Chapter 108: Father and Son in Sync, Chen Yan

Chang'an.

Weiguo Gongfu.

"What exactly is this, what's going on?"

"My elder brother‑in‑law's case was clearly taken over by the Qiu Official Office, so why did the Mingjing Xuanwu Guard suddenly show up?"

Chen Tongyuan paced back and forth in the hall, circling, unable to sit or stand still.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, he learned that the Mingjing Xuanwu Guard had forced its way in, and his wife and son had also rushed over…

"In my humble opinion, it's most likely that the Grand Minister of the Treasury is again scheming against the Grand Minister of Justice…" Qi Qian, standing nearby, thought briefly and guessed cautiously.

In Qi Qian's view, it was exactly like a city gate catching fire and the pond fish suffering!

The Meng Clan's case was merely a pretext for the Grand Minister of the Treasury to challenge the Grand Minister of Justice…

As for the case itself, in the eyes of the two great figures, it was essentially unimportant!

"Yuwen Hu truly is autocratic!"

Chen Tongyuan stopped, his hand behind his back instantly clenched into a fist, and he gritted his teeth, speaking angrily.

If Yuwen Hu hadn't meddled, Chen Yan would already have died in prison, and none of the subsequent events would have occurred.

Sooner or later, he must be overthrown.

Once those two pillars of the State ascend and wield great power, the good days for the Duke of Wei's mansion will arrive…

While Chen Tongyuan was indulging in his thoughts, a hurried shout came from outside the door: "Master… Master!"

【7】 "Hmm?"

Hmm?

Chen Tongyuan looked up, toward the stumbling steward, and asked, "Has the lady and the others returned?"

"No… it's not!" the steward gasped, shaking his head repeatedly, unable to hide his anxiety.

"Then why are you panting like that?" Chen Tongyuan asked, puzzled.

After catching his breath, the steward gave the most unwelcome reply for the Duke's mansion: "The heir has returned!"

"Who?!"

"How did he come back again?!"

Chen Tongyuan instantly lost composure, his face turning pale as if facing a great enemy.

That was the Demon Star arriving…

Every time it returns, nothing good follows: either extorting silver notes or emptying the mansion's ornaments, even the purple‑spotted bamboo in the back courtyard isn't spared…

"Lord Duke, it's been a while, have you missed me?"

"I've missed you to death!"

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan's bright, hearty laugh came from outside the door, followed shortly by Zhu Yi appearing one after another.

In stark contrast to Chen Tongyuan's attitude, Chen Yan loved coming to the Duke's mansion.

Every visit always yielded considerable gains…

He must be wishing me dead, right? … Hearing this, Chen Tongyuan twitched his mouth, muttered to himself, instinctively stepped back half a pace, and asked, "Chen Yan, what are you here for?"

As he spoke, a flash of panic crossed his eyes.

Could it be that a hired assassin was discovered?

"This Duke of Wei's mansion is my home; isn't returning a matter of course?"

Chen Yan stepped over Chen Tongyuan, walked straight to the main seat, perched his legs and swayed lightly, and retorted with righteous confidence.

He paused, his gaze sweeping the spacious hall, then said with interest: "It's just that this hall feels a bit empty; we have leisure to acquire more…"

"Acquired them waiting for you to extort and empty?" Chen Tongyuan's face darkened, his mind seething; having already shed pretenses, he said bluntly, "Stop the pretense, speak plainly, what exactly are you here for!"

Unaware of this wayward son's purpose, Chen Tongyuan felt increasingly uneasy…

The more he seemed to get along with Yan Yuesè, the less good there was.

"Come to see if the Duke of Wei is dead!"

Chen Yan glanced sideways, shrugged, and laughed.

He paused again, then continued, "Unfortunately, it's a bit disappointing…"

He said, smacking his lips.

He wore an air of deep regret.

"You!"

Hearing that, Chen Tongyuan felt a choking pressure in his chest.

But before he could stay angry long, the steward seized the moment, whispering a few hurried words into his ear.

Chen Tongyuan was startled, his expression wavering, then turned angry, his voice rising, and he demanded, "Chen Yan, what have you done this time?"

"Look, Lord Duke, as you say, I'm not here on a special errand; I'm just bringing your lady and son…"

Chen Yan sat up, hand supporting his jaw, smiled calmly, and jested, "Applying a petty mind to a gentleman's belly!"

"Bring it in!"

The words hung in the air.

The embroidered‑clad envoys outside responded and moved.

To his surprise, his beloved wife was carried in horizontally, blood covering her face, a mess, "Tie her up!"

He paused, looked at the two sons behind, and asked impatiently, "Cijiu, Gu Bai, what's wrong with your mother's forehead?"

"What exactly happened?"

Yet the impatient Chen Tongyuan received no reply from his beloved sons; they only looked timidly toward someone on the main seat.

"Why are you all staring at him?" Chen Tongyuan urged, "Speak quickly!"

Chen Yan, with interest, watched Chen Tongyuan's frantic roar and laughed, "You fathers are about to die of anxiety, just tell the truth...."

"Tell him everything, every detail!"

Chen Cijiu briefly phrased it, laying out everything that happened today at Meng Mansion.

When Chen Tongyuan heard, Chen Yan seized Meng Wan Yi's hair bun, slammed himself to the ground with all his might, and while scorching Meng Yinbing in a jar, his chest heaved with anger.

"Father, calm your anger!"

"Do not let your anger ruin your body!"

Chen Cijiu and Chen Gubai, one on each side, steadied Chen Tongyuan, patting his chest and back to help him settle his breath.

"What a moving scene of a loving father and filial son!" Chen Yan, with his leg crossed, teased casually.

"You wretched one, you really go too far!"

Chen Tongyuan moved to rush in front of Chen Yan, but Zhu Yi stopped him.

"What's the matter?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and directly took the opening stance.

"Don't say it, really don't say it, this thing is truly extremely off‑putting."

Chen Tongyuan choked, raised his trembling hand to point at Chen Yan, and cursed, "I… you… you really never repent, utterly heretical and rebellious!"

"Indeed, the Duke of Wei never dies, so how could I change?"

Chen Yan nodded and earnestly suggested, "How about someone dies first, so I can truly repent?"

Chen Tongyuan glared fiercely, forced his anger down, and shouted to Chen's steward, "Hurry and summon the Physician to treat the Grand Duke's Lady!"

"Yes."

The steward replied, turned, and was about to leave to obey.

"Stop!" Chen Yan said leisurely, halting him.

The embroidered‑cloth envoy outside also blocked the way.

"Chen Yan, what more do you intend?" Chen Tongyuan asked sharply upon seeing this.

"Duke of Wei, I, the mirror‑hand, only said to deliver your wife and children, never mentioned that Meng Wan Yi's matter is settled!" Chen Yan stood, paced toward Chen Tongyuan, blinked, and said with a teasing tone.

"What voice?" Chen Tongyuan asked, puzzled.

"Meng Yinbing colluded with the enemy and betrayed the state; Your Majesty's oral order, the Meng Clan Tribe is to be exterminated!"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward slightly; after conveying the oral order, he shifted tone and said, "Meng Wan Yi is a Meng Clan woman, or the Duke of Wei's Grand Duke's Lady, all depends on a single thought of yours!"

Chen Tongyuan clenched his fists, his whole body taut; having grasped the hidden meaning and after a long inner struggle, he finally managed to speak, "Speak, what do you want this time?"

He knew well that this was the wretched one's threat, a naked threat....

"Look, the two of us have a tacit understanding now....."

Chen Yan burst into hearty laughter, teasing.

He paused, restrained his smile, and said seriously, "I demand the golden armor, Weapons, and seal that Taizu bestowed upon my grandfather!"

"Impossible!"

"Don't even think about it!"

Chen Tongyuan, without hesitation, loudly rejected, extremely resolute.

"Is that so?"

Chen Yan, unhurried, walked to Meng Wan Yi's side, gave a light kick, and said, "Then the Duke of Wei can choose himself: do you protect the woman you love most, or the heirloom of your grandfather?"