Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 231 Late Night Court Session, Explicit Words (Seeking Subscriptions of 10,000 Words)

Chen Ye then briefly recounted how he traced the clues from the mud to the Yuni Temple, and how he used Zhou Yuru to find these things.

Of course, he cleverly glossed over the part about how he persuaded Zhou Yuru by using the principle of winning her heart, reasoning with her, and appealing to her emotions.

After listening, Shen Lian remained silent for a long time, and his gaze towards Chen Ye became extremely complicated.

There was both appreciation and praise.

From obtaining the clues to finding the evidence, it only took a few days.

Not only could he deduce the hiding place from a drunken rant, but he could also secretly make Sun Demeng's wife work for him in a heavily guarded women's temple, exposing all of her husband's secrets.

That ability, that cunning—truly impressive!

"You did very well." After a long while, Shen Lian finally uttered these four words.

"This matter is of great importance and must be reported to His Majesty immediately."

"You come with me."

He repackaged the evidence in a bundle, picked it up, and strode towards the door.

Chen Ye followed closely behind.

The two left the Xuanjing Division one after the other and sped towards the brightly lit imperial palace.

It was past midnight, and the gates of the imperial palace should have been locked.

But when the commander of the Imperial Guards guarding the city saw Shen Lian's waist tag engraved with the emblem of the Xuanjing Division, he did not hesitate at all and immediately ordered the palace gates to be opened.

As the Empress's most trusted confidant and the commander of the Xuanjing Division, Shen Lian possessed the privilege of entering the palace to meet the Empress at any time.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed clearly on the silent palace road.

Chen Ye followed behind Shen Lian, watching the palaces and pavilions rushing past on both sides, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Soon the two arrived outside the Zichen Palace.

The palace where the empress handled her daily affairs was still brightly lit.

Outside the palace, in the square, squads of imperial guards clad in golden armor and holding long halberds stood solemnly, guarding the area with impeccable discipline.

Shen Lian and Chen Ye dismounted and handed the horses to the eunuchs who came to greet them.

"Commander Shen, His Majesty has been waiting in the hall for quite some time," a leading eunuch bowed and said softly.

Shen Lian nodded without saying a word, but carrying the huge package, he stepped onto the white jade steps leading to the main hall.

Chen Ye followed closely behind.

The moment you step into the Zichen Palace, a majestic and powerful aura washes over you.

The main hall was spacious and magnificent.

Dozens of enormous golden pillars with coiled dragons support the towering dome, and the ground is paved with gleaming gold bricks. At the far end of the hall, on the dragon throne that symbolizes supreme power, sits a woman dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe.

She wore a purple-gold crown, possessed an exquisite beauty, a cool and aloof demeanor, and a pair of deep, unfathomable phoenix eyes that exuded an imposing aura.

She was Empress Wu Zhao of the Great Chen Dynasty.

A familiar figure stood beside her.

She wore a light blue palace dress, her figure was slender and her temperament was gentle.

It was Chen Ye's older sister, Chen Wan'er, a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat.

She seemed to have just been summoned by the Empress, and her face still showed some doubt and worry.

When she saw Chen Ye walking in behind Shen Lian, her beautiful eyes were instantly filled with shock and confusion.

Aye?

Why is he here?

Or should we go to the palace together with Shen Lian at such a late hour?
What happened?
All these thoughts made Chen Wan'er's heart jump.

"Your subject is Shen Lian, Commander of the Xuanjing Division."

"Your subject is Chen Ye, Inspector of the Xuanjing Division."

"See Your Majesty!"

Shen Lian and Chen Ye walked to the center of the main hall, knelt on one knee, and shouted in unison.

"Get up." The Empress's cold voice echoed in the hall.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

At the same time, the Empress's gaze slowly shifted from Shen Lian's face to Chen Ye behind him.

Her eyes remained cold and indifferent, revealing no emotional fluctuations.

But at that very moment, Chen Ye's Heartstring Master talent clearly captured a completely different sentiment.

It was an overwhelming feeling of elation and even excitement.

You've finally arrived!

This thought, like a thunderclap, exploded in Chen Ye's mind.

Chen Ye's heart trembled. He wondered what connection his predecessor had with this empress that made her so unforgettable.

But this was not the time to dwell on that. Shen Lian stepped forward and raised the huge package in his hand high.

"Your Majesty, I have something important to report."

"What is it?" Her voice remained cold.

"Your Majesty," Shen Lian said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, your subject and Chen Ye have uncovered irrefutable evidence of Censor-in-Chief Sun Demao's treasonous collusion with the enemy, corruption, and perversion of justice!"

"All the evidence is here!"

Upon hearing this, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze.

Standing next to the Empress, Chen Wan'er was so shocked that she covered her mouth with her hand, her face full of disbelief.

Sun Demao?
Collaboration and selling out the country?

how can that be!

Although Sun Demao had many enemies in the court, he always presented himself as upright, honest and incorruptible.

How could he do such a thing?
And surprisingly, his own younger brother, Chen Ye, was among those who uncovered the evidence.

What exactly is going on?

Chen Wan'er's mind was filled with countless questions.

Upon hearing this news, the Empress on the dragon throne maintained her calm demeanor, merely raising her hand slightly.

"Send it up."

Two eunuchs immediately descended the steps, took the huge package from Shen Lian, and carefully placed it on the dragon table in front of the Empress.

The Empress did not open it herself, but merely glanced at it indifferently.

"Shen Lian, please explain the situation first."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Shen Lian accepted the order and then recounted the entire investigation process of the case, which he had heard from Chen Ye, in detail.

He spoke slowly, but every word was clear and forceful, and he didn't exaggerate the dangers involved; he simply stated the facts objectively.

Even such a straightforward narration was enough to make Chen Wan'er tremble with fear, while at the same time, an indescribable sense of pride welled up in her heart.

After all, her younger brother had made a great contribution to this, which made her, as the older sister, feel proud as well.

The empress on the dragon throne still showed no expression on her beautiful face.

Finally, Shen Lian finished speaking.

The entire Zichen Palace fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were fixed on the stunningly beautiful figure in the dragon robe, awaiting her judgment.

After a long while, the Empress's cold voice rang out again.

"Open the package."

"Yes."

Two eunuchs immediately stepped forward and carefully untied the knots in the package.

As the layers of oil paper were peeled away, the contents inside were revealed to everyone.

Stacks of letters exuding the scent of ink, a thick pile of real estate deeds, and a bribery ledger recording numerous crimes.

The Empress's gaze slowly swept over the items, finally landing on the list of spies within the Xuanjing Division that Shen Lian had taken out separately.

When she saw those familiar names, a chilling glint finally flashed in her usually calm phoenix eyes.

The temperature inside the hall seemed to plummet to freezing point in that instant.

Chen Wan'er couldn't help but shiver, because she had never seen His Majesty exude such a terrifying aura.

"Very good." The Empress squeezed out two words through gritted teeth.

"Summon Sun Demao." Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority that resounded throughout the entire hall.

A chief eunuch immediately bowed and accepted the order, then jogged out of the main hall, his sharp voice piercing the silent night.

"His Majesty has decreed that Censor-in-Chief Sun Demao be summoned to an audience immediately!"

After the decree was issued, the main hall returned to silence.

Shen Lian stood motionless, his face ashen.

Chen Wan'er looked at her younger brother with a worried expression, then glanced at the unfathomable Empress on the dragon throne, her heart pounding in her throat.

Only Chen Ye remained standing with his head down, seemingly oblivious to everything around him.

The efficiency of the palace was astonishing.

Within a quarter of an hour, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from outside the hall.

A middle-aged official, dressed in the robes of an imperial censor, with a thin face and three long wisps of beard, strode into the Zichen Hall, led by a palace attendant. This was none other than Sun Demao, the Vice Censor-in-Chief.

He seemed to have just been woken up from his sleep. Although his clothes were still relatively neat, there was an undisguised fatigue and tension between his brows.

After all, being summoned by the Empress in the dead of night was not a good omen.

Upon entering the main hall, he saw Shen Lian and Chen Ye standing there, and his brows furrowed even more deeply.

People from the Xuanjing Division?
What are they doing here so late?
An ominous premonition instantly enveloped his heart.

But before he could think any further, he quickly walked to the front of the hall and respectfully bowed to the Empress on the dragon throne.

"Your subject, Sun Demao, pays his respects to Your Majesty! May I ask what brings Your Majesty to summon me so urgently in the middle of the night?"

The Empress merely raised her chin slightly, gesturing towards the evidence on the dragon table.

"Minister Sun, take a look at these things first."

Sun Demao's heart skipped a beat, but he still did as he was told and raised his head to look at the dragon table.

When he saw the familiar letters, deeds, and ledgers, he was struck dumb, frozen in place, and the color drained from his face at a visible speed, turning him as pale as paper.

How could these things... how could they be here?

Overwhelmed by immense fear, like a cold tide, he was instantly engulfed, leaving his hands and feet icy cold and his whole body trembling.

"Minister Sun, what's wrong? Don't you recognize these things?"

Sun Demao was jolted awake and suddenly came to his senses.

Do not!
We can't accept it!
I absolutely refuse to admit it!

As long as they don't admit it, they have no solid evidence!
Therefore, he immediately knelt down and said with a blank expression, "Your Majesty, I really don't know what this is, nor do I know who is framing me, but my loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon."

However, the empress on the dragon throne showed not a ripple on her face.

She simply watched Sun Demao perform quietly, her gaze as if she were looking at a clown.

Chen Ye, standing below, couldn't help but laugh to himself.

Even at this point, they still want to deny it; they're really stubborn to the end.

Just then, the Empress finally spoke, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

"Minister Sun, are you saying these things are all fake?"

"I do not know whether it is true or false, but my loyalty is unwavering."

Faced with Sun Demao's denial, the Empress first smiled slightly, but the smile was devoid of warmth, which instead made the air in the hall even colder.

She then slammed her hand on the dragon table!
boom!
The loud noise terrified Sun Demao, and he collapsed to the ground.

"What a loyal heart, as bright as the sun and moon!"

The Empress's voice suddenly rose, filled with a chilling aura of killing intent.

"Sun Demao, do you think I'm a three-year-old child who can be fooled by you?"

"Shen Lian, seize this traitor who has colluded with the enemy, betrayed his country, and embezzled public funds! Imprison him in the Xuanjing Division prison and interrogate him severely!"

"I want him to spill every single dirty trick he's committed over the years!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Lian immediately bowed and accepted the order.

"According to the order!"

After saying that, Shen Lian stepped forward and lifted the limp Sun Demao off the ground with one hand. Sun Demao tried to struggle and shout, but Shen Lian casually sealed his speech acupoint, leaving him only able to let out a desperate wail.

Chen Ye also planned to leave with Shen Lian, but at that moment the Empress said, "Chen Ye, stay."

Chen Ye was taken aback, then bowed and said, "Yes!"

Shen Lian did not hesitate at all, and directly dragged Sun Demao away from the main hall.
Just then, the Empress ordered, "Wan'er, you may also step down."

Chen Wan'er's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly bowed and said, "Yes!"

They then left the Zichen Palace together with the eunuchs and palace maids.

In the blink of an eye, only Chen Ye and the Empress on the dragon throne remained in the vast and magnificent Zichen Palace.

The atmosphere became somewhat subtle at this moment.

Chen Ye stood with his head bowed, his heart filled with doubt and uncertainty.

What exactly does this empress want to do?
Just as Chen Ye was pondering this, the Empress finally spoke.

Her voice was still clear and cold, but it was a little softer than before.

"You did well."

Chen Ye immediately bowed and replied, "It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens."

"Duty?"

The Empress seemed amused by his businesslike manner, and her heart began to stir with amusement.

[This kid has become quite composed after all these years.]

He just knelt there like a wooden post, not even bothering to look up at me.

[Hmph, just like when he was a kid, such a quiet, withdrawn person.]

Hearing the Empress's somewhat arrogant yet reproachful words, Chen Ye's lips twitched slightly.

Isn't this Empress having a bit too much of an internal monologue?

And, when I was a child?
But the original owner's memories don't seem to contain any fragments about this Empress.

Just then, the Empress commanded, "Raise your head."

Chen Ye dared not disobey, and could only slowly raise his head, but his gaze remained fixed on the dragon table in front of the Empress, without looking directly at her beautiful face.

"I asked you to look up so that you would look at me." The Empress's tone carried a hint of displeasure.

Helpless, Chen Ye could only slowly move his gaze upwards, finally settling on that stunningly beautiful face.

Eyes facing each other.

The Empress's phoenix eyes were as deep as stars, reflecting the flickering candlelight and Chen Ye's calm face.

She just looked at him quietly, without saying a word.

Silence fell once again in the hall.

"Are you settling in well at the Mysterious Mirror Division?" After a long while, the Empress finally turned her gaze away and asked casually.

"Your Majesty, everything is fine."

"Did Shen Lian make things difficult for you?"

"Commander Shen has been very kind to me."

"That's good."

The Empress nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

She paused for a moment, then asked, "I ordered you to investigate Sun Demao, didn't you consider how far this case is involved? What would be the consequences if we couldn't find anything?"

Chen Ye pondered for a moment, then replied, "Your Majesty, I only know to follow Your Majesty's orders and do my duty. As for the consequences, I have not thought much about them."

That's half true and half false!

Chen Ye had certainly considered the consequences, but fortune favors the bold, and how could one rise to the top without taking some risks?
Upon hearing this, the Empress gave him a deep look.

This kid's got a tough tongue.

However, I like this personality; he's daring, fearless, and just the kind of person I need.

She inwardly approved, but said casually, "Glib talker."

Chen Ye lowered his head and remained silent, but inwardly he was thinking, "Are you praising me or insulting me?"

Just then, the Empress suddenly stood up from the dragon throne and slowly walked to Chen Ye.

In an instant, a refreshing and pleasant fragrance enveloped Chen Ye.

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and he instinctively wanted to back away.

Just then, the Empress asked, "What reward do you desire?"

"Official position? Money? Or a beautiful woman?"

Her voice echoed in the empty hall, every word filled with deadly allure.

Chen Ye's heart started racing uncontrollably.

He could feel that the Empress was staring intently at him as she spoke, as if trying to see through his deepest desires.

Is this testing me?
Chen Ye's mind raced.

Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, especially in front of a shrewd and powerful empress. Saying the wrong thing could lead to utter ruin.

Therefore, he took a deep breath, suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, bowed and said, "It is my greatest honor to serve Your Majesty. I dare not ask for any reward."

These words were perfectly worded, expressing both loyalty and absolving the person of any ulterior motives.

However, the Empress did not seem satisfied with this answer.

[It's the same old line again, so boring.]

Can't you say something I want to hear? Like... that you want me?

Upon hearing this thought, Chen Ye stumbled and almost lost his balance.

What the hell!

Your Majesty, what kind of outrageous words are you uttering!
Chen Ye felt that his worldview had been shaken.

Is this still the aloof, cold, and ruthless Empress Wu Zhao from the rumors?
This is clearly a repressed pervert who likes to make dirty jokes!
"Dare not?" Just then, the Empress raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving her lips.

"Is there anything in this world that you, Chen Ye, wouldn't dare to do?"

(End of this chapter)