Chapter 1, the thirteenth year of the Chenghua era.

Yun Dan continued, "Back then, there was a slight misunderstanding between us. Looking back now, it's really ridiculous. We both work for His Majesty, so what is there to argue about?"

Zhao Ying made a sound from her throat. As early as the eighth year of Chenghua, he understood that the wind direction had changed, so he was not surprised at all.

Zhao Ying had no choice but to leave the inner courtyard and call four loyal followers to go to the West Factory for registration.

Only with demons can I catch, without demons, what do I catch?

"西厂 ?" This was the first time that Zhao Ying had heard this term.

His forty adopted sons were also recruited from Duanteng Gorge. They were fellow villagers with Wang Zhi, but their fates diverged more than a decade ago. A few of them were saved by Zhao Ying, avoiding castration and becoming Jin Yi Wei, while the majority entered the palace and became eunuchs.

Upon arriving home, Zhao Ying summoned all her adopted sons to her side, hoping to find a few capable assistants who could counterbalance the newly established Xichang.

There are still several most capable adopted sons who have not returned, and Zhao Ying wants to wait a little longer and is unwilling to act hastily.

Yun Dan's smile was stiff. "Even if I am seriously ill, I must do my best to fulfill Your Majesty's orders. Lord Zhao, it is not enough to just capture Li Zilong; we must also find the fox demon. This task will undoubtedly fall on your shoulders."

Yuan Bin is not only Zhao Ying's superior, but also the protector of this stubborn hundred households. In the eighth year of Chenghua, Yuan Bin once complained: "Zhao Ying, you are too extreme. Regardless of demons or immortals, as long as they pass through your hands, they are all fake, all fraudsters. Is there not a single case with hidden secrets? Look at how others do it, leaving some room for doubt. In case a real abnormality appears later, you won't be embarrassed."

Yuan Bin closed his eyes and seemed to have fallen asleep again. He is over seventy years old and can't compare to Zhao Ying, who can "do as one pleases" and "understand one's destiny".

Old Baihu didn't have dinner, went to bed early. He had been imprisoned in the Jinyiwei prison before, and the several scars on his body still faintly hurt till now. He needs the maid to gently massage his body in order to fall asleep peacefully.

It was Zhao Ying who led the team to capture Li Zilong, proving that he was just another fraud with no real power. However, after being interrogated by the Jinyiwei, the two incidents were unexpectedly linked.

Along the way, Zhao Ying was reticent while the four apprentices were very curious about the West Factory, speculating which eunuch in the palace had received such favor to be able to establish a new factory outside of the East Factory.

Gold and jade on the outside, but tattered inside. If you don't believe what the officials say, ask the maid in my room.

Without waiting for permission from Yun Dan, Zhao Ying stood up and left.

Zhao Ying nodded to indicate that she understood. She thought this was another result of power struggles among eunuchs in the palace. Originally, there was an East Factory, and now there is also a West Factory. In the future, there may even be a North Factory and a South Factory.

Hey, how can Lord Zhao be "physically weak" when he recently captured the demon Li Zilong?

He never does this. If someone dies inexplicably, if there are unexplainable phenomena, it's not ghosts hiding behind, but usually a greedy heart.

In recent years, Zhao Ying's life has become increasingly simple. She wakes up before dawn and is served by maidservants for dressing and washing. She then goes to the courtyard to practice boxing before sitting in the front hall to have breakfast and listen to her adopted sons take turns speaking. At sunrise, Zhao Ying leaves her residence, usually escorted by four adopted sons. She exits Guanyin Temple Alley, walks along East Chang'an Avenue, passes through the Left and Right Gates, enters the West Gongsheng Gate, and arrives at the Jinyiwei Headquarters. The journey is not far and can be walked on foot.

Yuan Bin woke up in shock, groaned a few times, and muttered vaguely, "It's gone, very good, you did a great job."

I was originally just a humble hundred-household official, never having had any power, so how could I have "lost power"? I will take my leave now, please convey my message to the factory manager, I will come to visit again tomorrow.

Lingji Palace is located in Xicheng, not too far from the Jinyiwei Yamen. Zhao Ying has a deep connection with this place. When he was young, he killed someone in Lingji Palace, but luckily escaped punishment. After being transferred to Jinyiwei, he also arrested several fraudulent Taoists from Lingji Palace. The two sides have a deep grudge and have had no contact for more than twenty years.

In the twelfth year of the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua reign, two strange events occurred in the capital city.

As the saying goes, "If you owe a lot of debt, you won't worry." Zhao Ying has long been free from worries. The eunuch laughed, and he laughed too, and asked with a bow, "May I ask which official you are?"

On the way home, Zhao Ying remained silent, and the adopted sons dared not speak. When passing by the West Gongsheng Gate, Zhao Ying glanced inside but did not enter. He did not want to go to the Jin Yi Wei to seek help from his superior Yuan Bin.

In the eighth year of the Chenghua era, Zhao Ying was exactly fifty years old. Her mind was clear and penetrating, but she also became disheartened because of this. She did not argue with her superiors, but became lazy thereafter, rarely moving around and leaving all the cases to be handled by her adopted sons. She expanded her estate, purchased beautiful women, and planned to enjoy her old age.

Yuan Bin is much older than Zhao Ying, and now he is an old man with grizzled hair and wrinkles, often nodding off in his chair, and his subordinates generally dare not wake him up.

The eunuch's name is Yun Dan, who is one of the many powerful figures that Zhao Ying has offended.

Yun Dan's smile completely disappeared, "Zhao Ying, I have long told you that when the current emperor becomes interested in the elixir of immortality, it will be your downfall. Now the time has come."

For many years, Zhao Ying has made outstanding military achievements, capturing more than 300 demons and saving innocent people several times more than this number. As a result, he has been rewarded generously, but it has also made it difficult for him to be promoted. Unfortunately, in the Southern Department, the greatest achievement is finding a real immortal, not exposing a series of frauds.

The subordinate takes leave. Zhao Ying stood up and left. Instead of staying here and chatting with the superior about trivial matters, he would rather go home and stay there.

Yes, the West Factory, which was just established yesterday, is similar to the East Factory, but... on the west side.

Secondly, during that winter, there were actually demonic individuals who managed to infiltrate the imperial palace, not just once or twice, but as if they were ordinary visitors, coming and going as they pleased. Although they did not approach the heavily guarded sleeping quarters, their presence was enough to cause alarm.

Li Zilong's testimony doesn't say that, Mr. Zhao, you just focus on capturing demons, other matters are not your concern.

First, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the fox demon emerges at night, killing one person and injuring two others. It escapes over the city wall and from then on, every seven or eight days, the fox demon will appear, either killing or injuring people, leaving deep claw marks on the victims' bodies.

Some people are punished for this, while others are promoted because of it. However, there are still a very small number of people who have doubts about these two matters, and Zhao Ying, a hundred-household, is one of them.

Zhao Ying's identity is quite special. She is a member of the Jin Yi Wei and serves in the Southern Town Defense Office, specializing in capturing demon thieves, especially those evil people who impersonate immortals.

Usually, the government office has already started its official duties at this time. Zhao Ying arrived later than others. He served in the southern department but rarely paid respects to the officials of this department. Instead, he went directly to the back hall to pay his respects to his immediate superior, Yuan Bin.

Zhao Ying raised her head and said, "I can't do it anymore. My muscles and bones are weak, and I can't compare to the officials in the imperial court. I came here to report to the West Factory and then I have to go home to recuperate."

On a late January day in the thirteenth year of the Chenghua era, with the lingering chill of late winter still in the air, Zhao Ying, as usual, set out with his four adopted sons for the Jinyiwei yamen. Along the way, they chatted casually about who should treat the others to drinks at noon and in the evening.

The Master said, "At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven." Zhao Ying, who was already over fifty, understood where the decrees of Heaven lay. As a result, his temperament changed greatly. He often said to his subordinates, "On the surface, I manage the military craftsmen of the Nan Si, but in reality, this is the Bureau for Exorcising Demons and Seeking Immortals. In secret, we search for the elixir of life. Deep down..." Every time he said this, Zhao Ying would show a mischievous smile, as if he were still a teenager. "We are just catching criminals, collecting salaries, and supporting our families. Of course, this job is not bad. Look at my house, it has been renovated twice, and each time it is bigger than before. I am old and cannot live in a bigger mansion, but you are young and can strive for more. Maybe you will have the opportunity to save up for an even bigger estate."

The Xichang was originally an abandoned old factory, with a disheveled courtyard, dilapidated houses, and plaques that have not been hung up yet. Dozens of laborers are busy cleaning up everywhere.

The adopted son quickly brought back the news. The newly established West Factory is located opposite Lingji Palace and does not require an introduction from Taoists.

Zhao Ying couldn't remember which eunuch surnamed Wang held power in the palace. Without asking further, she entered the main hall and took a seat. Glancing around, she saw the furnishings were shabby and thought to herself whether this eunuch Wang was truly honest or simply hadn't had the chance to decorate yet.

Zhao Ying stood outside the door and sent another eunuch in to report. Soon, an old eunuch came out and invited Zhao Ying into the office with a smile, saying, "Please wait a moment, Master Baihu. The Minister is still in the palace and hasn't come out yet."

Wang Eunuch," Yun Dan casually said.

Zhao Ying shook her head, "The one who harmed people is not the fox, and it has nothing to do with Li Zilong."

Hmm. Zhao Ying thought of her boss Yuan Bin, so she lowered her head, half-closed her eyes, and showed a tired and sleepy look.

What? Zhao Ying was shocked. As usual, the East Factory is managed by eunuchs, and the subordinates are borrowed from the Jin Yi Wei. Zhao Ying has never been involved in it. Unexpectedly, with the establishment of the West Factory, it is her turn to go and work for the eunuchs. "Sir..."

Wait a moment. Yuan Bin stopped Zhao Ying and furrowed his brows for a moment before saying, "Did I mention anything about the West Factory?"

Zhao Ying knows too well the means of her colleagues in the Southern Department. Even though it was a small case, they insisted on bringing up the principles of justice and karma, implying that there were supernatural forces at work behind the scenes.

Yuan Bin lightly tapped his forehead a few times as if feeling a headache, and after a while, he said, "You have been seconded to the West Factory."

Yun Dan invited someone for tea, exchanged a few pleasantries, and sighed, "It has been more than ten years, hasn't it? I have grown old, and Mr. Zhao also appears older."

Zhao Ying, stop. Take another step and call your adopted son to leave the West Factory together.

The demon is named Li Zilong. After being captured, he admitted that he had sent out the fox demon. As he claimed, without a master, the fox demon never appeared again. The incident of harming people finally came to an end, and the people's hearts were at ease. They began to prepare for the Lunar New Year with peace of mind.

The sergeants at this time would all burst into laughter, and humbly express that they did not have the ability of a foster father.

The eunuch just sneered and did not stop. When Zhao Ying arrived at the hall door, he said, "There is something Mr. Zhao should know. The newly appointed factory manager's surname is Wang, and he was sent from Duanteng Gorge in Guangxi. Hey, the world is unpredictable. Back then, Mr. Zhao stopped us from torturing, but the factory manager is grateful for that knife."

What does the adult want me to do? Zhao Ying didn't pay much attention. He has always been a free and unrestrained person in the Jinyiwei. Except for Yuan Bin, he doesn't listen to anyone's orders.

Yuan Bin waved his hand weakly, "There's no need to decline. It's just a matter of a few days. Clarify the matter between Li Zilong and the demon fox, and I will soon bring you back. Go today, the West Factory is near the Lingji Palace... Where exactly? You can go and find out for yourself."

Zhao Ying also dared not to move, brought a chair by herself, sat down with her hands hanging down, and waited silently. Yuan Bin did not sleep soundly and would wake up soon. As soon as his snoring stopped, Zhao Ying immediately said loudly, "Is there anything else, sir?"

A few years ago, Zhao Ying would definitely have proven that the so-called fox spirits are all scams, but now he just goes along with it.

Zhao Ying sent a disciple to inquire about the situation, trying to avoid meeting with the Taoist priests of Lingji Temple.

At the third watch of that night, the demon fox reappeared, targeting none other than Zhao Ying, the leader of the Hundred-Elite Guards.

Now, both groups of people have grown up.

Stay focused and quickly find that so-called "demon fox". My life and your future all depend on it. Zhao Ying originally wanted to designate a leader, but after a day of walking, she was too tired. After thinking for a while, she said, "Let's wait for Hu Guiyang and the others to come back before making a plan."

Now, we have the opportunity to work together again.

Zhao Ying has a total of forty school captains under his command, all of whom call him "adoptive father". Zhao Ying also treats these young men as his own sons, allowing himself to scold, hit, and boss them around, but not allowing others to bully them.

Ridiculous. Zhao Ying responded vaguely.