Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 210 Reorganization of the Imperial City Guard

Early the next morning.

Wen Ruoxi didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky.

She opened her eyes and found that Lin Chen was already gone.

She sat up, feeling refreshed and in great spirits.

Turning to look at the jade carving, it remained as warm and lustrous as jade in the morning light.

"I hope this time it will work..." she whispered, touching her belly.

The maidservant came in to help her wash up. Seeing that she looked well, she smiled and said:

"The Fifth Madam looks very energetic today."

"Really?" Wen Ruoxi looked in the mirror and indeed, her complexion was rosy and her eyes were bright.

"It seems that jade carving is really useful," she thought happily.

After washing up, I went to the front hall for breakfast.

The other ladies were also present.

Liu Ruyan smiled as she saw her come in:

"Fifth Sister looks great today; she must have had a good night's rest last night."

Wen Ruoxi blushed: "Big sister, please don't tease me."

Chu Yueyao took her pulse and nodded:

"Your Qi and blood are much more balanced now. It seems you've calmed down. Keep it up, don't rush."

"Okay." Wen Ruoxi sat down and looked around. "Did my husband go to the Imperial City Guard?"

"Yes," Liu Ruyan said. "She left early this morning, saying she was going to reorganize the Imperial City Guard."

Qin Shuyan said softly, "My husband's inspection tour this time is likely to cause quite a stir."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Xiao Yulou scoffed.

"My husband always acts with discretion. He kills those who should be killed and punishes those who should be punished. It's just the right time to clean up the parasites of Dayan."

Ye Qingying nodded: "The Cui family of Jiangnan, the caravans of the Northwest, and the sects in various places... it's time to deal with them properly."

Murong Xue asked worriedly, "Won't it be dangerous for my husband to go alone?"

Su Xiaoxiao whispered, "With Senior Yuan Tiangang and the others with us, we should be fine, right?"

Lan Fenghuang said, "The prince has profound cultivation and many capable subordinates. He is generally not a threat, but... we still need to be careful."

Liu Ruyan looked at the group of women and smiled:

"Alright, you guys stop worrying about this."

Do we not know what kind of abilities our husband has?

Since he dared to go, he must be confident.

Let's stay home and not distract him.

The women nodded.

Wen Ruoxi suddenly said, "By the way, that jade carving... seems to actually be of some use."

"Oh?" Chu Yueyao became interested. "How did it feel?"

"It's just... I feel warm all over and very relaxed," Wen Ruoxi described.

"I slept really well last night, and I feel great this morning."

Chu Yueyao pondered: "Warm jade itself has a calming effect and can indeed help with sleep."

Fifth Sister, continue using it, but don't become too reliant on it.

"I know," Wen Ruoxi nodded. "I'm just giving it a try."

Xiao Yulou raised an eyebrow: "Fifth Sister, you don't actually worship it as a fertility goddess, do you?"

"Get lost!" Wen Ruoxi retorted, "I just display it for looks!"

The women burst into laughter.

……

The Imperial City Guard Office.

Lin Chen sat in the main seat, with Liu Zhenshan and three commanders standing below him.

"Your Highness, the Imperial City Guard currently has 3,200 elite cavalrymen, 32 centurions and 3 captains." Liu Zhenshan reported.

"This is the roster; please take a look, Your Highness."

Lin Chen took the roster and flipped through it casually.

"Are these people all clean-cut?"

Liu Zhenshan hesitated for a moment: "Most of them are clean, but... there are a few that have some connection with ministers in the court."

"Who?"

"Liu Neng, a centurion, is the nephew of the Minister of Personnel; Zhang Hu, a centurion, is the nephew of the Vice Minister of Revenue; and Zhou Biao, a chiliarch, is the nephew of the Minister of Justice."

Lin Chen closed the roster: "Have the three of them come to see me."

"Yes."

Liu Zhenshan hesitated and said, "Your Highness, you mean...?"

"Let's see if they're a good match," Lin Chen said calmly.

"The Imperial City Guard is His Majesty's sword; the hilt must be clean. If there's a problem, replace them as soon as possible."

"Understood."

After Liu Zhenshan withdrew, Lin Chen said to Yuan Tiangang:

"Old Yuan, have you thoroughly investigated the Cui family's background?"

"That's about it." Yuan Tiangang nodded.

"The Cui family's public businesses include 96 silk shops, 54 restaurants, 28 gambling dens, and 12 money shops."

Secretly, there are seven smuggling fleets dealing in salt and iron, five private mines, and... clandestine trade with Dongli, Beishuo, Nanyue, and the Western Regions.

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes: "You've got some nerve, aren't you? Colluding with the enemy?"

"The evidence is not yet complete," Yuan Tiangang said.

"But one thing is certain: the Cui family has connections with the Dongli Shadow Guards and the Beishuo Dark Spies."

"Continue the investigation," Lin Chen said with a cold laugh.

"Bring up any suspicion you have, and when we get to Jiangnan, we'll take care of this cancerous growth."

"Yes."

Just then, Liu Zhenshan entered with three other people.

Liu Neng was a lean young man with shifty eyes.

Zhang was burly with broad shoulders and a thick waist, and his face was full of fat.

Zhou Biao was a middle-aged man with a somber expression.

"Your humble servants Liu Neng (Zhang Hu, Zhou Biao) pay their respects to Your Highness." The three bowed.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, sizing them up.

"Liu Neng".

"Your humble servant is here."

"Is your uncle the Minister of Personnel?"

Liu Neng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

"How did he manage to get you into the Imperial City Guard?"

Liu Neng's expression changed slightly: "Your Highness, I entered this position based on my own merit..."

"Really?" Lin Chen smiled. "Last year, the Imperial City Guard was recruiting, requiring applicants to be at least at the early stage of the Grandmaster realm. What was your cultivation level back then?"

"I……"

"You were a third-grade martial artist back then," Lin Chen said calmly.

"What? You jumped from Rank 3 to early Grandmaster in just one year? What kind of magic pills did you take?"

Liu Neng broke out in a cold sweat.

"Zhang Hu." Lin Chen looked at the next one.

Zhang Hu quickly bowed: "Your Highness."

"Is your uncle the Vice Minister of Revenue?"

"Yes……"

"Last month, you lost 30,000 taels of gold at the gambling den in the south of the city. Who helped you pay it off?"

Zhang Hu's face turned deathly pale.

"Zhou Biao." Lin Chen looked at the commander one last time.

Zhou Biao clasped his hands in greeting: "Your Highness."

"Your uncle is the Minister of Justice?"

"Yes, but I entered the Imperial City Guard on my own merits, and everything was compliant!"

"Really?" Lin Chen smiled. "Then tell me, what are the duties of the Imperial City Guard?"

Zhou Biao replied without hesitation:

"To protect the capital, to monitor all officials, and to investigate and punish illegal activities."

"Well said." Lin Chen nodded. "Then tell me, how's the investigation going on the Zhang family massacre case in the south of the city last month?"

Zhou Biao's expression changed.

He didn't investigate that case at all.

Because Master Zhang had offended the Zhou family, he secretly suppressed the matter.

"Looks like they didn't check." Lin Chen stood up and walked to the three of them.

"Of the three of you, one got in through connections, one is burdened with gambling debts, and one is having an affair. What use are you to the Imperial City Guard?"

The three of them knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, please forgive me!"

"Forgive me?" Lin Chen sneered.

"The Imperial City Guard is His Majesty's sword. A sword must be clean and sharp. People like you are not worthy to wield this sword."

After saying that, he looked at Liu Zhenshan: "Commander Liu."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Liu Neng and Zhang Hu are dismissed from their posts and are under investigation. Zhou Biao... is demoted to centurion, but will be kept on probation. If he commits another offense, he will be dealt with accordingly."

"yes!"

The three men looked ashen-faced.

Liu Neng tried to plead, "Your Highness, my uncle..."

"If your uncle wants to save you, let him come find me," Lin Chen said coldly.

"I'd like to ask how the Minister of Personnel taught his nephew."

Liu Neng dared not speak.

After the three were taken away, Lin Chen said to Liu Zhenshan:

"You know how many people like this are inside the Imperial City Guard."

I'll give you three days to clean it up yourself.

I'll come back in three days. If there are still problems...

"You can forget about being the commander."

Liu Zhenshan broke out in a cold sweat: "Understood! I will definitely investigate thoroughly!"

"Go."

After Liu Zhenshan withdrew, Yuan Tiangang said:

"My lord, isn't this too hasty? The Imperial City Guard is rife with intricate internal conflicts; three days..."

"It has to be fast," Lin Chen said quietly.

"They're not afraid of being slowly boiled like frogs; we need to cut the Gordian knot and catch them off guard."

As she spoke, she walked to the window and looked at the street scene outside:

"Old Yuan, this murky water of Dayan has been stagnant for a thousand years. If we don't stir it up, we won't be able to see what's underneath."

"My lord wants to..."

"Reorganize the court, clean up the local areas, and purify the martial world." Lin Chen turned around, a fierce glint in his eyes.

"I need to clean up the house before I go to Zhongzhou, otherwise, it'll be a mess if things go wrong after I leave."

Yuan Tiangang nodded: "Your subordinate understands."

"Oh, right," Lin Chen suddenly remembered something, "Do you have any recent news about Dugu Qiubai?"

"Yes," Yuan Tiangang said. "After he recovered from his injuries, he went to the Sword Tomb in Zhongzhou."

"Sword Tomb?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "That place isn't easy to get into."

"The Sword Tomb Master, 'Sword Elder,' personally invited me," Yuan Tiangang said.

"It is said that Dugu Qiubai's sword intent is worthy of being left behind in the Sword Tomb."

"That's good." Lin Chen smiled. "Once Senior Dugu breaks through his cultivation level, our trip to Zhongzhou will be even more secure."

Just then, Lin Wu ran in:

"Your Highness! A messenger has arrived at the manor saying that the Eldest Princess has sent a message!"

Lin Chen accepted the invitation.

It was written by Zhao Mingyue herself, inviting him to her residence tomorrow to discuss wedding arrangements.

"Well, I'm busy again." Lin Chen put the invitation away.

"Return to the residence."