Chapter 384: Handsome Superintendent Flirts Ferociously 07

Xuan Che didn't mind either; he was just accompanying Jin Chen, so he waved his hand and went into the side hall to rest.

He never looked at Jin Chen again, as if he were offended.

Jin Chen was also silent, following him into the Imperial Study.

Inside the Imperial Study, the emperor in a bright yellow robe sat high beside the desk, lacking even a hint of imperial dignity, and the whole hall was filled with the strange smell rising from the incense burner.

Jin Chen found the smell unpleasant, frowned, and glanced at the continuously emitting Gold Beast Censer.

"I pay my respects, Father Emperor."

The three of them performed the salute together.

Emperor Qian Yong lifted his head from the desk, his hair white as frost, his face withered and decayed, wrinkles like ravines covering his face.

He gazed at his three grown sons, his murky eyes shifting twice, scanning each of their faces.

His expression seemed jealous, yet also proud.

He envied their youth, the vast stretch of time they could squander at will.

Proud… Emperor Qian Yong gave an ambiguous chuckle, took two azure-hued pills from the porcelain cup, and swallowed them.

According to the several Daoist priests, his body was about to undergo a metamorphosis; even if he died later, he would rank among the immortals!

The thing he had pursued all his life was about to come true; facing his three mortal sons, he inevitably appeared somewhat proud.

"You've all grown up… Xuan'er, I've seen you the most since you were little in the capital."

Emperor Qian Yong then turned to Jin Chen on his left, the son who looked the most handsome and graceful, and asked, "Are you… Chen'er?"

Jin Chen raised his hand in a bow, "Replying to Father Emperor, it is indeed your subject."

His tone lacked much respect, as if he were facing an ordinary elder.

Emperor Qian Yong didn't notice his coldness, merely shaking his head with feeling, "You resemble your mother consort—so radiant that wherever you stand in a crowd, other women pale in comparison."

In old age he liked to reminisce; Emperor Qian Yong recalled those past times, finding them hard to let go of.

Jin Chen tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit sarcastic.

In his previous life, his mother consort was forcibly taken into the palace by Emperor Qian Yong during a tour; though she had already fallen in love with someone else, he ruthlessly tore apart their bond, and she eventually gave birth to the Third Imperial Prince.

In the end she could not withstand the palace intrigues, and her life was taken by a cup of poisoned wine.

Emperor Qian Yong merely overlooked this, giving no compensation to her natal family.

"Then this must be You'er."

Emperor Qian Yong then glanced at the low‑presence Jin Changyou, but paid him little heed.

"Yes, Father Emperor, after decades apart, I, your subject, have thought of you day and night."

These words not only failed to arouse Emperor Qian Yong's pity, but made him feel that Jin Changyou was blaming him.

Emperor Qian Yong's face darkened, and he did not respond.

Instead, Jin Huaxuan deflected the tension, steering the controversy toward Jin Chen.

"I beg to report, Father Emperor, you just said the Third Imperial Younger Brother resembles the late Noble Consort Snow; I recall that, out of concern, I once inquired about him and heard that the Third Imperial Younger Brother, enamored of music, chess, calligraphy and painting at his Jiangnan mansion, had also indulged in the pleasures of wind, flowers, snow and moon."

"Upon reflection, it is indeed true that he inherits the lineage of Noble Consort Snow."

Jin Huaxuan said this, adopting the airs of the eldest brother, seemingly to mediate: "Just you, Third Imperial Younger Brother, being still young, you shouldn't overly indulge in these things."

The implication of his words, inside and out, was entirely that Jin Chen, in Jiangnan, completely lacked the self‑awareness of a prince and loitered in pleasure quarters.

Jin Chen gave an oh, his wife not being by his side, he had no wish to pretend, and immediately retorted, "Elder Imperial Brother, how do you know so much about amorous affairs? Could it be because you've long been involved in them?"

"Being devoted to music, chess, calligraphy and painting is true, but frequenting pleasure quarters never happened; if Elder Imperial Brother has no evidence, it's better not to speak baselessly before Father Emperor."

"You!"

Jin Huaxuan was somewhat shocked, never expecting this Third Imperial Younger Brother to be so articulate.

The secret agents' earlier intel hadn't said that Jin Chen was just a good‑for‑nothing who only knew how to compose poetry and couplets!

"What nonsense, Third Imperial Younger Brother—don't lose decorum before the hall." He said through gritted teeth.

"You don't understand the Jin language—why are you asking me?"

Jin Chen remained prickly all over.

This instead provoked Emperor Qian Yong to glance at him again.

"Xuan'er, don't cause trouble—you and your two brothers haven't seen each other in decades; how could you start arguing the moment you meet?"

That actually sounded quite plausible.

Jin Chen secretly rolled his eyes.

Perhaps having no topic to discuss and wanting to show his fatherly affection, Emperor Qian Yong casually asked a few questions, all of them trivial.

Just as he was chatting animatedly, the hall's outer door suddenly burst open, without anyone's summons or consent, and Xuan Che strode straight inside.

At this moment he had changed his clothes; the East Factory's unique gold‑trimmed black flying‑fish robe made his figure appear even taller and slimmer, his handsome, feminine face full of coldness, with no trace of the earlier gentleness toward Jin Chen, and the dragon‑patterned jade pendant hanging at his waist had been replaced by a larger, more translucent one, especially conspicuous.

Xuan Che also didn't look at Jin Chen, walking straight to the front and making a slight bow to Emperor Qian Yong.

"I beg to report, Your Majesty, I have a matter to present."

"It's Xuan Che…"

Emperor Qian Yong's expression was as usual, showing no anger or dissatisfaction at the interruption, "Speak, what is it?"

"I, having been ordered to go to Jiangnan not long ago, was to bring back the Third Imperial Prince who had grown up among the commoners, so that you and he could be reunited as father and son; I never expected to encounter bandits on the road."

Xuan Che actually came straight to file a complaint!

Jin Huaxuan started, his expression immediately looking off.

What on earth is this? Previously, when we faced each other, we always tacitly settled things in secret, didn't we!

"Oh? Have you been injured?"

Emperor Qian Yong glanced at Xuan Che, his tone showing little concern, as if merely making a routine inquiry.

"Thanks to the Third Imperial Prince's wisdom and courage, who spotted the bandits' oddity, I managed to preserve my life."

When he said this, Xuan Che turned, again bowing his head and clasping his hands toward Jin Chen, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Jin Chen: "……"

He couldn't quite keep up with his wife's pace; what game is he playing now?

After all, the old emperor was still watching, so he didn't dare act openly; he just gave Xuan Che a slight smile, his eyes filled with gentleness, yet still retaining a hint of awkwardness.

Xuan Che's mood visibly improved.

"However, after my investigation, I found that the mountain bandits who ambushed the road were actually assassins sent by someone, which is truly chilling."

Looking at him like that, he must have already confirmed who sent the assassins.

Emperor Qian Yong then followed his line of questioning, asking, "And who did you find out it was?"

He asked offhandedly, as if leaving it to Xuan Che to handle.

Who would have thought Xuan Che would say the next second, "It was the Eldest Imperial Prince, Your Highness."

Clang—

The lid of the porcelain cup in Emperor Qian Yong's hand fell onto the table.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, looking at Jin Hua Xuan, who was already covered in cold sweat.

"Oh? Is this true?"

"I have not uttered a single false word."

Jin Chen also timely cooperated, making an expression of disbelief.