Yuan Ruan: [Tell me about it.]

System: [This Director of the Water Affairs Bureau was a spy sent by the old emperor of Chu. His original mission was to sow discord among the western lords of Da Xia and find an opportunity to fragment the country. At first, he gained a good reputation in the western territories, but the lords there were cautious and didn’t employ outsiders. Just then, Minister Li, who was sent west to provide disaster relief, heard of his talents and took him under his wing.]

Minister Li: …

Ahhh! Can we skip the part where I was the gullible fool? I really don’t want to hear about this.

System: [The old emperor of Chu, upon learning this, was even more delighted. He then tasked the Director with a new plan to drain Da Xia’s resources internally. Da Xia had long suffered from water disasters, and this man, whose ancestors specialized in water management, volunteered to undertake the construction of a massive canal project that promised to permanently solve the flooding in the south. His Majesty approved it.]

The Emperor clenched his fists tightly in rage: !!!

He had always admired the Director for his diligence, incorruptibility, and immense talent in water management. Because of this, the Emperor had promoted him to his current position. Who could have imagined that this man’s true purpose was to deplete Da Xia’s resources? Unforgivable!

The other officials glared coldly at the Director: No wonder the massive canal project failed to prevent flooding in the south year after year—it was all because of him. The damage caused by this man is immeasurable. He must be executed!

Minister Li looked at the Director with a mix of anger and despair, recalling the flood damages over the years. It’s over. Not only his daughter but likely his entire family would have to pay the price for this.

Among everyone present, only the Director appeared bewildered. He even cupped his hands respectfully toward Minister Li and asked, “Father-in-law, why are you looking at your son-in-law like this?”

Everyone: ???

Could he not hear?

Ah, that must be it. Yuan Ruan represents Da Xia’s national fortune, while this spy is not a Xia native. Even with a sixth-rank position, he probably couldn’t hear her thoughts.

Yuan Ruan suddenly had a realization:

[So that’s how it is. I think I understand why the national fortune mission wants to spare this person.]

Everyone: !!!

No, dear national fortune, you don’t understand!

When floods arise, tens of thousands of victims cry out in misery, displaced and homeless. Even if this man is extraordinarily talented, he must die.

System: [Indeed. This man is somewhat like Zheng Guo from history. While his intentions are malicious, the results of his work are incredibly beneficial to Da Xia.]

Everyone: ???

What? What does that mean? Malicious intentions but beneficial results?

Yuan Ruan: [I suspect that the water management plan he designed was extremely effective. However, after he was exposed as a spy, Da Xia completely abandoned his plan, and the flooding problems persisted.]

System: [Exactly. You’re so smart, Ruan! Later generations unearthed the water management plan he designed, which successfully reduced the annual floods in Da Xia to once every eight years. Historians even lamented that if he had been allowed to oversee the project himself, the flooding might have been reduced to once every twenty years.]

Everyone: !!!

What?! Annual floods reduced to once every eight years? Possibly even twenty years? The Director was that capable?!

Some officials began having second thoughts but didn’t dare speak out because His Majesty detested spies above all else.

The officials stole glances at the Emperor, whose expression remained grim and unyielding.

The Emperor suddenly stepped forward and said coldly, “As a spy from Chu, you gained Minister Li’s recommendation and sought to drag down Da Xia with a massive water project. Is this true or not?”

The Director’s face turned deathly pale. After a long silence, he looked guiltily at his wife, only to receive a resounding slap.

Lady Li knelt straight before the Emperor and said, “Your Majesty, a month ago, I discovered evidence of my husband’s dealings with Chu and copied all the correspondence. The originals are locked in a copper-bound cabinet in the side chamber. However, I feared implicating my father, so I didn’t report it sooner. I humbly ask Your Majesty to consider my proactive submission of evidence and spare my father.”

With that, Lady Li kowtowed heavily.

The Director looked at her with disbelief and a mix of emotions. Finally, he knelt down as well and said, “Your Majesty, please spare my children. I beg—”

Before he could finish, Lady Li struck him again and shouted angrily, “How dare you mention my children! Why didn’t I poison you, you vile spy, the moment I found out?!”

The Director instinctively glanced at the spilled bowl of medicine on the ground. His face turned even paler, and he fell silent.

The Emperor closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his expression was as cold and unyielding as ever.

Yuan Ruan: [It’s over! Big Brother clearly already knew he was a spy. The officials are probably boiling with righteous indignation.]

The officials’ mouths twitched slightly: We were indignant, but after hearing your thoughts, we’re conflicted now.

The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and bowing. “Father, while the Director is undeniably guilty, his talents could benefit the empire—”

The Emperor turned abruptly and glared at the Crown Prince. “Crown Prince, sparing him would only embolden other nations to send more spies and disgrace Da Xia!”

The Crown Prince fell silent.

Yuan Ruan: [Big Brother is really furious. Looks like the mission is doomed.]

Hearing this, the Emperor glanced at Yuan Ruan and suppressed the words “execute by a thousand cuts” that had been on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he issued a slightly less severe order.

He instructed the captain of the guards, “Strip him of his official hat and robe, imprison him in the dungeons, and carry out his execution in the spring.”

At that moment, the system let out a loud alarm:

System: [Ahhh! Host, I just opened another piece of his story. I finally understand why the national fortune mission favors the Director of the Water Affairs Bureau. It’s not just about him; it’s also about the two brothers he adopted ten years ago as his book boy!]

Yuan Ruan: [What? What does that mean?!]

Everyone turned their attention to the system’s words. What about these book boy brothers could outweigh the prevention of flooding disasters and earn the national fortune’s favor?

Even the Emperor paused, his curiosity piqued, and looked over.

System: **[These two brothers, after the Director of the Water Affairs Bureau was executed, swore vengeance for him. The elder brother voluntarily sought out Chu’s fourth prince and, within five years, led a campaign that annexed half of Shu’s territory, earning immense military accolades and becoming Chu’s top general.

[The younger brother also sought revenge but believed Chu was no better than Da Xia. He instead joined Chen. He turned out to be a military genius, leading 5,000 troops on a daring expedition that defeated the western Xiongnu, forcing them to cede vast swathes of territory to Chen. The two brothers later faced each other on the battlefield between Chen and Chu, where one perished, and the other was gravely wounded. Their exploits in those seven years made them known to history as the most brilliant military stars of their generation.]

Yuan Ruan: [Ahhh! My goodness, their stories are incredible. No wonder the national fortune mission cares so much. If Da Xia could recruit them, we’d dominate the world!]

The officials of Da Xia: !!!

What?! Military stars? The kind that can open new frontiers?!

What does Da Xia lack the most?

Military talent—outstanding military talent!

Currently, their most capable general, Wu Yi, could barely rank seventh among the generals of the five rival nations.

Now learning that there are two exceptional generals with the ability to expand territories, who wouldn’t be thrilled? Even the Minister of Revenue, always concerned about the budget, began to reconsider. He’d rather allocate precise resources to these generals’ campaigns than negotiate unfavorable peace terms after defeats.

The officials exchanged glances and finally looked toward the Emperor. Your Majesty, this is a two-for-one deal! Three lives are worth sparing one. Perhaps reconsider?

The Crown Prince directly stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Father, please reconsider.”

With someone taking the lead, others quickly followed suit. The officials collectively knelt and said in unison, “Your Majesty, please reconsider!”

Yuan Ruan: [Hiss, he’s a spy! But I didn’t expect the Director of the Water Affairs Bureau to have such high favorability within the court. Is my mission salvageable after all?]

System: [This man is practically everyone’s white moonlight! But your Big Brother is notoriously harsh and unforgiving, especially toward betrayal. I doubt he’ll spare him.]

The Emperor: …