The mind-reading coroner drove the court crazy

Inside the majestic and solemn palace hall, flickering candlelight and interweaving light and shadow cast shadows on the exquisite carved beams and painted buildings around it, adding a sense of mystery and solemnity.

A man dressed in the uniform of a palace guard knelt in front of the emperor with an upright posture and a respectful attitude. His back was slightly bent, showing his supreme respect for the emperor.

Next to him was a heavy wooden box, the surface of which was covered with traces of time. The copper lock on the box glowed coldly in the candlelight, as if silently telling the secrecy and importance of the things hidden inside.

"Your Majesty, this is the stolen money I found this time." The man's voice was low and powerful, with a bit of calmness and determination after going through many twists and turns, and it echoed in the empty hall.

The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his eyes as sharp as torches, coldly cast on the wooden box. There was no fluctuation in his eyes caused by the huge amount of stolen money, as if it was just an ordinary object.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, raised his eyebrows, and spoke in a low and authoritative voice, with an unquestionable momentum: "Did you seize it yourself?"

The man paused slightly, a barely perceptible pause flashed across his eyes, and then he nodded and replied, "Yes."

"So, when you went on this mission, did you meet anyone along the way?"

The man shook his head slightly, his face filled with sincerity and confusion. "Your Majesty, I have not seen anyone suspicious from beginning to end."

If Zi Yan was in this hall at this moment, she would definitely open her eyes wide in astonishment. She would never have imagined that the respectful palace guard in front of her was actually Lord Zuo, whom she met at the corrupt official's house not long ago.

"Really?" The emperor's tone rose slightly, with a hint of suspicion at the end. A cold light flashed in his deep eyes, but he sneered inwardly, "That mysterious ghost-faced judge didn't show up."

Lord Zuo was silent for a moment, his brows furrowed, as if he was carefully sorting out every detail of the operation in his mind, considering how to respond to the emperor's questions.

After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his voice tinged with helplessness and regret: "Perhaps the Ghost-Faced Judge was too cunning and saw through our encirclement and suppression plan in advance, which is why he hid his whereabouts and never showed up."

It turned out that the corrupt officials exposed this time were all carefully planned and deliberately done by the emperor, with the purpose of luring out the Ghost-Faced Judge who was causing headaches for the entire court.

But who could have imagined that the other party never took the bait from beginning to end, causing this carefully planned operation to end in failure.

A faint smile appeared on the emperor's lips, with a hint of inquiry in that smile, but he did not say anything.

The hall was dead silent, with only the occasional crackling sound of the candle wick seeming to break the suffocating silence.

After a long moment, the emperor took a sip of tea, his Adam's apple moving slightly, as if he were talking to the air. His voice was low and hoarse: "What do you think of Marquis Xuanping? Could he be the mysterious Ghost-Faced Judge?"

The voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying a hint of subtle doubt.

Upon hearing this, Lord Zuo shuddered slightly, then bowed respectfully, his head lowered even further. He cupped his hands and shook his head, his tone firm, "Your Majesty, I dare not slack off in the slightest. I have arranged for my most capable confidants to keep a close eye on Marquis Xuanping's carriages day and night. Since they set out, they have galloped all the way to the foreign lands, and not a single one has deserted the team without permission. I guarantee this with my own head."

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, his deep gaze seemed to be able to penetrate the heavy fog. One hand unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, as if he was weighing something.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "What about the escort agency personnel accompanying us?"

Lord Zuo felt a chill in his heart. He knew very well that although the emperor's question seemed casual, it actually contained a deep meaning.

Without hesitation, he straightened his body and replied firmly, "Your Majesty is wise. I have thoroughly investigated those people from the escort agency. I have verified their identities and backgrounds one by one. They are indeed legitimate escort agents. There is nothing suspicious about their behavior. There is absolutely no problem."

The emperor did not respond immediately. He simply leaned back quietly on the dragon throne, his gaze fixed before him, lost in deep thought. The hall once again fell into a dead silence, with only the flickering candlelight illuminating his furrowed brow.

After a long moment, the Emperor slowly raised his hand and gently rubbed his aching brow. He sighed softly, his voice filled with emotion: "This man is extremely cunning and meticulous. He is certainly not someone who can be easily tricked."

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise."

Lord Zuo responded, his voice still calm, but a layer of fine beads of sweat quietly appeared on his forehead, flickering faintly in the candlelight.

He lowered his head slightly, trying to hide his inner panic, and clenched his fists tightly.

The Emperor seemed to sense something was wrong with him, his gaze piercing him like a sharp sword, his tone suddenly turning icy cold. "Your performance today has surprised me somewhat. You're usually so decisive and efficient, so why are you so hesitant today?"

Lord Zuo's heart tightened, and he kowtowed quickly, his forehead hitting the cold ground with a dull sound. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was simply reflecting on the shortcomings of this operation, and I am worried that I have failed your Majesty's trust and expectations."

"Hmph, I hope so." The emperor snorted coldly, his gaze fell on the wooden box again, and a complex look flashed in his eyes.

But soon the emperor raised his head again, like a child, his eyes revealing a hint of expectation and worry: "So, do you think that Marquis Xuanping can successfully retrieve the seeds after this trip to a foreign country?"

Naturally, Lord Zuo didn't dare underestimate this supreme ruler. His brow furrowed slightly, his gaze penetrating as he pondered, "Marquis Xuanping's request for the seeds was already a long shot. How could those foreigners easily return such an important item?" But it would be a shame to just give up.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly raised his head, a confident look on his face, and nodded slightly, saying, "In my opinion, it is unlikely that Marquis Xuanping will get the seeds back, but he can use special methods to get them."

He knew that foreigners were very cunning, and only a fool would return the seeds. However, if he used the method of stealing, although it was full of dangers, there was still a glimmer of hope.

At worst, I could sacrifice one person to take the risk. As long as I could get the seeds back, it would all be worth it. At worst, it would just be the loss of one life.

The emperor instantly grasped the profound meaning behind his words, and a surge of uncontrollable joy welled up in his heart. If things were truly as he described, it would be a heaven-sent opportunity to remove the grave threat that had been afflicting him like a thorn in his side and a thorn in his throat. It was truly a brilliant move, truly awe-inspiring.

At this moment, his heart was filled with the joy of eliminating the hidden danger, and he did not care at all about the seeds being scattered outside and what kind of serious consequences might be caused in the future.

He immediately said to Lord Zuo, "This Ghost-Faced Judge has repeatedly ruined my plans, and I will never let this go. When you return, you must assign more people to continue tracking down his whereabouts. Even if you have to dig three feet underground, you will find him."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will do my best." Lord Zuo responded quickly.

The emperor waved his hand and ordered, "You have failed in your duty this time. Go and receive thirty strokes of the cane yourself."

Lord Zuo lowered his head deeply and said, "Yes."

He stepped back to receive his punishment. Every time a secret guard failed to complete his task, he would receive a punishment. This time, only thirty sticks was considered light.

After the thirty beatings, he no longer knew how to walk and staggered back to his residence.

It was a small courtyard with two entrances and exits. He did not dare to delay for a moment and immediately entered the house. He pulled open the stone bricks on the ground and found a dim secret room underneath.

The moment you walk in, the candlelight instantly lights up and flickers in the dim corridor.

Walking deeper into the room, I saw a dark shadow standing in the secret room waiting for a long time.

When Lord Zuo saw that figure, he immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Meet the Master."

He was quietly waiting for the other party's instructions, but saw that person slowly turn around, and he was wearing a ghost mask on his face. It was the Ghost-Faced Judge.

The emperor would never have dreamed that the secret guard who was loyal to him would become the Ghost-faced Judge's men. This is unscientific.

"The Emperor wants to question you?"

"Yes, but rest assured, my lord, I have not revealed your whereabouts."

"Well, I'm confident in you. During this time, be careful with the Emperor and don't let him see through your plans."

"Yes."

After saying this, the Ghost-faced Judge handed him a porcelain bottle and said in a cold voice, "You suffered internal injuries earlier. This is the golden wound medicine I developed. It will be good for your recovery."

"Thank you, Master!"

Lord Zuo expressed his gratitude and carefully took the medicine. This might be one of the reasons for his rebellion.