Chapter 436 - 271: Young Master, Care for a Divination?
Chapter 436: Chapter 271: Young Master, Care for a Divination?
The visitor was Liu Hong, Liu Gongmo, the Left Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office.
As Chen Yi lifted the carriage curtain, he happened to see the man stepping down from his own carriage.
Beside him was a man in the long robes of a Scholar—it was Zhao Liuan.
What a coincidence.
As Liu Hong turned, his gaze met Chen Yi’s. The serious expression on his face instantly gave way to a smile.
The two then exchanged greetings.
One gave a gentle nod, while the other clasped his hands in a brief, apologetic gesture.
Their carriages then passed each other.
Liu Hong watched the carriage turn onto South Street before looking away. He then dispatched an older, middle-aged man to present his calling card.
He, meanwhile, adjusted his sleeves pensively. "Chen Qingzhou..."
Hearing his voice, Zhao Liuan looked belatedly toward South Street and said in a low voice,
"Sir, was that Chen Yi in the carriage just now?"
Liu Hong nodded slightly. "It was."
"Strange. Why would he choose to leave the Marquis’s Mansion at a time like this?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Liuan raised his head slightly, glanced at his superior, and answered cautiously,
"Perhaps he’s off to teach the Calligraphy Dao at Guiyun Academy?"
It was meant as a perfectly ordinary suggestion, but to his surprise, Liu Hong simply shook his head. "Not today."
Zhao Liuan froze for a moment, nearly blurting out, ’How do you know for sure?’
Once he caught himself, he chose his words carefully. "I was not aware."
Liu Hong hummed in acknowledgment and turned to look at the gates of the Xiao Mansion, instructing in a low voice,
"From now on, I want you to pay closer attention to this Chen Qingzhou."
Zhao Liuan was about to ask why when Liu Hong continued,
"The Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family has been greatly favored by the Holy Emperor in recent years. If the brothers Chen Xuanji and Chen Xuandu were without considerable skill, how could they possibly have remained unshaken in the Imperial Court?"
"And do you really believe two men like that would allow their own descendant to marry into the Xiao Family, let alone for such a pathetic reason as being pushed out by the first wife of the Liu Family?"
It dawned on Zhao Liuan. "Sir, are you saying that... Mr. Qingzhou came here because..."
He pointed toward the northeast. "He was sent by... them?"
Liu Hong gave a noncommittal nod. "Chen Qingzhou’s recent actions would seem to confirm it."
"However..."
He saw the head steward of the Marquis’s Mansion appear at the gate, paused for a moment, and then quickly finished his thought.
"It’s just... his behavior feels somewhat contrived. It doesn’t align with the interests of the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family at all."
For the great Noble Families, "interest" came first, followed by the growth and prosperity of the family, and finally, the continuation of their lineage.
Marriage alliances, political factions, scholarly achievements, commerce, and even farming—all served these ends.
So, in Liu Hong’s view, once Chen Yi joined the Xiao Family, he should have been single-mindedly focused on climbing the social ladder.
But the reality was that after more than half a year, he remained a peripheral figure in the Xiao Family.
This was true even though he was an Instructor at Guiyun Academy.
He avoided official circles and military service, living like a carefree hermit, unconcerned with worldly matters.
How could such a person not make Liu Hong suspicious?
After listening, Zhao Liuan quietly assented and followed Liu Hong into the Xiao Mansion.
He silently filed away the matter of Chen Yi and focused his mind on the upcoming visit with Old Marquis Xiao.
’Yesterday’s incident with the horse bandits from Poshisu Country was one thing...’
’...but now with this business involving Asutai, I’m afraid even Sir will have a hard time convincing the Old Marquis to do nothing.’
...
Meanwhile.
Liu Si’er drove the carriage, chattering away as he went.
"That Governor Liu came by yesterday, and now he’s back again today. He must be terrified the Marquis will petition the Imperial Court to release the Tiger Talisman."
"Mr. Qingzhou, don’t you think he’s overstepping his bounds?"
Chen Yi gave a noncommittal hum, his eyes fixed on the pedestrians outside the window, offering no real response.
’Who in the entire Xiao Mansion didn’t know what Liu Hong was after?’
’There was no need for him to add anything.’
There was one thing, however, that concerned him.
Would the Old Marquis use this as a legitimate reason to mobilize the Dingyuan Army?
’Probably... not likely.’
Chen Yi sighed inwardly.
The Old Marquis was, after all, a man who cherished his reputation, too constrained by rules and conventions. Unless his hand was forced, he would find it very difficult to strike first.
It was just like the time he’d gone to Liu Hong to discuss the matter of Liu Wen.
Seeing he wasn’t going to get a response, Liu Si’er muttered inwardly that this "Fledgling" was getting harder and harder to figure out.
There was a time.
Back then, looking at the "Fledgling" was like looking at a naked child; he could see right through him.
But now, when he looked at the "Fledgling," he felt as if a layer of rice paper separated them, obscuring his view.
It had only been two or three months, and the "Fledgling" clearly had no Cultivation whatsoever.
After much thought.
Liu Si’er could only attribute it to the growth in the "Fledgling’s" character that came after achieving Perfection in the Calligraphy Dao.
After all, the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism was full of inexplicable Profound Mysteries, so it was only natural he couldn’t fully comprehend it.
As Liu Si’er mulled this over, he glanced at the pedestrians on either side and, just to make conversation, said, "Young Master, do the streets seem more crowded than usual today?"
Chen Yi replied offhandedly, "They’re probably rushing to buy grain."
Even without actively listening, he could tell the surrounding pedestrians were all talking about Poshisu Country and the son of the Barbarian Left King.
He heard surprise, agitation, and fear in their voices.
Most, however, were preparing for a rainy day.
For the common folk, the coming of war meant their first thought was to ensure their own survival and stability.
Notions like "dying on the battlefield" or "a warrior’s burial" were for scholars and those who practiced Martial Arts.
Their primary concerns were always food, clothing, medicine, and other necessities of life.
"Damn those profiteers!"
"A single stone of fine grain is selling for as much as ten taels! They’re... they’re committing highway robbery!"
"Come on, let’s report them to the Government Office!"
"If those scoundrels won’t let us live, we can’t let them get away with this lawlessness!"