CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 184: EMPRESS: THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEONE TRYING TO STEAL MY MAN! _3

"You still haven’t answered my question..."

Mu Yueyao walked towards her, the moonlight like a washing stream stretching the shadows long. "What is your relationship with Chen Mo?"

Ye Henshui’s pupils shrank to pinpoints, wanting to escape but it was already too late.

The shadow cast on the blue bricks continued to spread, like a black tide, engulfing the whole street in an instant!

...

...

Imperial Palace, Ningde Palace.

The Empress had just cleansed her phoenix body at Xuanqing Pool.

At this moment, wearing a light night robe, she sat at her dressing table, her reflection in the mirror showing an absolutely beautiful face.

Red lips and white teeth, bright eyes with a gentle glance, her fair skin faintly visible under the thin gauze nightgown, a golden-threaded waistband outlining an impressive silhouette, her chest slightly rising and falling with her breath, her swan-like neck still holding some unbrushed water droplets at the collarbone.

Lin Jingzhu stood behind her, holding a sandalwood comb, brushing through her waterfall-like long hair.

"Auntie, I’m really fine now, let me go back tomorrow, I’m truly bored to death in the palace..."

"No way, you just regained consciousness, your body is still weak, you need to rest for at least another five or six days." The Empress turned her head slightly, giving her a sidelong glance, "I think it’s not boredom; you’re missing Chen Mo, aren’t you?"

Lin Jingzhu’s cheeks were flushed, she retorted coquettishly, "Auntie, what nonsense are you talking about!"

The Empress coldly snorted, "You think I can’t see through you? I’ve told you, there’s no possibility between you and Chen Mo, better give up on it early."

Remembering the day when Chen Mo and Lin Jingzhu kissed, she felt a bit stuck in her heart.

All because of that little thief!

Lin Jingzhu muttered softly, "What you say doesn’t count..."

"What did you say?" The Empress raised her eyebrows.

"Nothing." Lin Jingzhu changed the subject, "By the way, tomorrow for the new class at the Imperial College, those sect disciples will all come, right?"

The Empress nodded, "Except for the Yin Corpse Sect, the other six sects all sent people, even the chief disciple of the Martial Saint Sect has arrived. It seems that the threat has worked well."

For this, it was still thanks to Chen Mo.

If not for him handing a knife to the court, it would have been difficult to act rashly.

If this new class was set, but no students came, the court would certainly lose face entirely!

Lin Jingzhu frowned, "Those sect disciples are inherently unruly, undisciplined, and never have any respect for the court, I’m afraid this new class won’t open so smoothly."

"This problem you mentioned, I considered long ago, and have arranged for the Sky Scale Guard to maintain order on site." The Empress coldly snorted, saying, "I don’t believe that under the Emperor’s nose, anyone would dare act rashly?"

Lin Jingzhu blinked and said, "Auntie, shall we go watch the fun tomorrow?"

The Empress was slightly taken aback, "Watch what fun?"

Lin Jingzhu said, "Aren’t you even a little curious about what effect the first day of the new class will have?"

The Empress shook her head, "With my status, how could I easily show up?"

"No one’s asking you to show up, we can go in disguise, can’t we?" Lin Jingzhu said with a smile, "Didn’t no one know when you sneaked out of the palace before? Anyway, with me around, nothing will go wrong."

The Empress gave her a sidelong look and said irritably, "I knew you had bad ideas."

"Auntie~"

"I’m so bored!"

Lin Jingzhu hugged the Empress, swaying and acting like a spoiled child, causing ripples of water to ripple.

The Empress was actually a little tempted too.

This new class had been planned by the court for a long time, as an important means to balance the sects. However, she was a bit uncertain about what specific effects it could achieve.

Going to see for herself wasn’t a bad idea.

"It’s not impossible... but let me be clear, we’re just going to see, you’re not allowed to act impulsively."

"Don’t worry, Auntie! I’ll definitely behave!"

"Hmm, as long as you understand, it’s getting late, hurry up and sleep."

"Auntie, can we sleep in separate beds?"

"Why?"

"Because when you sleep, you always like to hug me, several times I almost suffocated..."

"..."

...

...

The next day.

The Imperial College is located in the north of the city, occupying a vast area.

Red walls stretch out, separating the inside from the outside, with a large gate in the center, adorned with a hanging sign with red edges and a blue background, inscribed with the bold silver characters "Jixian Gate."

Passing through Jixian Gate into the front courtyard, black ridged green tiles are neatly lined, surrounding a pond. The water is clear, reflecting sparkling waves under the sunlight.

Inside the spacious and bright lecture hall, dozens of sect disciples are already seated, gathered in small groups, chatting idly, evidently indifferent to this so-called new subject.

Yu Hongyin sits by the window, resting her chin in a daze.

Several days have passed since the trip to Tiannan State, but she cannot forget the brave sight of Chen Mo braving the Blood Net that day.

"If it weren’t for him, I would probably be nothing but a pile of yellow soil by now, wouldn’t I?"

"What that Sky Scale Guard Hundred Households said was true. It was indeed me who caused him trouble..."

Yu Hongyin’s eyes appear somewhat dim.

Initially, she quite disliked that bastard, after all, he had taken her Golden Core and Golden Contract; logically, his death should make her happy.

But for some reason, she always felt a heaviness in her chest, as if weighed down by a large stone.

"It’s a pity you didn’t go last night. Mr. Chen had booked the whole venue at the Imperial Music Bureau, where the girls are all magnificent, tender, and skilled in all arts including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, far better than the riffraff here..."

She vaguely hears voices in conversation, but does not pay them any mind.

After all, there are too many people with the surname Chen in the world.

"Hmm?"

"Purple Refining Extreme came as well? And Ling Ningzhi..."

Watching the figures entering the gate one after another, a hint of curiosity crosses Yu Hongyin’s eyes.

The imperial edicts were rarely heeded by the Three Saint Sect, she assumed they would at most send someone for appearances, but unexpectedly, two chief disciples came...

Ling Ningzhi sits beside Shen Zhixia, the two exchange a glance, then hurriedly look away in slight panic.

Last night at the Imperial Music Bureau, Chen Mo somehow produced a booklet, insisting they mimic the actions inside, calling it "total encirclement, perfect explanation"... leaving the two too embarrassed to find a hole to crawl into.

As a result, now they don’t know how to face each other.

Tap, tap, tap—

After a short while, a sound of footsteps is heard.

A middle-aged man in a green official robe enters the lecture hall.

Standing on the podium, he looks at the people below and says in a clear voice: "I am the Imperial College Deputy Director Wu Shuhong, you may call me Director Wu, or you may call me Sir. The first lecture will be presided over by me..."

At the very back of the lecture hall.

The Empress and Lin Jingzhu are cloaked, concealing their faces, huddled in the corner shadows.

Luckily, the lecture hall is large enough that no one notices them.

Listening to Wu Shuhong’s eloquent speech, Lin Jingzhu whispers: "Aunt, are you sure this method will work? For these Jianghu people, isn’t a fist more effective?"

The Empress shakes her head, saying: "Jianghu people, liken to grass on cliffs, axes can’t uproot them, the more battered by storms, the stronger they grow; only by subtly changing their mindsets can the problem be solved fundamentally."

This new subject "Jianghu Ethics" is not just about brainwashing through lectures.

The court specially compiled the "Jianghu Dao Tonglu," establishing the theory framework of "National Duty over Sect’s Personal Duty," labeling sects unwilling to submit as "non-orthodox."

In addition, the "Sect Practical Rules" were issued.

Sect disciples can gain contribution value by completing tasks from the court, reflecting on the "Jianghu Talent List."

The court will grant varying degrees of privileges according to the list, even offering qualifications to become government officials, further transforming sect resources into fame and capital.

There are also sect mutual protection, peer reviews, Jianghu intelligence... and many methods are pursued to continuously infiltrate the sects.

Once these sect core disciples are endorsed by the court, their independence naturally fades away.

As more disciples participate in the future, the so-called "Jianghu people" identity becomes more blurred, ultimately completely reduced to vassals of the court, resolving sect internal threat effortlessly.

However, this is not something accomplished overnight.

At least it will take several years to truly see results.

So, both fists and teaching must be wielded simultaneously, suppression accompanied with education, gradually eradicating these internal threats.

Crash——

Suddenly, a commotion breaks out in the front.

A martial cultivator kicks a bench, stands up, and sneers, saying: "Such fine words, yet last year Yunfu State suffered a severe drought, the people had no harvest, but due to Northern Continent Governor’s corruption, the relief grain was delayed, no knowing how many perished from hunger!"

"Enjoying life in this prosperous Central State, do you know the hardship in the borders?"

"You teach loyalty to the sovereign, patriotic duty, but I won’t subscribe to this pedantic logic! If the officials are unworthy, causing the people to suffer, what is the point of ’loyalty’?"

The Empress’ face turns somber upon hearing this.

She knew these sect disciples were resistant to indoctrination but didn’t expect them to be so bold, dare to speak such radical words in public!