Chapter 1 The Deceptive Emperor

Pulling a pretty face, Yang Muxi frowned at Jiang Chen.

This bastard suddenly came to her, wearing that expression on his face. It definitely wasn't good news... she couldn't be deceived by this bastard again!

Sensing the faint hostility emanating from Yang Muxi, Jiang Chen smiled awkwardly and stepped forward, saying, "Ahem, Muxi, I have something important to discuss with you. Shall we go inside and talk?"

Yang Muxi's beautiful eyebrows furrowed. "No need, let's just talk here."

"It's not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone in a room. Besides, I'm about to leave, so I might not be able to help with anything too complicated."

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was shocked and quickly said, "Leave? Where are you going?"

"Didn't you promise me at Mount Tai that you would stay by my side?"

Yang Muxi hadn't expected Jiang Chen to react so strongly. She was about to say something comforting when she caught sight of the dragon纹 (wén - pattern) on the corner of his robe. Her eyes dimmed instantly, and she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

She said coldly, "Jiang Chen, you were in a precarious situation before, and I couldn't just stand by and watch you die, which is why I agreed to stay with you."

"Now that you've returned to the palace and your safety is guaranteed, there's naturally no reason for me to stay."

Jiang Chen frowned, stung by her indifferent attitude.

"Muxi, countless women throughout Great Wei would give anything to enter the palace. Why do you insist on leaving?"

"Isn't it good to be with me, enjoying a life of luxury?"

Looking at Jiang Chen's anxious appearance, Yang Muxi pursed her lips, a deep anger and an indescribable sense of grievance welling up inside her.

With a flick of her jade hand, she resolutely pushed Jiang Chen away and said sternly, "Your Majesty, not everyone is willing to bow down for wealth and glory!"

"I admire you because you once stood up for justice and avenged the琵琶 (pípa) girl who was bullied by the local tyrant; because you are exceptionally talented, able to compose a hundred poems in one night, impressing scholars all over the world; and because you showed compassion for the suffering of the people when you and I floated on the Huai River at night..."

"I haven't coveted anything since I met you, yet now you question me like this!"

As she said this, a hint of coldness even appeared in Yang Muxi's eyes. "Jiang Chen, no, Emperor… in your heart, am I really the kind of woman who is greedy for vanity?"

Jiang Chen was speechless and quickly said, "No, Muxi, that's not what I meant!"

"I was afraid that you would leave, so I spoke rashly and offended you… just treat my words as wind, and don't take them to heart."

Yang Muxi didn't want to argue with Jiang Chen any longer. She glanced at him coldly and said distantly, "I wouldn't dare to be angry with His Majesty. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Although the palace is nice, it's not my home. Let's say goodbye here!"

After saying that, Yang Muxi swung her wide sleeves and was about to leave.

But just as she turned around, a pair of familiar hands grabbed her wrist, holding her in place.

Jiang Chen had gone through so much trouble to bring Yang Muxi to the palace, so naturally he wouldn't let her leave so easily.

He grabbed her fair wrist, half coaxing and half threatening, "Muxi, don't be stubborn. I really have something important to tell you… moreover, this matter concerns the people of the world. If you walk away, don't blame me if you regret it!"

Hearing this, Yang Muxi couldn't care less about being angry and hesitantly turned her head. "Really?"

"Jiang Chen, if you lie to me again, we're really…"

Looking at Yang Muxi's suspicious expression, Jiang Chen pinched her cheek annoyedly, interrupting her, "It's true! I said, can you stop always thinking the worst of me? Can you trust me a little?!"

Yang Muxi slapped his hand away from her face and glared at him. "It's your fault for having a record. I won't fall for your tricks again."

"Also, hurry up and tell me what's going on. I'll see if I can help. If the matter is tricky, I can also find some friends in the martial world to help."

When it came to serious matters, Jiang Chen also became serious and stopped touching her.

"Muxi, to be honest, I want to expand the dark guards and create a new department directly under me, the Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division)!"

"This new department will become the sharpest sword in my hand, monitoring the world and deterring officials on my behalf. The personnel inside must be proficient in assassination, infiltration, surveillance, investigation… and most importantly, they must be strong."

"I've already initially selected eighty probationary members and want you to help train them, so that they can live up to my expectations."

Yang Muxi frowned, her beautiful eyes narrowed. "Jiang Chen, you're really lying to me again!"

"This Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division) is clearly your tool for consolidating power. What does it have to do with the people? You want me to train your subordinates for you? Dream on!"

Faced with the accusation, Jiang Chen was not at all anxious. "Don't get excited, let me finish."

"When I went out of the palace in disguise before, I wasn't just doing it for fun, but more to understand the situation of the people."

"During the visits, I discovered that the nobles and officials in the court were abusing their power, competing with the people for profit, and exploiting the common folk."

"And the Jingzhao Yin (Capital Magistrate) Yamen (government office) which is responsible for trying cases and rendering verdicts, repeatedly perverts justice out of fear of powerful forces… Therefore, if we want to punish these powerful figures and give justice to the people, we must have a powerful department."

"Slay treacherous ministers above, punish corrupt officials below, control the court, and be unrestrained!"

Yang Muxi's eyes lit up. "You mean, this Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division) is actually a department of justice, specifically used to try and punish wicked people?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen felt a little subtle guilt.

According to his idea, this Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division) is actually the Great Wei version of the Jinyi Wei ( Embroidered Uniform Guard).

As for what the Jinyi Wei (Embroidered Uniform Guard) did... it can only be said that those who know, know, and it really has nothing to do with a department of justice.

However, he definitely couldn't be so blunt with Yang Muxi, nor could he make up lies to deceive this girl, otherwise his credibility would really be bankrupt.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Chen coughed lightly and said vaguely, "Well, that's about right. Anyway, the main responsibilities of the Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division) are these: to help me patrol the world and ferret out those moths who harm the Great Wei."

'Of course, what level counts as harmful is up to me!' Looking at Yang Muxi, who was deep in thought, Jiang Chen silently added in his heart.

Without thinking too much, almost as soon as Jiang Chen finished slandering, Yang Muxi gave her answer.

Her pretty face showed a hint of seriousness, as if she had made a difficult promise. "As long as you're not lying to me this time… I can train the people of the Huangcheng Si (Imperial City Division) for you."

Getting a definite answer, a smile instantly appeared on Jiang Chen's face.

Although he knew that if he brought up the banner of the people, Yang Muxi would compromise, only when he really heard the answer did the stone in his heart fall.

Looking at the smug expression on Jiang Chen's face, Yang Muxi, whose attitude was originally somewhat gentle, suddenly put on a straight face again and said unhappily, "Why are you so happy so early? I haven't finished speaking yet!"

"I'm helping you train people, what are you going to repay me with?"

As she spoke, a hint of mischief appeared in Yang Muxi's watery eyes. "Surely a noble Son of Heaven, sitting on all the lands, won't let a commoner like me work for nothing, right?"