Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 201 Reactions from All Sides, a Huge Uproar

Xie Weining's feelings were somewhat complicated at this moment.

She had already heard about what happened at the autumn hunting grounds.

Xie Weining's first reaction was the same as everyone else's: disbelief.

Chen Ye hunted down the One-Horned Thunder Tiger and was personally appointed by the Empress as the Inspector of the Mysterious Mirror Division.

This sounds unbelievable.

But it really happened, leaving her somewhat at a loss.

So when the firecrackers went off outside, she followed them out in a daze, and then she saw Chen Ye returning in triumph.

At the same time, Chen Ye also saw her.

When he noticed the complex expression on her face, Chen Ye couldn't help but smile slightly, and then said, "I'm back."

These four simple words stirred up ripples in Xie Weining's heart.

But she didn't speak; she just subconsciously clenched her hands, which were hidden in her sleeves.

Noticing her unusual behavior, Chen Ye had a sudden inspiration and immediately activated his "Heartfelt Words" talent.

He wanted to see what his icy wife was really thinking.

Why...why is he here? Shouldn't he have gone to talk to Father first?

Why is he looking at me like that? Does he think I'm interested in him because I came out to greet him today? No way! I'm just... I'm just curious!

[The Inspector of the Xuanjing Division... He'll be an official of the court from now on, and a close advisor to His Majesty. He shouldn't be causing trouble like before, right?]

Why is he staring at me like that? It's making me really uneasy. Is he trying to get me to go to his room and serve him tonight?

Hearing this series of chaotic thoughts, Chen Ye's expression was somewhat strange.

He never expected that this seemingly cold woman would have such a rich inner world.

However, since that was the case, Chen Ye naturally didn't intend to let her off the hook, so he stepped forward and said with a smile, "What? You don't welcome me back?"

Xie Weining was startled by his sudden approach and instinctively tried to back away.

But behind her was the stone table in the courtyard, leaving her nowhere to retreat.

Therefore, she could only look up at Chen Ye's face, which was so close to hers, and her heart was pounding.

Why is he standing so close?! It's so intimidating...

[He actually smelled quite nice, not like alcohol, but something like... a man's scent?]

"No...no." Xie Weining tried to remain calm, avoiding Chen Ye's gaze, her voice trembling slightly.

"No?" Chen Ye smiled. "Then why don't you say anything?"

"I... I just couldn't be bothered with you," Xie Weining said, forcing herself to remain calm.

But by this time her face was already flushed, her eyes were darting around, and her stubbornness was quite adorable.

"I see!" Chen Ye suddenly nodded absentmindedly, then sighed softly and turned to leave.

Watching his lonely figure, Xie Weining felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart, and couldn't help but say, "Hey, wait a minute!"

Chen Ye stopped and turned to look at Xie Weining.

"Congratulations," Xie Weining said softly as she gradually calmed down.

"Congratulations to me?"

"Congratulations on your outstanding performance at today's autumn hunt, which won the Empress's favor and earned you the title of Inspector of the Xuanjing Division." Xie Weining, now fully conscious, spoke with increasing fluency.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye simply smiled and said, "So, all you're going to do is offer a verbal congratulation?"

"Otherwise what?" Xie Weining asked, somewhat puzzled.

Chen Ye chuckled, "How about I wait for you in my room tonight to serve me?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Weining's face instantly turned red, and she spat out, "Pah! You lecherous scoundrel, you shameless rogue!"

"Please get this straight, I'm your husband, so no one can find fault with what I'm saying," Chen Ye said calmly.

Xie Weining was momentarily speechless, because what Chen Ye said seemed to be the truth. So she could only turn around and run away, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

Watching her fleeing figure, Chen Ye burst into laughter.

Upon hearing laughter behind her, Xie Weining's heart pounded like a drum. She finally managed to run back to her room and breathed a sigh of relief after closing the door.

Then she felt her face burning hot, and the words Chen Ye had said kept churning in her mind.

Go to his room and serve him!

How dare that bastard say such a thing? The key point is... the key point is that he guessed her thoughts perfectly, which is why Xie Weining reacted so strongly.

Just as the Chen family mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and they were joyfully preparing for the welcoming banquet.

The news that Chen Ye had made a name for himself during the autumn hunt and had been exceptionally rewarded by the Empress had spread throughout the entire Yunzhou City.

The Marquis of Anyuan's residence.

Hou En's father, Marquis Anyuan Hou Jizu, was pacing back and forth in his study with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed.

Before him, Hou En lowered his head, not daring to even breathe loudly.

"Say it again, did Chen Ye really hunt down a one-horned thunder tiger all by himself?" Hou Jizu stopped in his tracks, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Father, it’s absolutely true.” Hou En said with a bitter face, “Everyone present at the time saw it. There’s no way it could be faked. Moreover, the commander of the Imperial Guards personally examined the body and said that the heart was pierced by a knife, and the person died instantly.”

"One blow kills him..." Hou Jizu gasped.

He was also a military officer, and although he now lives a life of luxury, he still has a keen eye.

He knew very well the terrifying strength and skill required to kill a beast of the level of the One-Horned Thunder Tiger with a single blow.

"This Chen Ye... he's been hiding his true abilities very well!" Hou Jizu couldn't help but exclaim.

He used to look down on this young master of the Chen family who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, thinking that the Chen family had completely fallen into decline.

But who would have thought that they would remain silent until they made a stunning debut!
"Father, what should I do now?" Hou En asked cautiously. "I used to have a pretty good relationship with Chen Ye. Should we strike while the iron is hot and go pay him a visit?"

Hou Jizu stopped in his tracks upon hearing this and glanced at his good-for-nothing son.

"How dare you say that! Even Chen Ye knows to turn over a new leaf and work hard, but what about you? All you do is hang out with that fat guy from the Qian family all day! Look at you, compared to him you're just a piece of trash!"

Hou En was thoroughly scolded, and his head hung even lower.

After hurling his ire, Hou Jizu's anger subsided somewhat.

He sighed and said, "But what you said is not wrong. Now Chen Ye has risen to the top and become the inspector of the Xuanjing Division. He is a favorite of His Majesty and his future is limitless. Since you had a relationship before, you can't break that connection."

"Prepare a generous gift tomorrow and pay him a personal visit. Remember, keep a humble attitude and don't be as presumptuous as before!"

"I understand!" Hou En nodded quickly.

"And one more thing!" Hou Jizu added, "In the future, spend less time with that fat man from the Qian family and more time getting closer to Lord Chen! If we can get in touch with the Xuanjing Division through him, it will be a tremendous benefit to our Hou family!"

……

Meanwhile, at the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.

Qian Yi's situation was no better than Hou En's.

His obese body knelt on the cold ground, howling as his father, Uncle Zhongyong Qian Deduo, whipped him with a feather duster.

"I'll teach you to be a bad influence! I'll teach you to hang out with scoundrels every day!"

"Look at Chen Ye! And look at you! You're both from noble families, but he's now an inspector of the Xuanjing Division, an official appointed by the imperial court! And you? You're just a piece of useless trash!"

"Dad! Stop hitting him! You'll kill him if you keep hitting him!" Qian Yi clutched his head and rolled around on the ground.

"You deserve to be beaten to death, you piece of trash! You've completely disgraced me!"

Qian Deduo was so angry that he was trembling all over.

Back then, he and Chen Ye's father, Chen Fangshi, were colleagues and had a pretty good relationship.

Later, when the Chen family fell into decline, he gradually distanced himself from them.

He never dreamed that Chen's good-for-nothing son would one day turn his life around so completely!

Xuanjing Division!

Those are the Empress's henchmen, a sword hanging over the heads of all officials!
Let alone a loyal and brave Earl, even a first-rank prime minister would tremble at the mere mention of those three words.

Now that Chen Ye has become a member of the Xuanjing Division, the status of the Chen family has naturally risen accordingly.

It is foreseeable that starting today, the Chen family's doorstep, which has been deserted for many years, will likely be worn down by crowds.

Thinking about his previous cold attitude towards the Chen family, and then about his son's relationship with Chen Ye, Qian Deduo felt a surge of unease.

He threw down the feather duster, pointed at Qian Yi, and scolded, "Tomorrow you'd better bring a gift when you pay him a visit. Remember to keep a humble attitude. Don't think you can get away with anything just because you had some past relationship. Your status is different now, you know?"

"I know, Dad!" Qian Yi replied, sounding aggrieved.

...Apart from these noble families who had dealings with Chen Ye.

In addition to their shock, many other powerful and influential people in Yunzhou City began frantically searching for everything about Chen Ye.

Grand Master's Mansion.

Grand Tutor Wu Daofu, with his white hair and beard, was sitting in his study listening to his subordinates' reports.

"...That's how it happened. Chen Ye, the eldest son of the Chen family, killed a one-horned thunder tiger during the autumn hunt and won first place. His Majesty personally appointed him as the inspector of the Xuanjing Division, with the official rank of seventh grade."

Wu Daofu held his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and remained expressionless.

"The Mysterious Mirror Division... His Majesty's move is becoming increasingly incomprehensible," he muttered to himself.

As the head of all officials, he was extremely opposed to the Empress establishing the Xuanjing Division, a secret service agency.

In his view, such an institution that could supervise officials and make decisions without prior approval was a malignant tumor that undermined the foundation of the nation.

However, the Empress was adamant in her stance, and with the support of the academy and the military, he, as the Grand Tutor, was helpless.

Now, in front of all the civil and military officials, the Empress has placed a spoiled brat with no connections and a notorious reputation into the Xuanjing Division and entrusted him with an important task.

What is the deeper meaning behind this?
Was it to put these veteran officials in a low light? Or was it simply a case of spending a fortune to win over the hearts of those fallen nobles?
Wu Daofu was also somewhat puzzled.

"Have you investigated Chen Ye's background?" Wu Daofu asked.

"Reporting to the Grand Tutor, we have investigated." The subordinate replied respectfully, "This man is skilled in cockfighting, dog racing, and womanizing, and has a terrible reputation! However, just over half a month ago, his personality suddenly changed. He shut himself in and began to study martial arts diligently, which led to his remarkable achievement at the autumn hunt."

"Oh? A prodigal son returns?" Wu Daofu raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "That's interesting. What made him change so much?"

"This... subordinate doesn't know."

Wu Daofu pondered for a moment, then waved his hand: "Alright, you can go now. Keep an eye on the Chen family, especially that Chen Ye. Report his every move to me."

"Yes!"

After his men left, only Wu Daofu remained in the study.

He walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and his eyes became somewhat deep.

Chen Ye... Xuanjing Division...

This young man may become an important pawn.

Just then, a soft footstep sound came from outside the door, along with a timid voice.

"Father, are you asleep?"

It was his daughter, Wu Mengwei.

The seriousness on Wu Daofu's face melted instantly, replaced by a look of kindness.

"Oh, it's Weiwei. Not yet. Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Wu Mengwei, dressed in a pink silk dress, walked in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup.

"Father, I've made you some calming lotus seed soup. Please drink it while it's hot."

"Good, good, good, my dear daughter is the most filial." Wu Daofu smiled as he took the bowl, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.

But just then, he suddenly noticed that his daughter's expression seemed a little off today, with a hint of undisguised joy in her eyes.

"Weiwei, what's wrong? Why are you so happy?" Wu Daofu asked with concern.

"No...no." Wu Mengwei, who was immersed in the excitement of her dream lover soaring to the sky and feeling proud of herself, was taken aback when she heard this, and then her eyes became somewhat evasive.

Who is Wu Daofu? His daughter's little schemes could not possibly escape his notice.

He was only slightly taken aback, and then did not ask any further questions.

After all, in his view, it was normal for his daughter to have her own little thoughts now that she was all grown up.

Meanwhile, a somber atmosphere pervaded the imperial palace late at night.

The Empress was sitting upright behind her desk, reviewing a mountain of memorials.

She wore a bright yellow dragon robe, her long hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and her beautiful face was expressionless, except for a hint of coldness that occasionally flashed in her deep, starry eyes.

Chen Wan'er, dressed in a light purple palace gown, stood quietly to the side, grinding ink and adding tea for her.

As the Empress's most trusted secretary, she was on call almost 24 hours a day, accompanying the monarch.

Looking at the Empress's somewhat frail figure, she couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

Outsiders only see the empress's glory, her reign over the world, and her power that dominates the four seas.

But who knows how much effort this young emperor put into consolidating his hard-won empire?

Five years after the old emperor's death, she, as a princess, with the support of the academy and a group of veteran officials, defied public opinion and ascended the throne as the first female emperor in the history of the Great Chen Dynasty.

For the past five years, she has hardly had a good night's sleep.

During the day, one must handle state affairs and balance the power of various factions.

Evenings were spent studying classical texts and reviewing memorials until late at night.

A young woman in her early twenties, who should be enjoying the prime of her youth, is instead burdened with the weight of a vast empire.

The hardships involved are beyond what outsiders can understand.

"Wan'er."

Just as Chen Wan'er was lost in thought, the Empress's cold voice suddenly rang out.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Chen Wan'er replied quickly, bowing respectfully.

"What do you think of what happened today?" The Empress put down her vermilion brush, rubbed her slightly sore wrist, and asked casually.

coming!

Chen Wan'er's heart tightened suddenly.

She knew His Majesty would ask about this sooner or later.

After returning from the hunting grounds, she was constantly on edge, rehearsing her response countless times in her mind.

But when the Empress actually asked, she was so nervous that her palms sweated.

"Your Majesty, my younger brother Chen Ye is unruly by nature. Although he has recently shown some remorse, he has suddenly assumed a high position. I fear that his virtue is not commensurate with his position and that he will find it difficult to win the respect of the people. I am even more afraid that he is young and impetuous and will act rashly, thus failing Your Majesty's grace."

These words were spoken with extreme humility, both expressing his concerns and adopting a very modest posture.

"Unworthy of the position?" Upon hearing this, the Empress chuckled lightly. "I never look at virtue when choosing people, only ability."

"I saw your younger brother's performance at the hunting grounds today. His courage, intelligence, and methods are all top-notch. Wouldn't it be a waste to keep such a talent as a wealthy idler in the inner quarters?"

"As for winning over the masses..." A cold glint flashed in the Empress's eyes. "What my Zhenfu Division needs is a sharp knife, not a nice guy who has to read people's faces. Whether they submit or not is not important. What's important is that I think he's capable. That's enough."

His words were spoken with unparalleled domineering power, brimming with the confidence and decisiveness of an emperor.

Chen Wan'er quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

"Alright, you don't need to be modest in front of me anymore." The Empress waved her hand. "I know you're happy inside, after all, you, as the older sister, have been worrying yourself sick over your good-for-nothing brother."

"Your Majesty... I am filled with trepidation." Chen Wan'er's eyes reddened slightly.

"He said he suddenly turned over a new leaf half a month ago?" the Empress suddenly asked again.

"Yes." Chen Wan'er answered honestly, "According to the servants in the manor, half a month ago my father was furious because of my younger brother's outrageous behavior and scolded him severely. Perhaps my father's words woke him up. Since that day, my younger brother has stayed at home and started to study hard and practice martial arts diligently, which is why things have changed today."

"Oh? You suddenly realized your mistake after being scolded by your father?" The Empress's tone was slightly amused. "It seems your father's eloquence is far superior to the memorials submitted by those officials in the court."

Chen Wan'er's heart jumped into her throat again.

But just then, the Empress waved her hand and said, "Alright, you may leave. I am tired."

"My minister retire."

Chen Wan'er bowed, then carefully withdrew from Hanzhang Hall.

After stepping out of the main hall, the night wind outside made her realize that her back was completely soaked.

Serving the king is like serving a tiger. The ancients were right.

Especially when you're by the side of such a deep and calculating empress.

Chen Wan'er looked up at the bright moon in the sky and let out a long breath.

Anyway, tonight turned out alright, though it was a close call.

My younger brother's future is pretty much secured.

Her only worry now is about Wu Mengwei's matter.

If this matter is not handled properly, it could become even more troublesome than what happened today.