How Do You Have the Nerve to Mention Xue Ye?

"Why don't you tell me first, Brother Crown Prince—what exactly did Steward Xiao Qing do?"

Qian Renxue was visibly taken aback when she heard Yun Chen's question as he smiled warmly at her. Then, a trace of appreciation appeared in her eyes.

"Well, this is what happened..."

Qian Renxue roughly recounted the course of events to Yun Chen—or rather, she unilaterally laid out Xiao Qing's crimes. As she spoke, she occasionally hinted that this person was a spy sent by Xue Ye.

"Mm, Brother Crown Prince, you gave her chance after chance, yet she failed to seize any of them. Not only did she embezzle and break the law, but today she even delayed Sect Master Ning's visiting card for you."

At this point, Yun Chen paused. Xiao Qing was trembling like a leaf, and her eyes kept darting toward Yun Chen, carrying both hope and pleading.

Meeting her gaze, Yun Chen curled his lips into a smile.

The moment Xiao Qing caught sight of that smile, her pupils suddenly contracted, and several traces of delight appeared in her eyes.

This child really is kind. Looks like I'll be saved today.

In her eyes, a child wearing such a gentle smile would surely save her.

After all, the Crown Prince had caught her embezzling and breaking the law, and she had even delayed Sect Master Ning's visiting card.

The Crown Prince could have her executed entirely on the grounds of respecting his teacher and upholding the laws of the realm.

Even if Xue Ye wanted to protect her, he would certainly be unable to do so in the face of the Crown Prince, who held the moral high ground.

But if Yun Chen spoke up and pleaded for her, things would be different.

Who among the upper ranks of the Heaven Dou Empire did not show this genius some respect? If her crimes were thoroughly investigated, they would certainly count as serious offenses. But resolving them would be easy too—as long as Yun Chen was willing to speak, Xue Ye would surely go along with it and help settle the matter for her. After all, she still had to keep watch on the Crown Prince.

When that time came, even the Crown Prince would have to step aside.

Xiao Qing's gaze flickered repeatedly as she eagerly awaited Yun Chen's words in her defense.

But Yun Chen's next words sent her plunging into an icy abyss.

"For crimes so grave, under the laws of our Heaven Dou Empire, she could even be charged with deceiving the sovereign and perverting the law. Execution according to the law would be entirely justified."

Xiao Qing was on the verge of collapse. She stared blankly at Yun Chen, whose face still bore that amiable smile, as though those words had never come from his mouth.

How could that 37-degree mouth of yours utter words so cold?

"Hahahaha! Good! Well said!"

"That is exactly what a future pillar of the Heaven Dou Empire ought to say."

Qian Renxue was very pleased. In her view, Yun Chen was not blindly kindhearted. On the contrary, he was rational and understood how to assess the situation.

From Qian Renxue's hints alone, Yun Chen had analyzed both sides' positions and determined who the enemy was.

In truth, Qian Renxue had still been somewhat worried. Yun Chen was only a child, after all. No matter how one put it, working undercover was like licking blood from a blade's edge.

And most importantly, it was easy to say the wrong thing. That was the reason many undercover operations failed.

So Qian Renxue had not actually intended to let Yun Chen get deeply involved. She had only planned for him to cultivate normally, while she personally handled matters of the court and imperial palace.

Once Yun Chen grew a little older and understood more things, they could discuss it then.

"No! Yun Chen, Your Highness, you can't kill me! I was personally chosen by Xue Ye! You can't kill me!"

Xiao Qing was nearly hysterical, but the intense fear in her eyes exposed her true feelings.

"Hmph! Ridiculous! Xue Ye is a wise ruler. When he sent you to the Crown Prince's residence, it was because he believed you were diligent, capable, and utterly loyal!"

"But what about you? You betrayed Xue Ye's good intentions. Even after His Highness gave you chance after chance, you still refused to be satisfied."

"And today, you still have the nerve to mention Xue Ye?"

That retort left Xiao Qing speechless. Her face darkened to an ugly iron-blue.

Qian Renxue watched the scene with great interest, though her gaze fell more often on Yun Chen, who stood with both hands in his pockets.

She wanted to see just how many more surprises this little fellow could bring her.

Yun Chen was enjoying himself more and more as he spoke. He recalled a historical drama he had watched in his previous life. Right now, it was as though the Junior Grand Secretary from that show had possessed him.

"Go on, keep stirring things up. Stir things up until the common people of Heaven Dou cry out in misery, until corrupt customs and evil influences fill Heaven Dou! When that happens, will you still have the nerve to mention Xue Ye?"

Xiao Qing froze at his words. Wasn't that accusation a little too huge?

"Ahem, ahem."

Qian Renxue coughed twice awkwardly, signaling that Yun Chen should not go too far. That accusation was indeed a bit too heavy.

Yun Chen came back to his senses as well, but his expression remained calm as he continued.

"I, Yun Chen, am but a child, an ordinary citizen of Heaven Dou."

At this point, Yun Chen shot Xiao Qing a disdainful glance, let out a cold laugh, and continued.

"Even I know that what you did was embezzlement, lawbreaking, and deceiving the sovereign."

"And today's punishment for you was decided by Xue Ye's own son—the current Crown Prince!"

"You have no right to mention Xue Ye, and even less right to refute the Crown Prince's judgment!"

With both hands in his pockets, Yun Chen rebutted Xiao Qing in an extremely calm tone, leaving her utterly speechless and without a word of defense.

Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed with wonder as she watched Yun Chen, who seemed as if possessed by a prime minister. The admiration in her eyes was undisguised.

After all, on Soul Land, those with top-tier talent were frightening—but those who possessed both talent and wisdom were even more frightening.

Why was Tang San in the original story so formidable? It was not merely because of his talent, but because he truly had both emotional intelligence and intellect.

Sure, several times Tang San escaped danger through bets, but he could always make others accept his wager—and then defeat them in the field they excelled at. What could you say to that?

That was a display of both his intelligence and emotional intelligence.

When facing an enemy, you needed to understand not only their weaknesses, but also their strengths. Only by learning from an enemy's strengths could you make yourself stronger.

Yun Chen and Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, were now getting along splendidly, presenting a scene of brotherly affection and mutual respect.

Inside the study of the Crown Prince's residence.

Qian Renxue had already returned to her true form. Ever since Yun Chen had entered the residence and come clean, she had enjoyed appearing before him in her true appearance, though even she did not know why.

"Just as expected of my Regent."

Qian Renxue gently brought her lips close to Yun Chen's ear and murmured those words. Her fragrant breath brushed against his ear, making it itch and sending a numb, tingling sensation through his body.

"This afternoon, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will come to visit. He is my teacher."

"His target should be you."

"You should be prepared."

As for Xiao Qing, she had nothing to do with this matter...

Well, she had already been dragged off by the guards to be beheaded, and the matter had also been reported to Xue Ye.

The eunuch who delivered the report said that after Xue Ye finished reading the letter, he praised Yun Chen lavishly, calling him a youthful hero—brave, resourceful, and daring enough to offer frank counsel.

Well, though I have no idea where my bravery and resourcefulness showed.

Ah, is this what they mean by, once I cross the pass, learned scholars will naturally come forth to interpret the classics in my favor? It seems Xue Ye truly values my talent.

Lying on the bed, Yun Chen felt rather emotional. At last, he understood what it meant for everyone around you to be all smiles and praise when you were outstanding enough.