This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

The Left Prime Minister's Residence.

The guard looked at Zhang Ping'an, who had a broadsword hanging at his waist, wore a black flying bird robe, and was soaking wet.

He looked surprised.

When did this good-for-nothing son-in-law become a night watchman?

"Hey, use the back door!"

The guard looked at Zhang Ping'an walking straight toward the gate and sneered at him.

"Get out of here!"

choke!

Zhang Ping'an drew his broadsword and stared at the guard who had spoken with a gloomy gaze.

The guard immediately cowered, swallowed hard, and unconsciously made way for him.

Zhang Ping'an pushed open the door and went back to his room.

I heard a noise.

Holding an oil-paper umbrella, Lu Qingyin, accompanied by her maid Lanxiang, knocked on Zhang Ping'an's door.

Zhang Ping'an opened the door and was slightly taken aback when he saw Lu Qingyin.

"It's so late, Miss Lu, is there anything I can help you with?"

Lu Qingyin's expression was somewhat cold, and even Lanxiang, who was usually very kind to Zhang Ping'an, was indifferent to him this time.

Lu Qingyin entered the room, and Lanxiang closed the umbrella and stood behind her to serve her.

"Zhang Ping'an, although we are not truly husband and wife, since you are still in the Prime Minister's residence, you should be mindful of your influence."

"How could you openly go to the brothel and become a lover of those disreputable women?"

"What's most infuriating is that you actually gave such a beautiful poem, which uses objects to express one's feelings, to a woman of the night."

"What a waste!"

Ha, I thought you were concerned about me, but it turns out you were just heartbroken over that poem!

"Miss Lu, since you know we're not really husband and wife, you have no right to tell me where I go!"

"Furthermore, I don't think the women in the brothels are any less valuable than you young ladies from wealthy families."

"They earn their money through their own abilities; they don't steal or rob, there's nothing shameful about it!"

"Compared to those hypocritical officials who hold high positions in the court but form cliques for personal gain and disregard human life, they are far more noble."

Zhang Ping'an was furious and had nowhere to vent his anger; today he was going to let no one get away with it.

Moreover, these were his true feelings.

Lu Qingyin suddenly trembled, pointing at Zhang Ping'an and hissing, "You...you actually compared me to a prostitute, you scoundrel!"

Zhang Ping'an sneered: "Miss Lu, if one day the Left Prime Minister commits a serious crime, you will probably become a member of the Jiaofangsi (a brothel for entertaining and disciplining officials) as well."

"How will you handle yourself then?"

Lu Qingyin's pretty face turned pale instantly, as if she had imagined that terrible scene, and she couldn't help but take several steps back.

"Nonsense! My father is an upright official who loves the people like his own children. How could he have committed such a heinous crime?"

"You're clearly using a fallacy to deliberately change the subject."

Ah, an upright official who loves the people like his own children… Zhang Ping'an smiled.

Judging from figures like Sun Guihua and Zhang Xuanling, this Left Chancellor, the head of all civil officials, was not very competent.

"Miss Lu, I need to change my clothes. If you don't mind, then I don't mind either."

As he spoke, Zhang Ping'an began to unbuckle his belt in front of Lu Qingyin.

"You... shameless..." Lu Qingyin blushed and turned to rush out the door.

Lanxiang glared angrily at Zhang Ping'an: "Young master, you shouldn't treat Miss like this. You don't know how worried she is about you."

After saying that, Lanxiang hurriedly turned around and caught up with Lu Qingyin.

"Worried about me?" Zhang Ping'an frowned. Tch, what a joke.

After boiling a basin of hot water, wiping his body, and changing into clean clothes, Zhang Ping'an sat at his desk, lost in thought.

The massacre in the western part of the city, which claimed thousands of lives, was mostly the work of Vice Minister Sun.

In the current case of Chen Zhishi, all the witnesses have died, and there is no evidence to convict Sun Xing.

Therefore, the only way to bring down the Sun family is to find a breakthrough in the arson and murder case in the west of the city.

Given Minister Sun's cunning and shrewdness, the possibility of him leaving behind any evidence is almost nonexistent.

Zhang Pingan rubbed his temples, feeling a sudden, profound sense of powerlessness.

Power is indeed boundless.

"No, I can't stay passive like this. I need to have my own power."

His status as a Night's Watchman might make high-ranking officials wary of him, but he posed no real threat.

When it comes to a life-or-death situation, both sides become bloodthirsty, and the strength they possess becomes the key to victory or defeat.

To cultivate power, one needs nothing more than power and money.

Zhang Ping'an doesn't have power for the time being, and he disdains forming cliques for personal gain.

The only way to build power is through money.

Selling poems is just a minor path; it also requires luck.

However, Zhang Ping'an saw a business opportunity through Lu Han last time.

A storybook.

This is a business that can generate long-term income, and it can be developed into a nationwide industry.

But which work should be chosen as the first to change the landscape of vernacular stories in the Great Wu Dynasty?

Soon, Zhang Ping'an made a decision and wrote it down.

"What is right? What is wrong? Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs..."

Zhu Xian!

A work hailed as the bible of martial arts fiction in the post-Jin Yong era.

It looks like a fantasy novel, but it's actually a martial arts novel at its core.

The vernacular stories of the Great Wu Dynasty were mostly simple martial arts works.

Zhang Ping'an worried that some chauvinistic people wouldn't accept a story written directly like the Legend of the White Snake.

However, there's absolutely no need to worry about martial arts games like "Zhu Xian" which are disguised as fantasy novels.

Zhang Ping'an's main reason for not writing martial arts novels by Jin Yong, Gu Long, Liang Yusheng, and Wen Ruian was to consider female readers.

Because in an unofficial survey of Jade Dynasty, the proportion of female readers was very high.

Furthermore, unlike traditional martial arts films, it offers a refreshing and novel experience.

Most importantly, Zhang Ping'an's current state of mind is somewhat similar to that of Zhang Xiaofan, who witnessed Biyao's death.

Having made up his mind, Zhang Ping'an immediately got to work.

Zhang Ping'an spent an hour writing two chapters of the manuscript, then practiced the academy's breathing techniques for an hour before finally going to sleep.

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an, who had only slept for two hours, went to the Night Watchman's Office to report for duty with two volumes of manuscripts in his arms and two big panda eyes.

"Ping An, are you alright?" As soon as they entered the yamen, Wang Qisheng and Zhou Weidong came over to ask with concern.

"It's alright now." Zhang Ping'an grinned, standing behind the two of them, yawning repeatedly.

"By the way, how's the investigation into the arson and murder case in the west of the city going? Has the killer been caught?"

Wang Qisheng whispered, "We caught a few, and they were indeed all members of the White Lotus Sect."

Zhang Ping'an nodded; he had expected this.

With the methods of a cunning old fox like Sun Guihua, he would naturally cover up such a big case flawlessly.

However, this makes it extremely difficult to find a breakthrough in the arson and murder case.

It's estimated that the temple master was under immense pressure.

In the end, the White Lotus Sect may have to take the blame.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhao Qianshan arrived, he frowned and gathered everyone together.

"His Majesty is furious about the arson and murder case in the west of the city and has ordered the Night Watch to find the real culprit within five days."

"These next few days, all of you will go down and conduct inquiries. If you discover any clues, report them immediately!"

"yes!"

The imperial court.

The atmosphere at the morning court session was somewhat somber.

After all, the fire in the western part of the city last night illuminated half of the capital.

Through various means, everyone managed to uncover some inside information.

In short, His Majesty is furious, and anyone who crosses his brow will be doomed.

The empress wore a wide black dragon robe with gold trim and a crown, exuding nobility and majesty, which aroused a strong desire for conquest in everyone.

Of course, such thoughts of losing one's head can only be buried deep in one's heart.

"If you have something to report, do so now; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

The Empress had just sat down when the eunuch beside her called out in a high-pitched voice.