Chapter 1: Die and Become an Immortal

Lin Yuan felt he was probably the unluckiest transmigrator of all.

Others transmigrated, and their systems gifted them cultivation techniques, elixirs, and peerless beauties.

Well, his system was different.

It gifted him death.

[System binding complete. Now releasing the sole mission: Host only needs to die on a path of serving the nation and its people to immediately ascend on the spot, prove the Dao, and become a True Immortal, impervious to all calamities.]

Lin Yuan stared at the translucent panel before him, remaining silent for a long time.

"Is that it?"

"That's it."

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing."

"...Fine."

This was a low-martial world. Postnatal, Innate, Grandmaster—climbing layer by layer, countless people exhausted their entire lives without necessarily even touching the threshold of Grandmaster.

As for Immortals, the very concept didn't even exist. Fortunately, the system had given an introduction, saying a True Immortal was the kind of existence described in novels from before the transmigration—impervious to all calamities, living as long as the heavens.

And the condition for becoming an Immortal was only one—to die on a path of serving the nation and its people.

Lin Yuan understood immediately: 'Isn't this just finding an opportunity for a glorious sacrifice?'

As for what exactly "serving the nation and its people" meant, the system didn't elaborate, and he couldn't be bothered to think too deeply about it. The general idea was clear enough.

What a coincidence. This body was an orphan and also a low-ranking official of the eighth grade, holding the position of "Shiyi"—a remonstrance official.

An even greater coincidence was that the original owner was a tough nut, who had secretly gathered quite a bit of evidence of court corruption, but before he could use it, he was gone.

This made things simple.

---

Eternal Longevity 31st Year, Autumn.

Great Zhou Imperial City, Xuanzheng Hall.

It had been over a month since the late Emperor's passing. He left no edict of succession and had no sons, only three princesses.

Overnight, the Great Zhou Dynasty became a deadlock of a chessboard where no one dared to make a move.

Princess Jiang Lingyi, the eldest legitimate princess, born of the late Emperor and his first empress, had the most orthodox status. However, her maternal family had long since declined, and she had no one to rely on in the court. Sitting alone in the most legitimate position made her the most vulnerable.

Second Princess Jiang Lingwan, her birth mother was Consort Liu, backed by the entire Jiangnan Liu Family and half of the Censorate. She was tactful and most skilled at winning people over.

Third Princess Jiang Lingwei, the youngest, was the late Emperor's favorite, backed by the Duke of Ding's estate which held military power.

Three factions vied for power, the court was divided. Everyone wanted to sit on that throne, yet no one had managed to sit on it yet.

And at this juncture when everyone was busy choosing sides, Zhao Chong made his move.

Minister of Personnel, a high-ranking official of the third grade, his disciples and former subordinates were spread throughout the court and beyond—the uncrowned king of the Great Zhou officialdom.

He wasn't in a hurry to side with any of the three princesses, because no matter who ultimately sat on the throne, they would have to use his people.

At this moment, Zhao Chong stood in the hall, a gentle smile on his face, holding a memorial in his hand, his tone calm and unhurried.

"Your Highnesses, I believe the matter of disaster relief in Huainan should be handed over to the Huainan Administration Commission for full authority to handle. The court allocates eight hundred thousand taels of silver, to be coordinated and allocated by Commissioner Zhou. This is the most appropriate course of action."

Eight hundred thousand taels.

The great flood in Huainan left three hundred thousand commoners displaced. The court allocates eight hundred thousand taels, but after passing through Zhao Chong's people, how much would remain?

Having stood in court for two years, the original owner knew this game all too well.

The silver leaves the Ministry of Revenue as eight hundred thousand taels, becomes six hundred thousand at the Administration Commission, thirty thousand at the various prefectures and counties, and in the end, if even ten thousand taels actually reached the people, it would be because Lord Zhao was in a good mood these past few days.

Not a single civil or military official in the full hall spoke.

Some lowered their heads to look at their boot tips, some slightly closed their eyes to rest, some nodded frequently with smiles on their faces.

Three seats were set up on the dais. The one in the center was occupied by the eldest legitimate princess, Jiang Lingyi.

She wore a plain white dress, her face cool and aloof, her back ramrod straight.

The mourning period for the late Emperor had not yet passed. She wore no extravagant attire, so plain she almost seemed to blend into the shadows of the hall's pillars.

On the left sat Second Princess Jiang Lingwan, lightly pressing the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, her gaze smiling as she looked at Zhao Chong.

On the right sat Third Princess Jiang Lingwei, idly twirling the bracelet on her wrist, her eyes occasionally sweeping over the assembled ministers in the hall, carrying a hint of unconcealed arrogance.

Jiang Lingyi did not immediately state her position. Instead, she spoke faintly, "Do any of the ministers have objections?"

No one spoke.

Lin Yuan took a deep breath.

'Time to go.'

Honestly, this opportunity came too fast, so fast he himself had no preparation at all.

Zhao Chong held immense power throughout the court. Offending him was basically asking for death.

Hiss... 'asking for death'—why did those four words sound so pleasing to the ear right now?

"This minister has an objection!"

The voice wasn't loud, but in the Xuanzheng Hall where you could hear a pin drop, everyone heard it clearly.

All eyes swiveled over.

Zhao Chong also turned his head, looking at this minor eighth-grade official standing at the very end. His eyes held a hint of curiosity, as if looking at a grasshopper that had suddenly jumped onto the table.

"Oh? Remonstrator Lin, what is your esteemed opinion?"

Lin Yuan strode out from the ranks without hesitation, stood in the center of the hall, cupped his hands, and said, "Lord Zhao just said the disaster relief silver should be coordinated by Commissioner Zhou of Huainan. I venture to ask Lord Zhao one question—"

"Last year's snow disaster in Jibei was also coordinated by Commissioner Zhou. The court allocated four hundred thousand taels of silver, but in the end, only seventy thousand reached the disaster victims. May I ask where the remaining three hundred and thirty thousand taels went?"

The air in the hall instantly froze.

The faces of several officials changed.

Jiang Lingwan's hand holding the handkerchet paused. Her gaze shifted from Zhao Chong to Lin Yuan, carrying a hint of amusement.

Jiang Lingwei raised an eyebrow, her line of sight turning over.

Only Jiang Lingyi remained unmoved in expression, merely lowering her eyelids, listening quietly.

Zhao Chong's smile didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Remonstrator Lin, choose your words carefully. The accounts for Jibei disaster relief are clear and orderly. Both the Ministry of Revenue and the Administration Commission have archives. What shortage are you speaking of?"

"The accounts are indeed clear."

Lin Yuan nodded. "Extremely clear. Twelve thousand taels were spent on repairing the river embankment. In reality, I personally went to see that section of the embankment. It used inferior sand and stone, worth thirty thousand taels at most. Eighty thousand taels were spent on setting up porridge kitchens. I went to see those too. The porridge was so thin you could see your reflection."

He paused.

"Lord Zhao, the accounts are clear, but the silver is not."

The smile on Zhao Chong's face completely faded.

"Lin Yuan." He directly called his name. "You, a lowly eighth-grade remonstrator, ran off to Jibei to investigate the Administration Commission's accounts? Who gave you the authority?"

"A remonstrator reports on matters based on what he hears. He doesn't need anyone to grant authority."

"Reporting based on hearsay still requires evidence. You say there's a problem with the silver. Where is your evidence?"

Lin Yuan pulled a memorial from his sleeve, raising it above his head with both hands.

This was something the original owner had always carried on his person. Now it came in handy.

"I have here a joint petition written in blood by disaster victims from three counties in Jibei, records of the actual grain used at the local porridge kitchens, and testimonies from the river embankment laborers. I request Their Highnesses to review them."

An uproar broke out in the hall.

Zhao Chong's gaze turned cold.

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment affront by a minor eighth-grade official. It was a premeditated attack.

The female official beside Jiang Lingyi quickly walked down, took the memorial, and presented it.

Jiang Lingyi received it, flipped through a couple of pages, her fingertips tightening slightly, yet her face revealed nothing.

She passed the memorial to the two princesses on her left and right for their perusal, and only said one thing herself: "Minister Zhao, what do you have to say?"

Zhao Chong knelt, his demeanor composed.

"Your Highness, I know nothing of the matters in Jibei. If Commissioner Zhou indeed has engaged in embezzlement, I am willing to request an imperial decree for a thorough investigation, without any leniency."

'Old fox.'

Lin Yuan sneered inwardly. With one sentence, he had absolved himself, dumping the entire blame on Zhou Rong.

But his goal today wasn't to topple Zhao Chong. He knew very well that a minor eighth-grade remonstrator couldn't topple a third-grade Minister.

What he wanted was—to offend Zhao Chong, and offend him fiercely.

"Your Highness." Lin Yuan spoke again. "I believe the Huainan disaster relief silver should not pass through the Administration Commission again. I request an imperial decree for the court to directly dispatch an imperial commissioner to personally take the silver to Huainan, distributing it county by county, with every single coin and fraction recorded and publicly displayed."

"Though lacking in talent, I am willing to personally go to Huainan."

Once these words were spoken, the hall completely erupted.

A minor eighth-grade remonstrator wanted to bypass the entire Administration Commission system and directly distribute disaster relief silver? Whose face was this slapping?

It wasn't just slapping Zhao Chong's face. It was slapping the face of everyone present who had any connection to the disaster relief silver.

Zhao Chong looked at Lin Yuan, his gaze as if looking at a dead man.

Lin Yuan met his gaze calmly.

He wished Zhao Chong would look at him with that exact expression.

Jiang Lingwan let out a soft laugh, neither affirming nor denying.

Beside her, Jiang Lingwei snorted, muttering under her breath, "A mere eighth-grade official, but his tone isn't small."

After a moment of silence, the presiding Jiang Lingyi spoke, "This matter is of great importance. We will deliberate on it later. Today's court session is adjourned here. Court is dismissed."

Her tone was flat, revealing no inclination whatsoever.

But Lin Yuan noticed that the memorial was not returned to him.

---

Leaving the Xuanzheng Hall, before Lin Yuan could even reach the palace gate, he was stopped.

The person who came was the Vice Minister of Personnel, Sun He, Zhao Chong's top confidant. Around forty, with a pale face and long beard, he smiled like a Maitreya Buddha.

"Remonstrator Lin, please stay."

Lin Yuan stopped.

Sun He moved closer, lowering his voice, "Remonstrator Lin is young and promising, with a boundless future ahead. But some matters are best left at just the right point. Lord Zhao has always valued talent and won't hold it against you. But the words you spoke in court today, if they spread, won't be good for you."

"How exactly would it not be good?"

Sun He smiled, patting his shoulder.

"The waters of Huainan run deep, Remonstrator Lin. Don't drown yourself in them."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Lin Yuan stood in place, watching Sun He's retreating back and smiling.

'Isn't this a blatant threat?'

He withdrew his gaze, stepping towards the palace gate.

The autumn wind rushed in, making his official robes flap loudly.

"The waters of Huainan run deep?" he muttered to himself, the corners of his mouth unable to suppress an upward curve.

"Isn't that perfect? I don't know how to swim either."