Chapter 4

Chang'an.

Outside Tianlao.

"Seeing sunlight again feels great; it's truly a narrow escape from death!"

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on Chen Yan's cheeks, yet spring still carried a chill.

But he felt warm, took a deep breath, and his chest filled with warm air.

The panic and struggle in the darkness gradually dissipated in the sunlight.

How many years had it been since he last felt this post-calamity sense of being alive....

But now he faced a dilemma.

Where should he go first?

Chen Yan stroked his chin, fell into thought: "In my memory, Mother left me a youthful-faced, huge-breasted little maid who has devotedly cared for me all these years...."

"And there's also a guard with decent martial skill."

Upon thinking this, Chen Yan suddenly snapped his fingers.

Going alone directly to the Mingjing Bureau to take over the Vermilion Bird Guard would be too dangerous; he still needs a strong-arm bodyguard.

That guard was left by Mother, and he has diligently protected them for so many years; his loyalty is reliable.

Immediately, Chen Yan lingered no longer and went straight according to his memory.

Outer city.

A dilapidated small courtyard.

Since half a year ago, when the Old Wei State Duke and Chen Yan's grandfather Chen Hu passed away, he was driven out by his father and stepmother from the State Duke Mansion, and rented a shabby small courtyard in the commoners' area.

Only the sixteen-year-old maid Qingyu and the guard Zhu Yi attended to his daily life.

It could be called utterly destitute.

"Zhu Yi, the Young Master has been taken away for half a day; what do you think we should do?"

Qingyu, wearing coarse hemp clothes but with a lovely appearance, paced back and forth around the stone table where Zhu Yi sat, arms crossed, eyes closed, nurturing his spirit, and asked.

The girl's face was full of anxiety and worry.

"Miss Qingyu, you've been turning there for three hours and have asked the same question 1,509 times...."

Zhu Yi still tightly held the sword in his arms, slowly opened his eyes, looked at the anxious Qingyu, and spoke.

He paused, then suggested: "Why not sit down and rest a bit?"

Since three hours ago, when their Young Master was seized by government officials, Qingyu has been pacing nonstop, asking.

If it weren't for Chen Yan's words before leaving, telling them to wait at home for his return, they would have likely rushed out already....

"Not knowing the Young Master's safety, how can I sit down?"

"I'm about to die of anxiety!"

"What should we do for the Young Master?"

Qingyu furrowed her brow, let her little face droop, full of worry.

She is not Zhu Yi, who can stay so calm.

If the government were unfavorable to the Young Master and something happened, what should we do?

And if the government tortured him with severe punishments to force a confession....

The more she thought about these, the more anxious she became.

"I don't know." Zhu Yi shook his head and slowly uttered three words.

Qingyu exhaled a foul breath, then inhaled deeply, as if making a decision, stopped pacing, placed her hands on the stone table, and proposed: "What do you say we break into the prison?"

"First rescue the Young Master, then flee Chang'an; at worst we'll hide our identities...."

Qingyu had already thought it through: as long as the person is alive, nothing else matters.

Even if she had to eat chaff and drink soup in the future, she would stay by the Young Master's side.

As long as he is alright....

"Okay."

Zhu Yi, hearing this, showed no great emotional fluctuation, merely nodding to indicate agreement and support.

He gave no thought to whether it could succeed, nor to the great crime after breaking into the prison....

Qingyu pondered briefly, then began assigning tasks: "I'll first go to the black market to buy a map of Tianlao."

"You scout the outskirts of Tianlao, get clear on the cloth workshop situation, then we'll sneak in at night to rescue the Young Master!"

Saying this, she clenched her small fists.

She waved them heavily.

She looked like a outright lawless bandit.

"Good." Zhu Yi nodded again and responded.

"We also need to spend money to create some disturbance outside Tianlao to draw the guards' attention...." Qingyu continued refining her plan.

Just then, a voice came from afar: "No, you two are really planning to break into the prison?!"

Chen Yan tugged at the corner of his mouth, helpless yet also somewhat surprised.

He had come here, not yet figuring out how to approach these two, when he first overheard them.

The result....

This little girl, though small, really has guts!

Breaking into Tianlao to rescue someone—what's the difference from robbing the state gold vault?

Do you really think the Grand Chancellor's blade isn't fast enough?

However, beyond the shock, Chen Yan felt more moved....

Someone would actually risk their life and spare no expense to save him.

Who?

Hearing that familiar voice, Qingyu snapped her head around, her expression shifting from wariness to great joy, "Young... Young Master?!"

You're back!

The girl's big, watery eyes were filled with excitement and surprise.

She never imagined happiness could come so suddenly...

It felt unreal!

Yeah.... Mmm-mmm!

Chen Yan was just about to respond when he saw the girl rush toward him, leaping up and throwing her arms around him.

Two huge masses slammed into his face out of nowhere.

I said it before: good people have natural fortune, surely turning danger into blessing!

It must be the lady in heaven watching over, blessing the Young Master with safety!

I was worried sick!

Qingyu clung to Chen Yan's head, tightening her grip, speaking with overwhelming emotion.

She truly feared she would never see her Young Master again...

Mmm-mmm!

You...

Quick...

Down...

Come...

Chen Yan struggled to make a sound.

He hadn't died in Tianlao, but he had nearly suffocated.

Whether he had turned danger into blessing, he didn't know, but he had truly felt the bump...

How terrifying!

Qingyu fell to the ground, looking at Chen Yan's flushed face, and quickly asked, "Young Master, what's wrong with you?"

How did your face get so red?

Her pretty face was full of concern.

Chen Yan let out a long breath, shook his head, and soothed, "I'm just a little lactose intolerant...."

Just now, from afar, I really didn't notice how well-endowed the little girl is.

Back in his era, he might well have been called the Thunder God.

From a professional standpoint, a conservative estimate would be at least an E....

What?

I didn't quite catch that....

Qingyu was clueless, utterly bewildered, and asked blankly.

"Nothing..." Chen Yan inexplicably felt like he was leading a child astray.

But he also deeply experienced the three good points of a loli....

Young Master, it's wonderful that you've returned safe and sound!

Qingyu had no spare thoughts for anything else, she wrapped her arms around Chen Yan's arm and exclaimed excitedly.

He paused, then turned to Zhu Yi and said, "I said the Young Master was framed, didn't I?!"

The Court will surely clear the Young Master's name....

Zhu Yi heard this, pursed his lips, and muttered, "You weren't saying that just a moment ago...."

He didn't even know who had just been shouting to storm the prison.

No!

Chen Yan shook his head and calmly corrected, "It was the Great Chancellor who personally let me out...."

The Great Chancellor must be an official who sees even the finest details!

Qingyu blurted out her agreement, only to belatedly realize, "The Great Chancellor?"

Is that the Heavenly Official Great Chancellor?!

Her tiny face was full of astonishment and bewilderment.

Who the Great Chancellor was, she of course knew exactly who....

That Deposed Emperor who enthroned himself, a ruthless minister who overturned the dynasty!

Chen Yan soothingly rubbed Qingyu's little head, turned to look at the man with little emotional fluctuation, and said, "Zhu Yi, I have a dangerous errand—will you dare to go with me?"

Zhu Yi hesitated not, gripping his sword with one hand, and replied solemnly, "My life was saved by the lady; I will not shy from blades or flames."

"Good." Chen Yan nodded, satisfied, gazing at the guards left by his mother.

Young Master, where are you headed?

Qingyu wants to go too!

Hearing the word 'danger,' Qingyu couldn't sit still, she shook Chen Yan's hand anxiously and said.

The Bright Mirror Office.

Chen Yan's lips curled slightly as he pinched Qingyu's cheeks, whispering, "Just stay home and keep watch; wait for us to come back...."

The Bright Mirror Office?

Zhu Yi stared, puzzled, and asked, "For no reason at all, why would we go to that infamous place?"

Chen Yan gave a faint smile, playing with the words: "Because your family's Young Master, I am now...."

"Mingjing Si Acting Zhuque Zhangjing Shi!"