Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 219 Turbulence Arises, Insider Involved

Two guards standing at the entrance of Shen Lian's official residence blocked Chen Ye's way, and then one of the guards spoke.

"The commander is dealing with important matters and has given instructions not to see anyone."

Chen Ye stopped and, without arguing further, simply said, "I'll wait here."

Then he stepped aside and leaned against a pillar that wouldn't get in his way.

His action startled the two guards.

They had anticipated that Chen Ye might use his status to question them, but they didn't expect him to choose to wait so calmly.

The two then exchanged a glance and said nothing more.

And so, Chen Ye leaned against the pillar, arms crossed, waiting quietly.

Everyone in the Xuanjing Division knew that Li Chengfeng died after being guarded by them and then by his sister Chen Wan'er.

I and my sister Chen Wan'er are now the prime suspects.

At times like these, any hasty behavior will be interpreted as a guilty conscience.

So he could only wait.

This is how they expressed their attitude to Shen Lian and the entire Xuanjing Division.

That means I have a clear conscience and I'm not afraid of being investigated.

Time passed slowly, and the atmosphere in the courtyard grew increasingly oppressive.

Occasionally, when officers and soldiers passed by, they would avoid Chen Ye, who was leaning against a pillar.

Chen Ye didn't care about any of this and waited calmly.

About an hour later, the gate of the government office creaked open.

It wasn't Shen Lian who came out, but his trusted advisor, a secretary surnamed Qian.

When Master Qian saw Chen Ye, he put on a polite smile and quickly walked over.

"Oh, Captain Chen, what are you doing standing here? Please go back."

Chen Ye looked up at him and asked, "Commander, are you done with your work?"

"Not yet, not yet." Master Qian waved his hands repeatedly. "The Commander is still discussing Minister Li's case with several officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. It's probably not going to be over anytime soon."

He paused, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Captain Chen, you're a smart man. Things are very tense right now."

"The commander's intention is for you to return to your residence for a few days to rest and avoid trouble, and then be summoned back to duty once things have made progress."

Chen Ye immediately understood what Shen Lian meant.

This isn't giving him a break; it's suspending him from his duties.

Shen Lian was using this method to temporarily sever his ties with the matter.

On the one hand, it's to protect him from being drawn into a deeper vortex; on the other hand, it's also a form of observation.

"I understand." Chen Ye nodded. "Please convey my message, Master Qian. I'll head back now."

His reaction remained calm, without the slightest dissatisfaction or panic.

This made Master Qian swallow back all the words he had prepared, and he couldn't help but think to himself, "What a character!"

After all, it's already quite impressive for an ordinary young person not to panic in such a situation, but this Captain Chen is so calm that he is truly not to be underestimated.

"Alright, I will definitely pass on the message." Master Qian cupped his hands in greeting.

"Farewell."

Chen Ye turned and walked towards the gate of the Xuanjing Division.

His back was straight, his steps were steady, and there was not a trace of dejection in him.

Those who were secretly observing him in the courtyard, upon seeing this scene, had their gloating expressions lessen considerably.

Chen Ye walked out of the Xuanjing Bureau, mounted his black steed, and instead of immediately driving away, he looked back at the black plaque with gold characters on a black background of the Xuanjing Bureau.

The two characters "Xuan Jing" on the plaque looked particularly cold under the gloomy sky.

Chen Ye knew that from the moment Li Chengfeng died, he had been caught in a huge storm, but he was not afraid; on the contrary, he was quite calm.

Just as they were about to turn their horses around and leave, a voice came from the side.

"Hey, isn't this Captain Chen?"

Chen Ye turned his head and saw Zhao Heng, the young prince of Wuyang Prince's Mansion, looking at him with amusement, accompanied by several lackeys.

"Why is Captain Chen out of the yamen at this hour? Did he do something wrong and get kicked out?"

Zhao Heng harbored a grudge because Chen Ye tricked him during the autumn hunt, causing him to lose face.

Seeing Chen Ye in trouble now, he was naturally very happy.

Chen Ye glanced at him and said, "Young Prince Zhao, I think your kidneys are getting weaker and weaker, to the point that your eyesight is so poor. Can't you see that I was ordered to go home and rest?"

"You!" Zhao Heng's face turned a deep shade of liver when Chen Ye exposed his shortcomings in public.

"Chen Ye, don't be so smug!" Zhao Heng pointed at his nose and cursed, "I've heard that Minister Li died in your Xuanjing Division's prison, and the last person to see him was your sister!"

"The person died under mysterious circumstances, and now you, as the younger brother, have been suspended from your job. I think your Chen family is doomed this time!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's eyes turned cold.

"Zhao Heng, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

"My sister is a palace lady-in-waiting, investigating a case on His Majesty's orders. How dare you slander her like that?"

"If you dare to utter another word of nonsense, believe me, I'll show you today whether the Zhaowu Captain of the Xuanjing Division can arrest people on the street."

As Chen Ye spoke, his hand was already on the hilt of the knife.

A chilling killing intent emanated from him, causing the surrounding air to drop several degrees.

Zhao Heng was so intimidated by his imposing manner that he took a step back, but he still tried to put on a brave front.

"You...you dare! I am a prince!"

“Young Prince?” Chen Ye sneered, “At the entrance of the Xuanjing Division, let alone a young prince like you, even if your father, Prince Wuyang, came, he would still arrest you if you dared to obstruct official business.”

Zhao Heng was speechless, and his lackeys behind him were terrified and fell silent.

"Get lost," Chen Ye uttered a single word.

Zhao Heng's face turned pale and then red. In the end, he didn't dare to shout anymore. He could only glare at Chen Ye hatefully, say "You just wait," and then leave with his men in a sorry state.

Watching their disheveled figures, Chen Ye withdrew his gaze.

He knew that Zhao Heng, this clown, was just the beginning.

As the news of Li Chengfeng's death unfolds, countless open and covert attacks will be launched against him and his family.

But there was no point in thinking about it now, so Chen Ye turned his horse around and headed towards the Chen residence.

By the time Chen Ye returned to the Chen residence, it was already completely dark.

The lanterns at the gate of the mansion cast a dim yellow light, making the shadows of the two stone lions appear very long.

As soon as he entered the door, the butler hurriedly came to greet him.

"Young Master, you're finally back!" The butler's face was full of anxiety. "Master has been waiting for you in the study for a long time."

"Understood," Chen Ye replied, handing the reins and waist knife to a servant before heading straight for the study.

Before even entering the door, I could hear my father, Chen Fangshi, pacing back and forth inside.

"Dad, I'm back." Chen Ye pushed open the door and entered.

As soon as Chen Fangshi saw him, he felt like he had found his pillar of support and rushed over to grab his arm.

"How is it? What did the Xuanjing Division say? How's your sister? Is she alright?"

His series of questions revealed his extreme inner unease.

Chen Ye helped him sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

"Dad, don't be anxious, let me explain slowly."

He briefly recounted the situation at the Xuanjing Division and how Shen Lian had told him to go home and rest.

Of course, he omitted the details of Zhao Heng's provocation to avoid worrying his father.

Chen Fangshi's expression became even more serious after hearing this.

"Suspension... Is Shen Lian trying to remove you from the picture, or is he trying to make you take the blame?" After all, he had been in officialdom for many years and immediately understood the underlying meaning.

"Both," Chen Ye admitted frankly. "But it seems that the majority of them are protecting me, since I'm his subordinate and it wouldn't benefit him if I fell."

"What about Wan'er?" Chen Fangshi was most worried about his daughter. "What's the situation in the palace now? She was the last person to see Li Chengfeng, and those censors and officials will definitely make a big deal out of it!"

"There's no news from my sister yet," Chen Ye shook his head. "But don't worry, she's close to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty trusts her, those censors won't be able to cause any trouble."

That's what he said, but he knew in his heart that things were not that simple.

After all, the heart of an emperor is unfathomable.

Whether the Empress believed Chen Wan'er or not, no one could say for sure.

"Sigh!" Chen Fangshi sighed heavily, his whole body slumped down, "Our Chen family was just starting to get better, how could we encounter such a thing!"

“Father, we must remain calm, especially in times like these.” Chen Ye’s voice was steady and strong. “You should continue with your usual routine and not let outsiders see that things are in disarray in our household.”

"The servants in the mansion must also be properly disciplined and not allowed to gossip outside."

Seeing his son's calm demeanor, Chen Fangshi's previously panicked heart calmed down considerably.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Chen Fangshi nodded. "You need to be careful too."

The father and son chatted for a while longer. After calming his father down, Chen Ye returned to his own courtyard. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Xie Weining's maid, Qing'er, waiting at the door.

"Young Master, Miss is waiting for you in the study." Qing'er curtsied.

Chen Ye nodded and went into the study.

Xie Weining was sitting under the lamp, holding a book in her hands, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused, clearly indicating that her mind was not on the book.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and her eyes showed concern when she saw that it was Chen Ye.

"came back."

"Hmm." Chen Ye sat down opposite her, poured himself a glass of water, and took a couple of sips before speaking.

"Have you heard the rumors outside?"

Xie Weining nodded and put down the book in her hand.

"I just returned from the Chamber of Commerce and heard about the death of Li Chengfeng, the Minister of Rites, in the Xuanjing Division's prison."

She hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "They said this has something to do with you and your sister?"

"It's related." Chen Ye didn't hide anything. "I was the one who guarded him, and my sister was the one who interrogated him last."

Xie Weining's breath hitched.

Although she had expected it, her heart still clenched when she heard Chen Ye admit it with her own ears.

"So... what's the situation now?"

"I've been suspended." Chen Ye's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.

Xie Weining frowned.

"Suspended from duty? What does that mean? Are they trying to make you take the blame?"

"I don't know." Chen Ye shook his head. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't."

At the same time, Chen Ye heard Xie Weining's inner thoughts.

He's been suspended... Is it that serious?

Will those people harm him? He's the target of everyone's criticism right now.

No, I have to do something. The Xie family still has connections in Yunzhou; perhaps they can be of help.

Feeling Xie Weining's worry, Chen Ye felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"Don't worry," Chen Ye's voice softened. "This isn't as serious as you think. I've just been temporarily thrust into the spotlight. Nothing will happen."

At this point, he suddenly chuckled. "What, are you afraid that if I fall, you, Mrs. Chen, will also be implicated?"

Xie Weining blushed when he teased her like that, and glared at him reproachfully.

"Who's worried about you! I'm just afraid you'll drag the Xie family down with you!" she retorted stubbornly.

[This guy, at a time like this, he's still in the mood for jokes!]

However… judging from his calm demeanor, he must be confident, right?

"Don't worry, the sky won't fall." Chen Ye got up, walked to her side, and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Ugh... What are you doing!" Xie Weining slapped his hand away, her face turning even redder.

"I just wanted to see how beautiful it would be if my Wei Ning worried about me." Chen Ye used his LV3 silver tongue, his voice magnetic and his eyes full of laughter.

Xie Weining felt flustered and her heart skipped a beat under his gaze.

He...he did this again...

My face is so hot...

"You smooth talker!" Xie Weining pushed him away and stood up. "Who cares about you! I'm going to sleep!"

After saying that, she turned and left the study.

As he watched her retreating figure, the smile on Chen Ye's face slowly faded.

He knew that Xie Weining's worries were not unfounded.

Because this storm has only just begun.

Chen Ye sat back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as his mind raced.

The mastermind behind Li Chengfeng's death points directly to the Demonic Sect.

Their purpose was far more than simply killing to silence witnesses; they likely intended to disrupt the court and undermine the Empress's authority.

He is now suspended from his post and staying at home, while his sister is in the eye of the storm in the palace.

So the most urgent thing is to find a way to contact my sister.

Just as Chen Ye was pondering a solution, a very slight noise came from outside the courtyard.

Chen Ye paused, and his ears twitched.

He could tell that the sound wasn't coming from the servants moving around in the mansion, but from the back wall.

So someone bypassed the Great Firewall?

Chen Ye remained calm, but his hand quietly gripped the waist knife on the table, preparing to face the enemy.

Soon a figure appeared on the window paper. Chen Ye only glanced at it, and his tense body instantly relaxed.

At the same time, the window was pushed open from the outside with a clever force, and a slender and agile figure silently climbed in.

As soon as she came in, she made a shushing gesture to Chen Ye.

Chen Ye nodded, indicating that he understood.

Then the man removed his mask, revealing Chen Wan'er's strikingly handsome face.

Her face was pale and her eyes were filled with exhaustion, but her spirit remained sharp.

Chen Ye quickly got up and poured her a cup of hot tea.

Chen Wan'er took the teacup but didn't drink it. She simply held it in her hand, absorbing the warmth, before saying in a deep voice, "Shen Lian suspended you from your post?"

"Yes," Chen Ye replied simply.

Chen Wan'er looked at his calm face and then nodded. "Shen Lian is right to do this. We are in the eye of the storm right now. It's better for you and for the Chen family to stay out of trouble for a while."

"Sis, how are things going on your end?" Chen Ye asked the question that concerned him the most.

Chen Wan'er's eyes darkened.

“This is bad.” She uttered two words. “Today, Sun Demao of the Censorate led more than a dozen officials to submit a joint memorial impeaching me for abusing my power and coercing court officials, which led to my tragic death in prison.”

"They also said that the Xuanjing Division neglected its duties, leading to the sudden death of a wanted criminal, and demanded that His Majesty punish them severely." Chen Wan'er's voice turned cold as she said this, "The blame is being pointed directly at me and Shen Lian."

"What did your Majesty say?"

"His Majesty rejected their memorial in court, saying that everything would be discussed after the autopsy results were available." Chen Wan'er's lips curled into a cold smile. "But everyone can see that this is just the beginning."

"What were the autopsy results? What did the coroner say?" Chen Ye pressed.

"The coroner sent from the palace, as well as people from the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice, have examined the body." Chen Wan'er put down her teacup and rubbed her temples. "The conclusion is that Li Chengfeng died of heart failure."

"Heart failure?" Chen Ye frowned.

"Hmm." At this moment, Chen Wan'er's eyes became particularly serious. "You spent the whole night with him before I went to interrogate him, so tell me the truth, what was his condition at the time?"

Chen Ye was silent for a moment, then said, "He was on the verge of a mental breakdown. When I went in, he first tried to intimidate me with his official authority, and then tried to lure me with secrets. When he saw that I was unmoved, he began to lose control of his emotions."

"That night he told me a lot, about how difficult it was for him to rise from humble beginnings to become a high-ranking official, and about his fear of death."

"The most crucial point is that he mentioned that group of so-called experts."

"A master?" Chen Wan'er's eyes sharpened.

“Yes.” Chen Ye nodded. “He said that those experts could grant him immortality. He worked for them, planted people, and gathered intelligence on the court and the academy, all in exchange for eternal life.”

"He regarded those people as real gods."

Chen Wan'er's breathing quickened slightly. "Have you said these things to anyone else?"

"No." Chen Ye shook his head. "Shen Lian didn't ask, and I didn't say anything."

"Well done." Chen Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief. "This matter involves the Demon Sect of the Boundless Sand Domain, so the fewer people who know about it, the better."

"Sister, what did he say when you interrogated him?" Chen Ye asked.

Chen Wan'er's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "He didn't say anything."

"Didn't say anything?" Chen Ye was surprised.

How could Li Chengfeng, a man who would say anything to save his life, suddenly shut up?
“Yes.” Chen Wan’er nodded. “After I went in, no matter how I asked him, he was like a mute, not saying a word. He just looked at me with a strange look and muttered something to himself.”

"Muttering to himself? What did he say?"

“The voice was too soft to hear clearly, it sounded like he was reciting some kind of scripture,” Chen Wan’er recalled. “At the time, I thought he had completely gone mad, so I didn’t pay much attention. Now I think it was probably not that simple.”

"Because he died less than an hour after I left."

Silence fell over the study.

Both siblings realized that Li Chengfeng's death was suspicious in every way.

A man who was afraid of death and would sell everything to survive suddenly became tight-lipped after meeting the interrogating officer, and then died mysteriously.

This doesn't make sense at all.

After a long silence, Chen Ye suddenly said, "Sister, I suspect there is a traitor from the Demonic Sect within the Xuanjing Division."

(End of this chapter)