Chapter 294: I will go through fire and water for you, Prince Heir!

Four men dressed in dark-colored martial attire were striding through the moon-gate, their boot soles making steady sounds as they stepped on the stone slabs.

"Boqiao, you should go first..." Chen Yan patted Chen Boqiao's shoulder and said.

"Yes, Big Brother, you go ahead with your work!" Chen Boqiao nodded and, without lingering, walked away quickly.

The leader was a burly man with a scarred face, his left hand missing the tip of his little finger; he was the leader of the mansion's most elite "private soldiers," Chen Zhunxu.

The four of them stopped in unison, their brows carrying the ferocity of those who had spent years in the world of martial arts and on the battlefield; their movements were as clean and efficient as if they had been practiced a thousand times—they knelt on one knee, their right hands pressed to their left chests, their voices low: "Greetings, Prince Heir!"

Chen Yan's gaze lingered on the four of them for a moment, he smiled indifferently, stepped forward a few paces, and stopped in front of Chen Zhunxu.

Chen Zhunxu was lowering his head, waiting for orders, when he suddenly felt a cool hand gently supporting his elbow.

He looked up abruptly, meeting Chen Yan's calm eyes, his tone very gentle: "No need for formalities!"

Chen Yan exerted a little force, and Chen Zhunxu stood up accordingly; the other three also stood straight, but they lowered their eyelids, not daring to look directly at this master—only when the Old Master was alive did they receive such courtesy.

"It has been a long time, everyone!" Chen Yan's lips curled into a very faint smile as he greeted them.

These few were the leaders and deputies of the private soldiers, the ones with the most prestige...

Chen Yan had specifically ordered the Embroidered Attire Envoy to invite them over.

"Prince Heir, we hope you have been well!" Chen Zhunxu and the others replied respectfully.

"I remember you, Chen Zhunxu!"

Chen Yan's hand did not retract; instead, he took the opportunity to grasp Chen Zhunxu's calloused hand, patted it gently, and laughed: "The bravest old soldier under the Old Master's command in the past!"

This action made Chen Zhunxu's whole body stiffen, and the three people behind him were so shocked that they raised their eyes.

That hand had held a blood-dripping blade and had pulled the trigger of a lethal crossbow, yet at this moment, it was being held by a pair of warm hands.

The thick calluses under his fingertips rubbed against the other's delicate brocade, like a rough pebble falling into a jade plate.

He felt inexplicably excited and said: "The Prince Heir actually still remembers this lowly one!"

"Of course..."

Chen Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping from Chen Zhunxu to Chen Tong and the other two, and laughed: "I called you all over just to reminisce!"

"Let's go, let's go into the inner hall, sit down, drink tea, and chat slowly!"

"Yes."

Chen Zhunxu and the four of them looked at each other and followed in order.

The shadows of the trees on both sides of the bluestone road were flickering.

Silver-thread charcoal was already burning in the main hall, and warmth mixed with the fragrance of tea drifted over.

Chen Yan sat in the main seat and tapped the tabletop with his knuckles: "Sit, everyone!"

Only then did they sit on the pear-wood chairs below, half of their buttocks hanging off, their hands not knowing where to put them.

They were quite nervous.

"Everyone, after the Old Master passed away, in the year or so that you were under Chen Tongyuan's command, life hasn't been easy, has it..."

Chen Yan picked up the teapot, poured the amber tea soup into the cups, and without beating around the bush, went straight to the point: "Without flattery, without currying favor, without sycophancy, without being servile—it's hard to be valued, isn't it?"

Within his words was profound meaning.

The current situation of these private soldiers was like heaven and earth compared to when the Old Master was still alive.

Chen Tongyuan not only ignored and suppressed them but also frequently deducted their pay; their treatment was like heaven and earth compared to the likes of Chen Xiangqi.

This was also one of the reasons why a single handwritten letter could make them defect...

"Sigh!"

Chen Zhunxu's hand holding the teacup paused, and a barely audible low sigh escaped his throat.

His rough fingertips repeatedly rubbed against the hot cup wall, as if he wanted to grasp that bit of warmth into his bones.

"It is no longer like when the Old Master was here..." His voice was deep and hoarse, the scar on his temple looking even more like a ravine in the lamplight.

Chen Zhunxu was not surprised at all that their situation was known like the back of his hand.

After all, this Prince Heir was now in charge of the Mingjing Si...

"Indeed!"

"Having gone through fire and water for the Old Master for so many years, when have we ever been so stifled!"

Chen Tong touched his missing half-ear, his Adam's apple rolling, and pulled out a smile that was uglier than crying: "Someone like Chen Xiangqi could be reused..."

Between the lines, it was all indignation and dissatisfaction.

In fact, they also knew how to get rid of their previous predicament, but they couldn't bring themselves to do it.

The pride in their bones allowed them to risk their lives and shed blood, but they couldn't kneel down, and they couldn't learn to flatter.

"Chen Tongyuan is already dead; everything has returned to dust and earth..."

Chen Yan laughed lightly, the laughter shallow, like the evening breeze brushing over the water, calm and indifferent.

He paused, but the subject suddenly changed, and he continued: "This official only wants to ask you all one question now!"

"Please speak, Prince Heir!"

Chen Zhunxu and the four of them heard this, sat up straight, and bowed.

Chen Yan put down the teacup, the bottom of the cup touching the desk with a clear, crisp sound, his voice suddenly rising, carrying an unquestionable sharpness: "Is your blood cold?"

"Are you still willing to build merit and establish a career?"

"Do you still harbor your former ambitions?"

"Do you still dare to kill enemies on the battlefield?"

His speaking speed was not fast, but it was like a heavy hammer, knocking on everyone's heart.

Is the blood cold?

Are the ambitions still there?

Have the edges been smoothed away by more than a year of wasting time and suppression?

The four of them kept repeating these questions in their minds.

On Chen Zhunxu's left hand, the missing tip of his little finger throbbed with pain—it had been cut off by an enemy soldier on the battlefield ten years ago—but a desire for merit ignited in his eyes; he stood up abruptly, cupped his hands, and said: "As long as the Prince Heir can use us, we will surely serve to the death!"

This was the Young Military Immortal, not a straw-bag mediocrity like Chen Tongyuan.

Following by his side, why worry about not being able to display one's soaring ambitions?

"That's right!"

Chen Tong's long-dormant blood boiled again; he stood up immediately after and said in a deep voice: "Willing to be the Prince Heir's vanguard and serve like a dog or horse!"

"I, Chen Heyi, am willing to hold the horse and stirrup for the Prince Heir and protect him on the battlefield!" Chen Heyi's gaze was firm, and he said loudly.

He knew very well that this was likely the last and only opportunity in this life, and he had to grasp it firmly.

The four men's declarations were almost roared out, shaking the dust on the hall beams so that it fell down in a rustle.

It was a bloodthirstiness that had been suppressed for too long.

They were soldiers who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, not cowards who only knew how to sigh!

"Good, very good!"

Chen Yan nodded with satisfaction and laughed: "You all are worthy of being the battle-hardened elite soldiers carefully selected by the Old Master!"

"The hot blood has not cooled!"

"When there is a suitable opportunity, this official will lead you all to build merit on the battlefield!"

Why do the high-ranking families of this era like to keep private soldiers?

Besides the court's policy allowing it, it is even more because at critical moments, they can truly put their heads on the line and fight to the death for you!

Such elites can also burst forth with even greater energy.

"Subordinates await the Prince Heir's orders!"

Chen Zhunxu and the other four straightened their spines, their voices loud and clear.

"Zhu Yi, go and open those boxes!"

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly upward, he waved his hand gently, and ordered.

"Yes."

Zhu Yi replied, hooked his hands around the edges of the boxes, and pulled them outward abruptly.

With a deep "creak," the black cloth slid off, revealing boxes filled with neatly arranged silver ingots; the moonlight spilled in through the window lattice, refracting a cold, chilling light on the silver ingots, making one's eyes dizzy.

Chen Tong took a sharp breath at this moment, his nose twitching—he could smell that these camphor wood boxes were new, the wood still carrying the scent of pine resin, clearly prepared long ago.

This was a whole box of silver... Chen Zhunxu stared at that box of silver, his breathing even pausing, his voice trembling as he asked: "Prince... Prince Heir, what is the meaning of this?"

Each silver ingot was the size of a palm, the edges and corners cast squarely, heavily stacked in five layers, pressing the wooden board at the bottom of the box to sink slightly.

On the top layer of silver ingots, the raised characters "Official Cast" were clearly distinguishable.

The edges still retained the fire marks from casting, glowing with a cold, bluish-white light; one could tell at a glance that they were new ingots just out of the furnace.

It had a strong visual impact.

Chen Zhunxu hadn't never seen silver, but this was the first time he had seen such a scene.

"It has no special meaning!"

Chen Yan laughed and said nonchalantly: "It's just a small meeting gift!"

"And incidentally, fulfilling a part of the promise this official made to you all!"

This was for the four private soldier leaders in front of him, and also for the thousand-plus elite private soldiers of the Duke Mansion.

"This... is this all... rewarded to us?!"

Chen Tong was startled, his eyes staring fixedly at that box of silver, and he asked in surprise.

He knew the new master was generous, but he didn't know he was this extravagant!

Compared to the Prince Heir, Chen Tongyuan was really nothing...

"Of course!"

Chen Yan nodded and said: "You all must have heard of this official's way of doing things, right?"

Immediately, he said word by word: "I am never stingy with gold, silver, and wealth toward my own people!"

How did Chen Yan's reputation come about?

It was an endorsement smashed out with real gold and silver!

Others wanted to imitate it, but it was extremely difficult; however, the one thing Chen didn't lack was silver!

"Willing to serve the Prince Heir to the death!"

With a "thud," Chen Zhunxu was the first to kneel down, his knees in martial attire hitting the bluestone with a dull thud.

With him kneeling, the other three also knelt down with "thuds," the four heads all lowered, their foreheads almost touching the ground.

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly upward, and he said loudly: "I will fulfill the promises made to you, and I will bestow even more!"

"Land, houses, women, slaves—none of these will be lacking for you!"

"The Duke Mansion will support your old fathers and mothers and provide for your wives and children!"

"Protecting you for generations!"

What Chen Yan wanted was to firmly bind these elites and turn them from private soldiers into death warriors.

There would be critical moments where they would be of great use!

Chen Zhunxu's voice carried a rough sob, the missing tip of his little finger on his left hand trembling slightly under his sleeve: "In this life, I follow only the Prince Heir's lead; if I have any ulterior motives, let me die under a rain of arrows, with no bones left!"

Chen Tong raised his head abruptly, the scar on his missing ear glowing red in the silver light: "Subordinate Chen Tong is willing to guarantee with this head to protect the Prince Heir's safety and the Duke Mansion's safety! If I cannot protect them, I will bring my head to see you!"

Chen Heyi's voice was hoarse, but every word wept blood: "This subordinate's life should have been lost outside Suizhou City long ago; it was the Old Duke who saved me, and now the Prince Heir trusts me so much... From now on, through mountains of blades and seas of fire, this subordinate will be the first to charge!"

Chen Bei had always been silent, but at this moment, he kowtowed, and the bluestone was instantly stained with a bit of blood: "This subordinate is clumsy with words, I only know—whoever the Prince Heir tells me to kill, I will kill; wherever the Prince Heir tells me to guard, I will die there!"

The four men's declarations of loyalty represented the thousand-plus private soldiers in the mansion.

There was only one core meaning: I will go through fire and water for you, Prince Heir!

——

PS: Extra update!!!

Today's three chapters combined are an 8,800-word major update; no one can say Wanfeng is short anymore, right?? (???)?

Please give a small five-star book review, let's see if the rating can go up even higher, (?????) ===== CHAPTER 295 =====