Jiang Zhizhou left the late emperor's final decree in Yang Qing's safekeeping for the time being and decided to leave the Rare Treasures Pavilion to sound out the situation outside again.
But just as Jiang Zhizhou left the Rare Treasures Pavilion, a flash of light streaked across the distant sky.
His brows furrowed slightly. With a push of his foot, he shot toward the source of the light.
The light had come from the same little tavern Jiang Zhizhou had visited a month earlier.
It was still at that same corner on the second floor.
Jiang Zhizhou slowly climbed the stairs and stopped outside the private room. "Your subject Jiang Zhizhou pays his respects to Your Majesty."
"Enter!" Duan Ziqian's voice rang out.
Jiang Zhizhou entered. Duan Ziqian sat beside the window, watching him.
"How has your investigation outside been progressing?"
Duan Ziqian remained seated, his gaze angled slightly downward as he looked at Jiang Zhizhou kneeling before him.
"Your Majesty, I am still making inquiries in secret. But matters are complicated at present, and I have yet to..."
Jiang Zhizhou could not openly reveal the eerie army he had seen, and naturally, he could not speak plainly about the final decree either.
These were all secrets of the imperial household. Without absolute certainty, he could not disclose them.
"So I placed my hopes in you, only to draw water with a bamboo basket?" Duan Ziqian's expression darkened.
"Your subject..." Jiang Zhizhou bowed low to the floor.
As Duan Ziqian looked at the subject he had once relied on and trusted most, ripples stirred in his heart.
Yet his expression soon returned to complete calm.
"Jiang Zhizhou, since you have nothing to tell me, listen to what I came to tell you today."
"I am all ears, Your Majesty," Jiang