Chapter 221: Imperial Heart Technique

All sounds ceased, the whole city fell silent.

Night wind blew through the alleys, torches wildly danced, firelight flickering bright and dim.

All surrounding servants and guards held their breath and stood still, no one dared to speak; the small area that had been somewhat noisy just moments before fell into utter silence.

On the ground, an open wooden box lay, filled with green jade stones resting quietly beneath the firelight, their green surfaces reflecting the flashing flames.

Ouyang Yan stood frozen in place, blood seeping from a wound on his neck, his body trembling uncontrollably, not daring to move even half a step.

"This person comes from the Yu family, shares the same breath and branch with the Young Emperor, wholeheartedly serves the lord, so it can still be considered having a reason......"

Du Shanü stood still without moving, one hand firmly holding the crossbow, the trigger steadily locked ahead, posture straight and proper, showing no wavering.

Her face had turned completely cold and calm, her eyes holding no anger or ferocity, only absolute calm and composure, together with the ruthless decisiveness of her strike just now:

"And you, Ouyang Yan, what are you even?"

"If I hadn't saved you back then, you would already be a handful of dirt outside Cang Cheng—how could you now be in charge of a city? Yet now you actually have the nerve to point and shout at me, driving away the people I brought, right in front of me."

Du Shanü in the past always had one thought—

No matter how many things there are outside, as long as they are not sent back to Cang Cheng, they are not hers.

She would one day return to Cang Cheng, so whenever she got something good, she would definitely send it to Cang Cheng.

Whether it be salt, iron, the common folk, weapons, or soldiers......

Even when Chinu previously said she favored Cang Cheng, she merely thought Chinu was throwing a tantrum and laughed it off.

However, facts always proved that Chinu was right.

Chinu, always right.

Now look—she poured all her strength into supporting Cang Cheng, yet ended up raising, right under her nose, a white-eyed wolf that dared to bite its master.

Although they constantly addressed her as "your honor," not a single voice called her master, all they did was criticize her decisions.

Although they appeared respectful, to her face they repeatedly belittled Chinu, who had walked hand in hand with her from humble beginnings......

Is this belittling Chinu?

No, this is clearly stepping on her face!

Don't even mention a relocation workshop; even if she someday decides to move the city, that would be justified!

Who could say more?

Who dares to say more?!

Now that it's come to this, who knows what they've done behind her back, and how much?!

Du Shanü's blade remained unchanged, Ouyang Yan stared at everything with a deathly pale face, his lips murmuring a few breaths, yet in the end he could not utter a sound.

Yu Lve still stood behind him, the hand that had earlier helped Ouyang Yan escape the crossbow bolt still had not left his shoulder.

Under the night sky, the two figures nearly overlapped, both faces equally grim and embarrassed.

"Someone, go to Dun Cheng and inform Magistrate Chen, have him send over two capable clerks......"

Du Shanü looked at the two before her and snorted:

"I will thoroughly investigate all official documents and treasury accounts handled by Magistrate Ouyang during this period."

"If from now on I send no word, that means I have been killed by a treacherous servant; let them not hold back, but immediately dispatch troops—attack Cang Cheng."

Magnificent this night, thunder roared.

These words shocked everyone present, leaving them with dry mouths and tongues, seeing stars, unable to react for a moment.

Du Shanü then raised her voice and shouted again:

"...... Whoever first brings my message today will be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver!"

"Who is willing to go?!"

A hundred taels of silver is no joke.

To say it would last a lifetime—no, even several lifetimes of comfortable living would not be an exaggeration!

Among the servants who originally moved the boxes, one reacted faster, mustering courage to stumble back running; then came a scattering of withdrawals in twos and threes, and in the end, that group of a dozen or so attendants actually fled in a disorganized mess, leaving only a few who were slow to react and whose legs couldn't keep up with the nimble young servants.

How could it come to this......

How could it come to this?!

Ouyang Yan wanted to speak, but opening his mouth several times produced no sound.

Only then did he belatedly realize a terrifying matter——

This time, Du Shanü—no, she is the master; the master seems to have truly gotten serious.

The person before him, the semblance of an emperor was just forming, aura mighty and imposing.

And throughout history, what are emperors most skilled at?

It is mind games, it is scheming, it is...... suspicion.

Suspicion.

That's right, it's suspicion.

Before, he thought he was among the earliest followers who helped her build her fortune, still retaining some face, able to speak up.

However, the fact is, an emperor's suspicious heart will always be distributed onto every person.

Only some are loyal, receiving a smaller share.

Some have their thoughts exposed, receiving a larger share.

And he, it is now obvious that he has lost this trust.

Investigate the Xian Xie office documents and treasury accounts......

Is this an investigation?

No, this is blatantly telling him——

"Right now we are suspecting you, and consequently no longer trusting anything you have done before."

You had better not be caught with a handle; if you are caught with a handle, it won't be something that can be settled with just one crossbow bolt—I will make you die ten times without survival.

When the knife is sheathed, it is not frightening.

When the knife falls, life and death are already decided; in fact, it's even less frightening.

But when a knife is about to fall but hasn't yet, it is truly the most terrifying.

This master has always been as he was when first met; when he is benevolent he can take them all in, but when he learns they cannot work, are worthless, or have no use.

No matter how much was previously invested, she will discard them like worn-out shoes.

But in just a short moment, she has already planned everything.

All former dignity is reclaimed, each of his actions examined, even suspecting he will kill to silence in a rage, and a plan is set for Dun Cheng to launch a strong attack on Cang Cheng......

As for Chinu's temperament, they know it all too well.

And the reputation of Chen Weifang, the Poison Scholar, is something he had heard of even before!

If these two really bring troops, wouldn't they just cut down anyone they see... would there still be a moment of hope?

If we cannot handle this properly, let alone being able to continue serving under the master and have a bright future together with her......

I'm afraid, I'm afraid......

To turn against her and become enemies, directly become foes!

At this moment, Ouyang Yan finally realized——

Wrong, wrong, everything is wrong.

Everything should not be like this.

Before we could trust, why now do we merely add suspicion?

The person before us today, with a thunderous rage, surely has a reason.

But what exactly is the reason?

Why?

Ouyang Yan trembled all over, yet in an instant he happened to catch sight of that hand on his shoulder.

That hand, that hand......

Ouyang Yan turned his deathly pale head and met the gaze of Yu Lve, whose face was equally pallid.

An instant, just that instant.

Ouyang Yan suddenly somewhat understood——

The master's return this time perhaps was originally with anger.

And he, precisely because of his improper conduct, again touched this reverse scale......

That hand still rested on his shoulder, the other party blank and dazed, not knowing what was happening.

Ouyang Yan, however, had lost his patience, he shoved away the other's hand and with a thud knelt before Du Shanü.

Master, please forgive my sin!

I never meant that; I just felt that Dun Cheng, newly established, simply cannot compare to Cang Cheng in loyal devotion to you......

The workshop naturally must be moved; I will immediately notify Leitie to get ready, and tonight we will pack up!

Ouyang Yan bowed low on the ground, kowtowing several times, but Du Shanü remained silent.

Perhaps because her utter indifference was too obvious, Ouyang Yan unwilling to be thus discarded, he gritted his teeth and raised his head to say.

Master, you may not know, but even without the workshop, Cang Cheng still has its merits!

My mother's maternal clan is in the south of An Nan, one of the largest horse trader gangs in the Great Qu Yue State......

If you give your approval, I will immediately send word to my maternal grandparents' home, and thereafter we will also have our own horses.

Since ancient times, horses, armor, and grain......

Are the indivisible essentials of rebellion.

Ouyang Yan's mention now is to grasp the last critical point, to seek for himself and for Cang Cheng a final shred of pity, to exchange for another chance to gain trust, and for a smooth path ahead.

However, however.

Ouyang Yan did not realize that his urgency, in Du Shanü's eyes, became another entirely different meaning.

Du Shanü narrowed her eyes and asked somewhat abruptly:

If you have a way to obtain horses......

Why didn't you say so earlier?

?? This time really...... even a dog passing through Cang Cheng would be suspected by Shasha, slapped a few times, and then leave......

? Shasha's anger made these days' titles become much more serious, hahaha

? Lately why is nobody praising the author? Could it be that something is written poorly...... the book is too cold, there's no feedback at all o(╥﹏╥)o