Lin Yu darted into the secret chamber of the Imperial Study like a mouse, slipping through the door with remarkable speed.
It was strange; usually, no one but the Emperor could enter this room, and today, for some unknown reason, the guards seemed as lax as if nothing were amiss. Lin Yu wondered if perhaps the palace was having its own version of a "Double Eleven" sale, with security on discount. With that thought in mind, she quickened her pace, fearing that this "offer" might expire.
The door to the secret chamber was incredibly heavy; calling it a door was almost misleading—it was more like a wall, fitting so tightly that if it weren't for Lin Yu's well-trained physique, she might have been stuck outside, staring helplessly at it. As she pushed with all her might, she couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship of ancient artisans. If this were modern times, they would surely win awards for their work!
"Inverse Light, this place is so mysterious, like a treasure map. Do you think there’s something earth-shattering hidden inside?" Lin Yu chatted with the system as she felt her way forward, her voice tinged with the excitement and curiosity of a young girl.
"Host, it's hard to say. Perhaps there's a manual that could turn someone into a martial arts master overnight, or maybe there's treasure worth a kingdom that could instantly make someone 'Ma Daddy'!" The system's tone was exuberant, as if it were the one about to discover treasure.
Hearing this made Lin Yu's heart race with anticipation. The thrill of treasure hunting was addictive—more exhilarating than a roller coaster! She encouraged herself: "Lin Yu, you're destined to be the 'Master Thief.' This little challenge is nothing; just charge ahead!"
The secret chamber was pitch black; she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. Lin Yu had to feel along the walls, moving forward step by step like a blind person trying to grasp an elephant. It felt like playing hide-and-seek as a child, but this time the stakes were higher—one wrong move and she could easily get lost in the vast palace.
"Oh wow! This Emperor really knows how to enjoy life. It's cooler in here than outside—like an ice cellar! This is a natural summer retreat!" Lin Yu complained while rubbing her arms. She felt goosebumps rising all over her skin. She inwardly scoffed at how extravagant ancient emperors were; in the middle of summer, this chamber felt like a refrigerator! Imagine how much electricity they would save if they had modern technology!
After walking for a while, Lin Yu bumped into a wall—hard enough to leave a bump on her forehead. "Huh? Why is there a wall here? Inverse Light, are you sure you didn't misdirect me? Is your navigation system acting up again?" she asked in confusion while rubbing her sore forehead, feeling as if she had walked into a dead end.
"Host, don’t worry! Let me scan again; sometimes the system needs to 'restart'!" The system's voice carried uncertainty now; it seemed just as anxious as Lin Yu about whether its "high-tech" capabilities would fail at such a critical moment.
After waiting for a bit, the system finally spoke up with excitement: "Host, try pushing that wall to the left! It might be a hidden door or something; ancient mechanisms can sometimes be smarter than our 'artificial intelligence'!"
Following the system's suggestion, Lin Yu pushed hard—and lo and behold! The wall actually gave way! It turned out to be a "disguiser," appearing solid but collapsing easily under pressure. Lin Yu felt triumphant; at that moment, she felt like Detective Conan—nothing could escape her keen eye for traps and hidden doors.
Behind the hidden door lay a long corridor with faint light at the end—like the brightest star in the night sky guiding Lin Yu forward. "Alright then! Looks like we’re close to treasure!" she exclaimed excitedly, rubbing her hands together and quickening her pace toward that light to see what treasures lay within.
As she passed through the corridor, Lin Yu entered a spacious secret chamber filled with various books and scrolls—it resembled a library brimming with literary energy. She thought to herself: Could it be that this Emperor was a bookworm? The collection rivaled that of a modern national library!
"Wow! This Emperor really loves learning! With so many books here, he must believe that 'within books lies gold and beauty'!" Lin Yu marveled as she picked up one book and flipped through it only to find it filled with incomprehensible characters.
"Host, these aren't ordinary books; they contain confidential documents about state affairs—more classified than those 'red-headed documents'!" The system explained seriously, reminding Lin Yu that this was no trivial matter.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu's eyes lit up—finally, she had found the right place! She hurriedly began sifting through the scrolls in hopes of uncovering clues related to national crises—this was crucial for completing her mission and continuing her leisurely life in the palace!
And indeed, she found something! In one scroll, Lin Yu discovered a report about border conflicts—the tension palpable even through the paper. It detailed how soldiers at the border were running low on supplies and wages were delayed; morale was plummeting and they could be overrun by enemy forces at any moment. The situation was dire—more urgent than "fire burning at one's eyebrows."
"Goodness, so this national crisis refers to this! That old emperor really is something; the borders are about to 'fall,' and he's still here 'enjoying the peace and prosperity'!" Lin Yu realized suddenly. She quickly tucked away the report, preparing to take it back to Jiang Chen. This was a "big news," and if Jiang Chen found out, he would surely take immediate action!
Just then, the door to the secret chamber was suddenly pushed open! With a creak that sounded like something out of a horror movie, Lin Yu jumped in fright. A man dressed in black, with his face covered, stepped inside. His attire made him look just like the protagonist from "Assassin's Creed," exuding an air of mystery.
"Who are you?" Lin Yu asked warily, instinctively reaching for her sleeve, ready to pull out her "pepper spray" to give him a surprise.
"Heh heh, little beauty, I didn't expect you to find your way here. It seems you really have some skills!" The man in black chuckled ominously, his voice grating like sandpaper and sending chills down her spine.
"Who are you? What do you want? I should tell you that I have 'backing.' Dare you touch even a hair on my head!" Lin Yu bluffed while secretly observing his movements, looking for an opportunity to escape.
"It doesn't matter who I am; what matters is that you know too much about things you shouldn't. Therefore, you must die; at least you'll have company on your journey to the underworld!" The man in black lunged at Lin Yu with a speed akin to that of a cheetah, dazzling her with his quickness.
Lin Yu reacted swiftly, dodging the attack of the man in black with agility reminiscent of a heroine from a martial arts film. "Want to kill me? Not so easy; I'm like a cat with nine lives!" she retorted, pulling out a dagger from her sleeve and engaging in combat with him, displaying quite the "heroic woman" demeanor.
The man in black was skilled and ruthless in his attacks; it was clear he was trained. Lin Yu found herself unable to gain the upper hand against him. They exchanged blows fiercely, creating a whirlwind of blades and shadows in the secret chamber.
As they fought fiercely, the system suddenly chimed in with a warning: "Host, be careful! The man in black is carrying poison; this ancient 'biochemical weapon' is no joke!"
Lin Yu's heart sank at this news. She quickly became more cautious; ancient poisons were far more dangerous than modern ones. If she got hit, even "Hua Tuo reincarnated" wouldn't be able to save her. "You sneaky black-clad man! Just wait until I knock your teeth out!" Lin Yu cursed inwardly while dodging his attacks with even greater care.
While avoiding his strikes, she looked for an opportunity to counterattack. At that moment, Lin Yu resembled a "hunter," patiently waiting for her "prey" to reveal a flaw.
Finally, she spotted an opening and seized the moment to stab the dagger into the man's shoulder with precision and speed reminiscent of "Little Li Flying Dagger." "Ouch!" he screamed as he clutched his shoulder and fell to the ground, his cry echoing like that of a slaughtered pig—piercingly tragic.
Seizing the chance, Lin Yu stepped forward and snatched the dagger from his hand with swift efficiency akin to that of a movie "agent." "Now tell me who sent you! If you don't speak up, I won't hold back!" Lin Yu demanded sternly, pressing the dagger against his neck with an air of an "interrogation expert."
The man gritted his teeth stubbornly, refusing to speak as if prepared for death. "Not talking? Then don't blame me for being rude; I absolutely despise 'hard bones'!" Lin Yu sneered as she pressed the dagger against his neck and made a slight cut that made him shiver all over.
Feeling the cold blade against him, he finally spoke: "It... it was the Prime Minister who sent me. He said... he said you discovered his secret and ordered me to... finish you off!"
The Prime Minister? Lin Yu was taken aback; she hadn't expected him to be behind this scheme. That old fox was indeed cunning! She quickly bound the man in black and prepared to take him back for Jiang Chen to interrogate—this was a valuable "witness" that needed proper utilization.
Just then, the system suddenly issued an alarm: "Host, someone is coming! From the sound of their footsteps, they are not small fry!"
Lin Yu quickly led the man in black into a hidden compartment within the secret chamber, a space that was practically a "secret within a secret," well-concealed. She held her breath and peered through the cracks of the compartment, stealthily observing the situation outside.
Before long, she heard footsteps approaching, growing clearer as they drew near. The door to the secret chamber creaked open, sounding just like when the man in black had entered. A middle-aged man dressed in official robes stepped inside, exuding an air of authority that made it clear he was no ordinary person.
It was the Chancellor! Lin Yu recognized him immediately; this old man was truly "haunting" her! She remained hidden in the compartment, watching every move he made. The Chancellor rummaged around the secret chamber, seemingly searching for something, his anxious demeanor resembling that of an ant on a hot pan.
"Strange, where is it? It was right here; how could it be gone?" he muttered to himself, scratching his head in confusion and disbelief.
After searching in vain, the Chancellor left the secret chamber in frustration, his back appearing somewhat lonely and dejected. Once he was gone, Lin Yu emerged from her hiding place, dusting herself off and letting out a long sigh. "Phew, I finally dodged a bullet. That old Chancellor is indeed a tough nut to crack!"
Now that she had grasped the evidence against the Chancellor, it was time to hand it over to Jiang Chen. The thought filled Lin Yu with excitement. However, recalling Jiang Chen's usual attitude towards her made her hesitate. Would he believe her? After all, in his eyes, she had always been an "unserious" consort.
But then she reconsidered; this was a matter of national security. No matter how much Jiang Chen disliked her, he wouldn't joke about such serious affairs, right? With that thought solidified in her mind, Lin Yu resolved that regardless of whether Jiang Chen believed her or not, she had to tell him!
With determination set, Lin Yu left the secret chamber and headed to find Jiang Chen. However, just as she stepped out of the study room, she spotted a group of ministers storming toward it with fierce expressions. They were visibly agitated and red-faced, chattering angrily among themselves as if they were there to confront Jiang Chen.
Lin Yu's heart sank; it seemed things were more complicated than she had imagined. This situation was indeed murky! She didn't know why the ministers had come, but her instincts told her it must be related to the Chancellor. Lin Yu thought to herself that she needed to hurry; she must deliver the evidence to Jiang Chen before these ministers arrived!
Taking a deep breath, she smoothed out her somewhat disheveled clothing and adjusted her expression to appear less flustered. Then she set off toward Jiang Chen's palace with firm steps and resolute eyes.
Lin Yu understood that this journey might lead her into more unknowns and dangers, but there was no turning back now. For the sake of the nation, for the people, and for herself, she had to press forward and uncover the truth hidden beneath layers of fog!
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