Chapter 61: Truly, when you

Xu Zifeng began adjusting his strategy; he excelled in tactical warfare, understanding an enemy’s preferences—this was one of his usual tactics in setting traps.

To find out what Li Chen liked, he could start by examining the people around him.

Xu Zifeng remembered that his aunt seemed to have a good relationship with the Empress Dowager in the palace.

Once, he caused a big disturbance and was thrown into the Ministry of Justice’s prison.

It was only after his aunt went to the palace and asked the Empress Dowager to intervene with the Minister of Justice that he was released.

He could ask his aunt to go to the palace and gather some information.

If he set a trap targeting Li Chen’s preferences, he could place someone close to Li Chen.

Thinking of this, Xu Zifeng’s frown began to ease.

He was truly a genius—he could come up with such a plan.

Li Chen, wait and see—I’ll return yesterday’s slap tenfold!

With the matter now "resolved," Xu Zifeng was in high spirits and took his henchmen out onto the streets to begin his daily playboy duties.

Minor offenses constantly, but never a major one!

“Good morning, Yue’e, you’re as fragrant as ever!” Xu Zifeng inhaled deeply beside Lin Yue’e, still his usual flippant self.

He casually teased Lin Yue’e, who was on patrol.

He didn’t believe Li Chen could be beside Lin Yue’e every single moment.

Yesterday must’ve been an accident—he knew her background well.

Besides, this time he only talked trash—he didn’t even lay a hand on her!

“Seize him!” Lin Yue’e said coldly.

As a result, Xu Zifeng was sentenced to seven days in detention for harassing an official.

Lin Yue’e didn’t care about any of that—once she decided to arrest someone, no one could escape.

Xu Zifeng had tried to explain he was just joking around, surely that didn’t warrant arrest.

But when he saw Lin Yue’e produce the Emperor’s imperial token, he realized how serious this was!

That damn Li Chen, why does he keep haunting me?!

Lin Yue’e sneered: “When I used to reason with you, you crushed me with your power.”

Now that I have power, why should I even bother talking sense to you?

Today, it wasn’t just Xu Zifeng who got arrested—Lin Yue’e, armed with Li Chen’s token, had gone completely wild!

Including Xu Zifeng, she arrested thirteen second-generation scions who had harassed her during her shifts, and seven more who had brawled on the streets.

The government office was also brutally firm—when the servants of these scions arrived arrogantly to demand their release, they were immediately kicked out by the government office runners.

When the imperial relatives stormed in themselves, they saw Lin Yue’e holding Li Chen’s imperial token—and immediately fell to their knees, then slunk away in shame.

The Emperor’s token alone was terrifying enough, let alone Li Chen’s—this was the token of a Saint Realm Emperor! How terrifying was that?

Lin Yue’e had just scored a major achievement.

The government prison had never held so many second-generation scions at once.

Within the punishment guidelines, they collected a hefty fine.

The government office runners weren’t afraid at all—after all, it was the one holding the Emperor’s token who made the arrests. If you’ve got a problem, take it up with the Emperor himself.

Sitting in the prison cell, Xu Zifeng was stunned—he’d never been arrested for physical violence before, and now he was locked up just for talking trash?

What dumb luck did Lin Yue’e have to get Li Chen’s imperial token?

Aside from the Wang Ting envoy, every other cell held a famous second-generation scion from the capital.

Such a luxurious all-star lineup was rarely seen.

Normally, these men would have been screaming and cursing by now.

Xu Zifeng figured they were sitting quietly, not daring to utter a word, because they’d all seen the token.

Second-generation scions and the reigning Emperor? They weren’t even in the same league.

Their fathers meant nothing before Li Chen—what were they?

Xu Zifeng was now wondering: could Lin Yue’e be connected to Li Chen?

If he could win Lin Yue’e over, could he uncover Li Chen’s secrets?

Then, if he pursued Lin Yue’e while sending his aunt to the palace to gather intel—wouldn’t that be foolproof?

Truly, when you’ve searched high and low without success, the answer comes effortlessly.

Even when faced with setbacks, he could instantly turn adversity into advantage.

This was the talent Xu Zifeng prided himself on!

On the other side, at the residence of the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Pang Jin.

He rose extremely early today—this was his first time attending morning court. Dressed in his Minister’s ceremonial robes, he indeed carried more presence than Feng Huai had.

When he returned to the Ministry of Justice yesterday, he’d worried the senior officials might resist him and cause trouble.

But he heard they’d just returned from the Imperial Study, apparently having been reprimanded by Li Chen—he didn’t know the details.

Yet when he met them, they were extremely courteous, promising full cooperation with Pang Jin.

Pang Jin had thus gone from subordinate to superior overnight.

Pang Jin believed this was all due to the Emperor’s favor.

The Emperor must have feared he couldn’t hold the position, so he specifically punished those senior officials.

This moved Pang Jin deeply—he vowed inwardly to serve as Minister of Justice well, to ease Li Chen’s burdens.

Li Chen didn’t understand why his ministers were growing more loyal—he hadn’t done anything at all.

After practicing some conversational tactics with other officials, Pang Jin arrived at the palace on time.

!

Immediately, several court ministers approached him to congratulate him on his promotion.

Pang Jin responded politely to each one, saying it was all due to the Emperor’s grace.

His first court session brought an awkward moment—he didn’t know where to stand.

Li Chen had the advantage—he’d first attended court as Emperor, so all he had to do was sit on the Dragon Throne.

So Pang Jin went to his acquaintance, Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang Ancang, and quietly asked where his place was.

Under Zhang Ancang’s guidance, Pang Jin found his position.

He had one question: “Why is there a mark on the floor beside me? What is it?”

Zhang Ancang replied: “That’s where your predecessor exploded.”

Pang Jin: “.”

Well, that explains it.

After greetings, the ministers returned to their places.

Slowly, Pang Jin felt immense pressure.

Each minister radiated formidable aura—especially Zhao Wenyuan, the Chancellor in his official robes just ahead of him, making this newcomer uneasy.

As the bells and drums rang out, Li Chen, clad in the Dragon Robe, slowly entered the hall, and all fell into solemn reverence.

From Pang Jin’s perspective, Li Chen in the Dragon Robe looked like a celestial sovereign descending to earth—his innate, bone-deep authority made every person present feel invisible pressure, dimming the entire world around them.

Even though the ministers around him each carried formidable aura, before Emperor Li Chen, they were but specks in the ocean.

Especially Li Chen’s expression—unspoken, yet commanding—made many ministers grow anxious.

At this moment, the new ministers deeply felt the Emperor’s might and majesty.

In Pang Jin’s eyes, this was the true sovereign capable of subduing the world!

From Li Chen’s perspective, waking up this early was truly annoying!

His petty morning grumpiness was seen by the ministers as unspoken, awe-inspiring authority.

Seated on the throne, Li Chen began his daily duties.

The first official to report today surprised Li Chen—it was Zhao Wenyuan, the Chancellor, usually as calm as a dog on a leash.

He stepped forward, bowed, and said: “Your Majesty, Minister Zhao Wenyuan has a matter to report.”

(End of Chapter)