According to what his mother, Lu Xinrou, had told him, Minister of Works Chen Wei was a descendant of the founding Duke of Luguo.
Clearly born into a noble family, yet as a youth he ignored his family’s objections and resolutely joined the army!
He started as a common soldier in the Dingnan Army. At that time, friction between Great Qian and Nanzhao Kingdom was constant, and Chen Wei fought through countless battles before rising all the way to the position of Left Adjutant General of the Dingnan Army’s Central Route!
Later, in one battle, he was severely injured and had no choice but to leave the army.
Because the Duke of Luguo Chen family had a hereditary skill in mechanical arts, and Emperor Qian also wanted to placate the Chen family, Chen Wei was made Minister of Works.
He was frank, loyal, and righteous. In his bones, he was still that Dingnan Army adjutant general, not a Minister of Works!
As Bai Zhao studied Chen Wei, Chen Wei was also studying Bai Zhao.
The young man before him wore a wide-sleeved black robe with cloud patterns. His hair was tied high with a white jade crown, and a jade belt circled his waist with pendants hanging from it. He was handsome, elegant, refined, noble, cool, and carried a hint of carefree, unruly youthful spirit.
Just by looks alone, there was nothing to complain about!
And judging from the boy’s performance today in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, either he had been hiding his talents and tarnishing his own reputation back then, or he had grown up and changed his nature!
No matter which it was, Chen Wei thought it was a good thing!
“Hello, Uncle Chen!”
Bai Zhao first clasped his hands toward Chen Wei and greeted him.
After all, in court just now, Chen Wei was the only civil official who had spoken up for him. And he was also the father of his so-called fiancée, so the proper respect had to be shown!
Chen Wei impatiently waved a hand, signaling Bai Zhao not to bother with such empty formalities.
“Boy, you recognized me? I’m asking you, are you confident about this assignment His Majesty gave you?
Your father isn’t in the capital. Your mother is just a woman. Your Bai family doesn’t build cliques.
I, as Minister of Works, still have some scholars and retainers under me. If you need help, just say the word.
This matter concerns the face of Great Qian. Don’t take it lightly! Great Qian is the center of the world, a holy land of culture. In recent years, literary circles have been weak, and I’m afraid the Yan Kingdom is coming with bad intentions this time!”
Seeing that Chen Wei’s concern was genuine even though he kept calling himself “I,” Bai Zhao felt a little warmth in his heart and replied.
“Thank you for your concern, Uncle Chen. Please don’t worry. The Yan Kingdom has only been established for a little over a hundred years. Your nephew still has some confidence!
Besides, His Majesty wouldn’t place all his trust in me alone! Didn’t His Majesty say that the Fourth Prince would be coordinating with me? I believe His Majesty will naturally arrange a good backup plan.”
Hearing Bai Zhao speak so calmly, Chen Wei gradually relaxed and said with a self-mocking laugh.
“You’re pretty sharp, kid. You really see things clearly. I’ve been in court all these years, and I’m not even as clear-headed as a little kid like you!”
Bai Zhao smiled and replied.
“Uncle Chen, that’s not fair. You were just worried about me and didn’t think that far ahead yet.”
Chen Wei waved his hand, pretending to be impatient, but his voice carried a hint of pleasure.
“Enough, enough. Stop with the empty talk. You’re nothing like your father.
I think you’re better suited for official circles anyway, all those twists, turns, and flattery!
Since you’ve got it all figured out, I’m relieved. When you have time, come to my estate and I’ll test your skills!
Your mother must have told you about our marriage contract. Come by when you’re free and see my daughter Shuyi. That girl used to mention you often when she was little, but she hardly mentions you anymore. Strange!”
Bai Zhao awkwardly rubbed his nose.
Chen Shuyi clearly stopped mentioning him because Bai Zhao had scared her away. It seemed she hadn’t complained to her father.
Otherwise, Bai Zhao felt Chen Wei probably wouldn’t be standing here talking to him so calmly, and certainly wouldn’t be worrying about whether he could handle the assignment Emperor Qian had arranged.
If Chen Wei had known, with that temper of his, he probably would have come to beat Bai Zhao up back then!
Sigh, what a sin!
Bai Zhao felt awkward, but he had no choice but to steel himself and speak.
“Uncle Chen is right. Yesterday, my mother already told me about the marriage contract. I’ve only just returned to the capital, so once I’m more familiar with things, I’ll visit your estate to pay respects to you and Miss Chen.”
“Mm, fine. I’m leaving. No need to see me out.”
Chen Wei nodded in satisfaction, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked out of the palace.
Watching Chen Wei’s back, Bai Zhao felt a bit irritated.
Sigh, if only he had known back then that this little girl was engaged to him, he wouldn’t have scared her!
Now it seemed that the little girl had already known about it back then. No wonder she had ignored both the Eldest Prince and the Fourth Prince and just kept following behind him!
Back then he had even wondered: with his awful behavior as a child, everyone else avoided him like the plague, so why had this little girl quietly kept following him? He had even thought his charisma was just that strong!
Now it seemed this little girl was a traditional woman, and she had been treating him as her future husband!
Later, when he had leered at her and tried to grab and kiss her, it was probably because it violated propriety that the little girl got scared and ran away. Sigh, the evil feudal society!
Now he could only hope that this little girl had been scared off by him and didn’t intend to carry out the marriage contract. Otherwise, considering Chen Wei’s temper and his own mother’s attitude, this matter was probably doomed!
The key point was that she hadn’t even provoked him. Her father, Chen Wei, had helped him today and shown great concern in his words. With Bai Zhao’s personality, he really felt too embarrassed to break off the engagement!
But he also didn’t want to get married so early, and he didn’t understand the grown-up Chen Shuyi at all. For her to become his fiancée so muddle-headedly was something this modern man found hard to accept!
He silently let out another long sigh and walked along Vermilion Bird Avenue toward the outside of the Imperial City.
Damn it, I’m annoyed. I might as well go see what it feels like to listen to music in one of those old pleasure quarters and treat it as a way to relax!
…
Today’s court session, where Bai Zhao sharply rebuked the censor, spread through the upper circles of Chang’an after court adjourned.
In particular, Bai Zhao’s lines “Water can carry a boat, and it can also overturn it” and “If a son is not taught properly, it is the father’s fault” amazed everyone!
Had the Bai family Heir awakened? As a child he had been ignorant and unlearned, yet now he had such profound insight. That was truly remarkable.
Inside Zhaochun Palace, Jiang Wushuang listened to the intelligence Ningxiang had gathered from Xiao Dezi, who served beside Emperor Qian. She silently repeated those two lines, and her narrow, beautiful eyes shone with brilliance as she thoughtfully said.
“It seems my judgment back then was right. You really are not simple. So now you’re no longer pretending? Interesting~”
…
Inside the Chen family’s lodging at the Duke of Luguo’s estate, in Changxing Ward of Chang’an’s Third Ring.
After returning home from court, Chen Wei entered the inner courtyard and immediately saw his wife and daughter having breakfast.
Chen Shuyi wore a lake-blue wide-sleeved gown and a gauze outer robe embroidered with silver thread. Her hairpins and step ornaments were all silver.
Her fair oval face had two blushes from the cold morning wind. Beneath her delicate nose, a beautifully shaped cherry mouth was elegantly sipping porridge.
Beside her sat Liu Xiuhe, wearing a silver-green brocade outer robe. She was graceful and elegant, with the bearing of a proper young lady from a distinguished family.
When Chen Shuyi saw her father return, her clear, bright deer-like eyes turned toward him, and she said softly, “Father, you’ve worked hard. Daughter thinks you must be hungry. Hurry and sit down to eat with Mother.”
Madam Liu also quickly stood and instructed the servants to add bowls and chopsticks.
Chen Wei looked at his wife and daughter with a smile and said loudly, “Madam, Shuyi, guess who I saw at morning court today?”
Madam Liu and Chen Shuyi both looked at Chen Wei in confusion.
“I saw that boy from the Bai family! He was the star of the Hall of Supreme Harmony today!”
Chen Wei said happily. Then, as if remembering something, he turned to Madam Liu with a trace of shame.
“Madam, you really had foresight back then and settled this marriage contract early. I argued with you a lot over this matter back then. I truly shouldn’t have!”
Back then, Chen Wei had admired Bai Yuan for following Bai Zhancang at a young age to help save the nation in its time of crisis, thinking that a hero’s son would surely be heroic too.
Coincidentally, his own wife had been close friends with Bai Zhao’s mother, Lu Xinrou, when they were in Jiangnan, so under Liu Xiuhe’s encouragement, he had gone to propose the match.
Bai Yuan also felt his son needed a father-in-law without much real power, and he knew Chen Wei well: loyal to the ruler, patriotic, and a man of strong feelings. Since Liu Xiuhe was also an old acquaintance of his wife, he agreed.
But when Bai Zhao grew up and hid his talents by tarnishing his own reputation, his name became truly awful.
Chen Wei regretted it deeply and often argued with Liu Xiuhe about it at home. Under Chen Wei’s complaints, Chen Shuyi also stopped mentioning Bai Zhao to her father.
“Oh? What did that boy from the Bai family do to make my husband think so much better of him?”
Liu Xiuhe looked at her husband in surprise.
Chen Shuyi’s innocent deer-like eyes also turned curiously toward her father.
Then Chen Wei gave a detailed account of what Bai Zhao had done today in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, smiling the whole time and speaking with great excitement.
Listening to her father praise Bai Zhao, Chen Shuyi was truly shocked by Bai Zhao’s performance.
“Has he changed from when he was little? Did the heavens hear my prayers and make my future husband grow into someone capable? Hmm, not sure. I’ll wait until he comes to visit and then take another look!”
Chen Shuyi felt a little unsettled.
Liu Xiuhe looked at her husband with amusement and said, “What? You don’t blame me anymore for setting that marriage contract back then and ruining our daughter’s life?
Look at how proud you are! It’s as if the Bai Heir is already your son-in-law!”
Chen Wei, somewhat embarrassed, took the bowls and chopsticks handed to him by a servant and stubbornly said, “It’s only a matter of time. Both his parents have agreed. Can he still run away?”
Liu Xiuhe turned her beautiful eyes gently toward her daughter and asked softly, “Shuyi, what do you think of the Bai family Heir now?”
Chen Shuyi lowered her little head slightly and said quietly, “Daughter thinks we should wait and see. After all, this was only one incident, and it’s still hard to be sure what kind of person the Bai family Heir really is. Is that all right, Mother?”
Heaven knew how much strength it took for her to say those words. She was a traditional woman, bound by strict propriety since childhood.
Although Chen Wei doted on her, women of this era were all like that, and Chen Wei himself was also a traditional male chauvinist.
But as she grew up and saw all kinds of women, she suddenly began to resent this oppression and restraint. She didn’t want to be married off in a daze to some wastrel from the past. Unless there was no other choice, she still hoped Bai Muran would change and not be like he was as a child.
Liu Xiuhe and Chen Wei exchanged a look, both surprised that their daughter could say something like that, since she had always been obedient.
But after thinking about it a little, they felt she had a point, so they nodded in agreement. The three of them continued their breakfast…
At this time, inside Duke Dingguo’s Estate, two streets away from the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate.
After parting with his brother-in-law Du Ruhai, Wang Qianshan returned to his courtyard with a dark expression.
“Father, what happened? Did something occur at morning court?”
Wang Xiao, the Wang family’s eldest son, who had come to pay his respects after hearing the news, saw his father’s gloomy aura and asked carefully.
Wang Qianshan angrily told his eldest son what had happened today, saying with fury.
“I thought that at morning court today, using your brother, that brainless fool, as an excuse, I could strip that Bai family bastard of his Heir status!
Who would have thought that brat would suddenly turn from an ignorant and unlearned waste into a talented young man who can recite whole passages on the spot!
That old man surnamed Yan was useless too, completely silenced by a sixteen-year-old boy! He’s lived all those years for nothing!”
Wang Xiao had inherited his parents’ good genes and also had a handsome face.
But his upward-slanting sanpaku eyes added a touch of malice. Once he put on a dark expression, he looked like a venomous snake hiding in the shadows!
After listening to his father’s account and seeing his father’s anger, Wang Xiao curled his lips into a cruel smile and said in a sinister voice to Wang Qianshan.
“Father, don’t be anxious. Bai Zhao’s wastrel reputation was number one in Chang’an back then! I don’t believe he suddenly became someone like this. I suspect someone is giving him advice from behind the scenes!
Fortunately, His Majesty is having that boy work with the Fourth Prince to receive the Yan Kingdom’s delegation, right? When the time comes, I’ll go with the Fourth Prince and find a way to make things difficult for him! Let’s see how he reveals his true colors!
If he botches His Majesty’s assignment, not only will he be disgraced, but His Majesty’s punishment will also be unavoidable.
Even if, by some chance, that Bai family boy really has ability or someone is advising him, we’ll have plenty of chances to strike later. If we kill a few people at random, that boy, as the person in charge, won’t be able to escape the consequences!
But Father, do you think that boy is really capable? In my opinion, there’s an eighty percent chance someone is giving him pointers from behind.”
Wang Xiao’s words were vicious. When he mentioned killing a few people, his expression was casual, as if he had just crushed a few ants. Clearly, he was cold-hearted and treated human life like weeds.
After hearing Wang Xiao’s words, Wang Qianshan stroked his chin. The more he thought, the brighter his eyes became, and he looked at his eldest son with satisfaction.
“Mm, worthy of being the treasured son of my Wang family! Hearing you say that, I also think that boy’s performance today was far too strange!
You’re right. When the time comes to meet the delegation, let’s see how he handles it! You and the Fourth Prince should discuss this carefully. The Fourth Prince also dislikes that boy, doesn’t he?
But unless absolutely necessary, don’t move against the delegation’s people. My Wang family cannot be openly involved in this matter. If possible, don’t even contact the group in the shadows. I feel His Majesty has been investigating them all along. You should understand the stakes!”
After praising his eldest son once, Wang Qianshan warned him in a low voice.
Wang Xiao naturally knew what was going on and nodded.
“Father, rest assured. I know what matters and what doesn’t. Unless it becomes absolutely necessary, I won’t use such a last resort. Even if I do use that group, I’ll erase all traces and leave not a single clue behind!”
“Good. Notify the servants. I want to eat. These days, the emperor has ordered me to confine myself at home and reflect, so I’m leaving these matters to you. Handle them well. Don’t disappoint me!”
“Yes, I will not disappoint Father. I’ll help Father vent his anger!”
Wang Xiao bowed and withdrew from the room.
What they didn’t know was that many people were aware of the secret contact group they thought was so hidden.
For example…
The Wang family’s young master, Wang Li!
At this moment, Wang Li was thinking hard about how to get Chuntao into his hands and frame his elder brother!
Thinking it over and over, he remembered the group of people his father and elder brother had once contacted!
Back then, when he came out of Yunchun Brothel, he happened to see his father and elder brother turning into an alley. Curious, he secretly followed them and discovered a huge secret!
He knew the leader of those black-clad masked men had sensed him! But that black-clad man didn’t expose him on the spot.
Using his not-so-bright brain, Wang Li felt that black-clad man probably didn’t dare make a fuss, after all, what they were talking about was a serious matter!
So Wang Li felt he could use his elder brother’s identity to order that group of people to abduct Chuntao! Even if they were found out, it wouldn’t matter! In any case, it would be traced back to his elder brother too!
Mm, decided so happily! Hahaha!
Wang Li laughed madly to himself in his heart.
This unlucky kid never considered that if anything else were uncovered, and the whole clan were implicated, could he really escape?
All that could be said was: dragging his family down with him.