You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

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Ji Yaohua smiled and said, "My young master's surname is Lu, his given name is Zuo, and he is the current Imperial Advisor."

It's him?

The composed young man before me was actually the powerful and influential new imperial advisor who had uprooted the An family overnight.

Rumors about him have long spread throughout Bianjing. He is deeply trusted by the Emperor and holds the power of the Imperial City Guard, overseeing all officials. Even figures like Gao Qiu, the Grand Commandant, now give way to him!

A thought suddenly flashed into my mind!

if……

If we could obtain the assistance of this Imperial Preceptor Lu…

What are Gao Yanei and Gao Taiwei compared to this Imperial Advisor who can crush even the An family with a flick of his wrist?

As long as he is willing to speak, even if he only reveals a hint of his intention, how dare Gao Yanei bother him in the slightest?

Perhaps then I can truly escape this endless nightmare and enjoy peace.

On a deeper level, he was deeply favored by the emperor and wielded immense power...

If he were willing to say a few good words to His Majesty, would there be any possibility that the Prime Minister's grievances could be redressed?

Thinking of this, Zhang Zhenniang immediately bowed deeply and said, "This humble woman humbly begs the Imperial Preceptor for mercy!"

"The matter of Gao Yanei may be as insignificant as an ant or a speck of dust to the Imperial Preceptor, but to the common woman, it is a sword hanging over her head, making her uneasy day and night."

"If the Imperial Preceptor can lend a helping hand and make her back down, I will forever remember the Imperial Preceptor's kindness."

She didn't mention Lin Chong's matter. After all, they had only just met, and Zhang Zhenniang didn't dare to ask for too much. It wouldn't be too late to solve the current crisis first and then think of a solution later.

Lu Zuo nodded: "Madam need not worry about Gao Yanei's matter any longer."

"Go home safely."

After saying that, he glanced at Ji Yaohua beside him, turned around and walked towards the other end of the long street. The latter understood and quickly followed.

Zhang Zhenniang stared blankly as the two figures merged into the bustling crowd and disappeared around the street corner, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

"Young master, have you taken a fancy to that Miss Lin?"

After walking for a while, Ji Yaohua asked a question with a slight smile.

Lu Zuo shook his head: "No."

"She's a good person, but also a pitiful one. I won't touch her."

what?

Ji Yaohua was taken aback, and looked at Lu Zuo with some surprise in her eyes.

No?

You won't touch her?

These words from him left Ji Yaohua momentarily dazed.

In her mind, this new master had never concealed his interest and needs when it came to women.

Liu Ruyan's alluring submissiveness, Butterfly and the others' charming cuteness, and even Li Shishi's talent and beauty...

He accepted all comers without hesitation, and one could even say he actively recruited them.

Didn't I just give in to him yesterday?

She always thought he was a person with clear goals and strong desires, and that he would naturally take possession of any "good things" that caught his eye and happened to be on his path.

Zhang Zhenniang was clearly a rare beauty, and at this moment she was in a helpless, vulnerable, and pitiful situation...

Isn't this the easiest time to succeed?

But he denied it so readily, his tone revealing no pretense or regret, and he even made it clear that he "would not touch her."

Why?

Ji Yaohua's mind raced. Yes.

Because Zhang Zhenniang was someone else's wife?

But this new master doesn't seem to care much about these worldly customs and etiquette.

Is it...

Was he really just helping out of pity?

This seems somewhat out of character for him.

I can't see through it.

For the first time, Ji Yaohua felt that she might never have truly understood the man in front of her.

He was a womanizer, but he didn't seem to be without any moral bottom line.

Lu Zuo noticed Ji Yaohua's strange gaze and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's just... I just can't quite figure it out..." Ji Yaohua replied subconsciously.

Lu Zuo chuckled lightly: "There's nothing I can't figure out. I just said, she's a good person."

She's a good person...

Doesn't this imply that I, Butterfly, Swallow, Cicada, and Willow Smoke are all bad women?

Thinking about it carefully, I realize I'm ruthless, a mass murderer, and incredibly ambitious...

She can hardly be considered a kind woman.

Lu Zuo's eyes suddenly sharpened: "I'm leaving the Gao family's affairs to you."

"Upon returning to the Imperial City Guard, you led men to ransack Gao Qiu's home and beheaded Gao Qiu and his son."

Ji Yaohua cupped her hands and replied, "Yes, young master."

.......

A short while later, in the Zhang family's main hall.

Instructor Zhang rushed in and grabbed Zhang Zhenniang's wrist as she sat drinking tea to calm her nerves: "Zhenniang!"

"I just heard from people in the camp that you were surrounded by thugs on the street?"

"Are you hurt? What happened?!"

Seeing her father so anxious, Zhang Zhenniang quickly put down her teacup and said softly, "Father, I'm alright."

She then gave a brief account of what had happened on the street, how the hooligans had surrounded them, how Lu Zuo and his female companion had driven them away, and finally, what happened to Lu Zuo.

"Father, now that Grand Preceptor Lu has spoken, I suppose Gao Yanei's side will no longer bother us."

"Perhaps we can finally have a few days of peace."

Upon hearing this, Instructor Zhang's brows furrowed even more, his face filled with worry.

"Father...is there something you're worried about?" Zhang Zhenniang asked softly when she saw that her father's expression was off.

Coach Zhang looked towards the door and sighed softly, "Daughter, officials protect each other."

"What Father means is..."

Instructor Zhang sighed softly, "Alas..."

"Your father has spent half his life wading through the muddy waters of Beijing; what haven't I seen?"

"Those in high positions of power, every single one of them, where does their unearned kindness come from?"

"Today, the Imperial Preceptor Lu verbally promised you protection, but what about tomorrow?"

"What if Gao Qiu prepares lavish gifts and promises great profits?"

"Would he still risk a falling out with the powerful and influential Grand Commandant Gao for our sake?"

"Oh….."

"Hoping the imperial advisor will uphold justice for us is less realistic than hoping the sun will rise in the west!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhenniang's hands and feet turned ice-cold...

Instructor Zhang's concerns were not unfounded. After all, the official system of the Song Dynasty was not much better than that of the Southern Chen Dynasty; it was rotten to the core!

Moreover, he was unaware that Lu Zuo was the true ruler of this fictional Song Dynasty!

……

An hour later, at the Gao residence.

Gao Qiu paced back and forth in the spacious yet oppressive hall, his hands behind his back, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water, his brow furrowed in a knot.

Lu Zuo actually saved that Lady Lin?

Will this offend him?

"That unfilial son!"

"A complete idiot who's good for nothing and good for making things worse!"

Gao Qiu stopped in his tracks, and said angrily, "Who is that Lu Zuo?"

"A person even the emperor listens to without question!"

"Someone, prepare the car!"

"The jade Guanyin statue from the previous dynasty in the imperial treasury, and the bushel of pearls newly presented as tribute from the East Sea..."

Bang!

Before Gao Qiu could finish speaking, a loud bang echoed from outside the hall!

"Grand Commandant, something terrible has happened!"

"The Imperial City Guards have surrounded the residence!"

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Exhausted after a night of worry, Zhang Zhenniang got out of bed, washed up, and headed towards the hall.

Bang!

suddenly!

A muffled thud came from the direction of the courtyard gate, startling Zhang Zhenniang. She thought it was Gao Yanei coming to harass her again.

She looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Manager Wang, who ran a silk business next door, had barged in. She immediately felt much more at ease.

"Instructor Zhang, Zhenniang!"

"Quickly, you all should go and check the streets!"

Before he could finish speaking, Instructor Zhang strode out of the hall and asked in a deep voice, "Manager Wang, what has happened?"

……

At this moment, on the streets of Bianliang.

A dense crowd of people squeezed onto both sides of the street, standing on tiptoe and craning their necks, looking into the distance with disbelief.

A group of Imperial City Guard members solemnly led the way, their steps heavy and orderly.

Following closely behind was a long line of wooden cage prison carts.

The once all-powerful Gao Qiu had disheveled hair, his face was ashen, his hands were bound by heavy wooden shackles, and a sturdy rope was around his neck. He was no longer the powerful figure he once was.

As for Gao Yanei, who was arrogant and domineering in Bianjing, he fared even worse.

He slumped in the corner of the cage, covered in blood and grime, his face and body marked with whip marks and brands, showing that he had been tortured many times.

Besides the Gao family father and son, all the officials who usually relied on Gao Qiu and acted as his henchmen were also imprisoned in prison carts and headed out of the city.

"The Gao family... is that all? They were fine yesterday?"

"Their house was ransacked? They were paraded through the streets? Is this...is it true?"

Whispers rippled through the crowd, filled with disbelief.

Gao Qiu and his son had amassed great power and influence in Bianjing for many years, but overnight they were reduced to prisoners.

"How could it have happened overnight..." an old man murmured, but was interrupted by a well-informed man next to him before he could finish speaking.

"Hey! You guys didn't know this, did you?"

"My cousin, who works in the Imperial City Guard, told me it was the Imperial Preceptor Lu! He personally gave the order!"

"National Preceptor Lu?"

"Yes! It's that Grand Preceptor Lu who brought down the An family!"

"It's said that Gao Yanei, that scoundrel, was blind and bullied an innocent woman in the street, only to run right into the hands of the Imperial Advisor!"

"The Imperial Preceptor immediately ordered the Imperial City Guard to arrest the man and confiscate his residence! What do you call that? That's swift and merciful retribution!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

"Heaven has eyes!"

"Finally, someone has managed to tame these ruthless wolves!"

"This is truly gratifying!"

"This is truly gratifying!"

"The Imperial Advisor is truly wise!"

"First they brought down the An family, and now they've eliminated Gao Qiu. With Grand Preceptor Lu in charge of the Song Dynasty, we commoners have hope!"

Just then, Zhang and his daughter ran out of the alley. When they saw Gao Qiu and his son, along with their henchmen, being paraded through the streets in a prison cart, they were stunned and speechless.

it is true!

Grand Preceptor Lu wasn't just saying it casually!

Zhang Zhenniang stared blankly at the prison cart, tears suddenly welling up without warning...

"Kill them!"

Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly roared, instantly igniting long-suppressed public anger!

"Kill these corrupt officials!"

"Smash them to death!"

In an instant!

Rotten vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, and stones rained down on the prison van from both sides of the street!

These long-suppressed grievances of the people finally erupted.

In the blink of an eye, Gao Qiu and Gao Yanei were beaten black and blue, their skin torn and bleeding, a truly pitiful sight.

……

At this moment, Lu Zuo in the palace was filled with excitement.

"The gold alone amounts to as much as 170,000 taels?"

"Is the Gao family that rich?"

"We could just shut down all the corrupt officials in the Song Dynasty..."

"Wandering the Heavens as a Tyrant, You Don't Understand My Happiness" is currently being serialized and is not to be missed!