The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 295: Seen by the Big Brother

In the imperial study, Chai Zhen was bent over his desk, reviewing memorials, candlelight illuminating his focused face. Cen Jiexiao gently knocked on the door, three gentle taps—the signal they had agreed upon beforehand.

"Come in." Chai Zhen's voice was low and steady.

Cen Jiexiao pushed the door open and closed it behind her. Then she quickly walked up to Chai Zhen and bowed, "Your Majesty, I have followed your instructions and gained the trust of Concubine Shu."

Chai Zhen put down the memorial in his hand, raised his head, and his eyes fell on Cen Jiexiao with a hint of admiration: "My dear, you are indeed very intelligent. I was not wrong about you." There was a hint of amusement in his tone, as if he was very satisfied with Cen Jiexiao's performance.

Sister Cen Xiao smiled sweetly and said modestly, "This humble servant is only trying to do his bit. Your Majesty, what should we do next?"

Chai Zhen stood up, walked to the window, pointed at the bright moon outside, and said slowly: "This harem is like the night sky, seemingly calm, but in fact, undercurrents are surging."

He paused, his tone becoming firm, "I will sweep away the dark clouds in the night sky!"

Cen Jiexiao walked to Chai Zhen's side and stood quietly beside him, feeling the warmth and strength emanating from him, her heart filled with a sense of security.

Perhaps, following this man who would one day wield immense power was her best choice... She raised her head and gazed at Chai Zhen's profile, her eyes filled with admiration and love. The moonlight shone on his face, making him look even more handsome and extraordinary.

Chai Zhen turned around and looked at Cen Jiexiao, with a hint of tenderness in his eyes: "My dear, you have worked hard." He gently patted Cen Jiexiao's shoulder to show encouragement.

Cen Jiexiao smiled slightly and said softly, "It is my honor to be able to share the emperor's worries."

Chai Zhen's eyes were deep, as if he could see through everything: "I believe that you will not let me down."

Cen Jiexiao nodded firmly, indicating that she would do her best.

Chai Zhen looked out the window again. The night sky was dotted with stars, like gems dotted on a black curtain, sparkling with charming light.

"The struggle in the harem is like the stars in the sky. It seems chaotic, but in fact, each has its place." Chai Zhen's voice is low and magnetic.

"What I want to do is to rearrange these stars and make them serve me."

Cen Jiexiao listened quietly, her admiration for Chai Zhen deepening. She knew this man possessed immense talent and ambition, destined for great success. And she was willing to follow him and help him ascend to the pinnacle of power.

Cen Jiexiao's gaze, drawn to her like a magnet, remained fixed on Chai Zhen. Tenderness and affection gleamed in her eyes, as if she wanted to imprint his handsome figure deeply into her mind. She parted her lips slightly, about to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.

"Knock knock knock..."

The knock on the door was crisp and rapid, breaking the originally warm and ambiguous atmosphere in the imperial study.

A eunuch's shrill voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Inspector Chen requests an audience."

The tenderness in Chai Zhen's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by the imperial majesty and indifference. He took a deep breath, smoothed the ripples in his heart, and slowly turned to face the door of the imperial study.

But he did not immediately summon Chen Zigui to the emperor.

He deliberately reached out and gently held Sister Cen Xiao's soft, boneless little hand.

Cen Jiexiao was slightly startled, feeling the warmth from Chai Zhen's palm, with mixed emotions in her heart.

His hands were broad and warm, with a hint of unquestionable dominance.

This sudden action made her a little overwhelmed.

She could feel the warmth of Chai Zhen's palm and the gentle caress of his fingertips.

This intimate gesture made her feel both sweet and nervous.

The sweet thing is that she felt Chai Zhen's care and pampering for her.

What worried her was that she didn't know what Chai Zhen's intention was.

Was he expressing his love for her, or was he simply asserting his authority over Chen Zigui?

She wasn't sure.

She could only feel it all silently and let Chai Zhen hold her hand.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

In the imperial study, only the two people's shallow breathing and heartbeats could be heard.

"Xuan."

Shai Zhen finally spoke.

His voice was deep and powerful, with a hint of unquestionable majesty.

Cen Jiexiao calmly withdrew her hand, silently stepped aside, lowered her eyes, as if the ambiguous scene just now had never happened.

She tried hard to control her emotions and not let any flaws show on her face.

Chen Zigui walked into the imperial study and bowed to Chai Zhen, saying, "I pay my respects to the Emperor."

His eyes swept over Cen Jiexiao with a complicated look, and seeing her intimate behavior with Chai Zhen just now, an indescribable bitterness welled up in his heart.

He tried hard to control himself and not let his emotions show.

Cen Jiexiao pretended not to notice Chen Zigui's gaze, still keeping her head down and fiddling with the jade pendant around her waist.

Her fingers gently stroked the smooth surface of the jade pendant, trying to relieve her inner tension and anxiety in this way.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Yan has arrived safely in Yanzhou." Chen Zigui's voice was steady, yet a faint tremor could hardly be concealed, as he struggled to contain the turmoil within him. He stole a glance at Cen Jiexiao, only to find her listening with eyes downcast, her face expressionless. His heart sank even more. He knew that Cen Jiexiao held a special bond with the Prince of Yan, and now that he had traveled so far to Yanzhou, she must be deeply worried.

Chai Zhen nodded, and his slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a crisp sound, as if he was nonchalant, but in fact he was observing Chen Zigui's reaction.

"Did you have a smooth journey? Did the King of Yan mention the deployment in Yanzhou?" He asked casually, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk.

"Your Majesty, the Secret Guards and the Black Armor Guards escorted him all the way without incident," Chen Zigui replied hastily, not daring to be negligent. He understood that Chai Zhen's seemingly casual remark was actually a test to see if he was hiding something from the Prince of Yan.

"His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan has formulated a preliminary defense strategy. He plans to establish beacon towers in the mountains north of Yanzhou, strengthen border patrols, and recruit elite local men to form a rapid reaction force."

"Oh? Rapid reaction force? How big is it? How are its equipment?" Chai Zhen raised his eyebrows and asked.

"The initial plan is to recruit 3,000 people, equip them with sophisticated bows and crossbows and war horses, mainly to deal with sudden small-scale conflicts. Especially to prevent harassment from small groups of Li Yusheng's Zhenxi Army." Chen Zigui did not dare to neglect and answered quickly.

"Three thousand people..." Chai Zhen tapped the table lightly with his fingers and pondered for a moment.

"What about Yue Zhenting? What arrangements has he made?" He shifted the topic to another key figure.

"General Yue Zhenting has sent troops to assist the King of Yan and to assist in the defense of several important cities including Bingtong, Wuyuan, Xiaoliani, and Heqi." Chen Zigui reported hurriedly without any hesitation.

"In addition, the general secretly dispatched a group of elite craftsmen to Yanzhou to assist the King of Yan in building siege equipment in case of emergency."

"Siege equipment?" There was a hint of doubt in Chai Zhen's tone.