Chapter 20: Li Tan: Loyalty!

"Eh eh eh!"

"I have no dragon-like inclination; I don't like men!"

Chen Yan jerked his hand back from the tight grip, stepping back several steps, full of caution.

He looked as if not to be messed with by me.

He is male, likes women, doesn't do gay stuff, has no cut‑sleeve fetish!

"Out of line, out of line!"

"I got a bit too excited...."

Li Tan noticed his slip and apologized with a smile.

He paused, then continued: "Brother Chen, you're magnanimous!"

"From now on, wherever you point, my Xuanwu Guard will strike there!"

Fifteen percent.

Now that's fifteen percent!

Originally, based on Li Tan's estimate and knowing the great tomb steward's platform, he thought scooping up half a percent would be like a pie falling from the sky....

But who could have imagined his own elder brother being so righteous, sweeping a hand and giving a full fifteen percent!

The Xuanwu Guard can now reap the "meat" too.

Li Tan: Loyalty!

"Since there's no objection, let this allocation become the usual practice from now on..." Chen Yan, hands clasped behind his back, instructed.

"Agreed." Song Fei and the others replied in unison.

The embroidered‑clothing envoys in the hall could hardly hide their excitement.

"By the way, bring me eight pieces each of sable and fox fur, and a hundred bolts of silk and brocade...."

Chen Yan seemed to recall something and said, "The furniture at Da Xi Jue's residence looks good—rosewood and huanghuali are fine, and those porcelain pieces—move them to my manor, that'll save me from buying new ones!"

At home, the little Qingyu, Zhu Yi, and the newly recruited Dantai Mingyue should have a few new garments made.

Moreover, having moved into a new residence, many daily necessities hadn't been purchased yet; Da Xi Jue conveniently solved his urgent need, so he didn't have to spend his own silver.

What a grand debauchery!

"Big brother, I have an awkward request, not sure how to bring it up...." Li Tan rubbed his hands, looking embarrassed.

"Speak your mind, let out any nonsense." Chen Yan, calculating what the manor still needed, replied offhand.

Li Tan, smiling broadly, said, "My Xuanwu Guard still has many brothers, unmarried and without concubines; see if we could....?"

When he went to help Song Fei raid a household tonight, Li Tan heard that Chen Yan had assigned wives to the Zhuque Guard.

He also wanted to secure another boon for the Xuanwu Guard brothers and himself....

"I was wondering what it could be...."

Chen Yan curled his lip, casually saying, "Let your men pick for themselves; the rest go to the Jiaofang Si!"

According to Great Zhou custom, women who offend officials are sent to the Jiaofang Si.

Since they all end up in the Jiaofang Si as prostitutes, better let the Xuanwu Guard choose first, earning more goodwill....

"Big brother, I love you to death!"

Li Tan was overjoyed, lunging as if to pounce, showing his boundless admiration.

"Get lost!"

But this time Chen Yan, experienced, lifted his leg early to block in front, stopping the oddly oriented fellow.

"Got it!" Li Tan, able to stretch and bend, slunk back to his original spot.

Chen Yan patted his head, nearly forgetting an important matter, then looked at Song Fei and ordered, "Lao Song, tomorrow go find a few scholars skilled at mimicking handwriting...."

"Understood." Song Fei replied.

"No need to go to such trouble...."

Li Tan stepped forward, waved his hand, and loudly declared, "My Xuanwu Guard already has them!"

"When dawn comes, let them come over, awaiting big brother's commands!"

Having received so many benefits from big brother, if he doesn't contribute even a modest effort, Li Tan truly feels he can no longer bear it.

Chen Yan nodded, not refusing Li Tan's goodwill, with a half‑smile, arranging, "Have them imitate Fan Qiming's handwriting to draft a few letters exchanged with Da Xi Jue....."

How lofty! To pile on crimes, what lack of words!..... Li Tan felt a sudden sentiment, couldn't help but smile knowingly, "I understand, I understand!"

"I guarantee the work for big brother will be crystal clear!"

He looked as if the understanding was unspoken.

Who is Fan Qiming? Li Tan, of course, knows exactly.

The head of the Fan Family, a senior physician of the Winter Office, and Chen Yan's paternal uncle by marriage.

And the incident yesterday when Chen Zhiyun stormed in and was slapped back by Big Ear Seed, he also knows...

But he didn't expect this newly recognized big brother to be so vengeful, the retaliation came so quickly.

When this secret letter of illicit contact with Da Xi Jue surfaced, Fan Qiming, even if technically innocent, was still guilty—indeed a major crime!

Chen Yan, seeing Li Tan's understanding, said no more, turned to Song Fei and reminded, "Alright, dawn's near, another sleepless night, the follow‑up is yours...."

"I'll head back first!"

Having said that, he yawned, made no pause, and turned to leave.

Chen Yan realized that in the few days he'd been in this world, he hadn't had a decent sleep at all, his days and nights were reversed, sleepless and relentless....

Compared to the 996 or 007 office drones, the difference is hardly any.

Fortunately his body is young, he can endure the strain.

"Lao Chang, stay behind to coordinate with Lao Song on handling...."

Li Tan, seeing Chen Yan depart, could no longer restrain his impatience, turned his head toward the Xuanwu Deputy Envoy at the doorway and ordered.

He paused, then continued: "I also will go find Lady Qin, Lady Chu, and Ding Xiao Niangzi, to have a proper talk about life!"

Saying that, he licked his lips.

He was full of excitement.

In fact, Chen Yan had misread Li Tan's sexual orientation; he was genuinely a faithful lover of someone else's wife…

The dawn was just breaking.

A pale fish‑belly white spread across the horizon, and a gentle glow fell softly upon the earth.

Heavenly Official Office.

"Grand Minister of Education present!"

"Grand Minister of Justice present!"

"Grand Marshal present!"

As the three announcements rang out, the great figures at the core of Great Zhou's power stepped into the courtyard.

"Greetings, Grand Minister of the Treasury!"

The three bowed to Yuwen Hu, who was seated on a rose‑wood chair, and paid their respects.

"Servants, bring the tea!"

Yuwen Hu waved his hand, and a servant from the mansion brought forward the already prepared hot tea.

"The tea at the Grand Minister's residence remains as excellent as ever…"

Dugu Zhao lifted the hot tea with graceful composure, took a light sip, and praised.

Dugu Zhao, one of the Eight Pillars of State, Duke of Wei, Grand Protector, Grand Minister of Education, and the most celebrated handsome man in Chang'an.

Even though he is nearing his fifties, he still lives up to the widely praised phrase "beautiful appearance and demeanor."

"If Lord Dugu likes it, later this king will send some to your residence," Yuwen Hu stroked the teacup lightly and said with a smile.

"May I ask what urgent matter has prompted the Grand Minister to summon us so early this morning?"

Zhao Qian, sixty‑six, with hair and beard all white, was hot‑tempered and impatient, having no mind for tea, asked eagerly.

This was the first time since Yuwen Hu assumed power that he had summoned an audience with such haste.

It bore an unusual significance…

"Of course!"

Yuwen Hu twirled the Jade Ring and blurted out.

He paused again, then added, "It concerns the great crime of plotting rebellion and sowing chaos…"

Having finished speaking, his sharp gaze swept over the faces of the two elder Pillars of State.

He examined their reactions.

"Oh?"

Dugu Zhao, unruffled, also looked back at Yuwen Hu and laughed, "Seeing the Grand Minister so calm and composed, I suppose the matter has already been resolved, hasn't it?"

He couldn't explain why that glance just now gave him a sense of an unfriendly visitor…

"Come on, bring the person up!"

"Let the two elder Pillars have a look…"

A smile flickered in Yuwen Hu's eyes as he snapped his fingers.

The mansion's Personal Guard immediately dragged three people in, and a guard carried a tray bearing a severed head.

Those three had their tendons cut from hands and feet, their tongues removed, and were forced to kneel in the courtyard.

"Da Xi Jue!"

Zhao Qian fixed his eyes, recognized whose head it was, sprang to his feet, and said, "And also Chu Xiaofeng and Qin Jinglan…"

In an instant, Zhao Qian's anger flared, his veins bulging.

"All those brought up here were his subordinates…"

"Calm down!"

Dugu Zhao, noticing Zhao Qian's agitation, pressed him back onto his seat, his gaze deep as he looked at Yuwen Hu and asked, "Grand Minister, may I know what exactly is going on here?"

"These four traitors plotted last night to raise troops and rebel, seeking to restore the Murong family's dominion…"

Yuwen Hu raised his hand, pointed, and calmly said, "It was Chen Yan, the Mingjingsi Zhuque Mirror Keeper, who knew in advance and led his forces to crush and capture them!"

"Chen Yan!" Zhao Qian's eyes flashed with anger, his teeth clenched as he spat the two words.

Murderous intent surged.

He looked like a man intent on killing.

Seeing this, Yuwen Hu smiled even more intriguingly and said, "Elder Pillar Zhao, since you are Da Xi Jue's senior superior and also the Grand Minister of Justice who oversees the prisons, how do you think this should be dealt with?"