The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Inside the abandoned brick kiln, the air smelled like solidified lard, a strange mixture of chili powder, nitric acid, and human sweat that gave one a headache.

The Imperial Guards brought by King Zhao Xi of Jing completely blocked the only exit, their gleaming blades reflecting a cold light in the dim firelight.

Su Shi and Niu Aihua were kept outside, only able to hear suppressed coughs and heavy breathing inside, their hearts pounding in their throats.

Inside the cave dwelling, Jiang Lin and Prince Zhao Xi of Jing, two people who should have had absolutely no connection, were engaged in a silent standoff.

The usually gentle and unassuming face of the King of Jing could no longer be maintained; it was now so gloomy it seemed to drip water. He stared intently at Jiang Lin, his eyes as if he were looking at a dead man.

"Jiang Shanchang, what impressive methods you have." Zhao Xi's voice was squeezed out through clenched teeth, each word carrying a chilling edge. "I underestimated you. Not only can you stir up trouble in the court, but you can also find such a den of iniquity."

He professed admiration, but his demeanor was clearly that of a cat toying with a mouse in its paws, radiating a condescending sense of control. He believed that Jiang Lin was now a fish in his net, ready to be chopped into mincemeat at his command.

"Your Highness flatters me." Jiang Lin seemed oblivious to the blades around him that could kill him at any moment. He even casually brushed the dust off his cloak. "I'm not particularly skilled, but I have a keen sense of smell. Whenever I smell rotting flesh, I can't help but go and take a look."

He pointed to Chen Huai, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was still curled up on the ground, coughing violently.

"Look, the first thing I smelled was a piece of fat, rotten meat. But I never expected that when I dug into the rotten meat, there was a big fish hidden underneath."

King Zhao Xi of Jing's eye twitched violently.

He was indeed here tonight to play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada. With Chen Huai, that fool, exposed, he had to personally clean up all the mess, and incidentally, he could also do the officials a favor by taking credit for "discovering the traitor." Everything was meticulously planned, the only thing he hadn't considered was Jiang Lin, this variable.

He was even faster than me.

"Jiang Shan, you've seen something you shouldn't have." Zhao Xi stepped forward, exuding the aura of a prince, his presence incredibly imposing. "There are some things that knowing won't do you any good."

"Oh? Is that so?" Jiang Lin smiled nonchalantly, then whispered something in the ear of the King of Jing in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Your Highness, the powder wasn't just on Chen Huai; I also smeared some on that list earlier."

These words were like a red-hot iron rod, instantly piercing into Zhao Xi's very marrow.

His steps suddenly froze, and all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his head at that moment.

He subconsciously, uncontrollably, looked at his right hand.

That hand that once seemed to casually flip through the list of Wu Chong and Cai Jing's crimes in the imperial court.

In the dim light of the only oil lamp in the brick kiln, something seemed to be flickering with a strange, faint purple glow between his fingers.

The thing Shen Kuo created was colorless and odorless, and could not be seen under ordinary light. It would only become visible under specific angles and lighting conditions.

King Zhao Xi of Jing's breathing instantly became heavy.

His mind went blank with a "buzz".

How could that be? When did he do it? I made sure it was perfectly legitimate!

He thought he was the oriole stalking the cicada, but little did he know that he had long been the prey targeted by Jiang Lin, the fox! That list was a trap from beginning to end! Jiang Lin didn't want to bring down Wu Chong and Cai Jing; he wanted to use this list to mark everyone who had reached out or harbored designs on him!

In that instant, Zhao Xi truly harbored murderous intent.

As long as Jiang Lin is killed, and everyone here who knows about this is killed, this secret will remain a secret forever!

The guards behind him sensed their master's murderous intent, and the knuckles of their fingers gripping the hilt of their swords began to turn white.

"Your Highness wants to kill me to silence me?" Jiang Lin seemed to see through his thoughts, his smile widening. "Sure. But has Your Highness considered that since I dared to come in alone, I wouldn't leave myself no backup plan?"

He slowly extended two fingers.

"First, my disciple Shen Kuo loves to research useless things. For example, a method to make this purple light powder increase in brightness a hundredfold after half an hour. At that time, not only in this dark cave, but even if Your Highness were walking on the brightest Zhuque Street in Bianjing, you would be the brightest star in the night, and everyone would be able to see the 'treasonous' mark on your hand."

Zhao Xi's face turned ashen.

"Secondly..." Jiang Lin drawled, his gaze sweeping over the divine crossbows and imperial guard armor, "My loud-voiced apprentice, Niu Aihua, is outside right now. If I don't get out within half an incense stick's time, she'll be yelling at the top of her lungs, 'Prince Jing is privately manufacturing weapons and armor, intending to rebel!' Your Highness, do you think my students who just came out of the disaster camp, and those disaster victims I 'rescued,' will spread this news throughout the entire Bianjing city?"

"At that point, even if the emperor trusts you completely, how will he choose, faced with public opinion and your 'evidence' filling the entire cave?"

Cold sweat dripped down Zhao Xi's forehead.

He found himself in a dead end.

Killing Jiang Lin would expose the mark on his hand, spread the charge of treason throughout the capital, and hasten his death.

If Jiang Lin is not killed, this incriminating evidence will fall into the enemy's hands, and I will never have peace again.

This Jiang Lin is not human; he's a devil! Every step he takes is meticulously planned, leaving no room for resistance!

"What... exactly do you want?" Zhao Xi finally couldn't take it anymore and asked in a hoarse voice.

"I don't want to do anything." Jiang Lin shrugged, his posture as relaxed as if he were strolling in his own backyard. "If Your Highness wants to make a contribution, please do so. This Chen Huai and this clue are both yours. As for me, I'll just pretend I was never here."

He pointed to Chen Huai on the ground: "This man was captured by Your Highness, who was wise and powerful, and personally led the men to capture him. As for me, I am just a weak headmaster of the academy who happened to be passing by and was frightened by the commotion here. I am now preparing to go home and have some tea to calm my nerves."

Zhao Xi stared intently at Jiang Ling. He couldn't see a trace of greed or ambition in the other man's eyes, only a bottomless calm, which made him even more uneasy.

This person doesn't want money or power, so what is he after?

The unknown is the most terrifying.

"Okay." After a long silence, Zhao Xi squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth. He knew he had failed today, completely and utterly.

He waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards blocking the entrance retreated to both sides like a tide, making way for him.

"Jiang Shanchang, please."

"Your Highness is too kind." Jiang Lin smiled, turned around and walked out, as if what lay behind him was not a den of dragons and tigers, but an ordinary banquet.

Just as he brushed past Zhao Xi, he stopped again and added in an extremely soft voice.

"Oh, right, Your Highness, I forgot to tell you. That powder can't be washed off with water or burned off with fire. However, my disciple said that washing it repeatedly with fresh pig's blood forty-nine times might dilute it a bit. You can try it when you get home tonight."

After saying that, he didn't linger and strode out of the cave dwelling.

King Zhao Xi of Jing, who remained in place, turned from green to white, then from white to purple, and finally, with a "poof," he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Fresh pig's blood? Repeatedly scrubbing and washing?

This isn't a cure! This is clearly a psychological attack!

He, a prince, in the dead of night, smeared his hands with pig's blood and rubbed them like a butcher? That's worse than killing him!

Jiang Lin! I, Zhao Xi, will never forgive you!

Outside the cave dwelling.

Su Shi, Niu Aihua, and others were in a state of great anxiety.

"Why aren't they out yet? Could something have happened?" Su Shi asked anxiously.

"I'll charge in! Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll snap their neck!" Niu Aihua had already gripped her broadsword tightly.

Just then, Jiang Lin appeared at the kiln entrance.