Chapter 333: Loyalty Test

Several days later, the covert investigation led by Wang Ru and Qian Gui steadily progressed amid the undercurrents of Bian Liang's officialdom.

The list recording officials with abnormal behavior, after repeated verification and screening, gradually shortened, finally locking onto seven or eight cases with relatively obvious symptoms and either key or representative positions.

Among them, Assistant Director Zhang of the Ministry of Works' Water Division, whose duty overseeing the cleaning of the capital's drains involves people's livelihood and safety, and whose abnormal behavior shows a worsening trend, has drawn Wang Ru's special attention.

That afternoon, Wang Ru was reviewing memorials from various localities at the Gate Down Chancellery when a secret report, originating from within the Ministry of Works and passed through the Rumor Clerk Office, was quietly delivered to her desk.

The content of the report made her brows furrow instantly.

The report said that Assistant Director Zhang, in the office today, flew into a sudden rage when a subordinate clerk objected to a materials list he had approved, not only harshly rebuking the clerk as 'harboring ill intentions' and 'deliberately making things difficult,' but nearly throwing his teacup at the other party.

This was utterly unlike his usual demeanor, which, though not smooth, was still restrained.

What further alerted Wang Ru was that the report mentioned Zhang, in his fury, had once blurted out:

"Do you know how much this dredging project involves? If the schedule is delayed, neither of us can bear the blame! Or are you actually acting on someone's orders, deliberately stalling so that Bianliangcheng reeks, bringing disgrace upon His Majesty and the Imperial Court?!"

This baseless speculation and near‑paranoid suspicion made Wang Ru instantly realize that this could not be explained merely by a bad temper or excessive pressure.

"Shadow Corrosion… has begun to distort his cognition." Wang Ru set down the report, her face solemn.

She hesitated no longer, rose at once, and while ordering someone to urgently notify Qian Gui of the Jing'an Office, she herself hurried to the Ministry of Works office.

She wanted to see for herself the condition of Assistant Director Zhang; this might be the clearest living case available to observe the effects of Shadow Corrosion.

……

Inside the Ministry of Works office, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Assistant Director Zhang shut himself in the duty room, his chest still heaving violently, his face retaining an abnormal flush from anger, and the bloodshot lines in his eyes growing more pronounced.

His mind was in turmoil, and the seemingly concerned glances of his colleagues now seemed to him full of scrutiny and ill will;

Any faint sound from outside the window made him agitated and distracted;

Even the pile of documents stacked like a mountain on his desk seemed to turn into mocking faces, ridiculing his incompetence.

"Everyone is pressing me…… they all want to see me fall……" he muttered unconsciously, his fingers gripping hard, nearly snapping the pen shaft in his hand.

A intense feeling of isolation and helplessness, coupled with persecutory delusion, entwined his mind like a poisonous vine.

Just then, the door of the duty room was lightly knocked.

"Assistant Director Zhang, Minister Wang and Commander Qian have come to inspect the Ministry of Works; please, all officials, proceed to the main hall." The respectful voice came from outside.

Minister Wang? Commander Qian?

Assistant Director Zhang shuddered violently, a chill shooting instantly from his feet to the top of his head.

Why have they come suddenly? Or have they arrived together?

That's it! Someone must have denounced me! It must be that clerk who opposed me running off to gossip!

They've come to call me to account!

Panic and greater resentment intertwined, leaving him nearly out of control.

He took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressed his surging emotions, straightened his attire, and strove to look normal before pushing the door open and stepping out.

……

The main hall of the Ministry of Works.

Minister Zhao Lao'nian, having also heard the news, arrived and accompanied Wang Ru and Qian Gui as they took the upper seats.

Below, the Ministry of Works' vice ministers, directors, assistant directors, and other mid‑ to high‑rank officials gathered, each holding their breath, unaware of what these two senior court officials—especially the heads of the Censorate and the Jing'an Office—had come for.

Assistant Director Zhang kept his head lowered, lost in the crowd, feeling those two gazes fall upon him like substance, making him feel as if a prick were on his back.

He dared not raise his head, his palms sweating from nervousness.

Wang Ru's gaze swept calmly over the assembly, finally settling on the slightly trembling Assistant Director Zhang who was trying to minimize his presence.

She did not immediately call him out, but first exchanged a few pleasantries with Minister Zhao Lao'nian about recent Ministry of Works affairs, then casually asked about technological innovation and project progress.

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to ease somewhat.

But the string in Assistant Director Zhang's mind grew tighter and tighter; he felt every word of Wang Ru carried hidden meaning, and Qian Gui's icy gaze seemed to see through all his dark thoughts.

Finally, Wang Ru shifted her tone; her voice remained calm yet carried undeniable weight:

"Recently, officials at court and in the countryside have all devoted themselves to state affairs with diligence; His Majesty and I, as premier, are deeply pleased."

"Yet a very few officials, whether burdened by heavy duties or troubled in mind, have behaved improperly, even baselessly suspecting colleagues, disrupting work and harming harmony."

"Such a practice must not be allowed to continue."

Having said this, she paused slightly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd once more.

Assistant Director Zhang's body tensed, his head drooping lower, almost burying itself in his chest.

He felt the gazes of all his colleagues turn toward him, filled with contempt and schadenfreude.

"For example," Wang Ru's clear voice came, "today within the Water Division an unnecessary dispute occurred."

"Here it comes! Indeed it has come!"

Assistant Director Zhang jerked his head up, his face deathly pale, his eyes filled with bloodshot lines and a near‑desperate agitation.

He did not wait for Wang Ru to finish, but shouted hoarsely, his voice distorted by fear and anger:

"Minister Wang! I… I am innocent! That clerk deliberately made things difficult! He must be acting on orders! They all want to harm me! They all want to see me fail in this dredging duty!"

His sudden, illogical, vehement defense silenced the main hall instantly.

All the officials stared at him in astonishment, as if looking at a stranger.

Minister Zhao Lao'nian furrowed his brows, a flash of confusion and displeasure crossing his eyes.

Qian Gui, meanwhile, fixed his keen, hawk‑like gaze on every subtle expression and movement of Assistant Director Zhang.

Wang Ru silently sighed to herself; indeed, it was so.

"Assistant Director Zhang," she said, her voice still steady yet carrying a comforting strength, "I, as premier, do not blame you, nor has anyone denounced you. I merely raise this matter in passing, hoping the Ministry of Works colleagues will take it as a warning and work together in unity."

However, at this moment Assistant Director Zhang's mind had been severely disrupted by the power of Shadow Corrosion, rendering him unable to hear these soothing words.

He only felt that Wang Ru was putting on an act, laying the groundwork for his later disposition.

"No! No, that's not it!" He shook his head hard, his eyes unfocused, his voice choked with tears, "You all don't believe me! You're all targeting me! What's the point of being an official like this!... Or... or..."

Overcome with emotion, he suddenly lunged forward a step, appearing insane.

"Seize him!" Qian Gui barked coldly.

The prepared Bureau of Peace and Stability guards stepped forward, one on each side, and firmly supported the nearly collapsing Assistant Director Zhang.

Assistant Director Zhang was restrained, no longer struggling, merely muttering with vacant eyes, "Everyone wants to harm me... everyone wants me dead..."

The hall fell into dead silence.

The officials stared at one another, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

How could that usually unremarkable yet diligent and down-to-earth colleague suddenly become like this?

Wang Ru rose, walked to the supported Assistant Director Zhang, and carefully observed his condition.

All I saw was his unfocused gaze, his spirit exhausted to the extreme, his breathing rapid and uneven, and indeed a faint yet real chill clung to his whole body.

This is exactly the "shadow erosion" phenomenon described by His Majesty!

"Assistant Director Zhang has exhausted his mind and spirit, causing his words and deeds to lose basis." Wang Ru announced solemnly, setting the tone, "He needs immediate rest. Someone, take Assistant Director Zhang back to his residence, order the Imperial Medical Bureau to send a competent physician for treatment; without an imperial edict, no one may disturb him."

She intended to temporarily isolate Assistant Director Zhang—both as protection and control, and to facilitate later observation and study.

The guards, having received the order, helped the still-muttering Assistant Director Zhang out.

The atmosphere in the main hall remained solemn.

Wang Ru looked around at everyone and spoke loudly:

"You have all seen this. As officials, one needs not only talent but also composure and moral character."

"I hope you take this as a lesson: while fulfilling your duties, also look after yourselves, so that external things do not disturb your mind, and suspicion does not cloud your vision."

"If you sense that you or a colleague shows signs of mental unrest and inability to control oneself, report it promptly; the Imperial Court will considerately provide assistance."

Her words served both as a warning and as groundwork, leaving room for handling and guiding public opinion should similar situations arise later.

The officials all bowed in assent, each lost in thought, but undoubtedly they left with a deep impression of today's events.

Zhao Lao Nian rubbed his big hands, approached Wang Ru and Commander Qian, and lowered his voice:

"Minister Wang, Commander Qian, Lao Zhang... this doesn't look like an ordinary illness, does it? Perhaps..."

Wang Ru and Commander Qian exchanged a glance.

Commander Qian gave a slight nod and said to Zhao Lao Nian:

"Minister Zhao, this matter is indeed suspicious. Later, we'll need to borrow your Ministry of Works' Investigation of Things Institute; perhaps we need your expertise to get to the root of it."

Zhao Lao Nian's eyes lit up, and he immediately slapped his chest:

"No problem! Leave it to me! I will surely ferret out this harmful thing!"

A disturbance caused by "shadow erosion" temporarily ended with the isolation of Assistant Director Zhang.

But the impact it brought has only just begun.

Assistant Director Zhang became the first typical case fully exposed under "shadow erosion".

His experience was like a warning bell ringing over the officialdom of Bian Liang.

It also marked that this intangible war against the human heart had entered a more heated stage.

Wang Ru and Commander Qian knew they must quickly find a countermeasure, or else the next one to lose control—who knows who it will be.