Chapter 324: The Old Troops are treasonous rebels, and that Old Zhao Pillar of the State is no good either!

"When the old era ends, the new era rises in grandeur!"

The scholar in green robes smiled faintly, a bone‑chilling cold hidden in the smile: "The bright gleam hints at a change of strings and tuning, a change of dynasty!"

"The old era is Great Zhou's destiny; the new era… is a new dynasty!"

Boss Zhang's silk brocade robe was soaked in a large patch on the back, as if he had just been pulled from water.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice still trembling, took up the thread and concluded: "Taken together, this verse describes a new dynasty led by the Zhao family, about to rise and supplant the Yuwen Clan's rule over the world!"

"Sss—" another gasp of cold air, and many worshippers' faces lost any trace of color.

Someone staggered backward, collided with the incense table, and the ash from the bronze censer scattered over them, unnoticed.

Upon close thought, each verse was like a poison‑coated dagger hidden in seemingly ordinary words; now drawn one by one, one realizes they have been tightly ensnared by this web of conspiracy.

The sandalwood incense still lingered, yet could no longer dispel the chill rising from deep within.

"Watch your words!"

A sharp shout cracked suddenly, cutting off Boss Zhang's words.

It was the elder in a dark‑blue robe; he leaned on his cane, stepped forward a few paces, his face ashen, pointing at Boss Zhang: "You've become stale, haven't you!"

"Such words cannot be spoken lightly!"

The elder was not flaunting his age to intimidate, but was saving Boss Zhang.

If he kept speaking, it wouldn't just be a crime on his back, but would bring a death‑warranting disaster…

From the crowd stepped a woman with a low horse‑tail bun; the emerald hairpins at her temples swayed gently with her movements, lending her brows and eyes an added gentle yet resolute expression, her voice clear and smooth as jade striking stone:

"But now, under the governance of the Grand Tomb Governor, Great Zhou enjoys peace across the four seas, rivers calm, seas clear, the people live in safety and prosperity, and the nation's strength rises day by day!"

Speaking, she raised her hand, gathered her temple hair, her tone full of sincere reverence.

Great Zhou under the Grand Tomb Governor truly merits a commendation of harmonious governance.

The people truly have food to eat, clothes to wear, and have entered an era of peace…

"Indeed!"

The woman in the jing‑thorn cloth skirt, cradling a child, was prompted by the crowd's chatter and mustered courage to step forward two paces.

Her child, asleep in her arms, had a flushed little face; she gently wiped the child's forehead with a coarse cloth, her voice bearing the rustic plainness of the countryside: "And there is Lord Chen Yan, who puts the people first, willing to act as their champion, punishing corrupt officials—a true blue‑sky of justice in our age!"

Those around, hearing this, couldn't help but nod repeatedly.

Other Court officials are hard to speak of, but Lord Chen Yan truly places the people in his heart!

Even under immense pressure, he let the Mingjing Office take on the upcoming case of Peaceful Village…

A man looking like a junior clerk hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fist and stepped half a pace forward, his voice pressed low yet brimming with uncontainable anger: "Moreover, I heard that the Duke of Chu, Zhao Qian, has always been ferocious and brutal, taking pleasure in slaughtering servants!"

He scanned the surroundings swiftly, his voice a mosquito‑like hum, yet tinged with indescribable horror: "When I was on duty, an old servant of the Zhao household told me—inside Old Zhao Pillar of the State's residence, there is a dedicated 'Playthings Room'!"

"Inside are servants who have erred, both male and female. When he is pleased, he brings guests to 'entertain', letting the servants tear at each other; the winner lives, the loser is instantly devoured by hunting dogs…"

Before finishing, he shivered, "Last year a maid shattered his jade cup; he ordered it nailed to a door panel, freezing her alive for three days and three nights. In the end… even the corpse‑collectors dared not approach!"

"Really?"

This vivid, graphic description made the entire hall of worshippers' scalp tingle.

The woman with the low horse‑tail bun lifted her hand, pressing the emerald hairpin; the jewel flickered in the candlelight, casting a thin ice in her eyes, her voice a few degrees colder than before yet crystal clear: "I've heard of it too!"

She paused, then continued: "The Grand Tomb Governor painstakingly purges the bureaucracy precisely to eradicate the entrenched corruption caused by the Duke of Chu!"

The surrounding worshippers were both surprised and bewildered.

Even ordinary civilians often hear that the Grand Tomb Governor is vigorously cleansing corrupt officials to restore a bright, clear sky over Great Zhou.

Yet they never imagined those corrupt officials all came from the Duke of Chu's faction!

The junior clerk spoke again, asking: "Does anyone still recall the early‑year Deposed Emperor treason case?"

"What happened to that case?" Boss Zhang blurted out.

Just after speaking, he suddenly realized something, raised his hand to cover his mouth, and tentatively asked: "Could it still be linked to the Duke of Chu?"

The clerk nodded slightly, his voice deep: "One of the captured and slain Twelve Great Generals, Da Xi Jue, and two great Marquis‑lords who joined the rebellion…"

Immediately, after a pause, he added: "All are the Old Troops of our Old Zhao Pillar of the State!"

Every line dripped with hatred.

"I recall that in that case, Lord Chen Yan acted preemptively!"

Boss Zhang, thoughtful, recalling the early‑year major case, sighed: "We crushed the conspiracies of those treacherous rebels while they were still budding, preventing chaos in Chang'an…"

"So we've unknowingly repaid so many of Lord Chen Yan's kindnesses!" a farmer woman carrying a bamboo basket interjected, her voice filled with gratitude.

"Lord Chen Yan truly spares no effort for us!" the woman in the jing‑thorn cloth skirt couldn't help but exclaim.

The chatter gradually softened, the earlier anger replaced by a complex feeling—both hatred toward Zhao Qian and reverence for Lord Chen Yan.

It turns out there has always been someone, unseen, protecting them…

Lord Chen Yan's kindness is never ending!

The goat‑bearded elder, moved to tears, slammed his cane onto the ground, a "thud" that shook the candlesticks on the incense table.

His beard bristling, he pointed toward Chang'an, shouting angrily: "The Old Troops are treasonous rebels, and Old Zhao Pillar of the State is no good either!"

"During the Battle of Mangshan, he delayed reinforcements to steal credit, causing countless brothers to die," a veteran who had served in the army stepped forward, his voice hoarse with anger, "Later he climbed atop his comrades' corpses to earn the title 'Pillar of the State'! Such a man has rebellion in his bones; it's no surprise the Buddha verse exposed him!"

Immediately, the crowd launched into a back‑and‑forth barrage of insults.

The woman with the low horse‑tail bun, hearing the hall's denunciations, suddenly lifted her hand, gathered her temple hair, her voice ringing like a bell: "Rather than continue this angry tirade, let us consider what to do now."

She turned to the crowd, her gaze calm yet imbued with undeniable authority: "We must swiftly bring the Buddha's verse back to Chang'an…"

"Let the Grand Tomb Governor and Lord Chen Yan prepare early!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, waking the crowd from their anger.

"Exactly!" the goat‑bearded elder immediately echoed, "We must not let the Duke of Chu succeed!"

"If the Duke of Chu truly usurps the throne, we may never have good days again!" the junior clerk shouted.

"Quick, go!"

"We can't delay any longer!"

In an instant, the pilgrims hurried out of the temple, their steps swift yet purpose clear.

Within three days, the Buddha's dream verses from Tan Hua Temple sprouted wings, soaring over the Wei River and slipping into the streets and alleys of Chang'an City.

Moreover, some opportunists compiled the green‑robed scholar's interpretation, the bearded old man's scolding, and the fallen‑hairdo woman's advice into lyrics, letting a singing girl spread them by the Qujiang Pond.

Dusk fell more hastily than in previous years.

The eaves of the Governor's Mansion had just brushed with a hint of frost when the setting sun already sank into the outline of Zhongnan Mountain, casting a few thin, long shadows on the Blue Bricks ground.

In the copper crane incense burner under the corridor, incense from the Western Regions—frankincense—burned, its smoke drifting obliquely with the cross‑hall breeze, mingling with the scent of cracked pomegranate bark before the steps, giving it a certain crispness.

Shufang.

The gilt fire pit beside the desk blazed brightly, silver‑bone charcoal at its base emitting a bluish‑white glow, warming the edge of Chen Yan's dark‑colored sable coat slightly.

He unfastened the jade pendant at his waist, placed it on the copper stand by the fire, and the jade's qilin‑like creature became gradually clear in the flames.

"The matters I, the Governor, arranged…." He lifted the fire tongs, casually nudged the charcoal in the furnace; sparks "crackled" and scattered, reflecting a calm in his eyes, "How is the follow‑up progressing?"

"Rest assured, sir, everything proceeds methodically…" Yu Yan smiled, bowed, and said, "The stone sculpture is finished; it will appear on an auspicious day, at the place it belongs."

His words were laden with deep meaning.

"Very good!"

Chen Yan nodded repeatedly on the spot, but suddenly noticed under Yu Yan's eyes a ring of bluish‑black as if splashed with ink, even the hair at the temples appeared with a hint of withered pallor, the eye sockets deeply sunken, and the cheekbones jutting sharply.

He paused, then continued, "But, Ah Yu Yan, I must say something off‑topic…"

"Even though double‑spelling is good, you must still practice restraint!"

Just like that, it looks like overindulgence…

"Sir, you noticed it?" Yu Yan gave an awkward smile.

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward, his tone shifting, he raised an eyebrow and laughed, "Lack of restraint is fine; I'll give you a formula…"

Speaking, he spread the paper on the desk and lifted his brush to write:

Herd of Cattle spear, gecko, sea dog spear, snake spear, deer spear, Sheep spear, pig spear, eagle spear, fox spear, monkey spear, three‑branch nine‑leaf herb, howl, old ginseng…

Clang—

A soft, gentle knocking sounded.

Chen Yan halted his brush and ink, raised his voice and said, "Enter."

The door was gently pushed open, and Pei Suiwan, not having time to change clothes, stepped straight into the Shufang.

"Greetings, Madam!" Yu Yan immediately bowed in salute.

Seeing it was Pei Suiwan, Chen Yan thrust the prescription into Yu Yan's hand and said, "Alright, Ah Yu Yan, you go rest first!"

"Yes."

"I take my leave!"

Yu Yan responded with a word and hurried away.

"Husband!"

Pei Suiwan lightly bit her red lips, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and shouted.

"Suiwan, why did you return so early?"

Chen Yan smiled calmly, grasped Pei Suiwan's hand, feeling the fingertips as cold as water drawn from a well, then moved it toward the fire pit, letting the warm ember air wrap around her wrist, and asked, "Was today's trip to Tan Hua Temple smooth?"

Pei Suiwan's eyes reflected the firelight, yet concealed an unshakable sorrow: "Husband, do you know what I heard at Tan Hua Temple today?"

Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward, his eyes flashing a deep hue, and he said meaningfully, "It won't be the verses about the pillars about to topple, the vermilion gates changing banners, Zhao soil shrouded in red mist, blood staining the golden steps, the old calendar ending and the new era flourishing, will it?"