Chapter 300: It

Dugu Zhao, however, was calm, his spine straight, his voice revealing no impatience: "Supervisor Chen's words are too heavy; even if my son had the courage of heaven, he wouldn't dare to collude with Qi thieves!"

"He was just instigated by treacherous people and was confused for a moment..."

In just a few words, while absolving Dugu Zhang and the others, he also attributed the responsibility to the so-called "treacherous people."

As if his direct son had truly been deceived...

"Oh?" Chen Yan heard this, smiling but not smiling, sizing up this old Pillar of State who was talking nonsense with great interest.

Dugu Zhao's gaze landed on the candle flame before the desk that was about to go out, his tone as light as the wind sweeping over the eaves: "This old man has already beheaded those treacherous people who were bought off and harbored evil intentions!"

He said it righteously and confidently.

Compared to the person in front who was strong, they were almost on par.

Chen Yan leaned back against the back of the chair, his hands tucked into his wide sleeves, tilting his head to size up Dugu Zhao, playfulness flowing in the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, and said: "But Young Master and the others were ultimately caught red-handed!"

"We eat the monarch's salary, how can we bend the law for personal gain?"

Saying this, a light laugh spilled from his throat, his tongue grinding between his teeth.

Suddenly, he raised his hand, using two fingers to slowly rub his chin, the place where his fingertips brushed his stubble revealing a faint red.

Obviously, everyone was a thousand-year-old fox; he, Chen, was not led into the trap, but was instead appreciating the performance with great interest.

This kid is truly not easy to deal with... Dugu Zhao cursed in his heart, his hand still tucked in his sleeve, veins appearing on the back of his distinct-knuckled hand, but he stubbornly didn't let any impatience climb onto his face.

He slowly raised his sleeve and bowed, the hem of his robe sweeping across the brick floor, making a subtle rubbing sound: "Supervisor Chen is right!"

He paused, then changed the subject and continued: "It's just that my son is young and ignorant..."

"This old man will definitely discipline him strictly in the future!"

Admitting it was impossible; once admitted, there would be no room for maneuver.

Dugu Zhao could only lead it toward youth...

Moreover, he also knew that this newly appointed Wei Duke and Supervisor was merely using this to raise the price and was not really intending to convict them at all; it was just a paving stone for his lion's opening.

"This official believes that the Old Pillar of State can teach them well, and the Young Master can also turn over a new leaf..."

Chen Yan dragged out his tone, the tail of his voice rising, carrying a bit of exaggerated theatricality.

Within his words was full agreement.

He suddenly leaned forward, his elbows propped on the armrests, his hands folded to support his chin, and a bit of mischievous light rippled in those eyes that were always quenched with ice: "It's just that they are not in my Mingjing Si, but with the Grand Marshal!"

"Old Pillar of State has found the wrong person..."

After saying this, Chen Yan picked up the teacup on the desk, but didn't drink.

He just let the tea water sway back and forth, reflecting the light in his eyes.

Why let the Grand Marshal intervene in this?

It was to use his status to bring him out at this time, to take the opportunity to sit down and raise the price, and sell more benefits.

"This old man knows!"

Dugu Zhao smiled without warmth and said in a deep voice: "This is why I specifically came to find the Supervisor to help plead for mercy!"

With the Wei Duke Mansion's intelligence network, could Dugu Zhao not know where they were?

But the one who tied the bell must untie it.

To save his son and those few kids, he had to haggle with this bastard...

"The Grand Marshal's temper, Old Pillar of State must also be clear about..."

Chen Yan shook his head and said unhurriedly.

He lowered his eyes, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow under his eyes, but the corners of his mouth held a trace of an elusive smile: "The things the Young Masters did are not small!"

In fact, this matter could be big or small...

But it all depended on Chen Yan's willingness!

After all, the final right of interpretation was in his hands...

Dugu Zhao didn't continue to tangle on that aspect, but turned unhurriedly, not in a hurry, and said: "Supervisor, Miluo and the Jin Prince Heir are about to get married..."

"How can there not be a brother-in-law present?"

Saying this, he leisurely picked up the cold tea on the desk, used the cup lid to skim off the foam, and although he didn't drink, his posture was like savoring fine tea.

His fingertips rested on the rim of the cup, turning the teacup unhurriedly.

"Old Pillar of State is absolutely right!"

Chen Yan's mouth curled slightly upward, nodding in deep agreement, and laughed: "If these disagreements affect the happy event, that wouldn't be good..."

"Indeed!"

"I hope the Supervisor will come forward to mediate!"

Seeing this, Dugu Zhao set down his teacup and cupped his hands toward Chen Yan. "Do not let it affect the marriage bestowed by His Majesty!"

A flash of cunning crossed Chen Yan's eyes, smiling but not smiling, and he said in a deep voice: "That being said, but for us to go to the Xia Official Mansion to demand people like this..."

"Is it not very appropriate?"

Saying this, his right knuckles tapped the desk rhythmically.

Within his words was full of profound meaning.

This kid is truly asking for benefits... Dugu Zhao saw through Chen Yan's intention at a glance, and asked tentatively: "What does the Supervisor think is appropriate?"

However, progressing to the step of asking for a price was much better than the two sides continuing to pull and haggle.

"That depends on how much sincerity the Old Pillar of State and those families can take out to move the Grand Marshal..."

Chen Yan leisurely picked up the teacup, blew the foam, took a shallow sip, and said.

He paused, used the cup lid to scrape the tea foam lightly, his voice carrying a bit of nonchalant laziness, "As long as the Old Pillar of State's sincerity arrives, the Grand Marshal will definitely be accommodating!"

Chen Yan kicked the problem back wind-lightly and cloud-indifferently.

After all, what Dugu Zhao gave voluntarily was called the Old Pillar of State's sincerity...

What Chen Yan himself opened his mouth to mention was called soliciting bribes!

The nature of the two was different.

This kid handles things truly grandiosely and without leaking a drop... Dugu Zhao sneered in his heart, muttered a sentence, and after a moment of thought, echoed: "The Supervisor is right!"

He paused, then continued: "The Young Masters have been disturbing the Xia Official Mansion for these days; thanks to the Grand Marshal's care, this old man has fifty thousand taels here as a slight token of gratitude!"

Xiboluo heard this and immediately took out the fifty thousand taels of silver notes that had been prepared long ago from his bosom, holding them up with both hands.

"Old Pillar of State, this mere fifty thousand taels, isn't it too little?"

Chen Yan's gaze landed on the silver notes handed over by Xiboluo, his eyelids didn't even lift, just slowly using his fingertips to flick them, the action so light as if touching some worthless waste paper.

The three vermilion characters "Fifty Thousand Taels" on the silver notes shone in the candlelight, but he suddenly sneered, the corners of his mouth curling into a mocking arc.

"If the sincerity is not enough, it's not easy to handle things!" Chen Yan dragged out his tone, his fingertips twisting on the edge of the silver notes.

Suddenly he released his hand, letting that piece of paper fall lightly onto the desk like a withered leaf that no one wanted.

Greedy kid!... Dugu Zhao saw this, couldn't help but curse in his heart, but on the surface, he still maintained calmness, asking tentatively: "Then how much does the Supervisor think is appropriate?"

Chen Yan supported his chin with his hand, and after pondering, said wind-lightly and cloud-indifferently: "Young Master Dugu and the others are, after all, direct sons of each family..."

"Let's make it one hundred thousand taels!"

"One hundred thousand taels?!"

Dugu Zhao's pupils shrank abruptly, his voice carrying a bit of imperceptible trembling, as if he hadn't heard clearly, and he asked again.

He subconsciously leaned forward, the hand in his sleeve gripping tightly, his knuckles making a "crack" sound.

"Old Pillar of State's reaction, is it that you think one hundred thousand taels is too much?" Chen Yan saw this, his brows raised, sizing up Dugu Zhao, and asked with a smile.

"Not much... not much!" Dugu Zhao suppressed the fire in his chest, these two words popping out from between his teeth.

"Right?"

Chen Yan nodded, calmly: "It's just one hundred thousand taels per person!"

He paused, then continued: "For each family, it's just a drop in the bucket!"

One hundred thousand taels per person, you really dare to ask!... Dugu Zhao sneered repeatedly in his heart, immediately took a deep breath, that breath circling in his lungs and chest, and when he exhaled, his voice was already much more stable, but the tail of his voice still hid an imperceptible tightness: "Then I will trouble Supervisor Chen to accompany this old man to the Xia Official Mansion tomorrow to take the people!"

When his gaze landed on Chen Yan's face, that smile suddenly froze.

The shock from just now faded, leaving only darkness that was bottomless, like ice in a cold pool, calm on the surface but freezing bone-chilling resentment underneath.

That gaze only stayed on Chen Yan's face for a moment, as fast as an illusion.

Dugu Zhao knew this kid would open his lion's mouth, but he hadn't expected his appetite to be this big!

But it didn't matter; he wouldn't be proud for long...

"Easy to say, easy to say!" Chen Yan laughed indifferently, agreeing fully.

"Since that's the case, this old man will return to the mansion to prepare and will send the silver to the Mingjing Si in a few days." Dugu Zhao stood up, cupped his hands to Chen Yan, the wind brought by his robe sweeping across the desk edge carrying a sense of depression, "Farewell!"

"This official will see the Old Pillar of State off..." Chen Yan also stood up, politely.

"No need, Supervisor, please stay!"

Dugu Zhao declined, leading Xiboluo to turn and walk out.

After the two figures disappeared completely from the reception hall, Yin Shizhi walked out and asked: "Supervisor, why did you agree so easily?"

"We spent so much effort to capture them, shouldn't we hold them in our hands to further leverage them?"

He figured his own Supervisor wasn't someone who lacked silver!...

One hundred thousand taels per person wasn't a small amount, but for the Supervisor, it was a drop in the bucket...

"Hahahaha!"

Chen Yan laughed heartily, looking in the direction Dugu Zhao had left, and said meaningfully: "Those few young masters are our heaven-sent generals!"

"Only by letting them return to the mansion can they better exert their role!" ===== CHAPTER 301 =====