Chapter 13: Do you know the past between my mother and the Grand Secretary?

Personally visiting the Tianlao Siyu, seemingly a test of cultivation, and also this manor on the edge of Huangcheng....

Take some time to properly investigate the past between my mother and the Grand Secretary....

On the way back, Chen Yan recalled all the details of these two days.

The Grand Secretary's kindness toward him is absolutely not because of his ability, but stems from his mother....

The more this is the case, the more curious Chen Yan becomes about what kind of past could enable a powerful minister to reach such an extent.

As he thought and walked, he gradually arrived outside the dilapidated small courtyard, when suddenly Qingyu's loud shout came from afar:

Young Master, stand there and don't move!

What's wrong?

Chen Yan came to his senses, looked up at the little maid who had stopped him, feeling clueless and filled with confusion.

Zhu Yi, hurry up and bring it over!

Qingyu hurriedly waved her hand, urging.

Immediately after, Zhu Yi carried the charcoal brazier, walked quickly over, and placed it at the courtyard gate.

What are you two up to?

Are we having a barbecue?

Chen Yan raised his hand, pointed at the brazier, full of doubt.

Young Master, quickly step over!

Get rid of the bad luck!

Qingyu opened her big, watery eyes and laughed.

Little maid, do you still believe in these?

Chen Yan helplessly shook his head and asked.

Although he said that, he still followed Qingyu's words and took a big step over the brazier.

Of course!

Qingyu nodded, then took some pine and cypress branches and sprinkled water on Chen Yan, "I was in a hurry this morning and didn't have time to prepare, but I must make up for it!"

May heaven bless the Young Master so that he never suffers prison disaster again!

Having said that, her fair hands clasped together.

Her praying appearance was full of sincerity.

In this era, people believe that fire can burn away bad things, serving to exorcise evil and sweep away misfortune.

And pine and cypress symbolize resilience, longevity, and auspiciousness; sprinkling water with pine and cypress branches is believed to wash away impurity from the body, bringing freshness and good fortune.

Good, good, good.

Chen Yan responded repeatedly, full of indulgence.

This little loli is really quite cute....

Young Master, you've been gone so long, you must be hungry, right?

I've prepared the dishes, and even stewed a soup from an old hen....

Qingyu hugged Chen Yan's arm and pulled him toward the house.

Zhu Yi saw this, felt ignored, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and shouted, "Qingyu, why don't you ask if I'm hungry too?"

The Young Master went to the Tian Guan Fu, taking up a lot of time, and Zhu Yi was also busy running around in the afternoon!

Again preparing the brazier, again preparing the pine and cypress branches....

Qingyu didn't even turn her head, just casually threw out a sentence: "You're a martial practitioner, thick-skinned and sturdy, missing a meal or two is no big deal...."

You... really biased!

Only the Young Master in your eyes!

Zhu Yi felt lifeless, muttering softly under his breath.

Pain!

Too painful!

Indoors.

The three of them sat around a wooden table.

Young Master, big chicken leg!

Qingyu picked up two chicken legs glistening with oil, incredibly bright and juicy, and stuffed them into Chen Yan's bowl, "Eat up well!"

Mmm... so fragrant, little maid, your cooking skills are not bad!

Chen Yan lightly inhaled, and his index finger twitched instantly.

From yesterday until now, he still hasn't had a proper meal.

Even the former Australian lobster and king crab can't compare to the simple chicken leg before him.

I can only make some coarse tea and plain rice; as long as the Young Master doesn't dislike it, that's fine....

Qingyu blushed at the praise, slightly embarrassed, and laughed.

After a pause, she picked up two chicken wings and put them into Zhu Yi's bowl, "These two are for you."

Little Qingyu, you still have a bit of conscience!

Zhu Yi smacked his lips and let out a light hum.

His heart finally felt a bit of balance.

Chen Yan took a chicken leg from his own piled-up bowl and placed it in Qingyu's bowl, which drew the little maid's puzzlement: "Young Master, what are you doing?"

In her big, watery eyes lay great doubt.

You should also eat more; this is exactly the time to grow your body.

Chen Yan smiled faintly, lightly stroking the strands of Qingyu's hair that hung down, and said, "From now on we won't be short of silver, no need to keep all the good things for me...."

The former Chen Yan was an orphan, with no family, no affection, only endless scheming and exploitation.

But now it's different; he also has family who hold nothing back for him....

"Mm-hmm!"

Qingyu pursed her lips, looking at Chen Yan with emotion, and replied obediently.

Having said that, as if something occurred to her, she spoke again: "Right, Young Master, I went to look at houses in the inner city; the better ones are really not cheap...."

"But I did pick a few decent places; when you have free time another day, we can go check them out."

When we went to the inner city pawnshop in the afternoon, even slightly larger residences cost five or six thousand taels, and the locations weren't great either.

Seeing this made Qingyu's flesh ache.

Her young master doesn't earn silver easily, so we must spend it frugally....

"No need to pick; we don't need to buy."

Chen Yan ladled a bowl of chicken soup, blew on the floating steam, and said.

"Huh?"

"Young Master, did you encounter something else that requires urgent silver?"

Qingyu froze, her expression suddenly changing, full of worry, she asked anxiously.

Speaking, she made a move to pull out a silver note.

The ten thousand taels for buying a house, plus the five thousand taels the young master gave her, who knows if it could relieve his pressing need....

"What are you thinking?"

Chen Yan was amused by the teasing, put down the soup bowl, pinched Qingyu's little cheek, and explained: "It's the Grand Minister who gave me a residence, located on the outskirts of the imperial city...."

"We can move there the day after tomorrow."

"This is the land deed."

Saying so, he took the deed from his bosom and stuffed it into the little maid's hand.

Qingyu stared at it intently and almost blurted out: "That place is literally every inch of land worth its weight in gold!"

On the outskirts of the imperial city live high officials and nobles, as well as prominent clans....

The Duke of Wei's mansion is right there.

Yet the land deed the young master produced is even better situated than the State Duke's mansion.

Recovering from her shock, Qingyu held the deed to her chest and couldn't help but sigh: "Young Master, that Grand Minister really isn't just ordinarily good to you!"

The little maid probably doesn't know.... Chen Yan sized up Qingyu's expression, drew a conclusion, turned his head to Zhu Yi, and asked: "Do you know the past between my mother and the Grand Minister?"

Qingyu is sixteen this year, but Zhu Yi is already thirty-seven or thirty-eight, and he has been following his old mother for even longer.

Perhaps he knows some secrets unknown to others....

"Not really clear." Zhu Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, the bamboo chopsticks in his hand paused, he pondered a moment, then shook his head.

Seeing Zhu Yi say that, Chen Yan also did not press further.

After the three of them finished clearing a table of dishes, Qingyu went to wash the bowls and chopsticks, while Zhu Yi went to the front courtyard to practice swordplay.

Meanwhile Chen Yan returned to his room, lay on the bed, and fell into deep thought:

"That's right; if Zhu Yi knew, he wouldn't be planning with Qingyu to raid the prison...."

"Never mind, never mind; let's first deal with the remnants of the deposed emperor!"

Chen Yan shook his head, tossed aside his random thoughts, turned over and changed his posture, muttering: "Daxi Jue is nothing like Chen Tongyuan or Chen Kaiyuan, those strawbags and soft persimmons, outwardly strong but inwardly weak, bullying the soft and fearing the hard...."

"If we directly went like the Duke of Wei's mansion, bringing the officials of the Bright Mirror Bureau to his door, we might well provoke Daxi Jue into immediate rebellion...."

"It would bring a hundred harms and no benefit!"

"The Chen brothers and Daxi Jue are worlds apart."

"The former are stern outside but weak within, merely putting on a show; although they inherited the title of Duke of Wei, they are like flowers raised in a greenhouse, lacking real ability and courage."

"As long as you have a hard fist and a firm attitude, they are nothing but soft persimmons for anyone to knead."

"Chen Yan counted on that, which is why he dared to openly show up, strike them in the face, and have not the slightest scruple."

"This is the common ailment of the second generation: having never experienced the hardships of founding a venture, they have lost their forebears' martial spirit...."

"Of course, the Grand Minister, a second-generation who followed Taizu in conquering the realm, is another case altogether."

"But the latter is someone who carved his way out of the battlefield with real swords and spears...."

"He has the capability to rebel, and even more, the courage to do so!"

"We must be extremely cautious, keeping the impact to a minimum."

Chen Yan lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, time ticking by second by second, when suddenly he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Got it!"

"Regardless of black cat or white cat, any cat that can catch Daxi Jue this rat is a good cat...."

"Hehe!"

A shameless yet effective idea sprouted and was refined in his mind.

"Young Master, something's wrong!"

At that moment, Qingyu's anxious voice came from outside, and she promptly pushed the door open and entered.

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

Chen Yan's train of thought was pulled back, he sat up and asked.

Qingyu frowned tightly, "Lady Zhiyun has come to our door!"