Chapter 387: The Handsome Superintendent

Jin Huaxuan knew this was for his own eyes; even though he had braced himself, seeing Xuan Che wield the iron-toothed comb like a potato peeler, scraping flesh from the assassin's face to neck, left him speechless.

Perhaps it was this pain that woke the assassin; he struggled to open his eyes, feeling his cheek go numb as a piercing pain spread from his flesh to his limbs.

His twisted face writhed as he tried to escape the deadly weapon at his throat, but he couldn't move an inch, only able to watch as his flesh was scraped off and fell to the ground.

Until the cheekbone was exposed.

The assassin didn't know what drug he had been given; this pain and torment couldn't make him faint, as if he would forever have to watch himself be humiliated, even though the pain pierced his heart.

Xuan Che tossed the iron-toothed comb aside, turned, and the servant had already brought an iron basin filled with the finest flower petals, perfect for washing away the bloody smell.

"Your Highness, the Eldest Prince, do you think this trick of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys works?"

After washing his hands, he took the silk cloth and carefully dried them, giving Jin Huaxuan a half‑smile as the latter broke out in cold sweat.

"Superintendent, rest assured—I will never oppose you again."

Jin Huaxuan's words were really somewhat insincere.

But right now he had no choice; otherwise, if he angered this lunatic, he might be the one tied up and tortured later.

"In that case, I'll take note, and I hope the Eldest Prince remembers what he said today."

Xuan Che sat back down, gestured toward the door, and said, "Your Highness, the Eldest Prince, please leave."

Jin Huaxuan rose and left at the fastest speed of his life, feeling uneasy even staying another second.

The outside rumors were indeed correct.

The Chief Inspector of the East Factory, Xuan Che, is a complete lunatic!

"Superintendent, should we prepare something for the welcome banquet in seven days?"

Yan An saw he was finished, walked over respectfully, and asked.

Both understood the meaning: the welcome banquet was to introduce the three princes to the civil and military officials, making it easier for them to pick sides later.

But now ninety percent of the court officials are Xuan Che's people; the rest are a few stubborn old veterans from previous dynasties who won't budge either way. Seeing that they truly mean well for the realm, Xuan Che doesn't press them further.

But now that the legitimate prince has returned, those old veterans will surely be the first to consider candidates for the emperor.

This is truly disadvantageous for Xuan Che's control of the court.

"This matter… let's discuss it later."

Xuan Che didn't answer right away, paused, then said, "Spread the word—the East Factory already has a candidate for heir."

Yan An was startled; the image of the Superintendent and the Third Prince's interaction during those days of rushing came to mind—what exactly had they not said much about?

"Here."

He bowed his head, stepped back a few paces, and left the interrogation hall.

In the quiet room at that moment, only the crackling of flames and the drip of blood falling to the floor remained.

Xuan Che coldly looked at the assassin before him, already at death's door but still conscious from the drug, his gaze icy to the extreme; he casually picked up a dagger and stabbed it into the heart, watching the assassin breathe his last.

He sat alone in the interrogation hall a while longer, feeling a chill, then rose and left.

——

Everyone in Ziyu Palace was arranged by Xuan Che; they were certainly not ordinary eunuchs and maids of the Imperial Household Department.

Jin Chen realized this while having lunch; the palace maids and eunuchs on duty had firm steps, showing no weakness of those untrained in martial arts.

He blinked, took another bite, and only then realized he was being indirectly monitored by his wife—every move was under her control.

Stimulating.

Just the feeling that in this world, his wife seemed not to need his saving.

In his previous life he committed suicide because he lacked the Mandated Emperor Star and had grown disillusioned with the realm of Jin; but if in this life he truly is the so‑called Emperor Star, then merely obeying and acting as a puppet emperor would already change the tragic ending.

While eating and letting his imagination run wild, Jin Chen suddenly saw the palace maids and eunuchs kneeling in a black mass; he turned his head to look.

"Are you done?"

The visitor was none other than Xuan Che.

He changed from the cold, ruthless demeanor he had in the interrogation hall; a smile returned to his face, full of charm.

"Yes, I hurried over—Your Highness, have you rested well?"

Jin Chen reached out, pulled him onto his lap, and was about to answer when a strong bloody smell hit his nose.

He met Xuan Che's smiling phoenix eyes.

Great—while I was sleeping, my wife even found time to kill someone?

"You… reek." Jin Chen pursed his lips. "What did you just go do?"

Smelly?

Xuan Che frowned, lowered his head to sniff, and only smelled blood—nothing else.

Could it be that Jin Chen is that sensitive to the smell of blood?

"Your Highness, are you despising your servant?"

He feigned sorrow, covering his face with his sleeve.

"How dare I despise you," seeing him still not answer, Jin Chen gave up, slowly scooped a bowl of soup, and brought the spoon to his lips.

"Have you had lunch?"

Xuan Che lowered his head and drank, his smile growing even wider.

"Not yet—I remembered Your Highness's orders, so as soon as I finished I hurried over to see you."

He raised his sleeve, wanting to wrap it around Jin Chen's neck, and the bloodstain on the cuff flashed clearly before both of them.

Jin Chen glanced, then shifted his gaze to his face.

"Should I pretend not to see it now?"

Xuan Che: "……"

He gave a glance to the people behind Jin Chen; the palace maids and eunuchs, seeing it, hurried out one after another, leaving the space for the two of them.

Why drive everyone out? Jin Chen didn't quite understand.

Isn't it just that you want to be alone with Your Highness?

He leaned against Jin Chen, his dexterous hands unfastening the blood-stained flying fish robe outer garment, casually tossing it to the ground; inside he wore only a thin crimson long robe, perhaps feeling a bit cold, he burrowed further into Jin Chen's embrace.

"I just went and killed someone." Xuan Che, drinking soup, suddenly said.

Jin Chen showed no reaction, "Hn." and fed the person in his arms a bite to eat.

Your Highness, aren't you going to ask who I killed?

The assassin left over from that day? Jin Chen didn't know who else either, so he answered casually.

Who would have thought Xuan Che laughed in his embrace, chin resting softly on his shoulder, "Your Highness truly clever—that's him indeed. Do you want to know what method I used, Your Highness?"

He probed step by step, showing Jin Chen his most ruthless side; each step he had to see whether Jin Chen could accept it.

We're eating—why say things that ruin the appetite?

Jin Chen said he didn't really want to hear, and stuffed food into the person in his arms' mouth.

I'm just afraid that, Your Highness, if you ever learn I'm ruthless, you'll go favor someone else.

Xuan Che's face showed a growing look of hurt; his ink-colored phoenix eyes were suffused with a faint red.

Jin Chen realized that whenever he acted and acted coquettishly, his way of referring to himself would automatically shift, never failing.