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墨書 Inktalez
Lin Yuqian slowly placed her delicate jade-like hand on her forehead, gently massaging her temples in an attempt to alleviate the waves of dizziness crashing over her like a relentless tide. It felt as if her head had been forcefully stuffed into two enormous water-filled watermelons, heavy and swollen, causing immense discomfort. A buzzing noise filled her ears, as if thousands of bees were simultaneously fluttering their wings around her.
"Inverse Light, oh Inverse Light, what is wrong with you? You seem so clever and sharp on ordinary days, yet every time a crucial moment arrives, you falter and drop the ball! What kind of nonsense are you up to with this broken System?" Lin Yuqian couldn't help but let out a long sigh, her voice laced with deep frustration and a strong sense of defeat.
"Just look at the so-called clues you've given me. They are vague at best and utterly ambiguous at worst, leaving me completely bewildered! I spent last night tirelessly investigating until my eyes were as dark as a national treasure panda's, yet in the end, I couldn't uncover anything useful. Isn't that infuriating?" As Lin Yuyue spoke, her chest heaved with indignation, as if a fire of anger was burning fiercely within her.
However, at that moment, Inverse Light's voice remained cheerful and upbeat, like a newly learned parrot chattering endlessly in Lin Yu's mind, seemingly oblivious to how serious the situation had become.
"Hehehe, dear host, please don't be angry! Don't lose your temper!" Inverse Light said with a grin. "Actually, I'm doing this to help you hone your exceptional reasoning skills! Just think about it; you are usually so sharp-witted. How could such a minor challenge possibly stump you? I'm sure you can rely on your own wisdom and effort to find the correct answer this time, right?"
"Ha! You really know how to sweet-talk. Your little mouth is as sweet as honey," Lin Yu replied with a roll of her eyes, clearly tinged with sarcasm.
"Look at these so-called clues you've given me. Besides letting me know that the person who framed me is a minister from the court, what else is there? It's like asking me to fish out a needle from the vast ocean!
There are easily over a hundred officials in this entire court—whether they are high-ranking ministers or obscure little bureaucrats! How am I supposed to investigate each one individually?
Am I supposed to interrogate them one by one like I'm questioning criminals?
Hmph! If that's the case, then this esteemed Consort of mine would surely lose all face!"
"Oh dear host, please don't be so anxious! As they say, 'Haste makes waste!'”
Inverse Light quickly interjected to soothe her, his tone slightly ingratiating.
"In fact, the truly useful clues have long been in your hands; you just haven't discovered them yet."
"Perhaps you should take a moment to calm down and think it over carefully. Use all your wits and ponder deeply; maybe a flash of inspiration will help you grasp the key point," he suggested.
Lin Yu couldn't help but let out a deep sigh of resignation. She thought to herself, "It seems there's no hope relying on this guy. In the end, I’ll have to depend on myself!" With that in mind, she took out the important clue that the System had previously provided—an unassuming ink wash painting.
In the painting, a majestic eagle spread its wide and powerful wings, soaring freely across the vast expanse of the sky like two enormous clouds.
Its posture was as agile as a dragon, each flap of its wings carrying the force of thunder;
its sharp, knife-like gaze looked down upon the earth below, as if everything in the world was under its control.
The entire scene was imposing and awe-inspiring.
However, this painting was not merely lifelike and aesthetically pleasing.
Standing before it, Lin Yu stared intently at the scroll, her brows furrowed deeply in thought.
What secret could this eagle be hiding?
Could it possibly have some mysterious connection with the high-ranking ministers in court?
Lin Yu pondered this question repeatedly, murmuring to herself, "Eagle... eagle... court ministers..." Yet no matter how hard she tried to think, she couldn't find the crucial clue.
Could this eagle represent the zodiac sign of some important figure?
But upon reflection, she found that unlikely; she had never heard of anyone in court being associated with an eagle.
Just as Lin Yu was lost in her thoughts, a sudden sound of hurried and heavy footsteps echoed from outside.
The footsteps grew closer and clearer, as if someone was rushing toward her.
Suddenly, a sharp and high-pitched voice rang out, "Your Grace, the Emperor has issued a decree summoning you to court immediately, without delay!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu's heart sank with a jolt, and she inwardly cursed her bad luck. But in an instant, she thought to herself: This might be just what I need! Perhaps this is the proverbial "someone delivering a pillow when you're sleepy"?
At that moment, an intense intuition surged within her—perhaps this urgent summons to the palace was the perfect opportunity to uncover the truth behind the painting! Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Lin Yu quickly walked towards the door.
She decided to take a gamble; if she lost, it would just be a lesson learned! Carefully rolling up the ink wash painting and tucking it into her sleeve, she stood up, adjusted her dress, and with a hint of determination, made her way towards the Golden Luan Hall.
Inside the Golden Luan Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive, as if the air itself was thick with tension that made it hard to breathe.
Jiang Chen sat on the dragon throne, his expression dark and frosty as if covered in ice. His gaze was deep and piercing as it swept over the Ministers standing below him, exuding an unspoken authority that sent chills down their spines.
Lin Yu stepped lightly into the grand hall. Today, she had chosen to wear a simple yet elegant dress; its understated color accentuated her ethereal grace, making her appear like an otherworldly fairy. As she approached the throne, she gracefully bowed and greeted him in a melodious voice that resembled a lark's song: "Chen Qie pays her respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
"Consort, there is no need for formalities," Jiang Chen replied in a low voice that revealed no emotion. "I have summoned you today for an important matter."
"Your Majesty may ask; Chen Qie will speak candidly and fully," Lin Yu said with lowered eyes, though her heart raced like water sloshing in a bucket—nervous and unsettled.
"Regarding the assassination attempt in the palace that day, do you have any new leads?" Jiang Chen asked directly, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Yu.
Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Lin Yu slowly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I have been tirelessly investigating these past few days without rest or peace of mind. I have indeed discovered some clues."
As she spoke, she retrieved the ink wash painting from her sleeve with both hands and presented it delicately before Jiang Chen as if handling a rare treasure.
"This is..." Jiang Chen took the painting from her hands, his eyes flickering with curiosity as he began to unfurl it slowly and gently.
The moment the painting was fully revealed, gasps of astonishment filled the hall. The ministers began whispering among themselves in hushed tones, creating a cacophony of speculation that erupted like a boiling pot.
In the painting soared a majestic eagle with sharp claws gripping a small exquisite jade pendant! The pendant was entirely emerald green and intricately carved; it was clear that it was no ordinary item.
The jade pendant was exactly the same as the one worn by the assassin on the day of the attack, not a single detail was different!
"This..." Jiang Chen's face changed dramatically, as if struck by lightning. He suddenly raised his head, his gaze piercing, scanning the officials in the hall back and forth, as if trying to see through each one of them to find the mastermind behind it all.
Lin Yu stood nearby, her expression calm. She pointed at the jade pendant in the painting and said loudly, "Your Majesty, this jade pendant was seen by Chen Qie on Minister of Revenue Li. Moreover, I remember that Minister Li treasured this pendant greatly, always keeping it close and never letting it out of his sight for fear of damaging it."
Her words struck like thunder in the Golden Luan Hall, causing an uproar among the officials!
Minister of Revenue Li? How could this be possible? Minister Li had been a loyal servant for three reigns; how could he commit such a heinous act?
Minister Li's face turned pale, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead as his body trembled violently like a sieve. With a thud, he fell to his knees before Jiang Chen, crawling forward and pointing at Lin Yu. His voice was hoarse as he cried out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This is an injustice! I am wronged! You... you wicked woman, spouting lies! When have I ever worn such a jade pendant? You are framing me! I have been loyal to Your Majesty; heaven and earth can bear witness!"
Lin Yu sneered, her eyes filled with disdain. "Minister Li, are you feeling guilty? At this point, with evidence so clear, do you still wish to resist? You truly are stubborn; you won't give up until you're at your last breath! With your acting skills, you should be on stage performing instead; what a pity."
Minister Li attempted to argue further, desperately trying to plead his case. He cried with snot and tears, "Your Majesty! I am truly wronged! I have followed you for many years; even if I have no achievements, I have put in hard work! You must believe me!"
But he was interrupted by Jiang Chen's furious shout: "Enough! Li Aiqing, do you still dare to argue at this point?! What more can you say?!"
Jiang Chen's voice echoed like thunder in the hall, making everyone's eardrums buzz and causing tiles to rattle down.
"Come! Take Minister Li away and throw him into the dungeons for strict interrogation!"
With Jiang Chen's command, two guards rushed in like wolves and tigers, disregarding Minister Li's cries and struggles as they pinned him to the ground, locking him in cold shackles and dragging him away.
The truth was revealed, the crisis resolved; everything was laid bare.
A heavy stone finally lifted from Lin Yu's heart. She let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much lighter as if she had shed a tremendous burden.
Jiang Chen stood up from the dragon throne and walked over to Lin Yu. His gaze was filled with admiration and appreciation for her, along with a hint of barely perceptible tenderness.
"Consort, you are indeed exceptionally wise and resourceful. It is thanks to you that we were able to swiftly uncover the truth and resolve a significant dilemma for me. I am greatly relieved!"
"Your Majesty flatters me; I dare not take credit," Lin Yu humbly replied, a perfectly measured smile gracing her face. "I merely fulfilled my duty. It is all due to Your Majesty's immense fortune that we could turn misfortune into good fortune. I would never presume to claim such merit."
Jiang Chen listened, his expression brightening with delight as he burst into hearty laughter, his voice resonant and full of vigor. "What a statement about immense fortune! Consort, your words resonate deeply with me! Not only are you wise beyond measure, but your humility is truly rare!"
Then, from the imperial court, the Emperor spoke with authority: "Come forth! Quickly convey my decree! Lin Guifei possesses outstanding talent and beauty, along with noble character and exceptional abilities; she is indeed a model for our dynasty. From this day forth, I hereby elevate her to the position of Empress Dowager and bestow upon her the title 'Hui.' This decree takes immediate effect; it must not be mistaken. So it is decreed!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yu felt a surge of joy flood her heart, an overwhelming wave of happiness that nearly made her laugh out loud.
However, the composure cultivated over years in the palace quickly reined in her emotions, and she maintained a dignified smile on her face.
She gracefully curtsied, her sweet yet solemn voice expressing her gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor! Long live our Emperor!" Her voice was like celestial music—melodious and sweet without being cloying, bringing joy to all who heard it.
After the court session concluded, Lin Yu walked lightly back to her own quarters—Changchun Palace.
As soon as she stepped through the palace doors and before she could even take a sip of water to soothe her throat, the cheerful voice of Inverse Light suddenly erupted in her mind like firecrackers: "Congratulations, host! You have successfully completed your task! Not only did you expose Minister Li's hypocritical true nature, but you also seized this opportunity for promotion. Truly a double blessing—how delightful! You are simply amazing!"
"This time I really owe it to the clues you provided!" Lin Yu chuckled lightly, a teasing tone evident in her voice. "Though I must say, those clues were rather puzzling—one might even say they were quite unreliable!
But thankfully, it turned out to be a case of a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse—an unexpected success.
However, Inverse Light, I must emphasize this clearly: next time you provide me with any so-called clues, could you make them a bit more reliable?
Please don’t give me more of those flashy yet insubstantial things like this time.
My fragile little heart can hardly withstand such repeated turmoil!
I truly worry that my poor brain cells won't be enough to handle all the chaotic nonsense you throw at me!"
Hearing Lin Yu's complaints, Inverse Light quickly responded with a smile, "Hehe, dear host, you can rest assured! I promise you, next time I will definitely not make the same mistake again!
Next time, I will present you with a clear and straightforward clue, so simple that you'll understand it at a glance and be able to operate it right away!" As he spoke, Inverse Light raised his hand dramatically, almost as if he were swearing an oath.
Watching Inverse Light's earnest demeanor, Lin Yu shook her head helplessly. She thought to herself: I can't trust a single word this guy says! This broken system is more of a hindrance than a help; it’s far more practical to rely on myself and explore things slowly.
However, no matter what, the crisis had been safely navigated, leaving her both shaken and relieved.
Now, the most important thing for her was to fully enjoy the esteemed treatment that came with being the Empress Dowager.
The endless wealth and luxurious feasts were enough to bring joy just by imagining them!
At the same time, she decided to take this opportunity to calm her mind and carefully plan her next steps and direction... Suddenly, she recalled Jiang Chen's words from earlier in the court: "I believe there may be someone else secretly manipulating Minister Li."
So who could be pulling the strings behind that heavy curtain?
This was indeed a troubling matter!
Just as one storm had settled, another challenge surged forth like a tide.
Who could this hidden mastermind be?
With this thought in mind, Lin Yu furrowed her brows and slowly closed her eyes, focusing intently on her thoughts...
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