Chapter 161: Those who see it get a share; my Mingjing Si never eats alone

"Hmm?"

"Why is the Prefect not speaking?"

"Did you not hear clearly, or are you unwilling to answer?"

Seeing that Liu Bingzhong had no reaction for a long time and still looked thoughtful, Chen Yan's chill intensified.

Especially that sharp gaze, which became increasingly icy and bone-chilling, making one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

"No!"

"Neither!"

"Mirror Master Chen has misunderstood!"

Hearing this, Liu Bingzhong was pulled back to his thoughts in an instant, tried his best to shake his head, and hurriedly explained.

He paused, then continued, "It is that this official feels it is too consistent with the process, and can be called uniquely in line with our Great Zhou Law!"

Liu Bingzhong was very sensible and fast.

He feared that if he were a second late, a blade would be placed on his neck, and the family business he had worked so hard to accumulate would be swept away and reduced to spoils for them to divide...

This was not alarmist talk; after all, this gentleman in front of him, protected by the Grand Chancellor, was capable of anything and had done plenty of such things...

"That's right..."

Chen Yan, having received a satisfactory answer, smiled indifferently, turned his head to look at the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture behind him who had not yet expressed their stance, and asked calmly, "Then what are your views?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over them one by one.

As soon as he finished speaking.

The people led by Zhang Yinxian gasped, looked at each other, and said in unison, "The Prefect's words are very true!"

They had never imagined that they could feel such terrifying pressure from a seventeen-year-old boy.

Combined with the "track record" of this Mirror Master, refuting was impossible; their lives were more important!

As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about firewood.

"The Prefect is well-read; can you tell me the second half of the sentence 'Good birds choose trees to perch on'?" Chen Yan shifted his gaze back to Liu Bingzhong and asked with a smile.

His words were full of deep meaning.

*Phew*~ Good, good, he was just beating me, not really having killing intent... Hearing this, Liu Bingzhong let out a long sigh of relief, put his hanging heart back into his stomach, and said, "Wise ministers choose their masters to serve!"

What does beating mean?

It means he still has value, meaning his life is safe.

This ruthless and decisive gentleman in front of him was just forcing him to take a stand, and also forcing the Jingzhao Prefecture to take a stand...

"The Prefect is truly learned; I admire you!"

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly, he patted Liu Bingzhong's shoulder, and sighed.

He paused, his smile immediately faded, changed the subject, and continued, "However, don't forget one point: playing both sides and protecting oneself is indeed very safe, but it pleases no one..."

"No superior will like a fence-sitter who sways and speculates!"

Every word in this seemed to have an ulterior motive...

Liu Bingzhong was stunned, his voice trembling, and he hurriedly said, "I... I understand!"

"This humble official was promoted by Taizu, and only then could I hold the position of Prefect..."

"For the grace of knowing me, I should naturally be loyal to the Grand Chancellor with all my heart and soul!"

Since it had come to this, how could Liu Bingzhong not understand the almost explicit hint?

Playing both sides...

Protecting oneself...

Swaying and speculating...

Fence-sitter...

Liu Bingzhong knew very well that if he were to be perfunctory or vague again, this Zhuque Mirror Master, whose temper was not very good, would probably really make him have an "accident"!

That would be a complete loss.

It hadn't been easy for him to climb to this position after decades of hard work...

"Look at this awareness; why wouldn't you, Old Liu, be able to advance?"

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows, smiled brilliantly, looked at Song Fei, and said, "Old Song, why haven't you brought the antidote yet!"

"Yes."

Song Fei, who had been waiting on the side and witnessed the whole process, responded, took a porcelain bottle from his bosom, and poured out a pill. "Prefect Liu, here!"

Afterward, he distributed them to Zhang Yinxian and the others.

Such meticulous planning, such seasoned handling of affairs; no wonder he could be favored and valued by the Grand Chancellor... Liu Bingzhong took the antidote and swallowed it, looked at Chen Yan, sighed in his heart, stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Thank you, Lord Chen Yan!"

Now Liu Bingzhong was increasingly certain that the Grand Chancellor would have the last laugh...

His subordinates were full of talent, all such young and promising people, and he held power and held the righteous name of the Emperor.

It could be said that he occupied all the advantages of time, place, and people; it would be hard not to win!

"You Xian."

Chen Yan's Adam's apple moved, and he called out.

"Here!"

You Xian, who was called, walked out of the crowd quickly, respectfully cupped his hands, and waited for orders.

"Go to the General's mansion and invite all of Lord Shangguan's concubines to me!" Chen Yan crossed his arms in front of his chest, smiled indifferently, and ordered.

"Yes."

You Xian did not hesitate at all, took the order, and turned to leave.

"Shangguan Jun's concubines?"

"What kind of tricks does he want to play again? He wouldn't be wanting to..."

Hearing this, Liu Bingzhong couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

If he remembered correctly, ever since Chen Yan became the Zhuque Mirror Master, the Mingjing Si had added a convention...

"My lord, they have all been brought!"

"The oldest is thirty-seven, and the youngest has just turned sixteen..."

You Xian was extremely efficient. Before long, he had brought back all the people Chen Yan wanted and carefully compiled statistics to facilitate selection.

"Don't kill this servant!"

"My lord, don't kill this servant!"

"This servant knows nothing..."

Seventeen or eighteen concubines were squeezed into the room, the sound of hairpins colliding mixed with suppressed sobs.

Concubine Yun's pure gold and kingfisher step-shaker was crooked, her pomegranate-red skirt embroidered with gold thread was stained with mud, and the distant mountain eyebrows she had carefully drawn in the past were wrinkled like autumn leaves hit by frost.

Concubine Liu clutched half a shark-silk handkerchief; her Xiangfei bamboo-bone umbrella was long gone, and her moon-white gauze dress was soaked with rain, looking as if she were wearing mourning clothes.

The youngest, Taozhi, huddled in the corner, her newly made madder-red ru-skirt torn in half, revealing the plain inner garment. The pearl pendants trembling at her temples cast fine shadows on her pale face as she trembled.

They were like a flock of birds startled and then gathered; their jewel-encrusted gorgeous clothes formed a glaring contrast with the surrounding dilapidation, and only the same panic in their eyes glowed faintly in the twilight.

"Old Liu, this is your first time participating, so you should choose first!" Chen Yan snapped his fingers and said.

"That's right!"

"Old Liu, hurry up and choose!"

"Only after you choose can we choose!"

Li Tan took over the conversation, echoed immediately, and urged.

In the past, he was usually the first to choose.

But this time, considering that there were newcomers joining, it didn't matter if he let them go first...

"Lord Chen Yan, what is this..." Liu Bingzhong pretended not to know and probed.

"Sharing joy with others is better than enjoying it alone!"

"Those who see it get a share; my Mingjing Si never eats alone..."

"Li Tan ruined your warm fragrance and soft jade tonight, so he naturally has to make it up to you!"

Chen Yan smiled lightly, pointed his finger at those gorgeously dressed women, and said loudly.

What kind of not eating alone? It's clearly wanting to drag me into the water... Hearing this, Liu Bingzhong twitched the corners of his mouth, muttered in his heart, and hesitated, "This isn't good, is it...?"

Liu Bingzhong had also been in the officialdom for so many years; how could he not see Chen Yan's intention?

Once these women were touched, it wouldn't be as simple as just taking a stand.

It would be standing completely on the opposite side of the Old Zhao Lord, life and death, with no possibility of turning back.

Of course, it would also be binding him to the Grand Chancellor's warship...

"Does the Prefect look down on all of them?" Chen Yan looked at Liu Bingzhong, who had not made a choice for a long time, his tone suddenly turned cold, and he asked.

"No!"

"Just the opposite!"

Liu Bingzhong blurted out, made a quick decision in his heart, and said loudly, "I just feel that choosing only one is too unsatisfying..."

"Since we are going to play, we have to hold them in our arms!"

"I just don't know if Lord Chen Yan can agree to my excessive request?"

If you can't avoid it, then enjoy it properly.

Being deeply bound to the Grand Chancellor is not a bad thing...

After toppling those two Old Pillars of State, he, Liu Bingzhong, would surely be promoted and rise to the top.

"The Prefect's face changes too fast, doesn't it?"

Zhang Yinxian and the others watched their superior's expression and sighed in their hearts.

It could be called a 0-frame start.

Liu Bingzhong: Understood.

"Of course!"

"Old Liu, have fun!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, signaling him to choose as he pleased, and exhorted, "Watch your kidneys!"

"Then I won't be polite..."

Liu Bingzhong did not hesitate at all, walked to the graceful women, "You, and you!"

Finally, he chose the thirty-seven-year-old and the sixteen-year-old...

"Everyone rest assured, everyone has a share!"

"After a night of pleasure, if you like them, you can take them home yourself..."

Chen Yan cast his gaze toward the remaining people from the Jingzhao Prefecture, smiled, and said.

You have to know that besides the concubines, there were quite a few maids in this mansion...

Enough for everyone!

Zhang Yinxian and the others heard this, their eyes shining, and they began to be unable to hold back, rubbing their hands and waiting to choose.

They only wanted to offer loyalty to Lord Chen Yan! ===== CHAPTER 162 =====