Chapter 3: Once I have achieved fame and success, there will surely be great scholars to defend my classics!

As soon as Chen Yan spoke, the interior and exterior of the death prison fell silent at once, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's gazes almost simultaneously sharpened and focused on him.

"Is this really Chen Tongyuan's most good-for-nothing son?"

"At seventeen, his gaze is astonishingly precise and vicious to this degree?"

Yuwen Heng, standing to the left of the Grand Minister, narrowed his eyes, staring fixedly at the young man trapped in prison, his heart involuntarily stirred, raising a stormy surge.

A few simple words directly pinpointed the greatest predicament currently facing the Yuwen clan, striking at the root of the problem.

Of the eight pillars who helped Taizu found the Great Zhou dynasty, though they could not withstand the passage of time and have gradually passed away, several still remain alive.

Over these years, through continual marriage alliances, their power has become intertwined like tangled roots, interlocking like canine teeth, deeply entrenched.

The pie of power is only this big—who wouldn't want a share?

Yuwen Heng, Grand Marshal of the Summer Office, commander of Chang'an's garrison troops, younger brother of Yuwen Hu, his right and left hand.

"Would those few remaining elder pillars truly be willing to humble themselves beneath the Grand Minister?" Yuchi Min drew a deep breath, murmuring to himself.

But this answer is obvious....

Yuchi Min, Director of the Mirrors Office, nephew of Taizu, cousin of the Grand Minister.

"Chen Yan, Chen Yan, you good-for-nothing playboy known to all in Chang'an—how can you have such insight?"

Yuwen Hu clapped his hands, laughed heartily, and sighed.

He paused, then shifted tone and continued: "But no matter how much you say, it's ultimately just talk on paper; I, the Prince, need to see your ability...."

"And the Letter of Allegiance!"

At that moment, the Grand Minister, who had come out of affection for the deceased friend, developed a strong interest in the astonishingly outspoken son of that friend....

And also the intention to nurture him!

"No matter what you command, your servant will never refuse!"

Chen Yan heard this, delighted, without a hint of hesitation, blurted out.

Immediately, dragging his chains, he clasped his fists and spoke loudly: "Please, Grand Minister, give your orders!"

Chen Yan well knew that opportunities like this are fleeting; he must seize them tightly....

And cling tightly to the thigh of this powerful minister, the Grand Minister!

"Talking with a smart person saves effort and worry...."

Yuwen Hu smiled with great satisfaction, took a stack of books from his bosom, threw them through the prison gap onto Chen Yan's face, and said teasingly: "This is your second uncle's evidence of guilt!"

Chen Yan picked up the book densely filled with "Crime Lists," skimmed ten lines at a glance, quickly flipped through, and jeered: "This second uncle of mine has really done a lot of dirty deeds over the years!"

Bribery, embezzlement of farmland, extortion of the people's fat and ointment—these are merely the petty crimes among them.

Most importantly, this good-for-nothing second uncle participated in the rebellion of the Former Yan Deposed Emperor and secretly helped him contact others.

Moreover, what he did almost exactly matches the crime for which Chen Yan was thrown into Tianlao.

A flicker of coldness crossed Chen Yan's eyes.

As a private aide to a top tycoon of the new era, his specialty is intrigue and scheming, manipulating hearts, setting traps—doesn't that match his profession perfectly?

"How?"

"Do you know what to do?"

Yuwen Hu lowered his gaze, calmly watching Chen Yan flip through the book, and asked.

"Understood!"

Chen Yan closed the book, lifted his head, and replied firmly.

He paused, then continued: "But as a lone subordinate, I am ultimately weak and isolated...."

His words were full of hints almost amounting to an explicit suggestion.

As the saying goes, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice; he is bare-handed, with no foothold in Chang'an, and alone must take on General Zhenyuan—this difficulty is no less than climbing to heaven in broad daylight.

Of course, Chen Yan is also betting, betting that the Grand Minister does not wish to make things difficult for him....

Yuwen Hu heard the subtext in the young man's words, turned to look at Yuchi Min, and said: "Ah Min, I recall that your Mirrors Office's Vermilion Bird Guard still lacks a Keeper of the Mirror...."

"The Grand Minister's memory is truly excellent!"

Yuchi Min quickly nodded, offered a flattering remark, then looked at Chen Yan with interest and said: "My Mirrors Office indeed still lacks one...."

"Vermilion Bird Mirror Keeper!"

Regardless of whether it was lacking before, now that the Grand Minister has spoken, it must be lacking.

Yuwen Heng couldn't help but regard Chen Yan with greater esteem.

To openly demand an office from the Grand Minister so blatantly—only he dares to do so; his courage is truly not small....

"Hand over the gold seal to him...."

Yuwen Hu waved his hand and said: "Let Chen Yan temporarily command the Vermilion Bird Guard."

"As you command." Yuchi Min replied.

Immediately, he ordered his subordinates to take care of it.

For now it's a temporary post, but as soon as this youth hands in his Letter of Allegiance and passes the Grand Minister's test, he will likely soon become the full commander.

He really is kind to her child!

"Thank you, Grand Minister!"

Chen Yan's eyes lit up; he knelt on the ground, kowtowed in salute, and gave thanks.

If the occasion and timing were appropriate, he would really like to say:

"Chen Yan has drifted half his life, only regretting not having found a wise lord; if you do not reject me, I wish to take you as my adoptive father!"

This is far better than that scoundrel father who reported his own son to the Tianlao Heavenly Prison Death Prison—better by more than a thousandfold!

"Kid, don't get too happy too soon...."

Yuwen Hu placed his hands behind his back, his eyes turned cold, killing intent swirling, looking down from above, he threatened: "Let me say the unpleasant thing first—if you can't get it done, this prince won't care whose son you are!"

In and out of his words, everything was a threat.

"I understand."

Chen Yan disagreed, growing more excited, and asked: "I wonder if a live captive is needed?"

Before returning to his old trade, he still needed to probe the boss's limits.

"No matter what method you use, dispose of him...."

Yuwen Hu turned the jade ring, half-smiling.

He paused, then added: "This prince only wants the result!"

"I understand!"

Hearing this, Chen Yan suppressed his rising smile, remained calm, and replied repeatedly.

He absolutely loved this kind of boss!

No restrictions, able to use any means, act as he pleased....

After all, as a boss in the new era, Chen Yan was a top-tier big shot in the peak competition, still needing to consider the impact, and had to save face.

He couldn't let loose and do as he pleased.

"Someone, release him!"

Yuwen Hu waved his hand, then pointed at Chen Yan.

The old man standing at the edge, holding a key, hurried over at the summons and undid the iron chains.

"Huh~"

Chen Yan flexed his wrists, took a long breath; at this point he had half a foot out of the Gates of Hell, "No delay—I'll get right on it!"

Having said that, he bowed his fists to the Grand Secretary and the people behind him, then turned and left.

Yuwen Hu did not stop him, merely watching Chen Yan's retreating back, and asked: "Kid, if you serve under this prince and strike your own second uncle, aren't you afraid of the world's condemnation?"

Chen Yan didn't stop his steps, merely turning back to throw out: "Once I achieve fame and success, scholars will surely defend me!"

His words faded.

Chen Yan's figure disappeared into the corridors of the Tianlao Heavenly Prison Death Prison....

Yuwen Hu smiled, not withdrawing his gaze, rubbing the jade ring, and sighed: "This kid is somewhat interesting...."

"He's hidden his talent for so many years, only revealing his edge in dire straits!"

Yuwen Heng approached the Grand Secretary's side, lowered his voice, and asked: "Big brother, do you think Chen Yan can pull it off?"

"We'll see, won't we?" Yuwen Hu raised his eyebrows, throwing the question back.

"That's right."

Yuwen Heng nodded: "Whether a mule or a horse, you gotta take it out for a spin to know...."

Yuwen Hu's eyes grew slightly hazy, recalling a woman's figure in his mind, he murmured: "A Tang, I will look after your only son...."