Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 203 Entering the Mysterious Mirror Division, Turbulence Begins

Chen Wan'er is gone.

Only after her figure disappeared outside the mansion gate did Chen Ye withdraw his gaze, and when he turned around, he met Xie Weining's cold eyes.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chen Ye grinned. "Do you think your husband looks especially impressive right now?"

Xie Weining didn't say anything, she just looked at him quietly.

This guy's smug, overconfident attitude is just as annoying as ever.

However, with his coat on and his muscular chest showing, he was definitely more handsome than the guy who only knew how to drink.

What am I thinking?! Xie Weining, wake up! He's still Chen Ye!

Hearing these chaotic thoughts, Chen Ye's smile deepened.

He took a step forward, leaned close to Xie Weining, and lowered his voice, saying, "My sister just said that if I don't behave, she'll let you deal with me, and she'll even back you up."

Xie Weining's heart skipped a beat at his sudden approach. She instinctively took a half-step back and looked at him warily: "What do you want to do?"

"I don't want to do anything," Chen Ye said, shrugging innocently. "I just want to ask my wife how you plan to deal with me? Will you use family discipline, or...?"

He deliberately dragged out the sound, his eyes scanning Xie Weining up and down.

Xie Weining's face flushed red instantly, the redness spreading from her cheeks all the way to her ears.

She could easily detect the flirtatious undertone in Chen Ye's words.

[Bastard! Scoundrel! How dare he say such a thing!]

What was with that look in his eyes...it made me feel so hot...

No, I can't let him look down on me!

Xie Weining took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, then raised her head to meet Chen Ye's gaze and said coldly, "You're overthinking it. I have no interest in dealing with someone like you."

After saying that, she picked up the remaining breakfast on the stone table and turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute." Chen Ye grabbed her wrist.

Xie Weining's body stiffened abruptly, and the tray in her hand wobbled.

She felt her wrist being gripped by a warm, strong hand, and a masculine aura instantly enveloped her, leaving her mind blank for a moment.

He...he caught me!

His hands were so hot...and so strong...

"You...you let go!" Xie Weining came to her senses, feeling both ashamed and angry, and tried hard to pull her hand back.

But Chen Ye's hand was like an iron clamp, and she couldn't break free with her strength.

"I can let go," Chen Ye said with a grin, "but you have to leave me some of the osmanthus cake you made, right? I was so busy talking to my sister that I didn't have breakfast yet."

Xie Weining was stunned for a moment.

[Does he... want to eat the osmanthus cake I made?]

[At least he has some conscience; he knows I worked hard all morning.]

Thinking of this, Xie Weining's anger inexplicably dissipated.

With a stern face, she handed the tray to Chen Ye: "It's all for you."

After saying that, she quickly pulled her hand back while Chen Ye let go and ran away without looking back.

Watching her fleeing figure, Chen Ye laughed heartily, then picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his mouth. He found it sweet but not cloying, and its fragrance filled his mouth.

Just then, a servant's voice came from outside the door announcing something.

"Young Master, the young master of the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and the young master of the Earl of Zhongyong's mansion have come to visit."

Hou En and Qian Yi?
Chen Ye raised an eyebrow; these two guys arrived pretty quickly.

Then Chen Ye instructed, "Have them wait in the front hall. I'll change my clothes and then go over."

"Yes, Master."

Chen Ye picked out a well-made blue long gown from the wardrobe and put it on. He looked less like a warrior and more like a scholar.

Upon arriving at the front hall, they saw Hou En and Qian Yi sitting upright, not even daring to drink tea, looking very nervous.

Upon seeing Chen Ye, the two men immediately stood up, their faces plastered with fawning smiles.

"Brother Chen... Brother Chen!" Hou En greeted him first, bowing deeply.

"Lord Chen!" Qian Yi exclaimed dramatically, bowing at a ninety-degree angle.

Chen Ye chuckled inwardly, but didn't show it. He simply waved his hand and sat down in the main seat.

Hou En and Qian Yi then sat down cautiously.

"Brother Chen, you truly displayed your prowess at yesterday's autumn hunt, making a name for yourself!" Hou En spoke first, his flattery resounding loudly.

“Yes, yes!” Qian Yi quickly chimed in, “My dad gave me a good beating when he got home yesterday. He said that compared to you, Lord Chen, I’m nothing but mud on the ground! Let me tell you, my dad is really ruthless. Look at my face, it’s still swollen.”

As he spoke, he actually brought his fat face closer.

Chen Ye ignored him, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said indifferently, "Alright, if you have something to say, say it. If not, go back. I have something to do later."

His lukewarm attitude made both Hou En and Qian Yi's hearts skip a beat.

They exchanged a glance and both saw the tension in each other's eyes.

It seems Chen Ye has made it big and no longer recognizes his two old friends.

“Brother Chen, what are you saying?” Hou En quickly forced a smile again. “Now that you’ve been promoted, we brothers are naturally happy for you, so we specially prepared some small gifts to come and congratulate you.”

As he spoke, he pulled a gift list from his pocket and presented it with both hands.

Qian Yi quickly followed suit and also produced a gift list.

Chen Ye did not answer.

“Take your things back,” he said calmly. “Our relationship isn’t that close.”

Upon hearing this, Hou En and Qian Yi both turned pale.

That's it, they're really trying to distance themselves from us.

"Brother Chen, please don't misunderstand, that's not what we meant." Hou En was sweating profusely with anxiety. "This is just a small token of our appreciation, we really didn't mean anything else."

“Yes, yes!” Qian Yi nodded vigorously.

Seeing their trembling and fearful expressions, Chen Ye was secretly overjoyed.
In fact, Chen Ye did not dislike these two people. Although they were playboys, they were not inherently bad. They had taken good care of his predecessor before. Moreover, if he wanted to establish himself in the court, he would have to build his own power, and these two people became his best choice.

However, the more they acted this way, the more stern-faced Chen Ye became, giving off an unapproachable vibe that made the two of them uneasy.

Just then, Chen Ye put down his wine glass, and his tone softened a bit, "Alright, I'll accept that, and I appreciate your kindness."

Hearing this, Hou En and Qian Yi breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if they had just escaped from the brink of death.

"Thank you, Brother Chen!"

"Thank you, Lord Chen!"

"Don't call me Lord Chen anymore, it sounds awkward." Chen Ye waved his hand. "Just call me Chen Ye, as before."

"No, no, no, that won't do!" Hou En shook his head like a rattle-drum. "You are now the inspector of the Xuanjing Division, an official appointed by the imperial court. How can we still be as disrespectful as before? The rules cannot be broken."

“Yes, yes, Hou En is right!” Qian Yi echoed.

Chen Ye glanced at them but didn't insist any further.

He knew it was impossible to get them to change their minds.

"Speak, what exactly do your two fathers want from me?" Chen Ye asked directly.

Hou En and Qian Yi exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat awkward.

“This…” Hou En rubbed his hands together and said cautiously, “My father’s meaning is that Lord Chen, you are now in a high position and your future is limitless. Our two families hope to… follow behind you, cheer you on, and serve you like dogs and horses.”

The words were spoken very politely, but the meaning was very clear.

They just want to curry favor with powerful figures.

Chen Ye knew exactly what was going on.

Both the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and the Earl of Zhongyong's mansion were founding nobles, but they have declined over time.

He had little say in the court, and the sons in his household were all useless.

Now that they see the Chen family rising again, they naturally want to hurry up and climb up this big tree.

This is also human nature.

Moreover, he was short-handed at the moment, so Chen Ye nodded.

"That's easy to say. Putting aside the fact that nobles are all one family, I wouldn't turn you away just because of our relationship."

Hou En and Qian Yi were overjoyed upon hearing this.

The two quickly stood up and bowed again.

Moreover, this time, their posture was even more respectful than before.

Because they knew that from this moment on, they had officially become Chen Ye's people.

Their family was now completely tied to Chen Ye's ship.

From now on, we will share both prosperity and adversity.

"Alright, stop bowing and thanking me all the time. You don't need to be so polite," Chen Ye said.

Even so, the two of them still dared not overstep their bounds, and Chen Ye did not force them. After chatting for a while, Hou En and Qian Yi took their leave.

After they left, Chen Ye was in a very good mood.

Subduing these two guys is just the first step.

Next, he plans to use these two men to gradually integrate the power of the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion and the Earl of Zhongyong's mansion into his own hands.

This was crucial for his future standing in the Xuanjing Division and even in the entire imperial court.

After all, although these two companies have declined, they still have some strength left. In particular, the connections and information channels they have accumulated over the years are not to be underestimated.

In the afternoon, the palace sent someone to deliver the appointment document and official robes of the Xuanjing Division.

The document was issued by the Ministry of Personnel and bore the bright red imperial seal, officially appointing Chen Ye as the Inspector of the Xuanjing Division, a position of the seventh rank.

The official uniform was a black, close-fitting outfit made of a material that was neither silk nor linen, and felt cool to the touch, yet was exceptionally durable.

The chest of the garment was embroidered with a ferocious beast head in gold thread, its claws outstretched and lifelike.

The lining of the cloak was dark red.

The entire outfit exuded a chilling and cold aura.

Chen Ye held the black official robe in his hand.

He knew that putting on this outfit meant he would officially step into the darkest and bloodiest power center of the Great Chen Dynasty.

Whether the future holds fortune or misfortune remains to be seen.

But he was not afraid.

Chen Ye woke up before dawn the next day.

He didn't disturb anyone, but instead practiced boxing alone in the courtyard to warm up his body before returning to his room to change into his black Xuanjing Division official robes.

The moment Chen Ye put on the black outfit, his entire demeanor changed.

His former elegance and languidness vanished, replaced by a sharpness and ruthlessness like a drawn blade. Coupled with his tall, imposing figure and sharply defined, handsome face, he was truly awe-inspiring.

Chen Ye looked at himself in the bronze mirror and nodded in satisfaction.

"Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse"—this saying is indeed true.

As he walked out of the courtyard, he happened to run into Xie Weining, who was also heading out.

When Xie Weining saw Chen Ye dressed in a black outfit and exuding an imposing aura, she was clearly taken aback.

This outfit... is terrifying.

[But...it really looks impressive...]

Chen Ye heard her thoughts clearly, chuckled inwardly, then strode over, deliberately keeping a straight face and saying in a cold tone, "What are you looking at? Never seen this before?"

Xie Weining was startled by his appearance and subconsciously took a step back and lowered her head.

"No...no."

"Hmph." Chen Ye snorted coldly, walked past her, picked up a meat bun from the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.

Looking at his fierce expression, Xie Weining felt a little wronged and a little scared.

Why are you being so fierce...? I didn't do anything to him...

Is he going to that Xuanjing Division? I heard the people there are all really fierce... I hope he doesn't become like that too?

At this moment, Chen Ye wiped his mouth and turned to leave.

"Wait...wait a minute!" Xie Weining suddenly mustered up her courage and called out to him.

Chen Ye stopped and looked back at her.

Xie Weining took out a small sachet from her sleeve and handed it over.

"This... is for you." Her voice was soft, and her face was slightly flushed.

Chen Ye took it.

The sachet is light blue, with bamboo leaves embroidered in silver thread. It is very well made and has a faint herbal fragrance.

"what is this?"

“It’s a sachet for calming the mind and warding off evil spirits. I… I made it last night.” Xie Weining lowered her head, not daring to look at Chen Ye. “I heard that places like the Xuanjing Division are filled with yin energy.”

Holding the sachet, Chen Ye felt a warmth wash over him.

This woman may not say it, but she does care about me quite a bit.

So Chen Ye hung the sachet on his belt, and then suddenly reached out and pinched Xie Weining's cheek.

"I understand, thank you for your concern, Madam."

His movement was so sudden that Xie Weining had no time to react.

By the time she came to her senses, Chen Ye had already walked away laughing.

Xie Weining covered her cheek where he had pinched her, where the warmth of his fingers still lingered. She felt both ashamed and angry, and stomped her foot.

"lecher!"

……

Chen Ye rode his snow-white steed, Wuzhui, towards the Xuanjing Division's yamen.

The office of the Xuanjing Division was not located on the main road of the imperial city, but in a remote corner of the northern city.

The surrounding area consisted of ordinary houses, which looked unremarkable.

But the closer you get, the more you can feel a sense of oppression and grim atmosphere.

There were noticeably fewer pedestrians on the streets, and the few who did pass by were all in a hurry, heads down, not daring to look around.

There were no plaques hanging at the entrance of the government office, only two black stone lions with ferocious faces, exuding a fierce aura.

Two rows of guards dressed in black stood at the entrance, each with a long sword at their waist, expressionless, their eyes scanning the surroundings with the vigilance of hawks.

Chen Ye dismounted and handed the reins to a guard at the door.

The guard took the reins, nodded, and said nothing.

Then Chen Ye straightened his clothes and stepped up the stairs.

As soon as you step into the gate of the yamen, a chilling aura hits you.

The entire government office was built with huge black stones, and the light was dim, with a sense of oppression and coldness permeating the entire place.

The courtyard was quiet; the only sound was the whooshing of the wind blowing through the flagpole.

A middle-aged man dressed in a scholar's robe, who looked like he was in charge, was already waiting at the door.

Upon seeing Chen Ye enter, he quickly came to greet him with a professional smile on his face.

"You must be the newly appointed Inspector Chen Ye?"

"It's me." Chen Ye nodded.

"I am Xu Wen, the scribe of the Xuanjing Division. I am here to await Inspector Chen on the orders of the Commander." Xu Wen bowed. "Inspector Chen, please come with me. I will take you to complete your onboarding procedures first."

"Thank you."

Chen Ye followed Xu Wen through the front yard and arrived at a side hall.

Several officials, also dressed in scholar's robes, were busy in the side hall.

When they saw Xu Wen bring Chen Ye in, they only glanced up at him before lowering their heads again, each busy with their own things, as if they hadn't seen him at all.

The atmosphere is a little weird.

Chen Ye remained calm and observed everything.

"Inspector Chen, please register your name here and collect your waist token and centurion's seal," Xu Wen said, pointing to a table.

Chen Ye walked over, picked up a brush, and wrote his name on the roster.

An official, expressionless, handed over a black iron plaque and a small copper seal.

The front of the iron plaque features the emblem of the Mystic Mirror Division's mythical beast, while the back is engraved with the character "Chen" and the character "Qi".

A seventh-rank patrol inspector.

The bronze seal bears the inscription "Chen, Inspector of the Xuanjing Division, Hundred-Household Officer" in seal script.

"Alright." Chen Ye put away his waist token and seal.

"Inspector Chen, the formalities have been completed," Xu Wen said with a smile. "According to the rules, you need to pay your respects to your superior, Lord Shen, first."

"Okay, then it's hard work."

"Inspector Chen, please."

Xu Wen led Chen Ye through several corridors and arrived at a secluded courtyard in the back of the government office.

Two stern-faced guards also stood at the entrance of the courtyard.

"Lord Shen is inside. You may go in by yourself. I will see you off here." Xu Wen stopped and bowed.

Chen Ye nodded and stepped into the courtyard.

There are several plum trees in the yard, but it's not yet the flowering season, so there are only bare branches.

A burly middle-aged man stood with his back to him in the middle of the courtyard, holding a pair of scissors and pruning plum branches.

He was also wearing a black Xuanjing Division official uniform, but the beast emblem on his chest was much larger than Chen Ye's.

At that moment, Lord Shen seemed to hear footsteps, but he did not turn around.

Chen Ye walked straight to a spot about three steps behind him, stopped, and said loudly, "Your humble servant Chen Ye has come to report for duty and pays his respects to Your Excellency."

The man paused in his hand movements, and after a long while, he slowly turned around.

This was a man around forty years old, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and sharp, piercing eyes. He was Shen Lian, the highest-ranking officer of the Xuanjing Division.

At this moment, Shen Lian looked Chen Ye up and down, his eyes filled with a scrutinizing gaze.

"You're Chen Ye?"

"Yes."

"Chen Ye, the one who single-handedly hunted down the one-horned thunder tiger at the autumn hunting grounds?"

"Just lucky," Chen Ye said, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Luck?" Shen Lian sneered. "There is no luck in the Xuanjing Division. Those who survive rely on their strength."

His gaze was almost tangible, casting a powerful sense of oppression over Chen Ye.

If it were an ordinary young person, their legs would probably have gone weak from his gaze.

But Chen Ye remained standing straight, his expression calm, as if he felt no pressure at all.

Oh?
A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Lian's eyes.

This young man is interesting.

He originally thought this spoiled brat who rose to power through nepotism and a bit of luck would be a pushover.

Surprisingly, he has quite a bit of courage.

“His Majesty values ​​you highly,” Shen Lian suddenly said.

"This humble official dares not fail His Majesty's grace."

“Being valued is both a good thing and a bad thing.” Shen Lian’s tone was devoid of any emotion. “In the Xuanjing Division, His Majesty’s favor can make you live a little longer, but if you want to live well, you still have to rely on yourself.”

"I understand."

"Good to know." Shen Lian threw the scissors in his hand onto the stone table beside him with a crisp clang.

"Your centurion's quarters are in courtyard number three to the west. The men have all been assembled for you," he said calmly. "They're all troublemakers. Whether you can keep them in check depends on your own abilities."

"Thank you, Lord Shen."

"Don't thank me," Shen Lian said coldly. "I don't care who you were before, or who's backing you up. Once you're in my Xuanjing Division, you have to follow my rules. If you do something good, you'll be rewarded. If you mess things up or cause me trouble, I don't care who you are, I'll kick you out of the Xuanjing Division."

"Yes, Your Excellency will remember." Chen Ye bowed and replied.

"Go ahead." Shen Lian waved his hand, turned around again, picked up the scissors, as if Chen Ye was just a wisp of air.

Chen Ye didn't say anything more, bowed, and turned to leave the courtyard.

Only after stepping out of the courtyard gate did Chen Ye slowly exhale a breath.

This Shen Lian is indeed not an easy character to deal with.

He is very strong, at least at the late stage of the Sea Condensation Realm, or even higher.

The key point is that he doesn't seem to have any goodwill towards himself.

However, Shen Lian was right about one thing: Chen Ye had to deal with these subordinates himself.

If he can't solve the problem, then it proves he's not competent for the job, and he can't blame anyone else.

"A troublemaker? I'd like to see just how troublesome she is."

Thinking of this, Chen Ye gave a slight cold laugh and walked towards the No. 3 courtyard to the west.

(End of this chapter)