Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

The Imperial Censorate, this black, square building that strikes fear into the hearts of all the officials of the Qing Kingdom, resembles a lurking beast in the night, exuding a chilling aura.

Chen Pingping sat in a wheelchair, pushed slowly by her shadow into the deep, dark corridor. The sound of the wheelchair rolling over the bluestone slabs was exceptionally clear in the silent passageway, like the pendulum of some kind of countdown clock.

"Shadow." Chen Pingping's voice was a little hoarse, echoing in the empty corridor. "There's something dirty in the yard, we need to sweep it up."

The shadowy figure was completely shrouded in black cloth, revealing only a pair of emotionless eyes. His voice was like the scraping of metal: "Yan Bingyun's identity is known only to the higher-ups within the institute. The heads of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions, and a few spies outside. The scope isn't large."

"It's not big, but it's disheartening." Chen Pingping tapped the handrail lightly with her fingers, her eyes as deep as an ancient well. "We are a group of people who have always lived in the gutter, and we only gathered together for the sake of this little bit of light in Qing Kingdom. If we can't even trust our own people, then this Censorate is not far from collapsing."

"How do I investigate?"

"Just keep an eye on it." A sharp glint flashed in Chen Pingping's eyes. "At this moment, the person behind the scenes will definitely choose to cut their losses and survive, and that abandoned 'tail' is probably more panicked than anyone else. When people panic, they make mistakes."

"Yes."

……

The First Division of the Forensic Science Institute, the Chief Scholar's Study.

The flickering candlelight cast Zhu Ge's shadow long and short, making it appear particularly distorted on the wall.

Zhu Ge held a jade pendant that had long since cooled in his hand. It was a token of the Princess's residence. In the past, as long as he showed this item, he could move freely in many places in the capital and even mobilize some of the Princess's hidden agents.

But now, the jade pendant is no longer valid.

Just half an hour ago, he tried to contact the steward of the Princess's residence to sound out her intentions and, incidentally, to ask for a protective talisman.

After all, Yan Bingyun's matter had caused too much of a stir. Although His Majesty did not directly take action, that old dog Chen Pingping must have sensed the danger and started to make his move.

However, the channels of communication that had always been so polite to him suddenly seemed to have died out.

The carrier pigeons didn't return, the hidden agents withdrew, and even one of his spies planted outside the Princess's residence mysteriously disappeared tonight.

"A discarded pawn..."

Zhu Ge's face was deathly pale, and his lips trembled slightly. He was a smart man, and to be able to hold a position as the head of a place like the Forensic Institute, his sense of smell was naturally exceptionally sharp.

This deathly silence meant only one thing: Li Yunrui had sold him out.

In order to quell Emperor Qing's anger and clear herself of any wrongdoing, the seemingly gentle but actually insane woman did not hesitate to sever all ties with him, and may even be preparing to send someone to silence him forever.

"What a cruel woman... what a cruel heart!"

Zhu Ge slammed the jade pendant onto the table, and the jade shattered with a crisp sound.

He paced anxiously in his study, his back soaked with cold sweat.

What should I do?

Chen Pingping is already investigating. The shadow's movements are unpredictable and he might be watching him from outside the window right now.

Once caught by the forensic authorities, it's worse than death.

Even if he is not afraid of death, what about his family, his wife and children?

Colluding with the enemy and betraying one's country, selling out one's colleagues—this is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!

Although he was just a messenger, he knew that if the princess wanted to protect herself, she would definitely try to pin everything on him.

"We can't just sit here and wait to die... absolutely not!"

A glint of madness flashed in Jug's eyes.

The Censorate will definitely not tolerate him; he needs to find a place that will accept him!

Looking across the entire capital, and even the whole world, who else would dare to harbor a traitor from the Censorate? Who else could withstand Chen Pingping's wrath?

Northern Qi? It's too far away; there's no way to escape.

Dongyi City? That's Si Gu Jian's territory. That madman only recognizes swords, not people.

Suddenly, a black spider image flashed through his mind.

"The Net..."

"A net so deep it seeps into every crevice..." Zhu Ge muttered to himself, a resolute glint appearing in his eyes. "Since it's a net, it needs a spider to weave it. I possess secrets about the Censorate, and I have leverage over the Eldest Princess—that's my pledge of allegiance!"

Without further hesitation, he quickly walked to the hidden compartment behind the bookshelf, opened the mechanism with trembling hands, and took out a wooden box tightly wrapped in oiled paper.

This contained all the secret letters he had exchanged with the princess over the years. Originally intended for self-preservation, it unexpectedly became his last lifeline.

Zhu Ge changed into an inconspicuous black outfit, tucked the wooden box into his pocket, and blew out the candle.

Instead of going through the main gate, he used his familiarity with the Forensic Institute's defenses to avoid several sentries and slipped out through an abandoned sewer.

The night was dark, and the wind was biting cold.

Zhu Ge's figure disappeared into the vast night, like a panicked mouse plunging headlong into the deeper darkness.

……

In the south of the city, in the backyard of a seemingly ordinary coffin shop.

This is a secret stronghold of the "Net" in Kyoto, and also a place where people in the martial arts world are said to buy their lives.

Zhu Ge wore a straw hat with the brim pulled low, hurrying through the dark alley. He could sense that there was no tail behind him, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief. It seemed that Chen Pingping hadn't had time to lock onto him yet, or rather, the Eldest Princess hadn't had time to send someone to kill him.

"Knock, knock, knock."

Three long knocks followed by one short one.

The old wooden door creaked open a crack, revealing a pair of cloudy yet gleaming eyes.

"Buy a coffin or set up a memorial tablet?" The voice inside the door was hoarse.

"To buy my life," Jug said in a low voice. "To buy my own life."

The person inside remained silent for a moment, then the door slowly opened.

Zhu Ge slipped inside.

There was no coffin in the courtyard; it was empty except for a few withered old locust trees, their branches flailing wildly in the night wind.

"Since you're here, show your face."

A soft, feminine voice suddenly rang out in the courtyard, seemingly coming from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint its location.

Zhu Ge was startled and looked up sharply. He saw a man in a dark red robe standing on the rooftop directly opposite him. The man had a pale face and sinister eyes. He was toying with a short sword in his hand and looking at him with a half-smile.

It was Zhao Gao.

"Lord Zhu Ge, head of the First Division of the Censorate." Zhao Gao landed lightly in front of him, his movements as light as a feather. "What brings you here so late at night? If Dean Chen finds out you're here, there'll probably be another earthquake in Kyoto." - Focused on providing the most comfortable reading experience.

Zhu Ge took a deep breath, removed his straw hat, revealing his pale yet resolute face.

"I want to see your master."

"Master?" Zhao Gao's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You dare to challenge me?"

"I have leverage!" Zhu Ge pulled the wooden box from his pocket and held it high. "Inside, there's evidence of Princess Li Yunrui's collusion with me! There's also a map of the Investigation Bureau's defenses and a partial list of spies! As long as the Luo Wang organization spares my life, all of this... is yours!"

Zhao Gao's gaze fell on the wooden box, and the mockery in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a hint of greed and amusement.

"Oh? The Princess's weakness... that's quite a rare find." Zhao Gao walked step by step toward Zhu Ge, his murderous intent barely concealed, yet it made Zhu Ge almost unable to breathe. "However, the Net never accepts worthless trash. If you want to join the net, you must first prove your worth, and... your loyalty."

"I have nowhere to retreat!" Zhu Ge gritted his teeth and said, "Chen Pingping wants to kill me, and the Eldest Princess wants to kill me too! Apart from the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), there is nowhere in the world I can hide! This is my loyalty!"

Zhao Gao walked up to him, extended his slender fingers, and gently lifted the wooden box.

"Alright, I'll accept this pledge of loyalty." Zhao Gao put the wooden box into his sleeve, then pulled out a jet-black pill and handed it to Zhu Ge. "Eat it."

"This is..." Zhu Ge stared at the pill that emitted a sweet and metallic scent, his pupils shrinking slightly.

"The Heart-Eating Pill," Zhao Gao explained with a smile. "It's the rule of the Net. Those who enter the net have no control over their own lives. This poison flares up every seven days. Without an antidote, ten thousand ants will devour your heart, and you will die with your intestines ruptured. Lord Zhu, please."

Zhu Ge stared at the pill, large beads of cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

He knew that once he swallowed this pill, he would become a puppet of the Net, with no chance of ever turning the tables.

But does he have a choice?

If he doesn't eat, he's doomed. If he eats, he might survive, or even use the power of the Net to take revenge on those who abandoned him.

"good!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhu Ge's eyes. He grabbed the pill, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.

The pill went down his throat and instantly transformed into a chilling current that spread throughout his body. Then, a slight stabbing pain came from his heart, as if reminding him that his life had changed hands.

"Very good." Zhao Gao nodded in satisfaction. "From now on, you will be a top-tier assassin of the Luo Wang organization. Your code name is 'Black Rat'."

……

The Second Prince's residence, study.

Li Chengze sat barefoot and cross-legged on the armchair, still holding the ancient book in his hands, but his mind was clearly not on the book.

Zhao Gao stood respectfully in front of the desk and presented the wooden box with both hands.

"Your Highness, Zhuge has taken the Heart-Eating Pill and is temporarily housed at a stronghold outside the city. These are the things he brought."

Li Chengze put down the book, reached out and took the wooden box, and opened it to take a look.

Inside was a thick stack of letters, along with several hand-drawn maps and lists.

He picked up a few letters and read them carefully by candlelight. The handwriting was elegant and refined, exuding a composed and noble air; it was indeed the handwriting of his dear aunt.

The contents of the letter, from the initial attempts to win her over to the later attempts to gather information, while not confirming that the Princess was colluding with Northern Qi, could directly implicate the Princess in Yan Bingyun's affairs.

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Li Chengze shook his head and sighed as he looked at the calligraphy. "Auntie, oh Auntie, your handwriting is truly excellent. I never expected that a loyal minister like Zhu Ge would ultimately choose the Luo Wang organization. Life is truly unpredictable; it's quite beyond my expectations."

"Your Highness, if these letters were presented to His Majesty..." A fierce glint flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes.

"Present it to Father?" Li Chengze scoffed, tossing the letter back into the box. "It will be given, but not by me; it must be done by you."

"I'll do it..."

"Chen Pingping must be conducting a massive search right now? The Forensic Science Institute has made such a huge blunder, with classified information leaked. If this isn't handled properly, Chen Pingping's reputation will be ruined, and the Forensic Science Institute will lose all credibility."

"Organize these letters. Except for those involving the core defense map of the Observatory, which could shake the foundation of the country, keep all the other letters concerning the correspondence between the Princess and Zhu Ge and put them on the black market of the Luo Net."

Zhao Gao was taken aback, then his eyes widened in shock: "List them on the black market? Your Highness intends to sell them?"

"Yes, sell!" Li Chengze snapped his fingers. "And sell it at a high price! Set an astronomical price! Then secretly send a message to Chen Pingping and the Eldest Princess, telling them to come and buy it."

"This..." Zhao Gao's eyes twitched. His Highness's move was simply killing him and destroying his spirit.

"Chen Pingping had no choice but to buy it." Li Chengze laughed heartily, like a child who had just pulled off a prank. "He had to take this evidence back, and he had to do it quickly, because he was afraid of it being bought by someone else, especially by the person behind the scenes."

"As for Auntie..." A cold glint flashed in Li Chengze's eyes, "If she knew these letters were in the hands of the Luo Net, she would definitely want to buy them too. Only when the letters disappear can her relationship with Zhu Ge be completely severed. At that time, we can raise the price from both sides. The highest bidder wins."

"Your Highness is wise!" Zhao Gao bowed deeply, his admiration for the Second Prince's methods growing even stronger.

"Go ahead and do it," Li Chengze waved his hand. "Remember, make the news a big deal. I want Kyoto to be buzzing with excitement tomorrow morning because of these letters."

"yes!"

……

The next morning.

As dawn broke, an undercurrent began to surge in Kyoto's underground world.

The black market of the Luo Wang organization has always been the most well-informed and also the most expensive place. Today, on the top of the black market's bounty board, an item titled "Thunderclap" has been prominently displayed for auction.

The description is only a few words: "Secret letter, involving Northern Qi, betrayal, and collusion. Starting bid: 100,000 taels of silver."

Although no names were mentioned, the words "betrayal" and "collusion" in the context of the Northern Qi dynasty immediately bring to mind the Censorate for anyone with even a slight understanding of the political situation.

In an instant, spies from various factions frantically relayed messages to their respective masters.

Forensic Science Institute, Director's Office.

"Snapped!"

Chen Pingping, who usually kept his emotions hidden, slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"A web of traps... What a web of traps! How dare they!"

Chen Pingping's face was so gloomy it could drip water, her withered hands gripping the wheelchair armrests tightly, her knuckles white.

The shadow stood behind him, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

"Dean, it's been confirmed." Fei Jie rushed in, and the usually slovenly old poison master looked solemn. "Zhu Ge, the head of one of the investigation bureaus, has disappeared. Moreover, according to our informants in the black market, the fragments of sample letters released by Luo Wang should have been provided by Zhu Ge."