Chapter 41: Lord Zhao, a word of advice: this master is someone you cannot afford to offend

"Young Master Zhao's father?"

Jiang Li was startled for a moment, recalling the newcomer's identity, "That military Sima, senior Physician, Lord Zhao Wuji?"

In such a case, even without thinking, one can tell that this fierce Lord Zhao is here to reclaim the venue for his son.

"It's him!"

Doukou stood at the doorway, brows knit, confirming.

She paused, as if recalling something, then quickly added, "Also came Chief of the Capital District Liu Bingzhong and a host of clerks from Capital District Prefecture...."

During Taizu's reign, the office of Chief of Jingzhao was established to handle household registration and population statistics for Chang'an and surrounding areas, overseeing the populace to levy taxes and corvée labor appropriately.

It also served as one of the highest local judicial officials, responsible for arresting and adjudicating civil and criminal cases within its jurisdiction, maintaining social order.

"What should we do?" Jiang Li lightly bit her red lips; she knew that Lord Zhao intended to use proper official channels to deal with Young Master Cao, who had just been intimate with her, leaving him with no recourse.

Immediately, Jiang Li made a decision in her heart, pulled Chen Yan to his feet, urging, "Young Master Cao, quickly grab your clothes and climb out through that window; I'll help you out...."

Speaking, she raised her hand and pointed at the loosely shut window beside them.

Chen Yan held his clothes, unmoved, and instead wrapped his arms around Jiang Li's waist, retorting, "If I'm leaving, what will you do?"

"This… I suppose Lord Zhao and Lord Liu won't trouble a little woman like me, right?" Jiang Li hesitated, blinking her beautiful eyes, her confidence a bit lacking.

Even though those two were prominent and well‑connected nobles of Chang'an, they wouldn't trouble a wandering woman like her.

But what if?

Yet Jiang Li could no longer care about that, pushing Chen Yan toward the window.

"Although I've always acted without sentiment, I've never let a woman block my way...."

Chen Yan gave a calm smile, halted his steps, lightly patted the woman's curvy rear, and said.

He paused, then continued, "But you're merely a military Sima, senior Physician!"

His words were full of contempt.

Lord Zhao Wuji's status, when viewed from the outside, is indeed intimidating.

But in Chen Yan's eyes, not even Da Xi Jue, Chu Xiaofeng, or even Chen Kaiyuan could compare.

He truly has an unusual background! Could he be a junior of some great figure in Chang'an?... Jiang Li's eyes flashed with a strange hue, she thought a line, then probed, "But they're many, and you're just one guard...."

The man before her, with his dismissive attitude and calm composure, confirmed all her earlier suspicions.

Being able to ignore the high officials of the Summer Office likely means he is a scion of a great aristocratic clan....

"No problem!"

Chen Yan slipped the clothes in his hand into the woman's arms and laughed, "Miss Jiang Li, change my clothes for me!"

"Alright."

Jiang Li nodded, began to assist with the changing, but her peripheral glance kept assessing the man, her thoughts unknown....

Luanchao Xiaozhu.

Below.

"Cao Kun?"

"Get out for me at once!"

Lord Zhao Wuji's face was stern, his hands clasped behind him; after scanning the surroundings, he shouted.

His voice carried anger.

Standing beside him was Chief of the Capital District Liu Bingzhong.

All around were the clerks of Jingzhao Prefecture and Zhao's guards, sealing Luanchao Xiaozhu completely.

Outside gathered a crowd of onlookers eager for spectacle.

A moment later, an impatient voice rose from the balcony:

"What are you shouting?"

"Did father die or mother remarry...."

"Eager to be reborn?"

Immediately after, the neatly dressed Chen Yan strolled leisurely into view.

"You… you are Cao Kun?"

The affronted Lord Zhao Wuji, seething, examined the stranger's face and confirmed.

"Indeed, it is I!"

"What instruction do you have for me?"

Chen Yan clasped his hands to his chest, stopped a few meters from Lord Zhao Wuji, raised an eyebrow, and asked knowingly.

"It was you who injured my son Lingyi, tarnishing the Zhao family's honor?" Lord Zhao Wuji, after years in office, had cultivated his Qi to mastery, narrowed his eyes, and asked again.

"Yes, it was Cao who did it!"

Chen Yan shrugged, without hesitation, and calmly admitted.

He paused, then taunted, "A debauched scoundrel, hit him and that's it—what can you do to me?"

Saying that, he curled his finger.

Every gesture radiated unabashed arrogance.

Lord Zhao Wuji, seeing this, glared angrily and sneered, "Young man, don't be so over‑confident!"

"If not over‑confident, can you still be called a young man?"

The mocked Lord Zhao Wuji, unfazed, let a knowing smile curl his lips, turned to Liu Bingzhong and said, "Lord Liu, you heard that, didn't you?"

"This brat admits it without shame; seize him quickly for legal punishment!"

Obviously, earlier Lord Zhao Wuji was coaxing Chen Yan's words to draw out the desired content.

Who could have imagined the kid would be so foolishly cooperative?

If it were still back in Yuanzhou, Zhao Wuji had already ordered men to beat Chen Yan to death with a wild staff.

But this is in Chang'an, where the emperor and the Grand Tomb Minister are present; he is a newcomer and cannot act too openly, so he still has to go through the Jing Zhao Fu procedure.

Nevertheless, the outcome is the same: in the Jing Zhao Fu prison, this boy can regret ever coming into this world....

"Take him down!"

Liu Bingzhong's face was expressionless as he waved his hand, "Take him back to the office for interrogation...."

But before he could finish, a subordinate named Bai Zhi hurried over, "Lord Liu, the Young Master over there, please have a look at this placard, and we ask you to go over...."

Saying that, he placed the placard in front of his own lord.

"What placard?"

Liu Bingzhong was displeased that his words were interrupted, but when his eyes fell on the placard, his sharp gaze instantly turned to shock, "Xuan... Xuan... where is that Young Master?"

He snatched the placard, and the characters written on it were boldly two large characters depicting dragons and phoenixes:

Black Tortoise.

Having served as an official in Chang'an for many years, how could Liu Bingzhong not recognize what this signifies?

The Black Tortoise Mirror Keeper of the Bright Mirror Department!

"There!"

The straight‑sworded man raised his hand and pointed toward a direction in the crowd.

"Hold on."

"You all are not allowed to act rashly!"

Liu Bingzhong halted all his subordinates' actions, daring not to delay a moment, and hurried toward that direction.

Zhao Wuji, seeing this, was bewildered and full of doubt.

He was very perplexed, wondering what had happened.

"Old Liu, over here!"

Li Tan leaned on Yuwen Ze's body and raised his hand in a beckoning gesture.

"Li Mirror Keeper, how did you come here?" Liu Bingzhong stepped forward, lowered his voice, and asked.

"I came with my big brother to Chunman Lou for leisure!" Li Tan pursed his lips toward Chen Yan's direction.

"Big brother?"

Liu Bingzhong was startled, looked in that direction, and suddenly realized, "It's him!"

He paused, then continued, "May I ask who that lord is....?"

To be called 'big brother' by the Black Tortoise Mirror Keeper, and his own face...

"Vermilion Bird," Li Tan slowly uttered the two words.

"What?!"

Liu Bingzhong's heart trembled, shocked beyond measure, forcing himself to stay calm, he lowered his voice and confirmed, "Is... is it the Vermilion Bird Mirror Keeper, Lord Chen Yan?"

A hint of panic and fear flashed in his eyes.

Chen Yan's notorious reputation, as someone in Chang'an's official circles, was deeply understood....

He never expected to encounter him here.

"Otherwise?"

"Who else could it be?"

Li Tan gave a half‑smile, nudged Liu Bingzhong with his elbow, and whispered, "Since we are old acquaintances, let me give you a tip or two, so you don't wade into this murky water...."

"Understood, understood...."

Liu Bingzhong inhaled a cold breath, cold sweat streaming, and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Li Mirror Keeper!"

He couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.

Fortunately he met Li Tan here; otherwise his whole family might truly not have been saved....

This is a tremendous favor!

"Go!"

Li Tan waved his hand, "You should know what to do now...."

Liu Bingzhong showed no hesitation, hurried back to his original spot, and loudly said, "There is no case this time; my Capital District Office came to the wrong place...."

Then, he cupped his hands toward Chen Yan, humbly saying, "I beg forgiveness, I beg forgiveness!"

"Return to the office!"

He never glanced at Zhao Wuji the whole time.

"Yes."

The clerks of Jing Zhao Fu responded in unison and began to withdraw outward.

"Lord Liu, why are you doing this?" Zhao Wuji, not understanding, asked.

Zhao Wuji couldn't comprehend what that person had said to cause the esteemed Jingzhao Prefect to change like this, fearing it would reach this point.

"Lord Zhao, let me advise you, this gentleman is someone you cannot provoke...."

"Farewell!"

Liu Bingzhong would not spend a single moment, nor dare linger here, and seized a route to leave.

His will to survive was extremely strong.

"Lord Zhao, the Jing Zhao Fu has already left; do you still wish to continue?" Chen Yan smiled, asking with interest.

"Kid, to force the Jingzhao Prefect to retreat, you must have a remarkable status!" Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth, staring intently at Chen Yan.

"Just barely enough!"

Chen Yan spread his hands and laughed, "Lord Zhao, do you still want to save face?"

"Who are the elders of your family? I, the officer, will have a proper word with them!"

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists and, in a deep voice, said: "Ask how he raised you, you arrogant, overbearing, lawless scoundrel!"

At this very moment, he is already on a tiger he cannot dismount.

If he pushes forward, his head will be torn and bleeding; if he retreats, his dignity will be lost, making him a laughingstock of Chang'an.

He can only attempt to exert pressure via the family elders.

Just as Chen Yan was about to speak, a questioning voice drifted from nearby:

"Do the juniors of my royal household still need you to meddle?"