I changed the world.

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"Please follow me, Grand Secretary. His Majesty is reading a book and was just asking if you have arrived yet." Outside Ruian Palace, a female official in her sixties bowed to Grand Secretary Guan Renyue, who had been summoned to the palace, and then gestured for him to enter.

"I wonder what important matter Your Majesty has summoned me for?" Guan Renyue, a very dignified old man with a long white beard, asked with his hands clasped in return.

"This humble official is not aware of that..." the female official said with a smile, "The Grand Secretary will naturally know when he meets His Majesty, please..."

Guan Renyue then asked no further questions and followed the female official through a corridor to a brightly lit gate. The female official bowed again and said, "Please allow me to inform the Grand Secretary first."

"Thank you for your service, Your Majesty."

The female official turned and went into the hall. After a short while, she came out again and said to Guan Renyue, who was waiting at the door, "Grand Secretary, please follow me."

..............................

"Your Majesty, the Grand Secretary has arrived," the female official announced softly as she entered the inner hall.

Emperor Chenghe, Chen Bingtai, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe, was sitting at his desk reading a document. A faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the hall, coming from a bronze incense burner with openwork dragon patterns not far away.

"Mr. Guan has arrived. Come, bring Mr. Guan a chair..." The emperor pointed to the side.

Two young female officials quickly brought over a chair and placed it next to the emperor's desk. Guan Renyue bowed in greeting and sat down without any hesitation.

"You may all leave. I have a word with the Grand Secretary." The Emperor waved to the female attendants beside him.

So everyone left the main hall and closed the door.

"Your Majesty, why have you summoned me so late at night? Is there something important you need to discuss?" Guan Renyue had a vague idea in his mind, but he still asked with his hands clasped.

"Mr. Guan, please take a look at this. It was presented by the Imperial Ceremonial Office earlier." The Emperor pushed the document in his hand over. In private, the Emperor always treated the Grand Secretary with great respect, addressing him as "Mr."

Guan Renyue took the document pushed to him by the emperor, took out an eyeglass case from his pocket, put on a pair of tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses, and began to read it carefully from beginning to end.

After only reading the beginning, he knew in his heart that he had indeed received a similar document, but it was submitted by the Fourth Division of the Special Crime Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice.

The Imperial Household Department was an intelligence agency directly under the emperor, and it also served as an intelligence collection, compilation, and summarization agency for the emperor. Therefore, even though the Fourth Division of the Special Crime Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice was also directly under the emperor, its contents were only presented to the emperor after being compiled by the Imperial Household Department.

The matter concerns a case involving a Category IV incident being handled by the Jin'an branch of the Special Crime Investigation Bureau, Division Four, under the Ministry of Justice. The case stemmed from an anomaly detected by the Gangneung Data Analysis Center in the Qingfeng Mountain area, north of Jin'an city…

After relevant departments were dispatched and investigated the scene, it was discovered that this was a heinous incident involving cult rituals and human sacrifice, and that multiple people died at the scene…

However, Guan Renyue knew in his heart that if it were only for this reason, the emperor would not have summoned him to the palace at this time. After all, for a country of the size of Da Zhao, the number of fourth-type incidents that have occurred this year is already more than double digits. Among them, Guan Renyue knew that there were more than a handful of incidents that were more serious than this one.

So, the emperor's concern for this matter can only be attributed to one possibility: the incident involves a previously unverified folk tale... or rather, myth...

That is—the underworld!

Field agents from the Department of Justice's Special Crime Investigation Bureau witnessed underworld messengers arresting one of the two suspects involved in the case—a Taoist priest who was said to have summoned demons—in full view of the crowd.

During the subsequent interrogation of the traffic police officers present at the time, according to their statements, the practitioner was clearly aware that he was being followed and even showed extreme fear to the point of losing control of his emotions, which resulted in multiple traffic accidents. In fact, the two traffic police officers were also involved in the case as a result.

At the scene of the crime, a camera was also found, containing a blurry yet eerie video that corroborates this discovery.

Furthermore, the investigators at the fourth site found a witness who was the owner of the camera equipment. He was found unconscious not far from the first crime scene. Based on the circumstances at the time and subsequent questioning, it was determined that he was secretly filming the cult ritual for some reason.

This person was the only true survivor in the case. Afterwards, some inexplicable strange things happened to him. For example, after being sent to the Special Medical Center of the Ministry of Justice of Jian'an Province, he developed symptoms of whiplash injury on his body without anyone touching him. According to his own account after he regained consciousness, he had entered the "underworld" and personally experienced the interrogation by the "Martial Judge of the Underworld".

Investigators believe that the symptoms resembling whipping injuries on his body are highly likely caused by whipping punishment he suffered in the underworld. His own conversations also suggest that he acknowledges this possibility.

In addition, this person's identity is also quite sensitive. His name is Wei Yuan, a director of Hai Shang Bank and a servant of the powerful Wei family in Jin'an. According to the investigation, he is a confidant of Wei Feng, the chairman of Hai Shang Bank, who is the younger brother of Wei Guang, the current Grand Secretary of Dongge.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind History Books: Chapter 832 Nightly Inquiry into Ghosts and Gods

However, this person's memory of the trip to the underworld was somewhat vague, and many details were unclear. According to the investigators' preliminary judgment, it was not that he intentionally concealed anything, but rather that he had genuinely experienced memory loss.

Based on current observations, the clarity of this part of the memory is somewhat similar to the dream that a person experiences while sleeping. After waking up, the person can only have fragmented memories of what happened in the dream and cannot clearly describe all the details.

Investigators speculate that this phenomenon may be due to the separation between the living and the dead, which affected his memory.

Furthermore, coincidentally, on the very night of the incident, Wei Feng, chairman of Haishang Bank, died in his sleep due to a sudden myocardial infarction.

Guan Renyue continued reading and found an attachment at the end of the document, which listed the conclusions of further investigation into the incident.

Clearly, after Jin'an reported the case, it immediately attracted the attention of the Fourth Division headquarters, which mobilized even more resources to conduct a further investigation.

Further investigation revealed that there may be more to the case than meets the eye. Investigators discovered that prior to the incident that evening, the Qianluo Group halted a major acquisition of shares in Genesis Aerospace. The deal was reportedly brokered by a syndicate of three banks, led by Hai Shang Bank, which provided the financing.

Further investigation revealed that half of the shares in the closed-end equity fund that Interstellar Ventures initially raised to acquire equity in Genesis Aerospace were sold through the channels of Haishang Bank. Therefore, it can be concluded that Haishang Bank and the investment fund have a strong connection of interests.

While it is not yet clear why Qianluo Group suddenly halted the acquisition, it is highly likely that Qianluo Group discovered some issues within the group.

After the merger was halted, Qianluo Group transferred all of its more than 500 billion yuan in fixed deposits held in Haishang Bank.

This shows that the relationship between Qianluo Group and Haishang Bank is extremely delicate and could very well break down because of this merger.

Coincidentally, in addition to Wei Feng, chairman of Haishang Bank, who died that night at Haishang Bank's residence, Xu Hanzhang, vice president of the platform interaction business group of Qianluo Group, was one of the two main perpetrators in the previous cult ritual case and died at the first crime scene.

In addition, another main culprit is named Yu Huai, who was found to be a wandering Taoist priest from Southeast Asia. He had stayed at Qinghe Palace in Jin'an and had previously visited the residences of many celebrities in Jin'an. He was also hired by An Zhengquan, chairman of the board of directors of Qianluo Group, to manage his private temple.

After reviewing the documents, Guan Renyue took off his glasses and slowly said, "This case is shrouded in mystery; there may be deeper secrets hidden within."

"What you say is correct. Because the matter involves the Grand Secretary, the Investigation Bureau has not continued its investigation. What is the Grand Secretary's opinion?"

"Since this matter involves a minister and also touches upon heretical cults, licentious rituals, and demons, it cannot be taken lightly... In my opinion, a conclusion should still be reached."

"I am also curious about what exactly happened behind this?" The emperor nodded. On this point, the two most powerful men in the Great Zhao Dynasty had clearly reached a tacit understanding.

Then, the emperor changed the subject: "In the chief minister's opinion, what is the truth about this matter of the underworld?"

As he spoke, the emperor stood up from behind his desk and walked to the window. Guan Renyue also stood up. The two of them came to the window, and the emperor looked at the bright moon outside through the glass and said, "Could it be that the karmic retribution for good and evil in the underworld is really a real thing?!"

"Your Majesty, this old minister is not at liberty to discuss matters of ghosts and spirits..." Guan Renyue said, bowing. According to the political tradition of the Great Zhao Dynasty, one should respect ghosts and spirits but keep them at a distance. If word got out that the chief minister of the country was discussing matters of ghosts and spirits with the emperor, it would not be a good thing...

"There is no one else here. You and I have been ruler and subject for more than ten years. Why don't we have some private conversations..." The emperor waved his hand and said casually.

If we were to follow the script of famous ministers from ancient times, Guan Renyue should have replied at this moment: "How could an emperor have private interests?"

However, although Guan Renyue was known as a "moral gentleman," he was not truly an unreasonable person, having held the position of Grand Secretary for over a decade.

Moreover, with so much evidence now before us, insisting on "asking the people and not the gods" would be nothing more than burying our heads in the sand and would only annoy the emperor.

After a moment's thought, Guan Renyue spoke: "Your Majesty, I have read the 'Veritable Records of Emperor Huanzong.' Back then, Emperor Huanzong avoided officialdom and settled in Zhenjiang, selling grain in the south. Some diviners, including Wang Feng, presented Huanzong with a prophecy: 'The Hu's fortune ends at the river, but the Chen family's fortune has not yet faded. The royal aura of Jiangling will rise, and a red horse will gallop across it.' Huanzong initially dared not accept this, but as the situation deteriorated day by day, the Hu troops had already reached the Ling River, and the world was in chaos. He then conspired with them, and thus bought weapons and raised an army to resist the Hu..."

The matter Guan Renyue spoke of was known to most of the people of Dazhao who had been educated; it was a story from the time of Emperor Huanzong.

Emperor Huanzong belonged to a distant branch of the imperial family and initially lived in poverty, even suffering oppression from local officials. At that time, the sorcerer Wang Feng, upon seeing Emperor Huanzong selling grain in the market, was greatly astonished, believing he was destined for greatness. Wang Feng not only presented him with prophetic images but also actively campaigned for his success, becoming one of Huanzong's important advisors in his early years. The "Red Colt" mentioned by Wang Feng also has a story behind it. It is said that Emperor Huanzong was born with a red, horse-shaped birthmark on his abdomen, hence his mother nicknamed him "Red Colt."

Guan Renyue continued, "Such prophecies have existed in every dynasty, sometimes attributed to destiny, sometimes to gods and ghosts. However, there's no smoke without fire; there's always a reason behind them..."

"Fate?" The emperor murmured to himself, gazing at the moonlight outside the window. Even as an emperor, he felt a chill run down his spine when faced with matters of life and death.

The emperor sighed and said, “When I read the ‘Announcement of Yu’ in the Book of Documents, I saw that it said: ‘Yu submitted to the Mandate of Heaven.’ At the time, I did not take it seriously, but now, thinking about it, I cannot help but be wary.”

"As Your Majesty said, this old minister also remembers the words in the Geng Ode: 'The civil and military achievements are magnificent, Heaven greatly admires their virtue, and has matched me with Geng, so that I may receive the mandate of Heaven.'"

"Looking back now, our Xia dynasty has been consistent and unbroken since ancient times. Yu received the Mandate of Heaven, Geng succeeded Yu, and at the end of Geng, the rites and music collapsed, and the Wei emperor unified the country. Wei established itself through military force, but lost its way due to tyranny. The Mandate of Heaven then fell to Xia, which lasted for four hundred years. After that, the Mandate of Heaven was divided between the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and finally succeeded Liang. At the end of Liang, the regional warlords held power for two hundred years. Emperor Taizu of Qi received the Mandate of Heaven again, but the country was gained and lost by a child, and the Qi dynasty ended after 320 years. The tyrannical Qian swept across the land, but his virtue did not match his position. He was not born with the Mandate of Heaven, so why did he not have a hundred-year reign? After that, Emperor Taizu of our dynasty was born in response to the times..."

"Your Majesty, this old minister has read history and seen that the Western nations rise and fall one after another. Even the most powerful nations often only last for three or four hundred years before fading into nothingness..."

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind History Books: Chapter 833 Mandate of Heaven

"Our Xia people have been passed down for thousands of years without interruption. When one dynasty declines, another rises and falls, just like the Great Change, which repeats itself endlessly. In the past, some historians explained this as a result of the special geographical environment of the Eastern Continent, based on geographical determinism. However, while geography is important, our Xia people's tradition is to respect Heaven and cultivate virtue. In this way, the Mandate of Heaven will not be interrupted."

"Your Majesty, only the emperor receives his mandate from Heaven, and the world receives its mandate from the emperor. This must be carefully considered!" Guan Renyue's view at this time was that the mandate of Heaven belongs to those of great virtue, and only those with great virtue can receive the protection of Heaven; if one lacks virtue, even the emperor will fall.