I became the tyrant's only belief.

Chapter 307

Xiao Jingfan remained silent and listened intently.

Seeing that he looked solemn and deep in thought, Xie Hui didn't dare to disturb him and waited quietly.

[Tsk tsk, this craftsman named Huang Enchang is shameless. He manipulates his wife while using the mechanical beasts she made to get into the Ministry of Works and secure a government job.]

Chu Liuzheng carefully examined the gossip in front of him.

[As soon as the New Year was over, the tyrant ordered the Ministry of Works to find skilled craftsmen and train them properly. However, those with reputation and ability disdained to come, while those without ability or with slightly lesser ability were not valued by the Ministry of Works. After searching for a long time, only two were found. The Minister of Works was just worrying when Huang Enchang unexpectedly offered himself up, solving his urgent problem.]

While it's true that something offered to you isn't necessarily a bad thing, Huang Enchang is truly a worthless nobody.

After seeing the notice posted by the Ministry of Works, Huang Enchang knew he could get a reward, so he took the mechanical beast his wife had made to the Ministry of Works to try his luck.

[Huang Enchang's wife's ancestors were from a collateral branch of the Yan family, a renowned family of mechanical engineers. If the Yan family hadn't gotten involved in the struggle for the throne among the princes, lost their gamble, and been exterminated along with their entire clan, they wouldn't have ended up with so many dead and scattered, and their unique skills almost lost.]

Yan Shi?

Xiao Jingfan's eyes flickered slightly. He had seen records about the Yan clan in the historical books of the Dayong Dynasty.

The Yan family was once extremely powerful during the Dayong era. The head of the family was treated as an honored guest by the Dayong emperor, and could not only freely enter and leave the palace, but also held a status comparable to that of the Dayong national teacher.

However, during the reign of Emperor Yongsan, the Yan clan was tragically wiped out, and their entire collection of books was burned. Under the pursuit of the imperial court, very few members of the Yan clan survived, and they all went into hiding, making them almost impossible to find. The Yan clan's mechanical arts were thus lost.

Historical records do not state why the Yan clan was exterminated by the new emperor; it turns out it was because they placed the wrong bet and stood in the wrong position.

Xiao Jingfan pursed his lips. If he were the Emperor of Dayong, even if the Yan clan was at fault, he would never exterminate them for their mechanical skills. Instead, he would find a place to keep them in captivity and use them for his own purposes.

He remembered that historical records showed that the Yan family's unique skill was making mechanical beasts, which at their peak could almost be mistaken for real ones and had a wide range of uses, including flying and diving.

if……

He was lost in thought, so absorbed in his own ideas, that he didn't notice Xie Hui glancing at him repeatedly.

Commander Xie wondered, "Is His Majesty thinking a little too long this time?"
Chu Liuzheng didn't pay attention to any of this; she was still browsing the system.

[Tsk, this Huang Enchang has no real skills, but he's got a whole repertoire of sweet talk. On one hand, he's convincing Yan Niangzi to willingly be the woman behind him for the sake of their family, while on the other hand, he's making a name for himself in the Ministry of Works with his mechanical beasts, fooling everyone into thinking he's highly skilled in mechanical arts, when all he really knows is sawing wood.]

Chu Liuzheng couldn't help but sigh as he watched Huang Enchang's series of boastful actions.

If I had Huang Enchang's courage, confidence, and ability to boast, I might already be the Grand Preceptor of the Great Sheng Dynasty, living a life of luxury and privilege with my whole family.

Sigh! I'm still too honest.

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

The regretful tone suggests that, even if the Great Sheng Dynasty didn't have a Grand Preceptor, this woman, with her lack of ambition and lazy nature of avoiding trouble whenever possible, would likely be clamoring for abdication within a month.

After reading about Huang Enchang's experiences, Chu Liuzheng couldn't help but sigh.

[Huang Enchang is incredibly lucky. Why can't I meet a man who is both capable and willing to stand behind me and support me silently? Women are fine too, I'm not picky, I'll accept anyone, even if they're not human.]

Xiao Jingfan: "..."

If it's not human, what could it be? That magical system?
[Never mind, I'll just prop my pillow up higher tonight; I'll dream about it all.]

Chu Liuzheng was just thinking about it. As the saying goes, it's better to rely on yourself than on heaven or earth.

She continued rummaging through the system.

[Speaking of which, the trap map for Wang Wanshu's treasure location was designed by the Yan clan. If we could bring members of the Yan clan along when searching for the treasure, it would probably be much more efficient, right?]

Xiao Jingfan: !

[The system says the key to unlocking the treasure is the mechanical beast; otherwise, the treasure map is useless.] Xiao Jingfan: ! !
Although the treasure map is nowhere to be seen yet, mechanical beasts are a possibility.

"Your Majesty?" Xie Hui called out tentatively, as if to say, "What should we do next? Please give me some instructions."

Xiao Jingfan snapped out of his reverie and asked, "Who were the craftsmen sent by the Ministry of Works?"

Xie Hui replied, "One is surnamed Huang, and the other is surnamed Li; both are from the capital. It is said that Mr. Huang is highly skilled in mechanical arts, and the mechanical beasts he makes are exquisite, agile, and have many uses."

"Let them continue dismantling the mechanisms," Xiao Jingfan said. "If they can't come up with a solution by dawn, then cut them all down."

Xie Hui was surprised: "Cut it down? Isn't that a bit hasty?"
Xiao Jingfan stared at him and said in a cool tone, "I don't keep useless people under my command."

Xie Hui: "..."

Why did he feel like those words were directed at him?

Marquis Jianzhuang, known for his loyalty and bravery, had been illegally mining iron ore for five years, yet the Embroidered Uniform Guard hadn't received a single tip-off, a serious dereliction of duty.

I wonder when His Majesty plans to settle accounts with him.

Ugh! I'm so worried!
Xiao Jingfan looked at him: "What are you still standing there for? Is there anything else you want to report?"

That's not the case.

Xie Hui quickly took his leave and ran off to tell the two unlucky craftsmen that if they didn't work hard to solve the mechanism, they wouldn't see the sun rise the next morning.

Upon hearing this, Huang Enchang was so frightened that he fell to the ground with a thud.

If you can't dismantle the mechanism, you'll be beheaded. This government stipend is really hard to swallow.

You bragged like that, and now you're risking your life.

Li the craftsman sighed deeply, squatted down, grasped Huang Enchang's hands, and shook them vigorously: "Brother! I'm not skilled enough, I really can't do anything. Whether we two brothers can get back alive depends on you, you have to give me a hand."

Huang Enchang was on the verge of tears. He wanted to pull it up, but what could he do? Use his broken boast?

Craftsman Li looked at him earnestly: "Brother, say something."

Huang Enchang: No, I don't want to talk about it.

He forcefully pulled his hand back, got up from the ground, and started walking outside.

Craftsman Li asked in surprise, "Brother, you've come up with a solution?"

Huang Enchang didn't have time to pay attention to him, but there was someone at the door whom he had to deal with.

Xie Hui and Lü Fei were talking at the door when he came out and asked, "Have you thought of a way?"

Huang Enchang's legs went weak at the sight of the flying fish robe he was wearing. He licked his dry lips and said with an embarrassed smile, "I'm a little cold. I'd like to go home and put on some more clothes. I'll be back in a bit."

Xie Hui immediately said, "Cai Xin, get Mr. Huang a cloak."

Cai Xin agreed and immediately took off his black cloak and handed it to Huang Enchang: "Please use this, sir."

"Thank you for your kindness, sir." Huang Enchang's smile was more like a grimace. "I'm not used to using other people's things, I'll return—"

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Hui instructed Cai Xin: "Go to Mr. Huang's house and fetch his clothes."

Huang Enchang: "..."

Cai Xin put his cloak back on, and was about to leave after receiving the order when Huang Enchang hurriedly reached out and grabbed him: "Wait! Please tell my wife to make me the one she made herself."

"Okay." Cai Xin nodded in agreement, thinking to himself that this person had quite a few quirks. What difference did it make what he wore?