Chapter 23: Still Asking? I've Got You All!

"Still asking?"

"I've got you all!"

This stupid question amused Chen Yan, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his voice suddenly rising.

Three days in He Dong, three days in He West, after six days if you don't run, you truly have some backbone.

"A Yan, you mustn't joke!"

Fan Qiming was startled, his face breaking into a nervous smile, "Your aunt is timid, she can't stand being scared like this...."

Speaking, he lifted his hand and gently tugged Chen Yan's sleeve.

He wore a conciliatory look, trying to act as a peacemaker.

"Joking?"

Chen Yan glanced back, brushed aside Fan Qiming's hand, and retorted, "Do I look like I'm joking with you?"

Between the lines, a chilling cold was about to overflow.

Fan Qiming was momentarily stunned, pretended not to hear, and kept laughing, "Looks like the hour is about right; I guess A Yan hasn't dined yet?"

"Perfect, let's have a good drink and smooth things over...."

Fan Qiming was completely unaware of the seriousness of the issue.

He even intended, at the wine table, to let them laugh away the grudges and dissolve all enmities....

But before he could finish, Chen Yan cut him off with a cold laugh, "My nephew, I'm the most petty and narrow‑minded!"

"The words that insulted my late mother that day still echo in my ears!"

Holding a grudge has always been one of Chen Yan's virtues.

"You share the same blood; how can a family have an unresolvable misunderstanding?"

Seeing his persuasion fail, Fan Qiming immediately began a moral blackmail, "Later, let your aunt properly apologize to you at the dinner table...."

"Right! Right!"

"Aunt is wrong!"

"It was Aunt who misspoke!"

Chen Zhiyun, seeing this, immediately cooperated with Fan Qiming, echoing, "Aunt apologizes to you and your mother!"

The demeanor appeared extremely sincere, as if from the heart.

Only, a chill flickered in the woman's eyes.

If it weren't to keep him steady, if the situation weren't stronger than the person, she wouldn't have humbled herself so, apologizing to that scoundrel and his son....

That tone was something she could never swallow.

The road ahead is long; the debt can be settled slowly!

We have many days ahead!

"If you apologize, must I accept?"

"If you admit fault, must I forgive?"

"Too late!"

Chen Yan heard this, smiled calmly, seized Chen Zhiyun's throat, hauled her from the bed, and tossed her onto the floor.

"Ah!"

Chen Zhiyun, face down on the ground, let out a painful scream.

The sudden scene stunned Fan Qiming; he rushed forward, lifted Chen Zhiyun, and shouted, "A Yan, what are you doing?"

"She is your aunt!"

Fan Qiming could not have imagined Chen Yan being so audacious and arrogant.

This is in Fan Mansion; the person is still his elder—how dare he?

Is there still any sense of ethics, propriety, or family rules in his eyes?

"Aunt?"

"Where does this aunt come from?"

Chen Yan smiled wryly, flexed his wrist, and looked down at the two.

He paused, then continued, "Only my Mingjing Division is here, to capture and execute the co‑conspirators!"

"What... what do you mean?"

Fan Qiming, not understanding, asked puzzled, "What co‑conspirators?"

"Our Fan family has always been modest and honest, never doing anything out of line...."

Fan Qiming was completely stunned.

All these years, he had always been cautious, never mixing in anything.

The most outrageous thing he ever did was secretly drink flower wine with a colleague behind his wife's back....

Could that even violate Great Zhou Law?

What co‑conspirators?

It's sheer nonsense.

"Harboring treason, secretly colluding with the rebel official Da Xi Jue, and you call that honest?"

Chen Yan smacked his lips, laughing, "Come, take a good look—does this look like your handwriting?"

Speaking calmly, he pulled several pre‑prepared Secret Letters from his coat and tossed them in front of Fan Qiming.

Li Tan is somewhat flamboyant, but reliable in handling matters.

Early in the morning, he dispatched scholars from the Xuanwu Guard, adept at imitation, to Zhuque Tang, where they copied over a dozen letters.

Moreover, their skill level was extremely high....

Chen Yan even compared them, and one could almost say they are cut from the same cloth.

"This... how could this be possible?"

Fan Qiming picked up one of the letters, fixed his gaze on it, and his hand began to tremble involuntarily.

Exactly the same—those characters are really his?

The letter's contents were all treasonous accusations against the Yuwen Clan and against Da Zhu Zai.

Fan Qiming collapsed onto the ground, muttering to himself, "When have I ever corresponded with Da Xi Jue?"

"I haven't even spoken to him more than five times..."

The person involved was stunned.

Even after racking his brain, he couldn't recall ever having done this, let alone having such a close relationship with Da Xi Jue.

Even if he borrowed ten, a hundred doses of courage, he still wouldn't dare to slander Da Zhu Zai!

"This really is your handwriting..."

Chen Zhiyun also pulled a letter from the ground, was shocked by the handwriting and content, and suddenly seemed to realize something, "No!"

"Even if I lent you ten doses of courage, you still wouldn't dare to do this!"

She paused, clenched the letter tightly in her hand, stared at Chen Yan, and asked through gritted teeth, "Chen Yan, you're the one behind this, right?"

Chen Zhiyun could be certain this was a frame‑up!

Her husband—could she still not understand him?

All skin and no substance, essentially an embroidered pillow!

Even if he harbored treasonous thoughts, he certainly lacked the nerve!

He wouldn't even dare to speak loudly in front of her....

Moreover, between Fan Qiming and Da Xi Jue, at most they have only seen each other, with no overlap at all.

"Wronged!"

"Wronged!"

"These are all baseless rumors!"

Being implicated, and even involving treason—a crime that could annihilate a clan—Fan Qiming instantly panicked, his legs went weak, and he began to defend himself.

"Aunt, have you ever heard a saying?"

Chen Yan bent over, leaned close to Chen Zhiyun's ear, and laughed, "Those who wrong you know better than you yourself how wronged you are!"

Is it true or false, does it matter that much?

In principle, it is indeed important, but right now the principle is in Chen Yan's hands.

If he says it's true, then it's true!

What's more unfortunate is that Chen Yan not only studies the Spring and Autumn Annals, but also masters the Luo Zhi Scripture; he is a consummate scholar of Lai Junchen....

"You scoundrel!"

"Shameless!"

Hearing that, Chen Zhiyun was incensed, gritted her teeth and cursed.

She truly hadn't anticipated that this brazen, shameless scoundrel not only dared to act, but also had the audacity to openly admit it?!

Does he have any bottom line left?

"Thanks for the compliment!"

"My nephew will certainly work hard and strive!"

Chen Yan stood up, shrugged his shoulders, took no shame but honor, and laughed.

As a glorious power‑broker's lapdog, his bottom line is obviously a curve!

Seeing this, Chen Zhiyun felt her teeth itch with anger, held it in for a long while, then managed to say, "Chen Yan, do you really have to take this to the extreme?"

But Chen Yan didn't even hesitate; he blurted out, "Exactly!"

"Everyone in this Fan Mansion are your blood relatives, your cousins!" Chen Zhiyun laughed angrily, glared at Chen Yan, and began a family‑based blackmail.

Chen Yan nodded in agreement, "Cousin, good—my favorite is killing cousins!"

"Also like killing younger cousins..."

He paused again, then thoughtfully added, "As for female cousins, just send them all to Jiaofang Si!"

Chen Yan recalled his beloved aunt, who had been married to Fan Qiming for over ten years, and had three sons and two daughters.

Of course, Chen Yan is always meticulous; he wouldn't let even the children of his uncle's concubine go unpunished....

"You... you... where has the once courteous and respectful Chen Yan gone?"

"When did you become so vicious?"

Chen Zhiyun clutched her chest, raised her hand and pointed at Chen Yan, demanding harshly.

At this moment, she felt that the nephew standing before her was utterly unfamiliar....

The old Chen Yan was not like this!

No matter how excessive they act, they wouldn't hold a grudge, and would still serve respectfully....

"Dead!"

Chen Yan laughed, his gaze icy and cutting, mocking, "Idol, you chose this yourselves...."

"Since you siblings teamed up to frame me for Tianlao, the old Chen Yan was already dead!"

"Dead to the core!"

"The Fan family is mine; even the Buddha himself couldn't save you!"