Chapter 160: Undercurrents Surge in the Imperial Court, the Heroic Woman Skillfully Breaks the Deadlock

The guard’s voice sounded from behind. Lin Shiya withdrew her gaze, turned around, and gave a slight nod. "Thank you for your trouble, Guard Li." She slowly walked down the steps. A night breeze swept by, carrying a touch of chilliness, making her fluttering robes appear even more aloof and solitary.

Returning to her residence, Lin Shiya did not rest immediately. She sat in the study, where the flickering candlelight reflected her composed face.

Her slender fingers gently tapped on the tabletop, producing a rhythmic, soft sound as if she were deep in thought.

The air was permeated with a faint scent of ink, intertwining with the fragrance of the night-blooming jasmine outside the window, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

However, Lin Shiya's heart was far from calm.

She knew very well that the dark struggles within the imperial court were still ongoing, and those enemies hiding in the shadows were biding their time, ready to strike.

She had to remain vigilant at all times in order to stand undefeated in the treacherous and unpredictable imperial court.

Meanwhile, within Prime Minister Yang's residence, the lights were ablaze.

Prime Minister Yang paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, his brow tightly furrowed, clearly troubled by some thorny matter.

He stopped from time to time to look at Strategist Zhao, who was seated to the side. "Well? Have you found out anything?"

Strategist Zhao put down his teacup and slowly said, "Top Scholar Lin's reform plan is proceeding very smoothly, and the public response is also excellent. No obvious loopholes have been found for the time being." He paused for a moment before adding, "However, based on my observation, Top Scholar Lin is cautious by nature and flawless in her actions. I'm afraid it will be very difficult to find her flaws."

Hearing this, Prime Minister Yang's expression grew even gloomier. He let out a heavy sigh and said, "It seems this Lin Shiya is not easy to deal with! We must find a way to halt her reforms, otherwise, our position will be threatened." A hint of ruthlessness laced his tone. Strategist Zhao smiled faintly and said, "Prime Minister need not worry; this subordinate already has a plan..." He leaned close to Prime Minister Yang's ear and whispered a few words. Prime Minister Yang's expression gradually relaxed, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

As the night grew deeper, the imperial city was shrouded in silence, broken only by the rhythmic footsteps of patrolling soldiers.

In a concealed corner, a dark figure slipped silently into the Lin residence. With agile movements and swift actions, he soon located Lin Shiya's study.

He cautiously pushed open the window, slipped into the room, and by the dim candlelight, began to thoroughly search through the books and documents in the study.

Suddenly, as if discovering something, he jerked his head up and fixed his gaze on a wooden box resting on the desk...

Lin Shiya’s fingertips grazed the edge of the paperweight, its icy touch keeping her mind sharp.

She rose and walked to the window, pushing it open. The night breeze laden with a faint chill rushed toward her, dispersing the stuffiness in the study.

She knew someone was spying on her from the dark, lurking like a venomous snake ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

Rather than remaining on the passive defensive, it was better to take the initiative.

The next day, abandoning her usual low profile, Lin Shiya widely distributed invitations, summoning several neutral-leaning officials from the court to visit and inspect the reform achievements of the academy.

When those officials walked into the completely renovated academy with skeptical looks, they were all astonished by the scene before them.

Spacious and bright classrooms, brand-new desks and chairs, and the thirst for knowledge radiating from the children's faces all exuded boundless vitality.

They had originally thought Lin Shiya's reforms were merely empty talk on paper, but now it appeared they had genuinely transformed the face of the academy.

Lin Shiya led the officials on a tour of the academy, patiently and meticulously explaining the significance of each reform and honestly sharing the problems and solutions encountered during the process.

She did not deliberately conceal anything; instead, she laid every single detail of the reforms out under the sun.

Her candor and confidence infected everyone present.

During the tour, Lin Shiya seemingly off-handedly brought up the incident from a few years prior when the court funds allocated for digging canals were layer upon layer embezzled and clipped.

Without naming names, she merely detailed the circumstances of that time in depth.

As veterans of the imperial court, those officials immediately understood there was more than meets the eye.

They exchanged glances, and Lin Shiya skillfully guided the conversation toward the Ministry of Works, which Prime Minister Yang had once overseen. The implications were self-evident.

With gentle yet piercing words, she unveiled certain past behaviors of Prime Minister Yang. Though she made no direct accusations, she planted the answers firmly in the hearts of the officials present.

They began to doubt Prime Minister Yang's motives and wavered in their loyalty to him.

The conspiracy that was originally intended to attack Lin Shiya was thus cleverly neutralized by her.

As night fell, Lin Shiya sat in her study, the candlelight casting faint shadows across her face.

She picked up an ancient text, opened a page, and read seemingly at random.

The sound of turning pages was very light, yet exceptionally clear in the silent night.

Suddenly, a low voice echoed in the study, "Lord Lin, you certainly have impressive methods."

Hearing this, Lin Shiya raised an eyebrow slightly, a cold smile curling the corners of her lips as she slowly lifted her head, her gaze as sharp as a blade's edge.

The intruder was none other than Guard Li, the trusted confidant of Grand Commandant He.

She swept a cool glance over him and said, "Grand Commandant He’s men certainly have a lot of nerve. However, do you really think you can shake my stance this way?"

In the nocturnal imperial city, the streets featured only sparse lamplight, occasionally punctuated by the footsteps of patrolling guards.

Lin Shiya stood by the window, gazing into the distant imperial palace through the half-open casement.

Having weighed various options in her mind, she resolved to take the offensive.

The following day, Lin Shiya received a secret letter from Miss Zhou, mentioning that someone was spreading unfavorable rumors about her in the underground black market.

A thought stirred in Lin Shiya’s mind, and she swiftly formulated a plan.

She instructed Miss Zhou to investigate while she herself observed from the shadows.

Following Lin Shiya's instructions, Miss Zhou quietly entered the underground marketplace.

It was dark, crowded, and boisterous, with figures of all kinds weaving through the throngs, murmuring in low voices.

Feigning the search for a vendor, Miss Zhou wandered among the crowd.

Sensitively spotting a few suspicious-looking individuals, she trailed them quietly.

Before long, those men entered a secluded room.

Hiding by the doorway, Miss Zhou listened to the dialogue within through the crack of the door.

"Hurry up, go spread more rumors about Lin Shiya to completely ruin her reputation," a low voice commanded.

Recognizing the voice as belonging to one of Grand Commandant He's men, Miss Zhou quickly retreated and reported everything she had seen and heard to Lin Shiya.

Upon hearing this, Lin Shiya’s expression remained unchanged; she simply gathered a few trusted aides and hurried straight to the underground market.

Arriving at the secluded chamber, she pushed the door open, her gaze blazing like torches as she stared directly at the men who were preparing to leave.

"Gentlemen, aren't these Grand Commandant He's subordinates? It seems your master is deeply dissatisfied with the fruits of my reforms." Lin Shiya’s voice was clear and resolute, echoing throughout the room.

Grand Commandant He's men exchanged flustered glances, their expressions turning instantly panicked.

They had not expected Lin Shiya to locate them so swiftly.

One of them attempted to justify, "Lord Lin, you have misunderstood..."

Without giving him a chance, Lin Shiya interrupted with a cold laugh, "Misunderstood? I have long since caught wind of the rumors you've been spreading in the underground market. However, I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to expose Grand Commandant He's true colors."

Her words pierced like daggers straight into the heart.

The surrounding merchants began to buzz with discussion, casting suspicious looks toward the subordinates.

"Grand Commandant He, since these men are your trusted confidants, why are they here spreading falsehoods? Could it be you want the entire city to know that you are the mastermind behind all these conspiracies?" Lin Shiya’s voice rang out among the crowd like thunder, shocking everyone present.

The subordinates turned pale and were rendered speechless.

Lin Shiya swept her gaze over the crowd, her tone chilling slightly, "Your master will soon pay the price for his actions."

With that, Lin Shiya turned and left, leaving behind a group of panicked subordinates and gossiping merchants.

Her retreating figure was firm and confident, as if everything remained firmly within her grasp.

Returning to her residence, Lin Shiya closed the study door, tapped her fingers rhythmically on the desk, and formed her decision.

Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the secret compartment to the side, and the corners of her lips tilted upward slightly.

"Murong Fu, are you ready? We are about to make our move," she murmured softly, her tone laden with firmness and determination.

Just then, the secret compartment in the study opened noiselessly.

Lin Shiya returned to her study, closed the door, tapped her fingers thoughtfully against the desk.

At that moment, the secret compartment slid open silently, and the figure of Murong Fu stepped out slowly.

He wore a plain robe, his brow exuding an air of steady composure.

Catching sight of Lin Shiya, he smiled gently, walked to her side, and grasped her hand tightly.

"Shiya, you've worked hard." Murong Fu's voice was low and tender, warm as spring sunlight.

His words were filled with care and support, as if capable of chasing away the gloom in her heart.

Feeling the warmth of Murong Fu's palm, a current of warmth surged through Lin Shiya's chest.

She looked up at him—

Murong Fu smiled, his eyes brimming with deep affection. "I know the situation in the court is complex, but as long as you need me, I will always be by your side."

The two smiled at each other, and a cozy ambiance filled the room.

However, right at that moment, Lin Shiya furrowed her brow, as though sensing something amiss.

She released Murong Fu's hand, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The night breeze carrying a hint of chill rushed in, dispersing the warmth in the study.

"Murong Fu, I just discovered that a strange and unfamiliar faction has begun paying attention to me." She gazed into the distant imperial palace, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity. "They are unlike any faction currently in the court, and their motives are unclear."

Murong Fu's brow furrowed as well. He stepped up beside Lin Shiya and looked at her with a steady gaze. "This force is not simple; we must handle them with care. But rest assured, I will help you investigate their background."

Lin Shiya nodded, yet lingering unease remained in her heart.

She turned around, preparing to speak, when suddenly a faint rustling sound drifted from outside the study, carrying an ominous premonition.

Lifting her eyebrow, she spun around swiftly, her gaze burning as she fixed it on the direction of the secret compartment, the corners of her mouth curving slightly upward as if she had already prepared herself for whatever lay ahead.

"No matter who comes, I will leave them nowhere to hide." Her voice was firm and confident, sounding like a declaration that a new challenge was fast approaching.