The rear hall of the Chen Estate was so silent that Not a Crow or Sparrow is Heard. The two names 'Jiao Tu' and 'Yun Yang' were like two sharp blades piercing into Chen Liqin's chest. For a time, his Vital Energy and Blood surged, and his entire body felt weak and powerless.
Madam Liang stood up to support him, asking in a low voice, "Master, perhaps it's not any major matter?"
Chen Liqin sighed in his heart. Jiao Tu and Yun Yang were members of the Twelve Zodiacs. For two Zodiacs to visit simultaneously, it was absolutely bound to be an earth-shattering matter. How could ordinary, trivial matters possibly alarm them into taking action?
He deliberated again and again before instructing the manservant, "Invite them in..."
Before his voice even fell, a frivolous voice drifted over from afar outside the doors: "No need to invite us; we've already come in. It's a rare sight for Lord Chen to be so polite and courteous to our Directorate of Ceremonial; it truly makes one feel surprised. Previously, I was even worried Lord Chen wouldn't let us through the doors."
Everyone in the rear hall looked over simultaneously, only to see Yun Yang in front and Jiao Tu behind. Unhurriedly and leisurely, the two of them walked straight through the archway, heading directly for the rear hall.
Yun Yang was dressed entirely in black martial attire, which accentuated his fair and handsome facial features.
He held an envelope in his right hand, leisurely tapping it against the palm of his left hand. He looked like a noble, scholarly young master holding an invitation to attend a banquet.
Yun Yang looked into the rear hall with a beaming smile. "Yo, there are so many people. Could you all possibly be discussing some major matter? Lord Chen, we have arrived at somewhat of an inopportune time. How about we come back and visit another day?"
He stopped in front of the doors, looking at the couplets of the Chen Estate's rear hall. Muttering to himself, he read, "When one's writing flows smoothly, one's fortune will flow smoothly... Lord Chen, your writing's flow might not be able to make your fortune flow smoothly."
Chen Liqin's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the envelope in the other party's hand... It was exactly as expected: those who have come are surely not coming with good intentions.
He instructed Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, Madam Liang, and the others in a low voice, "I must discuss important matters with Lord Jiao Tu and Lord Yun Yang. All of you, step down."
"Hold on!" Yun Yang said with a beaming smile. "Lord Chen, the matters we need to discuss are nothing shameful that cannot be seen by others. Everyone can stay and listen."
Chen Liqin's expression darkened.
Yun Yang said with keen interest, "Will Lord Chen not reward us with a cup of tea to drink?"
Madam Liang hurriedly stood up, walked outward, and raised her hand to gesture to the maids. "Brew tea for our guests."
Yun Yang nodded in satisfaction. Glancing around, he discovered there was only one empty chair left, so he turned and stared intently at Chen Wenxiao.
Only when Chen Wenxiao stood up and made way did he finally utter a word of thanks. Smiling, he beckoned to Jiao Tu, "Jiao Tu, come take a seat."
When Yun Yang's gaze swept past Chen Ji, it didn't linger. Chen Ji also didn't look at them. He merely stared at the roof beams in the rear hall without uttering a single word, not knowing what he was thinking about.
From the corner of his eye, Yun Yang cast another glance at him, then turned and asked Chen Liqin curiously, "Lord Chen, what major matter was the Chen Estate discussing just now? Could you tell us so we can listen?"
Chen Wenzong said in a cold voice, "Where is there any logic or propriety in guests coming to the host's house and inquiring about their family affairs? If your Directorate of Ceremonial intends to make things difficult for us, you can just state your intentions explicitly; there's no need to put on airs and strike grand poses here."
Yun Yang raised his eyebrows. "Yi, can't I even just ask? Could it be that the Chen Estate has some shameful secrets? Our Secret Spy Division patrols and hunts on behalf of the Emperor, shouldering His Majesty's burdens and worries. The family affairs of all civil and military officials in the imperial court are state affairs. What is there that we cannot ask?"
Chen Wenzong replied angrily, "You..."
Fearing her son would infuriate the Eunuch Faction, Madam Liang hurriedly returned to the room and pulled Chen Wenzong aside.
She explained to Yun Yang with a smile, "Your two Lordships, what we were discussing just now was merely family affairs. When the third son of our Chen Estate was young, he was mischievous and unmanageable, and had once become tainted by the vile habit of gambling. Now that he has suddenly acquired a sum of money, as a mother, I worried he would repeat his past mistakes. Thus, I wanted him to deposit this sum of money in the Chen Estate's communal funds, lest he squander it recklessly again."
As if Suddenly Realizing the truth, Jiao Tu let out an "Oh". "Is this third son of the Chen Estate of yours named Chen Wenxiao?"
Madam Liang froze. "Your Lordship has made a mistake. This third son of my Chen Estate is named Chen Ji. Look, he's the one standing right by the doors."
Jiao Tu cast a puzzled glance at Yun Yang. "That's not right, is it?"
Yun Yang also became puzzled. "It's indeed not right!"
Seeing the two act in such a manner, Chen Liqin suddenly became utterly confused. "What are you two Lordships talking about?"
Standing up with a smile, Yun Yang handed over the envelope in his hand. "Lord Chen, why don't you first take a look at the item inside this envelope."
Chen Liqin reached out to take it, but the moment he touched the envelope, Yun Yang pulled it back again.
Looking at Madam Liang, Yun Yang joked, "Madam, does the estate have any Angong Niuhuang Pills (a traditional medicine for reviving the unconscious)? You must prepare some for Lord Chen, lest he faints from pure anger after reading the contents of the letter."
Chen Liqin gave an angry, cold snort. "Whether Lord Yun Yang wants to kill or slice me into pieces, do as you please. But there's truly no need to mock and banter with this official in such a manner!"
He snatched the envelope away from Yun Yang's hands. Shaking open the piece of paper to take a look, his brows instantly relaxed and unfurled.
It wasn't the Anti-Rebel Manifesto he had written for Mister Feng!
As long as it wasn't that, everything was fine!
However, when he continued reading further down, his expression turned solemn and heavy once again.
While reading the paper, Chen Liqin swept his gaze toward Chen Wenxiao on the side.
As he kept reading, he suddenly bellowed fiercely at Chen Wenxiao, "Look at the 'good deeds' you've done!"
Completely baffled, Madam Liang hurriedly moved forward and asked, "What's wrong, Master? Why are you losing your temper at our son for no reason?"
Chen Liqin threw the piece of paper into Madam Liang's embrace. "Look for yourself! This is the result of you doting on him day in and day out!"
Chen Wenxiao originally also didn't understand the situation, but upon hearing this, he finally remembered what he had once written for the Secret Spy Division. His face instantly turned deathly pale!
He subconsciously cast a glance at Chen Ji, then turned to look at Chen Liqin. "Father, I was forced to write it down at the time! I never committed any of those deeds!"
"Oh?" Jiao Tu said playfully. "Does Young Master Chen mean to imply that our Secret Spy Division once extorted a confession from you through torture? Might I ask, did you sustain any injuries on your body at the time?"
Chen Wenxiao whispered timidly, "N-no."
Jiao Tu uttered a light 'yi' sound. "Then that's truly strange. Without any injuries on your body, how did we force you to write this written confession? You mustn't falsely accuse us now. Otherwise, we'll have to arrest you again and re-verify everything."
Chen Liqin glared fiercely at Chen Wenxiao. "Stop trying to quibble and argue your way out of this!"
It was only when he saw this written confession that he suddenly understood: it turned out all the terrible deeds attributed to Chen Ji over these past years were nothing but dirty water splashed onto him by Chen Wenxiao.
Had Chen Ji ever tried to explain? Naturally, he had. But at that time when Chen Ji cried out his grievances, he hadn't believed him in the slightest.
And now, with Chen Wenxiao confessing everything clearly in the written confession, the Truth Comes Out.
Chen Liqin's face shifted between green and red; for a time, he didn't know what to do.
Looking at his father and then at his mother, Chen Wenzong suddenly became puzzled. "What written confession did Wenxiao write?"
Saying that, he leaned over, wanting to take a look.
However, Madam Liang quickly folded up the written confession. Acting as if nothing was wrong, she said, "This does not concern you. Wenzong, Chen Ji, you two step down first."
"Wait, Chen Ji?" Jiao Tu stood up and asked in confusion. "Previously, Madam stated that the third son of the Chen Estate is named Chen Ji. Yet it clearly states on this written confession that Chen Wenxiao framed Chen Ji for all of his gambling debts... Hey, brat, is your name Chen Ji?"
Chen Ji froze for a moment. "I am."
Jiao Tu clicked her tongue twice. "Shouldering such a massive black wok (taking the blame) for your own older brother, how truly unlucky. We actually also heard rumors earlier that the Chen Estate had an unfilial Concubine's Son whose nature was indiscriminately addicted to gambling, yet who would've thought it was all just a frame-up."
Chen Ji abruptly turned his head to look at Madam Liang, then after a moment looked at Chen Liqin, asking in utter disbelief, "Lord Chen, is what Lord Jiao Tu said true?"
Hearing this "Lord Chen", Chen Liqin felt another stab of pain in his heart. "It is..."
Madam Liang hurriedly grabbed his arm. "Master, this is an ugly scandal of our Chen Estate; word of this absolutely must not spread outward any further."
Chen Liqin flicked his sleeve, throwing Madam Liang to the side. He asked angrily, "How long are you going to keep showing favoritism to Chen Wenxiao? They've already come knocking on our doors holding his written confession to interrogate and condemn us, yet you still think this matter can be covered up?"
Smiling with narrowed eyes, Yun Yang began to play the role of peacemaker. "Lord Chen, please do not misunderstand. Originally, before evacuating Luo City, we were just cleaning out our documents and inadvertently stumbled upon this written confession. Lord Chen loves the common people as if they were his own children. Since arriving in Luo City, you have personally attended to every matter to the best of your ability, managing Luo City in perfect, orderly condition. This has caused us to harbor deep admiration for you. Upon discovering this written confession, the two of us felt we shouldn't keep such an item, so we specially came to return it. We absolutely have no intention of interrogating or condemning you. Ultimately, our Secret Spy Division doesn't handle this kind of matter anyway."
Chen Liqin remained silently speechless.
He kept feeling that today's matters were somewhat bizarre and peculiar. Yun Yang and Jiao Tu acted as if they had come here specifically and expressly to stick up for Chen Ji. And they just happened to choose this very matter, at this exact time.
He couldn't be clearer on exactly what kind of ruthless and vicious figures the Secret Spy Division's Twelve Zodiacs were. As for the other party claiming they returned the written confession because they admired him? He didn't believe a single word of it.
But here was the crux of the problem: what kind of grand figures were the Twelve Zodiacs under the Inner Chancellor? Why would they make a special trip specifically to stick up for Chen Ji?
The more Chen Liqin thought about it, the more confused and utterly bewildered he became.
At this time, Yun Yang clasped his hands. "Since the written confession has been delivered, we two shall not disturb you any further. Bidding you farewell."
Having said that, he suddenly took a step forward, leaned close to Chen Liqin's ear, and said in an extremely quiet voice, "Lord Chen, do you still remember what you once wrote in Prince Jing's Estate? The things our Secret Spy Division knows are perhaps far more numerous than you could ever imagine."
Chen Liqin's expression changed drastically!
So it turned out the other party genuinely knew about this matter! The Anti-Rebel Manifesto had truly, genuinely fallen into the hands of the Secret Spy Division. Their delivering the confession this time was merely a pretense; their true objective was actually to come knocking on his door to subtly warn and intimidate him.
Lowering his voice, Chen Liqin asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"
In reality, Yun Yang had absolutely no idea what exactly Chen Liqin had written. It was entirely Chen Ji who had instructed them to say this. He also hadn't expected that Chen Liqin would have such an intense reaction upon hearing these words.
But the play still had to go on.
With a spurious smile that wasn't quite a smile, Yun Yang said, "Lord Chen, we haven't quite figured out exactly what we want to do for the time being. Once we figure it out, we will come and tell you. Jiao Tu, let's go."
He turned around and left, with Jiao Tu following behind him.
When she walked past Chen Ji by the doorway, with her back facing everyone else, she asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Lord Chen, how was my performance? If you're satisfied, you must give me a reward."
Before Chen Ji could produce any reaction, Jiao Tu had already departed with a light laugh.
In the rear hall of the Chen Estate, a dead silence reigned; only Chen Liqin's heavy breathing could be heard.
A moment later, Chen Liqin said angrily, "Wang Gui! Drag Chen Wenxiao out and give him twenty heavy strokes with the wooden board! After the beating, drag him into the ancestral hall and make him kneel! Have him kneel for an entire day and night before we say anything more!"
Hearing this, Madam Liang hurriedly grabbed Chen Liqin's arm. "Master, he still has to attend the poetry gathering with Wenzong tomorrow. If you beat him with twenty heavy strokes of the board, how will he be able to go?"
Chen Liqin was trembling with rage, his beard quivering. He gave three cold sneers. "What time is it now, and he still wants to attend a poetry gathering? He isn't worthy! Chen Ji bore so many ugly reputations on his behalf all these years; how innocent was Chen Ji in all this? Wang Gui, what are you standing there staring blankly for? Hurry up and drag Chen Wenxiao away for me!"
Madam Liang sobbed, "Master, you cannot do this! He will be heading to the Capital City for the Imperial Examination very soon. What if you beat him until he's broken and crippled?"
Chen Liqin exploded with overwhelming fury. "Imperial Examination? I am writing a letter to the Capital City right this instant to request the Education Commissioner to submit a memorial to the throne, stripping him of his Juren Official Honors!"
Madam Liang was inexplicably horrified and shocked.
She stopped her sobbing, turned to face Chen Ji, and postured as if she was going to kneel down. "Chen Ji, please forgive your older brother! He was merely muddleheaded in a moment of weakness!"
Chen Ji raised his eyebrows and dodged to the side with a flash. This Ning Dynasty used filial piety to govern morality and societal order; if he truly let Madam Liang kneel to him, his reputation would be completely ruined in the future.
Fortunately, Chen Wenzong supported his mother by the side in the nick of time, shouting angrily, "What is Mother doing? Wenxiao committed a mistake, so he naturally ought to be punished!"
Chen Wenxiao's eyes widened. "Older Brother?!"
Chen Ji looked up at Chen Liqin. Clasping his hands in a polite greeting, he asked, "Lord Chen, how Chen Wenxiao is punished is the Chen Estate's family affair, and the decision rests solely with you. I merely wish to ask, now that the Truth Comes Out, do I still need to hand over that sum of silver?"
Chen Liqin remained silent for a long time before saying dejectedly, "No need anymore."
Chen Ji clasped his hands and bowed. "Then I shall return to rest. Taking my leave."
(End of this chapter)