The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

"What's the matter?"

Wang Hao frowned and looked at the Wang family's ancestral tablet in Taiyuan, asking a question.

He had a vague sense of foreboding.

Jiang Xin's expression changed drastically. This retainer of the Wang family from Taiyuan was the one he had sent to protect Jiang Tianyi.

"Reporting to Master, when I arrived at Jiang Tianyi's residence, Jiang Tianyi was already dead, and no one in the Jiang family noticed anything amiss!"

The Wang family retainer from Taiyuan took a deep breath to calm himself down and said, "Jiang Tianyi seems to have died quietly in the Jiang family mansion."

"What a fine family, the Zheng family!"

"They acted so quickly!"

Wang Hao's face turned ashen, and he spoke with immense anger.

"Master, since Jiang Tianyi is already dead, there's nothing we can do now to change anything."

"We can only make proper arrangements for the people of the Jiang family and provide some compensation to Jiang Tianyi's family."

"So that people with ulterior motives won't say that the Wang family of Taiyuan not only couldn't protect Jiang Tianyi, but also turned a blind eye to Jiang Tianyi's family, and that once they're gone, no one will be willing to work for the Wang family of Taiyuan in the future."

Jiang Xin gave a wry smile and said to Wang Hao.

"What Elder Jiang said is very true."

"Elder Jiang, I'll leave this matter to you personally."

"Send people to protect Jiang Tianyi's family and make sure that Jiang Tianyi's funeral is handled properly."

Wang Hao paused for a moment, then gave Jiang Xin some instructions.

Although he did not believe that Minister of Works Zheng Yun would continue to target Jiang Tianyi's family.

If Zheng Yun had done such a thing, the Jiang family would probably have been completely wiped out in the first place.

But their attitude must be shown.

"Please rest assured, sir, this old servant understands."

Jiang Xin said with a respectful expression.

This news quickly spread throughout the capital.

Only then did the powerful and influential families of all sizes in the capital realize that the Wang family of Taiyuan had outmaneuvered the Zheng family of Hanzhong.

Jiang Tianyi, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice in Youzhou who had been cultivated by Zheng Yun, the Minister of Works, turned out to be Wang Hao's man.

Today in the imperial court, Zheng Yun still wants to promote Jiang Tianyi to the position of Commander of the Northern and Southern Garrison Divisions of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

In other words, Empress Murong Si ultimately did not agree.

Otherwise, Jiang Tianyi would already be the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Immediately, the powerful families in the capital began to investigate themselves, trying to see if any of the officials who had pledged allegiance to them were from the Wang family of Taiyuan, or from other powerful families.

This serves as a wake-up call for everyone.

After all, it's not just the Wang family of Taiyuan who do such things, nor is it just Wang Hao.

Others could be the same.

The next day.

Chu Xiu left the Chu residence early in the morning and went to the headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Greetings, my lord."

Lin Huaiyu approached Chu Xiu and bowed to him.

"Has Madman Nie arrived at our Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters yet?"

Chu Xiu glanced at Lin Huaiyu and said calmly.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, Lord Nie Kuangren arrived at our Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters last night with the men of Black Wind Stronghold."

"Lord Li has already met with Lord Nie."

"Now Lord Nie is going to the Northern Garrison Command to handle its affairs."

Lin Huaiyu said respectfully.

Chu Xiu nodded, remaining silent.

"Lord Nie brought back a large amount of gold and silver treasures, as well as spiritual herbs and pills."

"Our Embroidered Uniform Guard has already compiled a complete list."

"The total amount of gold is 3.5 million taels, and the total amount of silver is 27.8 million taels."

"A miraculous medicine..."

Lin Huaiyu said with a solemn expression.

"There's no need to mention elixirs and pills."

"Send all the elixirs and pills to our Imperial Guard's warehouse."

"As for the gold and silver, half will be sent to our Jinyiwei Public Welfare Special Fund, and the other half will be sent to our Jinyiwei Treasury."

Chu Xiu waved his hand and said.

"Yes, I understand."

Lin Huaiyu said respectfully.

"Is there anything else?"

Chu Xiu nodded slightly and looked at Lin Huaiyu, asking a question.

"Reporting to my lord, we have found the Sword God Ximen Jue that you asked us to find."

Lin Huaiyu hesitated for a moment before saying, "Ximen Jue is currently in Bingzhou."

However, he has gotten himself into a little trouble.

"Is Ximen Jue in Bingzhou?"

A glint of light flashed in Chu Xiu's eyes as he asked, "What trouble has he gotten himself into?"

"My lord, it seems that Ximen Jue has discovered some problems with the Sima clan in Shangdang County and has been trapped in the county seat. The Sima clan is now searching the entire city for him."

Lin Huaiyu said with a solemn expression, "He was discovered by our secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so we temporarily hid him."

"Have you discovered a problem with the Sima family?"

"what is the problem?"

Chu Xiu frowned and said.

The Sima clan was the most powerful clan in Shangdang Commandery, controlling the entire commandery.

The Commandant of Shangdang Commandery was Sima Feng, the head of the Sima clan.

Jiang Zhou, the governor of Shangdang Commandery, was a man of Empress Murong Si.

However, the Sima family, as the most powerful clan in Shangdang County, controlled the entire county, and even the county governor was sidelined by the Sima family.

Sima Feng was a close associate of Wang Mang, the governor of Bingzhou.

"My lord, Ximen Jue did not say what the matter was, only that it concerned the safety of our Great Zhou Dynasty's borders."

Lin Huaiyu took a deep breath to calm himself, and said solemnly, "Ximen Jue said that this matter must be told to you personally, sir; he will not believe anyone else!"

"You want to tell me yourself?"

Chu Xiu raised an eyebrow and said.

"Yes, sir, that is indeed the case."

Lin Huaiyu nodded slightly and said.

"Is all the information on the Sima family prepared?"

Chu Xiu pondered for a moment, then looked at Lin Huaiyu and asked.

"Your Excellency, I am ready."

Lin Huaiyu took out a document from his sleeve and handed it to Chu Xiu.

He knew very well that once Chu Xiu learned of this matter, he would definitely go to Shangdang County in person.

Shangdang Commandery was the territory of the Sima clan.

Naturally, it's essential to understand the Sima clan's strength; otherwise, if anything were to happen upon arriving in Shangdang County, even Chu Xiu wouldn't be able to leave safely.

It should be noted that within Shangdang Commandery, the Sima clan could mobilize the entire commandery's troops.

The county soldiers had their own military formations!

After a while.

Chu Xiu handed the document to Lin Huaiyu and said, "Sima Feng, the Commandant of Shangdang County, is at the peak of the seventh level of the Immortal Ascension Realm."

"And the Sima clan only has one ancestor who reached the peak of the ninth level of the Immortal Ascension Realm?"

"Yes, sir, that is indeed the case."

"Having reached the Immortal Ascension Realm in cultivation, one can be considered a true master in the entire world."

"Those who can reach the Immortal Ascension Realm are extremely rare."

"After stepping into the Immortal Realm, every step of improvement becomes extremely difficult."

"Especially after reaching the sixth level of the Immortal Ascension Realm."

“Countless beings at the Immortal Ascension Realm level are unable to cross this step and become beings at the seventh level of the Immortal Ascension Realm.”

"A being at the seventh level of the Immortal Ascension Realm has the potential to establish a powerful clan."

Lin Huaiyu nodded and said solemnly, "The Sima family of Shangdang County is already quite powerful among the local strongmen."