Master of Strange Dao

In the Divine Dynasty, those who lived a long life were not necessarily upright and incorruptible, nor straightforward and unyielding.

Those who lived long were all keenly sensitive and knew how to tend to the good and avoid the evil, careful not to offend others indiscriminately.

This sun had just risen, and the routine morning court meeting had not yet begun.

Some who saw Song Chengyue appear naturally greeted him and then said,

"Lord Song, there's a case that has been delayed for quite some time. This year's tasks have been affected. Could you please instruct the people below to hurry up as much as possible."

Spoken word-for-word, at first listen it almost seemed like a provocation.

Song Chengyue bowed his hands, wearing a smile, and agreed.

He certainly knew what that case was all about. Was it the Jinyi Wei's fault that it couldn't be handled before?

Wasn't it these people who used every means to blatantly drag their feet? Yet, as all their actions were within the rules, their various justifications were irrefutable, even if he were to bring the matter to Emperor Qian.

Issues like poor communication, insufficient manpower, an overload of tasks at hand—that these concerned their very lives and livelihoods—gathering data, following procedures, it wasn't that they wouldn't do it, just that it was slower.

These seasoned schemers, brandishing excuses you couldn't fault, which they could bring out at will.

Yet today they took the initiative to cooperate. If not extending an olive branch, at least it served to ease the tension somewhat.

Emperor Qian hadn't said anything publicly, just took him for a stroll and a chat in the palace city, and Song Chengyue's days had suddenly become much easier.

In the past few years, targeting Song Chengyue for no reason, finding fault with the Jinyi Wei, and making them a scapegoat whenever there was blame to be assigned, had nearly become politically correct.

Song Chengyue, as always, stood in a corner of the court, humble and respectful, showing no pleasure in his face to others.

He simply reflected silently, the directions of the wind truly changed in an instant.

Wherever Emperor Qian directed the wind, it had to blow.

If Emperor Qian said he would serve another eight hundred years as Jinyiwei Commander, then his life was not in danger for the time being.

His discovery of another force hidden in the Emperor's hand, and then pretending to reveal Dali's hidden forces—all were risky moves.

However, based on Song Chengyue's understanding of Emperor Qian, as well as the frequent blunders by the eunuchs lately, why not seize such an opportune moment to surge forward? Otherwise, his many years as Commander would have been in vain.

As he said, the major issues were what mattered, everything else was insignificant detail to him.

According to Song Chengyue's understanding of Emperor Qian, this was exactly what the emperor thought.

Emperor Qian wouldn't even care about the details. When he tasked his subordinates with something, he couldn't possibly delve into every detail. He only cared about the results.

If the outcome was bad, no matter how hard the process or how well done, you were still in the wrong—entirely wrong.

No matter how many "insignificant details" there were in the process, if you made things look good and the outcome was what Emperor Qian wanted, then whatever you said was right.

Standing in a corner of the court, Song Chengyue observed quietly, like a statue, only listening, not speaking, invisible to all.

Halfway through the morning court meeting, Song Chengyue's gaze swept across the room, noticing that the Old Eunuch who usually served Emperor Qian wasn't by his side today.

Although he outwardly despised the eunuchs, wishing to bite them to death, deep down, he held little respect for them.

Others might not know, but as Daqian's eye within the darkness, Song Chengyue was all too aware of the myriad vile and sordid affairs.

Others might think that these people were only dark and twisted because of their physical incompleteness and discrimination they faced.

Yet, Song Chengyue scoffed at such explanations; their physical incompleteness was the least of issues.

It was more so that they grew up in an oppressive and distorted environment, never knowing when they might senselessly lose their lives, their entire existence confined to the seemingly vast—but in reality, cramped and dangerous—palace city.

Added to the lack of respect from others and the intense repression from both above and below,

Under various circumstances, those eunuchs who climbed out from the bottom of the pit of the dead were none of them good people.

Indeed, these fellows were loyal to their sovereign.

Unfortunately, when sent out on tasks, in terms of capabilities, Song Chengyue truly did not think highly of them.

The Jinyi Wei were known as minions, their reputation stank to high heaven, but at least they operated openly.

Those rotten shrimps and fish, they probably wouldn't even dare to reveal their true colors.

And they thought they could get things done?

Song Chengyue held such disdain.

Whether he used his authority for personal business, trafficked information, or smuggled treasures, they were all but minor issues unimportant to the big picture.

Even if one day his actions were exposed, and he met with disaster, Song Chengyue was unafraid.

As long as the important things were done well, even if I trafficked information, it was merely a necessary means during the process of achieving greater goals.

All other things were unimportant.

Just as Song Chengyue was openly slacking off, he heard the words "Jinyi Wei" and lifted his head slightly.

He saw an official with the surname Li, bearing the title of Imperial Censor, speaking passionately, clutching at the Jinyi Wei's every minor mistake, attacking himself in front of everyone.

Song Chengyue preserved his composure and listened silently.

These fools, did they really think the Divine Dynasty needed them—those lacking in any real ability, armed with nothing but a sense of "righteousness"?

They only needed to stand there.

Whether it was Imperial Censor Li or Imperial Censor Wang, there was no difference between them.

Just a fool unable to see the situation, pushed forward by others as a pawn for probing.