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

Chapter 196 Yagyu Yuki's Complex Feelings

Dongli Kingdom Post Station.

Liu Shengxue sat in front of the dressing table, holding a wooden comb in her hand, combing her long hair one stroke at a time.

The person in the mirror has delicate features, but there is a faint bluish tint under their eyes.

The maid entered with small steps, lowering her voice:

"Princess, we have found out that last night the Prince of Zhenbei sent the Great Snow Dragon Riders to guard the area. There are at least thirty sentries, both overt and covert, outside the post station."

Liu Shengxue paused in combing her hair.

"He's quite considerate."

The voice was very soft, and no emotion could be discerned.

The maid hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Also... there was a lot of commotion in the city last night. I heard that a lot of people were arrested and killed."

The Cui family's affiliated businesses, the shops of Nan Yue, the spies of Bei Shuo, several merchant caravans from the Western Regions, and even the Ghost Market in Xicheng have all run into trouble.

Liu Shengxue remained silent for a while.

Where are our people?

"Eighty percent of our spies have been lost, but the post station is unharmed!" the maidservant hurriedly reported.

"As the princess instructed, the doors were locked at dusk, and no one was allowed to leave."

"Um."

Liu Shengxue put down the comb and looked at herself in the mirror.

She recalled that day at the Prince's mansion, when Lin Chen smiled and said to her:

"Princess Yagyu is a smart woman; a smart woman knows what to do."

Yes.

she knows.

So she's sitting here now, behaving herself as a guest.

Do not inquire, do not spy, and do not do anything that might cause misunderstanding.

But in my heart...

It's a bit complicated.

"Princess?" the maid whispered.

Liu Shengxue snapped out of her daze: "Let's change. We're not going out today..."

"Yes."

……

Lin Chen didn't get dressed and get up until the sun was high in the sky.

He fastened his belt and glanced at the bed.

Murong Xue was so tired that she fell asleep, curled up in the quilt, with only half of her face showing.

She was breathing evenly, with a faint smile on her lips, sound asleep.

Lin Chen tucked the blanket around her.

Then he bent down and kissed her forehead before turning around and tiptoeing out of the room.

Outside the door, several maids were sweeping the courtyard. When they saw Lin Chen come out, they quickly curtsied.

"Your Highness."

"Hmm." Lin Chen stretched. "Seventh Madam is asleep. Don't disturb her. Keep breakfast warm and bring it to her when she wakes up."

"Yes."

Lin Chen walked leisurely towards the study with his hands behind his back.

The servants they encountered along the way all bowed their heads and stepped aside, showing utmost respect.

Those who dared to peek secretly saw Lin Chen with a smile on his lips, looking like he was in a very good mood.

Also.

Last night's purge was a massive operation; those who needed to be arrested were arrested, and those who needed to be killed were killed. The strongholds of the Central Plains Demonic Cult in the capital were completely eradicated.

Who wouldn't be in a bad mood?

But Lin Chen had more to think about than just that.

As he walked, he pondered what to do next.

There will definitely be a reaction from Zhongzhou.

Those sects have lost so much face and so many people have died. If they don't say a word, they're doomed.

The question is, how will they retaliate?

Should we send a top expert directly?

Unlikely.

Land deities are not common cabbages, but those below the level of land deities are like vegetables being given away.

As for ancient monsters as celestial beings, they generally don't make a move easily.

Besides the dramatic changes in the world, they also didn't know how much power Lin Chen was hiding.

That means all that's left is to cause trouble elsewhere.

The frontier? To the east, to the north, or...?

Lin Chen paused, his eyes narrowing.

Should we start with the Cui family?

The Cui family hates him the most, and they are also entangled with the Netherworld Sect.

Thinking of this, Lin Chen's lips curled up slightly, his eyes full of amusement!

Since I'm just idling around anyway, I might as well find something to do to make life more interesting.

Let's see what they're up to next.

The longer the time goes on, the stronger his trump cards become.

Not long after, the system's first annual sign-up was announced.

He was eager to see where the system's potential lay!

……

In the study.

Lin Chen casually sat down in the main seat.

"So, how did it go last night?"

Yuan Tiangang handed a stack of letters to Lin Chen and said:

"Details are recorded here."

In short, all the overt and covert strongholds of the various demonic factions in the capital city of Zhongzhou were eliminated.

Eighty-seven spies from Dongli, Nanyue, Beishuo, and Xiyu were captured.

Thirty-nine people were purged from the Cui family's vassals.

In addition, several other Jianghu gangs that had ties to the demonic path and committed numerous evil deeds were also dealt with...

Lin Chen glanced at the letter in his hand, but instead of opening it immediately, he asked:

"What's the current situation at the Imperial Prison?"

"It's full," Yuan Tiangang replied.

"Liu Zhenshan said this morning that a batch of people need to be beheaded by noon, otherwise there won't be enough room."

"Then execute him." Lin Chen waved his hand.

"Act according to the law: kill those who deserve to be killed, imprison those who deserve to be imprisoned, and exile those who deserve to be exiled, but..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "After the execution, hang the head on the city wall for three days so that everyone can see it."

"Yes."

Yuan Tiangang agreed, then said, "My lord, what about the Central Plains..."

"I know," Lin Chen smiled. "They definitely won't let this go. What are your thoughts?"

Yuan Tiangang pondered for a moment and said:

"In my opinion, there are only two ways for the various sects in Zhongzhou to save face."

First, we should take a direct approach and send our best fighters to challenge them head-on.

Second, they will operate covertly, continuing their infiltration, bribery, and sabotage.

Which possibility do you think is more likely?

"They're more likely to do it covertly," Yuan Tiangang analyzed.

"A direct confrontation is too risky. With Guan Yu's peak cultivation as a terrestrial immortal, plus Li Bai, the power our royal mansion has exposed is no less than that of an ordinary first-class sect in Zhongzhou."

This is only what's visible on the surface. They haven't yet figured out all our strength, so they certainly won't make a move easily.

Although there are ancient monsters of the Celestial Immortal level in Zhongzhou, such figures generally do not make a move easily.

Even if we kill so many of them, it won't make them feel uneasy.

So, all that's left is to go in the dark.

After all, we only cleansed the capital, Dayan, and the Eastern Region; there are still many forces that they can infiltrate and exploit…”

Lin Chen nodded: "That's about what I thought."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the increasingly lively courtyard of the Prince's Mansion outside.

"Mr. Yuan," Lin Chen said softly.

"Who do you think the sects of Central Continent hate the most right now?"

Yuan Tiangang was taken aback: "Of course it's you, my lord."

"That's not right." Lin Chen chuckled lightly.

"What they hate most is the person who used them as pawns and then watched from behind the scenes."

Yuan Tiangang's eyes lit up: "Your Highness is referring to the Netherworld Sect?"

"Not bad!" Lin Chen walked back to the table, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface.

"Send someone to investigate whether the Cui family has been acting strangely lately, how much contact they've had with strangers, and who those strangers are. Find out everything!"

"Understood."

"Furthermore," Lin Chen thought for a moment and continued:

"Check all the garrison commanders on the border, especially those who don't get along with us."

If someone suddenly becomes extravagant, or if unidentified guests come to your house... you know what to do.

"yes!"

Yuan Tiangang accepted the order and was about to leave when Lin Chen called him back.

"By the way, about Lan Fenghuang," Lin Chen stroked his chin.

"Keep an eye on things. I'll give you the trust you deserve, and you also need to be wary of what needs to be guarded against."

Yuan Tiangang understood: "I will arrange for someone to do this."

"Go."

Yuan Tiangang left the study.

Lin Chen sat there alone, his fingers continuing to tap the table, once, twice.

He was thinking of Lan Fenghuang.

That woman pretended to be calm last night, but her ears were actually as red as hell.

As she left, she gave him a flirtatious wink, but it was so stiff, and she still tried to act all sophisticated.

interesting.

However, Murong Xue is right; Lan Fenghuang is indeed lonely in the capital.

If we could really subdue them...

Lin Chen's lips curled up slightly. He would have to test its quality properly that night!

After making up his mind, Lin Chen opened the letter left by Yuan Tiangang and turned the pages one by one.

The more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.

"Good heavens, if there are so many spies hidden in the capital alone, how many must there be throughout the whole country?"

It seems this purge is far from over.

But in no hurry.

He has plenty of time to play!

Besides, this is something the Empress needs to worry about, so he shouldn't meddle!