Tianque’s blade was incredibly fast.
The surface didn’t even reflect light before it had already cut through Victor’s throat. Howard didn’t even have time to make a sound before his heart was pierced straight through.
Three bodies collapsed on the carpet of the cabinet meeting room, the smell of blood spreading rapidly...
The entire room fell silent.
The aristocrats who usually spoke so freely now shrank in their chairs, not daring to breathe loudly. Darren slumped beside the main seat, all color drained from his face, his lips trembling uncontrollably.
Jiang Lì Jìn stood still, her gaze sweeping over the bloodstains on the floor. On the surface, she was calm, but the fire inside her had not been extinguished.
Tianque stood beside the bodies, his black blade still dripping blood. The murderous intent in his crimson eyes had not diminished; in fact, it had grown fiercer. The oppressive aura radiating from him made several officials closest to him roll their eyes.
Tianyan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and stepped forward to hand it to Tianque, his green eyes devoid of warmth.
Jiang Lì Jìn closed her eyes, forcing down the surging emotions within her. It wasn’t time yet to completely flip the table...
“Clean up the bodies.” She looked coldly at Darren. “The vacant positions will be discussed tomorrow. Meeting adjourned.”
With that, she turned and walked out of the conference room.
The hovercar smoothly rose into the air.
The cabin felt suffocating. Tianyan and Tianque sat in the back row, silently staring out the window.
“Relax, the lives of those three old bastards aren’t even interest yet! Those nobles are rotten to the core... The bill isn’t settled yet.” Jiang Lì Jìn glanced at the back row.
They said nothing.
“The goal of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys has been achieved.” Chiron took over, his tone steady. “But with three core seats suddenly vacated in the cabinet, especially the Minister of Finance position that controls the empire’s lifeline, Darren will definitely seize the chance to push his own people up and muddy the waters further.”
Jiang Lì Jìn knew that well.
But she had just taken over this mess. Aside from those closest to her, she didn’t have a single trusted ally in the empire’s political sphere.
“Chiron, do you have anyone who can fill those spots?” Jiang Lì Jìn asked.
Chiron adjusted his glasses. “The people from the Academy of Sciences and the hospital are good at research, but they’re useless in politics. However, over the years, I’ve secretly sponsored civil officials from humble backgrounds. They’ve been consistently suppressed by the old aristocrats and have clean records. If promoted, their loyalty is guaranteed. But I need time to verify their current status and make sure they haven’t been infiltrated by Darren. After all, a cabinet seat isn’t child’s play. Once they sit in it, they’ll face endless scheming from the aristocratic factions.”
“Do it as soon as possible.” Jiang Lì Jìn tapped her fingers on her knee, rapidly running through the people she had met since arriving on the main planet.
Suddenly, a name popped into her head.
“Help me look into someone.” Jiang Lì Jìn looked at Chiron.
“Who?”
“Su Han.”
Chiron paused, surprise flashing in his gray eyes. “The customer service manager at the Female Protection Center? I remember her.”
“Yes, that’s her.” Jiang Lì Jìn recalled her several interactions with Su Han. “Su Han, I’ve observed her carefully. Whether facing high-level males or the aristocracy, she always maintains a backbone—no fawning servility. Most importantly, she’s a pragmatic person.”
Jiang Lì Jìn shifted her posture and continued, “The empire is full of hereditary aristocrats waiting to die on the job! She doesn’t lack ability—she lacks opportunity. The aristocracy has monopolized the path for advancement. Someone like her, climbing up from the bottom, would spend her whole life just as a clerk. But if I give her a ladder, she’ll outperform anyone!”
“This woman definitely has the capability, but I don’t know her background yet.” Jiang Lì Jìn leaned back in her seat. “If her history is clean and she’s willing to work with me, I can leave her a spot as Minister of Internal Affairs or Minister of Finance.”
Tianyan couldn’t help but chuckle from the back row. “Boss, this is quite the unconventional promotion. A customer service manager straight into the cabinet? Darren and those old fossils are probably fuming blood right now!”
“Good, let them choke on it.” Jiang Lì Jìn’s tone was casual. “I’m all about breaking the rules. That aristocracy’s culture of seniority and hierarchy doesn’t work with me.”
Chiron called up his light brain, inputting commands with one hand. “I’ll have the Academy’s intelligence network investigate her. I’ll include her family relationships and financial transactions going back three generations. I’ll have the results by tomorrow morning at the latest.”
The hovercar stopped in front of the villa.
As soon as they pushed open the door, Tinia rushed over. He immediately noticed the abnormal state of the group, especially the smell of blood that hadn’t completely faded from Tianque.
Tinia dropped his usual playful demeanor, quickly walking over to Jiang Lì Jìn, his blue eyes full of alertness. “What happened? Did sister get hurt? Did those old bastards in the cabinet give you trouble? I’ll go confiscate their family assets!”
Jiang Lì Jìn felt her nerves relax at his protective attitude.
“Confiscating assets is already taken care of. It’s not your turn.” Jiang Lì Jìn ruffled his blonde head with her hand. “Go call Rowan down to wash up and get ready for dinner.”
Tinia obediently responded and went upstairs to knock on the door.
Soon, he came down holding Rowan’s hand. When Rowan saw Jiang Lì Jìn, her eyes lit up, and she toddled over to hug her leg.
“Sister, you’re back.” Rowan looked up with a face full of attachment.
Jiang Lì Jìn bent down to pick her up, stroked her red hair, and led her to the dining table.
She looked around at everyone in the room. Sighing, she thought these noisy people were a handful, but somehow, in this unfamiliar interstellar world, she had carved out a territory for herself—a group she could call family, who she could trust with her life.
...
The night grew deep.
After her bath, Jiang Lì Jìn changed into a silk robe and sat cross-legged on the sofa in her bedroom. Before her, a holographic projection displayed Su Han’s personal information.
Chiron had moved fast. In less than two hours, he had dug up Su Han’s entire life history.
Born in the slums, she had excelled in her studies and was admitted to the Imperial Academy of Administration. After graduation, without connections, she was assigned as a low-level clerk at the Female Protection Center. Through over a decade of hard work and sheer cunning, she clawed her way to the position of customer service manager.
This woman had no family entanglements—her only weakness was her younger brother, who suffered from a genetic defect. To pay for his exorbitant medical bills, she worked year-round without rest, willing to give everything.
She had a weakness, ambition, and she was smart enough.
Jiang Lì Jìn scrolled through the virtual screen with her fingers, a satisfied smile curling at the corners of her lips. An excellent ally!
Just as she was plotting how to bring Su Han into the cabinet, the bedroom door was knocked.
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Tianyan and Tianque walked in.
This was the first time the twins had set foot in her private quarters.
The room was filled with Jiang Lì Jìn’s scent, mixed with the moisture from her bath, making the breaths of two 3S-level males unconsciously deepen.
Tianyan wore a black shirt, his collar open, revealing his collarbone. Tianque was still in his combat gear, but the smell of blood had been washed away, replaced by a faint hint of body wash.
“Boss, we’re not disturbing you, are we?” Tianyan closed the door behind him, his green eyes sweeping across the room before landing on Jiang Lì Jìn.
“Something up?” Jiang Lì Jìn turned off the holographic projection, her gaze flickering over the two of them.
Two identical faces, one shimmering with a smile, the other as cold as ice.
"Here to report on work." Tianyan walked over and sat down on the sofa, his posture relaxed. "Tianque has reassigned the elite shadow guard squad from the black market to handle perimeter security. It’ll make it easier for the divine shield to follow you when you go out."
Tianque remained standing beside the sofa, his gaze fixed on Jiang Lijin’s slightly damp hair.
"Mm." Jiang Lijin stood up and walked over to the sofa. "Daron is still keeping watch. Once we push Su Han up, stabilize the finance and internal affairs, and reshuffle the power structure, then we’ll head back to Guixu to take a look."
"Whatever you say." Tianyan nodded.
With the official matters settled, the room fell silent.
There was something subtle and unspoken in that quietness...
Jiang Lijin looked at them and raised an eyebrow. "Is there something else?"
