Chapter 574 - 326: Closer Than a Biological Father
Chapter 574: Chapter 326: Closer Than a Biological Father
His hands were tied.
As the Assistant Governor of the Governor’s Office, Chen Yunfan was bound by strict rules and regulations. A single misstep could trigger a chain reaction, unlike Chen Yi, who could simply wash his hands of the matter. Even though he knew Zhu Hao was colluding with the enemy and committing treason, he still had to act within the rules. He couldn’t just run off to Guangyuan County and slaughter Zhu Hao.
After a moment of silence, Chen Yunfan stood up and gestured. Chun Ying understood immediately. She dried his body, served him as he changed into a clean brocade robe, and fastened his belt. As Chen Yunfan let her attend to him, he looked into the Copper Mirror and asked, "How many times has Li Huai’gu been here?"
"To answer you, Young Master, Advisor Li has been here four times over the past two days," she replied.
"Four times? It seems there is quite a lot of official business at the Governor’s Office."
Hearing this, Chun Ying paused. She shot a quick glance at him and gathered her courage to say, "Young Master, there have been significant changes within the office."
Chen Yunfan cast a sidelong glance at her, staring until she lowered her head again, before he snorted. "I thought you, the White-robed Minister, were planning to go back."
"This servant... wouldn’t dare."
"I hope you truly wouldn’t dare." Chen Yunfan straightened his brocade robe and walked out. "Tell me, what changes happened at the Government Office?" he asked as he walked.
"Liu Hong seems to have run into trouble."
"Oh?"
Seeing that he was interested, Chun Ying quickly continued, "Rumor has it that his hair turned white overnight. He looks several times older than before, as if his very spirit and energy have been drained out of him.
"And..."
After hearing about what had transpired within the Government Office, Chen Yunfan furrowed his brows. "He ran into trouble? The Jing State Liu Family is still standing, and Consort Liu is still around. How could he possibly run into trouble?"
Chun Ying nodded in agreement. "You are right, Young Master. There is indeed something wrong with Liu Hong, but as the Governor of Shu State, he holds a Second Grade rank. Ordinary charges brought against him would have almost no impact. Just like when Liu Wen used the Bright Moon Building to burn the summer grain in the Three Towns. After the conflict between the Liu Family and the Xiao Family, the Holy Emperor merely gave both sides a slap on the wrist."
"Your people haven’t sent back any news?"
"Not yet..."
Chen Yunfan gave a slight nod and stepped outside to stretch his body. "Since Liu Hong ignores political affairs, Lord Yang is left to handle the heavy workload within the Governor’s Office. No wonder Li Huai’gu has visited so many times."
It was obvious that Li Huai’gu wanted him to return to work at the Government Office. Chen Yunfan muttered a few words under his breath about how lucky he was.
Just as he was about to ask Chun Ying to brew some tea in the pavilion, he heard Niu Mountain’s voice from outside the door.
"Young Master, someone is here to visit..."
Without even thinking, Chen Yunfan interrupted, "I won’t see them."
Niu Mountain finished his sentence anyway, "...Miss Cui."
Chen Yunfan froze and glared at him in silence.
Chun Ying and Lin Zhong silently lowered their heads, though the corners of their mouths curled up slightly.
Niu Mountain scratched his head, finally realizing what had happened, and gave a foolish smile. "Forgive me, Young Master. I spoke too slowly."
Chen Yunfan rolled his eyes, too lazy to bicker with the blockhead. He simply waved his hand. "Go ask Qingwu."
Niu Mountain gave a prompt sound of acknowledgment and trotted off, his footsteps THUMPING against the ground.
A short while later, he ran back from the rear courtyard to the front yard, THUDDING along the way, leading a middle-aged man in blue clothes.
Chen Yunfan sized up the newcomer and raised an eyebrow. He wondered, "Why would he come to Shu State?"
Lin Zhong and Chun Ying also recognized the man. They exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat surprised.
Song Jinjian was one of the resident retainers and Tributors of the Qinghe Cui Family. He was once a famous Swordsman in Jiangnan Prefecture, known for upholding justice and possessing excellent character. At the age of twenty-one, he had broken through to the Third Grade Realm after wiping out a band of Wokou in Taizhou County. Jianghu People believed he would soon possess the strength to challenge figures like the "Monarch Xue Jian" Lone Immortal Ye. However, contrary to expectations, he chose to retire at the height of his career and became a Tributor for the Cui Family.
As the group observed him, Song Jinjian naturally noticed them as well and bowed from a distance. "I greet Young Master Chen and Commander Lin."
Chen Yunfan pursed his lips and waved his hand, gesturing for him to head toward the rear courtyard.
Song Jinjian clasped his fists and followed Niu Mountain straight to the back.
Watching his retreating figure, Chen Yunfan secretly guessed the purpose of his visit. After much thought, he could only surmise that Song Jinjian was here to pass on a message for the Cui Family. Was it to ask Cui Qingwu to return to the family, or...
Feeling slightly displeased, Chen Yunfan flicked his sleeves, turned around, and walked back to his side room, losing the leisurely mood to drink tea.
Chun Ying nudged Lin Zhong before following behind Chen Yunfan. Lin Zhong understood the unspoken cue. He remained where he was, gazing toward the rear courtyard, and cocked his ear to listen.
It didn’t take long before the sound of Song Jinjian and Cui Qingwu’s conversation drifted over.
"Uncle Song, what brings you here?"
"Eldest Miss, the Lord asked me to inquire when you will be returning to Qinghe."
"My father?"
"Before the end of the year, perhaps..."
Lin Zhong couldn’t catch the rest of the conversation clearly, but he knew that Cui Qingwu’s return to the Qinghe Cui Family was not far off. He retracted his gaze, looked at Chen Yunfan in the side room, and sighed as he shook his head. "The marriage alliance between the Chen Family and the Cui Family was single-handedly arranged by the Master and Madam. The Young Master is probably..."
Going to accept his fate?
Perhaps.
Just as Lin Zhong was about to go report this, his ears twitched, and he immediately looked toward the front yard.
Ning Yu arrived in a hurry. "Where is the Young Master?"
Lin Zhong pointed behind him. "Inside."
Ning Yu muttered an apology and hurriedly ran into the side room. He was just about to report when Chun Ying, acting quickly, made a hand gesture to warn him that walls have ears.
Ning Yu understood. He went to the study, fetched some paper and a brush, and wrote down a few words.
[The Holy Emperor’s decree has arrived at Guangyuan County. Zhu Hao defied the decree and attempted to flee. He was beheaded with a single sword strike by Xiao Jinghong.]
After reading the message, Chen Yunfan froze for a moment. "Xiao... hmm... She’s in Guangyuan? When did she go there?"
Ning Yu shook his head to indicate he didn’t know.
Chun Ying pondered for a moment and wrote a few words on the paper. "It was likely after the chaos in the Xiao Family a few days ago. At that time, ’Dragon Tiger’ Liu Wu killed ’Jackal’ Du Cang, which might have made the Xiao Family aware of Zhu Hao’s transaction with the Peacock King Banner."
Chen Yunfan nodded in sudden realization. That made sense.
The evidence of Zhu Hao’s crimes in his possession was ostensibly an arrangement given to him by the White Tiger Guard. However, the person who delivered the letter was Chen Yi. Given his understanding of Chen Yi, if his brother had caught wind of the news, how could he not have tipped off the Xiao Family? In that case, Xiao Jinghong’s appearance in Guangyuan made perfect sense.
Having figured everything out, a smile emerged on Chen Yunfan’s face. "This is getting interesting."
One piece of merit split three ways. He truly wanted to see what the White Tiger Guard’s reaction would be upon hearing the news. If they still managed to arrange an official position for him as a Deputy Commander out of this, then he would just have to accept it.
"Damn it. If that actually happens, the Emperor is either senile or a fool," he muttered to himself. "Treating me better than my own father? In their dreams."
Chen Yunfan murmured under his breath, looking in the direction of Guangyuan County with a smile occasionally creeping onto his face. His sister-in-law showing up there was truly an unexpected delight.
***
Although Guangyuan was technically a county seat, the city was not small by any means. Located at the junction of Shu State, Jing State, and You State, it was the strategic chokepoint of Shu State and saw a massive influx of traveling merchants. Consequently, many people settled down here to make a living.
The Cao Gang, the Horse Gang, the Salt Gang, and Wandering Martial Artists from all walks of life converged here, making the local situation incredibly complex. Often, even the local Noble Families with long-standing heritages would find themselves bogged down, tiptoeing around their own affairs for fear of offending one faction or another.
However, none of this mattered in Xiao Jinghong’s eyes.
To her, they were nothing more than an unpresentable motley crew. The gap between them and the Wind and Rain Tower was as vast as heaven and earth, let alone comparing them to the Dingyuan Army.
Yet, while she could afford to ignore those extraneous individuals, she could not ignore the Shu State Capital Commandery. This was especially true after she had personally killed Zhu Hao. Even though the Holy Emperor had issued a decree to apprehend Zhu Hao, it was still highly inappropriate for her to have executed him outright.
But since the deed was done, Xiao Jinghong maintained her composure, waiting quietly in the Capital Commandery for news from the Capital Prefecture.
Beside her stood Xiao Xuanshuo, who had accompanied the imperial decree’s delegation. Although he was dissatisfied with many members of the Xiao Family, he genuinely approved of his niece, Xiao Jinghong, from the bottom of his heart. As a result, he was currently recounting the events from the Prefecture City with a smile.
"...When I headed to the Capital Prefecture, my father had already ordered someone to notify the Government Office to deal with the plague poison, so there shouldn’t be any major issues."
Xiao Jinghong gave a slight nod. "You just said the news came from that Liu Wu?" she mused. "He returned to Shu State?"
Xiao Xuanshuo hummed in affirmation. "I heard that before the plague poison could spread, he noticed it and produced a prescription to cure it after making a diagnosis. If it weren’t for him, the Prefecture City would likely be in absolute chaos by now."
Xiao Jinghong gazed thoughtfully toward the Prefecture City. "What a coincidence."
When she was in the Prefecture City, Liu Wu was nowhere to be found. Only a few days after she left the city, not only had Liu Wu returned, but he had also stepped in to resolve a massive crisis.
After some thought, Xiao Jinghong dismissed her suspicions and chalked it up to coincidence. After all, other than sharing a similar moniker, she and Liu Wu had never interacted before. She couldn’t think of any reason why Liu Wu would deliberately avoid her.
"Aside from the decree regarding Zhu Hao, did the Holy Emperor issue any others this time?" she asked.
Xiao Xuanshuo smiled and nodded. "I can’t hide anything from you. The Holy Emperor has also issued a decree to punish Liu Hong..."