Chapter 332: An Unusual Appearance

The next morning, inside the Hall of Great Celebration, bells and drums sounded together.

At the full court assembly on the first and fifteenth, civil and military officials stood in order of rank, the atmosphere solemn.

Chen Wen sat upon the dragon throne, the crown's beads hanging low, shielding part of his expression; only his gaze remained normal as he calmly surveyed the emperor's officials.

Last night's discovery had tightened a string in his heart, yet he revealed nothing of it at this moment.

The court proceedings went smoothly, with each ministry reporting in turn, mostly routine matters such as wrapping up spring planting, clearing transport routes, and local security.

Everything appeared as usual.

However, when it was the censorial inspector's turn to speak, a discordant note quietly appeared.

An inspector surnamed Li stepped forward, fiercely impeaching the Prefect of Jingzhao for, in managing Xishi, 'indulging merchants, disrupting prices, and failing the emperor's grace.'

This would have been ordinary censorial remonstrance, but today the Li inspector's tone was especially sharp, even carrying a hint of personal emotional attack, throwing unverified rumors into the mix as evidence.

The Prefect of Jingzhao immediately stepped forward to rebut, his words no less blunt.

The two actually had a hint of being opposed to each other before the emperor.

Although the Prime Minister Wang Ru quickly stepped in to stop them, the subtle shift in the hall's atmosphere at that moment was keenly caught by Chen Wen.

He showed no reaction, his gaze lingering on the Li inspector's face for a moment.

One saw the Li inspector, though feigning calm, his complexion somewhat paler than usual, a faint irritation hidden deep in his eyes, differing slightly from his normally stern yet restrained demeanor.

Chen Wen's inner black-yellow qi vortex trembled ever so slightly at this moment.

An extremely faint, yin-cold aura similar to what he had sensed the night before seemed to wrap around the Li inspector; though weak, it was like a bone‑deep maggot, trying to burrow into his spiritual depths.

"It has begun…" Chen Wen's heart turned cold.

This 'Shadow Erosion' power could already affect the officials attending the court; although its influence now appears slight, its penetration speed and target selection clearly are not random.

He did not expose it on the spot, merely speaking lightly to set the matter aside, ordering the relevant authorities to investigate further, then gestured for the court to continue.

But after this incident, Chen Wen's observation of the officials' gazes in the hall gained an extra measure of caution.

He quietly circulated his inner Fortune Momentum; the black-yellow qi vortex slowly flowed, emitting an invisible yet righteous field that enveloped the whole hall.

Under this field, he could perceive subtle changes more clearly.

For most officials, their aura blended smoothly with the dynasty's Fortune Momentum, signifying loyalty and diligence.

But a few individuals showed a barely perceptible hitch or fluctuation in the link between their aura and the Fortune Momentum, a faint yin‑cold haze vaguely entwining them.

These individuals held various ranks and belonged to different departments, appearing unrelated at first glance.

Yet they shared a common trait—either they had recently faced great pressure, or their nature was inherently sensitive and suspicious, or they occupied key posts.

"Amplifying through the cracks of the spirit…" Chen Wen understood more deeply.

"Shadow Erosion" is not indiscriminate; it precisely seeks targets whose hearts already possess weak points.

The court ended in an atmosphere that seemed peaceful but actually concealed subtle undercurrents.

"Summon Wang Ru and Qian Gui to the Imperial Study to see His Majesty." Chen Wen rose, whispered a command to the attendant beside him, and led the way out.

……

Inside the Imperial Study, sandalwood incense curled gently.

Wang Ru and Qian Gui arrived upon summons, performed their rites, and stood respectfully to one side.

They both noticed that the emperor's expression today was more solemn than usual.

"What do you two think of the Li inspector's impeachment of the Prefect of Jingzhao at today's court?" Chen Wen asked directly, without beating around the bush.

Wang Ru pondered briefly, then spoke first:

"Your Majesty, the matters the Li inspector spoke of are recorded by the Rumor Bureau, but much of it is exaggerated and unfounded."

"I observe that his words and deeds today differ from his usual steady style, showing signs of agitated heart‑fire."

"I have ordered people to watch him and to investigate his recent contacts and affairs."

As a Senior Secretary of the Gate, overseeing inspection and civil affairs, she is most sensitive to abnormalities in officials' conduct.

Qian Gui, meanwhile, spoke briefly:

"The Jing'an Office has so far found no evidence of direct collusion between the Li inspector and external forces."

"But lately his spirit seems listless; his household servants say he sleeps poorly and is easily irritated."

Chen Wen nodded, acknowledging the sharpness of the two senior ministers.

He pondered a moment, then decided to reveal part of the information.

"I have recently sensed the dynasty's Fortune Momentum and detected a extremely subtle alien energy attempting to erode the hearts and minds of my officials."

"This energy is yin‑cold and obscure, adept at amplifying inner negative emotions, inviting suspicion, lassitude, and resentment."

"I temporarily name it 'Shadow Erosion'."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ru and Qian Gui's faces both grew solemn.

They well knew the emperor's connection to the dynasty's Fortune Momentum was close; his perception was certainly not baseless.

"How can this be?" Wang Ru frowned, "If true, its harm would far surpass that of armed rebellion! If the people's hearts scatter, troops become hard to lead."

Qian Gui's eyes flashed with a cold light:

"Where does it come from? Could it be beyond the light curtain?"

"Eight or nine times out of ten." Chen Wen affirmed, "The Iron Crow Army's underhanded tricks, hard to counter head‑on, resort to such petty means."

"I summoned you two here precisely to have you conduct a covert investigation."

He looked toward Wang Ru:

"Lord Wang, you oversee civil affairs and rumors; recently focus on examining officials at all levels, especially those in key posts or whose recent conduct has been abnormal."

"No need for fanfare; silently record changes in their temperament, speech and behavior, and handling of affairs, seeking common points."

"Bear in mind, they may not themselves notice the anomaly, or merely feel they are 'in low spirits'; careful discrimination is required."

"I understand." Wang Ru nodded solemnly, "I will combine routine performance evaluations with the Rumor Bureau's data to filter out suspicious cases for close observation."

Chen Wen turned his gaze to Qian Gui:

"Minister Qian, your Jingan Bureau shall continue externally monitoring the remnants of the Iron Crow Army and the movements of the false Song, and internally cooperate with Minister Wang's investigation."

"Focus on screening those exhibiting abnormal behavior: whether they have recently come into contact with objects of unknown origin, heard abnormal sounds, or displayed symptoms such as mental confusion at specific times or places."

"I suspect that the power of this 'Shadow Eclipse' may require some medium to take effect, or only under specific conditions."

"Your command shall be obeyed." Qian Gui accepted the order, his voice icy: "I will allocate additional personnel, approaching from both material and investigative angles, digging three feet deep if necessary, to uncover the root of this 'Shadow Eclipse'."

"This matter concerns the foundation of the state; it must be handled with utmost caution and secrecy." Chen Wen finally instructed: "Initially, focus on observation, recording, and analysis; without solid evidence, do not act against officials lightly, lest we alert the enemy or cause unnecessary panic."

"We shall obey your command!"

Wang Ru and Qian Gui responded in unison, both recognizing the gravity of the problem.

An intangible, mind-targeted attack has already infiltrated; this war without gunfire may be even more perilous than outright combat.

……

Over the next few days, the surface of Bian Liang City remained bustling and prosperous, yet beneath certain hidden layers, a meticulous investigation had begun.

Wang Ru reviewed extensive performance records of officials and secret reports from the gossip bureau, focusing on dozens of officials recently noted for "minor changes in temperament," irritability, unexplained drops in work efficiency, or strained relations with colleagues.

This included the Censor Li who had made a blunder at court, as well as Zhang, an External Lang of the Ministry of Works, who first showed abnormalities last night.

She discovered that these officials' abnormalities mostly began recently, often lacking any clear external cause, resembling more an internal loss of emotional control.

Meanwhile, Qian Gui's Jingan Bureau acted like an invisible great net, quietly cast.

Elite agents, using various covers, covertly investigated these targets' recent movements, the objects they contacted, and even details of their diet and daily life.

They inspected the surroundings of officials' residences, noting any abnormal energy residue or unknown symbols.

At the same time, they tightened surveillance of the borders, especially along the Light Curtain, attempting to find the pathway by which the "Shadow Eclipse" power seeps in.

Chen Wen remained at the center of power, daily receiving secret briefings from Wang Ru and Qian Gui, while also focusing more intently on sensing shifts in the dynasty's fortunes.

He could sense the chilling aura of the "Shadow Eclipse," like fine dust diffusing in the air—though thin, it is everywhere, continually seeking cracks in the spirit.

At court, he noticed two low-ranking officials appearing distracted and speaking evasively during their presentations.

In the Ministry of Works, Zhao Lao Nian occasionally mentioned that his subordinates' offices had seen a slight decline in efficiency, with several formerly diligent clerks inexplicably becoming sluggish.

The situation is slowly and steadily fermenting.

"We must find a way to suppress this as soon as possible." Chen Wen stood before the map in the imperial study, his eyes sharp: "Otherwise, small troubles will grow into great illness, and regret will come too late."

He knew that relying solely on investigation and internal rectification could only treat the symptoms.

To counter this strange power originating from the master of the Iron Crow Army, perhaps unconventional means are also needed.

His gaze involuntarily turned toward the Ministry of Works.

Zhao Lao Nian and his imaginative "investigation of things" research might perhaps bring about some unexpected breakthroughs.

The undercurrents have already begun to surge, and Great Chen's response has only just started.