Those familiar with lighthearted tales know that Chu Liuxiang's *qinggong* was peerless, earning him the moniker of the Thief Marshal.
Yet today, some clueless transmigrator dared to impersonate our great Thief Marshal, brazenly infiltrating the Imperial Archives of Weiyang Palace in broad daylight, searching for any clues he might find.
Little did he know that the moment he stepped through the gate of the Archives, he was already being silently observed by eyes hidden in the shadows, completely unaware.
Inside the Archives, Shen Zhao glanced at the five-story-high stacks of scrolls and immediately ascended to the fifth floor.
After some searching, he finally discovered the scroll he was looking for in a corner: the *Records of Traitors of the Celestial Dynasty*.
As he opened it, striking crimson characters of "Execution" sent a chill down his spine.
"This is the Empress's evidence of crimes, which Historian Sima worked to the death to compile. When the Empress ascended the throne, she slaughtered 3,784 members of the royal family to secure her position.
In total, 49,233 officials and prominent families were implicated and became sacrifices in this power struggle."
"Such a massive purge is truly rare in the Nine Realms. It's clear that no emperor who leaves their mark on history was ever one to be trifled with."
Shen Zhao scanned the documents with his eyes, memorizing their contents in an instant before quietly returning them to their place, planning to search for other clues.
But the moment he turned, a sharp sword qi slashed through the air toward him.
Shen Zhao dodged sideways and rose to his feet, only to be met with another blast of sword qi aimed straight at his forehead.
"Eighth-grade Egoless Realm? Such a formidable guardian in the Archives? The Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty's hidden strength is truly unfathomable."
Seeing no way to evade, Shen Zhao blocked with his folded fan.
The fan bones clashed with the sword qi, producing a soft clang. Using the momentum, Shen Zhao executed a swift movement and sprinted toward the open window.
"Little thief, where do you think you're running?"
The Archival Guard wouldn't let Shen Zhao escape so easily and immediately gave chase.
Just as Shen Zhao was about to leap through the window to shake off his pursuer, the open window slammed shut, and a massive iron cage descended from above.
*Boom!*
A second before the cage landed, Shen Zhao had already dodged, darting into the nearby collection of bookshelves.
"You little rascal! How dare you cause trouble in the Imperial Palace? Surrender now, or you'll get a thorough beating when we catch you."
The Archival Guard moved silently among the bookshelves, his ears straining for the slightest sound.
Meanwhile, Shen Zhao hid behind a bookshelf, holding his breath and focusing his mind as he searched for a new escape route.
"You can't escape! Come out now!"
The guard's voice still echoed in his ears when Shen Zhao happened to look up and notice a hidden compartment whose color and material clearly differed from the surrounding bookshelves. His curiosity was immediately piqued.
He called out, "I deeply admire your dedication to duty, sir. I wouldn't have dared to trespass into this forbidden area of the Imperial City if I hadn't been forced to."
The guard immediately rushed toward the sound. But when he thrust his sword, Shen Zhao had already vanished from the spot.
"Why must you be so aggressive? I mean you no harm."
"Laughable! Do you think the Archives are some public park you can come and go as you please?"
"May I ask your name, sir? I'd like to remember the name of this hero."
"One of the Four Guards of the Imperial City—Zhu Que!"
Zhu Que spun around toward the sound, only to find the spot empty once more.
"You little pests are getting bolder and bolder, daring to desecrate the forbidden grounds of the Imperial City! Do you know that trespassing here is a capital offense?"
"As long as you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, then I won't have to die. What do you think?"
"Insolent!"
Zhu Que roared in fury, leaping to a bookshelf and scanning the area for Shen Zhao's whereabouts.
"Don't get so angry. Why don't we talk this out properly?"
"I'm an official, and you're a thief. What do you think we have to talk about?"
"Don't be so harsh. We've crossed paths, you and I. Why not be honest with each other? Sit down and talk, and we can clear the air. What do you say to that?"
"All I want to do right now is throw you into the imperial prison."
"Then may I ask you one more question?"
"What is it?"
"You're risking your life so desperately. How much do you earn a month?"
"His Majesty's boundless grace provides me with several hundred Spirit Stones a month, after all the subsidies and allowances."
"Just a few hundred a month? What are you risking your life for?"
"Insolent! How dare you!"
Zhu Que was instantly enraged. He spun around to face the voice, but Shen Zhao had already moved.
The moment Zhu Que turned, he felt a flash of cold steel and a chilling sensation against his neck.
Shen Zhao had already slipped behind him, a dagger held in reverse grip.
Cold sweat poured down Zhu Que's face. He touched the icy sensation at his neck, his heart still pounding with lingering fear. The scene replayed in his mind.
At that moment, Shen Zhao had been nine body lengths away. Though he should have been able to react, he never anticipated his opponent's speed, which was as swift as lightning.
The crucial point was that, in the instant the blade had been about to pierce his neck, Shen Zhao had switched from the edge to the flat of the blade. Had he not done so...
Zhu Que shuddered at the thought. At his level of cultivation, he understood the value of life better than anyone, and would only resort to such extreme measures when absolutely necessary.
"Friend, I truly meant no offense. I wouldn't have resorted to such a drastic measure as infiltrating the Imperial Palace during the day if the situation hadn't been so dire. Please, be reasonable."
Hearing this, Zhu Que's attitude softened slightly.
"But this is a forbidden area of the Imperial City. Guarding the Archives is my duty."
"Your duty is to ensure the Archives' records remain intact. Arresting thieves is the responsibility of the Imperial City Peacekeeping Bureau. Your actions here overstep your authority."
Zhu Que fell silent. Though the man was clearly twisting the facts, there was a certain logic to his argument.
"So you're saying I was wrong to apprehend you?"
"Not at all. You should be arrested for trespassing in a forbidden area of the Imperial City. But this matter shouldn't have been handled by you."
"Besides, you should check if any case files are missing from the Archives."
"Then what exactly are you here for?"
"The celestial phenomenon that occurred at dawn. You must understand what it signifies. I'm here to investigate it."
Zhu Que frowned. "The Imperial City has already dispatched investigators. How does your unauthorized entry into the Archives relate?"
"Because I suspect this celestial event is targeting your Empress. I must find clues to prevent this crisis."
"Are you saying this is aimed at Her Majesty?"
"Eighty percent likely."
Zhu Que fell silent again.
After a long pause, he sheathed his sword and addressed Shen Zhao. "What's your name?"
"Chu Liuxiang."
"You have one hour. After that, I don't want to see you in the Archives again. Understood?"
"Thank you for your consideration."
Shen Zhao cupped his hands in a salute, and Zhu Que immediately descended the stairs.
As soon as Zhu Que left, Shen Zhao hurried to the hidden compartment he had spotted earlier.
After much effort, he managed to open it, revealing a copy of the *Secret Records of the Empress*.
When he opened the book, Shen Zhao's pupils contracted sharply.
"Just as I suspected—Song Yanran has been planting time bombs for herself. If this isn't handled carefully, the entire Central Continent will be plunged into chaos!"
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