Chapter 33: Since we copied Lao Zhu's homework, we must copy it all

The next day.

Early morning.

Chang'an Chen Fu.

The inner court.

Facing the first ray of dawn, Chen Yan, dressed in vigorous attire, slowly performed the Essence Refining head shake and tail sway, then immediately the Kidney Strengthening pulling feet with both hands.

Zhu Yi finished a set of vigorous swordplay, wiped sweat from his brow with a cloth, gazed doubtfully at Chen Yan, and asked: "Young Master, you rose so early, neither practicing martial arts nor handling official duties—just to do this leisurely boxing, what are you after?"

"Health preservation."

Chen Yan, hearing that, continued with the Hundred Ills Dispelling move on his back, and slowly uttered two words.

After finishing a set of Eight Section Brocade, his motion did not stop, and he seamlessly transitioned into the Five Animal Play....

Zhu Yi scratched his head, not understanding or comprehending the term "health preservation."

"Sir, it's done!"

Song Fei, led by the maid Jin Se, hurriedly came before Chen Yan and reported.

"Oh?"

Chen Yan was doing the Deer Play, casually saying: "Tell me in detail...."

"The just‑received news: last night, the vessel escorting the Deposed Emperor, upon reaching Tongzhou territory, capsized due to fierce winds, huge waves, and turbulent river currents...."

Song Fei nodded, chose his words, and said.

He paused, then added: "No one aboard survived!"

Between the lines of that sentence lay deep significance.

That large ship was arranged by Song Fei himself; he of course knew the true cause of the ship's destruction and loss of life.

"Hmm."

Chen Yan exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, curled the corner of his mouth into an arc, and laughed: "The Loyalty Marquis did well, not disappointing my high expectations...."

"Collect the bodies, transport them back to Chang'an, and give them a proper burial!"

"His title shall be inherited by his eldest son!"

No one understands this situation better than Chen Yan; this is the perfect way to slay a dragon!

Xiao Ming Wang: gurgle gurgle gurgle.....

That was Lao Zhu's strict selection.

"Yes." Song Fei replied.

Chen Yan performed the Bird Play, eyes slightly narrowed, and ordered: "Lao Song, arrange people outside Chang'an, by the Wei River, to set up an altar...."

Since we copied Lao Zhu's homework, we must copy it all.

Song Fei heard that, pondered slightly, seemed to realize something, and tentatively asked: "Sir, could it be that you want....?"

"Weeping for the spirit!"

Chen Yan raised his eyebrows, half‑smiling, and said playfully: "To put on a show, you must do the whole act—the more mournful the weeping, the better it displays our benevolence!"

We must make the Deposed Emperor not only die, but die with value.

Turn bad deeds into good, win over hearts, and create a positive direction.

Let the people of Chang'an and all under heaven see the Great Zhou court and the Yuwen imperial clan's "benevolence"!

Commonly called "political showmanship."

Chen Yan, however, remembers that in the histories Lao Zhu wept with tears and snot streaming, as if he had lost his own parents.

"High!"

"Too brilliant!"

Song Fei's eyes lit up, as if bathed in heavenly nectar, he clasped his hands and proclaimed loudly: "My admiration for you, sir, is like the endless, flowing river!"

"With you, sir, commanding the Vermilion Bird Guard, what worry is there of not rising step by step?"

Although these words carry a hint of flattery, Song Fei inwardly grew ever more admiring of this seventeen‑year‑old official.

Deep‑minded, meticulously scheming, decisive in action, ruthless in means—he completely surpasses the steadiness and maturity expected of his age.

Under his command, my own stalled career has great potential.

"That's enough!"

Chen Yan, flushed from the praise, waved his hand and laughed: "Lao Song, when did you also learn to flatter and fawn?"

Song Fei laughed heartily, felt no psychological burden, and directly shifted blame: "This isn't from associating with the ink‑stained; it's what I learned from Li Tan, that troublemaking horse...."

The corrupt atmosphere of the Inspectorate of Bright Mirrors was all brought by Li someone.

Li Tan: Thank you, sir!

"Young Master, the one you brought back last night has awakened!"

Qingyu came running all the way, hurriedly, caught her breath, and said.

He paused, then continued: "Mingyue is standing guard over her...."

"Alright."

Chen Yan answered with a sound, patted Song Fei's shoulder, and said: "Lao Song, you go handle the aftermath first...."

"I take my leave, sir!"

Song Fei nodded, blinked, wore a look of mutual understanding, performed his salute, and hurried away.

"Come on, let's go see her!"

Chen Yan stretched, took Qingyu's hand, and walked back along the path she had come.

The guest room.

"You've just woken; have some water first!"

Dantai Mingyue, expressionless, held a bowl of warm water and handed it to Xiao Zhiqing, who had gotten down from the bed and was looking around.

Then she pointed to the table nearby and continued, "There's meat congee and pastries on the table; if you're hungry, you can have some...."

"Who are you?"

"Where is this?"

Xiao Zhiqing did not take the water Dantai Mingyue offered, instead she stared warily at this woman.

She clearly remembered that, while on the way to board the ship with His Majesty, she had inexplicably lost consciousness.

Upon waking again, she found herself here....

It was an extremely unfamiliar environment, with two women she had never met; one of them, seeing her wake up, hurriedly ran off, unknown where she went.

This water and food, she dared not eat....

Seeing Xiao Zhiqing not take it, Dantai Mingyue didn't keep holding it, but placed it directly on the table, remaining silent and speechless.

She had no intention of answering any questions.

The two of them just stared at each other there.

Chen Yan pushed the door open; what met his eyes was a beauty with long, smooth black hair, loosely tied up, a purple jade hairpin slantingly inserted, a few strands of loose hair falling beside her jade-white neck, adding to her allure.

Her skin surpassed snow; under the purple clothing, it appeared even more crystalline and translucent, as if it could be broken by a breath.

Chen Yan swallowed his saliva and instinctively remarked, "Tsk, Teacher Wu Gao was right—purple indeed has more charm!"

This woman was already beautiful; outlined in purple, her curves were especially striking, captivating the soul.

No beast could resist this temptation....

Especially someone like Chen Yan, a lecher!

(She's just my sister; my sister says purple has charm.)

"Young Master, who is Teacher Wu Gao?" Qingyu, who followed at his side, asked, puzzled.

"He's a philosopher I know!"

Chen Yan's train of thought was pulled back, and he spoke nonsense with a straight face.

After saying that, seeing Qingyu still confused, he added, "Well... you can think of him as a highly learned scholar!"

"Where did you abduct this woman from?"

Dantai Mingyue stood up, walked to Chen Yan, gave Xiao Zhiqing a sideways glance, and asked.

"What do you mean by 'abduct'?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan immediately became displeased and corrected, "How could a scholar's deed be called abduction?"

Dantai Mingyue nodded and changed her words: "Right, it's kidnapping!"

That teasing expression seemed to say: I still don't understand you?

"Alright, alright, go attend to your business...."

Chen Yan curled the corner of his mouth, pushed this troublemaking woman out, and said, "I'll handle things here."

Dantai Mingyue also didn't want to linger; she still had many things to do, so she turned and left immediately.

While the two were bantering, Xiao Zhiqing also calmed down, her phoenix eyes fixed on Chen Yan, and she demanded in a low voice, "How bold of you to dare kidnap me!"

"Do you know who I am?"

In every gesture, she bore the dignity of a superior.

"I know!"

"If I didn't know, could I bring you back?"

Chen Yan leisurely pulled over a stool, sat lazily at the table, picked up a pastry and handed it to Qingyu, then took another and began to nibble.

He paused, then continued, "Xiao Zhiqing, of the Lanling Xiao clan, a member of the Liang kingdom's royal family, former Yan imperial consort...."

"Since you know, how dare you still?" Xiao Zhiqing clenched her fists, her pretty face full of resentment, and she shouted angrily.

That lofty aura—if it were an ordinary commoner, they'd probably have already knelt and kowtowed.

Chen Yan, however, didn't mind; he even found it amusing, enjoying her performance, and remarked, "Don't put on a stern face—you can't scare anyone, much less me...."

"You haven't eaten or drunk for so long—have something to fill your stomach first!"

"There's no poison...."

Having said that, he pointed to the food on the table.

Then he served himself a bowl of meat congee and drank it straight away.

Don't think it's not obvious—could it be that Chen Yan still can't see that this woman is just putting on a show?

Actually, she herself is terrified to death right now....

"You've brought me here against my will—what exactly do you intend?" Xiao Zhiqing, her guard still up, her phoenix eyes icy, stared fixedly at Chen Yan.

Xiao Zhiqing didn't know whether the man before her had seen through her disguise or was deceiving her.

But her aura had weakened considerably.

Chen Yan suddenly rose, one hand supporting Xiao Zhiqing's slender waist, the other pinching her chin, he licked his lips and smirked, "Your Highness, you're capable of toppling kingdoms with your beauty, graceful and charming—do you really know nothing of your own allure?"

"What else can a man and a woman do?"