The Ming Dynasty's henchmen, working from nine to five

Chapter 92 Imperial Observatory, the Pearl of Deception

The surprise came so suddenly that Zhang Zuo's mind went blank for a moment!

You should know that when His Majesty first ascended the throne, the old eunuchs framed the officials who spoke out, causing great chaos in the court. His Majesty was furious and rectified the power of the eunuchs, dismissing all the eunuchs stationed throughout the country.

Since then, the power of the Eastern Depot has been repeatedly diminished, leaving it almost an empty shell.

If it weren't for the inviolable ancestral system, it's debatable whether the Eastern Depot would still exist today.

But now, with His Majesty's word, the Eastern Depot has regained real power after twenty years!

Overwhelmed with emotion and excitement, Zhang Zuo kowtowed repeatedly, shouting, "This humble servant will certainly not fail Your Majesty's boundless grace. In this life, I am willing to serve Your Majesty with my life's blood and sweat, even unto death!"

Jiajing was very satisfied and nodded slightly, saying, "Get up."

"Don't talk about it, just do it, and I will see it."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

"This servant will immediately go and investigate Shen Lang for Your Majesty!"

Zhang Zuo stood up, solemnly straightened his clothes, and walked out of the main hall with his head held high.

All the hardships I endured over the decades, countless days and nights of fear and trembling, were not in vain!

Having suddenly gained power, Zhang Zuo was filled with pride and mixed emotions.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard's headquarters and the imperial prison.

Shen Lang was idly drinking tea when he heard a loud bang as the prison gates opened.

Then, a series of footsteps sounded.

Shen Lang's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up.

Zhang Zuo, dressed in a bright red silk robe with a python pattern, a gold-embroidered belt around his waist, and high-top black boots with cloud-patterned designs, strode in arrogantly, surrounded by a group of eunuchs.

"So you are Shen Lang?"

Zhang Zuo looked at the "luxurious" prison cell, his gaze becoming somewhat amused, thinking to himself, "His Majesty is truly a visionary."

When he arrived, he specifically informed Lu Yu of his purpose, but Lu Yu didn't even show his face and told him to go to the imperial prison to bring the person out himself.

Seeing this scene now, how could he not understand Lu Yu's thoughts?

Zhang Zuo represents the Emperor's eyes and ears. Lu Yu's blatant favoritism towards Shen Lang is practically a declaration of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's intention to protect Shen Lang.

Just as Your Majesty said, this old fox is deliberately revealing a flaw, leaving Your Majesty with a handle against him!

Yan Shen has received the Emperor's favor and has fought with Lu Yu for so many years, hating him to the core, yet he still can't do anything to Lu Yu. It seems there are reasons for this!

Zhang Zuo seemed to be deep in thought, and secretly memorized this move.

"It is indeed I. I have met this eunuch before." Shen Lang smiled, stood up, and bowed in greeting.

"Yes, come with us."

Zhang Zuo nodded slightly. Seeing that Shen Lang was gentle and polite, he was a little surprised, but he didn't say anything. He flicked his whisk and ordered someone to open the prison door.

"Father-in-law, what is this...?"

'

Shen Lang was stunned for a moment. Calculating the time, the matter should have been resolved by now, but why was it the chief eunuch from the palace who came to take him out?

Zhang Zuo said, "His Majesty has decreed that you go to the Imperial Observatory for investigation!"

"No need to ask any more questions, you'll understand when you get there."

Seeing Zhang Xianchong nod slightly in the distance, Shen Lang said nothing more, cupped his hands and said, "Then I'll trouble you, sir."

,"Walk!"

Zhang Zuo flicked his whisk and led his men away from the imperial prison.

Having spent three days in the imperial prison in complete darkness, Shen Lang was still somewhat unaccustomed to the sudden sunlight, finding it rather noisy.

Zhang Zuo acted swiftly and decisively, without lingering, and immediately set off with Shen Lang to the Imperial Observatory.

Shen Lang sat in the swaying carriage, his eyes closed in deep thought.

To be honest, he had long been curious about the Imperial Observatory and wanted to see it for himself.

During his time in prison these past few days, he asked Liu Baichuan to help him find some case files involving the Imperial Observatory, hoping to use them to explore the ways of the astrologer.

The more he studied it, the more he felt that this path was profound and completely different from the way of martial arts.

When it comes to matters of power, Shen Lang is never ambiguous, so after learning that there was such a way to improve it, he had a bold idea.

I wonder if fortune tellers, like martial artists, need to cultivate various techniques.

If so, he might be able to get his hands on a manual for a fortune teller and try it out.

His system's judgment is extremely domineering. Any cultivation technique or classic text, without needing to comprehend it, can be added to the professional skill bar simply by recognizing all the words and reading it through once, consuming skill points to upgrade it.

If his plan succeeds, he will be able to combine the paths of a martial artist and a destiny master, and his strength will be beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Just thinking about it made him incredibly excited.

"Let's first see how the fortune teller from the Imperial Observatory differs from that woman."

"Let's find another opportunity to test what exactly is going on with the Fate Master's techniques."

Just as he was pondering this, the carriage creaked to a stop.

Shen Lang lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage, examining the strangely shaped tower in front of him—

The tower is dark and has no windows. It is not straight up and down from the base to the top, but is slightly twisted at an illogical angle.

There are no eaves or brackets or carvings on the outside of the pagoda; only the black stone walls are exposed.

At the tip of the tower, a copper pole extends diagonally, with four blank banners hanging from its top.

Despite the gentle breeze, the banners remained motionless, which looked quite strange.

Zhang Zuo stood at the entrance, his expression becoming extremely serious. He turned to the group of eunuchs following behind him and said, "You all wait here quietly. Remember, do not make a sound, and do not run around."

After giving these instructions, he said to Shen Lang, "When you go inside, don't look around. Do whatever they tell you to do, and answer whatever they ask you. Do you understand?"

Shen Lang smiled and cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your guidance, Father-in-law."

Zhang Zuo's expression softened slightly, and he nodded gently: "Come in with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and knocked three times on the wooden door outside the tower, and said loudly, "Zhang Zuo, the Director of the Eastern Depot, has come here on His Majesty's orders to request the 'Breaking the Pearl of Illusion' and to purify my mind and spirit!"

Squeak—

The wooden door opened automatically.

Zhang Zuo and Shen Lang stepped inside one after the other.

The tower has no windows on the outside, but the inside is not dark at all; it is brightly lit, as bright as day.

Shen Lang immediately forgot Zhang Zuo's reminder and looked around.

In the empty hall, dozens of rosewood wooden tables were set up.

On the table were a series of bronze chimes placed upside down.

The outer side of the chime bells is engraved with twisted inscriptions, which look rather eerie.

"Keep your head down and wait quietly, don't look around!"

Seeing Shen Lang's unbridled behavior, Zhang Zuo whispered another reminder.

The fortune tellers of the Imperial Observatory are neither human nor ghost, and are mysterious and unpredictable. If you accidentally offend them, you will die without even knowing how.

He wasn't worried about Shen Lang losing his life because of this, but he was worried about failing his mission and being punished by His Majesty.

However, Shen Lang agreed verbally, but did not change his mind at all. Instead of withdrawing his gaze, he intensified his actions.

His eyes flickered slightly, his pupils suddenly turned scarlet, and at the same time, a wisp of gray mist rose from the depths of his eyes.