Chapter 389: The Gorgeous Inspector General's Intense Flirtation 12

Jin Chen had just returned to the Purple Imperial Palace when he spotted a bird resembling a carrier pigeon circling above the palace hall, mingling with other sparrows, making it hard to notice.

This was the carrier pigeon from his Jiangnan residence.

Probably his maternal family had news to send.

But Jin Chen hadn't forgotten that this palace was full of Xuan Che's spies.

He didn't yet know why his maternal family had suddenly sought him, but it was still best not to be discovered by him.

Jin Chen would absolutely not admit that there was any element of spite involved.

He pretended to say he needed some quiet, sent away the palace maids and eunuchs in the courtyard, then reached out toward the pigeon in the air.

The summoned pigeon promptly swooped down and landed steadily in Jin Chen's palm.

Jin Chen took the letter off.

Sure enough, it was a letter from his maternal grandfather.

The letter said, knowing that Jin Chen lacked a powerful maternal clan to rely on and would surely be looked down upon in the palace, his maternal grandfather had contacted his former colleagues and friends—namely, the current second-rank Minister of Personnel, Cui Yu.

He had served in office for several decades, a veteran of two dynasties, having once received favors from the maternal clan, so he was quite willing to lend Jin Chen a hand, but only on the condition that he first examine whether Jin Chen understood the way of being an emperor.

Therefore, after Jin Chen saw this letter, he was to leave the palace immediately for the Cui residence, and must pass Cui Yu's inspection in order to have supporters at court.

After reading it, Jin Chen destroyed the letter, leaving no trace.

How is everyone letting him become emperor?

Jin Chen placed the bouquet on the stone table and decided to go anyway.

Since he had made up his mind to vie for that position, he still needed to cultivate trusted aides.

The post of Minister of Personnel is the highest official he can currently access directly, not yet controlled by the East Factory.

He rose, returned to his chambers to change clothes, and let no one follow him.

【0731, Feng Zhu, where have they gone?】

A few days ago, Jin Chen asked the emperor to let Feng Zhu come to the capital; likely out of respect for Xuan Che, Emperor Qian Yong quickly agreed, but specially ordered that no more than three people could come.

【They're almost at the capital; I estimate you'll see him when you return to the palace today.】

Not long after Jin Chen left the Purple Imperial Palace, a little eunuch followed his direction, saw he was leaving the palace, and hurried to the East Factory to inform Xuan Che.

——

Too lazy to walk and without a carriage, Jin Chen once again chose to use Spiritual Power.

He blocked 0731's noisy protests and, using the art of shrinking the earth to an inch, arrived at the Cui Manor mentioned in the letter.

"The Third Prince has arrived——"

After welcoming him inside, a servant immediately shouted inward.

Soon after, Jin Chen was led to the main hall.

Cui Yu seemed to have expected his return, as the tea was already prepared.

"Subject Cui Yu greets the Third Prince."

He wore ordinary attire, simple and unadorned, his graying hair neatly bound, giving him a stern yet righteous aura.

"Please get up, Grandfather Cui; today I'm the one visiting you—there's no need for you to perform the ceremony."

Jin Chen helped him up and performed a respectful student's bow.

Cui Yu's stern face softened a bit.

As Elder Brother said in the letter, this Third Prince truly understands propriety and is not arrogant—unlike that Eldest Prince who shows up every few days, practically begging the whole Cui family to support him, which would be far better.

"Please have a seat, Your Highness."

Cui Yu gestured for him to take the main seat, without excess preamble, and cut straight to the point.

"I suppose Your Highness also received the letter from your maternal grandfather."

"Exactly, so I have come specially to trouble you, Grandfather Cui, and hope you can offer a bit of guidance."

"Now the entire Jin State is firmly gripped in the palm of the East Factory's Chief Inspector Xuan Che—how does Your Highness view this?"

Cui Yu didn't rush to lecture on the way of being a ruler, but first asked this seemingly odd question.

But Jin Chen knew that his answer to this question was very important.

In the original plot, although Cui Yu wasn't controlled by the East Factory, as an official of two dynasties he could naturally see that although Xuan Che was ruthless, he truly acted for the good of the Jin State's realm.

Therefore he did not, like others, bear a deep hatred for Xuan Che; he merely wanted to keep the throne in the hands of the Jin family.

This is also why Jin Chen came to see Cui Yu today; if he were someone intending to impeach Xuan Che, even with a good relationship to his maternal grandfather, it wouldn't be worth Jin Chen's visit.

"I believe that although Inspector General is a bit ruthless, his actions are not fundamentally wrong."

"Although my father emperor is indifferent to governance, a state cannot go a day without a ruler; the Inspector General's methods are formidable, skilled in the art of reading hearts, balancing kindness and authority, preventing the Jin State's realm from collapsing into utter ruin."

"But… the Inspector General's methods are simply too vicious, causing others to avoid and fear him immensely, which is not the way of a ruler."

This was the first time Cui Yu had heard praise for Xuan Che from a member of the Jin family, and he couldn't help but feel surprised and relieved.

Just this single question, he had also asked the Eldest Prince, but the answer was always that if Xuan Che did not die, the Jin State's foundations would not be stable.

Jin Chen's answer was not pure praise either, which pleased Cui Yu greatly.

"Your Highness answered well, but there is one point I think you should know."

Cui Yu's original intention was to have Jin Chen grasp Xuan Che's leverage, so that he wouldn't thereafter be led by the nose.

"The Inspector General was also kind-hearted in his youth; it was only after falling into a villain's scheme, letting cold poison enter his body and causing unbearable pain, that his temperament changed drastically and his methods shifted accordingly."

"What?" Jin Chen suddenly clenched his fists, recalling Xuan Che's abnormal body temperature in his mind.

"No wonder… it turns out to be because of the cold poison."

"Yet the original plot never mentioned it at all."

"To avoid arousing Cui Yu's suspicion, Jin Chen eased his expression: 'How could this be? Grandfather Cui, do you know who the culprit is?'"

"The eunuch who administered the poison has already been executed, but the true mastermind is probably known only to Xuan Che himself."

「I told Your Highness about this matter also to let Your Highness have a leverage in hand; future actions will also be much more convenient. 」

Cui Yu took a sip of tea; his tone had already completely turned gentle, treating Jin Chen as a junior.

「However, what Your Highness just said is still not quite right; governing is like a chess game, emphasizing the art of checks and balances. Even if the Emperor reigns, he must also let the court officials each have their own achievements and rival families, not simply concentrate power in his hands. 」

「"What Grandfather Cui said is that I still have much to learn," Jin Chen was very humble. 」

「"If Your Highness can correct mistakes without grudge and follow goodness like water, this old minister also feels pleased in heart; from now on, the Cui family… will advance and retreat together with Your Highness. 」

Cui Yu stroked his white beard and nodded at Jin Chen.

Both of them understood the meaning of those words.

「"My grandson Chengping is about the same age as Your Highness; from now on he should interact more. 」

Cui Yu beckoned to the outer court, and Cui Chengping walked in, wearing a blue robe, the very picture of a graceful young gentleman.

He understood his grandfather's meaning; from now on he would stand on the Third Prince's side.

「"I've heard the market is very lively today; why don't Your Highness and I go together for a stroll? 」

Jin Chen revealed a meaningful smile.

This deep‑affection second male lead from the original plot probably wants to go to the market to "accidentally meet" the protagonist Shou Qi Yiqiu.

If he could break up the marriage bond of Jin Hua Xuan, he would be quite pleased.

「"Good, this palace happens to be very bored today. 」