Chapter 297: The world praises Supervisor Chen for his benevolence and filial piety

Chen Yan stood before the corpse, his dark robe lifted by the autumn wind.

"This is a true gentleman." The white-haired old man stroked his beard, his voice full of admiration, "Hating his crimes, yet not forgetting his kin. Just based on this breadth of mind, he will surely achieve great things in the future."

"I heard that when the Wei Duke was alive, he tried to put him to death more than once." The vegetable-selling woman leaned over and whispered, "And he bought off assassins many times, even on the road to Qinzhou back then; it was fortunate that Lord Chen Yan was alert to dodge them..."

Qian Xiaosi suddenly said "Aiya" and sighed: "Chen Tongyuan treated Lord Chen Yan like that, yet he can still return evil with kindness..."

"Truly broad-minded!"

"Lord Chen Yan is worthy of being the direct grandson brought up by the Old Pillar of State Chen!" Sun Gedan echoed, "Truly benevolent and filial to the extreme!"

"Lord Chen Yan being able to come and collect the bodies of these traitors who harm the country and the people is already doing his utmost!"

In an instant, the resentment of the surrounding watching commoners toward Chen Tongyuan mostly transformed into approval for Chen Yan.

"No wonder Big Brother wanted to come!"

"So that's how it is..."

This scene made Yuwen Ze behind him watch in amazement; he suddenly realized and, stroking his chin, thought to himself: "Quickly write this down!"

His Big Brother was the highest mountain and the longest river; he had learned another trick...

This little fox is truly comprehensive and capable... Shang Ting witnessed all this, his mouth unable to stop curling upward; dressed in purple official robes, he walked slowly to the front of the platform and bowed to the commoners below: "Everyone, this official is the chief judge of this case, as well as the supervisor of this execution!"

Shang Ting had floated and sunk in the officialdom for decades; how could he not see Chen Yan's intention?

Even if Chen Tongyuan was already dead, he still wanted to squeeze out his last bit of value and exert his last bit of use.

To burn him out completely.

Regardless of how many disagreements this pair of father and son had, what would be passed down to the world in the end would be the name of benevolence and filial piety of this Supervisor Chen!

"Which official is this?"

Sun Gedan looked at that unfamiliar face and asked suspiciously: "Didn't Lord Chen Yan ask the Mirror Keeper Lord Li Tan to host it?"

Outside the Mingjing Si government office that day, Sun Gedan remembered clearly that Lord Chen Yan had specifically appointed the direct grandson of Old Pillar of State Li, the Azure Dragon Mirror Keeper, to host it!

Why did it suddenly change people?

"This old gentleman's age must be at least over forty, right?" Qian Xiaosi was also puzzled.

The surrounding commoners immediately began to discuss in a hubbub.

"Perhaps you all don't recognize this official..."

Shang Ting was unhurried, cupped his hands to the left and right, and said loudly: "This official is the Grand Imperial Rectifier of the Heavenly Office, Shang Ting!"

He paused, then continued: "It was Lord Chen Yan who, in order to ensure the fairness and justice of this case and that the judgment would be impartial, specifically memorialized to the Grand Chancellor to invite this official to preside!"

Anyway, everyone was on the same boat; Shang Ting didn't mind adding another fire of impartiality to Chen Kid's name of benevolence and filial piety...

To push his reputation to another height.

"It's actually the Grand Imperial Rectifier of the Heavenly Office?!"

Among the watching commoners below, a few knowledgeable ones couldn't help but exclaim: "Lord Chen Yan truly went to great pains for us commoners!"

That was a top-tier high official!

In the Heavenly Office, he was only below the Grand Chancellor...

"Indeed!"

Other commoners' eyes lit up, echoing: "With the Grand Imperial Rectifier presiding, no one would dare to protect Chen Tongyuan..."

"No wonder it could progress so smoothly!"

No wonder a major case involving a Duke could be investigated clearly in such a short time and give the commoners justice...

It was all Lord Chen Yan's credit!

"The time of noon has arrived!"

Shang Ting looked up at the sun; the autumn sun had climbed to the zenith, casting almost vertical shadows on the ground through the thin clouds: "Verify the identity!"

"Reporting to My Lord, the prisoner is correct!" The verification official checked them one by one and said loudly.

"Execute!"

Shang Ting's voice rose abruptly, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

When that word landed, his hand swung down heavily, the token slamming onto the official desk, shaking a few drops of ink from the inkstone.

The executioner had long been waiting; hearing this, he knocked the ghost-head blade fiercely against the anvil, the blade and bluestone colliding to spark a string of fire.

"Hah!" He roared low, gripped the handle with both hands, and walked toward the already foolish Chen Gu Bai tied to the leftmost side of the execution pillar.

He was still giggling, seeing the blade flashing with cold light, he actually reached out his dirty hand to grab it, his mouth babbling something unknown.

A second blade light flashed, and Meng Wan Yi's roaring stopped abruptly.

Next were the private soldiers.

The cursing of more than twenty people rose and fell, but gradually fell into silence amidst the successive sounds of blades.

The executioner changed to a newly sharpened ghost-head blade, stepped forward again, stepped on the chest of Chen Tongyuan's corpse, and gripped the handle tightly with both hands.

In the sunlight, the blade edge was blindingly bright.

"Hah!" He roared low again, the blade falling with a sharp sound of breaking the air.

"Crack!" A crisp sound, more muffled than the sound of beheading the living earlier.

That head, which had long lost its life, ultimately rolled off the corpse, bouncing twice on the anvil.

The commoners erupted into thunderous cheers, louder than when the family members were beheaded earlier.

The crowd was like a breached flood, surging toward the memorial archway.

Someone held a newly bought candied hawthorn, telling passersby about the scene just now while running, saliva splashing all over their face.

Someone moved their own stool, stood on it to tiptoe and look, not forgetting to greet the neighbors.

"Collect the bodies!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, pointed expressionlessly, and ordered.

Collect the bodies?

Bury these things like Chen Tongyuan?

Could Chen Yan be that kind-hearted?

This was to do something supreme!

Father Grand Chancellor had already spoken...

"Yes."

You Xian nodded and called for several Embroidered Attire Envoys to step forward.

The next day.

Supervisor Mansion.

The autumn night breeze swept through the courtyard with the scent of osmanthus, rolling up a few withered leaves that had fallen on the bluestone.

Chen Yan stood under the tree, his moon-white brocade robe fluttering lightly in the wind; he looked toward the mansion gate, his expression as calm as a deep pool.

Pei Suiwan stood by his side, her fingertips unable to stop reaching for his collar.

"Husband, don't move, this concubine will tidy your collar for you..." She stood on tiptoe, tying the ribbon at his neck tighter, her fingertips inadvertently brushing his Adam's apple, drawing a low laugh from him.

"Suiwan, you have already tidied this four or five times..." Chen Yan raised his hand, grasped her hands that were busy at his chest, and laughed lightly: "Are you a bit nervous?"

The woman's palms were a bit sweaty, her fingertips cool, trembling in this autumn night.

"Mm." Pei Suiwan replied softly.

Perhaps she was nervous, or perhaps excited...

She had thought about this day, but hadn't expected it to come so quickly.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves came from outside the courtyard, from far to near, finally stopping in front of the mansion gate.

Immediately after, an accompanying official shouted: "The Imperial Envoy for Conferment has arrived!"

"They are here."

The halo of the red lantern passed through the mansion gate, illuminating the official uniform of the person who arrived—that purple court robe embroidered with Luan bird patterns was particularly eye-catching.

After Chen Yan saw clearly who it was, his gaze shifted slightly, and he said in surprise: "Old Pillar of State Yu?!"

Immediately, he led Pei Suiwan to greet him quickly and said respectfully: "Why did you come here in person?!"

"It truly makes my humble abode shine!"

Between the lines, it was all surprise.

Chen Yan had originally thought that at most an inner envoy or a small Zongbo would come...

Yet he hadn't expected the Spring Official Grand Zongbo to come in person.

This was an Old Pillar of State who was even older than his grandfather!

"Hahahaha!"

Yu Jie laughed heartily, sizing up Chen Yan with the appreciative gaze of looking at a junior, and said: "To confer the title on our Mingjing Si Supervisor, of course, it must be me, the Spring Official Grand Zongbo!"

"It is also the Grand Chancellor's grace toward you!"

Father Grand Chancellor is still the best!... Chen Yan sighed in his heart, bowed and cupped his hands to Yu Jie: "Many thanks, Grand Chancellor!"

"Many thanks, Old Pillar of State!"

Yu Jie nodded: "Let's announce the decree now!"

"Subject Chen Yan, with wife Pei, receives the decree!"

Chen Yan grasped Pei Suiwan's hand, the two knelt side by side, their knees hitting the pre-laid brocade mat with a slight muffled sound.

Yu Jie spread out the edict and read: "The Great Zhou Emperor orders: Rewards and punishments are the discipline of the country; grace and pardon are the virtue of the monarch."

"Formerly, your ancestor Duke Chen Tongyuan served me early with the shade of his ancestors, but he was careless in his later years and sat in violation of national law; having already suffered his guilt, I also feel regret—"

"Considering the labor of the Old Pillar of State in the past, I could not bear to cut off his ancestral sacrifices; observing your direct grandson Chen Yan, he has been uninvolved in his father's affairs, and he has integrity in his conduct, which can be called a good scholar."

"I hear that since you were a child, you have been upright: in mourning, you were excessively sorrowful; in serving your parents, your filial piety was well-known; in the village, your benevolence and modesty were exemplary; in archery and horsemanship, your bravery and strategy surpassed others, and you have made great merits repeatedly. On the day your ancestor committed a crime, you destroyed your kin for the sake of justice, your words were unyielding; you have clarified the distinction between father and son, and also kept the integrity of a subject; I am pleased in my heart."

"A monarch does not abolish the sacrifices of his people, and the holy dynasty has the benevolence of remembering the old. Now, as you are a descendant of a family of merit for generations, your conduct is commendable, and I specifically confer upon you the title of Wei Duke, continuing to hold the fief, to carry on the ancestral sacrifices."

"You should deeply reflect on your father's mistakes, and diligently think about the essentials of conduct: serve your master with loyalty, do not repeat past mistakes; soothe your troops to solidify the frontier. Maintain respect and caution to protect your rank, and cultivate virtue and righteousness to repay the heavenly grace."

"Go and respect this! Receive the title, shoulder the responsibility forever, and do not fail my grace of pardon and deep expectations."

"Announce this to the world, so that all may hear and know."

After reading, Yu Jie's eyes became deeper, and he looked toward the mansion's ancestral hall.

Chen Hu, with such a direct grandson, your spirit in heaven should be very comforted!

"This subject shall take my ancestor as a mirror, rising early and sleeping late, strictly observing the integrity of a subject. Internally, I shall serve my master with loyalty, not daring to have the slightest slack; externally, I shall soothe my troops and diligently pacify the frontier." Chen Yan said loudly.

Saying this, he tried his best to restrain the corners of his mouth from rising.

After planning for so long, everything had fallen into place, and he had finally obtained the title of Duke.

But he still needed more power in his hands...

"Wei Duke, receive the decree!" Yu Jie handed the edict forward.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Chen Yan raised both hands and received it steadily.

"Wei Duke, Duchess, please rise quickly!" Yu Jie laughed lightly, reaching out to support the two people on the ground.

"Old Pillar of State, you are shaming this junior; just call me A Yan..." Chen Yan laughed indifferently, "Old Pillar of State, please take the seat of honor!"

"Serve tea!"

After saying this, he gave a look to Qingyu behind him.

"No need for such trouble!" Yu Jie waved his hand and laughed, "My mansion still has matters to attend to; I will come to drink A Yan's tea next time..."

"Then this junior will see the Old Pillar of State off!" Chen Yan didn't force it and said respectfully.

Just as he walked out of the mansion gate, Yu Jie suddenly turned back and said in a deep voice: "A Yan, this old man has a word that I must still admonish you with..."

"This junior listens to your instruction!"

"After the water is boiled to the appropriate time, you must use sharp methods to strike a fatal blow!"

"Only after the thunder can one see the clear sky!" ===== CHAPTER 298 =====