136: Dawn (Part 3)

"An explosion?"

"Yes, the sound of an explosion came from inside the Pacification Bureau."

The wine cup in Zhou Chutian's hand trembled; clearly, he hadn't expected such a thing to happen. The servant kept his head lowered and didn't notice anything amiss, continuing: "It seems... there was gunpowder hidden in Fang Wenbo's room. For some reason, he suddenly detonated these explosives. It didn't have much of an impact, but his courtyard in the Pacification Bureau... is completely destroyed."

"Was a body found?"

"Unclear. The Pacification Bureau is like a locked iron gate; our people couldn't find out anything more. Knowing this much already took a great deal of effort."

Zhou Chutian expected these people wouldn't be easy to deal with, but he hadn't anticipated this outcome. Fang Wenbo actually hid explosives in his own room? What was he after? Was it just out of fear that he wouldn't be able to cope, so he prepared to take someone down with him at any moment?

"Heh, this is getting interesting." The Taoist smiled while pouring tea. "This is the first time I've seen you, Grand Chancellor, lose your composure. Even a person like This Humble Taoist, who is destined for hell, can understand a thing or two."

In the martial world, such people were not unheard of. This Taoist had traveled the world for many years; he couldn't even remember how many lives he had taken.

In the past, to improve his skills, he had challenged various sects. Some people clearly couldn't beat him, yet they would still choose to fight to the death.

It's hard to say how much some people would do for so-called reputation, for their own ambitions, or for the ideals and obsessions in their hearts. The Taoist would never easily mock such people. Mock them for what? For being foolish?

Calling a martyr foolish is a foolish thing to hear in itself. In his youth, the Taoist also liked to read; he knew the history of the Three Kingdoms and the Records of the Grand Historian. Even a villain like him was greatly shocked when reading about Jiang Wei's plan to kill the three worthies, or the phrase 'restoring light from the darkness.'

Some people are willing to give everything, even die a tragic death, for obsessions that others cannot understand and for the hot blood in their hearts. The Taoist didn't understand it, but he respected it immensely.

But clearly, Zhou Chutian, a well-read and talented man, didn't understand these things and didn't care to. He only furrowed his brows, then said in a somewhat annoyed tone: "This Fang Wenbo, his annual salary is but a pittance, tsk... what a pity. The person sent to kill him was among my best in martial arts, and most skilled in disguise and infiltration..."

"Heh, someone like you will surely go to hell before me."

"I wouldn't dare. If hell truly exists, it is exactly where someone like Zhou should go." Zhou Chutian set down his wine cup. Whether due to the alcohol or some other reason, his face had become much more flushed. "Since ancient times, few of those so-called famous ministers and generals haven't ended up like me."

"I cannot agree with those words." The Taoist was amused by his outrageous statement. "Grand Chancellor, even that villain Cao would probably be much better than you, wouldn't he?"

"Hahahaha, Daoist, not so, not so..."

Before he could finish, another servant ran in, looking panicked: "My Lord, Mar— Marquis Mo, leading the Imperial Guard and the Musket Squad, has, has entered the city!"

"They've come so quickly..."

Zhou Chutian wasn't surprised, though he hadn't expected them to bring the Musket Squad. However, he didn't care; the plan had already begun, so there was no reason to stop.

"Tell the City Patrol Command to act according to the plan. Say that... Marquis Mo and the two princesses intend to rebel." Zhou Chutian spoke with a cold sneer. "I anticipated this long ago, so from the start, I planned to use this pretext to have the City Patrol Command besiege Marquis Mo."

"Tsk, I'm afraid that won't work?" The Taoist didn't quite believe him. "I saw that Mo Yingqi last time. Although he's no match for me, I'm afraid that among the younger generation and the various experts in the martial world, none can compare to him in the slightest."

"Daoist, you must understand one thing..." Zhou Chutian smiled slightly. "The fights of you martial arts people, even the School's formations, are completely different from a battle with a formal army."

"I'm naturally aware of that, but don't forget, the Imperial Guard are no pushovers; they are also fiercely loyal to The Emperor. With the Musket Squad there as well, what will you do?" The Taoist still didn't believe it. "The City Patrol Command sounds impressive, but compared to the Pacification Bureau and the Imperial Guard, they aren't on the same level at all. And then there's the Musket Squad..."

"I don't plan to do anything. With Marquis Mo's temperament, he will likely kill all the City Patrol Command soldiers who try to intercept him." Zhou Chutian slowly revealed a cunning smile. "But the more he does that, the more his crime of rebellion will be confirmed..."

"You're truly ridiculous. Is The Emperor a fool?" The Taoist was amused by this absurd logic. "The Emperor dotes on these two daughters the most and treats the new Imperial Son-in-Law with great respect, even titling him Marquis Yongding on his wedding day. Not to mention, it's not like The Emperor doesn't know that Partridge Sky is in the hands of the two princesses and has done much for him over the years. How could he believe that Mo Yingqi would help his two daughters rebel against him?"

"It doesn't matter if he believes it or not. What matters is whether the common people believe it, whether the other officials believe it, and whether the princes believe it." Zhou Chutian stroked his beard and laughed loudly. "The Emperor doesn't believe it, but what about Luo Yongfu and Luo Yongze? These two brothers have always been suppressed by those two sisters and are extremely fearful of them. Do they really not feel the slightest bit of resentment in their hearts?"

"Even if their sibling bond is truly deep, what about the other princes? What will the maternal families behind their imperial concubines think? Are they really going to let those sisters act so willfully?"

"Daoist, you must understand one thing: in this world, some things don't need to be true. As long as there is a pretext, everything becomes logical."

The Taoist was stunned; it seemed he finally understood what Zhou Chutian was planning. The Emperor loved only Empress Shen. Although he had children with other concubines, they were always left alone in the palace. The Emperor rarely visited them, and even when he did, he would only sit for a short while before leaving.

This gossip was no secret in the streets and alleys of the capital. The Emperor and the Empress were deeply in love, a devoted couple. The common people only thought The Emperor was affectionate and monogamous. He had never held a selection for imperial concubines, and at the beginning of his reign, he had said he would not select new beauties or take new concubines during his time on the throne.

Before he ascended the throne, apart from a wet nurse who had cared for him since childhood, The Emperor's daily life was managed by eunuchs. Since Eunuch Fang joined him, The Emperor even did away with the occasional maids who came to serve.

"An Emperor is the person least suited for affection and monogamy. He is the master of the world. Besides governing the court, the harem exists so he can expand the royal family." Zhou Chutian narrowed his eyes, his tone full of sarcasm. "More importantly, most women who enter the harem come from prominent families. Even if some favored women don't have high ranks, The Emperor will find ways to grant honor and elevate the status of their maternal families."

"The reason is simple: first, for reputation; second, if there's someone truly useful among them, it's an unexpected gain. The court and the harem may seem unrelated, but in reality, they are intricately intertwined. The status and honor of the maternal family can affect whether a concubine is favored. Conversely, if a concubine is favored, her maternal family can receive more rewards and opportunities."

"This harem, while appearing to be the residence of The Emperor's wives and concubines for bearing children, is also the hub where The Emperor establishes connections with his ministers. But what is our Emperor doing? He favors only the daughter of the Shen Family. The Shen Family already holds the title of Duke and commands the world's armies; the relationship between the two sides has been incredibly close from the start."

"As for the other concubines, they were specially chosen by the Late Emperor to assist his ascension. They are either descendants of capable ministers honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple or descendants of loyalists who hold military power under the Shen Family and follow only The Emperor and the Shen Family's orders."

"But he doesn't care. He is only affectionate with that daughter of the Shen Family. Although he treats the women of the harem with respect and gives them everything they are due, a woman is a woman after all. Even as a concubine, she is ultimately a secondary wife, trapped within this palace with likely no chance to ever leave again for her entire life."

"When one is warm and well-fed, one thinks of desires; when people have everything, they want more. They don't expect The Emperor to be like an ordinary husband, but he should at least treat everyone fairly. He thinks he's done well and balanced things enough, but this is simply not how a sovereign should treat the women of the harem."

At this point, Zhou Chutian actually looked distressed, but the Taoist felt he was just acting: "I once submitted a memorial about this, but alas, The Emperor and I are at odds; he doesn't trust me at all. Heaven be my witness, if it weren't for this, someone like me wouldn't have committed such treasonous acts."

"Furthermore, if The Emperor passes away... someone must take the blame and be denounced by the world. Now that Marquis Mo is entering the city with murderous intent, is there any better scapegoat than him, or those two Legitimate Princesses who make even the direct princes in the capital keep their distance?"

"Those with ulterior motives don't care about the truth. As I said, a pretext is enough. You don't really think no one in this world has ever thought about becoming Emperor themselves, do you? The Emperor needs stability, but I need chaos—the kind of chaos where the more chaotic it is, the better!"

Zhou Chutian wanted to continue, but a servant reported from outside: "Grand Chancellor, the one... the one who went to assassinate Commander Fang... has returned injured."

"Oh, let him in!"

Hearing Zhou Chutian say this, the Taoist slowly stood up and cupped his hands: "In that case, This Humble Taoist will take his leave."

"Safe travels, Daoist. Oh, by the way, take it easy. My men tell me this girl is as beautiful as a flower, tsk tsk..." Zhou Chutian seemed to enjoy provoking the Taoist and watching his helplessness. "The Daoist should also accumulate some merit and do good deeds, so that when you truly reach the Hall of Yama, you won't be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell like me."

"Heh, Grand Chancellor, don't mind me. No matter what, I'm afraid I'll still be better off than you." The Taoist had long known Zhou Chutian's wicked nature and didn't care about his teasing. "However, My Lord, if I have a next life, I might be cast into the Animal Realm, but you are different... I'm afraid you... will never find salvation!"

With that, the Taoist glared at Zhou Chutian, then stood up and left with a flick of his sleeves. Stepping out of the room, he saw the disguised "Zhao Jiguang" covered in blood, his sword broken in half, looking disheveled and wretched as he stood in the courtyard.

The Taoist looked at him, his eyes suddenly narrowing. Then, he smiled at "Zhao Jiguang" with deep meaning, his tone carrying a hint of mystery: "Interesting."

After saying that, the Taoist looked back into the room, snorted coldly, and turned to leave. Only after he left did the servant say with a fawning smile: "Don't take offense. This Taoist is the Master's honored guest and has high martial arts skills. Over the years, none of us have dared to provoke him..."

"No matter. Take me to see the Master; I have important matters to report."

This "Zhao Jiguang's" voice was hoarse, and his tone was full of exhaustion. Seeing the various wounds on his body, the servant didn't dare to delay and quickly led him into the study.

Seeing Zhou Chutian, "Zhao Jiguang" quickly bowed: "Forgive me, My Lord, I have failed in my duty..."

"No matter. How did that Fang Wenbo have gunpowder?"

Zhou Chutian's eyes were full of doubt and confusion: "Although the Pacification Bureau has special imperial permission, they aren't granted everything they want. This matter seems strange... Never mind, it's good that you're alive. What exactly do you have to report to me?"

"My Lord, that Fang Wenbo is a madman. He was no match for me, but just as I was about to succeed, he actually detonated the explosives."

"Zhao Jiguang" said with a look of distress: "The brothers who were keeping watch for me outside, as well as the night guards of the Pacification Bureau, were also caught in the explosion. If I hadn't moved quickly, I'm afraid..."

"Enough, it's good that you're alive, good that you're alive." Zhou Chutian sighed. "What happened to Fang Wenbo?"

"He was at the center of the explosion; I'm afraid he was blown to bits, with nothing left of his body." At this point, "Zhao Jiguang" suddenly looked around mysteriously. "However, My Lord, while I was assassinating Fang Wenbo, I accidentally saw this on his desk."

He took a dirty, damaged notebook from his robe. It looked as though the explosion had caused significant damage to the volume.

"What is this?"

Zhou Chutian was startled, his gaze drawn to the notebook. "Zhao Jiguang" respectfully presented it: "These are some secret matters discovered by the Pacification Bureau. I didn't know if they would be useful, so I brought them to present to you, My Lord."

"Thoughtful of you. Let me see."

Zhou Chutian furrowed his brows and reached out to take the notebook. However, just as he took it, "Zhao Jiguang's" gaze suddenly turned cold. He drew a soft sword from his waist and, with lightning speed, thrust it toward Zhou Chutian's throat!

"Commander Fang really... made me act along with you..."

That Zhou Chutian laughed loudly and dodged. His movements were extremely agile, and he actually evaded the strike, standing to the side. "You dare to come and assassinate me without even asking for the password to see me?"

"It's fine. At least I had a chance, didn't I?"

"Zhao Jiguang" reached out with his left hand and tore off the human skin mask on his face, revealing Fang Wenbo's bloodied face. "Grand Chancellor, I have failed in my duty. I'm afraid I must... send you on your way!"