In the Ming Dynasty, I became invincible simply by extracting memories!

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xixiao's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He subconsciously glanced at Shen Lian beside him and saw that Shen Lian was also looking at him with the same shocked and incredulous gaze. Their eyes met briefly in the air.

"This... Your Highness, I... I have never heard of this person's name," Zhu Xixiao replied, composing himself.

"That's a bit strange," Prince Yu stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. "Logically speaking, this person should be somewhere in the Northern Garrison Command."

Fine beads of sweat quietly appeared on Zhu Xixiao's forehead. He forced himself to remain calm and replied, "If Your Highness Prince Yu needs it, I can immediately give the order to have someone thoroughly investigate whether there is indeed a person named Shen Lian in the Northern Garrison."

"Well, then I'll trouble you." Prince Yu nodded slightly in agreement, then, as if remembering something, added, "Oh, by the way, you might as well send someone to check the list of death row inmates in the Northern Garrison Prison. Perhaps this person has already been convicted and executed."

"Yes, Your Highness, I will obey immediately." Zhu Xixiao replied, his gaze falling on Prince Yu. He gritted his teeth, struggled internally for a moment, and finally mustered the courage to ask, "May I ask Your Highness... why does Prince Yu wish to inquire about this person...?"

"Well," Prince Yu smiled, a hint of something unreadable in his smile, "actually, I was just asked by a friend to help with the search..."

"I see, it was entrusted by someone." Zhu Xixiao understood. He originally wanted to take the opportunity to ask who the person who made the request was, but after weighing the matter carefully, he decided it was not appropriate to delve into it. So he suppressed his doubts and did not ask any further questions.

"By the way, Daoist Lan," Prince Yu suddenly turned his head, steer the conversation toward Lan Daoxing, who had been standing quietly to the side, his tone tinged with inquiry, "you still haven't told me what brings you to the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters today?"

"Your Highness," Zhu Xixiao answered before Lan Daoxing could speak, his tone respectful, "Master Lan just mentioned that he observed the celestial phenomena last night and deduced the constellations, predicting that a distinguished person from the Embroidered Uniform Guard would arrive at this time today. Therefore, he came here specifically to meet him."

"Oh? Is that so, Master Lan?" Upon hearing this, Prince Yu's smile deepened, and he looked at Lan Daoxing with great interest, awaiting his confirmation.

"It seems that my observations of the stars last night and my calculations were absolutely correct," Lan Daoxing replied, bowing slightly and speaking with a calm yet confident tone.

"Hmph," Prince Yu chuckled twice, speaking with a hint of mockery, "Since your divination is so accurate, why don't you also cast a divination for me and see where that person named Shen Lian is right now?"

"This... Your Highness, it is a secret of Heaven that cannot be revealed..." Lan Daoxing looked troubled.

"Alright, alright," Prince Yu waved his hand, interrupting him casually, "Anyway, you always use the same old rhetoric, just some empty tricks to amuse people. Lord Zhu," he turned back to Zhu Xixiao, "I'll trouble you to take care of the person I'm looking for. Feng Bao," he called to a eunuch standing beside him, who immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, sir." "It's getting late, let's head back to the manor," Prince Yu ordered, then turned and slowly left, surrounded by the eunuchs.

"Respectfully seeing off Your Highness!"

After Prince Yu had walked away, the three of them stood up.

"Then I will not stay any longer, farewell." Lan Daoxing bowed and withdrew.

At this moment, only Zhu Xixiao and Shen Lian remained in the hall.

"Lord Zhu, His Highness Prince Yu just now..." Shen Lian asked cautiously.

"Well, I don't know how His Highness knew about your affairs," Zhu Xixiao said, lowering his eyes in thought. "Could it be that someone leaked the news? But even so, why is it His Highness Prince Yu who came..."

Since he couldn't figure it out, Zhu Xixiao simply stopped thinking about it and turned to Shen Lian, saying, "I don't know why His Highness summoned you. In any case, you must be extra careful in your future actions."

"Yes."

"I will also send people to find out what's going on at the Prince's residence. If there's any news, I'll let you know immediately. You must be tired after all this today. Go back and rest early. There's no point in thinking about it too much." Zhu Xixiao patted Shen Lian's shoulder.

"Yes, sir," Shen Lian bowed and withdrew.

Stepping out of the council hall, Shen Lian remembered Yi Xia, who was still in the Department of Medicine, and turned to walk in the direction where Yi Dong and Yi Xia had disappeared. As he rounded a corner, he ran into Yi Dong helping Yi Xia out.

"Are you alright?" Shen Lian hurriedly stepped forward.

"Are you alright?" Yi Dong made an exaggerated gesture. "It took more than twenty stitches! Luckily, the cut wasn't deep and didn't damage any internal organs, otherwise..."

Yi Xia squeezed Yi Dong's arm, interrupting her.

Shen Lian glanced at Xia's pale face, touched his nose, felt his face burning, and said softly, "I acted impulsively today."

"snort."

"How about I talk to Lord Zhu and ask you two to rest for a while and not follow me for the time being?"

"No way!" The two women said in unison as soon as Shen Lian said this.

"Um, why...?"

"No means no!" Yi Dong helped Yi Xia past Shen Lian and walked towards the main gate of the headquarters.

The three of them left the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and found a carriage to return to Shen Lian's residence in the capital.

Upon entering the gate, the dishes Zhou Kui had brought were still on the table, but Zhou Kui's body and the wine jars he had brought back were nowhere to be seen.

Fang Xuejian was sitting on the steps in front of his door, his hands supporting his chin, staring blankly ahead.

Upon seeing Shen Lian and the others enter, Fang Xuejian stood up.

"Shen Lian, you're finally back! What happened? I heard a commotion outside the courtyard, and when I came out, I saw Zhou Kui lying on the ground. Then you suddenly took those two women and said you were going to some imperial prison. I was so worried, searching everywhere for people. Finally, an official came and summoned Lord Wei, who rushed out after hearing what I said. About half an hour later, a few officials came and carried Zhou Kui away. I asked them, but they wouldn't say anything and told me to mind my own business. What happened?"

Shen Lian was silent for a moment, then smiled at Fang Xuejian and said, "It's nothing. You handled today's matter very well."

"Nothing much? A person, a living, breathing person I knew! Died in my yard, I stayed with his body for over an hour, and you're telling me that's nothing!"

"Xuejian..." Shen Lian rubbed his forehead with his hand, "I'm really tired today. Let's talk about these things another day, okay?"

Fang Xuejian was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly, "Great! What's wrong with that! I'll do whatever you say, Lord Shen!" He then went into his room and slammed the door shut.

Shen Lian looked at Fang Xuejian's tightly closed door, sighed, and said to Yi Dong and Yi Xia, "You two should get some rest too." He then went into his room and lay down on the bed without even taking off his clothes.

He was really tired.

……

When Shen Lian woke up, he looked through the paper door at the sky outside and realized that he had actually slept until dawn the next day.

After a quick wash, I opened the door and went outside. I saw that the dishes on the stone table in the courtyard were gone, replaced by a food box, exactly the same as the one Zhou Kui had brought that day.

Shen Lian stepped forward and touched it: it was still warm.

Feeling hungry, Shen Lian opened the food box, took out the food inside, and began to eat.

Just after finishing his meal, Shen Lian heard a knock on the door outside the courtyard.

"Lord Shen, are you there? Lord Shen!"

Shen Lian hurriedly went to open the door, and saw a centurion he didn't recognize standing in front of it.

"Lord Shen," the man said with a fawning smile, "the Commander wants you to go to the General Headquarters before noon."

"I see."

"Well... the carriage is ready." The man rubbed his hands together, his smile widening.

"I'm coming right away."

Shen Lian closed the gate, went back inside to tidy his clothes, and then walked towards the gate.

When they reached the middle of the courtyard, Yi Dong poked her head out from the west door and asked, "Going out?"

"Yes. The commander has summoned me."

"Wait a minute, I'll go with you." The head disappeared through the crack in the door.

Shen Lian quickly replied, "I can go by myself!"

"This won't do!" came Yi Dong's voice from inside the house.

"I'm going too," came Xia's voice.

"You stay here and don't go anywhere, do you hear me!" Yi Dong opened the door, came out, turned back to the room and said, then closed the door and turned to Shen Lian, "Let's go."

The two of them boarded the carriage to the headquarters.

Inside the carriage, the two sat facing each other. Shen Lian looked at Yi Dong's fair and delicate profile and finally couldn't help but speak:

"Thank you so much for yesterday."

"Ah? Oh! There's nothing to thank me for. Yi Xia and I were sent by Lord Zhu to protect you. We were just doing our duty."

"No, it was my impulsiveness that led you and Yixia into danger, and even caused Yixia to get injured."

"Hey! Why bring it up again? Let me tell you—" Yi Dong put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Yi Xia is still blaming herself for what happened yesterday, thinking that she didn't fulfill her responsibilities."

"How could that be!"

"That's right," Yi Dong smiled, "So don't say things like 'Don't follow me anymore,' or Yi Xia will take it seriously."

"I was serious back then."

"You were a self-righteous bastard back then."

"..."

Upon arrival, the two got out of the car and went to the entrance of the council hall. Yi Dong stopped at the entrance, and Shen Lian went inside.

"Shen Lian, you've come at the right time!" Zhu Xixiao stood up from his desk, which was piled high with files. "Come and take a look. These are all evidence and confessions that were just delivered this morning."

Shen Lian hurriedly came to the table.

Zhu Xixiao picked up a letter and handed it to Shen Lian, who took it and began to read it.

After a short while, Shen Lian finished reading the letter and said, "This seems to be a secret letter from Liu Fu summoning one of the martial arts figures."

"That's right," Zhu Xixiao nodded. "This is exactly what my men found in that secret outpost you mentioned. But look." Zhu Xixiao pointed to the end of the letter. Shen Lian followed Zhu Xixiao's finger and saw a faint lotus flower mark there. Shen Lian had read the letter too quickly the first time and hadn't noticed it.

"My lord, what is this?" Shen Lian asked Zhu Xixiao.

Zhu Xixiao chuckled and said, "The White Lotus Sect, you know that, right?"

Shen Lian was stunned for a moment, then realized why Zhu Xixiao was laughing. He laughed as well and said, "I was involved in the White Lotus Rebellion before, and I was imprisoned. I remember I was even going to be executed by slow slicing."

After the joke, Zhu Xixiao's expression turned serious. "I never imagined that Liu Fu was involved with the White Lotus Sect, and not only that. The coroner reported yesterday that one of the corpses was wearing a rag around his waist."

"This..." Shen Lian was startled. A crotch cloth—that was something only Japanese people wore. "Sir, what do you mean?"

"Indeed, the news that Yan's faction secretly condoned collusion with Japanese pirates has been circulating throughout the court for some time, but due to the lack of substantial evidence, it has been left unresolved. If we could prove that Yan's faction was colluding with the Japanese, and put them firmly on the charge of treason, then even if they had extraordinary abilities, they would have no choice but to submit to execution. Not to mention those opportunists and wavering factions, they would never dare to say another good word for Yan's faction!"

"The White Lotus Sect, Japanese pirates... Hmph, I didn't expect that even after Yan Song fell from power, the Yan faction still has such extensive influence." Shen Lian frowned.

"Speaking of this," Zhu Xixiao sighed, "His Majesty has asked about Yan Shifan's recent situation many times during court sessions, and there are hints that he intends to reinstate him."

"Yan Shifan's crimes are heinous, yet His Majesty still intends to reinstate him?"

"A few days ago, His Majesty wanted to withdraw money from the national treasury to build a new palace. The ministers strongly advised against it, which stopped the matter. At that time, His Majesty said, 'If Grand Secretary Yan were here, he would never go against my wishes,' and his tone was full of nostalgia."

"Hmph," Shen Lian thought to himself, "that old fox Jiajing must be jumping up and down in the palace because he doesn't have Yan Shifan as his front man to make money for him."

"The only solution now is to find a way to completely eradicate the remnants of Yan's faction in the court, so as to prevent them from making a comeback."

"That's right," Zhu Xixiao nodded, "So the line of Yan's party colluding with the Japanese is of paramount importance—Shen Lian."

"Um?"

"I want you to go to the southeast and investigate."

"Me?" Shen Lian was taken aback.

Zhu Xixiao nodded and said, "Recently, pirates have been causing trouble in the southeast. The court was worried about not being able to find any spies within the court who were colluding with the enemy. I never expected that it would be our Embroidered Uniform Guard. His Majesty just issued an edict a few days ago, ordering our Embroidered Uniform Guard to send people to the southeast to assist in the suppression of the pirates and to thoroughly investigate the traitors. Since you are the one who uncovered this clue, you should go to the southeast with him."

Shen Lian's heart stirred, and he cupped his hands in response, "Your Excellency commands, I obey."

Seeing his quick answer, Zhu Xixiao smiled and said, "You're a reliable and discerning young man; I trust you. This trip to the Southeast will be under the command of the General Garrison Commander. Take your men and pack your bags as soon as possible. I'll have the paperwork ready for you immediately, and you'll be allowed through all the checkpoints along the way. Also, I'm sending you to the Southeast not only to investigate the Japanese pirates, but also for your safety."

"grown ups……"