Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

The eunuchs from the Eastern Depot behind him pounced on the bookshelves like wolves, about to tear apart those precious Song and Yuan dynasty rare books.

If they are allowed to rummage through the books so roughly, most of the ancient books in this room will be destroyed.

Just at this critical moment, a series of slow, unhurried footsteps came from the second-floor staircase.

"The Eastern Depot is carrying out its orders, and I, your humble servant, would naturally not dare to obstruct it."

Gu Yannian, dressed in a blue robe, calmly walked down the stairs.

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange, penetrating quality.

The noise reached everyone's ears clearly in the noisy lobby.

This caused the servants who were about to turn the pages of the book to involuntarily stop.

He walked over to the old manager, Wang, who had been kicked to the ground, and gently helped the old man up.

He brushed the dust off him before turning around and looking directly at the arrogant and domineering Li.

Li Jin looked Gu Yannian up and down.

Seeing that he was just a civil official wearing the robes of a fifth-rank official, a sneer of contempt flashed in his eyes.

"So you're Gu Yannian, the tutor of the Bureau of Scriptures? What, are you trying to intimidate me by using the Crown Prince's name?"

Li Jin gave a sarcastic snort.

"I possess the Grand Eunuch's edict, and I am acting on the Emperor's orders! If you dare to obstruct me, you will be considered an accomplice to the rebels!"

Gu Yannian bowed slightly, performing a standard colleague's greeting.

"Director Li has misunderstood. How could I, your humble servant, dare to obstruct the Imperial Guard from serving the country?"

Gu Yannian's tone was gentle, even carrying a hint of bookish pedantry.

"However, the rules in this library are very strict. Every book here has a detailed record in the Imperial Household Department and the Grand Secretariat. You eunuchs may search for any 'seditious' books you wish."

At this point, Gu Yannian walked to the nearest bookshelf and casually picked up a copy of "The Spring and Autumn Annals of Zuo".

"However, the Great Ming Code clearly states that any outsiders who are to consult or examine the books of the inner palace or the Eastern Palace must be accompanied by two people and must wear white silk gloves bestowed by the emperor to prevent their hands from soiling the imperial items."

"If anyone damages even a single piece of paper or word, they shall be punished with fifty strokes of the cane and a three-year salary deduction according to the law. If anyone damages a rare or out-of-print copy, they shall be punished for the crime of great disrespect."

Gu Yannian gently placed the copy of "Zuo Zhuan" on the desk beside him, his gaze remaining calm.

"I was merely offering a friendly reminder to you gentlemen. This pavilion contains many rare and unique books. If you were to accidentally tear off a page, the inability to find the demonic book would be a minor matter."

"If the chief eunuch were to be accused of damaging royal books before the Emperor, the eunuchs would be in grave danger."

These words were perfectly watertight.

Every word and phrase was an attempt to intimidate people by citing the laws of the Ming Dynasty and the rules of the imperial court.

Although Li Jin was arrogant, he was, after all, a novice eunuch.

Upon hearing the words "sin of disrespect," my eyelids twitched violently a few times.

Their Eastern Depot certainly wielded immense power.

But what if valuable ancient books were actually destroyed on the prince's territory?

If the Crown Prince were to cause trouble before the Emperor, the Chief Eunuch would, without hesitation, cut off their heads to take the blame in order to quell the situation.

"Don't try to fool me with these rules!"

Li Jin shouted defiantly but inwardly weakly.

But the men behind him had clearly pulled their outstretched hands back.

"Since we can't just flip through them, where do you keep the newly acquired books? Take me to see them!"

Li Jin desperately needed a way to save face, so he turned his attention to the newly added files.

Gu Yannian nodded slightly, then turned to lead the way: "The newly collected files are all on the second floor. Please follow me, foreman."

The group went up to the second floor.

On the second floor, by the window, was Gu Yannian's large sandalwood desk.

On the desk were a dozen or so new books that had just been delivered from the Imperial Academy, and several recent personnel rosters from the Crown Prince's Palace.

Li Jin walked to the desk and greedily scanned the lists.

He knew that if he could find someone in these lists who was related to Shandong, he could easily make false accusations.

They could then make a huge profit from this major case involving Tang Sai'er.

He reached out his pale hand to take the "List of Places of Imperial Guards of the Eastern Palace" that was at the bottom.

Just as Li Jin's fingers were about to touch the inventory list...

Gu Yannian naturally stepped forward.

He casually picked up the brass paperweight, which weighed about three pounds, from the table and gently pressed it onto the corner of the inventory.

"Chief Li, this is a list of the palace guards' hometowns, which involves defense secrets. Although it's a new list, please handle it with care."

Gu Yannian gently instructed.

Li Jin sneered, completely ignoring Gu Yannian, and reached out to pull out the list.

I tried to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge.

Li Jin was slightly taken aback.

He thought it was being pressed down by other books, so he increased the pressure on his hands.

They even used both hands to tightly grip one corner of the list and yanked it outwards.

However, a strange scene happened.

The thin paper register seemed to take root under the weight of the not-so-large brass paperweight.

It was firmly stuck to the rosewood table surface, completely still.

Li Jin's face instantly turned bright red, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He used almost all his strength, his feet digging into the ground.

He leaned backward, trying to pull the list out.

But the paperweight was like a massive Mount Tai, firmly locking every crevice of the paper.

"What...what's going on?!"

Li Jin roared in exasperation, his wrist aching terribly from the excessive force.

The guards behind him were also stunned.

What's wrong with the shopkeeper?

It's just a booklet and a paperweight, why is it being pulled up as if it were a radish?

Gu Yannian remained standing quietly beside the desk, his hands hanging naturally at his sides.

Nobody saw it.

His right hand, resting on the edge of the desk, was applying a slight downward pressure with his index finger.

The terrifying power of 1,600 points was transmitted directly to the brass paperweight through the hard rosewood tabletop.

What's pressing down on the inventory list now isn't three pounds of copper.

Instead, it is an invisible mountain weighing thousands of pounds.

Li Jin, a eunuch whose body had been hollowed out, couldn't budge the paper even if he broke his hand, let alone move it.

"Did Manager Li not eat enough for breakfast?"

Gu Yannian's tone revealed just the right amount of concern.

She even reached out her left hand, as if to help him move the paperweight.

"If you find this paperweight too heavy, I will remove it for you."

Li Jin was now in a predicament.

If he lets Gu Yannian help him, it would be tantamount to admitting in public that he is not even as good as a civil official, which would be a huge loss of face.

"No need for your pretense! I'll do it myself!"

Li Jin roared angrily and opened the register.

He grabbed the brass paperweight with both hands, attempting to lift it.

He took a deep breath and pulled upwards with a sudden effort.

As a result, when he pulled with all his might, he suddenly felt his hand become lighter!

In that brief moment, Gu Yannian dispelled the invisible energy on the table.

The paperweight, which originally weighed a thousand pounds, instantly regained its weight of three pounds.

Li Jin used too much force, and while holding the paperweight with both hands, he was thrown backward in a disheveled manner.

"Ouch!"

With a piercing scream, Li Jin crashed heavily onto the hard wooden floor on the second floor.

The brass paperweight landed right on his chest by sheer coincidence.

The impact nearly choked him, causing him to cough repeatedly and tears to stream down his face from the pain.

"Boss! Boss, are you alright?"

The guards were shocked and rushed over to help Li Jin up.

Li Jin clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain, and looked at Gu Yannian in fear.

The terrifying gravity I felt just now, as if I were being paralyzed by a ghost, was definitely not an illusion!

There was an eerie atmosphere permeating this Bureau of Justice.