The male supporting character was actually myself.

Jiang Chen: (ー△ー；)

If I really didn't understand it... never mind, I won't bother arguing with a velvet ball.

If we really manage to crash the mission world, it might affect the real world. Let's proceed cautiously for now. We don't know where the bugs are in this mission world yet. After dealing with Shangguan Xuanyu, we'll need to hurry up and find the bugs...

"By the way, what were the consequences after the mission world collapsed? Didn't the person who posted this mention the aftermath?"

"What follow-up? It and the host are both dead!" The little white cat became extremely serious when it mentioned this. "Host, you must not follow this bad example. If you ruin the mission world, not only will the host suffer the backlash, but the script team, the construction team, the stability maintenance team, and so on will also be implicated."

It's said that because that host caused trouble, not only did he and the auxiliary system die on the spot along with the mission world, but two members of the script team serving that mission world also died..."

So, were the scriptwriting team also just "conscripted" workers?

What exactly is the main system doing?

How does it operate?

Why does it exist, and who established it?

A series of questions echoed in his mind as he walked and pondered them, when he suddenly heard the sound of whips, shouts, and cries coming from not far away.

The fluffy little ball immediately perked up its ears, stood up straight, looked around, and then pointed in a direction with its short, furry paws. "It looks like it's over there, Master Host, shall we go take a look?"

"Try not to get involved in the affairs of the inner palace." Jiang Chen returned along the same route without looking to the side.

Unexpectedly, as he rounded a pavilion, he happened to see a eunuch beating a palace maid by the pond on the other side. The leather whip, which was used for beating people, cracked loudly as he did so, and he cursed, "You dare to talk back to Miss Hui'er? You little hussy, how dare you be so arrogant! I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death!"

"Why can't I refute what she said? We are all servants, palace maids and eunuchs, and we are no better than you. What right do you have to resort to torture?" The little palace maid, dressed in the uniform of the lowest-ranking palace maid, was in pain from being beaten. She shrank back and dodged while accusing the woman with a sob in her voice.

The young eunuch, who was probably favored, wore the five-blessing high boots that only two imperial concubines were entitled to bestow upon him despite his low rank. Hearing her words, he became even more ruthless. "She's just a lowly servant girl. Even if you beat her to death, Consort Jia wouldn't utter a single word of reproach..."

Jiang Chen stood on one side of the pavilion and frowned slightly as he watched this scene.

The palace maids in the harem were all selected from the common people. Most of them were beauties from good families. They were sent to the inner palace at the age of twelve or thirteen and isolated from the outside world. If they did not have a special encounter and were chosen by the emperor to become concubines, they would spend their lives in loneliness and desolation.

The palace women were not treated as human beings, and all sorts of cruel punishments were inflicted.

You could be killed anytime, anywhere, and no one would investigate...

"Stop!" Realizing what had happened from their intermittent conversation, he coldly ordered the eunuch to stop and quickly walk around to the other side of the pond. Looking at the two men lying on the ground, not daring to raise their heads, he said indifferently, "Raise your heads."

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Palace Intrigue

"Your Majesty, this servant is from Consort Jia's palace." The little eunuch raised his head with a fawning smile and replied in a high-pitched voice, "That Yinxiu is the most detestable! She has angered Your Majesty..."

Upon hearing this, the young palace maid Yinxiu raised her head and interrupted him, "Your Majesty, don't listen to his nonsense! This servant has never angered you. Your Majesty is wise enough to know that if a palace maid angers you, she will be sent to the Department of Punishments, not a lowly eunuch with no rank to use private punishments."

This was all because the servant girl had previously argued with a palace maid of the same rank, Hui'er, over the topic of reform.

Hui'er's family were human traffickers. When the Ninth Prince issued a new policy to crack down on human trafficking, some of her family members were killed and others were exiled. When she learned of this, she cursed and insulted the Ninth Prince with vicious words. When the maid heard that Hui'er's curses were too harsh, she said that the Ninth Prince was not a bad person. Hui'er then took her anger out on the maid and ordered Xiao Dezi, who was on good terms with her, to use private torture.

The day before yesterday, a palace maid named Huixiang, who had angered Xiao Dezi, 'accidentally' fell into the lake and drowned.

I ate and lived with Huixiang. I learned that she had been drowned when she was a child and was most afraid of going near water. How could she have gone to the lake to play late at night and accidentally drowned?

I wanted to seek justice for Huixiang, but the steward said that she had indeed drowned and there was no doubt that she was dead. Since there was no way to verify the facts, he simply took her body out and disposed of it.

"Your Majesty, please seek justice for this humble servant and for the deceased Huixiang!"

Yinxiu knew that she had already angered the eunuch favored by Consort Jia recently. Xiao Dezi should be promoted soon. Since she was in danger, she might as well go all out and take advantage of the presence of the Ninth Prince to tell him everything about Huixiang. Maybe the Ninth Prince could take charge and investigate to seek justice for Huixiang!

"You lowly servant, you still dare to talk back?"

Xiao Dezi was immediately terrified and hurriedly rebuked, "Your Majesty is wise, you would never be fooled by this little hussy! Huixiang's accidental drowning while playing has already been investigated by a specialist. This servant is usually very amiable and never makes enemies, so how could Huixiang have angered this servant?"

"Oh, host, this little palace maid is quite sharp despite her young age." The white cat stroked its whiskers, bent down and peeked inside. Although Yinxiu's face bore several whip marks, her delicate and lively features were still evident.

It covered its little mouth with its paws and revealed a sly smile. "She's quite pretty and charming. This kind of personality is not commonly seen among the lifeless palace maids locked up deep in the palace. Should I take her in, host?"

Jiang Chen glanced at it without saying anything. He looked up and saw a eunuch carrying a food box passing by not far away. He waved and called out, "You, come here for a moment."

"Greetings, Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace..." The little eunuch who was summoned ran over carrying a food box, panting as he knelt down. Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Chen frowned and interrupted him, saying, "His Majesty is in Qiuxin Pavilion. Go and invite him, and tell him I have something to discuss with him."

"Yes! I'll go right away!" The little eunuch hurriedly stood up again, carrying the food box, and ran towards Qiuxin Pavilion with small, quick steps.

The little white cat pouted, "The palace is such a hassle. Every greeting is so long-winded and every word is like a mosquito buzzing. It's so annoying."

Jiang Chen slowly walked to the pavilion not far away and sat down. The eunuch and maid hurriedly knelt down beside him and prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

If anyone in the world dares to address His Majesty the Emperor as "you" or "me," then it is only this Ninth Prince!

Even the Empress wouldn't dare speak like that, which shows that the Ninth Prince wields immense power and doesn't take His Majesty seriously at all!

I've heard that this valiant and brave general, who has led troops and fought battles, can smash the brains of enemy soldiers with a single slap and even dares to eat human brains raw, making him the most ruthless and cold-blooded.

Just thinking about his cold and aloof appearance made Xiao Dezi tremble uncontrollably as he knelt on the grass.

Yinxiu, on the other hand, was quite calm and fearless.

She was already prepared to risk everything, even death. Rather than being beaten to death by Xiao Dezi or being pushed into the lake and "accidentally" drowned, she might as well make a big scene. Even if she died like that, it wouldn't be a cowardly death!

From afar, a head eunuch saw the Ninth Prince sitting under the pavilion and hurried over to greet him, then ordered someone to bring several plates of fruit and snacks and a pot of hot tea.

A moment later, the emperor rushed over and, seeing the situation, hurriedly asked, "Who dares to offend Minister Shen? What exactly happened?"

With outsiders present, Jiang Chen maintained her act perfectly, remaining seated under the pavilion without even rising. She pointed to the two kneeling figures before her and said calmly, "I caught Consort Jia using torture in her palace. I also heard that a palace maid is cursing me behind my back because of reform matters? What's her name? Hui'er?"

Your Majesty should manage this harem properly. With such a large and diverse population, there's no guarantee that there aren't some enemy spies lurking among them, waiting for an opportunity to stir up trouble, disrupt the harem, and deceive Your Majesty.

Just the other day, there was a little palace maid named Huixiang who was afraid of water but "fell into a trap" and drowned in the lake.

It's not unusual for one or two people to die in the palace with so many people, but the cause of death needs to be investigated. Whether it was an accidental drowning or being pushed in and drowned, the difference is huge.

Today you can kill a palace maid without anyone noticing, but tomorrow you might have to assassinate His Majesty.

"I am not interfering in matters of the inner palace; I merely wish to ensure Your Majesty's safety. Protecting Your Majesty's well-being is the duty of a subject!"

“What Shen Qing said is absolutely right. This matter must indeed be investigated thoroughly.”

The emperor knew that there were many spies in the harem, and that some of the palace maids and eunuchs might be the confidants of certain concubines. The concubines were also involved in the affairs of the court, which was the most troublesome thing. Therefore, while putting on an act, he followed the regent's topic to find out the reason for the matter, and then ordered someone to summon Consort Jia to see him.

Consort Jia was young and beautiful but had not yet given birth. When she heard that the Emperor had summoned her, she was secretly delighted, thinking that she had gained the Emperor's favor.

Unexpectedly, as she walked into the secluded garden and looked at her from afar, she felt that things were not good. The Regent was also there! There was also a little eunuch from her own courtyard and a slightly familiar palace maid kneeling there. She wondered what had happened.

"Consort Jia, this little eunuch said that the palace maid Yinxiu angered you, and you ordered him to use torture here?" The Emperor sat to the side of the Regent, drinking tea, and only asked after she had finished paying her respects.

Using private punishments in the imperial harem is a grave taboo!

Even if she were truly enraged and wanted to vent her anger by beating a servant, she would choose a more discreet method to avoid being discovered by the Empress. Upon suddenly hearing His Majesty ask this, Consort Jia hurriedly waved her hands and replied, "No, no! Your Majesty, please don't listen to the slander of petty people. I would never dare to allow anyone to use torture!"

If any servant offends me or commits a serious offense, the Imperial Punishment Office will naturally come to discipline them.

not to mention……"

She turned around and looked at Yinxiu carefully, then shook her head and said, "This little palace maid looks familiar, but I don't know her at all!"

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, I am merely a maidservant responsible for tending to the flowers, plants, and trees in the Xiangli Garden. I rarely have the opportunity to see Consort Jia, let alone offend you without cause. It is all Xiao Dezi’s nonsense to shift the blame to Consort Jia. It truly has nothing to do with you!” Yin Xiu replied crisply and clearly.

After verifying the facts, it was confirmed that Xiao Dezi had abused the punishment on his own and tried to pin the blame on his master. Jiang Chen then ordered his men to arrest him and await his exile. He then summoned the eunuch in charge of handling Huixiang's body for a private interrogation, which unexpectedly led to the discovery of a major case!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: That's what Fourth Master thought too...

The relationships and interests within the imperial harem were intricately intertwined, and since all the concubines came from official families, they might have had connections with the previous dynasty.

Upon hearing that a murder case had been hastily covered up, the emperor frowned slightly and felt that Minister Shen was right; evil must not be tolerated!

The eunuch in charge of handling Huixiang's body had also heard the rumors that the Ninth Prince had devoured people alive in a fit of rage. Seeing that the truth had come out, he dared not hide anything any longer and told the whole story.

Huixiang did drown, that's for sure. She was frozen solid after soaking in the pool all night in the dead of winter.

However, when he examined the body, he found strangulation marks on Huixiang's neck, indicating that she had been strangled unconscious before being thrown into the pond to drown. But when he reported the matter, he only received a warning to "mind your own business."

After that, apart from the palace maid Yinxiu who questioned it, no one paid any attention. In addition, Huixiang was just an ordinary palace maid who died and no one mentioned her anymore. So, with the mentality of "better to avoid trouble," he did not record the truth.

"It was just a minor eunuch using torture that I happened to witness. How did the matter escalate so much during the interrogation?"

After dismissing everyone, Jiang Chen looked at the emperor sitting opposite him with a bewildered expression and asked, "What is Your Majesty's opinion? If the investigation involves the concubines in the harem, it is not appropriate for me to be here..."

"Nothing inconvenient."

The emperor waved his hand, frowned, and said coldly, "Continue the investigation! According to Yinxiu, Huixiang only had a conflict with Xiaodezi before she died, and afterwards she was uneasy and even said that she was 'very scared'."

But before this, Xiao Dezi was just a lowly, unfavored eunuch of the lowest rank. Why was she so afraid?

“Yinxiu just said that Huixiang lost her handkerchief and went to look for it, but returned too late, which led to the conflict with Xiaodezi. If she is uneasy, it's not because she's afraid of Xiaodezi, but because something happened during her search…”

"That makes sense. But what was she so afraid of? That she didn't even tell her best friend, and then drowned that very night?"

The emperor thought for a moment and then lowered his voice, saying, "My dear minister, you can personally interrogate Xiao Dezi. Whether by torture or any other method, make him tell the truth!"

If Huixiang's drowning wasn't caused by him, then the murderer might be someone else.

She may have simply stumbled upon something shady, which led to her being murdered to silence her.

Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and shook his head, saying, "It shouldn't have been Xiao Dezi who did it. I just examined him carefully; he's an eunuch who has never practiced martial arts and is just an ordinary person."

Yinxiu said that she and Huixiang slept close together in bed, but she did not notice when the other left or how she drowned in the pond outside Xiangli Garden in the middle of the night.

Given Huixiang's frightened state at the time, the safest room would have been the one where many palace maids rested together.

Why would he go outside in the middle of the night without alerting anyone or the gatekeeper eunuch?

"Host's analysis is so terrifying!" The little white cat bristled and shrank its neck. "What did it stumble upon that would lead it to kill someone in the middle of the night?"

His Majesty the Emperor sighed, his voice becoming even softer, "When I first ascended the throne, I was really tired of going to court; getting up in the morning was too difficult."

Secondly, the Imperial Advisor once divined for me that the harem would be restless, but the time was not yet right and he could not predict anything. He suggested that I use illusions to deceive the concubines and court officials, saying that this would allow me to live peacefully.

"That's why I used you as a cover, but I never expected the Imperial Advisor's words to come true, and now the truth is suddenly emerging!"

Jiang Chen: (=ω=；)

In the original owner's memories, there was indeed such a seemingly insignificant imperial advisor who always liked to act mysteriously. The old man had an excellent appearance and fooled the emperor, who completely believed him. In the original owner's eyes, the so-called imperial advisor was just an old fraud.

However... he had experience; those who seemed eccentric in mission worlds were likely bugs and should not be underestimated!

"If that's the case, has the Imperial Preceptor mentioned a solution?" he asked curiously. "Haven't seen the Imperial Preceptor for so long; have he gone on another journey?"

The emperor thought about it seriously and shook his head, saying, "When the Imperial Advisor mentioned this matter, he only said that good people will be blessed by heaven, and that finding a regent would naturally help me share the burden."

As for the Imperial Advisor, he didn't go on a journey this time but went into seclusion. Just two years ago, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Imperial Advisor said that observing the stars at night revealed a great calamity for Southern Qi, and soon after, he went into seclusion to pray for the country's well-being. He hasn't emerged from seclusion since.

Jiang Chen: ...