The court lackeys of the eight-hour workday

Chapter 391 Deserve a beating
After Li Miao finished speaking, the emperor's face lit up with joy.

Zhu Zai, however, did not show any joy, but instead cast a glance at Li Miao without making a sound.

"Are we really going to use him?"

"It can't be helped."

Their eyes met briefly, and the two completed their exchange in an instant.

There are some things that cannot be heard by the emperor.

Although Li Miao spoke frankly, it was actually a helpless move forced upon him by the current situation. If the emperor were so useful, Zhu Zai would have used him six months earlier; why would Li Miao have needed to rush back to Shuntian from Nanjing?

As long as one person remains alive, Li Miao will never be able to trust the emperor.

Ji Tianrui.

Back in Nanjing, those eunuchs in black were intimately familiar with the details of the battle at the imperial tombs. They even went so far as to guard against Li Miao using the killing as a pretext for a breakthrough. However, only three people knew the details of the battle at the imperial tombs. And neither the emperor nor Li Miao could possibly mention this to anyone else.

That means they only have one source of information.

Ji Tianrui.

After disappearing for nearly a year, this Ming Cult enchantress once again faintly revealed a smile from behind the scenes.

She was an opponent that even Li Miao had to be extremely careful against. In terms of martial arts alone, she could easily take down Li Miao, not to mention An Qisheng, who had yet to appear. The scales of victory had already tipped in their favor.

Therefore, even at great risk, Li Miao had no choice but to take the initiative to help the emperor rebuild his martial arts skills in order to barely bring the balance of power between the two sides back to normal.

This is also why Li Miao never mentioned giving the Xuanlan cultivation technique to the emperor. If the emperor achieves the unity of the five paths, even Li Miao would have difficulty controlling him. If Ji Tianrui left a way to harm the emperor, and the emperor were to turn against him, Li Miao might not be able to withstand it.

Now, let's get back to the present.

Zhu Zai confirmed Li Miao's meaning, sighed inwardly, withdrew his gaze, and silently drank his tea.

The three sat in silence for a moment, then Zhu Zai got up and left to make some arrangements, leaving Li Miao to help the emperor rebuild his martial arts skills.

But as Zhu Zai left, the atmosphere inside the room became even more awkward.

The emperor's gaze darted away, glancing at Li Miao from time to time before looking away again. He opened his mouth to speak, but then swallowed his words.

Zhu Zai and Li Miao were used to some things, so they didn't think much of it. But Zhu Zai's feelings for Li Miao couldn't be summed up by simply saying "as close as father and son."

That illusion of stillness is not fake.

In other words, Zhu Zai, who valued the Zhu family's rule more than his own life, genuinely wanted to pass the throne to Li Miao.

Even in this respect, Zhu Yijing might not be able to catch up.

The emperor has lost his memory again, which means that his heart is now empty, completely filled with Zhu Zai's feelings, and there are no rational factors or considerations of face to influence him.

Now you know how the emperor feels about Li Miao.

The awkward atmosphere in the room lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Li Miao sighed, raised a finger, and said to the emperor.

"Don't try to get close to me, and don't say things you shouldn't. In fact, if I tell you not to speak, then don't open your mouth."

The emperor actually shut his mouth and nodded vigorously.

"What a mess... Never mind."

Li Miao shook his head and raised his hand to beckon.

"Come on, let's start practicing."

The emperor obediently closed his eyes.

The world changed, and Li Miao once again arrived in the main hall.

He slowly paced a few steps, his gaze sweeping left and right, finally settling on the figures of himself beside the emperor.

"Speaking of which, when we fought in the imperial tomb before, the skeletons in that illusion could distract our opponents. What's the structure of your current illusion?"

The emperor remained silent, but raised his hand in a gesture.

Behind them, the two guards in golden helmets and armor suddenly became alert. They handed their weapons to one hand, placed their other hand on their shoulder, and slowly shook their necks.

Li Miao's eye twitched. And when the two golden-armored guards revealed Li Miao's signature sinister smile, Li Miao slapped himself in the face.

"Damn it... am I really that pretentious?"

Swish!
Just as Li Miao's hand was still covering his face, in an instant! Two golden-armored guards appeared in front of Li Miao, their faces identical to Li Miao's, bearing ferocious smiles. Their weapons, accompanied by a piercing whistling sound, smashed towards Li Miao's head!
boom!
boom!
Two loud bangs overlapped as Li Miao slammed both heads into the ground!
"Still laughing! Still laughing!"

"Are you laughing at your mother?!"

Boom boom boom boom——

The ground shook as Li Miao, clutching two severed heads, charged toward the emperor on the dragon throne.

When the two were only a foot apart, a figure blocked Li Miao's path.

A crimson robe embroidered with gold, and a sash with cloud and dragon patterns.

It was the prince standing beside the dragon throne in the illusion.

Unlike the two golden-armored guards who were full of vigor and strength, this prince had slumped shoulders, a loose back, and a listless face. He seemed to be a dead pig who wasn't afraid of boiling water.

Li Miao looked at the face that was both playful and lazy, exactly like his own, and let out a long sigh.

"Ugh--"

"That fucking deserves a beating."

--------

Zhu Zai summoned several eunuchs and gave them a few instructions.

After the incident at the imperial tombs, the eunuchs in Shuntian Prefecture had been purged. Those who remained knew who was in charge in the palace, so he could command these eunuchs.

With Li Miao and the emperor both present, there was no need to worry about safety. So Zhu Zai gave some instructions such as "No one may enter without permission" and "Prepare three meals a day," before heading back towards the Wenyuan Pavilion.

On the way back, Zhu Zai frowned.

half a month.

This two-week period was the latest time Li Miao estimated the other side would make a move.

Compared to Li Miao, Zhu Zai actually had a heavier burden on his shoulders.

He wanted to delay the opponent's move as long as possible until this "latest" moment, and to use all available resources to his advantage until the decisive moment arrived half a month later.

While pondering, Zhu Zai arrived at the Wenyuan Pavilion.

Stepping onto the first floor, the clerks in the outer room subtly revealed expressions of hostility, though not as obvious as when they were looking at An Ziyang.

Zhu Zai was used to this and went up to the second floor.

Zhu Yijing remained kneeling outside the door, in the same posture as when he left, like a stone statue.

The outer room was already surrounded by people.

An Ziyang and Mei Qinghe.

Zhu Shoujing, Commander of Xiaoling Guard.

Ruan Mei and Hong Chou.

Liu Baiyun, Deng Baixuan, Zhou Yingxue, Zhang Jingfeng, Gao Ling.

And the trusted confidants that Zhu Zai had accumulated over the decades within the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Apart from Wang Hai, Xiao Si, Zheng Yi, and others who were assigned by Li Miao, all the powerful figures in the Embroidered Uniform Guard had arrived.

Zhu Zai glanced around, then waved his hand, signaling An Ziyang to take Zhu Yijing away and check if Liu Jin had left any tricks on him.

He then went into the inner room.

After everyone had entered and were holding their breath, waiting for his command, he took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

(End of this chapter)