Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 239 The Power of the Lord of Heartstrings, A Small Reward

No sooner had the words left her mouth than a dashing figure in red burst in.

It was Chen Ye's older sister, Chen Wan'er.

She wasn't wearing her official palace robes today, but rather a smart red riding outfit, her long hair tied up high, looking dashing and charming.

"Brother!" Chen Wan'er's voice preceded her arrival. She then quickly walked up to Chen Ye, looked him up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he looked well.

Then her gaze fell on Qingchen, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Who is this?"

“Sister, let me introduce you.” Chen Ye stood up and pulled over Qingchen, who was still a little reserved. “This is Miss Qingchen, the one I mentioned to you before, the one who helped me bring down Sun Demao.”

"Qingchen, this is my older sister, Chen Wan'er."

"Wan... Sister Wan'er." Qingchen quickly stood up and bowed nervously.

Chen Wan'er's gaze lingered on Qingchen for a moment.

The girl in front of me had a beautiful face and a clean temperament, and her eyes were as clear as mountain streams.

She doesn't look like a scheming or wicked woman at all.

but…….

Chen Wan'er's brows were still not completely relaxed.

She pulled Chen Ye aside and lowered her voice.

"Brother, your household is getting more and more lively." Her tone was teasing, but more so worried.

"We haven't dealt with that tofu-selling witch yet, and now we've brought back a naive little Taoist nun."

"Don't tell me you actually had any chivalrous thoughts about her."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye rubbed his temples in exasperation.

"Sis, what are you thinking?"

He briefly recounted Qingchen's background and how he had used her to investigate the case to Chen Wan'er.

"...That's how it is. Yuni Temple was shut down, and she was homeless. If I didn't do anything about it, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

After hearing Chen Ye's explanation, Chen Wan'er's expression softened slightly.

She knew that although her younger brother was decisive in his actions, he was a person who valued loyalty and affection at heart.

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing." Chen Wan'er sighed. "But matters in the inner quarters are the most complicated. Don't let this cause any rift between you and Wei Ning."

As she spoke, she glanced at Xie Weining, who was gently comforting Qingchen, and a hint of approval flashed in her eyes.

"Wei Ning is a good girl, generous and sensible. You should treat her well."

"I know." Chen Ye nodded.

The siblings chatted for a few more minutes about matters of the imperial court.

After Li Chengfeng and Sun Demao fell from power, the Empress took the opportunity to carry out a major purge, leaving many positions vacant in the court, and various forces were eager to make their move.

“The palace has been quite turbulent lately.” Chen Wan’er’s expression turned serious. “The old ministers left behind by the late emperor have been repeatedly opposing His Majesty in court, especially Grand Tutor Zhou Xuanqing and Grand Protector Lin Hai, who seem to be forming a clique.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye's heart stirred.

His sister's words confirmed his earlier suspicions.

Five years after the Empress ascended the throne, although the court was becoming increasingly stable and her authority was growing stronger, the ministers left behind by the previous emperor were still a force to be reckoned with.

The two sides had been at peace until now, but now a storm has suddenly broken out. It is clear that the recent death of Li Chengfeng and the downfall of Sun Demao have made Zhou Xuanqing and others feel threatened.

They feared that the Empress would take advantage of this opportunity to turn her sword against them, the former officials of the dynasty.

"So, they've started to band together?" Chen Ye asked.

“That’s right.” Chen Wan’er nodded, her expression becoming increasingly serious. “In the morning court sessions of the past few days, Zhou Xuanqing and Lin Hai’s faction have been constantly at odds with His Majesty’s newly promoted officials. Although these are all trivial matters, it is undoubtedly a signal.”

When Zhou Xuanqing was mentioned, Chen Ye couldn't help but picture Zhou Yuru's charming yet somewhat infatuated face.

"Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Chen Wan'er couldn't help but ask.

"It's nothing." Chen Ye came back to his senses and shook his head. "I was just thinking about what methods these old foxes would use to retaliate."

"What other tricks could they possibly have?" Chen Wan'er sneered, her tone tinged with disdain. "They'd just form cliques and attack us siblings in court, whisper in His Majesty's ear, and accuse us of being treacherous, arrogant, and disrupting the court."

She looked at Chen Ye and solemnly instructed him, "So you must be extra careful in your actions during this period. Don't let anyone catch you doing anything wrong, especially in the Xuanjing Division. You are currently at the height of your power, and there are countless eyes watching you in the dark."

“I understand,” Chen Ye replied.

He knew that his sister's worries were not unfounded.

He was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor and was also the Zhaowu Colonel of the Xuanjing Division, which made him a thorn in the side of those old ministers.

"Also," Chen Wan'er's gaze swept over Qing Chen, who was talking to Xie Weining not far away, and her voice lowered a few decibels, "I know you value relationships, but sometimes too much kindness can only bring trouble to yourself."

Chen Ye knew what his sister was referring to, and could only nod with a wry smile.

"Sister, I know my limits."

Chen Wan'er gave him a deep look, and seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, she felt a little relieved.

"Alright, I have other matters to attend to at the palace, I must go back."

Chen Wan'er patted his shoulder, "Remember my words, be careful in everything."

"Well, sister, walk slowly."

Chen Ye escorted Chen Wan'er to the gate of the mansion and watched her ride away on that magnificent chestnut horse before turning back.

The next few days passed by Tinglanxuan in an unusually peaceful manner.

Chen Ye didn't rush to the Xuanjing Division, but instead enjoyed this rare moment of peace and tranquility.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease; the peaceful life Chen Ye desired did not last long.

That afternoon, he was in his study reviewing files when his steward, Chen Zhong, hurriedly walked in from outside.

"Master."

Chen Zhong presented the letter with both hands and said in a low voice, "Someone just delivered it to the gate of the mansion, specifically asking for it from you."

Chen Ye put down the file in his hand and took the letter.

The envelope was made of fine Xuan paper and had no signature on it. When you opened it, you would find lines of elegant and graceful small regular script inside.

The words are filled with her deep longing for him, as well as the resentment and pain of not being able to see him.

"A day apart feels like three autumns! Several days have passed since we parted. Yu Ru is consumed by longing for you. She cannot sleep at night and has no appetite. She only hopes to see you again to ease the pain of longing."

"Tonight at the hour of Xu, at the Hidden Immortal Abode in the city, Yu Ru has prepared a simple meal and awaits Your Majesty's arrival. I have important matters to discuss with you, and I earnestly hope that Your Majesty will take the time to come."

The signature was a small character, "茹".

Without a doubt, this was Zhou Yuru's letter.

Chen Ye held the letter, his fingers unconsciously stroking it, while he pondered in his heart.

Back at the Jade Mud Temple, in order to obtain evidence of Sun Demao's crimes as soon as possible, I used the Heartstring Master's talent to implant the idea in her mind that the person in front of her was her destined master.

I didn't expect to use too much force.

This noble and proud daughter of the Grand Tutor had her mind completely warped by him, turning her into a fanatical believer who regarded him as a god.

Chen Ye didn't want to have any more entanglement with this woman, so he kept avoiding her.

I never expected that she would actually take the initiative to deliver the letter today.

Is there something important I need to discuss?
Chen Ye pondered for a moment.

He was almost certain that Zhou Yuru's so-called important matter was most likely related to her father, Zhou Xuanqing.

She was just worried about not having a chance to find out Zhou Xuanqing's whereabouts, so her letter came at just the right time.

But could this be a trap?
Could it be that Zhou Xuanqing, that old fox, has already sensed something, which is why he had his daughter set up this trap to lure him into it?

The thought only flashed through Chen Ye's mind before he dismissed it.

The Lord of Heartstrings' abilities directly affect the soul level.

That kind of imprint, originating from the depths of the soul, cannot be changed by external forces.

Zhou Yuru has absolute loyalty to herself and would never betray her.

Therefore, this letter must indeed have been her own idea.

Having figured this out, Chen Ye made his decision.

This trip is a must.

He held the letter up to the candlelight, watching it turn into a wisp of smoke, and then instructed Chen Zhong beside him, "Go prepare the horses."

"Yes, Master."

Chen Ye walked out of the study; it was already getting dark.

Xie Weining and Qingchen were chatting in the courtyard when they saw him change into casual clothes for going out. Xie Weining came to greet him.

"Husband, are you going out so late?"

"Well, I have something to take care of. Don't wait for me, you guys should get some rest."

"Okay." Xie Weining nodded obediently, but a lingering worry still lingered in her gentle eyes.

Chen Ye didn't offer any further explanation and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, in a secluded and elegant courtyard in the city, Zhou Yuru was sitting in front of her dressing table, carefully dressing herself up.

A stunningly beautiful face, capable of displaying both joy and anger, was reflected in the bronze mirror.

She carefully drew her eyebrows, lightly touched her lips with rouge, and then picked out a dazzling phoenix hairpin from a row of precious jewelry boxes, carefully inserting it into her high-coiled hair.

After doing all this, Zhou Yuru stood up and turned around in front of the mirror.

The woman in the mirror wore a magnificent purple dress, the hem of which was embroidered with intricate peony patterns in gold thread, making her figure graceful and radiant.

But her face held an almost fanatical excitement and exhilaration that was completely different from her luxurious attire.

The thought of seeing that man soon made Zhou Yuru's heart pound uncontrollably.

It was a tremor and longing that came from the depths of the soul.

When she was moved by the thought, she couldn't help but slightly bring her legs together and squeeze them tightly, and a beautiful blush rose on her fair cheeks.

“Master…my master…”

She murmured to herself in the mirror, her voice filled with fascination and devotion.

Since their parting at Yuni Temple, Zhou Yuru has been desperately missing Chen Ye every day. She has locked herself in the courtyard and refused to see anyone.

Outsiders assumed she was depressed because of her husband Sun Demao's downfall, but they didn't know that she hadn't thought of Sun Demao even for a moment.

Every detail of that night replayed in her mind over and over again. Chen Ye's deep eyes, his deep voice, and the alluring aura he exuded captivated Zhou Yuru.

She began frantically gathering all information about him; she wanted to know everything about him, including his likes and dislikes, as well as his enemies.

When she learned that her father, Zhou Xuanqing, was secretly conspiring with court officials to deal with the Empress, him, and his sister, Zhou Yuru did not hesitate or struggle at all.

All she felt was boundless excitement!

Because the opportunity has arrived!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove my worth to my master!

She wanted to win his favor and gain his affection; even a single approving glance was enough to make her give her all.

"call……"

Zhou Yuru let out a long breath, forcibly calming her agitated emotions. Then she carefully checked her makeup again, making sure it was flawless before putting on a snow-white fox fur cloak and walking out of the courtyard surrounded by a group of maids and servants.

An ordinary-looking carriage, but extremely luxurious inside, was already waiting at the door.

She boarded the carriage and coldly gave the driver an order.

"Let's go to the Hermitage of Immortals."

……

Half an hour later, Chen Ye arrived at the Hidden Immortal Residence Teahouse on his snow-white steed, Wuzhui.

Chen Ye dismounted, handed the reins to a waiter who was already waiting there, and then walked unhurriedly toward the teahouse entrance.

As soon as I entered, a clever-looking waiter dressed in a light blue shirt immediately came to greet me.

"Sir, are you alone?"

"I'm looking for someone," Chen Ye said calmly. "Someone booked a private room in advance."

Upon hearing this, the waiter's smile immediately became even more respectful.

"So you are an honored guest. I apologize for my rudeness. A private room has been prepared. Please come this way, sir."

As he spoke, he led the way, taking Chen Ye through the bustling lobby and up a quiet staircase.

The higher you go, the quieter it becomes.

Finally, the waiter stopped in front of a carved wooden door. "Sir, we've arrived."

The waiter pushed open the door, gestured for them to enter, then bowed and retreated without giving them another glance.

Chen Ye stepped inside.

The private room was decorated in an extremely elegant manner, with a rosewood tea table, two cushioned armchairs, a landscape painting with a profound artistic conception hanging on the wall, and wisps of smoke rising from the animal-head incense burner in the corner.

A woman was standing with her back to him at the window, gazing at the night view outside.

Upon hearing footsteps, the woman trembled slightly and immediately turned around.

When Zhou Yuru saw Chen Ye's face, the face that haunted her dreams, her eyes lit up instantly.

It was a light that mixed many complex emotions, including obsession, fanaticism, excitement, and grievance.

"Master...master!"

Her voice was trembling, almost on the verge of tears.

The next moment, she lifted her skirt and pounced on Chen Ye without a care, as if she wanted to melt her whole body into his body on the spot.

Chen Ye's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He didn't dodge, but just before Zhou Yuru was about to throw herself into his arms, he reached out a hand and firmly pressed it against her forehead, preventing her from getting any closer.

Zhou Yuru's movements came to an abrupt halt.

She remained frozen in her forward-leaning posture, her face filled with astonishment and confusion.

She didn't understand why her master rejected her advances.

Was it because I wasn't dressed up nicely enough today?

Or perhaps, he... he simply doesn't want to see me?

In an instant, a surge of immense grievance and fear welled up inside her, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Chen Ye looked at her tearful appearance, but felt no emotion whatsoever.

"Let's get down to business first."

Zhou Yuru stared blankly at Chen Ye's cold face and his unfathomable eyes, a strange sense of awe and fear suddenly rising from the depths of her soul.

Yes.

He is the master.

Before him, I was nothing more than a lowly servant, a pet waiting for his charity.

What right do I have to guess what my master is thinking? And what right do I have to act spoiled and willful towards my master?
If your master tells you to get down to business, then you should immediately and without reservation tell him everything you know!

Having figured this out, Zhou Yuru's aggrieved and fearful expression vanished instantly, replaced by an absolute and unquestionable obedience.

She took a step back and bowed deeply to Chen Ye, her head almost touching the ground.

"Yes, Master."

Chen Ye was somewhat surprised by how quickly Zhou Yuru's attitude changed.

One second they're passionate and fiery, the next they're submissive and obedient.

The Lord of Heartstrings' ability to distort and control people's hearts was far beyond his imagination.

He withdrew his hand, walked to the tea table, sat down, poured himself a cup of still-warm tea, and then raised his chin to signal Zhou Yuru.

"Sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Master."

Zhou Yuru then straightened up and carefully sat down in the chair opposite Chen Ye.

Although she was sitting, her upper body was ramrod straight, and her hands were nervously placed on her knees, looking like a student waiting for a reprimand from the teacher.

Chen Ye ignored her little actions and simply picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"Speak, what's the important matter?"

Zhou Yuru dared not be negligent in the slightest. She took a deep breath, sorted out her thoughts, and then said, "Master, Yuru has noticed that my father has been acting strangely lately."

"Oh?" Chen Ye raised an eyebrow, put down his teacup, and pretended to be very interested.

Seeing her owner's reaction, Zhou Yuru's spirits immediately lifted.

She knew she had made the right bet!
The master is indeed interested in this matter!
She quickly continued, "Ever since Li Chengfeng and Sun Demao got into trouble, my father has become extremely anxious. He has locked himself in his study for several days and hasn't seen anyone."

“Then, starting a few days ago, he began to secretly contact some court officials frequently.”

As she spoke, Zhou Yuru took out a folded piece of paper from her sleeve and presented it with both hands.

“Master, this is a list of officials who met with my father, along with the time and place of their meetings, which I secretly wrote down.”

Chen Ye took the slip of paper, unfolded it, and saw that it listed seven or eight names.

The one leading them was none other than Lin Hai, the Grand Protector of the current dynasty.

Following them were several vice ministers from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of War, as well as several censors from the Censorate.

Without exception, these people were all prominent figures in the court, and they all shared a common characteristic.

They were all former officials from the previous emperor's reign, the backbone of the civil service, which perfectly matched the information provided by her sister, Chen Wan'er.

Chen Ye's fingertips lightly traced the two characters "Lin Hai," and he already understood.

It seems that Zhou Xuanqing, that old fox, is really getting restless.

"How did you find out?" Chen Ye put the note away, looked at Zhou Yuru, and asked.

A smug blush appeared on Zhou Yuru's face. She puffed out her chest, eager to show her master her abilities.

"No outsiders could get close to my father's study; even the servants who cleaned it were his most trusted old servants."

"But I know there is a secret passage in the study, which was built in the early years to prevent accidents."

"So I sneaked into the secret passage late at night and hid in a dark compartment to eavesdrop on their conversation."

As she spoke, her tone even carried a hint of excitement and boastfulness, as if betraying her father was something to be proud of.

Looking at her like this, Chen Ye couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

This woman has completely gone mad.

To please herself, she willingly became Chen Ye's mole in the Zhou family, even at the cost of betraying her own father, all to win his favor.

However, this was a great thing for him.

"Well done!" Chen Ye nodded and praised.

Such a simple compliment brought a smile to Zhou Yuru's face, and her eyes narrowed with joy.

For her, receiving praise from her master was the most important thing; nothing else could compare to it.

Just then, Chen Ye slowly stood up and carefully put the crucial list away from his body.

Zhou Yuru quickly stood up as well, looking at him with her beautiful eyes full of anticipation.

She has given away everything she knows without reservation.

At this moment, she was like a believer who had offered the most precious sacrifice, waiting for God's mercy and reward.

"Master... are you satisfied with what Yu Ru made?" Her voice trembled slightly, revealing a hint of longing.

Chen Ye looked at her.

Looking at her face, slightly flushed with excitement and anticipation, and at her bright, expressive eyes that seemed to speak volumes.

He knew what this woman was expecting.

He also knew what he should do to make her even more devoted to him.

Proper maintenance and rewards are essential for a good tool.

Thinking of this, a smile finally appeared on Chen Ye's face.

He didn't speak, but simply reached out and gently lifted Zhou Yuru's chin.

Zhou Yuru's body froze instantly, and an indescribable electric current instantly spread from her chin throughout her entire body.

She felt her legs going weak and she could barely stand.

"You did a very good job." Chen Ye's voice was deep and magnetic, like the devil's murmur, ringing in her ear.

"So I should give you a little reward."

(End of this chapter)