they still had to put on a show of politeness.

During this special period, the efficiency of handling affairs is very high.

By the afternoon, the reward had been posted and was spreading rapidly.

Soon, martial artists from the Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the martial arts world) arrived. They were all practitioners of the Yuehe Gongfa (悦和功法, a martial arts technique) and believed they could contain the plague.

The bounty was not very clear, only specifying that it was related to the plague, so they assumed it was to recruit a capable doctor.

Wei Miao sent these people to the Medical Academy.

Because of their strong physique, martial artists are immune to common diseases, making them excellent candidates for physicians.

In fact, what people in the martial arts world value is loyalty and righteousness. Whether it is for conscience or reputation, many people in the martial arts world took the initiative to help the government settle the sick. Those with money contributed money, and those with strength contributed strength, which temporarily stabilized the southwest corner of the capital.

However, many more people choose to observe from the shadows.

If Wei Miao weren't the Chief of the Secretarial Ceremony, she would have done the same.

She was in the open from the beginning, powerful and influential, a sharp blade in the emperor's hand, and it was impossible for her to truly retreat behind the scenes.

Many people are watching her. If she shows even the slightest sign of weakness, there will be plenty of people eager to take a bite out of her.

This is the corresponding risk that comes with power.

The situation is developing smoothly, and Wei Miao is in charge of the secret rituals to reassure people.

The intelligence network of the Flying Bird Pavilion was operating at full capacity, with intelligence constantly being gathered from all over the country. This intelligence was continuously interpreted and analyzed by the clerks, and then summarized into documents to be presented to Wei Miao.

There was no progress for the time being.

Tonight, Wei Miao once again entered the Fengchang Prison and found a second-rate martial artist to repeat the experiment.

The result was roughly the same as the third-rate martial artist from last night. Wei Miao left satisfied, leaving him in the cell questioning his existence.

Two more days passed, and the epidemic in the southwest corner showed signs of spreading. The actions of the Imperial Secretariat and the Astronomical Bureau were minimal, remaining in the shadows, and they were unable to produce any tangible results.

Those who came because of the bounty were all Yuehe martial artists who wanted to help those in distress.

So, Gu Fuhui paid a visit on a foggy morning. He wore a black brocade cloak, its hem fluttering in the wind. The air in late autumn was dry, cold, and crisp, and Gu Fuhui carried a chill with him as he entered, making him appear even more austere.

"They're so aggressive; anyone who didn't know better would think the Imperial Censor had come to interrogate someone."

It was still in the main hall, but this time it was the ceremonial hall.

Wei Miao leaned lazily against the main seat and made a joke.

A court attendant respectfully served her tea, the rising steam gently veiling her features.

“If this matter is not handled well, who can bear the Emperor’s accountability?” Gu Fuhui said calmly.

“Neither of us can afford to take that responsibility,” Wei Miao said casually. “But this can’t be rushed. We’ve only tested it twice already.”

Gu Fuhui didn't touch the tea in front of him: "It's a bit too passive. By the time the third or fourth line comes true, it might be too late. 'Ziwei falling into a trap' sounds too dangerous."

Wei Miao: "It's just a prophetic poem that's full of superstition, not the golden words of a deity."

She took a deep breath: "To put it bluntly, could you and I combined possibly shake the position of that person in the palace?"

Gu Fuhui's eyes flickered, but he did not respond.

Wei Miao chuckled lightly: "Even you and I can't do it, so how could an enemy who only dares to hide in the shadows possibly succeed? By trying to sow discord among people?"

There are many speculations both inside and outside the court regarding Lu Shaoqing's abilities.

Before Lu Shaoqing became one of the Seven Masters, he rarely made a move; Pei Wenwei had only seen him do so once. That was when Lu Shaoqing started his rebellion, and to boost morale, he killed a court official with a single palm strike in public.

That palm strike only revealed his profound mental strength and solid foundation; no further details could be discerned.

After achieving the Seven Sects, he never made a move again.

However, the image of the deity he cultivated was known to everyone, and this could not be kept secret from the world.

The "Seven Demons" statue was possessed by the royal family and was shrouded in mystery, with no historical record of it. Therefore, some speculate that the statue was only unearthed in recent decades, fell into the hands of the royal family, and was extremely powerful, which is why Lu Shaoqing took a liking to it.

When they first met, Wei Miao sensed Lu Shaoqing. She didn't have any sensory abilities, so she could only vaguely perceive his mysterious aura, which was difficult to describe in words.

Complex and ever-changing, it seems somewhat unstable.

In recent years, according to Pei Wenwei's observations, he has become increasingly sensitive and unpredictable, probably due to the influence of his inner demons, making it difficult to fathom his thoughts.

Given Lu Shaoqing's deep and reserved personality, and the fact that he rose to power through rebellion, Wei Miao believed that he must understand that strength is the only true measure of success.

It's best to overestimate how far he's come down the path of the Seven Sects.

Gu Fuhui: "Unless the mastermind is an exceptionally powerful member of the Seven Sects, it is impossible to confront the entire imperial court."

After being enlightened by Wei Miao, he also realized that it wouldn't be so easy for the rest of the prophetic poem to come true.

The first two lines are the simplest step. But it is precisely because these two lines came true that the credibility of the prophetic poem was immediately raised to its peak, causing people to overlook the difficulty of fulfilling the prophecy later.

Suddenly, Pan Junyang led a young man to the lobby and stood there.

He bowed slightly to the two leaders in the hall, then turned to introduce them, saying, "This is a wandering swordsman who came because of the bounty. He says he has important information that requires an audience with the Grand Eunuch."

Wei Miao nodded and said, "Come in."

"Master Governor, Master Jianzheng."

The newly arrived young man bowed respectfully, feeling immense pressure under the gaze of the two important figures above him.

He originally intended to meet the Director of the Imperial Observatory alone, but the director unexpectedly turned into the Secretariat.

Unwilling to delay any longer, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to see the two big shots at the same time.