The Immortal's Reputation Must Never Be Slandered

As night fell,

The State-Guarding Eldest Princess's Residence.

"Your Highness, the rumors about the Immortals have been growing increasingly rampant these past few days. The Pacification Investigation Office has arrested far too many people, and the Imperial Prison is almost full."

The Black-Clad Mysterious Person reported.

"Then kill them. If killing a hundred isn't enough, kill a thousand. If killing a thousand isn't enough, kill ten thousand. I will completely eradicate this rumor."

Xiao Zhaohuang's face was filled with murderous intent, and his voice was as cold as ice.

Immortals are her Achilles' heel.

She would absolutely not ignore the fact that they dared to slander the pure and virtuous Immortal as a bloodthirsty demon.

Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free.

Those madmen who dared to blaspheme the Immortals, whom she was about to kill, were terrified and no longer dared to question the Immortals ' identity and reputation.

"Your Highness, this matter is suspicious. It's likely that someone is deliberately spreading rumors to divert our attention."

The Black-Clad Mysterious Person continued.

"After all, once this matter was brought up, most of the manpower in our Pacification Investigation Office was focused on investigating the rumors of the Immortals, which delayed other matters."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang said upon hearing this.

"Of course I know, but the Immortal's reputation must not be tarnished. Continue to intensify the investigation and bring out all those rats hiding in the stinking ditch."

"But if that's the case, then my Pacification Investigation Office might not have enough manpower, since some people only obey Mao Gang's orders."

"That's what the Black-Clad Mysterious Person said."

"It's alright, I've already made arrangements. Send someone to the Court of Judicial Review tomorrow; Lu Maoxiu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, will help you."

Eldest Princess Xiao Zhaohuang spoke.

Upon hearing this, a look of shock flashed in the eyes of the Black-Clad Mysterious Person.

The Court of Judicial Review is one of the Three Judicial Offices.

Previously, he had always remained neutral between the Imperial Eldest Grandson and the Eldest Princess, never participating in the struggle for the throne.

Unexpectedly,

Now they've actually chosen to stand on the side of the Eldest Princess.

His Highness's charm is so great that even Lu Maoxiu, known as the cold-faced Judge of the Underworld, has been won over.

Actually, it wasn't her who truly won over Lu Maoxiu.

Rather, they are Immortals.

Lu Maoxiu's elderly mother had been bedridden for many years and was beyond medical help, which is why he humbled himself and took the initiative to rely on her.

It wasn't for fame or fortune, but for an Immortal Elixir to fulfill his filial duty.

Lu Maoxiu was a man of great talent, and although Xiao Zhaohuang wanted to recruit him, he chose to tell him the truth.

Immortal bestows a pill is not something she can control; it depends on the Immortal's mood.

She would only try to mention it to him when the opportunity arose, but she couldn't guarantee whether the Immortal would agree.

But even if the chances are slim,

Lu Maoxiu finally agreed.

He didn't ask his elderly mother to live to be a hundred; he only wished that she could stay by his side and accompany him for a few more years.

With the assistance of the Court of Judicial Review,

Those rats in the gutter will have nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape.

"By the way, has there been any result regarding the Jade Spring Mountain matter?"

Xiao Zhaohuang asked again.

"Your Highness, we've got it! Someone is using the daily trips to the Temporary Palace Villa to buy supplies to secretly transport other goods to Jade Spring Mountain."

"Go on."

"Yes, under my investigation, these wagons transporting supplies were all handled by the Ministry of Works, and it also involves the Wu Household, one of the Eight Great Imperial Merchants. It seems that the Directorate of Heavenly Observations is also involved."

"Have you found out what they were transporting?"

"Found it, it's all saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal."

"What are these things for?"

Saltpeter can be used to make ice, as a preservative, and also as fertilizer. Sulfur can repel insects, be used in metal smelting, and charcoal can be used for heating, dehumidification, and also to make inksticks.

Xiao Zhaohuang: "..."

I thought that something mysterious and terrifying must be involved, given how secretive their actions were and how far-reaching their implications were, but it turned out to be just some ordinary things.

Wrong,

This matter is definitely not as simple as it appears on the surface.

"Investigate! Investigate relentlessly! I need to know what all of this, when put together, will amount to!"

Xiao Zhaohuang said coldly.

"Yes, sir."

"Also, has there been any recent activity in the palace?"

Xiao Zhaohuang asked.

"This is something I was just about to report. It's strange, but ever since that Immortal went to the Imperial City and executed Minghua Princess, the attitude of the eunuchs and palace maids in the Imperial City towards us has changed."

The Black-Clad Mysterious Person spoke.

"In the past, these people appeared respectful to our Pacification Investigation Office on the surface, but were actually wary of him at every turn. Now, however, they answer all our questions with complete honesty and enthusiasm."

Xiao Zhaohuang pondered for a moment, then immediately understood something, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up.

These people in the palace,

They appear successful on the surface, but are actually filled with anxiety and unease.

I lived in constant fear, walking on thin ice, terrified that even the slightest mistake would invite punishment from the powerful.

At best, they'd be beaten; at worst, they'd be executed.

After he died, he was simply wrapped in a straw mat, sent out of the palace, and buried in some desolate wilderness, without even a grave mound.

Minghua wasn't an isolated case; he was just unlucky enough to be spotted by Immortal.

Throughout history,

Countless people were sent to the palace, but how many were able to leave safely?

To die alone within the deep palace is an incredibly fortunate thing.

The Immortal ordered the execution of the high-ranking princess for the sake of a lowly eunuch.

This matter was of great significance to the lowly eunuchs and palace maids who suffered endless humiliation.

It was like a ray of light shining into a freezing abyss.

Put yourself in someone else's shoes.

If it were her, she would definitely regard the Immortal as her second parents, be eternally grateful, and never forget them.

Now everyone in the Capital knows that she is favored by the Immortals.

And most of the people in the Pacification Investigation Office were her henchmen.

Because of the saying "love me, love my dog",

The attitudes of the palace eunuchs and maids towards the Pacification Investigation Office) naturally underwent a dramatic change.

The Immortal, without her noticing, helped her again.

Tell me about the situation in the palace.

"Yes."

"His Majesty still handles state affairs in the Yangxin Hall Cultivation, without holding court assemblies or meeting with officials. All memorials are delivered directly to the Yangxin Hall by eunuchs, and all imperial edicts and decrees are also relayed by eunuchs."

"However, news from the Imperial Kitchen indicates that His Majesty's appetite has decreased recently, and he prefers light and easily digestible foods."

"Also, the Still Abyss Hall will be completed soon."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhaohuang's phoenix eyes immediately narrowed slightly.

"The Still Abyss Hall only started construction thirteen days ago, how come the progress is so fast?"

"This humble servant also finds it unbelievable, but it is indeed true. Mao Gang personally supervised the construction behind the Still Abyss Hall, and the number of craftsmen and laborers conscripted was several times greater. They worked day and night, putting in their own meals, and thousands of people died from exhaustion and illness."

"Absurd, utterly absurd."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhaohuang flew into a rage.

To build a palace, they so utterly disregarded the lives of ordinary people, treating human life like dirt.

You bastard Mao Gang!

I will make you reap what you sow!

Thousands of craftsmen and laborers died from exhaustion and illness on the construction site. I will settle this blood debt with you one by one.

"What exactly was Father Emperor's intention in building this Still Abyss Hall? Have you found out?"

"The Still Abyss Hall is heavily guarded, and all the craftsmen and laborers are living and working on the construction site. There's still no progress."

"Then investigate from the source, investigate the Ministry of Works, investigate the Directorate of Heavenly Observations, and bring all those people into the Imperial Prison. I don't care what methods you use, I will pry their mouths open."

"Yes, sir."