The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

"Big Brother!" Cen Jiexiao couldn't help but shout out, wanting to chase after him and ask him what had happened and why he said such a thing. However, she had just taken a step when she was stopped by Chen Zigui's cold voice.

"Go back!" His voice was commanding and mixed with reluctance, which made Cen Jiexiao's heart tremble and her steps stopped involuntarily.

She stared blankly at Chen Zigui's retreating figure, her heart filled with unease and confusion. The eldest brother's behavior was truly unusual. What was he hiding? Did he know something?

After returning to the academy, Cen Jiexiao suppressed the turbulent emotions in her heart and immediately called Wu Cheng and several students who were proficient in arithmetic together. She solemnly placed the code book found in Li Yusheng's tent on the table.

"We found this in Li Yusheng's tent," she said hurriedly. "Let's see if we can decipher it."

Wu Cheng picked up the code book, flipped through it for a while, and his brows became more and more furrowed.

"Dean Cen, this password is unusual," he said solemnly, "It seems to be some ancient encryption method that I have never seen before."

A student also agreed: "Yes, there is no pattern in the arrangement of these symbols and numbers. It is very difficult to decipher."

Cen Jiexiao was extremely anxious, but she controlled her emotions and tried to speak calmly, "I know this is difficult, but we must decipher it as soon as possible. Li Yusheng has a vicious mind, and what he is secretly planning must be something serious. We must figure out his purpose before he acts, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous!"

"We understand, Dean Cen," Wu Cheng and several students answered in unison with a firm tone, "We will do our best to decipher the code as soon as possible!" They immediately began to study the code book with a focused look, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Meanwhile, Chen Zigui rode back to the palace. The night deepened, and the palace buildings seemed shrouded in a thin veil under the moonlight, appearing remarkably quiet. Chen Zigui dismounted, casually tossed the reins to the waiting guards, and headed straight for Chai Zhen's chambers. His pace was brisk, his clothes whipping up gusts of the night wind as he passed. His mind raced, his thoughts swirling. Cen Jiexiao's words and Li Yusheng's unusual behavior intertwined, making him increasingly uneasy.

Chen Zigui quickly ascended the white marble steps and arrived outside Chai Zhen's chambers. Two guards, clad in armor and wielding halberds, stood majestically on either side of the chamber door. Upon seeing Chen Zigui, one of them immediately lowered his halberd, bowed, and said, "Sir Chen." The other guard followed suit, his tone respectful.

Chen Zigui nodded slightly and asked, "Has the emperor gone to bed?" There was a hint of anxiety in his tone, and a trace of unconcealable worry between his brows.

"Your Excellency, the Emperor has not yet retired to bed," the guard replied respectfully. "He has just finished reviewing the memorials and is preparing to rest."

Chen Zigui nodded and said to the guard at the gate, "Your Majesty, I, Chen Zigui, have an important matter to discuss with you. Please let him know."

"Master Chen, please wait a moment. I will go in and report." After the guard said this, he turned and walked into the bedroom, gently closing the door.

Chen Zigui waited outside the palace, gazing up at the moonlit night sky. The darkness, dotted with stars, couldn't dispel the gloom that enveloped him. Li Yusheng's unusual behavior, Cen Jiexiao's worries, were like a tangled mess, tightly entwined in his heart, leaving him with waves of unease. He knew tonight would be a sleepless night, a matter of grave importance. He had to report this matter to the emperor as soon as possible and make a decisive decision.

Inside the palace, the guard walked up to Chai Zhen and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen requests an audience. He says he has something important to report."

Upon hearing this, Chai Zhen put down the scroll in his hand and asked, "Did Minister Chen say what it was about?"

"Your Majesty, Lord Chen did not explain." The guard replied respectfully.

"You've come so late at night, it must be something of great importance." Chai Zhen pondered for a moment, then said, "I summon you, my dear minister, to the throne."

"As you command." The guard obeyed the order, turned and left the bedroom, came to Chen Zigui, bowed and said, "Sir Chen, the emperor invites you in."

Chen Zigui nodded slightly, tidied up his slightly messy clothes, and walked into the bedroom.

The bedroom was brightly lit, warm as spring, a stark contrast to the chill outside. Chai Zhen was reclining on his bed, a scroll in his hand. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Chen Zigui. A smile crossed his face. "My dear, you have come here so late at night. What is the important matter?"

Chen Zigui stepped forward and bowed, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"My dear minister, please excuse me." Chai Zhen put down the book in his hand, sat up straight, and said in a gentle tone, "Tell me, what happened?"

"Your Majesty," Chen Zigui took a deep breath, suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "I suspect that Li Yusheng may have ulterior motives."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Chai Zhen's face instantly disappeared, replaced by a solemn expression, "Why do you say that, my dear?"

"I went to Li Yusheng's tent today to discuss matters," Chen Zigui said, pausing deliberately as if lost in thought. He lowered his head slightly, his eyelids obscuring the complex expression within, as if trying to calm his nerves, or searching his mind for the right words to convey what he was about to say.

Chai Zhen noticed that Chen Zigui's hands, placed on his knees, were clenched into fists, and his knuckles were slightly white from excessive force.

Silence stretched between the two of them. Chai Zhen did not urge him, but quietly waited for Chen Zigui's next words. He knew that if Chen Zigui had lost his composure like this, it must be something very serious.

Finally, Chen Zigui raised his head again and looked directly at Chai Zhen, his tone filled with barely concealed shock and disbelief. "Your Majesty, I dare to ask, do you know what Li Yusheng usually asks of his own tent?"

Chai Zhen was startled for a moment, then understood what Chen Zigui was trying to say. He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "Lord Li has always prided himself on being frugal. I've heard this before. He even sets an example in the army, strictly forbidding extravagance."

"That's right!" Chen Zigui suddenly raised his head, his tone filled with disbelief and a hint of subtle sarcasm. "But what I saw today is completely different from these rumors. It can even be said to be the exact opposite!"

He took a deep breath, as if to vent all the shock and anger in his heart. "As soon as I entered his tent, I was stunned by the scene before me. Your Majesty, do you know what I saw?"

Chen Zigui paused again at this point, as if giving Chai Zhen time to digest his thoughts, or as if brewing even greater emotions.

"Oh?" Chai Zhen's alert expression instantly appeared on his face, and he signaled Chen Zigui to continue.