Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 230 Obtaining Evidence
It seems that Mrs. Zhou's heart is even emptier and wilder than he imagined. But that's fine, since the more fervent someone is, the easier they are to control.

Chen Ye looked at her infatuated expression and chuckled inwardly, but remained calm on the surface. He then walked slowly to Zhou Yuru, reached out, and gently lifted her chin.

The moment his fingertips touched her smooth, delicate skin, Zhou Yuru's body trembled instantly, as if she had been struck by an electric current.

Then an unprecedented tingling sensation spread from her chin throughout her entire body, making her legs weak and almost unable to stand.

"What's your name?" Chen Ye asked.

"This servant...this servant is Zhou Yuru..." This proud woman, who was the undisputed leader in the Sun family, was so humble in front of Chen Ye.

Chen Ye nodded in satisfaction at this performance.

It seems the brainwashing was very successful.

So he let go of her hand, turned around and sat down in the chair by the table, his posture casual, yet he exuded an air of complete control.

"sit."

"This servant wouldn't dare," Zhou Yuru said, her head bowed in a humble manner.

"I'll let you sit down." Chen Ye's tone became more forceful.

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Yuru then sat down opposite Chen Ye with trepidation, her upper body ramrod straight and her hands on her knees, like a student waiting for a teacher's reprimand.

Seeing her completely different from before, Chen Ye was filled with mixed emotions.

Who would have thought that this famous noblewoman of Yunzhou City would be crawling at his feet like a docile kitten?

The Master of Heartstrings, truly a divine skill!

"Is Sun Demao your husband?" Chen Ye asked.

When Sun Demao's name was mentioned, a look of disgust flashed in Zhou Yuru's eyes.

“Reporting to Master, he is only my husband in name. I don’t have much affection for him. It’s just a relationship of mutual benefit.”

"Oh? Tell me about it." Chen Ye became interested.

So Zhou Yuru recounted the entire grudge between her and Sun Demao.

It turns out that her marriage to Sun Demao was not of her own free will, but was arranged by her father, Zhou Xuanqing.

Although Sun Demao became the top scholar in the imperial examination, he was ostracized in the officialdom because of his humble origins. So, in order to get close to the Zhou family, he deliberately tried to get close to Grand Tutor Zhou and used sweet words and feigned talent to gain Grand Tutor Zhou's trust and appreciation.

Ultimately, Grand Tutor Zhou overruled all objections and betrothed his most beloved eldest daughter, Zhou Yuru, to him.

Zhou Yuru was naturally extremely unwilling at the time.

How could a proud and arrogant noblewoman like her possibly be interested in a sycophantic man like Sun Demao?

But she couldn't disobey her father's orders, and she was ultimately forced to marry Sun Demao.

Married life was a nightmare for her, because there was no affection between the two. Sun Demao knew that Zhou Yuru looked down on him, so he tried to please her in every way.

Unfortunately, the more this happened, the more Zhou Yuru disliked this person.

But for the sake of the Zhou family's reputation, she could only swallow her anger and live a life of superficial harmony with Sun Demao.

After listening to the story, Chen Ye nodded and then asked, "So why did Sun Demao ask you to come to Yuni Temple every month?"

Upon hearing this question, Zhou Yuru stiffened, and a look of struggle appeared on her face.

Although she had no feelings for him, she was involved in the matter, so if things came to light, she might be implicated as well, which naturally made her hesitant.

Seeing this, Chen Ye touched her heartstrings once again.

"Obey me and please me; that is the only meaning of your existence."

This thought washed over her soul once again.

The struggle on Zhou Yuru's face vanished instantly, replaced by an even more fervent obsession.

Correct!
Pleasing the man in front of me is the most important thing!
To hell with husbands and social norms!
"Reporting to Master," she said without hesitation, looking up at Chen Ye.

"Sun Demao hid all the wealth he had embezzled over the years, as well as some other shady items, in this Yu Ni Temple!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately asked, "Where is it hidden? And how is it hidden?"

"It's hidden inside a magical artifact made from jade clay from the back mountain," Zhou Yuru revealed without hesitation.

To please the man who had captivated her, she was willing to sell her husband completely.

“Sun Demao is inherently suspicious and never trusts anyone.”

“He said that the most dangerous place is the safest place, so he asked the abbot to use the jade clay from the back mountain to make a batch of specially made ritual implements, such as incense burners, vases, tea sets and so on.”

"Then he hid the gold, silver and jewelry, land deeds and house deeds, as well as some secret letters between him and others, in batches inside these magical artifacts."

"Then why does he make you come here every month?" Chen Ye pressed.

"It's for relocation and inventory," Zhou Yuru explained.

“Although Sun Demao hid the things here, he did not completely trust the people in the temple, so he needed someone he could absolutely trust to help him manage these things.”

“And I am the one he chose.” As she said this, a self-deprecating smile appeared on Zhou Yuru’s face.

"Because I am the daughter of the Zhou family and his wife, he knows that I dare not betray him, otherwise I would ruin the reputation of the entire Zhou family."

"So every month I would come here under the guise of pilgrimage, ostensibly for a short stay, but in reality to help him count and verify those valuables."

"The most important things, such as his secret letters about colluding with outsiders, are hidden in a vase in my yard."

Secret message!

Chen Ye's breath hitched.

This was his main purpose for this trip!
With these secret letters, we have irrefutable evidence that Sun Demao colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country!
At that point, not even a Censor-in-Chief, let alone Grand Tutor Zhou, could protect him!
"Which vase?" Chen Ye's voice carried a hint of urgency.

Zhou Yuru got up and went to a display cabinet in the corner of the room. She pointed to a large celadon vase with lotus scroll pattern, which was about half the height of a person, and said, "Master, that's it."

Chen Ye looked in the direction she pointed.

It was an exquisite vase, made entirely of jade clay, with a warm, verdant color, resembling a huge piece of jade.

The bottle is carved with intricate lotus scroll patterns, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and clearly indicating its high value.

"Open it."

"Yes, Master."

Zhou Yuru walked to the vase, stretched out her slender hand, and gently pressed on the stamen of a lotus flower with intertwined branches on the vase.

There was a soft click.

The seemingly one-piece vase had a crack in the middle.

Zhou Yuru seized the gap and gently twisted it, removing the entire upper part of the vase and revealing its hollow interior.

Inside the vase, several packages were tightly wrapped in oil paper.

Zhou Yuru took out the packages one by one and respectfully presented them to Chen Ye.

"Master, everything is here."

Chen Ye took one of the packages and felt its weight. He opened the oil paper and found neat stacks of letters inside.

I picked up a letter at random and unfolded it. The handwriting on the letter was flamboyant and the contents were shocking.

"The impeachment of Chen Wan'er has been arranged. All the officials in the Censorate have been taken care of. We are just waiting for the right opportunity to launch the attack..."

"I am working diligently on the matter entrusted to me by the Emperor's envoy. With the death of Minister of Rites Li Chengfeng, his position cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. I hope the Emperor will lend me a hand..."

"Several spies have been planted within the Xuanjing Division; their names are attached separately..."

Each letter was filled with evidence of Sun Demao's secret collusion with the so-called envoy of the Holy Emperor, selling official positions and installing his cronies!

Chen Ye's anger flared, and his killing intent surged.

Sun Demao truly deserved to die!
However, he quickly calmed down, rewrapped the letters, put them in his pocket, and then opened several other packages.

Inside was a thick stack of real estate deeds, spread across various prefectures and cities of the Great Chen Dynasty.

There were also ledgers containing bribes from officials to Sun Demao, which were filled with detailed records of each person's name, official position, the amount of the bribe, and the reason for the bribe.

With these things, he could not only kill Sun Demao, but also use this opportunity to stir up a great storm in the imperial court!

"Well done." Chen Ye put everything away, looked at Zhou Yuru, and praised her.

Upon receiving praise from her beloved master, Zhou Yuru's face instantly radiated a captivating glow, making her happier than receiving any reward.

"It is my honor to share my master's burdens." She stared at Chen Ye, her eyes overflowing with love.

Chen Ye felt a little uneasy under her gaze, and he knew he should leave.

The objective has been achieved; staying any longer might only lead to unforeseen complications.

"Restore the vase to its original state," Chen Ye instructed.

"Yes."

Zhou Yuru obediently reassembled the vase, and everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

"I should go now." Chen Ye stood up and prepared to leave.

"Owner!"

When Zhou Yuru heard that he was leaving, she became anxious and grabbed his sleeve.

"You...you're not staying overnight?"

Chen Ye: "..."

"I have important things to do." Chen Ye said, calmly pulling his hand away from hers. "You stay here and pretend nothing happened, and wait for my news."

"But...but I can't bear to part with you..." Zhou Yuru's eyes were red, and she looked like she was about to cry.

To be honest, Chen Ye hesitated for a moment.

After all, the woman in front of him still possessed charm and natural allure, and she had taken the initiative to throw herself into his arms.

But Qingchen is waiting outside right now, and he can't do something so despicable.

Moreover, this place is not suitable for lingering. Since Sun Demao has hidden something in the Yuni Temple, the abbot of the Yuni Temple is probably not a good person either. If we get caught up in it, it will be troublesome.

So he thought for a moment, then activated his talent again, planting a thought in her mind.

"Waiting quietly is the greatest gift I can give you, and I can feel your longing."

Zhou Yuru's body trembled again.

Immediately, the reluctance and pleading on her face transformed into an almost sacred sense of happiness.

My master can sense my longing...

[Great... this way I can be with my master all the time...]

Seeing her self-satisfied and self-satisfied expression, Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

We finally managed to calm her down.

"Remember, don't mention tonight's events to anyone," Chen Ye concluded.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhou Yuru replied respectfully.

Chen Ye didn't linger any longer and turned to walk towards the door.

Pushing open the door, the two old women who were keeping watch in the yard were still snoring, completely unaware of what was happening inside the house.

Chen Ye's figure quickly disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuru, inside the room, stared intently in the direction of the doorway. After a long while, she slowly walked to the bedside, a dreamy and blissful smile on her face.

……

In the shadow of the courtyard wall, Qingchen paced anxiously back and forth.

Her heart was in her throat; every minute was agonizing.

She was almost scared to death when Chen Ye pushed the door open.

So much time has passed, and there's still no sound from inside. I wonder what happened to Brother Chen.

Just as she was about to burst into tears, a figure finally emerged silently from the courtyard.

"Brother Chen!"

Qingchen was both surprised and delighted, and quickly went to greet her.

"Are you...are you alright?" She tugged at Chen Ye's sleeve, looking him up and down, afraid that something might have happened to him.

"I'm fine." Chen Ye smiled at her, then quickly pulled her away from this troublesome place.

The two returned to the secluded gatehouse they had visited before.

"Brother Chen, did you...did you get the things?" Qingchen closed the door, lowered his voice, and asked expectantly.

"Yes, I got it." Chen Ye nodded, looking at the innocent and kind-hearted young Taoist nun in front of him, he felt a little guilty, so he took out a hundred-tael silver note from his pocket and handed it over.

"Qingchen, we owe you a lot this time, so please accept this money."

Qingchen glanced at the silver note first, then waved his hand repeatedly.

"No, no, Brother Chen, I can't take your money. I'm not helping you for money."

"I know." Chen Ye forced the silver note into her hand. "But this is what you deserve. Be good and take it."

"I..." Qingchen wanted to refuse, but when she met Chen Ye's unquestionable gaze, she finally accepted it with a blush on her face.

"Alright, I should go now," Chen Ye instructed. "Remember, pretend tonight's events never happened, and don't mention them to anyone."

"Yes, I understand." Qingchen nodded vigorously, then mustered up her courage to ask.

"Then... will you come to see me again in the future?"

Chen Ye looked into her bright, expectant eyes, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

"Will do."

Upon receiving this reply, Qingchen's face immediately broke into a bright smile.

Chen Ye gave her a few more brief instructions and then left.
-
In the dead of winter night, the wind was biting cold, but the heavy packages Chen Ye was carrying in his arms felt like a burning flame, scorching hot.

These things were enough to burn Sun Demao, the second-rank Imperial Censor, and the forces behind him to ashes.

Therefore, Chen Ye dared not delay in the slightest and headed straight for Yunzhou.

More than an hour later, the towering outline of Yunzhou City finally came into view.

It was already late at night, and the city gates were long closed.

But this was no challenge for Chen Ye. He found a secluded spot on the city wall, leaped up with the agility of a monkey, and silently descended into the city.

The streets were deserted, except for the night watchman carrying a lantern and weakly striking his clapper, the sound carrying far in the quiet night.

Chen Ye did not return to the Marquis's residence, but instead headed straight for the Xuanjing Division.

Such crucial evidence must be handed over to Shen Lian immediately.

After all, things can change in the long run, and no one knows what unexpected problems might arise.

The Xuanjing Division's office was still brightly lit.

As His Majesty's eyes and ears, and the most unique violent institution of the Great Chen Dynasty, there will never be true night here.

The captain standing guard at the gate was taken aback when he saw Chen Ye, then straightened up and bowed respectfully.

"Master Chen!"

Chen Ye nodded, then asked, "Is Commander Shen here?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the Commander is still at the government office handling official business."

"Ah."

Chen Ye responded and walked straight toward the back government office.

After passing through several courtyards, we arrived at the outside of Shen Lian's official residence.

Seeing that the study's doors and windows were tightly closed and there were no guards at the door, Chen Ye went straight up and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." Shen Lian's familiar yet cold voice came from inside the room.

Chen Ye pushed open the door and entered.

Shen Lian was sitting behind his desk, looking down at a file. He didn't seem surprised by Chen Ye's late-night visit. He just raised his eyelids and gestured for Chen Ye to find a place to sit.

"What is it so late?" Shen Lian's voice was devoid of any emotion.

Without wasting any words, Chen Ye placed the several packages wrapped tightly in oil paper on Shen Lian's desk.

"My lord, please take a look."

Shen Lian shifted his gaze from the dossier to the packages.

"what is this?"

“Evidence of Sun Demao’s crimes of colluding with the enemy and betraying the country,” Chen Ye said, word by word.

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the study seemed to freeze instantly.

A hint of emotion finally appeared on Shen Lian's perpetually icy face. "Are you sure?"

“Absolutely true.” Chen Ye’s tone was utterly certain. “There are witnesses and physical evidence to prove it; he has no way to deny it.”

Shen Lian's breathing seemed to become heavier at this moment. He then stopped asking questions and directly reached out to pick up one of the packages.

When he unwrapped the oil paper and saw the shocking letters inside, his hand holding the letters trembled slightly.

"Impeach Chen Wan'er..."

"The Holy Ancestor's Envoy..."

Shen Lian's face grew increasingly grim, eventually turning ashen.

When he saw the list of spies within the Xuanjing Division, he slammed his hand on the table in a fit of rage.

The sturdy table, crafted from century-old ironwood, shattered into pieces in an instant, turning into a pile of broken wood.

"Good! Good for Sun Demao! Good for the Censor-in-Chief! He dares to interfere in my Xuanjing Division. He's really tired of living!"

The Xuanjing Division is His Majesty's personal sword, and also his private property. Therefore, anyone who attempts to meddle with the Xuanjing Division is challenging his bottom line.

Shen Lian took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart. He then opened several other packages and saw the mountain of land deeds and house deeds, as well as the bribery ledger that recorded countless crimes of officials.

His hands trembled again.

This time it wasn't out of anger, but out of shock.

He knew Sun Demao was greedy, but he never imagined Sun Demao would be this greedy!
The names recorded in that ledger included dozens of officials from the imperial court, including some who held high positions.

This is no longer a simple corruption case; it is a shocking case that could shake the very foundation of the country!

Shen Lian's expression became more solemn than ever before, and then he looked at Chen Ye and asked in a deep voice, "Where did you get these things?"

(End of this chapter)