Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 232: Directly Reaching Heaven
Chen Ye's heart started beating even faster.

He could feel the Empress's gaze fixed on the top of his head, a gaze that seemed to have a tangible weight, making it hard for him to breathe.

Hmph, keep pretending.

When we were kids, you were always the one leading the way, climbing trees to raid bird nests and catching fish in the river. Now you've learned to play the quail!

[It really hasn't changed at all]

The Empress's proud yet nostalgic voice rang out again, making Chen Ye's mind even more confused.

As a child?
The original owner couldn't find any childhood memories related to this Empress no matter how hard he searched!
So what exactly is their relationship?
Could it be that my memories were damaged when I transmigrated here?
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, the Empress seemed a little impatient. "I'm asking you a question. What reward do you want?"

Chen Ye quickly came to his senses.

He knew he could no longer use platitudes about how it was an honor to serve His Majesty.

The empress clearly didn't like to hear this.

Chen Ye's brain raced as he searched for an answer that would satisfy her without making him seem greedy.

Official position? I've just been promoted to Zhaowu Colonel; any further promotion would be too fast and make me a target of public criticism.

Money? Although the Chen family has declined, they are not short of money. Moreover, appearing too greedy for money would lower their reputation in the Empress's eyes.

A beauty? That's even more unacceptable. To ask for a beauty in front of the Empress is practically suicide.

After much thought, Chen Ye felt that the best choice was to not want anything at all, but he couldn't just say no directly; he had to find another way.

So he took a deep breath, raised his head again, and this time his gaze no longer darted away, but looked directly into the Empress's deep phoenix eyes.

"Your Majesty, there is indeed something I desire."

Oh?
A hint of curiosity flashed in the Empress's phoenix eyes.

[This kid has finally figured it out!]

Listening to her expectant voice, Chen Ye became even more certain of his judgment, and then slowly spoke, his voice steady and sincere.

"Your Majesty, I would like to request that you grant me a power."

"Power?" The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, clearly surprised by the answer.

“That’s right.” Chen Ye nodded solemnly. “Your Majesty, I would like to request permission to submit a written report to Your Majesty when necessary.”

Upon hearing this, the playful expression on the Empress's face gradually faded, replaced by a thoughtful look.

The power to submit petitions directly to the emperor.

This might not sound like a remarkable reward, as it neither grants an official position nor money. However, being in the imperial court, Chen Ye knew very well how important this power was.

There are countless civil and military officials in Yunzhou City, but only a handful can truly convey their voices directly to the emperor's ears without any intermediaries.

Most memorials had to be screened and reviewed by the Secretariat before being presented to the Emperor.

Therefore, having the power to submit petitions directly meant having a direct channel to the emperor's ears.

Even though Chen Ye is only a sixth-rank Zhaowu Colonel, that alone is enough to make those first and second-rank officials look at him differently.

This is an intangible form of political capital, far more tangible than any gold, silver, or high-ranking official position.

More importantly, this also represents the emperor's absolute trust in him.

Silence fell once again inside the hall.

The candlelight burned quietly on the golden candlestick, making a soft crackling sound.

The empress did not answer immediately, but instead paced slowly through the hall with her hands behind her back.

After a long while, the Empress stopped and turned around to look at Chen Ye again.

"Do you know that your request puts me in an even more difficult position than if you directly asked me for an official position?"

"I know," Chen Ye replied frankly. "But I also know that the Xuanjing Division is His Majesty's eyes and ears. As a member of the Xuanjing Division, sometimes the information I gather is extremely urgent. If it is reported up the chain of command according to the normal procedure, it may delay the opportunity to win the battle."

"Therefore, I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

He spoke in a grand and dignified manner, completely packaging his personal desires under the guise of loyalty to the country and the emperor.

Seeing his serious expression, the Empress suddenly smiled. Her smile was like the first melting of snow, brightening the entire majestic hall.

This kid is getting more and more interesting.

[They're not only good at getting things done, but they're also good at communicating.]

Hearing her heartfelt words, Chen Ye was overjoyed, knowing that the matter had been settled.

Sure enough, the Empress said, "Very well, I grant your permission."

"From this day forward, you may submit memorials to me at any time. Your memorials will not need to go through the Secretariat; they can be presented directly to the Emperor by the Inner Palace Attendants."

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!" Chen Ye immediately knelt on one knee and sincerely performed a deep bow.

"Rise." The Empress waved her hand, her tone returning to its usual coldness. "I am tired. You may leave."

"Yes." Chen Ye bowed in response, then slowly backed away.

He retreated all the way to the entrance of the main hall before turning around and stepping out of the palace that symbolized the pinnacle of power.

The moment he stepped out of the palace gate, the cold night wind outside blew on his face, instantly sobering him up.

Recalling his time alone with the Empress, Chen Ye still felt it was somewhat unreal.

In particular, her passionate and daring words completely overturned Chen Ye's understanding of this iron-blooded empress.

It seems that His Majesty is far more complex than the rumors suggest, but in any case, the purpose of tonight has been achieved.

Not only did he bring down his mortal enemy Sun Demao, but he also unexpectedly gained the power to submit petitions directly to the emperor.

This will undoubtedly be a huge boost to his future plans.

Chen Ye let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much more relaxed. He then looked up at the moon in the sky and started walking towards the palace gate.

As soon as Chen Ye stepped down the white jade steps in front of the Zichen Hall, he saw a familiar figure pacing anxiously back and forth under a pillar not far away.

It was his sister, Chen Wan'er.

She was still wearing that light blue palace dress, clearly indicating that she hadn't left after stepping down, but had been waiting for him there.

The night breeze ruffled the strands of hair at her temples, adding a touch of pitifulness to her gentle and beautiful face.

"Sister." Chen Ye walked over quickly and called out softly.

Chen Wan'er turned around abruptly upon hearing the voice, and when she saw it was Chen Ye, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

"Ano!"

She rushed to Chen Ye, grabbed his arm, and looked him up and down, her eyes filled with concern and worry.

"Are you alright? Her Majesty...she didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

The Empress had just left Chen Ye behind alone, which terrified her.

She was terrified that her younger brother might say something wrong and incur the emperor's wrath.

After all, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; this saying is no joke.

"I'm fine, sister, don't worry." Chen Ye felt a warmth in his heart when he saw her nervous appearance, and comforted her with a smile, "His Majesty just asked about the specific details of the case and even rewarded me."

"A reward?" Chen Wan'er was taken aback.

"Hmm." Chen Ye nodded, but he didn't say what the specific reward was.

The power to submit petitions directly is of great importance, and the fewer people who know about it, the better.

Seeing that he didn't want to say more, Chen Wan'er wisely didn't press him, but her anxious heart finally settled down.

"It's alright, it's alright." She patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

The two walked side by side on the quiet palace path, the dim palace lanterns casting long shadows of them.

The siblings had a brief discussion about what happened today, and then Chen Wan'er said in a deep voice, "You did a good job. Before, it was this Sun Demao who was keeping an eye on me in the court. Now that you have brought him down, the remaining forces will become a mess, and no one will dare to challenge you and me."

"However, there is something I must remind you. Sun Demao has been operating in the Censorate for many years, and his protégés and old friends are all over the court. Although he has fallen, those who are involved with him will definitely try to protect themselves, or even retaliate."

Chen Ye nodded. "I understand."

"No, you don't understand enough. You must remember, never believe any of Sun Demao's accusations, and try your best not to escalate this matter," Chen Wan'er said in a deep voice.

Chen Ye was taken aback upon hearing this, clearly not understanding why his sister Chen Wan'er would say such a thing.

Chen Wan'er took a deep breath and said, "He's at his wit's end now. To survive, he'll definitely bite people like a mad dog, trying to muddy the waters and escalate the situation."

"Therefore, he is very likely to implicate some important officials in the court, or even some big figures that neither you nor I can afford to offend."

“Once you let him lead you by the nose, then we will not only be facing Sun Demao’s remnants, but also more and more powerful enemies.”

"At that time, my brother and I alone will not be able to control the situation and will only be drawn into an even more dangerous vortex."

Chen Ye suddenly realized. It has to be said that Chen Wan'er is indeed worthy of being able to hold such an important position as the Imperial Secretary at such a young age in the treacherous imperial palace. Her vision and strategy are truly unmatched by ordinary people.

Chen Ye nodded sincerely, "I understand, sister!"

"Good that you understand, now go!" Although she still had a lot to say to her younger brother, this was the palace, and too much contact would only cause unnecessary trouble. So she simply waved her hand and turned to leave.

Chen Ye watched her slender figure disappear into the heavy shadows cast by the palace hall, his eyes flickered for a moment, before he turned and left.

When Chen Ye returned to the Xuanjing Division office, it was almost midnight.

However, the entire government office remained brightly lit and bustling with activity, showing no signs of becoming deserted despite the late hour.

The captain standing guard at the gate straightened his chest and bowed respectfully from afar as soon as he saw Chen Ye.

"Master Chen!"

Chen Ye nodded slightly in response, then stepped into the yamen.

Along the way, all the officials from the Xuanjing Division who saw him, whether they were ordinary captains or minor clerks in charge of documents, stopped what they were doing, stood respectfully to the side, and bowed their heads in greeting.

"Hello, Lord Chen!"

"Greetings, Lord Chen!"

Greetings came one after another, and the attitude was extremely humble.

Chen Ye simply waved his hand dismissively, indicating that they didn't need to be so polite.

He knew that the reason these people were acting this way was all because of one piece of news.

Sun Demao, the Imperial Censor, was personally captured by Chen Ye!

The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Xuanjing Division in less than an hour.

Everyone was utterly shocked.

That's Sun Demao!
The second-in-command of the Censorate, and a leader of the upright faction whose disciples and former associates are spread throughout the court and the country!
The shock of Chen Ye bringing down such a figure is unimaginable.

As everyone knows, the reason why the Chen family was in such a difficult situation was because Sun Demao kept pressing the issue, especially the death of Li Chengfeng, which became a major handle for him to attack Chen Wan'er.

Unexpectedly, Chen Wan'er didn't fall down; instead, he fell down first.

Now everyone felt a sense of fear towards Chen Ye, and their previous contempt vanished.

As for those who had previously been distant or even deliberately estranged from him because of his suspension, their attitudes have now completely changed, becoming incredibly enthusiastic.

Chen Ye simply nodded indifferently, not taking it seriously, nor was he angered by these people's initial arrogance followed by obsequiousness.

Because he knew that this was simply human nature and there was nothing wrong with it.

Chen Ye passed through the front office and arrived at the No. 3 courtyard under his jurisdiction.

The courtyard was also brightly lit, and Zhao Qi was waiting there with a group of brothers from Courtyard No. 3.

The entire courtyard erupted in cheers when Chen Ye appeared.

"The master is back!"

"Congratulations, sir, congratulations, sir!"

Zhao Qi was the first to rush forward, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement and admiration.

The other residents of Courtyard No. 3 also gathered around, their faces plastered with fawning smiles and uttering all sorts of flattering words.

"Your Majesty's divine power is beyond our comprehension!"

"Following Lord Chen, there really is plenty to eat!"

Looking at their excited and enthusiastic faces, Chen Ye felt calm. He then waved his hand and headed straight for the prison behind the prison.

Upon seeing that it was Chen Ye, the guards of the prison opened the door without any further ado.

When Chen Ye passed through the dark and filthy passage and arrived at the deepest part, he saw Shen Lian, the commander of the Xuanjing Division, sitting in the main seat in a fairly spacious prison guards' rest room. His face was so gloomy that it could drip water.

Sitting below him were several commanders and deputy commanders dressed in the high-ranking official robes of the Xuanjing Division. They all had furrowed brows and were sighing. The atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive.

A burly commander with a full beard couldn't help but complain, "Commander, I went in and asked him for ages, trying everything from kind words to harsh ones, but he didn't utter a single word and even gave me the cold shoulder. It's infuriating!"

"It's not just you, I just tried it too. That old bastard is completely unyielding, putting on that stinking air of a righteous official, saying things like 'If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a reason,' and 'If you want to kill me, then kill me, don't even think about insulting me,' bah! A traitor who colludes with the enemy and betrays his country, what kind of loyal minister and martyr is he pretending to be!" Another commander with a pointed mouth and monkey cheeks chimed in, his tone full of contempt and helplessness.

Shen Lian listened to his subordinates' complaints without saying a word, but simply picked up the iced tea on the table, took a sip, and his eyes grew colder.

He knew all too well that Sun Demao was a tough nut to crack.

These kinds of civil officials, who have spent their lives studying the classics and pride themselves on their integrity, are the most difficult to deal with.

Ordinary torture would not only be ineffective against them, but might even enhance their reputation as martyrs.

The problem is that His Majesty has given a death order to dig out all the dirty deeds he has done.

Therefore, we must get Sun Demao to talk!
"Sir, how about... we use some methods?" A magistrate with sinister eyes lowered his voice and gestured a torture method. "Even the toughest man can't withstand the tortures of the Xuanjing Division. I don't believe he won't talk."

Shen Lian frowned even more upon hearing this, then shook his head: "It's no use. Torturing this kind of person will only make things better for him."

The room fell silent again. Everyone looked at each other, completely at a loss.

Just then, a calm voice rang out at the doorway.

"Commander, esteemed lords."

Everyone looked over at the sound and saw Chen Ye standing at the door, looking at them calmly.

"Master Chen!"

"Lord Chen is back!"

Upon seeing Chen Ye, everyone in the room showed expressions of awe and stood up in unison, bowing respectfully.

Chen Ye waved his hand, walked straight to Shen Lian, bowed and said, "My lord."

When Shen Lian saw Chen Ye, a slight softening appeared on his cold face, and he nodded.

Now, Chen Ye holds a different place in his heart, not only because of his abilities, but also because His Majesty actually kept him behind alone, which is what Shen Lian is most in awe of.

Because he didn't know what Her Majesty the Empress had said to him or what she intended for him to do, and it was precisely this unknown that was most terrifying.

Just then, Chen Ye cupped his hands and said, "Sir, are you troubled by the interrogation of Sun Demao?"

Shen Lian glanced at him, made no attempt to hide anything, and recounted the predicament he had just faced.

"This old fox is impervious to both soft and hard approaches; he's really difficult to deal with."

After listening to Shen Lian's story, a subtle smile appeared on Chen Ye's lips.

This is the opportunity he's been waiting for.

Because ordinary methods are useless when dealing with hypocrites like Sun Demao who claim to be virtuous and aloof.

To get him to speak, you must destroy what he is most proud of, trample his dignity and pride underfoot, and cause him to completely collapse mentally.

This was precisely what Chen Ye excelled at, so he volunteered, saying, "My lord, I am not very capable, but I would like to give it a try."

When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.

Chen Ye ignored the others and simply watched Shen Lian quietly, waiting for his decision.

Shen Lian was taken aback at first, then smiled and nodded, "Alright, then go and give it a try."

"But I'm reminding you, His Majesty wants a confession, not a corpse. Don't kill him."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye smiled confidently. "Don't worry, sir, I know what I'm doing."

As he spoke, he walked toward the prison cell not far away.

Inside the cell, Sun Demao sat cross-legged on a pile of moldy hay. His second-rank censor's robe was wrinkled and tattered, and his once meticulously combed long hair was now disheveled and draped over his shoulders, making him look extremely wretched.

But his thin face still wore an aloof expression.

He closed his eyes slightly, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, as if he were not a prisoner but sitting quietly in his own study.

The officers from the Xuanjing Division took turns interrogating him, but they were all driven away by his nonchalant attitude.

Therefore, he was even somewhat proud of himself at this moment.

What skills do you lackeys and henchmen have besides using torture to extract confessions?
I, Sun Demao, have spent my whole life studying the classics and cultivating an unyielding spirit. How could I possibly bow down to you cruel officials!
As long as I stubbornly deny it and don't implicate others, once the storm passes, someone will naturally find a way to help me, and then there might still be a glimmer of hope.

Just as he was figuring out how to deal with it, the cell door creaked open.

The heavy iron door was slowly pushed open, and then a figure walked in against the light.

Sun Demao didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, assuming it was just some clueless fool wasting his breath.

Just then, a voice rang in his ear, "Lord Sun, are you getting used to living in this prison?"

(End of this chapter)