Chapter 80

The person who came was none other than Xu Zifeng's aunt, Ji Lianyu.

Seeing this graceful figure, Li Chen was also somewhat surprised.

He knew Ji Lianyu would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to be so soon.

It seems giving the token to Lin Yue'e was indeed a good choice.

This subordinate is worth cultivating.

Even though he knew Ji Lianyu's purpose, Li Chen still asked: "What is the matter? Speak freely."

While speaking, Li Chen didn't even look at her properly, but was flipping through a book nonchalantly.

At this time, one shouldn't be too obvious with one's intentions, otherwise, it would make her suspect that he had set a trap.

Without Li Chen's permission, Ji Lianyu wasn't qualified to stand up; she knelt on the ground and pleaded: "Your Majesty, this subject's wife has come this time for my nephew, Xu Zifeng. He is young and impulsive, and had a dispute with someone at a restaurant, inadvertently being arrested by Constable Lin. Zifeng, he... he has been locked in the prison, and this time he is to be locked up for a full month!"

At this point, Ji Lianyu's eyes were already red, and her voice was choked with sobs.

She doted on this nephew and naturally didn't want to see him suffer in prison.

Xu Zifeng was truly unlucky; he went out for a meal, habitually started causing trouble, and got into a fight with a wealthy merchant's son; who knew he would be caught red-handed by Lin Yue'e.

There was no helping it; the government office had files on which places he habitually went to and what his preferences were.

Lin Yue'e had left the government office only after checking the data; wasn't that just to go catch him?

After listening to Ji Lianyu's tearful complaint, Li Chen frowned and said: "Why is it him again? Didn't I spare him once last time? And you also promised me that you would strictly discipline your nephew in the future and never let him offend again."

His tone was gentle, yet it revealed an unquestionable majesty.

It sounded somewhat like he was disappointed that he couldn't turn iron into steel.

In fact, Li Chen's internal monologue was: Lin Yue'e, well done!

Hearing this, Ji Lianyu's heart tightened; she knew she was in the wrong, but still unwilling to give up, she said: "But Your Majesty, Zifeng is young and ignorant; this time it was just a momentary impulse. Moreover, this time it wasn't Zifeng's fault alone. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy!"

In fact, Ji Lianyu didn't even believe this herself.

She knew that Xu Zifeng was most likely trying to hide his true strength and had started causing trouble on purpose again.

It was just that this time he was unlucky and happened to run into Lin Yue'e.

If other government officers had seen it, they might not have been able to handle Xu Zifeng.

Li Chen could roughly guess what had happened, but he still had to act the part.

After all, wasn't his true target right in front of him?

Li Chen sighed and said with a profound gaze: "Lady Ji, how could I not know that Zifeng is young? But precisely because of this, he needs to be tempered even more. This incident might be a lesson for him, an opportunity for growth."

Li Chen continued to drag it out; if he agreed too quickly, wouldn't that make this woman think he was easy to talk to?

In any case, he hadn't closed the door on the matter, which proved there was room for maneuver.

Ji Lianyu was clearly hooked; she continued to plead bitterly: "Your Majesty, Zifeng's mother entrusted him to me; if something were to happen to him in prison, how could I face his mother? I hope Your Majesty will have pity."

Ji Lianyu felt that she couldn't use the title "Princess of Zhennan," after all, the Prince of Zhennan was indeed not on good terms with the Imperial Court.

So she used maternal love as an argument, wanting to awaken the kindness in Li Chen's heart.

Since it had come to this, Li Chen felt it was about time, so he stood up and walked over.

Ji Lianyu's kneeling posture, combined with her full and plump figure, truly looked like a "cannon rack."

Li Chen surveyed her, came before her, crouched down, and used his hand to lift her smooth and tender chin.

Li Chen looked down at the somewhat bewildered beautiful woman and said: "Since you say so, then I will give Zifeng another chance. If he offends again next time, you must know the consequences."

After speaking, Li Chen also gave a squeeze to a soft part of her body, making her tremble all over.

Li Chen doing this was giving her a psychological hint.

At her age, she should know that if she has to come and beg Li Chen next time, it won't be as simple as just saying a few words.

As long as she can think this way, then she will be psychologically prepared when she comes next time.

When Li Chen proposes whatever demands he has then, she naturally won't find it too abrupt.

Strategy, after all, is something that comes slowly.

What's the fun in pressing down on a dead fish? Li Chen has ways to make her cooperate, or even take the initiative.

When had Ji Lianyu ever faced such light-handedness? Her heart was in chaos, and it was pounding wildly.

If it were someone else who had made a move, she would have already flared up.

But this was an Emperor with absolute power, and she had a request of him, so she could only endure it silently.

Hearing that Li Chen was willing to let Xu Zifeng go, Ji Lianyu still had to thank him.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your heavenly grace. This subject's wife will strictly discipline my nephew when I return, so that he will never offend again."

After Ji Lianyu finished speaking, she took her leave.

On the way out of the palace, her footsteps were somewhat hurried.

She had a premonition that she couldn't come again next time; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to escape those demonic claws.

Recalling Li Chen's squeeze just now, she trembled all over again.

The palace maid beside her asked if she was feeling unwell.

Ji Lianyu indicated she was fine and left the palace.

After she left, Li Chen ordered the eunuchs to have Lin Yue'e release the person, and to keep up the good work!

Not long after Ji Lianyu returned to the Prince of Zhennan's mansion, Xu Zifeng also swaggered back.

Today he felt he was quite unlucky; he was just completing his daily tasks when he ran into trouble.

But so what? He was just a constable holding the dog Emperor's token; I have my aunt covering for me, couldn't I still get out?

Without this token, you are nothing!

Just as Xu Zifeng was having his servants prepare a hangover soup, a figure appeared beside him.

"Come here, Aunt has something to say to you."

Xu Zifeng nodded and followed Ji Lianyu to the living room.

For some reason, today his aunt was exceptionally alluring, radiating a unique charm.

Just following behind her, her graceful silhouette made his heart yearn.

When Ji Lianyu turned around, he returned to his normal appearance.

Then he found a place to sit down and slightly "pressed his gun."

"Aunt, that was an accident..." Before he could explain, Ji Lianyu interrupted him.

"I know about your affairs, but recently Constable Lin has been strictly enforcing the law; can't you just endure it for a while? How many more times can the Emperor spare you?"

Ji Lianyu said earnestly.

In her view, this matter didn't have much to do with Li Chen; it was entirely because Lin Yue'e was strict in enforcing the law.

Lin Yue'e had only done what a constable should do; even if she hated Lin Yue'e in her heart, she didn't know how to bring it up.

"Fine, I know, I promise to be honest and behave myself recently; that should be enough, right?"

Xu Zifeng answered seriously this time, which made Ji Lianyu somewhat satisfied.

She only hoped that this nephew wouldn't get into trouble again; Xu Zifeng living well was more important than anything.

Because of her special status, Ji Lianyu had lived as a widow for so many years; it was hard to finally have a nephew she could take care of, and she radiated a bit of maternal love.

She was a person with a very strong desire to care for others, which was why she moved to the Prince of Zhennan's mansion.

This was also the main reason for Xu Zifeng's gradual psychological change.

!

"By the way, Aunt, how is the investigation going on the matter I troubled you with?"

Xu Zifeng was referring to troubling Ji Lianyu to investigate Li Chen's preferences, as well as his relationship with Lin Yue'e and the like.

Because he really had no way to deal with Lin Yue'e; he had investigated this woman, and aside from cultivating and working, she had no other hobbies.

If one had to say she had a hobby, boosting her "political performance" might be it.

But he couldn't just throw himself at her to be arrested every day because of that.

"I'm not too clear on that for the time being."

Ji Lianyu's answer was somewhat evasive.

I can't just say the Emperor is lecherous.

If you ask me why, do I have to tell you what he just did to me?

Moreover, the Empress Dowager had also hinted at this topic to her, because when she was chatting with the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager had jokingly mentioned that Li Chen was young and impulsive, and the harem was empty; if there were any good girls, she could introduce them.

Even if it was just a casual mention at the time, it was indeed intelligence.

Hearing this, Xu Zifeng pondered: "That's not easy to handle, but I heard the dog Emperor is going to hold a Spring Hunt in a while; I have to prepare in advance."

As the Prince of Zhennan, he was qualified to participate in such a ceremony as the Spring Hunt.

After all, he hadn't committed any major crimes, and his father hadn't rebelled yet.

"Don't do anything reckless; those who gather at that time are all the elites of the May Tian Ce Dynasty."

Ji Lianyu reminded him; as a woman mixing in the high-level circles of the Imperial Capital, she was very clear about these things.

"Aunt is overthinking; my father isn't ready yet, and I won't be foolish either. But I estimate that the Second Prince and Third Prince will make a move at this time; regardless of whether they succeed or fail, it has nothing to do with me. I just want to catch some dirt on them."

Xu Zifeng just liked this kind of behind-the-scenes operation, catching dirt on people everywhere.

In fact, Xu Zifeng was collecting the dark secrets of many people in the Imperial Capital.

Don't underestimate these; they might become his leverage when the time comes.

To handle this matter well, he even specially had someone go back to borrow a person from his father.

Ji Lianyu looked at Xu Zifeng, actually wanting to say something.

But she knew that Xu Zifeng was an ambitious person, and he wouldn't stop there.

The Prince of Zhennan had also been preparing for so many years, and the conflict with the Imperial Court had already begun to emerge.

So she could only stand firmly on Xu Zifeng's side and do what she could for him.

It was just that Li Chen's squeeze had indeed left her feeling it even now.

At the same time, in Li Chen's sleeping quarters.

After Ji Lianyu left, Li Chen had no heart to read books.

Today he had encountered two women who made him feel something.

Just as he was preparing to find Chu Ruoyan, Chu Ruoyan took the initiative to come.

Isn't that a coincidence?

The study door was gently pushed open, a soft fragrant breeze wafted in, and Imperial Consort Chu Ruoyan walked in slowly, carrying tribute tea.

She was wearing an elegant palace gown, the gown primarily in a simple and elegant blue, embroidered with exquisite golden patterns, which both highlighted her status and didn't lose her gentle and soft beauty.

Having just become an Imperial Consort, her temperament had already begun to change, and every gesture revealed a sense of dignity, making people feel more and more that she was noble and proper.

Chu Ruoyan's figure was tall and well-proportioned, simply a natural clothes hanger; no matter what she wore, she could display a different kind of charm.

Today's palace gown outlined her figure to the fullest, every curve just right.

What she didn't know was that Li Chen, seeing this, was already thinking about how it would feel if those long legs were wearing black silk stockings.

Seeing Li Chen reading at the table, Chu Ruoyan walked gently to his side and placed the tribute tea on the table, her movements gentle and elegant, as if fearing to disturb Li Chen's thoughts.

Subsequently, she sat gently beside Li Chen, a faint smile on her face; that smile came from the heart, because she was very happy to see Li Chen.

Having a foundation of affection indeed makes things more harmonious in the future.

The two of them were naturally together, without being overly wary of each other.

"Your Majesty, what book are you reading?" Chu Ruoyan handed over the tea and asked softly, her voice gentle and sweet.

This was a side of her she hadn't shown in front of others.

Li Chen looked up, glanced at her, took the tea, and a trace of doting flashed in his eyes: "Just a normal book from the collection; is there something you need?"

He felt that Chu Ruoyan was too easy to understand; that embarrassed expression on her face clearly meant she had something on her mind.

Hearing this, Chu Ruoyan leaned closer to Li Chen and said: "This subject's wife has come today with a request."

Li Chen's hand groped around while he asked: "Oh? What is it? Speak freely."

Chu Ruoyan gently bit her rosy lips, seeming somewhat hesitant, but finally gathered her courage and said: "This subject's wife's mansion is holding a family banquet tomorrow; I wonder if Your Majesty is free?"

Speaking to this point, a blush appeared on her face, as if she were a shy young girl.

Li Chen looked at her bashful appearance and said with a wicked smile: "Hehe, that depends on your performance tonight."

Chu Ruoyan patted her chest, indicating that she absolutely had no problem!

Two hours later, Chu Ruoyan lost consciousness again.

Next door, Li Sining propped up her chin, feeling very annoyed: "Again, really? Is this letting anyone sleep or not!"

(End of chapter)