Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 634 Come work for me

Dark as ink.

The vermilion gates of the royal new residence, illuminated by countless torches, appeared stained with blood, radiating an ominous glow.

When the First Guardian and Hong Wei arrived with a thousand elite Imperial Guards, exuding murderous intent, the area in front of the new residence was already in chaos.

Many of the Imperial Guards who were originally stationed here, their helmets askew and armor askew, their faces filled with resentment and humiliation, were locked in a fierce standoff with the guards from the Imperial Investigation Bureau who were guarding the gate.

Foul language flew through the night sky like arrows, spittle flying everywhere.

The atmosphere was extremely tense, filled with the strong smell of gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite it!
"Commander! Commander Hong!"

A soldier with bruises on his face saw the reinforcements and rushed forward as if he had seen a savior, his voice hoarse with grief and indignation:
"Those castrated dogs! Without any warning, they suddenly attacked! Without saying a word, they drove all of us brothers out of the new house!"

"They say...they say the Imperial Guards are forbidden from approaching His Majesty! Your Majesty! This is usurpation! This is treason!"

He waved his arms excitedly, pointing at the guards who were holding their swords, sneering, and with sinister eyes.

"Yes, Commander! They're trying to isolate us from the outside world; they're plotting something sinister!"

Another soldier echoed in a hoarse voice, pointing to the wounded soldiers being carried up behind him:
"Look! They even went for the kill!"

"Our brothers were just arguing their case, and they beat us up like this! Several of them... I'm afraid... I'm afraid they won't make it!"

His voice choked with emotion.

Under the firelight, a dozen wounded Imperial Guards were carried to the front of the battle.

Some of them had bruises and blood seeping from their mouths and noses; some were groaning in pain while clutching their twisted arms; and in more serious cases, their chests were sunken, their faces were ashen, and they were barely breathing, with the stretchers beneath them soaked in dark red blood.

Upon seeing the First Guard in full military uniform, his beard and hair like spears, tears welled up in the cloudy eyes of these wounded soldiers, and they let out weak sobs:

"My lord! Please, do justice for our brothers!"

The wounded soldiers' pitiful state and the other soldiers' angry curses created a wave of sorrow and anger that violently impacted the nerves of the Imperial Guards who arrived later.

The rubbing sound of the blades suddenly intensified.

The Imperial Guards stared intently at the guards at the gate, their knuckles white as they gripped their swords and spears, their anger blazing like a volcano about to erupt, their suppressed killing intent spreading through the night.

Liang Jin, standing in the ranks, could clearly feel the heavy breathing of his comrades and the hatred that seemed to solidify into reality.

However, his brows furrowed slightly.

It is true that the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics wielded immense power, and its head, Wang Jin, was indeed above the commander of the Imperial Guards.

But to so openly and brutally expel all the Imperial Guards, leaving no room for negotiation and completely tearing off the mask of civility... this is definitely not the usual style of someone as cunning and calculating as Wang Jin.

Too extreme, too deliberate, it instead exudes an unusual and eerie aura.

The First Guardian sat upright atop his tall warhorse, as firm as a rock.

His face, covered by a thick beard, remained expressionless in the flickering firelight. Only his eyes, deep in the shadows of his brow bones, were as cold as polar ice, slowly sweeping over the horrific scene before the door.

The air seemed to freeze where his gaze fell.

Deputy Commander Hong Wei rode closer, his face contorted with barely suppressed rage, his voice low and rapid, like muffled thunder:

"Commander! The previous execution of my Xinzhai Imperial Guard brothers by the Investigation Bureau on the grounds of leaking secrets has already chilled the morale of the troops! The brothers are all burning with resentment!"

"Now they are doing this perverse thing again, openly driving us away and injuring and detaining our soldiers! This is clearly treating our Imperial Guards as nothing!"

"This is intolerable! Brothers, this anger is burning within us..."

He glanced around at the indignant soldiers, and the meaning behind his words was self-evident.

"shut up!"

The first guard suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, piercing straight at Hong Wei!

The authority and rebuke contained in those eyes made even the valiant general Hong Wei gasp for breath.

Hong Wei swallowed back what he was about to say, his face flushed as he lowered his head.

"As the commander of the Imperial Guards, the safety of His Majesty should be the top priority! Furthermore, one must be able to assess the situation and consider the overall picture!"

The first voice, though not loud, struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer, carrying an undeniable authority:

"How can we act impulsively, let anger cloud our judgment, and give others a handle against us?!"

Hong Wei's lips moved, but he dared not speak again, the veins on the back of his hand gripping the reins bulging.

First Guardian's gaze swept over the chaotic crowd and finally landed on the calm figure in the Imperial Guard formation.

"Liang Jin."

His cold voice cut through the noise.

"My subordinate is here!"

Liang Jin stepped forward in response, his steps steady, and approached the first guard's horse, where he clasped his hands in a salute.

The firelight illuminated his young and calm face, making him appear exceptionally composed against the backdrop of the surrounding turmoil.

The First Guardian looked down at him, his scrutinizing gaze seeming to pierce through his skin and reach the depths of his soul.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, each word clear and heavy:
"You, representing the Imperial Guard, will go to negotiate."

"You must find out the reason and convey my command: It is the Imperial Guard's duty to protect the Emperor, and this duty cannot be taken away! This is the bottom line!"

His voice suddenly turned stern:

"The prestige of my Imperial Guards cannot be easily humiliated! Negotiations must also be conducted with the backbone of a negotiator!"

Liang Jin responded in a deep voice:

"I obey my orders!"

The voice was crisp and clear, without the slightest hesitation.

Just as he turned to leave, a sound so faint that only he could hear it pierced his ears like an icy thread:

"Liang Jin, do your best... to ascertain His Majesty's health condition."

“This is of utmost importance!”

The first Shouzheng used the technique of transmitting sound secretly!

Liang Jin paused almost imperceptibly, understanding dawning on him.

He nodded slightly, then straightened his back and, under the watchful eyes of countless people—some expectant, some doubtful, and some gloating—strode toward the new house's gate, which resembled the mouth of a giant beast.

Before the gate of the new house, the guards, like hyenas that had smelled blood, stared at Liang Jin, who was walking alone, with wary and fierce eyes.

As he approached, the air suddenly tensed, and a series of clanging sounds rang out as swords were drawn from their sheaths, their cold blades reflecting a chilling glint in the firelight.

Liang Jin ignored him, continued walking, and spoke loudly, his voice clearly drowning out the night wind:
"Liang Jin, the flag commander of the Southern Imperial Guard's Willow Camp, has come to negotiate with the Investigation Bureau on the orders of the First Commander of the Righteous Army!"

The leader of the guards sneered, his face full of disdain.

A mere flag commander dares to negotiate?
They were planning to make things difficult for Liang Jin in order to dampen the morale of the Imperial Guards.

But Liang Jin continued:

"I am an old friend of Zhao Bao, the third head of your police station. Inform them immediately!"

The name Zhao Bao acted like an invisible curse, instantly freezing his sneer on his face.

The surrounding guards looked at each other, their eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

The newly appointed Third Rank Chief actually knows a Junior Flag Commander?
Zhao San, the gang leader, is ruthless and has a mysterious background. Especially since he hasn't yet made his first major moves since taking office, no one wants to risk offending him.

"Wait!"

The head of the guards' expression shifted, but he ultimately suppressed his doubts and waved for someone to quickly go inside and report.

The waiting time wasn't long, but it felt exceptionally long for both sides in the standoff.

Soon, the messenger returned hastily and whispered a few words in the leader's ear.

The leader's expression changed slightly, and his gaze towards Liang Jin became much more complicated.

With an incredulous respect, he stepped aside to make way and bowed, saying:

"Commander Liang, please! Lord Zhao is waiting inside!"

The barbarians all made way for them.

Liang Jin stepped into the new house without looking to the side.

Inside the door lies another world.

The ultimate in luxury is overwhelming!

Pavilions and towers with carved beams and painted rafters, exotic flowers and rare plants vying for beauty, jade paving the ground, gold foil trimming, and luminous pearls adorning the eaves, illuminate the night as if it were daytime.

Every detail silently speaks of the supreme power of the emperor and his astonishing extravagance.

Liang Jin's gaze swept over them, a cold sneer passing through his mind.

The national treasury is empty and the people are suffering, yet within the deep palace, people continue to live in a life of debauchery and extravagance.

The collapse of a great building is not something that happens overnight!
Just as they turned the corner of a corridor, a familiar figure hurriedly approached them; it was Zhao Bao.

The guide immediately bowed and withdrew.

"Brother Jin?!"

When Zhao Bao saw Liang Jin, his face was filled with surprise. He quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice:

"Why would it be you? Why would the First Guardian send you..."

His eyes were filled with confusion and worry.

Liang Jin smiled slightly, a hint of amusement in his smile:
"My superior promised that if the negotiations were successful, I would be promoted to battalion commander."

"This deal is not a loss."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening:

"Tell me, what's going on with this commotion tonight? It's gone way too far."

Zhao Bao looked around warily, then pulled Liang Jin quickly to the shadow of a rockery.

Only after making sure no one was eavesdropping did he hurriedly say:
"Brother Jin, this time it really wasn't the Criminal Investigation Bureau that started the trouble! It was the Imperial Guards!"

"Some of the Imperial Guards in the new residence are deliberately inciting trouble! I can tell that those ringleaders are definitely being directed by someone behind the scenes!"

His voice carried suppressed anger and a hint of lingering fear.

"Oh? You instructed them?"

Liang Jin raised an eyebrow.

"That's right!"

Zhao Bao spoke faster:
"Due to the recent leak of secrets, the factory punished some of the Imperial Guards on duty, which made them already resentful. Today, for some reason, they suddenly exploded!"

"Some people are spreading rumors and inciting emotions in the barracks; some are deliberately provoking our factory guards and causing conflict; and some are even more audacious, setting fire to the warehouse near the new residence! There are also a few guys who, taking advantage of the chaos, tried to force their way through the inner security line and approach His Majesty's bedroom!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

He took a breath, a cold glint in his eyes:

"The situation is urgent and chaotic! The Grand Eunuch made a decisive decision and ordered all Imperial Guards to be driven out of the new residence!"

"Otherwise, who knows how many treacherous individuals are hiding among these soldiers? If something were to go wrong, who could bear the responsibility?!"

Zhao Bao's tone was tinged with helplessness:

"But I didn't expect the people outside to react so strongly, they even started fighting..."

Liang Jin listened quietly, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Have those imperial guards who instigated the riots, set fires, and attempted to storm the palace been caught? What did they find out?"

Zhao Bao did not answer directly; his expression became unusually serious.
"Brother Jin, come with me."

He led Liang Jin through several heavily guarded corridors to a secluded, cold courtyard deep within the new residence.

The courtyard was brightly lit, but it was filled with a nauseating stench of sweet, fishy, ​​and rotten smells.

On the ground lay seven or eight corpses dressed in Imperial Guard uniforms, neatly arranged!

Their faces were an eerie black, their lips were purple, and their eyes were wide open, frozen in the pain and horror of their impending death.

Several coroners and constables from the police station were examining the body with solemn expressions.

"That's them."

Zhao Bao's voice sounded particularly low in the quiet courtyard:

"They were caught, but as soon as they were taken into the torture chamber, before they could even be subjected to severe torture, they all...died." "They had taken a highly potent poison with a delayed onset, so potent that it took only a quarter of an hour from the onset of the poison to death. They bled from their mouths and noses, and their bodies convulsed; even a god couldn't save them."

"The operation was meticulous, leaving no survivors, and the mastermind behind it... is definitely not simple!"

Liang Jin's gaze swept over the young but lifeless, dark faces, and he nodded silently.

Zhao Bao's judgment was correct; this was a meticulously planned conspiracy.

These imperial guards probably didn't even know they had taken a delayed-acting poison, yet they were still thinking of working hard for their master.

But unexpectedly, they became disposable consumables.

The two left the courtyard and returned to the shadows.

Liang Jin pondered for a moment and said:
"Even so, wasn't the eunuch's reaction... a bit too extreme?"

The eunuch directly expelled all the imperial guards without leaving any room for maneuver, which was tantamount to not giving the imperial guards any way out or retreat.

Given Wang Jin's experience, she should have handled the situation more tactfully.

Zhao Bao gave a wry smile and shook his head:

“Brother Jin, I haven’t been in the factory for long, but I can already get a feel for the factory manager’s thoughts.”

"He probably... has a general idea of ​​who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes."

He lowered his voice, a complex light flickering in his eyes:
"His actions weren't necessarily entirely driven by anger. Perhaps... he wanted to use this as an opportunity to send a message to certain people?"

"Or perhaps... they want to test the waters and see how everyone reacts? To completely muddy the waters?"

"The intricacies of this matter are too complex; I still can't figure it out myself."

Zhao Baochu and others in high positions are still figuring out the intricate relationships between various forces. Many times, they need to consult with the Grand Eunuch or Cao Xian before they can suddenly understand.

As for what happened tonight, Zhao Bao is still unable to immediately unravel the truth and is still investigating and speculating.

Without a specific answer, Zhao Bao couldn't just make a guess.

Now he just felt a headache coming on, and he felt that the situation in the officialdom was too complicated, so much so that he couldn't figure it out no matter what.

Looking at Zhao Bao's furrowed brows, Liang Jin suddenly smiled gently, a smile carrying a detached understanding of the world:

"Those high and mighty people have their own set of rules for manipulating power and fighting amongst themselves. But Zhao Bao..."

He looked intently at the other person:

"If we really want to achieve great things, we can't let their rules limit us."

"Once you fall into their rules, you will be constrained at every turn, fall behind at every step, and forever become a chess piece on the board, manipulated at will by the player."

Zhao Bao was taken aback:
"Brother Jin, you mean..."

Liang Jin's voice was calm and clear, as if stating a very simple fact:

"We need to step back and get straight to the core."

"Now that the emperor is nearing his death, we have only one goal—to help Zhao ascend the throne."

"The most direct way to achieve this goal is to ensure that, at the moment of the emperor's death, there are no other qualified and powerful princes in the capital besides Zhao Yu!"

Zhao Bao was deeply shaken!

He nodded subconsciously, because this was indeed the fundamental solution that struck at the heart of the problem!

But then he shook his head violently, a look of near absurdity on his face:
"Brother Jin! Your reasoning is correct!"

"But...how is this even possible?!"

"Last time I successfully assassinated Prince Jian'an, it was due to perfect timing, location, and people. There was also the tacit approval or even encouragement of the Grand Eunuch behind the scenes, and all the forces turned a blind eye. In addition, the key intelligence you provided allowed me to succeed by chance!"

"Otherwise, assassinating a prince? That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family! The ensuing trouble would be enough to crush us into dust!"

"Based on my current status and strength..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was crystal clear—this was nothing short of delusional and a recipe for disaster!

Most of the pieces are unwilling to be bound by the rules and want to jump off the board and become players.

However, not just anyone can become a chess player.

"Let's go in and meet the factory manager first."

Zhao Bao took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing the turmoil in his heart.

The most important thing right now is to resolve the crisis outside the door.

Liang Jin nodded, as if his earth-shattering words from just moments before were merely a casual remark:
"it is good."

"By the way, Zhao Bao, if you have time, please compile a detailed list of information on all the princes in the capital."

Zhao Bao's steps froze on the spot!
He suddenly turned around and grabbed Liang Jin's arm.

Zhao Bao stared intently at Liang Jin, his eyes filled with unprecedented horror and seriousness. His voice was extremely low, yet every word was like a knife:

"Brother Jin! What...what are you trying to do?!"

"Don't do anything foolish! This is no joke!"

"If you want to climb higher, I'll do anything to pave the way for you, brother!"

"But you absolutely cannot gamble with your life! It's not worth it!"

Seeing the genuine anxiety and fear in Zhao Bao's eyes, Liang Jin gently patted the hand gripping his arm tightly, a reassuring smile appearing on his face:

"Do I look like someone who would impulsively seek death? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"Go and report it quickly, don't keep the factory director waiting."

Zhao Bao stared at Liang Jin for several seconds, trying to see something in his calm eyes, but all he saw was a deep pool.

He finally let go of her hand with a heavy sigh, and with a heart full of worries, led Liang Jin to a brightly lit waterside pavilion deep in the new house.

The pavilion was heavily guarded, and the guards had sharp eyes like eagles.

Upon seeing Zhao Bao, they immediately bowed in respect.

But when his gaze swept over Liang Jin, it was still scrutinizing, and he subconsciously wanted to step forward and conduct a routine body search.

"Ok?"

Zhao Bao did not stop walking, but let out a soft snort of dissatisfaction.

The head constable trembled and immediately waved to stop his men, respectfully stepping aside and bowing his head, not daring to look any longer.

Zhao Bao led Liang Jin up the steps on the smooth, mirror-like obsidian floor to the second floor of the pavilion.

A curtain made of finely strung pearls hung down, separating the inner and outer spaces.

Behind the curtains is a waterfront terrace with a wide view.

On the terrace, an elderly man dressed in a dark purple python robe sat quietly in a rosewood armchair with his back to the door.

A cup of tea sat on the small table in front of him, its steam rising gently in the cool night breeze.

His gaze turned to the window, fixed on the reflection of the bright moon in the Taiye Pond, its shape rippled and then restored by the night wind.

His entire figure exuded a sense of loneliness born of a life lived through countless hardships, as well as an unfathomable aura of power.

Liang Jin's gaze passed over the beaded curtain and landed on that figure from behind.

No introduction is needed; the invisible, pervasive sense of absolute authority, the power to control life and death, already reveals the owner's identity.

Wang Jin, the powerful and influential official, also known as the Director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

Zhao Bao immediately bowed, his posture extremely respectful.

Liang Jin also stepped forward, and through the beaded curtain, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, his voice neither humble nor arrogant:

"This humble official, Liang Jin, the flag commander of the Southern Imperial Guard's Willow Camp, has come to pay his respects to the Grand Eunuch on the orders of the First Commander of the Imperial Guard!"

"The Imperial Guards will protect them..."

The words are not finished yet.

The figure on the terrace, with their back to the camera, merely raised their right hand slightly, making a very subtle yet undeniable "shush" gesture.

Liang Jin's words came to an abrupt end.

The air solidified instantly.

On the terrace, there was only the soft rustling of the beaded curtains in the night breeze and the splashing of the Taiye Pond.

Time seemed to stretch out, each second heavy and suffocating.

Zhao Bao remained bowed, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.
He desperately tried to signal to Liang Jin out of the corner of his eye, urging him to maintain a respectful attitude and not to act rashly.

however.

Liang Jin seemed to have completely missed Zhao Bao's signal.

He stood quietly for a few moments, and then, under Zhao Bao's horrified gaze, he actually moved his stiff shoulders slightly and casually glanced around the brightly lit attic.

Then, as if no one else was around, he walked to a similarly expensive rosewood chair next to him, reached out, and grabbed the back of the chair—

"Squeak-"

The sound of the chair being dragged was particularly jarring in the deathly silent attic!
Liang Jin actually sat down without any hesitation!

His posture was even relaxed, as if this was not the headquarters of the all-powerful eunuch, but his own backyard!

Zhao Bao felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his heart almost jumped out of his chest!

He suddenly looked up at the figure behind the beaded curtain, then looked at Liang Jin in alarm, his lips moving as if he wanted to apologize.

at this time.

Behind the beaded curtain, the figure that had been gazing at the water finally turned around slowly.

There was no thunderous fury as I had imagined.

Wang Jin's face didn't even show any obvious expression.

His face was powdered, yet it had a bluish-gray tinge. His cheeks were sunken, as if carved by a knife and axe. His brow bones were high and extended into his temples. When his phoenix eyes were half-closed, they seemed to conceal a bottomless, icy pool.

He reached out his finger, picked up the cup of tea on the table that had already cooled slightly, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip.

The movements were slow and graceful, carrying an air of complete composure.

Then, he put down his teacup.

The porcelain struck the sandalwood with a clear, soft sound.

Wang Jin's gaze finally focused entirely on Liang Jin's face, and his aged yet calm voice echoed in the silent attic:
"Liang Jin."

"You'll be a lowly flag commander in the Imperial Guard..."

"It's a waste of his talent."

He paused slightly, his deep, well-like eyes fixed intently on Liang Jin, as if admiring a rare treasure or assessing a suitable weapon:

"Are you interested..."

"Want to work for my police station?"

These words came out like a thunderclap from a clear sky!

Zhao Bao suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide open, his face filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

He had imagined how the factory guild would make things difficult for him, how they would reprimand him, and even how they would use this as an excuse to suppress the Imperial Guards.

To everyone's surprise, the factory manager's first words were an olive branch extended to Liang Jin!
And it was so direct, so...important!
Wang Jin's voice continued, unhurried yet carrying a penetrating power that seemed to see into people's hearts:

"The first person to uphold justice is rigid and inflexible, and he is dull and lifeless. He cannot see your great talent and will only keep you trapped in shallow waters."

"but……"

Wang Jin's gaze was as sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to completely dissect Liang Jin:

"This governor is capable."

He slightly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Bao, who stood there dumbfounded, and a barely perceptible smile seemed to appear at the corner of his mouth:

"It just so happens that your old friend Zhao Bao is also serving under this governor."

Why not... come and reunite with him?

"Here I have plenty of ladders to heaven for you to use your skills and rise to the top."

(End of this chapter)