Great Zhou: Emperor Wu, I need to check your taxes.

"When I was leaving yesterday, I was thinking that the President lived here alone, and probably didn't eat mooncakes or celebrate the festival much."

"I was thinking of bringing you a few to try."

"This five-nut filling contains walnuts, peanuts, melon seeds... all of which my sister-in-law peeled one by one."

"It's not worth much, but... it's quite sweet."

Lin Yun spoke slowly, keeping his head down and not looking at Shangguan's expression, afraid that he might say something taboo.

This is similar to giving gifts to superiors in a past life; it's very troublesome to give gifts rashly without understanding the situation.

If you say something wrong, you'll end up offering your warm welcome only to be met with indifference and making a fool of yourself.

If Lin Yun were to look up at this moment, he would see that Shangguan Wan'er was staring blankly at these few unremarkable mooncakes.

She considered that Lin Yun might be there to report more confidential information, or to bargain for benefits.

Even like before, they would make a few jokes without any sense of propriety.

But she never expected it.

This guy, who usually seems so cunning and scheming, actually came to deliver mooncakes to her.

And the reason given was... that she didn't celebrate any holidays.

In an instant, the hard ice shell seemed to crack open.

how many years?

Ever since that bloody night, ever since my grandfather and father were beheaded, ever since I was reduced from a noble daughter of a high-ranking official to a lowly servant in the palace…

For her, the Mid-Autumn Festival was no longer a time for family reunion, but a day of remembrance.

Those were days when I could only secretly light a few sticks of incense in the dead of night and shed tears in front of the wordless memorial tablet.

In this vast palace, in this bustling capital, no one would remember to send her a mooncake.

Even the high and mighty empress would only bestow cold, hard gold and silver jewels as rewards.

And now...

Looking at those few ordinary mooncakes, Shangguan Wan'er's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

For a long time.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and raised her head again.

A touch of tenderness, unlike anything I'd ever seen, appeared in those once-cool eyes.

"Thanks."

Only two words, yet they carry immense weight.

She reached out, picked up one of the mooncakes, and gently brought it to her nose to smell it.

It was a blend of the aroma of flour, nuts, and the smell of home.

"The rest..."

She didn't eat them, but carefully placed the other three pieces into an exquisite lacquered tray.

"I took it in."

After saying that, she picked up the plate, turned around, lifted the gauze curtain, and went into the inner room.

Only then did Lin Yun dare to raise his head.

Through the gap in the gauze curtain, one could see Shangguan Wan'er solemnly placing the plate of mooncakes in front of the several blank memorial tablets.

Then, she knelt on the prayer mat and bowed deeply.

That figure, so lonely, it was heartbreaking.

Lin Yun stood in the outer room, silently watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He knew about Shangguan Wan'er's background.

Shangguan Yi was the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty and a literary giant.

Because he drafted the edict to depose Empress Gaozong, he was regarded as a thorn in Wu Zetian's side and was eventually executed along with his entire family.

That year, Shangguan Wan'er was still an infant.

She survived, climbed step by step to her current position, and became a "female prime minister" in a court fraught with danger.

Only those wordless memorial tablets probably know how much suffering and how many tears were shed behind the scenes.

"He's a person with a tragic fate..."

Lin Yun sighed inwardly, not wanting to disturb them, but simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect in that direction, then quietly left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

Outside the door, the sun is just right.

But the woman inside the door may forever remain in that cold winter night.

……

The residence of Xun Erfu is located north of Shendu City.

High walls and deep courtyards; even before entering, a chilling atmosphere immediately hits you.

Lin Yun and Zhao Yun, dressed in the dark green official robes of the Ministry of Personnel and wearing incredibly realistic masks, swaggered into the central military tent.

"The Assistant Director of the Ministry of Personnel has been ordered to verify the number of military personnel and pay."

Lin Yun slammed the waist token, which indicated he was a sixth-rank official, onto the table, exuding an air of authority.

Yan Baobi, sitting in the main seat, was a dark-faced man with a face full of scars.

He glanced at the waist tag, then scanned the two men, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"The Ministry of Personnel? Inspecting military pay?"

Instead of getting up to greet him as Lin Yun had expected, he slowly wiped the long sword in his hand.

"Are all the officials in the Ministry of Personnel so nosy these days?"

"Since when did it become your place, as civil officials, to interfere with the military pay of our Southern Army?"

Lin Yun's heart sank.

This reaction is wrong!

Logically speaking, even if a military general is arrogant, he should still have to give some face to the Ministry of Personnel, the powerful government office in charge of promoting officials.

Yan Baobi's attitude made it seem as if he already knew they were coming, or even... he was waiting for them to walk right into his trap!

"General Yan."

Lin Yun forced himself to remain calm and cupped his hands in greeting:

"I am only acting under orders. The court is currently facing financial difficulties, and His Majesty has decreed that the salaries of all guards must be verified to ensure that no one is paid without working."

"We ask for your cooperation, General!"

"Cooperate? Hahahaha!"

Yan Baobi suddenly burst into laughter, which shook the dust off the top of the tent.

Before the laughter subsided, he slammed his hand on the table, his dark face instantly contorting into a ferocious expression.

"Lin Yun! Do you really think I'm a fool?!"

"Minister of Personnel, Assistant Director? No matter how well you cover up your mask, can't you at least hide the stench of the Imperial Guard about you?!"

boom!

Lin Yun and Zhao Yun's expressions changed drastically.

Their identities have been completely exposed!

"Men! Surround them!"

At Yan Baobi's command, the tent was instantly cleaved open by countless sharp blades!

Splash!

Dozens of elite guards, clad in heavy armor and wielding powerful crossbows, surged in like a tide and surrounded the two.

The crossbow bolt, gleaming with a cold light, was aimed directly at the two men's foreheads.

"Let's do it!"

Zhao Yun didn't waste any words. Before the group could completely surround them, the Rain of Pear Blossom Needles in her hand had already been unleashed!

shhhhhh!

Silver light rained down, and several crossbowmen in the front row screamed and fell to the ground.

"Lin Yun! Go to the back tent! The account books are there!"

Zhao Yun shoved Lin Yun aside, and two short blades appeared in her hands without her noticing. Like a cheetah, she charged into the crowd, instantly unleashing a bloody storm.

Lin Yun knew this was not the time to hesitate, so he gritted his teeth and rushed toward the rear tent.

Sure enough, there was an iron box hidden under Yan Baobi's camp couch.

A sweep of the Sky Eye.

[Audit Subject: Yan Baobi's Private Accounts]

[Audit findings: Records of arms resale, lists of employees without working, and correspondence with the Judicial Office]

that's it!

Lin Yun grabbed the iron box and was about to turn around when a suffocating killing intent came from behind him.

"You little brat, you want to take my manhood? Die!"

Yan Baobi, wielding a long sword, slashed down like a demon god!

This strike was powerful and heavy, carrying the violent true energy of the peak of the fifth level. If it landed, Lin Yun would definitely be split in two!

"Black hair!"

Lin Yun roared, and his black hair shot out from his waist, wrapping around the long sword.

Clang!

Sparks fly!

The force of the impact caused Lin Yun's hands to split open, and he was sent flying backward, crashing hard into a tent pole, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

However, the black hair in his hand tightly wrapped around the long sword, preventing Yan Baobi's sword from falling completely.

"Brother Zhao! Help!"

"Get out of here!"

Zhao Yun was already bloodthirsty, but upon hearing the cry for help, she still managed to knock back the enemies around her with a spinning kick, and her short blade flew out of her hand, heading straight for Yan Baobi's back!

Yan Baobi had no choice but to turn his sword around to save himself.

"clang!"

The short blade was knocked away, but this gave Lin Yun a chance to catch his breath.

The two finally met up, back to back, facing the dense array of swords and spears around them.

"Did you get the ledger?" Zhao Yun asked, panting heavily. Several bloody cuts had appeared on her body.

"Got it!" Lin Yun hugged the iron box tightly.

"Alright! Let's fight our way out!"

Just as the two were preparing to fight their way out.

Suddenly, a sinister applause rang out from outside the tent.

"Slap, slap, slap."

The voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it sounded like the deadly Black and White Impermanence approaching step by step!

The besieging soldiers retreated instantly like a tide, clearing a path.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a bright red official robe, with a refined face but a sinister look in his eyes, slowly walked in.

Come to Junchen!

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

Lai Junchen looked at the two men covered in blood with a mocking expression in his eyes.

"Imperial Censor Lin, Miss Zhao, it's truly an honor to meet you in person."

"I just wanted to use Yan Baobi, that idiot, to catch a fish."

"I never expected to catch two big fish like you."

"Someone come here!"

Lai Junchen waved his hand.

"Since you're here, don't leave. There happen to be two empty seats in the magistrate's office."

despair!

This was Lin Yun's only thought at that moment!

Facing the monster Lai Junchen, along with Yan Baobi and his entire elite force, Zhao Yun and he had absolutely no chance of winning.

"Let's give it our all!"

A resolute glint flashed in Zhao Yun's eyes as she prepared to unleash a suicidal attack by burning her life essence.

boom!

A loud bang!

The roof of the central command tent exploded instantly!

A snow-white figure descended from the sky, like a celestial maiden descending to earth, carrying a terrifying chill capable of freezing everything, and slammed heavily in front of Lai Junchen!

"Who dares to touch my people?!"

It was a delicate shout that was extremely cold and clear.

Shangguan Wan'er!

At this moment, her long hair was dancing wildly, and her body was filled with surging true energy!

"Shangguan Wan'er?!"

Lai Junchen's expression changed drastically.

Why did this woman follow us?!

"Are you insane?! This is a military camp! This is treason!"

"You are the ones who are plotting a rebellion!"

Shangguan Wan'er didn't waste any words with him. Her long sword slashed out like a dragon, accompanied by a flurry of snowflakes!

That was Shangguan Wan'er's ultimate killing move, "Proud Plum Blossom in the Snow"!

"puff!"

Lai Junchen hastily engaged in battle, only to discover that the opponent's true energy was even more powerful and domineering than before, and even faintly revealed a strange power that was inexhaustible!

one move!

Just one move!

Lai Junchen was so shocked that he spat out blood and flew backward, crashing heavily into Yan Baobi. The two rolled around in a heap.

"Cough cough..."

"Impossible! How could your injury have healed?!"

Lai Junchen clutched his chest, his face filled with terror.

But then he grinned maliciously.

"Great! Excellent!"

"Shangguan Wan'er, you have trespassed into the military camp and seriously injured a high-ranking official! This is irrefutable evidence of treason!"

"Guards! Seize this traitor! Dead or alive!"

Although the surrounding soldiers were afraid, under the pressure of strict orders and military law, they still raised their weapons and prepared to attack.

But, at this critical moment...

"presumptuous!"

A furious roar filled with supreme authority came from outside the tent.

The voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry some kind of cosmic law, making one's soul tremble and unable to resist the urge to kneel down.

Followed by.

The curtain of the large tent was lifted.

A woman dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a tall crown, who was over sixty years old but still had unparalleled beauty, walked in slowly, surrounded by countless palace maids and eunuchs.

Wu Zetian!

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?!"

Lai Junchen and Yan Baobi were as if they had seen a ghost, instantly collapsing to the ground, trembling all over.

If Shangguan Wan'er's arrival was shocking, then confronting her was terrifying.

So now, facing the Martial Emperor, all that's left is despair!

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Shangguan Wan'er sheathed her sword and knelt on one knee.

Lin Yun and Zhao Yun quickly knelt down as well.

Wu Zetian didn't even look at the others, but her gaze swept over the iron box in Lin Yun's hand, and then she glanced at Shangguan Wan'er, who was covered in blood, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

"Wan'er, well done."

Then, she turned her head and her gaze fell on Lai Junchen.

That look in his eyes held no anger, only the indifference of looking at a dead person.

"Lai Junchen, do you have anything else to say?"

"Your Majesty! I'm innocent! I'm innocent! It was Shangguan Wan'er, she..." Lai Junchen kowtowed frantically, trying to deny his innocence.

That's enough.

"I gave you a chance, to be a blade in my hand. But I didn't give you the right to point that blade at my people!"

"Drag it down."

"Chop it up and feed it to the dogs!"

"yes!"

Several golden-armored warriors stepped forward and dragged away the wailing Lai Junchen and Yan Baobi like dead dogs.

A tremendous crisis vanished with just a single sentence from the Martial Emperor.

……

The dust has settled.

Lin Yun plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, feeling completely exhausted.

"Are you alright?"

Shangguan Wan'er walked up to Lin Yun, looking down at him with a rare hint of concern in her eyes.

Looking at the woman in front of him who had just saved him from dire straits like a Valkyrie, and who had now returned to her aloof and noble self.

Lin Yun could no longer hold back.

He pounced on her, grabbed Shangguan Wan'er's long, straight legs, buried his face in her skirt, and wailed with tears streaming down his face.

"Commander-in-Chief! You've finally arrived!"

"I was so scared! I thought we were really doomed this time!"

"It's so good to have you here! From now on, I'll cling to your leg and never let go!"

Shangguan Wan'er stiffened and looked down at the guy who was hanging on her lap like a rogue.

She originally intended to kick Lin Yun away.

But thinking about how desperately Lin Yun was working for the mission, and also remembering the taste of that five-nut mooncake, I couldn't help but think about it.

Finally, a faint, beautiful smile, like the first melting of snow, appeared on the corners of her mouth.

"Alright, stop howling."

"a shame."

"Return to the manor and collect your reward."