Chapter 168: Qin Zhao and Lu Miao, the favor of catching a white wolf with empty hands

Immediately after, Chen Yan, dressed neatly and looking radiant, leading Qingyu, Dantai Mingyue, Wen Run, and others, appeared in the reception hall.

"Not late, not late!"

"I have long admired Lord Chen Yan's name; seeing you today, you are truly extraordinary!"

"You are worthy of being handsome and heroic!"

Qin Zhao heard the sound and looked over, immediately stood up to welcome him, his face full of smiles, and said loudly. 【168

Ever since the rise of this Great Zhou Poetry Immortal and Zhuque Mirror Master, Qin Zhao had heard Chen Yan's name and deeds many times and had always wanted to find an opportunity to meet him, but never could.

Who would have thought that it would finally happen under these circumstances?

"Indeed, indeed. He is truly worthy of being the grandson of Old Pillar of State Chen, inheriting that same martial heroism!"

Lu Miao also looked Chen Yan up and down, chiming in with flattery: "With such a young talent who is proficient in both literature and martial arts in our Great Zhou, why worry that we won't flourish?"

"You two lords are too kind with your praise!"

Chen Yan returned the salute with cupped hands and said modestly with a smile: "I know my own worth; it is all thanks to the Grand Chancellor's cultivation and promotion!"

Chen Yan knew better than anyone how much truth and how much falsehood there was in what these two were saying...

It was just polite talk they had to say because they needed something from him; if you took it seriously, you'd be the one to lose!

"Hearing a hundred times is not as good as seeing once. This young man is now at the height of his fame, yet he shows not a hint of arrogance; he is truly a great talent!"

Qin Zhao watched Chen Yan's response, his eyes narrowing slightly as he commented to himself.

Not to mention the sons of the Chang'an clans, this level of composure was something many people in the imperial court couldn't hope to match...

And the key was, how old was he!

Seventeen, seventeen!

If a family could produce just one such descendant, who knows how many years it would prosper...

He really couldn't understand why that fellow Chen Tongyuan would denounce a direct descendant with such character to the Heavenly Prison...

"We came to visit abruptly and have prepared some meager gifts; we hope Mirror Master Chen will accept them!" Lu Miao chuckled and pointed toward the courtyard outside, speaking in a clear voice.

Following the direction of his gaze, the "meager gifts" the two had prepared amounted to a full ten chests.

One could see their sincerity!

"You two brothers are too polite..."

Before entering, Chen Yan had already noticed the ten large chests and was quite satisfied with the attitude of Qin and Lu in seeking his help, so he smiled and said: "Since it is the kindness of you brothers, I cannot refuse!"

He paused, looked at Dantai Mingyue beside him, and instructed: "Mingyue, order someone to have these moved into the treasury..."

"Yes."

Dantai Mingyue replied expressionlessly, then immediately sent men to handle it, having the ten large chests carried away one by one.

Seeing this, Qin Zhao and Lu Miao exchanged a look and smiled without a word.

Accepting them meant there was something to talk about...

Moreover, he hadn't made any excuses or delays and had accepted them extremely readily, which meant the probability of success for what they were seeking was quite high...

"It's already this late; I presume you two brothers haven't dined yet?"

Chen Yan glanced at the sky outside the hall, which had already darkened, then stepped forward, cupped his hands, and warmly invited them: "May I have the honor of sharing wine and conversation with you brothers?"

"We wouldn't have it any other way!" the two replied with a smile.

Since the gifts had already been sent, they naturally had to eat this meal; how could they discuss business if they didn't?

"Qingyu, have the kitchen bring out the best food and wine!"

"Tonight, we shall drink to our hearts' content, and not leave until we are drunk!"

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly upward as he looked at Qingyu and gave the order.

"Yes." Qingyu nodded in response.

The banquet hall.

On the red-lacquered, carved-flower long tables, delicacies were piled high, a sight to behold.

In the gilded cups, the mutton soup shimmered with an amber luster like congealed fat, the slow-simmered deer tail meat was coated in a thick sauce, and amber-colored sugar frost trembled slightly on silver plates.

In the octagonal celadon bowls was a jade-like green vegetable soup, with spinach and tofu crumbles floating in the broth, sprinkled with pine nuts that shone with an oily luster.

In the carved lacquer food boxes, the crystal-clear meat jelly reflected the candlelight, with amber-colored gelatin congealed between the rose-colored textures.

In the silver openwork incense burner, the agarwood smoke rose in spirals, intertwining with the charred aroma of roasted roe deer meat and the fresh steam from the crab-steaming baskets.

The Chen mansion maids brought out the freshly steamed crab-stuffed oranges, the golden-red crab meat embedded in the orange-yellow fruit flesh, drizzled with honey-soaked osmanthus, the sweet fragrance mingling with the scent of the sea spreading through the banquet.

After three rounds of wine, Qin Zhao, already flushed with drink, saw that the time was right, put his arm around Chen Yan's shoulder, and asked: "Brother A Yan, with your intelligence, I presume you have already guessed the reason for our visit, haven't you?"

"Are you two brothers looking to use my connections to put in a good word before the Grand Chancellor?" Chen Yan picked up his wine cup, swirled it gently, and smiled.

Chen Yan understood the ins and outs of why Qin and Lu would come to his door with gifts to seek his help.

The reason was that after the incident, the Grand Chancellor had closed his doors to them and deliberately given them the cold shoulder...

As a bystander, Chen Yan had long had some guesses about the intention behind such actions:

To offer hope in the midst of despair, in order to purify their loyalty.

Much like how Li Er had deliberately demoted Li Ji before his passing...

"Exactly," Qin Zhao replied.

He paused, then asked tentatively: "With your status in the Grand Chancellor's heart, Brother A Yan, it shouldn't be a difficult task, right?"

"It's not that it's difficult..."

Chen Yan nodded first, then shook his head, feigning a troubled expression, and changed the subject, continuing: "It's just that you two brothers must also understand the Grand Chancellor's temper, right?"

"Things he has decided are not so easily swayed!"

In his eyes, there was a flash of cunning.

Having spent so many years beside a big shot, Chen Yan understood one principle:

When being asked for help by others, creating and deepening the difficulty of the task is the only way to earn more favors...

In plain language, the harder the task is to handle, the more favors and benefits you earn!

"It is precisely because we know it is not easy that we came to you, Brother A Yan..." Qin Zhao caught the subtext and said, "If even you, brother, have no way, then it's even less likely for anyone else!"

If the matter were easy, they would never have come to visit in person, let alone bring ten chests of treasures.

At present, the only person with the ability to help was this favorite minister of the Grand Chancellor...

"Indeed!"

"We two are now in a dilemma..."

Lu Miao raised his wine cup and chimed in: "We hope you, brother, will lend us a helping hand!"

"There will definitely be a generous reward in the future!"

Chen Yan feigned a drunken, tipsy appearance, pressed down on their hands, and said: "We are all brothers, what are you two talking about?"

"I, Chen Yan, will definitely do my utmost!"

He made the promise with such sincerity and conviction.

Seeing this, Qin Zhao, fearing Chen Yan might go back on his word, immediately spoke to solidify it: "With those words from you, Brother A Yan, I feel reassured..."

"Whether it succeeds or not, I will remember this favor!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand and patted his own chest.

"Brother, although I used a strategy to turn the tide of public opinion..." Chen Yan picked up his wine cup, drained it, and laid the groundwork: "The evidence provided by Ren Yue was not forged, and the imperial court cannot change its orders from morning to evening; we must understand the Grand Chancellor's difficulties!"

Qin Zhao thought for a moment, immediately understood, and smiled: "Don't worry, I understand the stakes..."

"We don't ask to be restored to our original posts; being sent out to govern a region would be excellent!"

Lu Miao also nodded in agreement.

They knew well how difficult it was to be restored to their original posts at this critical juncture, so being sent out to govern as Prefects and becoming local emperors was a better choice.

It wasn't as if they couldn't be transferred back to Chang'an later...

Having achieved his goal and successfully pulled off the empty-handed scheme, Chen Yan agreed readily and said in a clear voice: "Good, I will definitely do my utmost to strive for you two brothers, and will never fail your trust!"

"Good brother, I, Qin Zhao, will remember this favor!"

"If you ever need anything in the future, just say the word!"

Qin Zhao was deeply moved and immediately raised his wine cup to toast Chen Yan.

"I, Lu Miao, as well!" Lu Miao also raised his wine cup.

This young man before them was saving their future...

Adding flowers to brocade is never as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather!