Chapter 397: Gorgeous Superintendent Flirts Fiercely 20

After Emperor Qian Yong left, Brocade Splendor Pavilion, which already lacked vigor, instantly wilted even more.

He secretly glared at the meddlesome Jin Chen, but he was truly afraid of Xuan Che, so he could only hold his tongue.

But deep down he was still unhappy.

Originally, few people supported him, and Xuan Che kept taking them away on various pretexts—who would believe it wasn't intentional?

He was unhappy, but Xuan Che and Jin Chen were pleased.

Even the bad mood from being scolded earlier was gone.

【Detected Villain Blackening Value -10, total 65!】

Xuan Che glanced at the crowd, furrowed his brow slightly, and said, "Everyone, disperse. It's time for reunion—go home and be with your families."

"Yes."

The officials bowed, but aside from the Eldest Prince's faction, the others hurried away as fast as they could, fearing to incur the Superintendent's displeasure.

"As for the Eldest Prince, if you truly find him pitiable, you might as well personally accompany me to the Eastern Depot to bring him back safely."

Xuan Che again wore the same gloomy smile he had shown in the Interrogation Hall that day, a sight that frightened anyone who saw it; even mentioning that place made Brocade Splendor Pavilion tremble, and no one dared to enter it again.

He knew better than anyone whether his own life or that of a fifth‑rank official was more important.

Feeling humiliated and seeing Song Lian's dazed, almost foolish expression, he couldn't stay another second, and he left in a grand procession with his attending eunuchs and palace maids.

Xuan Che also found it boring, waved his hand, and had the secret guards take Song Lian to the Eastern Depot for a thorough interrogation.

At this point only Cui Chengping and Qi Yiqiu remained, not having left.

"Your Highness the Third, just now a servant‑like person came in to deliver a message, and only after hearing it did the Eldest Prince flare up and rush out."

Cui Chengping began to explain, aware of his own fault.

Jin Chen nodded. "Did you get a clear look at that person's appearance?"

Logically, if Brocade Splendor Pavilion had such highly concealed secret guards, given Zhang Yang's temperament, they wouldn't be hiding.

"No, it was Yiqiu who told me something felt off, and only then did I notice."

Qi Yiqiu nodded as well.

Cui Chengping lowered his head in shame, but then a thought struck him and he said, "Your Highness, it hasn't been long since you and the Superintendent left the main hall—did you happen to run into the Fifth Prince, who also left right after?"

"Jin Changyou?"

Jin Chen's tone turned sharp for a moment.

He couldn't help but recall his earlier suspicions about Jin Changyou.

Could it really be Jin Changyou?

【Host, I've confirmed that the power belonging to the System has disappeared, but it's probably not my mistake—this world still has a second System.】

Jin Chen's eyes flickered as he suddenly recalled the fleeting thought that had crossed his mind earlier in the Main Hall.

In the original plot, Jin Changyou hardly had any ambition to seize the throne; instead, he wholly relied on Brocade Splendor Pavilion, and even when the conflict between Brocade Splendor Pavilion and Xuan Che was at its fiercest, he never entertained the idea of breaking away to claim the throne for himself.

They claimed to be brothers bound by deep affection, but he half‑didn't believe it.

Then only one possibility remains……

Could Jin Changyou have known from the start that Brocade Splendor Pavilion is the world's male lead?

Perhaps his silence had lingered too long; Xuan Che shook his arm doubtfully and asked, "Your Highness, what are you thinking about?"

"I'm wondering whether everything that happened today might be related to Jin Changyou."

"Your Highness, don't worry—I'll send someone to investigate him."

Xuan Che had the two of them leave first, then took Jin Chen's hand and acted coquettishly.

"Whether that official was truly being manipulated or the mastermind behind it is Jin Changyou, Your Highness, you are not to think about it any further tonight."

"You said you would return to the Purple Imperial Palace to make mooncakes for me……"

His watery phoenix eyes gazed over, making Jin Chen's heart instantly soften.

"All right, I won't think about it anymore—let's go to the Purple Imperial Palace."

He smiled at the corner of his mouth, then, taking advantage of Xuan Che's momentary lapse, bent down and scooped him up in a horizontal embrace, his arms locked tight, eliciting a startled cry from the one in his arms.

"Your Highness——"

"Come on, tonight's time belongs entirely to our little seven."

Jin Chen laughed heartily twice and strode toward the Purple Imperial Palace.

Xuan Che couldn't help but be infected by his laughter, shyly burrowing into his embrace, his face like peach blossoms, his eyes flowing.

Yan An and Feng Zhu behind them exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads helplessly, and silently followed.

"Your Highness is truly awesome—just now you made our lord let go of his anger."

"Your Superintendent is no less impressive—Your Highness has never treated anyone this well before!"

The two chatted, unaware of the man hidden in the bushes behind the railing.

He covered his face with black gauze, only his eyes visible, which looked somewhat familiar as he stared straight toward the direction Jin Chen and the others had gone.

And the sight of Jin Chen laughing and joking while hugging Xuan Che.

His sinister gaze finally withdrew, and he headed off toward another place.

Likewise, he failed to notice the mysterious golden light that had appeared on his own body.

——

Purple Imperial Palace.

The palace maids and eunuchs, seeing the two masters return, hurried forward to pay their respects, and told Jin Chen that all the ingredients were ready, awaiting his arrival to begin cooking.

While speaking, hardly anyone lifted their heads, merely kneeling on the ground and answering; even so, seeing Jin Chen holding Xuan Che was enough to shock them.

"You may go rest now; tonight you need not attend to us."

Jin Chen's voice was light, "I went to Feng Zhu to get the extra Mid-Autumn monthly silver."

Thank you, Your Highness.

The palace attendants expressed their thanks again, then without lingering further, they kept silent and withdrew to the servants' quarters.

Your Highness, do you know what flavor I like?

Xuan Che still showed no intention of getting down from his embrace, his soft arms clinging tightly to Jin Chen's neck, exhaling like orchids.

Let me guess; if I guess correctly later, Xiao Qi likes to eat it, then I will have a reward.

His words made Xuan Che laugh in his embrace, he turned his face up and met him for a kiss, speaking softly, "I am really looking forward to it."

I don't even know whether what I'm looking forward to is the reward or the mooncake's flavor.

Jin Chen carried him into the main hall, where the furnace fire had already warmed up early, spreading warmth; Xuan Che accordingly took off his outer robe and placed it aside, then obediently sat on the couch waiting.

Wait for me.

Jin Chen stroked his wife's soft hair, then immediately went to the small kitchen at the side of the hall to prepare mooncakes.

As soon as he left, the warm, gentle smile on Xuan Che's face vanished.

"Come in." His voice was utterly cold.

"Sir."

One of the dark guards from earlier entered through the window and knelt on the ground.

How is the interrogation of Song Lian Shen going?

Xuan Che slowly sipped a mouthful of warm tea, then pulled up the brocade blanket that Jin Chen had placed over him.

That person seemed to have suddenly sobered up, then immediately started slapping his own mouth, hoping the supervisor would let him off, just drunken nonsense.

The dark guard paused, then said, "But in my view, Song Lian doesn't seem to have been drunk."

Xuan Che lifted his eyes.