Chapter 67: Facing Different People, Li Chen Has Different Ways of Playing Them!

Not just Li Chen, even Li Sining could see at a glance that Xu Zifeng was pretending.

More importantly, your father has recently been drilling troops and courting powerful figures and major factions—his intentions are even more obvious.

This is nothing but a nest of rebels, they’ve just not officially risen in revolt yet.

“Brother, how do you plan to deal with Xu Zifeng? He’s already planted many spies in the capital, plotting treachery.”

Li Sining certainly hopes Li Chen remains emperor, so she can keep enjoying her good life.

Whoever dares seize Li Chen’s throne, she’ll be the first to object!

“He’s too lowly—I won’t even bother with him. The late emperor probably thought the same, but it’s fine to toy with him a bit; his little aunt does look quite alluring.”

Recalling the beautiful woman he’d seen in the Empress Dowager’s chambers, Li Chen thought she was indeed quite pleasing.

Especially that rich, full-bodied allure—it was rare indeed.

What will Ji Lianyu do? Hard to say. But when Chu Ruoyan wakes up, she’ll likely suffer again.

Li Chen had eunuch Cui send word to Lin Yue’e, instructing her to target Xu Zifeng.

With my imperial decree, you may release him.

Once he’s out, find a way to harass him, catch him, and lock him up.

Don’t impose a harsh sentence—just fine him and extend his imprisonment.

This cycle will let Lin Yue’e rack up performance points, the government office collect fines, and Li Chen gain his own benefits.

Li Chen judged the Empress Dowager couldn’t plead for him every time—maybe once, perhaps twice at most.

Won’t that beautiful woman have to come beg me herself then?

Lady, you don’t want your nephew locked up forever, do you?

Facing different people, Li Chen has different ways of playing them.

She isn’t like Chu Ruoyan—a woman with a clean record who needs emotional cultivation. Just get it over with.

These bastards are all rebels anyway; no need to be polite.

On another street near the Ministry of Justice and the government office.

With Li Chen’s imperial decree, Xu Zifeng naturally walked out of the government office.

Xiao Ming had just passed the Ministry of Justice’s review and become an unofficial staff member.

The two passed each other on the street.

The fates of the two destiny-bearers began to intertwine.

“What bad luck—that woman actually has the dog emperor’s imperial token!”

As soon as Xu Zifeng returned to his mansion, he began ranting furiously.

He grabbed the ginseng soup his aunt had brought and gulped it down like mouthwash, then spat it casually back into the bowl.

Ji Lianyu felt immense pity for her nephew, convinced he’d been frozen and starved after being locked up all day, so she prepared him plenty of delicious food.

Xu Zifeng was indeed hungry and began devouring it heartily.

“If Lin the Captain has the emperor’s token, you’d better not provoke her.”

Ji Lianyu could tell Li Chen was a powerful emperor.

Xu Zifeng’s father isn’t ready yet; there’s no need to offend Li Chen prematurely.

“Auntie, don’t worry—I’ve got my own sense of restraint.”

Xu Zifeng didn’t take her words seriously at all.

She’s just a lowly captain holding the emperor’s token. If force won’t work, I’ll use charm.

Having roamed the capital so long, having built countless hidden informants without ever being discovered, Xu Zifeng was confident.

In a secret chamber of a dilapidated house beyond the capital’s seventh ring.

Swirling energy surged and ebbed across a young man’s body.

The Saint’s lingering soul, witnessing this, rejoiced endlessly within.

For the energy coursing through his disciple was spiraling wildly, and his meridians were strengthening continuously.

At this rate, in a short while, he could break through to the Six Harmonies Realm.

Remember, Xiao Ming had once been exceptionally fast in cultivation. But after becoming a sycophant, he’d stagnated for a full year at the mid-stage of Breaking Void.

The Saint’s lingering soul grew more convinced his method was correct.

Child, it’s not your fault—it’s your master’s failure to recognize your talent sooner.

Xiao Ming is a hidden holy body because he requires negative emotions; the more intense the negativity, the more his potential is unleashed.

Today, Xiao Ming had already accumulated enough negative emotion—he didn’t need the Saint’s lingering soul to provoke him.

But the Saint’s lingering soul wouldn’t comfort him either—he feared Xiao Ming might suddenly see sense, and that would be a disaster.

He wanted Xiao Ming to remain broken, to feel guilt—only then would his hatred grow.

Hatred is the key to cultivation for many destiny-bearers.

After completing today’s meditation, Xiao Ming exhaled deeply.

Even though his cultivation speed had accelerated lately, he still wasn’t satisfied.

!

He had no real grasp of his cultivation level—he only wanted to see his goddess as soon as possible.

In his eyes, Li Chen was the evil final boss, the last obstacle he must overcome to ascend in this world!

Back in his room, Xiao Ming lay on his bed, imagining that at this very moment, his goddess was surely weeping alone in the palace.

Chu Ruoyan was indeed crying—but not for the reason Xiao Ming imagined.

The next day, Chu Ruoyan couldn’t get out of bed.

It wasn’t Li Chen’s fault—after all, she was the only one in the harem now, bearing all the brunt.

After Li Chen rose and went to court, Chu Ruoyan was astonished to discover her cultivation had improved.

Yesterday, she’d inexplicably broken through—from mid-stage Breaking Void to late-stage Breaking Void, even unconsciously.

“Could Breaking Void mean filling the void?”

Thinking of this, she felt slightly embarrassed—why did she keep thinking such things?

But enduring Li Chen’s level of training naturally strengthened her body.

After several hours, she followed her sect’s cultivation method, circulating energy through several full cycles; once her body recovered, she slowly rose.

The head palace maid had high cultivation herself and had been waiting outside.

Hearing movement inside, she naturally brought the maids to assist her with dressing.

Now that she was Li Chen’s first imperial consort, the palace maids naturally wanted to make a good impression on her.

The head palace maid kept praising Chu Ruoyan—from her hair strands to her toes—her tongue was so sweet it lifted Chu Ruoyan’s spirits.

Then came breakfast and pastries; the head palace maid knew she loved Dragon Saliva Jade Dew cakes and had prepared plenty.

Chu Ruoyan had expended too much energy last night and needed replenishment, so she ate heartily.

Looking at these ingredients she’d never seen before, and her favorite pastry,

Chu Ruoyan thought being an imperial consort was truly wonderful!

Especially since there was a man here who made her want to never let go.

Thinking of Li Chen’s noble, mighty appearance, she felt her body stir again.

After steadying her mood, just as she was about to eat breakfast, she asked the head palace maid beside her: “Are there any customs for eating in the palace?”

She rarely entered the palace; the Empress Dowager had taught her some things, but she’d been too focused on the Empress Dowager to pay attention.

The head palace maid smiled and replied: “Your Majesty, unless at a court banquet, no formalities are required. In private, do as you please—whatever feels comfortable.”

Chu Ruoyan was relieved, though she wasn’t that uncouth—she ate her breakfast normally.

The maids would adjust future meals according to her tastes.

After breakfast, she stepped outside into the courtyard and saw Li Sining practicing.

Chu Ruoyan walked over, about to say something, but seeing Li Sining’s dark circles, she asked curiously if she hadn’t slept well last night.

The less she asked, the better—Li Sining, hearing this, snapped back with resentment: “I live right next door! You screamed so loudly last night, and all those things you said—how was I supposed to sleep?!”

At least consider my feelings!

And the filthy things you said to my brother—you can’t tell me you don’t remember!

(End of Chapter)