Chapter 406 - 256: He Is My Son
Chapter 406: Chapter 256: He Is My Son
"Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d have to kneel before our ancestral tablets and confess my failures."
The Elder Master said this self-deprecatingly.
But Xiao Jing knew it wasn’t that the Xiao Family was poor at managing its assets; they simply chose not to.
If the Xiao Family Patriarchs over the generations had wanted to do so, they wouldn’t have just a single plot of land in Tonglin.
They would have long ago been like some of the other Noble Families, appearing to have exhausted their wealth when, in reality, they had used it all to acquire farmland.
It was said that the family of a certain minister in the court did exactly this.
They appeared to live frugally, but the family’s land holdings amounted to thousands upon thousands of acres.
After a century of inheritance, the silver coins in their cellars were piled mountain-high.
After a moment of silence,
The Elder Master leaned back in his chair and waved a hand, gesturing for him to rise.
"Have you investigated what happened today?"
Xiao Jing rose and replied, "It’s been thoroughly investigated."
"The two who died... one was Lv Jiunan, the other was named Ge Muxiao. They were both horse bandits under the Peacock King of Poshisu Country."
"Moreover, Lv Jiunan was the third brother of King Landu—his full-blooded brother."
Elder Master Xiao frowned slightly. "Then why did Liu Wu kill him?"
Xiao Jing’s expression faltered. "Forgive me, Marquis, but I do not know."
"However, I have already arranged for men to investigate their movements in Shu State. If we can find where they were staying, we should be able to deduce a few things."
"And Liu Wu?"
"He... he’s disappeared again."
"Thousand Households Han Ruixuan of the Imprisonment Department hired expert trackers, but they couldn’t find any trace of him. All we know is that he’s still somewhere in the city."
The Elder Master nodded slightly, saying thoughtfully, "Liu Wu... He has helped our Xiao Family several times now."
"Do you think that’s why he killed Lv Jiunan this time as well?"
"Well..."
Xiao Jing replied with some hesitation, "I cannot be certain."
"Lv Jiunan is different from those Evil Demonic Dao practitioners from the Bright Moon Building. He’s King Landu’s full-blooded brother. If someone in Shu State colluded with him, wouldn’t that mean..."
He dared not say more.
But Elder Master Xiao already understood.
Poshisu Country was, after all, a foreign enemy.
If someone dared to conspire with a foreign enemy to harm the Xiao Family, it would be an act of outrageous treachery—it would be treason.
Killing intent instantly filled the Elder Master’s cloudy eyes. He ordered in a low voice, "You must thoroughly investigate their past movements in Shu State."
"Find out where they stayed, who they met, and what they did."
"Report to me the instant you discover anything!"
"Yes!"
"Also, keep an eye out for Liu Wu. If you find him..."
After a pause, the Elder Master shook his head. "Never mind. Don’t alert him. If he provides any help, come report to me then."
Xiao Jing nodded to show he understood, then turned and left.
After he left,
The Elder Master took a letter from his robes.
The white envelope bore no signature, but he knew exactly who the sender was.
He sat quietly for a moment before opening the envelope, taking out the letter, and beginning to read:
Duke Dingyuan, my son Qingzhou is simple by nature. I’ve troubled you to look after him.
Xuanji will soon be setting off to return to Great Wei. If there is an opportunity, I will be sure to thank you in person.
Though it was only a few dozen words long, the Elder Master read it three times.
Only after reading it word by word, sentence by sentence, did he put the letter down, a trace of desolation on his face.
’Chen Xuanji has been in the Western Buddha Country for several years. Is he finally coming back?’
’He’s coming to question me...’
...
「Capital Prefecture.」
The bright moon hung high in a clear, vast sky, and the endless sea of stars was clearly visible.
At the foot of the Imperial City stood a heavily guarded five-story pavilion that looked completely unremarkable from the outside.
Inside, however, it was currently brightly lit.
The first floor was set up as a clothier’s shop. The outer room displayed hundreds of bolts of fabric in various colors, while the back had fitting rooms and a storeroom.
Deep within the storeroom was an inconspicuous door, hidden behind piles of fabric.
But behind the door, several guards in white robes and white masks stood watch.
Their gazes were cold as they stood motionless, hands gripping the long swords at their waists.
Even the occasional footsteps and quiet conversation from upstairs could not make their gazes waver in the slightest.
Meanwhile, in a quiet room deep on the fourth floor,
A man in a white robe embroidered with a python pattern stood at the window, calmly gazing at the night sky. He, too, was holding a letter.
By the dim candlelight behind him, one could vaguely make out several lines of large characters written in Wei Qing’s Style.
To my dear Father, from your son, Yunfan.
I have not seen you in several years and miss you greatly. I was overjoyed to hear that you will soon be returning from the Western Regions.
You have likely already heard that I became the top scholar in this year’s examinations. It’s nothing much to speak of, really—just the result of my diligent studies these past few years. Fortunately, I did not disappoint your expectations.
By the Holy Emperor’s grace, I was appointed to a position in the Shu State Governor’s Office. This, too, is hardly worth mentioning. A mere Advisor is a far cry from the positions you and Second Uncle hold.
...I have met with Fifth Brother, Chen Yi, several times.
He is living very well, dressed in finery and eating delicacies. He is now highly regarded by the Xiao Family and has even become an Instructor at Guiyun Academy by virtue of his Perfection Realm Calligraphy Dao.
When you return from the Western Regions, I hope you will not blame Mother for letting Fifth Brother marry into the Xiao Family. Of course, I would also like to know if you were aware of this matter.
Also, I wish to know this: Fifth Brother has started practicing Martial Arts, and his Cultivation is only three major Realms lower than my own. Were you the one who taught him?
Faintly visible before the word "three" was the word "two," which had been messily blotted out.
The white-robed figure—Chen Xuanji—retracted his gaze. Looking at the letter in his hand, he softly recited:
"Joy and sorrow, partings and reunions, all are part of life. The moon waxes and wanes, shines and dims. Such things have never been perfect. Let us hope for a long life, to share this same moonlight though a thousand miles may part us."
His tone was inscrutable, tinged with a hint of lament.
Before the last words faded, he crushed the letter in his hand and scattered the pieces out of the window.
’Given Yunfan’s restless nature, Qingzhou’s Martial Arts must have far exceeded his imagination for him to go to the trouble of sending this letter.’
As the saying goes, no one knows a son like his father.
Chen Xuanji knew Chen Yunfan’s character well, so it wasn’t difficult for him to deduce Chen Yi’s current Martial Arts Cultivation.
’The Lower Three Grades?’
’No, that’s not right. Qingzhou’s Cultivation should be in the Middle Three Grades.’
’Hah. A bunch of useless fools.’
Chen Xuanji wasn’t cursing just anyone; he was referring to the White Tiger Guard members in Shu State responsible for investigating Chen Yi’s Martial Arts Cultivation.
Thinking of the previous letters he had received, his eyes showed a flicker of displeasure.
But on second thought, he felt it was only to be expected.
Given Chen Yi’s temperament, if he truly wanted to hide himself, it would be impossible for anyone to detect his Martial Arts Cultivation or his Technique Realm.
It was just that his Martial Arts...
Chen Xuanji gently removed the white tiger pattern mask from his face, revealing a slightly pale complexion.
His features could be described as exceptionally handsome and refined.
Even though he was over forty, his face was still striking.
Below his sharp, sword-like brows was a pair of upward-slanting phoenix eyes. He had a high-bridged nose, full lips, and a calm, dignified expression.
’Counting the days, it’s been less than a year since Qingzhou arrived in Shu State.’
’For his Martial Arts Cultivation to reach the Middle Three Grades Realm in such a short time, there must be a secret I’m not aware of.’
If it were only that, it might be acceptable.
But Chen Xuanji knew there was more to Chen Yi’s Martial Arts than that.
He had guessed correctly—the Liu Wu who had appeared outside Iron Wall Town was, indeed, his son, Chen Yi!
’Liu Wu. Sixth Grade Cultivation, Spear Dao Perfection.’
’If Qingzhou is ’Liu Wu’... and you add his Perfection Realm Calligraphy Dao...’
For the first time in his life, Chen Xuanji felt a pang of regret.
A son so accomplished in both scholarship and martial arts, whom he had arranged to marry into the Xiao Family as a "discarded pawn"—how could he not feel regret?
’Thankfully, my uncles and the other elders don’t know about this yet. Otherwise, I’m afraid they would curse me relentlessly.’
As Chen Xuanji thought about this, his fingers gently stroked the white tiger pattern mask, and a look of helplessness crossed his face.
Chen Yi’s transformation had truly been beyond his expectations.
No, it would be more accurate to say it had *far* exceeded his expectations.
But the facts were the facts, and he had no choice but to accept them.
’A fledgling, heh...’
’He’s certainly turned into a great roc that blots out the sun.’
’But it seems he no longer belongs to the Chen Family.’
Chen Xuanji was no fool; he naturally understood the purpose behind Chen Yi’s actions.
Preventing the Bright Moon Building from burning the Three Towns’ summer grain in Iron Wall Town, and killing Liu Wen—all of it was undoubtedly for the Xiao Family.
And before that, the ’Liu Wu and Liu Lang’ who acted outside Shu State City were suspected of killing members of the Five Poison Sect.
’Thinking about it now, Qingzhou has done all of this for the Xiao Family.’
’Duke Dingyuan, it looks like I’m going to lose on this deal.’
Chen Xuanji gave a helpless smile, then placed the white tiger pattern mask back on his face.
The helplessness in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by calm.
In the blink of an eye, he had resumed the dignified air of the Great Wei Dynasty’s White Tiger Guard Pavilion Master.
’Although there have been some surprises, he is my son, after all.’
’We are connected by blood, after all...’
With this thought, Chen Xuanji flashed back to a spacious room deep on the second floor.
Several members of the White Tiger Guard in red robes were already kneeling on the floor.
"Send a message to the General. Have him meet with King Landu as soon as possible. If necessary, he may proceed to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road."
"Yes!"