Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 220 One Night of Spring Breeze (Seeking Subscriptions of 10,000 Words)

After hearing Chen Ye's deduction, Chen Wan'er tightened her grip on the teacup.

"Internal response?"

“Yes.” Chen Ye’s gaze fell on the flickering candlelight. “Although Shen Lian has thoroughly investigated and found no suspicious individuals, I suspect that this person is very well hidden and cannot be easily identified.”

Chen Wan'er did not refute, because Chen Ye's deduction was reasonable.

“If there really is an inside man, then this person’s position won’t be low.” Chen Wan’er put down her teacup. “At the very least, he would have to be able to contact the guards of the prison and even influence the people responsible for delivering the food.”

“That’s right.” Chen Ye nodded, then asked, “So, sister, how do you plan to handle this?”

“His Majesty should not suspect me, so I am still safe for the time being, and can even conduct investigations openly.” Chen Wan’er’s tone was very calm.

"Now that you've been suspended, it's a good opportunity for you to distance yourself from the situation and investigate from the shadows. With both of us working on two separate lines, we'll be able to find the mole."

“Okay, that’s what I was planning to do too,” Chen Ye nodded in agreement.

"Also, you cannot use any official force of the Xuanjing Division to investigate the mole."

"I see."

Chen Ye understood his sister's meaning, after all, if there were really something fishy inside the Xuanjing Division, then any investigation he conducted through official channels would be detected by the other party.

"So how do you plan to investigate?" Chen Wan'er asked, still somewhat uneasy.

"I have my own way." As he said this, the faces of Hou En and Qian Yi flashed through Chen Ye's mind. It seemed that the Zuiyun Society he had founded earlier would come in handy now.

Seeing his confident demeanor, Chen Wan'er's tense nerves relaxed a bit.

"Be careful. The people of the Demonic Sect are ruthless and unscrupulous. If they could kill Li Chengfeng, they can use the same methods on you."

"Sister, you too," Chen Ye cautioned. "You're in more danger than I am when you're in the open."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Wan'er's lips. "Don't worry, no one in the palace can touch me except His Majesty."

After saying that, she stood up and put her face mask back on.

"I should go now; if I stay any longer, I'll be easily spotted."

"I send you."

Chen Ye escorted her to the back wall, watching her lithe figure leap over the wall and disappear into the night before turning back to his study.

In the study, the tea that Chen Wan'er hadn't drunk was still steaming. Chen Ye sat back down in his chair, picked up the teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

The warm tea went down his throat, but it couldn't quell the chill in his heart.

There's a traitor within the Xuanjing Bureau, a censor in the court is making trouble, and a bewitching woman is lurking outside.

The situation was more complicated than he had imagined.

Chen Ye rubbed his temples and took out the small notebook and charcoal pencil from his pocket.

This was the notebook he used in the prison to record Li Chengfeng's nonsense. After opening the notebook, Chen Ye carefully examined the records by candlelight.

"Longevity..."

"immortal……"

"Insert people..."

"The academy...the imperial court..."

These were the words Li Chengfeng shouted at the time, covering both the imperial court and the academy, which shows that the Demonic Sect's infiltration extended far beyond the Xuanjing Division.

So, were Sun Demao of the Censorate, who impeached my sister today, and those dozen or so officials who co-signed the petition, truly acting out of a sense of justice, or...?

Thinking of this, Chen Ye picked up his pen and wrote down the three characters "Sun Demao," then drew a heavy circle around them.

The next morning, Chen Ye got up as usual, practiced his boxing, and ate breakfast.

On the surface, everything in the Chen mansion was calm and peaceful, with the servants performing their duties and nothing seemed amiss.

Only the worry in Chen Fangshi's eyes and Xie Weining's hesitant expression at the dinner table reminded him that the Chen family was on the verge of a storm.

After breakfast, Chen Ye did not go to his study as usual. Instead, he changed into an inconspicuous set of clothes and left the Chen residence alone through the back door.

Instead of riding the conspicuous Snow-Treading Black Steed, he walked through several alleys and arrived at a restaurant called Spring Breeze Pavilion.

This is Hou En's property.

Chen Ye didn't go through the main entrance, but instead went around to the back alley and knocked three times rhythmically on a small door.

The door opened quickly, and Hou En poked his head out. When he saw Chen Ye standing outside, his face lit up with joy.

"Brother Chen, you've finally arrived!"

Chen Ye nodded. "Has Qian Yi arrived?"

"We arrived a long time ago!"

As they were talking, Hou En let him in, closed the door behind him, and then the two of them went through the kitchen, up a hidden staircase, and arrived at a private room on the third floor.

Qian Yi was pacing anxiously in the room when he saw Chen Ye enter and immediately went to greet him.

"Brother Chen, what exactly happened? My dad gave me a really bad scolding yesterday and told me to stay away from you, saying that your Chen family is in big trouble."

“My dad was pretty much the same,” Hou En chimed in from the side. “He even said he was going to ground me, and I barely managed to sneak out.”

Chen Ye glanced at them, walked to the table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Are you afraid?"

Hou En and Qian Yi exchanged a glance.

"What's there to be afraid of!" Hou En patted his chest. "Brother Chen, you treated us to a feast, and now that you're in trouble, if we back down, would we even be human?"

“Yes!” Qian Yi nodded vigorously. “At worst, our families will break our legs. Anyway, we’re just worthless lives, we’re used to it.”

Chen Ye looked at their serious expressions and couldn't help but laugh.

"Good brother, I'm really in a bit of trouble right now and I need your help."

Hou En and Qian Yi immediately came over, their expressions serious.

"Brother Chen, what are your orders?"

"I need you to help me investigate a few people," Chen Ye said in a low voice.

"Check who?"

"People from the Xuanjing Division."

Hou En and Qian Yi were both stunned.

The Xuanjing Division is the most feared intelligence agency in the Great Chen Dynasty. They are the ones who investigate others, and no one has ever dared to investigate them.

"Brother Chen, you're not joking, are you?" Qian Yi's face turned a little pale.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Chen Ye retorted.

Hou En and Qian Yi both swallowed hard.

"Brother Chen, what exactly happened? Why are you investigating your own people?" Hou En couldn't help but ask.

"Because there's a traitor within the Xuanjing Division," Chen Ye uttered.

The mole!

Those two words made the air in the private room freeze.

Although Hou En and Qian Yi were playboys, they were not fools.

They instantly understood how deep the waters ran behind Li Chengfeng's death.

"Brother Chen, this matter..." Qian Yi's voice trembled, "If this is discovered, we..."

"Scared?" Chen Ye looked at him.

Qian Yi gritted his teeth, "I'm not afraid! But the problem is, how are we supposed to investigate the officials of the Xuanjing Division?"

"Who told you to investigate by force?" Chen Ye glanced at him. "I told you to investigate using the methods you're best at."

"Our best approach?" Hou En and Qian Yi exchanged bewildered glances.

Drinking, gambling, and whoring?

“You, and those brothers from the Drunken Cloud Society, are all prominent noble families in Yunzhou City,” Chen Ye explained.

"So your information channels are actually more extensive than you imagine."

"For example, which restaurant has the most popular girls, which gambling den has a big game tonight, whose concubine is having an affair with an outsider—don't you know these things better than anyone else?"

Hou En and Qian Yi nodded repeatedly, because they were indeed very familiar with these things.

"This is all I need you to investigate." Chen Ye tapped his fingers on the table.

"I need all the information on the prison guards of the Xuanjing Division's Heavenly Prison."

"Where do they usually like to drink, where do they like to listen to music, who do they associate with, have they suddenly become extravagant recently, or have they acquired anything they shouldn't have?"

"Investigate the cooks who deliver food to the prison as well; don't overlook any clues."

Hou En and Qian Yi understood.

Chen Ye wanted them to use their status as sons of noble families to dig out clues about the mole from the streets, from brothels, gambling dens and restaurants.

They are actually quite good at this kind of work.

"Don't worry, Brother Chen!" Hou En patted his chest and assured him, "Leave this to us!"

"Okay." Chen Ye nodded. "This matter needs to be handled quickly and kept absolutely confidential."

"Tell the brothers to be careful, just ask questions, don't make contact, and don't reveal their purpose."

"understand!"

"There's one more thing," Chen Ye added.

"Brother Chen, you go ahead."

"There was a girl named Yuan Xiao'e who sold tofu at the South City Market."

At this point in Chen Ye's speech, Hou En's eyes lit up.

"The Tofu Beauty! I know her! She's become incredibly popular in the southern part of the city lately!"

Chen Ye glanced at him and said, "You're quite well-informed."

Hou En chuckled and then said, "Brother Chen, why are you bringing her up? Do you have a crush on her?"

"Just investigate when I tell you to, stop talking nonsense," Chen Ye said irritably.

"I need you to send two of your smartest guys to keep an eye on her from a distance."

"We don't need to get too close. We just need to observe who she comes into contact with every day, where she goes after closing up shop, and whether she does anything unusual."

Although Hou En and Qian Yi didn't understand why Chen Ye wanted to target a tofu seller, they immediately agreed.

"No problem, Brother Chen."

"One last thing." Chen Ye took a piece of paper from his pocket and pushed it in front of them.

The paper had a name written on it: Sun Demao.

"I need all the information on this person," Chen Ye said, his tone becoming more serious.

“His family background, his teachers and classmates, his political enemies and allies, all his social connections.”

"Also, does he have any shady secrets or weaknesses?"

Hou En gasped when he saw the name.

“Sun Demao? That famous outspoken censor? I heard he’s a ruthless guy who even dared to impeach the Grand Tutor.”

"Brother Chen, investigating him... will be quite difficult."

“I know it will be difficult,” Chen Ye said, looking at them. “That’s why I’m entrusting it to you.”

“Your fathers all served as officials in the court and are more familiar with the network of relationships there than I am. That’s why I want you to use your family connections to find out about this Sun Demao.”

"Remember, you have to be indirect and subtle, so that people don't feel like you're deliberately targeting him."

Hou En and Qian Yi exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes, but they did not hesitate.

"Brother Chen, let's do it!"

"Alright." Chen Ye stood up. "Remember, you are not fighting alone."

“You have me behind you, and the Chen family behind you.”

"And if this matter is successfully handled, I guarantee that no one in the entire Yunzhou City will dare to look down on you again."

These words stirred Hou En and Qian Yi's blood, and they nodded repeatedly, saying, "Don't worry, Brother Chen, we will definitely do a great job."

Chen Ye then gave a few more details before quietly leaving through the back door. Watching Chen Ye's departing figure, Hou En and Qian Yi's faces showed a seriousness unlike anything they had seen before.

"Old Qian, time to get to work," Hou En said.

"Okay, let's get to work!" Qian Yi nodded vigorously.

The two of them took action immediately.

Hou En was responsible for contacting the brothers of the Drunken Cloud Society and assigning them the tasks of investigating the prison guards and keeping an eye on the tofu seller.

Qian Yi then began investigating Sun Demao's background through his father's connections in the Ministry of Personnel.

Under Chen Ye's instructions, a vast network, with the Drunken Cloud Society as its central hub, was quietly laid out across Yunzhou City.

……

For the next few days, Chen Ye spent his time in seclusion, reflecting on his mistakes.

He stayed in his residence every day, either reading in his study or practicing martial arts in the courtyard, rarely venturing outside.

Meanwhile, rumors and gossip about him from the outside world are increasing.

Some say he has been removed from the Xuanjing Division and has completely lost power.

Some say he stayed home out of fear of punishment and dared not go out.

Prince Zhao Heng of the Wuyang Prince's Mansion spread rumors that the Chen family was about to fall and that people who used to be on good terms with Chen Ye should stay away from him.

For a time, the area in front of the Chen residence was deserted, with few horses and carriages.

Apart from Hou En and Qian Yi sending messages through secret channels every day, no outsiders came to visit.

Chen Fangshi was so anxious that he developed blisters on his lips and sighed constantly at home.

Xie Weining, on the contrary, remained unusually calm.

She went about her business as usual every day, and when she got home, she didn't ask Chen Ye much about what was going on outside. She would just quietly prepare ginseng tea for him or sit quietly beside him while he read.

That evening, Chen Ye was studying the rubbing of the "Ode to Righteousness" in his study, trying to find a way to restrain Bai Yingluo.

Xie Weining walked in carrying a bowl of lotus seed soup.

"Husband, let's rest for a while."

She placed the lotus seed soup on the table, then naturally walked behind Chen Ye and reached out to massage his temples.

Her fingers were slender and soft, and her strength was just right.

Chen Ye closed his eyes, savoring this rare moment of tenderness.

"Did you hear what they were saying outside?" Chen Ye asked.

"Mm," Xie Weining replied.

"Then why aren't you worried at all?"

"Why should I worry?" Xie Weining countered. "I believe in you."

Her voice was soft, but firm.

Chen Ye opened his eyes and turned to look at her.

Under the light, her expression was gentle, and there was no doubt or wavering in her eyes.

Something seemed to touch Chen Ye's heart, so he reached out and took her hand that was massaging him.

"Wei Ning".

"Ok?"

"Thank you."

Xie Weining blushed and tried to pull her hand back, but Chen Ye held it even tighter.

"Smooth-talking," she muttered to herself, her thoughts reaching Chen Ye's ears without reservation.

He...he was holding my hand...

His hands are so warm...

Chen Ye's heart stirred slightly, and he suddenly reached out and pulled Xie Weining into his arms.

Xie Weining screamed in fright and tried to struggle, but when she smelled the strong masculine scent on Chen Ye, she went limp.

What...what does he want to do?

Hearing Xie Weining's nervous and fearful yet expectant voice, Chen Ye smiled slightly and whispered in her ear, "Madam, it's getting late, let's rest."

Xie Weining was so confused at this point that she couldn't say a word.

Seeing this, Chen Ye no longer hesitated, picked him up in a princess carry, and then walked towards the rest room behind the study.

……

Chen Ye woke up at dawn the next day.

He turned his head and looked at Xie Weining, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.

In her sleep, she shed her usual aloofness and stubbornness, her brows and eyes relaxed, her breathing steady, like a docile kitten.

Chen Ye tried to get up carefully, but unexpectedly, he still disturbed Xie Weining.

Her long eyelashes trembled, and then she slowly opened her eyes.

Eyes facing each other.

Xie Weining's face flushed red instantly, and she quickly buried her head in the blanket, not daring to look at Chen Ye again.

"Awake?" Chen Ye asked with a smile.

Xie Weining, lying under the covers, let out a soft "hmm," her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz.

Chen Ye couldn't help but laugh when he saw her ostrich-like expression.

"Still shy? You weren't like this last night."

"You...you stop talking!"

Xie Weining reached out from under the covers and playfully punched him, but it wasn't very strong; it was more like she was being affectionate.

Chen Ye grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore."

He lifted the covers to get up and get dressed.

Xie Weining wanted to get up as well, but as soon as she moved, her delicate eyebrows furrowed and she gasped.

Seeing this, Chen Ye smiled and held her down.

"Don't move, you should rest for a while."

"I...I'm fine."

Xie Weining put on a brave front, but her body betrayed her, and she lay back down.

Chen Ye tucked the blanket around her before getting up and putting on his clothes.

As soon as I pushed open the door, a gust of cold wind mixed with snowflakes rushed in, giving me a jolt.

Chen Ye then realized that a heavy snow had fallen outside, turning the entire world into a pristine white.

The eaves, treetops, and artificial hills were all covered with thick snow, making the entire Chen Mansion a silver-clad sight.

"It's snowing." Chen Ye reached out and caught a snowflake. The snowflake melted quickly in his palm, bringing a cool touch.

Then Chen Ye took a deep breath of the cool air, feeling that the frustration and depression of the past few days had dissipated considerably.

Li Chengfeng's death, the turmoil in the court, and the threat of the sorceress—these are all troublesome matters, but life must go on.

Moreover, he is no longer fighting alone.

Chen Ye glanced back at the room behind him, a gentle smile on his face. He then instructed the servants to prepare hot water and breakfast before returning to his room.

Xie Weining was already dressed and sitting in front of the dressing table combing her long hair.

When she saw Chen Ye come in, a blush rose on her face again.

"Let me help you." Chen Ye walked over and naturally took the comb from her hand, then began to comb her hair.

Xie Weining looked at Chen Ye's serious profile in the bronze mirror, and her gaze softened.

"My husband," she called softly.

"Ok?"

"From now on... don't make me worry anymore."

Chen Ye paused in combing his hair, then hummed in agreement.

"it is good."

Neither of them spoke again, but the atmosphere in the room was warm and sweet.

When it was time for breakfast, Qing'er and the other servants keenly noticed the change in the relationship between their young master and young mistress.

Although the two of them still sat down to eat as usual and didn't talk much, the feeling was completely different.

They used to treat each other with utmost respect; now they exchange glances and flirtations.

Especially Xie Weining, although she still had that aloof look, there was a hint of spring in her eyes and brows that she couldn't hide, and her gaze towards Chen Ye was more tender and dependent.

Chen Fangshi saw this and was delighted.

That brat has finally figured it out.

After the tender moments, life must return to normal.

For three days in a row, Chen Ye stayed in the mansion and did not go out.

As rumors about him intensified, the area in front of the Chen residence became increasingly deserted.

Chen Ye didn't care about this at all. Every day, besides spending time with Xie Weining, he would stay in his study sorting out the various bits and pieces of information sent by Hou En and Qian Yi.

Although the sons of noble families in the Drunken Cloud Society are usually unreliable, they are quite powerful when it comes to getting things done.

They mingled in every corner of Yunzhou City, with a wide variety of information channels.

Therefore, within a few days, a thick stack of information about the prison guards of the Xuanjing Division's Heavenly Prison had been accumulated.

Chen Ye looked at the documents, his brows furrowed.

Because each of these jailers seemed to have some issues, but none of them were major problems.

"It seems that finding clues from these small fish and shrimps won't be so easy."

Chen Ye rubbed his temples, put the documents aside for the time being, and then picked up another file, this one about Yuan Xiao'e.

“Yuan Xiao’e sets up her stall at 7 a.m. and closes at noon every day, rain or shine.”

"After closing up shop, I go straight home to take care of my bedridden father and rarely go out."

"He is kind and friendly, gets along well with his neighbors, and has not been found to have had contact with any suspicious persons."

The brother in charge of keeping an eye on her even put quotation marks around the word "kind," and added a small note next to it: "This woman seems innocent, but she's actually a bit fake. She looks at men like she's looking at prey. We need to be careful."

Chen Ye's lips twitched when he saw this line of text.

It seems the young masters of the Drunken Cloud Society haven't wasted their time in brothels; they have a sharp eye for talent.

Chen Ye put down the file; the Bai Yingluo lead couldn't be rushed.

Since she chose to go undercover under the identity of Yuan Xiao'e, it means she has her own plans, so she probably won't harm anyone before her plans are exposed.

Finally, Chen Ye picked up the file about Sun Demao. This file was the thinnest, with only a few pages.

“Sun Demao, 42 years old, a native of Yongzhou, was the second-place candidate in the imperial examination in the 327th year of the Great Chen Dynasty. After entering officialdom, he first served in the Hanlin Academy and later transferred to the Censorate. He was upright and incorruptible, unafraid of powerful figures, and impeached many high-ranking officials in the court. He was known as Sun the Iron-Tongued.”

"There was only one wife in the family, who had two sons and one daughter. The family was very strict, and all of their children studied at the academy. They had a very good reputation."

He was an honest and upright official who lived a simple life. His residence was allocated by the imperial court, and he had little wealth at home.

"This man had almost no flaws; his only hobby was playing chess, and he often played chess with several upright officials in teahouses."

Upon seeing this, Chen Ye's brows furrowed even deeper.

An upright, incorruptible, and utterly honest censor with no vices.

This kind of person doesn't seem like someone who would be associated with the Demonic Sect at all.

So, did I guess wrong?

(End of this chapter)