127: Chapter 127 The Prince Consort (4.7k)

A bitter wind howled across the long street.

Warden Wen Ruoxu's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Chen Ran, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

"What did you say? She agreed?!"

His voice rose an octave, sharp as a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

This caused several passing pedestrians to look over with strange expressions.

Chen Ran looked at him expressionlessly, his gaze cold.

"Do you find it to be a pleasant surprise?"

Warden Wen Ruoxu swallowed hard and subconsciously took half a step back.

He sized Chen Ran up from head to toe, re-evaluating this colleague of his.

"Brother Chen, you... your methods are incredible!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu gave a thumbs up, his face written all over with admiration.

"That is Lin Wan, the famous ice beauty of the Six Doors!"

"Countless self-important young talents in the Demon Suppression Division tried to provoke her, only to have their legs broken and be thrown out."

"You actually managed to win her over in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn?"

"To even be able to handle your direct superior, I truly admit defeat!"

The corner of Chen Ran's mouth twitched as he suppressed the urge to punch his head in.

"Stop making sarcastic remarks."

"I suspect she saw through my identity and is intentionally using me as a shield."

Warden Wen Ruoxu slapped his thigh, completely unconcerned.

"What's wrong with being a shield? This is a good thing, Brother Chen!"

He leaned closer to Chen Ran and lowered his voice, his tone betraying uncontrollable excitement and gossip.

"Do you know the status of the Lin Family in the capital?"

"One of the four great families! Their foundation is unfathomably deep!"

"Furthermore, Lin Wan is the only female descendant of this generation in the Lin Family's direct line!"

"She has seven older brothers above her, all of whom are ruthless figures in the military or the imperial court."

"She is the pearl of their palm, showered with thousands of favors."

"If you truly become the Lin Family's son-in-law, it would be no different from becoming a Prince Consort!"

"In the future, you could walk sideways in this capital and no one would dare to stop you!"

The more Chen Ran listened, the tighter his brow furrowed.

The only female descendant?

Seven older brothers?

Showered with thousands of favors?

This wasn't clinging to a powerful thigh; this was clearly being roasted over a fire.

If those protective elders and brothers of the Lin Family found out Lin Wan had found a backgroundless Jailer to be her shield...

Wouldn't they swallow him alive?

This bastard Warden Wen Ruoxu was truly digging a grave for him.

"Do you think I'll live to see the day I can walk sideways?" Chen Ran asked coldly.

Warden Wen Ruoxu gave a dry cough, his eyes shifting slightly.

"Cough, Brother Chen is a man of great fortune; it will surely be fine."

...

Seeing Chen Ran's face turning darker, Warden Wen Ruoxu knew he had pushed it a bit too far this time.

He quickly put on a fawning smile.

"In any case, thanks to Brother Chen's righteous intervention today."

"Come, I'll host you at the best restaurant in the capital for a meal!"

"Consider it a way to calm your nerves!"

Without allowing any refusal, Warden Wen Ruoxu pulled Chen Ran's sleeve and headed toward the end of the street.

Half an hour later.

The two were seated in a top-tier private room on the highest floor of the Zuixian Restaurant.

The interior of the room was decorated with extreme luxury.

The floor was covered with Fire-rat fur carpets from the Western Regions, as soft as clouds underfoot.

Outside the window, a panoramic view of the bustling night scenery of half the capital was visible.

Soon, the food and wine were served.

The table was laden with delicacies from land and sea.

Steamed bear paw, bird's nest with rock sugar.

There were even several medicinal dishes carefully prepared with the meat of low-level Yao Beasts, emitting enticing fluctuations of Spiritual Qi.

The wine was the Zuixian Restaurant's signature 'Immortal's Drunk,' said to have been buried underground for a full fifty years.

As the clay seal was broken, a rich aroma of wine immediately filled the entire room.

"Come, Brother Chen, let's have a drink!"

Warden Wen Ruoxu raised a white jade wine cup, his face beaming with smiles.

Chen Ran picked up his cup and drained it in one gulp.

As the liquid hit his throat, a ball of fire exploded in his chest, then turned into a warm current that dispersed into his limbs and bones.

Even the True Qi within his body became a bit more active.

It was indeed a rare and excellent wine.

But Chen Ran was in no mood to savor wine right now.

His mind was filled with thoughts of how to face that crazy woman Lin Wan when he went to the Six Doors tomorrow.

Warden Wen Ruoxu, on the other hand, ate until his mouth was oily, showing no image of a noble Young Master at all.

While gnawing on a Yao Beast leg, he didn't forget to educate Chen Ran about the capital's entertainment districts.

"Brother Chen, let me tell you, the girls at the Spring Breeze Pavilion are truly exquisite..."

"And the top courtesan of the Qunfang Pavilion, tsk tsk, that figure..."

Chen Ran turned a deaf ear, silently picking at the food.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

Most of the plates on the table were empty.

Warden Wen Ruoxu gave a loud wine burp and stood up.

He patted his round belly and winked at Chen Ran.

"Brother Chen, take your time eating. I just remembered I have some personal business to attend to."

"I'll take my leave first."

"Put this meal on my tab, eat as much as you want!"

With that, he greased his soles and slipped away faster than a rabbit.

He disappeared outside the private room in the blink of an eye.

He was clearly afraid Chen Ran would settle scores with him after finishing the meal.

Chen Ran looked at the empty seat, then at the table full of leftovers.

He rubbed his aching temples.

What a mess.

Tomorrow was destined to be a difficult day.

...

The next day.

The morning mist had not yet fully dispersed, and the air held a bone-chilling cold.

Chen Ran stood outside the headquarters of the Six Doors, exhaling a cloud of white mist into the cold wind.

He looked at the two majestic stone lions and hesitated repeatedly.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and stepped inside.

There was no hiding from it.

What must come would come.

He made his way familiarly to Lin Wan's office.

He pushed open the door.

Lin Wan was sitting behind a large desk, flipping through thick case files.

Today she wore a dark red Six Doors uniform, with her signature long sword hanging at her waist.

Her long hair was tied up high without any extra ornaments.

She looked heroic and valiant, with an imposing Aura.

Hearing the door open, Lin Wan looked up.

Seeing it was Chen Ran, she put down the files in her hand.

She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, staring at Chen Ran with interest.

"You're here?"

Her tone was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure.

"You were quite capable yesterday, weren't you?"

Chen Ran gave a dry laugh and forced himself to step forward.

"Chief Lin, yesterday was truly a misunderstanding."

Lin Wan stood up, walked around the desk, and came before Chen Ran.

She was half a head shorter than Chen Ran, but at this moment, her Aura completely overwhelmed him.

"Too late."

Her tone was cool and carried an unquestionable dominance.

"I have already sent word to my Family saying that I have taken a fancy to you."

"Now the entire Lin Family knows, and in a few days, I expect half the noble circles in the capital will know too."

"That I, Lin Wan, have found a vice-captain of the Six Doors to be my husband."

Chen Ran's eyes widened, and he almost couldn't resist cursing.

"You're serious?!"

Lin Wan snorted coldly.

"Do you think I'm joking with you?"

She turned around and walked to the window, looking out at the martial arts field.

"The Family has been pushing harder and harder lately."

"They think the Six Doors is too dangerous and want to transfer me back to the Demon Suppression Division, or simply have me marry and stay at home."

"I need a reason to stay in the Six Doors."

"And you are the best reason."

She turned her head, her gaze burning as she looked at Chen Ran.

"Rest assured, it is only in name."

"Once the attention dies down, everything will return to normal."

"During this period, you just need to obediently cooperate with my act."

Chen Ran let out a helpless sigh.

This woman was simply forcing a deal, giving him no chance to refuse at all.

But since things had come to this, he could only suck it up and accept it.

After all, she was his direct superior.

"Fine," Chen Ran spread his hands, "so what do I need to do? Go to the Lin Family to propose?"

Lin Wan returned to her seat behind the desk.

"Nothing for now. We'll wait until the Family makes a move."

"Now, let's talk business."

Her expression grew solemn as she immediately switched to work mode.

"How is the investigation into the Black Crow Cult case going?"

Chen Ran also put away his playful thoughts and reported seriously.

"Over the past few days, I took some men to secretly visit several Black Crow Cult strongholds around the capital."

"I found that this cult's way of doing things is a bit strange."

"They were originally just an insignificant, ordinary cult with very few followers."

"But a few years ago, they suddenly began to distribute wealth on a large scale."

"As long as you join the cult, you can receive rice, flour, grain, oil, and even some silver coins."

"By relying on such simple and crude methods, they attracted a large number of commoners in a short time."

Chen Ran paused and said in a deep voice:

"This scale of wealth distribution is definitely not something an ordinary cult can sustain."

"I checked their accounts, and they are a total mess."

"I suspect that behind the Black Crow Cult, there is a major financial backer supporting them in secret."

Lin Wan nodded thoughtfully.

"To be able to provide so much money and food while hiding it from everyone near the capital..."

"Continue the investigation. You must dig out the backer behind them."

...

Just as the two were contemplating the case.

Suddenly, a huge commotion came from outside.

Gongs and drums blared, firecrackers popped, and the air was filled with the clamor of voices.

The noise was so loud that even the thick walls of the Six Doors couldn't block it out.

Chen Ran and Lin Wan exchanged a look and pushed the door open to go out.

They arrived at the street.

The wide bluestone street was already crowded with commoners.

In the middle of the crowd, several officials wearing brand-new official robes were riding tall horses, moving slowly forward.

The people lined the streets to welcome them, their emotions running high.

Many elderly people were even moved to tears, kneeling and kowtowing in the street.

"Lord Clear Sky!"

"You've finally returned!"

"Heaven has eyes!"

Chen Ran pulled aside a merchant who was watching the excitement and handed over a few copper coins to inquire about the situation.

"Brother, what's going on here? Which high official is on tour?"

The merchant took the coins and explained with great excitement.

"Young man, don't you know?"

"His Highness the First Prince, sympathizing with the people's plight, has restored all those upright officials who were framed by treacherous ministers and locked in prison to their original posts!"

"Today, these upright officials are on the streets to gather the wishes of us commoners."

"They are preparing to continue implementing the new policies and seek justice for us!"

Chen Ran suddenly understood.

He looked at the enthusiastic and excited commoners on the street, sighing inwardly.

This First Prince, Wei Yanxi, was truly brilliant at the art of winning people's hearts.

This move of 'setting things right' not only won the absolute loyalty of the upright officials throughout the court.

It also firmly grasped the hearts of the common people at the bottom.

At this moment, probably more than half the people in the capital regarded the First Prince as their savior.

The current political landscape of Great Wei surfaced in Chen Ran's mind.

The current Emperor of Great Wei, Emperor Wei Ming, was obsessed with the art of immortality.

He spent the whole year in closed-door cultivation, refining pills and taking medicine, completely ignoring state affairs.

Most of the power in the court had fallen into the hands of eunuchs.

And among the princes, undercurrents were surging, and the struggle for the throne was intensifying.

The First Prince, Wei Yanxi, was a virtuous king on the surface, courteous to the wise and talented, with three thousand retainers; his influence was the most vast.

The Second Prince had been leading troops abroad for years, controlling Great Wei's elite border armies, focusing on military power with a blood and iron style.

As for the Third Prince, rumor had it he was a profligate who only knew pleasure, spending his days in entertainment districts and ignoring the world.

The waters of this capital were getting murkier and murkier.

Various forces were taking the stage; a slight lapse in judgment could lead to being swept into an irrecoverable vortex.

...

Just as Chen Ran was deep in thought.

In the crowd, an upright official on horseback seemed to see something, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

He dismounted, pushed through the crowd, and walked straight toward Chen Ran.

Chen Ran was momentarily stunned.

As the person drew near, he finally saw the man's face clearly.

His hair was white and his frame was lean, but his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were bright and spirited.

It was none other than the former Censor-in-Chief, Su Yuanshan, who had been imprisoned in Section C of the Heavenly Prison!

The current Su Yuanshan had changed into a crimson official robe.

The gloom and Death Qi from the prison had been washed away, and his entire being radiated Noble Spirit.

"Little Friend Chen!"

Su Yuanshan walked up to Chen Ran and laughed heartily, his voice resonant.

"I didn't expect to meet you here."

Chen Ran quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Congratulations, Lord Su, on being cleared of all charges and restored to your post."

Su Yuanshan waved his hand and sighed.

"What 'Lord' this and 'Lord' that."

"If not for His Highness the First Prince's keen insight, these old bones of mine would likely have been left in the Heavenly Prison."

Beside Su Yuanshan followed a young woman.

She wore a plain long dress, and her features were elegant and refined.

She wore no makeup, yet it couldn't hide her quiet, scholarly air.

It was the eldest Young Miss of the Su Family, Su Qinghe.

Seeing Chen Ran, a hint of surprise flashed in Su Qinghe's eyes.

"Young Master Chen, so it's you."

She bowed slightly, performing a standard Wanfu salute.

Chen Ran smiled and returned the greeting.

"Miss Su, I hope you have been well."

The group stood by the street and exchanged brief pleasantries.

Chen Ran briefly introduced his current situation serving in the Six Doors.

After hearing this, Su Yuanshan nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of praise.

"The Six Doors is good; punishing evil and promoting good is perfect for a young man like you."

"Work hard, and do not let your skills go to waste."

After chatting for a while, Su Yuanshan took his leave with Su Qinghe as he still had to collect the people's opinions.

Before leaving, Su Qinghe glanced back at Chen Ran.

Once the two from the Su Family had walked far away.

Chen Ran turned his head, only to find Lin Wan with her arms crossed, looking at him coldly.

"What? Met a beautiful confidante?"

Lin Wan's tone was faint, making it impossible to tell if she was happy or angry.

Chen Ran was stunned and gave a helpless smile.

"Chief Lin, you've misunderstood."

"That is the Senior Sister of Wenxin Hall, Su Qinghe. I happened to meet her while on a case before; she's hardly a confidante."

Lin Wan gave a light snort.

"It better be that way."

"You are currently my fiancé in name."

"If you dare to mess around outside and ruin my reputation..."

Her hand rested on her sword hilt, her thumb flicking slightly.

"Qiang—"

The long sword unsheathed half an inch, letting out a crisp ring.

A blast of frigid Sword Qi rushed toward him.

"This sword of mine doesn't recognize people."

Chen Ran's eye twitched.

This woman got into character too quickly!

Just a moment ago she said it was an act, and now she's starting to control her fiancé's private life?

...

After finishing a day's work at the Six Doors.

Night fell, and the lanterns were lit.

Chen Ran returned to his quarters at the Heavenly Prison.

Although he had been transferred to the Six Doors, he still retained his status as a Prison Officer of the Heavenly Prison, and his residence was still here.

After all, this was his base, the foundation of his survival.

Sitting cross-legged on the hard wooden bed.

In his mind, the ancient heavenly book of prison suppression slowly flipped open.

On the golden pages, a line of text appeared.

[Guarding the Heavenly Prison for one day: Reward of one year of cultivation.]

A surge of pure Internal Energy was born out of thin air, turning into a trickling stream that merged into Chen Ran's Dantian.

Chen Ran felt the surging power within his body and nodded in satisfaction.

With a thought, he poured all the accumulated cultivation into the talent [Skynet].

Buzz—

A slight buzzing sound echoed in his mind.

The [Skynet] talent reached the maximum level!

In an instant, Chen Ran felt his Mental Energy break through a certain shackle.

It spread outward frantically.

Ten feet, a hundred feet, five hundred feet...

The entire Heavenly Prison, and even the streets surrounding it, were clearly reflected in his mind.

Even the scuttling of a mouse underground, or the slight sound of wind blowing through leaves...

None could escape his perception.

Chen Ran opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade.

The max-level [Skynet] was indeed powerful.

With this talent, he would have another trump card for his actions in the capital.

He stood up and stretched his muscles.

His bones let out a series of crisp pops like crackling beans, filled with explosive power.

"Alright, business is done. Time to handle some personal matters."

Chen Ran snorted coldly.

He released his full Aura, and the max-level [Skynet] instantly covered a small portion of the city district.

Soon, he locked onto a familiar Aura inside a den of vice.

Warden Wen Ruoxu.

You set me up and still think you can run?

Chen Ran pushed open the door, his figure flashing as he silently merged into the vast night.