Arriving at the imperial palace, after the palace maids announced his presence, Chen Yi stepped into Jingren Palace and, along with Supervisor Wu, knelt down.
"Rise."
The Empress Dowager spoke indifferently.
Chen Yi stood up and was imdiately t with the piercing gaze of the Empress Dowager, sharp as a blade.
"Suspending the sword to slay the dragon—Chen Qianhu is truly formidable."
The Empress Dowager remarked faintly, her tone neutral.
Chen Yi detected the subtle implications in her words and was about to respond when Supervisor Wu spoke:
"Replying to the Empress Dowager, the matter of Qianhu slaying the dragon has spread far and wide among the common folk. This ti, Empress Dowager, you must not hold back, but reward him handsoly."
Supervisor Wu’s tone was so sincere that it betrayed not a hint of guile. Even Chen Yi, as well as the Empress Dowager, were montarily stunned.
Originally, the Empress Dowager intended to probe casually and pry into Chen Yi’s connection to the Sword Armor, hoping he might voluntarily reveal it. But she hadn’t anticipated Supervisor Wu’s directness, which abruptly disrupted her original plan.
"Supervisor Wu is so eager for a reward, it must be an extraordinary achievent indeed."
The Empress Dowager seized the opportunity to smile and smoothly take over the conversation.
Well then, it’s precisely because his disposition is straightforward that his loyalty is guaranteed.
A hundred loyal yet straightforward n are far preferable to a hundred clever yet treacherous ones.
"Empress Dowager,"
Chen Yi addressed her as "Empress Dowager" for the first ti. Although sowhat unaccustod, he continued:
"As for the matter of suspending the sword to slay the dragon, it’s rely..."
The Empress Dowager’s eyes glimred faintly.
Chen Yi had no intention of claiming Zhou Yitang’s rit for himself, but as the words escaped his lips, he realized that this matter concerned Zhou Yitang. It might invite unnecessary complications for her, leaving him montarily unsure of how to proceed.
Seeing Chen Yi hesitate, Supervisor Wu chuckled and interjected:
"Chen Qianhu, if you keep being modest, you’re no better than a hypocrite."
"Supervisor Wu’s words are sound."
Chen Yi picked up on the cue and replied.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze darkened, a cold sneer forming in her heart.
Chen Yi had stopped mid-sentence, realizing only too late and halting himself—there was clearly sothing he was concealing.
With such little finesse, did he expect to outmaneuver ? Did he think he could deceive that easily?
The Empress Dowager maintained an impassive expression and smiled warmly:
"To think that the humble West Factory harbors hidden talents—with Min He before, and now the unparalleled dragon-slaying Qianhu. Since you’ve slain the dragon and eliminated a threat, I must certainly reward you. However, in Great Yu, is the malicious dragon our only nace?"
"Dare I ask, Empress Dowager—what other threats remain?"
"There are tigers in the forest, yet prowling ghosts run rampant in the court—this is one threat. The wicked serpent coils in the waters, feigning loyalty to the nation under the guise of stability, but in truth harming both others and itself—this is another threat."
The Empress Dowager’s voice was as gentle as flowing water,
"Chen Qianhu, the Heavenly Family still needs you to eliminate these threats."
Chen Yi remained outwardly composed, but inwardly turmoil raged.
The two threats ntioned by the Empress Dowager were unmistakably the Lin Party and the Dingan Party. Her words undoubtedly urged him to reopen the Chancellor’s case promptly.
Revisiting the Chancellor’s case at this juncture was undoubtedly optimal for the Empress Dowager, who ruled from behind the curtain.
Lin Ge’lao was nearing transcendence, gradually losing control over the Lin Party. anwhile, Prince Jing’s Mansion had been humiliated by the raid on Yuxiu Manor and the death of several elite warriors, suffering a blow to their prestige and vitality. Both factions were at their weakest, making this the ideal mont for the Empress Dowager to eliminate them and take full control of court politics.
But the problem lay in the blade she intended to use to sever these factions—it was none other than himself.
"As one who receives the ruler’s stipend, serving as a loyal subject is naturally my duty. Yet, I have an unworthy request to make."
"Speak freely."
Chen Yi took a deep breath and solemnly requested:
"I ask the Empress Dowager... to ensure the safety of and my family."
He would not risk his life blindly on the basis of a vague verbal decree from the Empress Dowager, without any guarantees. He was not a scholar and had no desire to engage in subtle, convoluted maneuvering. Seeing that Supervisor Wu was present, he chose to voice his demand directly, making Supervisor Wu a witness.
The commanding gaze of the Empress Dowager flickered with barely detectable anger, yet she continued to smile pleasantly:
"That is only proper. Would I allow harm to befall you and your family? Your words make it seem as if I lack compassion."
"Please forgive , Empress Dowager. I was montarily anxious."
Chen Yi replied impassively.
"Then you may leave."
Shortly after, the two figures disappeared from Jingren Palace, leaving the Empress Dowager’s expression thoroughly cold.
"Such audacity—borrowing the tiger’s might is one thing, but to dare threaten as well."
The naless old matron appeared in tily fashion and spoke:
"Did the Empress Dowager discern anything? Is he truly borrowing the tiger’s might?"
"When I questioned him just now, his hesitation spoke volus. It’s clear that he has no genuine connection to the Sword Armor and is rely fabricating a pretense of power. He deliberately kept silent as a show of defiance."
Upon realizing this, the Empress Dowager cald down. She now had no need to worry about the Sword Armor—she could simply proceed with her original sche. She scoffed contemptuously:
"Even if there is a connection, so what? The Sword Armor’s sword may seek the path of righteousness, but the Heavenly Family’s sword acts under divine mandate. Whatever path she seeks lies with the heavens. Her living blade might save ten or even a hundred people, but what of it? The Heavenly Family’s blade pacifies the four seas, stabilizes the eight regions, and in one decree, can kill thousands, tens of thousands."
Once she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager set aside her sneer, picked up a secret decree from the desk.
"Take this, Matron. Miss Chen from the Wuyong Building has arrived—follow the instructions within. Arrange for them to et, ensuring they notice nothing unusual. If possible, let them beco entangled in matters of life and death. The scenes of mutual sacrifice in those stage plays most move the mortal heart."
The naless matron accepted the secret decree and replied affirmatively.
The Empress Dowager turned away, stepping out of Jingren Palace, seemingly poised to gaze over the entirety of the Capital City. With a cold smile, she muttered:
"Winter is coming. The sole daughter of the Chen Family, blessed with beauty to topple nations, would warm the bed far better than the palace heating—more so, her closeness with her sibling bonds the soul tightly."
...............
Leaving the imperial palace, Chen Yi’s brows furrowed deeply.
The Empress Dowager’s arrangents had almost entirely disrupted his plans.
He had intended to continue leveraging the Chancellor’s case to gradually weaken the Dingan Party step by step, but hadn’t anticipated the Empress Dowager’s urgency in pushing for a swift and decisive reopening of the case.
"Chen Qianhu, the Empress Dowager was in good spirits today—surely she’s keeping your exploits in mind." Supervisor Wu complinted casually.
Chen Yi replied absentmindedly with a phrase of false modesty. Though these complints might please soone else, he felt strangely unmoved.
He turned to Supervisor Wu and spoke:
"Enough of this—let’s get to the real business."
"What business?"
"The Chancellor’s case."
With those words, Supervisor Wu’s expression grew solemn.
"How do you intend to investigate?"
Supervisor Wu queried.
"Start from the ministers, stir up trouble, and cut through the chaos with a sharp blade."
Chen Yi stated directly.
"Absolutely not... The Chancellor’s case implicates far too many. If you proceed this way, the ministers will surely impeach you."
Supervisor Wu warned sternly.
Unexpectedly, Chen Yi responded with just one faint remark:
"Let the ministers impeach ."
In his first attempt, he might have been cautious in his actions.
But now, he was prepared to administer extre asures. He planned to provoke the Lin Party and Prince Jing’s Mansion relentlessly, pushing them into desperation, forcing errors in their haste, then delivering the final blow to destroy them both.
Speaking of which, given these past few days, Lin Ge’lao’s rit Box must have accrued considerable rit.
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