Chapter 1 The Emperor's Wrath

Having finished the morning court session, Jiang Chen planned to leave the palace again.

He had arranged to meet Yang Muxi at the restaurant, and he wondered how her side was progressing. Had she obtained any evidence?

Jiang Chen pondered as he walked towards the Hall of Diligent Governance, intending to pack up and leave the palace with his entourage.

But before he reached the entrance, he saw a robust figure kneeling under the eaves.

A set of indigo blue military officer's uniform was particularly conspicuous!

"Jia Yao, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be on duty these days?" Jiang Chen questioned, a faint ominous premonition rising in his heart.

This man was a junior officer in the Imperial Guards, and it was he who escorted Xu Jiaying to the imperial estate outside the city the day before yesterday.

Judging by his guilty demeanor, had something gone wrong with the family visit?

Jia Yao's sturdy body trembled upon hearing the emperor's question, but he dared not raise his head.

After a long pause, he prostrated himself on the ground, his voice strained, "Your Majesty, this humble servant deserves to die!"

"This humble servant, this humble servant..."

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed, the bad premonition solidifying, and he said sternly, "What's going on? Where is Noble Consort Ying?"

Jia Yao dared not answer, only kowtowing repeatedly.

The dull thuds echoed in the solemn corridor, and bloodstains soon appeared on the clean white jade floor tiles.

Jiang Chen watched coldly, his anger rising rapidly!

He was not a patient person to begin with, and this Jia Yao was a taciturn fellow, answering nothing he asked, completely walking into the line of fire.

He kicked out immediately, knocking the man to the ground: "This emperor will ask you one last time, where did Noble Consort Ying go?!"

Jia Yao lay on the ground, his face covered in blood and tears, "Your Majesty, after arriving at the imperial estate in the suburbs, Noble Consort Ying, Noble Consort Ying disappeared!"

"This humble servant led people to search all around, turning over every inch of that small plot of land in the suburbs, but still couldn't find any trace of the noble consort... This humble servant deserves to die!"

Hearing this, Jiang Chen's heart relaxed slightly.

He originally thought that Xu Jiaying had been unable to think things through and committed suicide. If she had only disappeared, it was still acceptable, but these derelict Imperial Guards must be severely punished!

A crack team of thousands of elites couldn't even keep an eye on a woman. Worthless!

Jiang Chen's cold gaze fell on Jia Yao, with a hint of scrutiny.

After a few moments, he said majestically, "Jia Yao, in view of your past diligence in handling affairs, this time the noble consort's disappearance, this emperor can spare you the death penalty."

"But having committed such a grave mistake, don't even think about this official robe anymore. You are dismissed and kept under observation, and you will receive eighty strokes of the military rod as punishment. Go and collect your punishment later!"

Jia Yao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, and then a look of ecstasy flashed in his eyes. He didn't expect that the ruthless emperor would spare his life.

He hurriedly rolled over from the ground like a donkey, kneeling at Jiang Chen's feet, grateful and tearful, "This humble servant kowtows to thank Your Majesty, Your Majesty is benevolent..."

"Alright, stop flattering me. This emperor wants to know the full story of Noble Consort Ying's disappearance. Tell me quickly!"

Jia Yao wiped the blood from his face and carefully said, "Your Majesty, after arriving at the imperial estate, the noble consort was busy connecting with her clansmen, visiting them door to door. This humble servant did not want to disturb her, so I camped nearby to wait."

"Along the way, the noble consort somehow caught a cold and was bedridden."

"This servant had to find a local doctor nearby and entrust the noble consort to the care of the Xu clan in the imperial estate."

"But, but... but after that one night, the noble consort disappeared, and the noble consort's direct relatives also disappeared under the pretext of purchasing medicinal materials!"

Jiang Chen's dark eyes were ice-cold as he said slowly, "Are you saying that the entire Xu clan ran away?"

Jia Yao shuddered and lowered his head, "Your Majesty, this humble servant has investigated, and the so-called purchase of medicinal materials was just an excuse. Those Xu family members did not go to the pharmacy at all."

"So... this humble servant speculates... that Noble Consort Ying's disappearance may have been premeditated..."

"This humble servant also found out that the soldiers guarding the city said they saw Noble Consort Ying's clansmen leaving the city, but because they had Your Majesty's protection, they dared not question them..."

"In all likelihood, Noble Consort Ying left among them."

Jiang Chen listened calmly, but his heart was filled with extreme anger!

What a Xu Jiaying, what the only daughter of Grand Commandant!

With a few words and a few shows of weakness, she had given him a hard time, making this emperor lose all face!

Indeed, the more beautiful a woman is, the more likely she is to deceive!

The more Jiang Chen thought about it, the angrier he became. The feeling of being betrayed and used set a fire in his heart.

He looked at Jia Yao with a murderous aura, as if he wanted to devour him, but the words he uttered were still calm, without the slightest ripple.

"Has this matter been spread?"

"After discovering these clues, did you take any remedial measures?"

Jia Yao was terrified by Jiang Chen's frightening aura and was almost crying, "Your, Your Majesty, after discovering that the noble consort had disappeared, this humble servant sent people to chase... but, but the time interval was too long, and we couldn't find any trace."

"In addition, this humble servant issued a gag order as soon as possible, and no one dares to spread it."

Jiang Chen nodded, his tone cold, "Well done. Go and call Xu Mu, and tell him to get his ass to the Hall of Diligent Governance to see me immediately!"

Jia Yao was granted amnesty and kowtowed on the ground, "Yes, this humble servant will go now!"

After saying that, he ran towards the patrol area of the Imperial Guards as if the wind was at his feet, his panicked back view as if a ferocious beast was chasing after his life.

Jiang Chen entered the Hall of Diligent Governance with a cold face, sat behind the imperial desk, and killing intent surged in his eyes.

If Xu Jiaying had directly said that she wanted to leave the palace, he, the dignified emperor, was not short of women and would naturally have let her go free.

But as things stood, Xu Jiaying was already his personally appointed noble consort, enjoying continuous imperial favor, but she suddenly used tricks to escape.

Wasn't this slapping him in the face in front of the whole world?

The more Jiang Chen thought about it, the more suffocated he felt, almost stifling him to death.

When he caught this woman, he would definitely...

"Your Majesty, this humble servant has arrived!"

Xu Mu's cautious greeting interrupted Jiang Chen's thoughts.

He had already learned about the matter of Noble Consort Ying from Jia Yao and felt it was a thorny issue.

Jiang Chen looked at him coldly, his eyes like sharp blades: "Gather the Imperial Guards. You will personally lead the team, holding this emperor's edict, and cooperate with local governments to patrol! Even if you have to turn the entire Great Wei upside down, you must bring Xu Jiaying back!"

"Also, anyone who dares to hide and help the Xu family will be dealt with on charges of treason, without any leniency!"

"Yes! This humble servant will carry out Your Majesty's will!"

Xu Mu accepted the order, cold sweat seeping from his back, knowing that this trip would surely be a bloody storm.

But he could not hold back.

Jiang Chen watched him leave, and it was not until there was no one around that the anger he had suppressed for a long time was revealed.

He kicked over the imperial desk and paced back and forth in the hall for a long time.

It was not until reason returned that he entered the side hall to change his clothes and left the palace in plain clothes.

Today was destined to be unable to handle government affairs, so it would be good to go to the common people to change his mood.

After Jiang Chen finished tidying up, he left the palace in a low-key manner with Jing Yue, Feng Jin, and several dark guards disguised as retainers.

They walked all the way to the restaurant, and the prosperous scenes they saw along the way improved Jiang Chen's mood a lot, and the depression caused by Xu Jiaying's escape also dissipated a lot.

"Young master, we're here. Headmaster Yang may be waiting for you inside!"