Jackie Chan's Son-in-Law

Chapter 126 The Benefits of Being an Emperor

The next day, at the Zhenfu Division office.

Chen Qing was still dressed in ordinary clothes, but according to the rules, he still hung his centurion's waist tag on his waist. Behind him, Mu Xianniang had changed into a uniform of the Zhenfu Division, a light green brocade dress without any patterns, which was the dress that the Zhenfu Division captains usually wore.

When Chen Qing arrived at the gate of the Zhenfu Division, the several captains at the gate politely clasped their hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Lord Chen!"

Chen Qing was taken aback for a moment, then clasped his hands in greeting, bowed slightly in return, and said "please be polite."

Once inside the Zhenfu Division, he turned back to Mu Xianniang and said with a smile, "I never imagined that I would become an adult now."

Mu Xianniang was dressed in the uniform of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and wearing a bamboo hat, so her expression was unreadable. After hearing Chen Qing's words, she could only grit her teeth and snort, "Young Master Chen, you really got that title of 'Sir' so easily."

Chen Qing ignored her and said, "I'll take you to see Commander Yan. Be polite when you see him. I'm a soft-hearted person, but a big shot like Commander Yan won't be."

"Your life, and the lives of those close to you in Yingtian, will most likely still depend on Commander Yan."

Upon hearing this, Mu Xianniang frowned and then said in a low voice, "Young Master Chen has been busy these past few days. I thought you already held considerable power in the Zhenfu Division."

Chen Qing ignored her sarcastic remarks and led her to the door of Commander Yan's residence. After knocking on the door, he said, "Lord Yan."

"Your subordinate Chen Qing requests an audience."

Not long after, the door was suddenly flung open, and the tall and imposing Commander Yan immediately smiled upon seeing Chen Qing.

Chen Qing, behaving himself properly, was about to bow slightly: "Your subordinate greets you..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Yan Hu helped him up. This Lord Yan, with a warm smile on his face, said with a laugh, "We're all family, why be so polite?"

After saying this, he glanced at Mu Xianniang behind Chen Qing.

At this moment, although Mu Xianniang was dressed in men's clothing and wearing a bamboo hat, it would be difficult for ordinary people to tell whether she was male or female. However, Yan Hu, a veteran agent who had worked in the Zhenfu Division for many years, could tell at a glance that she was a woman.

After just one glance, Commander Yan realized who it was and asked with a smile, "Is this the Miss Mu that Zizheng mentioned earlier?"

Mu Xianniang stepped forward and knelt gracefully: "This humble servant is Mu Ziran, greetings to Lord Yan."

Yan Hu quickly stepped forward and helped Mu Xianniang up, saying with a smile, "Zizheng has already told me about Miss Mu. Since Miss Mu is willing to abandon darkness and embrace light, help the court, and guide people towards goodness, we can be considered family from now on. There's no need for such a grand ceremony."

As he spoke, he invited Chen Qing and Mu Xianniang inside. After they sat down, Commander Yan looked at Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Commander Tang has been looking for you all morning, and you only arrive at the Commander's Office at this hour."

Chen Qing was somewhat taken aback and quickly asked, "The Marquis of Zhen is looking for me?"

He gave a wry smile: "The lord promised me that I didn't need to come to the Zhenfu Division for roll call, so I didn't come so early."

"I wonder what business Marquis Tang has with me?"

Yan Hu waved his hand and said with a smile, "That's good. I'll take you to find him in a bit. Let's talk about Miss Mu first."

Yan Hu first took a sip of tea, then looked at Mu Ziran and said, "Miss Mu's connections in Yingtian have been investigated by the Zhenfu Division, and the relevant documents have been delivered to my desk."

"Your faction seems to have always been active in the south."

Mu Ziran took off his bamboo hat, his face already somewhat pale: "Yes."

She lowered her head and said, "My lord, we in the South can no longer be considered the White Lotus Sect; we are more like the Luo Sect."

Yan Hu shook his head slightly: "Then where does this 'White Lotus Holy Mother' come from?"

The Luo sect has become more like Buddhism, while the White Lotus sect originated from the Maitreya belief.

Seeing that Mu Xianniang's expression was not good, Commander Yan smiled and said, "But it's alright. The court has always guided people to do good and will not punish them without teaching them. As I just said, we are now one family."

He glanced at Mu Ziran and continued, "There are many White Lotus believers in the capital and Zhili. The true core followers are probably still one or two thousand, or even more."

"I have already made some arrangements. Miss Mu, just follow Zizheng's instructions. In a few days, people from the White Lotus Sect will naturally come to you and venerate you as the White Lotus Holy Mother of the Northern White Lotus."

These words startled Mu Ziran, but she quickly realized what they meant: "Lord Yan was buried inside the White Lotus Sect..."

Yan Hu said with a smile, "I've been keeping an eye on the White Lotus Sect for over a year now, how could I not have something to say? But it's not like I planted informants, but rather that I secretly recruited them."

Chen Qing, who was standing to the side, was also listening intently.

This Commander Yan was not an incompetent person.

Yan Hu paused for a moment, then continued, "This afternoon, I can take Miss Mu to contact them."

"correct."

Commander Yan looked at Mu Xianniang and said with a smile, "The imperial court has issued an edict that those cult bandits captured by the previous commander will be executed at noon tomorrow. Since these people are about to be executed, would you like to go and see them, Miss Mu?"

Originally, the emperor issued an edict to kill these people yesterday, but the grand court assembly yesterday dragged on for too long, and it was past noon by the time it was done, so it had to be postponed.

This delay extended to tomorrow. Mu Xianniang, her face pale, said, "Lord Yan, is it absolutely necessary for me to go see him?"

"That's not it."

Yan Hu chuckled and said, "Whatever you say, whatever you say. Miss Mu was brought by Zizheng, so naturally I trust Miss Mu."

"Besides, these people are all going to be beheaded, so whether they see them or not, they can't spread any news."

Hearing this, Mu Xianniang took a deep breath and said, "Then later, I will go with Lord Chen to the Imperial Prison to see them."

"it is good."

Yan Hu stood up and said with a smile, "From now on, Miss Mu can contact Zizheng about matters concerning the White Lotus Sect. He will be in charge. If there is anything important and you can't find Zizheng, you can also come to the Zhenfu Division to find me."

As he spoke, he took out a blank waist tag from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"This is the badge of an informant from the Zhenfu Division. Take this badge to the Zhenfu Division, and someone will bring you to see me."

Mu Xianniang lowered her head and replied, "Yes."

Yan Hu then looked at Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Then Miss Mu, please wait here with me for a while. I will take Zizheng to see the Commander-in-Chief and will be back in a short while."

Mu Xianniang bowed her head and agreed.

Only then did Yan Hu lead Chen Qing out of his official residence. After they left, Chen Qing asked with some curiosity, "Lord Yan, what is it that's all so mysterious?"

"I'm curious too."

Yan Hu glanced at Chen Qing and clicked his tongue: "What exactly happened in the palace yesterday? Zizheng, you went to the palace yesterday, and today the palace has issued an imperial edict to our Zhenfu Division."

"Imperial decree?"

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow.

Yan Hu walked ahead with his hands behind his back, and said with a smile, "Yes, you are quite carefree. After entering the palace, you didn't go back to the Zhenfu Division, but went straight home."

"We are all completely baffled."

Commander Yan stopped and turned to look at Chen Qing, saying slowly, "Yesterday afternoon, there were people in the Zhenfu Division asking about your background."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing guessed who was inquiring about his identity, but he didn't care. He was eager for those men to know his background and who his father was.

So Chen Qing just smiled and said, "Yesterday, after leaving the palace, the Crown Prince invited me to a banquet, and I couldn't refuse, so I had to go."

"They did not return to the Garrison Command."

Yan Hu waved his hand and said with a smile, "None of this matters. The imperial edict is still with Commander Tang. Let's go to Commander Tang to hear the edict."

The two walked and talked, and soon arrived at the door of Tang Can's official residence in the Zhenfu Division. Yan Hu stepped forward, knocked on the door, and said, "Lord Zhen, Chen Qing has arrived."

As soon as he said this, the door was opened. Tang Can looked at Yan Hu and then at Chen Qing behind Yan Hu with a smile on his face, showing great intimacy.

Chen Qing stepped forward and bowed: "Your subordinate Chen Qing greets the Marquis."

"What do you mean by 'warlord' or 'warlord'?"

Tang Can waved his hand and stepped aside, saying, "This is too formal. We're brothers. Come in and talk."

After Yan Hu and Chen Qing entered the office, Tang Can looked at Chen Qing and said with a smile, "Zizheng..."

Tang Can didn't know Chen Qing's courtesy name. He only found out about it from Yan Hu this morning.

"My subordinate is here."

"Hear the imperial decree."

Upon hearing this, Yan Hu immediately knelt down, and Chen Qing, after realizing what was happening, also knelt down.

Tang Can suppressed his smile, took out an apricot-yellow imperial edict from the box behind him, and slowly unfurled it.

As part of the Imperial Ceremonial Office, the Zhenfu Office also frequently went out to read imperial edicts on behalf of the emperor. These edicts were not a privilege reserved for eunuchs.

The decree stated:

"Chen Qing, a centurion of the Zhenfu Division, is loyal and upright, diligent and tireless in his duties, suppressing evil and eliminating wickedness to bring peace to the people, and working day and night to protect the nation. He is hereby specially granted..."

At this point, Tang Zhenfu paused deliberately, glanced at Chen Qing's expression, cleared his throat, and then continued reading.

"You shall be granted the privilege of wearing a qilin robe."

(End of this chapter)