Chapter 236: Two brothers thawing old grudges? Chen Tongyuan leads a raid on adultery

Jiangnan bank.

On the carved wooden table, gilded silver plates with entwined branch designs were stacked in layers, filled with delicacies.

In the amber night‑glow cup, the grape wine contributed from the Western Regions rippled with a rouge hue, its fragrance mingling with the roasted meat aroma and lingering in the warm pavilion.

The central porcelain plate held sliced raw mullet as thin as paper, served with fresh green mustard sauce and deep‑red smartweed blossoms.

In the silver cauldron, the slowly simmered camel‑hump soup floated with gold leaf, its milky broth enveloping goji berries and pine nuts, while steam carried exotic aromas of cinnamon and pepper.

When the bamboo steamer was lifted, the translucent skin of the "crab‑roe xiaolong" showed folds like a flower bud at the top; a gentle bite released golden crab oil.

There was also a plate of "Peony Fish Slices" that amazed—snow‑white snapper slices carved into layered petals, paired with tender yellow magnolia slices and bright red goji berries, drizzled with a sweet‑sour sauce, resembling a blooming porcelain‑glazed peony.

"Big brother, you're here?"

"Please, have a seat!"

Chen Gubai saw Chen Yan leading Zhu Yi and Hongye into the room, and he hurriedly stood, respectfully gesturing an invitation toward the main seat at the table.

He lowered his posture to the utmost.

"Yo!"

Chen Yan, unreserved, sat directly on the main seat, eyeing Chen Gubai with interest and teasing, "Did the sun rise in the west today?"

"We actually have brotherly harmony today..."

His words were full of mockery.

"Big brother, what are you talking about?"

Chen Gubai, hearing this, neither angry nor annoyed, instead sat at Chen Yan's lower seat with a beaming smile, flattering, "I was the immature younger brother before!"

"Hahaha!"

"To know one's mistake and improve is the greatest..."

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward slightly, seeming not to intend any difficulty, and he laughed, "Between us blood brothers, what overnight grudges could there be?"

He appeared exceedingly magnanimous.

"???"

But this unexpected scene left Zhu Yi, the guard standing aside, dumbfounded, thinking, "Can the Young Master really say that?!"

"Am I not fully awake, or has the Young Master been possessed?!"

Others might not understand him, but could Zhu Yi not understand his own Young Master?

Could he be such a magnanimous person?

If he truly held no old grudges, he wouldn't have let Chen Kaiyuan and Chen Zhiyun—one who, fearing guilt, took his own life, the other killed by his son—to...

What act is the Young Master playing?

"Indeed, indeed, Big brother is right!"

The situation was smoother than Chen Gubai had expected, and he immediately took up the thread, echoing, "Between us brothers, can past discord create a rift?"

At that moment, Chen Gubai strained to restrain himself, the excitement in his eyes...

Looks like he's about to fall into the trap!

"Third brother, you're thoughtful; all these dishes on the table are prepared for the elder brother's pleasure..."

Chen Yan smiled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the fragrant dishes, and said, "All of them are perfect in color, aroma, and taste!"

Although he spoke as such, he showed no intention of picking up his chopsticks...

Chen Gubai saw Chen Yan's guard, smiled, and said, "Big brother, rest assured, I sincerely repent and have reformed, so why would I poison the dishes?"

Having said that, he produced the prepared fine silver needles and inserted them one by one into each dish and wine.

None turned black.

He then picked up his chopsticks, took a small piece from each dish, placed it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

"Brother, I truly trust the third brother!"

Chen Yan, unfazed, smiled, picked up a piece of the peony fish slice and tasted, "Very delicious!"

"Big brother, your gracious presence today is giving me face..."

"I will first toast the big brother with three cups!"

Seeing that he had gained trust, Chen Gubai lifted his cup and drank three cups in succession.

"Has Chen Gubai changed his nature?"

"He really didn't poison the wine and dishes?"

Zhu Yi, seeing this, looked at Chen Gubai with puzzlement, thinking to himself.

If I recall correctly, this kid is the most petty and holds grudges...

And just two days ago, our Young Master slapped him a few times with a Big Ear Seed, and even used his broken root to threaten the Duke of Wei...

"Third brother is so carefree, how could the elder brother fall behind?"

"I also toast the third brother!"

Chen Yan raised the cup before him and drained it in one gulp, as if his guard had vanished.

After a few more drinks, Chen Gubai's face flushed slightly, he placed his hand on Chen Yan's shoulder and said, "Big brother, there are some thoughts I cannot voice while others are present..."

Chen Yan understood the implication, lifted his hand and gestured lightly, "Zhu Yi, Hongye, you two, go wait outside first!"

"Young Master, this..."

Zhu Yi was startled, hesitating a bit.

He was uneasy about his Young Master being alone with this kid...

"Inside this pavilion, it's just me and Big brother; what could happen?"

Chen Gubai lifted his head, drunkenly gazing at Zhu Yi, and said, "Outside there are also people to entertain you..."

"Go!" Chen Yan waved his hand again.

"Yes." Zhu Yi forced the word out of his teeth with difficulty.

When only the two of them remained inside the pavilion.

Chen Gubai raised his wine cup, let out a long sigh, and said with feeling, "Elder brother, thinking of what Second Brother and I did to you in the past, I always feel deep guilt!"

"Never mind, that's all in the past....."

Chen Yan was moved, "Since Third Brother can suddenly repent, there's no need to say more!"

"Come, drink!"

Saying so, he also raised his cup and clinked it.

The guy now seems cold and ruthless, yet his deep regard for family remains unchanged…… Chen Gubai, seeing this, muttered to himself and laughed, "Damn!"

After draining his cup, he straightened his tall hat and said, "Elder brother, you have no idea how much I now admire you, brother!"

"Drunken Battle King Xie, earned the name Poet Immortal!"

"Quelling the rebellion in Qinzhou!"

"Suppressing bandits in Jingzhou!"

"Truly a hero!"

Chen Gubai recited them as if they were family lore, speaking as if from the heart.

"Third Brother, you overpraise!"

Chen Yan swayed, pressed his hand, and laughed, "Just an empty title, not worth mentioning....."

"In my eyes, there is no hero today who can surpass you, Elder brother!" Chen Gubai continued to flatter.

"Hahaha....."

Chen Yan burst into hearty laughter, then suddenly raised his hand to support his head, "Why am I feeling a bit dizzy....."

Night.

Two vermilion silk lamps hung on either side of the carved doorway, their lantern tassels swaying gently in the evening breeze, casting a soft glow on the gilded plaque reading "Peach Blossom Flowing Water."

Outside the inn's entrance, a group of richly dressed people lingered.

"Pojiao, are you really sure that Chen Yan, that wayward son, forcibly took Miss Ning away?"

"Still committing illicit acts in there?"

Chen Tongyuan looked at the messenger Chen Pojiao and asked.

It was his own illegitimate son who had gathered them......

The arrivals were also highly distinguished: besides Chen Tongyuan himself, there were Miss Ning's father Ning Zheng, the Jing Zhao Prefecture Administrator Liu Bingzhong, and the Pei Clan heir Pei Xilou, among others......

"The child does not dare to lie!"

Chen Pojiao lowered his head, clasped his fists and said, "Elder brother and Miss Ning are right now making a tryst in the third‑floor inn room......"

"Everyone, it is I, Chen Tongyuan, who have failed to teach my son properly!"

Hearing this, Chen Tongyuan turned to the few present and said.

What seemed like an apology was actually an admission of guilt.

"Chief Chen, your authority is so great, the marriage is imminent, yet you still tarnish my daughter's purity!" Ning Zheng flung his sleeve sharply and launched an attack.

"Duke of Wei, Lord Ning, hearing is but empty, how can one decide based on a single side's words?" Pei Xilou examined the two and retorted.

At that moment, Pei Xilou sensed something fishy.....

Seeing these guys echo each other so confidently, his brother‑in‑law was very likely to have inadvertently fallen into a trap.

"Then let's all go up and see!"

Chen Tongyuan was the first to step into the Peach Blossom Flowing Water.

"Let's go!"

The others followed closely behind.

"Bang!"

Chen Tongyuan's guard kicked the room door open with a foot.

"Ah!"

A frightened voice of Ning Chuyao came from inside the room.

"Yao'er, you're really here!" Ning Zheng instantly recognized his daughter and fully believed Chen Pojiao's claim.

"That wretched Chen Yan still has the nerve..."

Chen Tongyuan looked at the man on the bed, still lying on his back and snoring, strode forward, flipped him over in one swift motion, then his face suddenly changed: "G… Gubai?!"