Chapter 278

"Phew~"

"That's good! That's good!"

Zhao Qingshi heard this, let out a long sigh of relief, a huge stone in his heart landed, and he said repeatedly.

"If Chief Chen has any requirements, just propose them, our brothers will definitely cooperate..." Zhao Tishou's tightly pressed lip line loosened, and a breath of turbid air leaked out from between his teeth, carrying a bit of exhaustion and hoarseness.

It was like using the resources of the Chu State Duke's Mansion to please the Chief.

After the last incident, they were already familiar with this...

Anyway, as long as they could save their lives, other things were no longer important.

"Those who understand the times are heroes!"

A flash of laughter appeared in Chen Yan's eyes, and he said playfully: "Old Pillar of State Zhao has given birth to two good grandsons!"

Such sensible children, who could be willing to kill them?

Zhao Qian had good fortune!

Such excellent direct grandsons, he had two at once!

"It should be... it should be!"

Zhao Qingshi and Zhao Tishou looked at each other, full of flattery, and echoed.

Such obvious yin-yang mockery, even if they were dull, how could they not understand?

But with their lives held in someone else's hands, besides awkward compensation and laughter, what else could they do?

Chen Yan's gaze shifted directly to another person, and he asked with a smile: "Then what about our Young Master Yang, who plans and coordinates the overall situation?"

"I... I dare not accept it!"

Being suddenly named and stared at by death, Yang Yaren's sweat beads on his temples were like broken beads, rolling down his cheeks, smashing onto his lapels and staining a dark piece, and he begged for mercy in panic: "Chief Chen, spare my life!"

"I will never dare again!"

The heartbeat in his chest was like a drum, shaking his eardrums.

Even his breathing became rapid and hot.

After all, compared to the Zhao brothers who only funded, he was also responsible for designing the trap, contacting the male and female demons, and his crime was even greater...

Moreover, he didn't have the family background of a Pillar of State.

"Don't be afraid!"

Chen Yan smiled indifferently, squatted in front of Yang Yaren, and comforted him.

He paused, then continued: "This Chief was able to successfully capture the Qi State experts lurking in Chang'an, as well as these people, Young Master Yang, you have made a great contribution!"

"The Mingjing Si will definitely treat you as an honored guest!"

This was not sowing discord, because it wasn't needed at all, but Chen's sincere praise.

Yang Yaren was to him as Gao Wei was to Yuwen Yong, they were all their heaven-sent top generals!

If it weren't for the divine assist sent by this person, where would such a perfect trap come from?

But these words, falling into Yang Yaren's ears, were like deadly poison...

His whole body was shaking like chaff.

The hemp rope on his wrists was soaked by cold sweat and became slippery, but it tightened even more.

That bit of pain mixed with the coldness from his bones made every inch of his muscles tremble uncontrollably.

His teeth chattered, but he couldn't stop the trembling of his jaw.

The cold hair on the back of his neck stood up, and even his breathing became broken gasps.

Brainless guy... Dugu Zhang glanced at Yang Yaren and the Zhao brothers who were scared out of their wits, cursed in his heart, and shouted sternly: "What are you panicking about!"

"If we die here, and he Chen Yan returns unscathed, in the end, it will all achieve the ending the Qi State people want!"

"Only if we live well can Chen Yan maximize his interests!"

Although Dugu Zhang was also in the same predicament, he saw the essence through the phenomenon.

Begging Chen Yan for mercy?

Was there any need for that?

Even if he pointed at his nose and cursed right now, Chen Yan couldn't hurt a hair on their heads.

Because that would be exactly what the Qi State people wanted, and it wouldn't be in his interest.

Only if they were alive could this Mingjing Si Chief have bargaining chips to trade and negotiate with their fathers and grandfathers...

"Objective, correct, and hits the nail on the head!"

Chen Yan heard this analysis, couldn't help but nod, gave a thumbs up, and praised: "As expected of the direct son of the Old Pillar of State Dugu!"

What a great hindsight, classic after-the-fact analysis...

However, so what if he saw through it?

It couldn't change the ending at all!

"Chief, the Grand Marshal has led his troops to arrive!"

Just at this moment, You Xian walked quickly into the ruined temple from outside, came behind Chen Yan, lowered his voice, and reported.

"Go!"

"Quickly welcome him!"

Chen Yan's eyes lit up, and he walked straight toward the outside.

He was different from these guys.

Talking so much nonsense wasn't to show off as a winner, but to wait for someone!

Waiting for a relatively critical link in the follow-up plan...

Outside the ruined temple.

The cavalry reined in their horses outside the temple gate, the cold iron on their armor reflecting cold light in the firelight, their ring-pommel sabers half-drawn at their waists, bringing out a chilling murderous aura.

Yuwen Heng turned off his horse, his dark brocade robe unfolding in the night wind, his tall and straight figure bound by the jade belt at his waist.

"Greetings, Grand Marshal!"

Chen Yan led Yin Shizhi, You Xian, and others to welcome him quickly, and saluted respectfully.

"A Yan, no need for formalities!" Yuwen Heng walked with the stride of a dragon and a tiger, waving his hand lightly.

"Sorry to trouble the Grand Marshal to rush over in the middle of the night!" Chen Yan nodded and said.

"We are family, why talk about two families?"

Yuwen Heng raised his sword-like eyebrows slightly, raised his hand to pat Chen Yan's shoulder lightly to show his displeasure.

This incomparably intimate action fell into Yin Shizhi's eyes one by one.

Good food is not afraid of being late; he was incomparably glad about his choice of standing in line.

With this "letter of allegiance", he should be able to walk into the core circle of his own Chief's employment...

"I heard that you kid wiped out the experts lurking in the Qi State, along with those few kids, in one go?" Yuwen Heng scanned the ruined temple that was permeated with a bloody smell and asked with a smile.

"They are all inside..."

Chen Yan nodded, bowed and made a gesture of invitation, and laughed: "Grand Marshal, please!"

"Go, let's go take a look!"

Yuwen Heng's dark robe hem swept across the accumulated dust on the threshold, his jade belt swaying lightly with his steps, making his shoulders and back look even more straight like a pine, and under Chen Yan's guidance, he walked straight inside.

As soon as he entered, what caught his eyes were the few people tied up like zongzi, and he couldn't help but laugh loudly: "Dugu Zhang, Gao Jiong, it really is you few little brats!"

"Hahahaha!"

Yuwen Heng usually didn't laugh, but he couldn't help it; this scene and what they had done were too ridiculous...

Calculating against their A Yan, playing mind games with their A Yan?

How much did they not want to live?

"Grand Marshal, these few young masters, I leave them to you to take away and look after!"

Chen Yan stood half a step behind, pointed to the few people on the ground, and said respectfully.

He paused, then continued: "The Qi State experts will be taken back to the Mingjing Si for interrogation..."

Counting the previous Yan Qingwu and Zhang Sui, seven experts had already been lost.

It was not easy to cultivate them; the Qi State's lurking spies in Chang'an had suffered a great loss of vitality, enough to be quiet for a long time.

It wouldn't affect the Grand Chancellor's deployment against the two Great Pillar States...

"Fine."

Yuwen Heng understood the deep meaning of what A Yan did, nodded in agreement, and called out: "Come here."

"Here."

The personal guards responded and came out.

"Take these few people down and look after them well!" Yuwen Heng ordered.

"As you command."

The personal guards, in groups of two, quickly dragged away Dugu Zhang and the others who were tied up tightly.

"A Yan, these few kids who delivered themselves to the door, how do you plan to exert their value?" Yuwen Heng asked with his hands behind his back and a smile.

"After going back, please ask the Grand Marshal to let them write a letter, besides reporting safety, don't write anything else..."

"Send someone to deliver it to their respective mansions!"

A flash of cunning appeared in Chen Yan's eyes, and he said playfully: "Then have the delivering palace soldiers orally narrate the ins and outs of the matter..."

The use of Dugu Zhang and the others was a crucial link in his actions against Chen Tongyuan.

Even in this trap within a trap, capturing the Qi State experts was just a side benefit...

"You kid..." Yuwen Heng heard this, raised his finger to point at Chen Yan, his deep pupils full of meaningful meaning.

The purpose of the letter only reporting safety was to let each family know that their direct sons and grandsons were in whose hands, and they would be afraid of harming the rat by throwing things at it.

In the next step, weigh it, and make them dare not act rashly.

Chen Yan smiled knowingly, didn't stay in the ruined temple any longer, and returned to Chang'an with Yuwen Heng.

The night was already deep.

But the Chief's Mansion was still brightly lit.

Several women in the hall sat around the table, as if waiting for someone, the pearl flowers on their temples trembling lightly with their bowing movements, their pretty faces full of worry...

Pei Suiwan in the main seat unconsciously rubbed the teacup, the glaze was warm and moist, but it couldn't warm the anxiety in her eyes.

Outside the window, the clapper knocked past the third watch, the lanterns under the corridor swayed in the wind, reflecting the bamboo shadows on the window paper flickering.

Immediately, they heard movement from outside, turned their heads to see the face they were longing for, stood up abruptly: "Husband (Young Master) (Brother A Yan), you are finally back!"

"I've made you worry!"

Chen Yan looked at these women who were worried about his safety and looked slightly haggard, and smiled with full apology.

Because the acting had to be complete, Hongye only reported safety when she returned to the mansion and left without explaining the ins and outs.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Pei Suiwan stepped forward, took Chen Yan's hand, and asked with concern.

"It's fine, it's fine!"

Chen Yan's mouth raised slightly, patted his body, and laughed: "The one they tied up was disguised by Yin Shizhi!"

"I have never been in danger from beginning to end..."

Fishing law enforcement was fishing law enforcement, but Chen was more afraid of death than anyone else, always cautious, and in this situation, he would never take a risk with his own body.

"That's good, you worried me to death..."

Pei Suiwan breathed a sigh of relief, turned half her body, revealing the women who were also waiting behind, and said softly: "Husband, you don't know how much Qingyu, Mingyue, and Yun Xi were worried about your safety!"

Pei Suiwan understood clearly; these women had no family background, couldn't threaten her status, didn't constitute any threat, and could help.

"Sorry!"

Chen Yan nodded, was very moved, and laughed: "I've made you worry... it won't happen again!"

After briefly telling the women in the mansion about what happened tonight, starting from Yin Shizhi being kidnapped, Chen Yan returned to the room with Pei Suiwan.

The window lattice was half open, and the moonlight flowed in through that slit, plating a layer of silver white on the edge of the bed covered with brocade.

"Suiwan." Chen Yan hugged the woman from behind.

"Hmm?"

"Husband, what's wrong?"

Pei Suiwan asked softly; she felt that her man had something to say.

Chen Yan rested his head on her shoulder, looked far away, looked out the window, and asked: "Are you ready to become the wife of the Duke of Wei?"