The moment the dry well appeared, Zeng Anmin didn't hesitate at all and jumped straight down.
The surface of the well's opening was exceptionally dilapidated. There was no need to even think about the conditions inside; it was absolutely free of danger.
"THUD!"
His feet landed on something soft. The abandoned well wasn't deep—less than two meters at most. It was pitch-black inside without a sliver of light. In the cramped space, Zeng Anmin could only barely bend his legs.
Reaching out, he felt a wave of softness against his skin. He grabbed it and pulled.
"So heavy."
He had no idea what material this cloth was made of, but it weighed as much as refined iron. After estimating its weight, he shouted toward the well's opening, "Lower a rope."
Before long, someone lowered a rope. After climbing out of the well, Zeng Anmin's face was slightly flushed. He threw the object in his hand onto the ground and let out a light sigh of relief. The object hit the ground with a muffled "THUD."
Under the moonlight, Zeng Anmin saw that the soft object on the ground was a piece of cloth a full ten feet long. The silky fabric slowly unfurled from the force of his throw. A painting steeped in mystery caught his eye.
Amidst the clouds and mist, a giant dragon stood with its head held high, its full posture obscured. Its faintly discernible scales shimmered with dazzling golden and green luster. The dragon's head was raised, and its eyes, like radiant gemstones, exuded wisdom and majesty. Its long horns extended backward like branches, emitting an aura that was mysterious, ancient, dignified, and solemn...
It was none other than the Dragon Inspection Map!
"What a masterpiece."
Unknowingly, his gaze was deeply drawn to the painting. On the Illustrated Catalog, every line seemed eager to tell him the meaning of its existence. Involuntarily, Zeng Anmin's brain began to process frantically.
Just a breath before the duration of the [Rapid Enlightenment] ended, his eyes happened to lock with the giant dragon on the Dragon Inspection Map.
"BOOM!!!!"
It was as if an ancient god was splitting the heavens during the time of chaos. A dragon's phantom completely cleaved through the fog in his mind! A massive silhouette of light, visible only to him, suddenly leaped out from the Dragon Inspection Map.
"BUZZ!"
The silhouette of light surged toward him in the blink of an eye. The speed was so fast that Zeng Anmin couldn't react at all. In an instant, Zeng Anmin's Sea of Consciousness churned violently, as if the world were turning upside down.
He felt as though he saw the Ancestral Dragon from ancient times, reigning supreme through the ages and unrivaled in the world! He also sensed a hint of unwilling humiliation in the Ancestral Dragon's colossal, mysterious, and profound eyes...
"HISS."
A pain that pierced deep into his marrow and struck directly at his soul washed over him. Fortunately, the pain vanished after just a brief moment.
Once all the wondrous visions dissipated, Zeng Anmin felt that something had been added to his mind... or rather, his Sea of Consciousness. With a thought, he looked down like a deity upon his Sea of Consciousness, which was rippling with a faint purple aura. A shrunken phantom of the Dragon Inspection Map floated within it.
"The Dragon Inspection Map actually helped me open up the Purple Mansion directly?!"
Zeng Anmin's heart trembled violently.
As the Governor's son, Zeng Anmin had a certain understanding of this world's Extraordinary system in his memories. The Sea of Consciousness was a wondrous realm that Body Cultivators, also known as Martial Artists, could only open upon reaching the Seventh Grade Visualization Realm. Confucian Cultivators called it the Purple Mansion, and one needed to reach the Eighth Grade Qi-Nurturing Realm to open it. Daoism referred to it as the Upper Dantian; as for what Realm was required, Zeng Anmin wasn't quite sure. The Buddhist Family called it Nash, and similarly, he didn't know the specifics.
However, regardless of the school, one had to cultivate to a certain Realm to be qualified to open it. He clearly hadn't even reached the Entry Grade yet, so how did he inexplicably skip so many ranks?!
From the moment Zeng Anmin pulled the map up, only a few breaths of time had passed. The earth-shattering changes occurring within him merely looked like he had stood there in a daze for a brief moment to onlookers. No one noticed anything unusual.
"It really is the Dragon Inspection Map!"
The White-clothed Venerable was the first to arrive at Zeng Anmin's side. He bowed respectfully and reported from a distance to Emperor Jianhong. Emperor Jianhong remained nonchalant and noncommittal, simply raising his hand.
"Yes."
The White-clothed Venerable picked up the massive Illustrated Catalog from the ground. The Dragon Inspection Map, which Zeng Anmin had struggled to lift, was as light as a feather in his hands. Upon reaching Emperor Jianhong, the White-clothed Venerable respectfully offered it with both hands. Emperor Jianhong gave it a cursory glance; it was identical to the Dragon Inspection Map in his memory.
"Mhm." He nodded lightly and then shifted his gaze to Zeng Anmin, who stood not far away.
He naturally knew that his decision to imprison Zeng Shilin this time lacked sufficient evidence and had been a bit too hasty... However, being well-versed in the arts of an emperor, he would never admit to being wrong. Instead, shifting the focus to the redemption of the crime, he said indifferently, "Zeng Anmin, you have made amends on your father's behalf and atoned for his crimes with meritorious deeds. I shall let bygones be bygones regarding the case of the lost Dragon Inspection Map."
In a feudal era that highly valued benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and filial piety, doing this was beyond reproach. It wasn't until he heard Emperor Jianhong's words that Zeng Anmin snapped back to reality.
By now, the duration of the [Rapid Enlightenment] on the Golden Finger panel had ended. A heavy sensation washed over his mind. That previous feeling of having the ultimate wisdom and being able to calculate the heavens suddenly vanished. Zeng Anmin felt a bit unaccustomed to it, as if his thinking had slowed down considerably, but fortunately, it didn't affect his normal reactions.
With a serious expression, he pointed at the corpse on the ground. "Your Majesty, right now we must identify this scoundrel immediately and raid his home to see if we can find clues about the person backing him.
"Also, if it is convenient, I would like to... see my father."
Zeng Anmin looked up at Emperor Jianhong and voiced his request. He indeed needed to meet this father of his. After all, a life of luxury and fine dining for the rest of his days depended entirely on him.
Emperor Jianhong nodded slightly. "Permitted."
Subsequently, Emperor Jianhong ordered Wang Daoyuan of the Observation Department to investigate the case, while he led Zeng Anmin's group toward the prison.
In the Imperial Prison of the Liangjiang Commandery's Observation Department, the deepest cell was completely isolated. This cell was exclusively used for the most vicious criminals, so both the cell door and the surrounding walls were specially thickened.
Inside the cell, a figure sat withered on a worn-out straw mat. He had slanted Dan Feng eyes and thick, arching eyebrows, his facial features exuding the majesty of one who had held a high position for a long time. Both father and son shared a pair of sharp Dan Feng eyes. Due to his hasty imprisonment, he was still wearing his official uniform.
Zeng Shilin looked toward the deep, dark cell door, sorrow flickering in his eyes. "In vain do I bear boundless, towering talent, languishing in prison while harboring empty grievances!"
His voice was mellow and steady, yet at that moment, his tone held a touch of desolation. He thought, "I, Zeng Shilin, have been loyal to the sovereign and devoted to my country my entire life, yet this bleak scene is all I have to show for it. If I were imprisoned for the crime of poor supervision, I would have nothing to say. But to claim that I 'colluded with the Demon Race'? It is sheer fabrication, a trumped-up charge!"
"Heh." Zeng Shilin suddenly let out a laugh, his smile brimming with sarcasm and mockery. "When the birds are gone, the bow is cast aside; when the hares are hunted, the hound is boiled.
"Haha..."
Since there was no one in the cell, his laughter simply grew louder and louder. He thought, "This action is utterly chilling! How heartless!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
The entire cell was filled with his desolate and mocking laughter.
"CLICK."
The cell door suddenly opened. Emperor Jianhong, the White-clothed Venerable, Princess Ning'an, Zeng Anmin, and nearly ten others filed in.
"HAHAHAHA... Gah?"
Dozens of eyes met, and Zeng Shilin's laughter abruptly ceased.
Emperor Jianhong remained expressionless. Ning'an looked bewildered. The White-clothed Venerable pursed his lips and clenched his fists. For a moment, the atmosphere was extremely bizarre.
Lacking composure, Zeng Anmin couldn't stop his shoulders from trembling as he tried desperately to cover his mouth. Even so, he still let out a "PFFT" sound. Being suddenly caught in the middle of a mental breakdown—such a mortifying moment... It truly made it impossible to hold back, Father!
Emperor Jianhong also couldn't help but be amused, a hint of a smile appearing on his majestic face. "Why are you laughing, My Beloved Subject Zeng?"
Fortunately, Zeng Shilin had excellent reflexes. He slowly stood up as if nothing had happened and bowed to Emperor Jianhong. "I am laughing at the Liangjiang Prefect for his lack of foresight, and I am laughing at the Observation Department for their lack of intelligence from top to bottom. I have waited so long, yet they still haven't cleared my grievances and announced the truth to Your Majesty."
As soon as these words were spoken, the smile on Emperor Jianhong's face vanished. Zeng Shilin's words seemed simple but carried deep meaning. First, he was expressing his dissatisfaction at being wrongfully accused by Emperor Jianhong. Second, he conveniently insulted Emperor Jianhong's intelligence in passing. Very impressive, very powerful. Truly worthy of the Governor of Fengqi Road's Three Commanderies.