Chen He is quite a well-known figure. In the past, the Eastern Bureau held significant power, but Chen He gradually developed the Western Depot, bringing it to prominence alongside the Eastern Bureau. Both the Eastern and Western Depots, along with the Xuanjing Sect, work for His Majesty. Unlike the Xuanjing Sect, which operates covertly and takes lives based on a list, the Eastern and Western Depots operate openly, with their directors holding real power.
Unlike the assassinations carried out by the Xuanjing Sect, the primary purpose of the Eastern and Western Depots is to protect His Majesty and ensure the safety of the palace. However, since Chen He took over the Western Depot, his ruthless methods have also put him in charge of executions. Especially since Ji Wujing was poisoned and temporarily left the Xuanjing Sect, the sect’s capabilities weakened, and the Western Depot gradually took over some assassination orders.
Although Chen He is a eunuch, he is extremely handsome and delicate. He is always dressed in blue robes, holding a pure white cat in his arms. Due to his obsession with cleanliness, he always gives the impression of being immaculate. No one can get close to him, except for that cat.
It is said that he has invented many methods of torture, and every criminal who falls into his hands confesses without exception.
Gu Jianli supported Ji Wujing as they headed to the Western Depot, pondering why the director of the Western Depot wanted to meet Ji Wujing. The Eastern and Western Depots have always been at odds, and they do not hide this even in front of His Majesty. The Xuanjing Sect, apart from carrying out assassinations, is usually very low-key. Gu Jianli thought carefully and had never heard of any conflict between the Xuanjing Sect and the two bureaus.
Suddenly, Gu Jianli remembered that Ji Wujing had once mentioned proposing a marriage for Ji Yueming and had suggested matching Ji Yueming with Chen He. Ji Wujing had even casually said that he and Chen He were friends.
Who knows if he was just making it up.
Gu Jianli glanced at Ji Wujing secretly, wondering if Ji Wujing could really have friends.
When they arrived at the Western Depot, Gu Jianli saw Chen He from a distance. Although she had never seen Chen He before, she recognized him at a glance.
Ji Wujing glanced at Gu Jianli and asked, “What have you been thinking about along the way?”
Gu Jianli thought for a moment and said, “I was thinking about what kind of person could be friends with you, Fifth Master.”
“This question…” Ji Wujing pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled, “It must be someone good-looking.”
Gu Jianli was stunned for a moment, then looked away, no longer looking at Ji Wujing. She knew he wouldn’t say anything serious! Gu Jianli looked up at Chen He standing on the stone steps.
Chen He, dressed in blue, stood straight with one hand behind his back, looking down at the little white cat lying on the railing in front of him, quietly.
Hmm, this Chen He is quite good-looking.
“The Director, the head of the Xuanjing Sect has arrived,” a young eunuch reported in a high-pitched voice, bowing respectfully as he stepped back.
The little white cat turned its head to look at Ji Wujing and suddenly let out a sharp cry, leaping up. Chen He reached out, catching it steadily in his arms, soothingly stroking its soft fur. His fingers were long and white, not like the hands of someone who wielded weapons. The white cat rubbed against Chen He’s chest, finally settling down. Only then did Chen He lift his eyes to look at Ji Wujing, his gaze briefly passing over Gu Jianli.
In that moment when she saw Chen He’s eyes, Gu Jianli was very surprised. She had imagined that the director of the Western Depot wouldn’t have such clean eyes.
Chen He asked, “Is your health better?”
His voice was cold and clear, without the sharpness typical of eunuchs.
Ji Wujing replied casually, “Don’t worry about it.”
Gu Jianli lowered her eyes, feeling that Ji Wujing’s voice was even more sinister than Chen He’s cold voice, more fitting of the director of the Western Depot.
“If it weren’t for you giving up the position of Director, I wouldn’t have reached my current status. Naturally, I remember,” Chen He said blandly.
Gu Jianli was stunned. She had just thought Ji Wujing was more like the Director of the Western Depot…
“Say what you need to. I’m in a hurry to go home and settle accounts,” Ji Wujing said.
The white cat in Chen He’s arms shifted slightly, causing Chen He to look down at it. His gaze softened as he looked at the cat. Stroking the white cat, he said to Ji Wujing, “I need you to kill someone for me.”
Ji Wujing chuckled and asked, “What’s this? Has your hand become so used to petting cats that it can no longer kill?”
“Name your price.”
Ji Wujing turned and started to leave.
Chen He sighed, looking helplessly at Ji Wujing’s retreating figure, and called out, “Senior Brother.”
Ji Wujing hesitated for a moment before stopping, standing lazily without turning around.
“Go, play by yourself,” Chen He patted the white cat’s head and let it go. Then he looked at Ji Wujing’s back and said, “By now, lunch should be ready. Stay and eat with me. Even if you don’t want to, your sister-in-law might.”
Ji Wujing turned to look at Gu Jianli. Gu Jianli, looking a bit dazed, was clearly shocked by Chen He’s use of “Senior Brother.”
Ji Wujing indeed stayed for the meal with Gu Jianli.
Chen He, being quite familiar with Ji Wujing, had a variety of fish dishes prepared in different cooking styles on the table.
Chen He didn’t share meals with others. In front of him was only a bowl of plain porridge, which he ate elegantly, occasionally tearing off pieces of fish to feed the white cat nestled in his lap.
Ji Wujing, when eating fish, was always focused and silent. Gu Jianli, sitting beside him, only ate a little.
As Ji Wujing ate, he glanced at Chen He feeding the white cat across from him. He turned his head to Gu Jianli and said, “Even a cat gets its fish meat torn into pieces.”
Gu Jianli looked at him innocently for a moment, then put down her chopsticks and started tearing the fish into small pieces for Ji Wujing.
Chen He gave Gu Jianli a rather surprised look.
While Gu Jianli was busy tearing the fish, Ji Wujing lazily asked, “Who do you want killed?”
“The Emperor,” Chen He said casually, still feeding the cat, his expression unchanged.
Gu Jianli was so shocked that the piece of fish in her hand fell onto the table.
Is Chen He mad? Will she be silenced? Gu Jianli quickly lowered her head and picked up another piece of fish to tear.
Ji Wujing snorted with laughter, leaned back comfortably in his chair, and with an inscrutable expression, said, “Are you crazy?”
Then Ji Wujing suddenly put on a playful grin and said, “Do you know what the Xuanjing Sect is? I, Ji Zhao, work for the Emperor; I’m his dog.”
“Don’t insult dogs,” Chen He almost imperceptibly smiled and said gently, “Emperor Chang is obsessed with immortality. He’s consumed too many pills provided by the Eastern Bureau and doesn’t have many years left. This dynasty will inevitably change rulers soon. Rather than waiting for a new emperor to ascend the throne, why not take action proactively…”
“Not interested,” Ji Wujing interrupted Chen He rudely, showing no interest. “Do whatever you want, I’m not interested.”
Chen He continued, “Ji Chong died unjustly.”
Ji Wujing, growing impatient, threw his chopsticks down with an irritated tone, “Every emperor kills a few people; all the dead are unjustly treated.”
Chen He fell silent for a moment, then asked, “No room for negotiation?”
Ji Wujing leaned forward, resting his wrist on the table, getting a bit closer, and with a sly smile, said, “Don’t make yourself out to be a power-hungry official. You’re doing this for a woman.”
Chen He glanced at Gu Jianli again, then looked back at Ji Wujing, asking, “Shouldn’t your wife excuse herself?”
Suddenly, Gu Jianli gasped softly, frowning as she looked at her fingertip. Her delicate white fingertip had been pricked by a fish bone, with a bright red drop of blood forming on it.
“You scared her,” Ji Wujing glared coldly at Chen He.
He took Gu Jianli’s hand, put her finger in his mouth, and sucked the blood away. Gu Jianli’s hand smelled of fish, which was quite pleasant. Ji Wujing sniffed and licked her finger again.
Feeling extremely embarrassed with an outsider present, Gu Jianli pulled her hand back and stood up, saying, “My hands are dirty, I need to wash them.”
Ji Wujing looked a bit disappointed as he saw his empty hand but nodded nonetheless.
Gu Jianli stepped outside, realizing there was no one in the courtyard. Where could she wash her hands?
She inspected the room where they had just eaten. Typically, washing utensils would be kept in an adjacent side room. However, the architecture here differed from outside the palace; the side rooms weren’t attached but separated by an empty corridor. Given that Chen He could speak so openly about such things, the side rooms must be empty, ensuring no one overheard. Gu Jianli surmised that everyone had been sent away while Chen He and Ji Wujing discussed such confidential matters, leaving the entire courtyard deserted.
Gu Jianli approached the side room and knocked on the door, asking if anyone was inside. She waited but received no response. She tried pushing the door open.
The door wasn’t locked and opened easily.
In the next instant, a basin placed on the door fell, and a mass of dark objects along with some medicinal powder came down, covering Gu Jianli’s head and body.
The dark objects seemed to be… insects.
Gu Jianli’s scalp tingled with fear, and she let out a trembling scream.
A young eunuch ran in through the back door, and upon seeing the situation, his face turned pale with shock. Before he could even cry out, a flash of red streaked past him, swift as the wind.
Ji Wujing twisted his wrist, and a surge of powerful inner force struck the young eunuch, sending him flying out of the room with a tumultuous impact on his chest and abdomen.
The door was slammed shut by Ji Wujing’s inner force with a resounding “bang.”
Chen He leisurely approached, holding the white cat. He patted the cat’s head and said, “Don’t be afraid.”
The young eunuch, who had been knocked away, got up, rubbing his buttocks, and hurried over to Chen He with a pained expression. He said, “Oh no. Those fools who were playing tricks on the young palace maids ended up targeting the master’s wife!”
Chen He glanced at the closed door but remained silent.
The young eunuch bent over in front of Chen He and asked, “Director, wasn’t it said that the Xuanjing Sect’s master was gravely poisoned, his inner strength completely gone, and he had little time left? But just now, I was almost killed by his palm strike!”
“You believed what he said?” Chen He sneered.
He looked down at the cat in his arms, his gaze softening. He tapped the white cat’s head with his finger and said, “Xuetuan is the good one, don’t learn from your Uncle Ji. You can’t trust even half a sentence out of his ten.”
Inside the room, Gu Jianli was scared out of her wits. While insects aren’t particularly dangerous, few girls aren’t afraid of them, especially when they come crashing down on you like that.
It felt like her entire body was covered in insects.
“Insects, insects…” Gu Jianli was utterly terrified. Knowing that only Ji Wujing was in the room, she began frantically tearing at her clothes.
Ji Wujing hesitated for a moment before ripping her dress open with a strong pull.
Her fair skin and beautiful bones were like uncut jade.
Ji Wujing pulled her close, picking off two dead insects from her shoulder. He said, “They’re gone, and they were all dead.”
“There are more, there are more…” Gu Jianli cried, tears streaming down her face, her shoulders trembling. She reached back with a trembling hand, feeling itchy all over.
“Help me, please…” Gu Jianli sobbed.
Ji Wujing’s expression turned peculiar.
