activa-t Chapter 189 Leaving the Father and Keeping the Son
Chapter 189 Leaving the Father and Keeping the Son
The next day.
Three poles in the sun.
Lin Chen then slowly strolled out of Su Xiaoxiao's courtyard.
Just as I stretched, I saw the butler, Lin Fu, rushing over in a hurry:
"Your Highness! You've finally come out!"
Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "What's wrong? Did the sky fall?"
"People from the palace have arrived!" Lin Fu gasped for breath.
"His Majesty summoned you to the palace immediately; the eunuch who delivered the decree has been waiting for half an hour!"
"What's the rush?" Lin Chen straightened his clothes. "Let her wait."
"Your Highness!" Lin Fu said urgently.
"This time it seems different. According to the eunuch who delivered the imperial decree, His Majesty sounded quite urgent..."
Lin Chen pursed his lips: "Alright, alright, let's get the car ready."
……
The carriage rumbled and rolled toward the palace.
Inside the carriage, Lin Chen crossed his legs, pondering his next move.
He had heard about the people from Zhongzhou last night.
Given the Empress's control over the capital, she must have noticed something was amiss.
Find him now...
"Tsk." Lin Chen chuckled lightly, "It's never good."
……
The Imperial Study.
The Empress did not review any memorials today; instead, she stood by the window with her back to the door.
Hearing footsteps, she didn't turn around: "You're here?"
"Your Majesty summoned me, how dare I refuse?" Lin Chen gave a lazy bow. "What's the matter that's so urgent?"
The Empress turned around, her face so dark it could drip water:
"Did you know that many unfamiliar faces have appeared in Beijing recently?"
"I've heard a little about it." Lin Chen walked to the side and poured himself a cup of tea.
"It's just a few spies from Zhongzhou, why is His Majesty so anxious?"
"How many?" The Empress took two steps closer.
"The Imperial City Guard reported last night that there are three suspected Celestial Realm martial artists whose identities have been confirmed!"
There are also seven or eight grandmasters who have settled in various parts of the city!
She stared at Lin Chen: "If these people start causing trouble, what kind of chaos will the capital be in?"
Lin Chen took a sip of tea and slowly asked, "So?"
"So I need you to take action." The Empress looked directly at Lin Chen and said, enunciating each word clearly:
"You've been holding that position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial City Guard for almost a year now; it's time to get down to business."
Lin Chen chuckled: "Your Majesty is sending me to be a thug?"
"I'm sending you to eliminate the threat!" The Empress's tone hardened.
"The capital city belongs to the Great Yan Dynasty, not a place where those forces from the Central Plains can come and go as they please!"
She walked up to Lin Chen and said, word by word:
"Lin Chen, my secret guards can't deal with those people, and the Imperial City Guard can't keep an eye on them either."
"In the entire capital city—no, in the entire Dayan realm, only you have this ability."
Lin Chen put down his teacup and looked up at the Empress.
The woman wasn't wearing her dragon robe today; she was dressed in a dark blue casual outfit, and her hair was simply tied up.
He seemed less dignified than usual, and more... anxious?
"Does Your Majesty trust me that much?" Lin Chen asked with a half-smile.
"If I don't trust you, who else can I trust?" The Empress looked away.
"You have an old grudge against Zhongzhou, so it's most suitable to entrust this matter to you."
"Oh, so this is where you were waiting for me." Lin Chen stood up. "Alright, I'll take the job."
The Empress's eyes lit up.
"However—" Lin Chen drawled.
"But what?"
"You have to follow my rules." Lin Chen held up one finger.
"First, I have full authority to allocate the manpower of the Imperial City Guard; His Majesty cannot interfere."
"Can."
"Second," Lin Chen grinned.
"Your Majesty should be prepared for what will happen after the arrest and interrogation."
The waters over in Zhongzhou are very deep; who knows what big fish we might catch there.
The Empress remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "I understand."
"Alright!" Lin Chen clapped his hands. "Then Your Majesty, just wait and watch the show."
He turned to leave, but the Empress suddenly called out to him:
"etc."
Lin Chen turned around.
The Empress pursed her lips, her voice softening:
"You... be careful, those forces in Zhongzhou are not simple."
Lin Chen blinked, then suddenly took a few steps closer, instantly standing three feet in front of the Empress:
"Is Your Majesty concerned about me?"
The Empress was taken aback by Lin Chen's sudden approach, instinctively taking a half-step back, her ears turning slightly red.
"I am the Prince of Zhenbei, who cares about the Great Yan! Don't flatter yourself!"
"Is there a difference?" Lin Chen grinned and took another half step forward.
"By the way, Your Majesty, what's your thought about that matter that Elder Zhao mentioned last time?"
The empress's face flushed red instantly.
"Lin Chen!" Her phoenix eyes widened. "Do you have any basic respect for me?"
I have said that cultivation is at a critical juncture, and we will not consider these matters for the time being!
She paused, her tone softening slightly, but still tinged with embarrassment and annoyance:
"Even if... even if I think it over in the future, I will not marry you, much less be a wife and mother like an ordinary woman."
At most... at most the father will leave and the son will stay. Don't think about anything else!
Lin Chen was not angry at all; on the contrary, he laughed even harder.
"Leave the father and keep the son? Great idea!"
He patted his chest, looking righteous and awe-inspiring:
"As long as Your Majesty has any need, I guarantee that I will come when summoned and leave when dismissed, and I will devote myself to the cause until my dying breath!"
Your Majesty has decreed that I should be below you, but I will never be above you. Your Majesty has decreed that I should be below you…
"Shut up!" The Empress stomped her foot in anger, grabbed a memorial from the table, and threw it at him.
"Get out! Get out of here right now! Go take care of your business!"
Lin Chen easily caught the memorial, chuckled, and placed it back on the table:
"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. I'll leave right away, I'll leave right away."
He stepped back to the doorway, then turned back and added:
"Your Majesty, please take your time to consider that matter. I am ready to serve at any time!"
"roll--!"
The Empress's roar came from the Imperial Study, and the eunuchs and guards waiting at the door all shrank back.
Lin Chen swaggered out, whistling in a good mood.
They had only taken a few steps when the captain of the guards cautiously approached:
"Your Highness, Her Majesty..."
"It's nothing," Lin Chen waved his hand. "His Majesty was just joking with me."
The captain of the guards had a look on his face that said, "I don't believe you for a second."
Lin Chen didn't explain, but put his hands behind his back, got into the carriage, and walked out of the palace, already making plans in his mind:
Those people from Zhongzhou... were they killed or not?
Should we take this opportunity to clean up those rats in the gutter of Beijing?
……
Just outside the palace gates, Yuan Tiangang silently appeared on the carriage and whispered:
"My lord, you've been watched by no fewer than ten spies along your journey. Should we...?"
Yuan Tiangang made a beheading gesture.
"No rush," Lin Chen said calmly.
"Find everyone first, then capture them all in one fell swoop."
"Go to the Imperial City Guard and tell Liu Zhenshan to bring all officers of the rank of centurion or above to the Prince's residence at 3:45 PM."
Yuan Tiangang was slightly taken aback: "My lord, what are you going to do...?"
"Get to work." Lin Chen leaned against the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.
"Don't forget I'm still the deputy commander of the Imperial City Guard. It's not like we're the ones doing the work while they sit around collecting their salaries."
Yuan Tiangang's lips twitched slightly as he replied, "Yes!"
The person disappeared as soon as he finished speaking.
……
Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Study.
The empress stood by the window, the blush on her face not yet completely faded.
"That bastard..." she muttered under her breath, but couldn't help gently touching her lower abdomen.
The father left, the son remained...
Would she really... consider that kind of thing?
"Your Majesty," the personal maid Qingluan said softly as she entered.
"A secret guard reports that two more unfamiliar experts have been discovered in the west of the city, suspected to be from Zhongzhou."
The Empress's expression hardened, and she instantly regained her usual majesty:
"Send someone to inform the Prince of Zhenbei that any further information from Zhongzhou should be communicated to him."
"yes!"