Chapter 42: After Hitting the Son, He Went to the Father Demanding Compensation

Huh?

Zhao Wuji turned toward the sound, an unexpected figure came into view, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Grand... Grand Marshal, how could you be here?!"

"He's your junior?!"

Zhao Wuji's voice was trembling.

He was terrified to the extreme.

The person who arrived was his direct superior, the Grand Marshal of the Summer Office, the brother of the Grand Secretary, Yuwen Heng.

"Grand Marshal?"

"This Young Master Cao is actually his junior?!"

"Could he be a member of the Yuwen royal family?"

On the pavilion, Jiang Li, who had been silently paying attention, reached a shocking conclusion.

She had thought this Young Master Cao might be from the Six Surnames of Guanzhong, or perhaps from the Eight Pillar Noble Families.

But she had never imagined that he could be a member of the imperial clan.

This matter must be reported upward as soon as possible.

"Second uncle?!"

"How could I still run into him?"

Yuwen Ze recognized Yuwen Heng before Zhao Wuji did.

He immediately covered his face with his hand, fearing his own paternal second uncle would discover him.

"Where I am, when do I need to report to you?"

Yuwen Heng strode forward, flanked by his Personal Guard, stopped in front of Zhao Wuji, and sneered: "Lord Zhao, you sure like to meddle!"

"It's Shuyi who overstepped!"

"Shuyi truly didn't know he was your junior!"

Zhao Wuji was dumbfounded, his whole mind went blank, and he spoke in utter fear and trepidation.

His face looked as bitter as if he had swallowed horse dung.

Wasn't he supposed to be just a scholar?

Still a Cao surname with no prominent background in Chang'an?

How did he suddenly become the Grand Marshal's junior?

Yuwen Heng's eyes narrowed as he asked: "Do you know now?"

"But do you still need to lecture me?"

In his calm tone, there was nothing but oppression.

"I daren't... Shuyi daren't!"

On Zhao Wuji's shoulders, it felt like a weight of a thousand jun, making him hunch his back.

"I doubt you have the guts..."

Yuwen Heng gave a light snort, waved his hand, indicating he should scram.

"Shuyi bids farewell!"

Zhao Wuji, as if granted a pardon, dared not linger another moment; he was about to lead his own guards away.

"He's just leaving?"

"Stop!"

Chen Yan saw this, called out to Zhao Wuji, and said: "My mental distress fees, lost work fees, medical expenses, plus the cost of you disciplining your son—shouldn't we settle these?"

"I did slap him several times...."

Saying this, he stepped forward, hooked shoulders with Zhao Wuji, and even shook his slapping hand.

"Kid, don't bully people too much!"

Zhao Wuji gave him a sideways glance; this nose‑in‑the‑air bastard, using a voice only the two of them could hear, gritted his teeth and said:

Those earlier terms, Zhao Wuji didn't understand, but he knew this kid was demanding compensation.

Moreover, hitting someone's son and then going to the father for compensation is truly unheard of!

"I'm bullying you—what of it?"

Chen Yan, unhurried, pointed behind him and laughed: "The Grand Marshal is right there—go ahead and bite me!"

He, Chen Yan, is nothing but a lackey of powerful ministers!

Since someone's backing him up, of course he'll rely on their power and act arrogantly and domineeringly!

Or should he just swallow his anger and keep the peace?

"You!" Zhao Wuji widened his eyes, wanting to curse but not daring to.

Zhao Wuji couldn't fathom how there could be such a shameless person who takes advantage and then acts innocent.

"What about me?"

Chen Yan didn't care, smiling: "Just say whether you'll pay or not."

He acted as if he already had it in the bag.

"Pay!"

"I'll pay!"

"How much do you want?"

Zhao Wuji suppressed the anger in his chest, his face turned dark, and he barely managed to spit out a reply.

If looks could kill, the brat in front of him would have been slain countless times.

"Let me calculate...."

Chen Yan got the answer he wanted, nodded satisfiedly, pretended to calculate on his fingers, and said, "We won't cheat you, let's make it a round number—ten thousand taels!"

Saying that, he raised a finger.

As everyone knows, Chen Yan is a black merchant with a conscience.

Compared to the ransom of fifty thousand taels extorted from Chen Tongyuan last time, this mere ten thousand taels is already very generous!

Go to hell!

He really opens his mouth like a lion!

Zhao Wuji clenched his fists, joints cracking, and cursed.

Having governed a region for many years, when has he ever suffered such humiliation?

"Lord Zhao doesn't have to give it, you know!"

"You dare?"

Upon hearing that, Chen Yan smiled ambiguously, with deep meaning.

Zhao Wuji stared at Chen Yan for a long while, then finally took out a silver note from his bosom and shoved it into his hand, saying, "Take it!"

Although he suffered humiliation, one must bow his head under the eaves.

Zhao Wuji still made the most rational judgment.

The future is long; as long as you preserve yourself, there will be plenty of opportunities.

"Indeed, he who knows the times is a true hero!"

Chen Yan flicked the silver note with his finger and laughed, "Lord Zhao, take your leave!"

Another ten thousand taels smoothly entered the account— isn't this easier than copying manuscripts, making salt, or building infrastructure?

This Zhao father and son are truly his lucky stars.

After leaving a sinister glance, Zhao Wuji led his personal guards away, sleeves flung.

"You little brat, your ways are really wild!"

"Even feigning the tiger's might doesn't betray anyone!"

Having witnessed the whole scene, Yuwen Heng stepped forward, tapped Chen Yan's shoulder with his folding fan, and laughed.

After parting ways at Tianlao last time, I've heard that the Vermilion Bird Mirror Master doesn't play by the rules; tonight I finally got to see it firsthand.

Yuwen Heng also finally understood why his elder brother likes this child so much....

It's indeed quite interesting!

"In front of one's own elders, why need to avoid taboo?"

Chen Yan smiled faintly and said respectfully, "Please accept this, Grand Marshal!"

Saying that, he held up the ten-thousand-tael silver note with both hands and presented it.

Seeing this, Yuwen Heng curled the corner of his mouth, shook his head, and said, "Alright, just keep it for pocket money...."

"Since I have already revealed my identity, it's inconvenient to linger here any longer!"

He paused, then added, "You boys, have fun, but still mind your moderation—don't overindulge in lust...."

Having said that, he unfolded his folding fan, and under the escort of the personal guards, strode away.

"Take your leave, Grand Marshal!"

Chen Yan performed a salute, waved at the onlooking crowd on both sides, and said, "It's fine, you can all disperse now!"

"Go do what you should do...."

Seeing the fun was gone, the melon‑eating crowd didn't linger; each returned to the pleasure quarters to continue seeking enjoyment.

Yuwen Ze came over, looking worried, and asked, "A Xiong, what do those few remarks of Second Uncle mean?"

"He couldn't have seen me, could he?"

Yuwen Ze was a bit flustered.

After all, his second uncle's last words before leaving were too pointedly suggestive....

No matter how you hear it, it sounds like he's warning him!

"Isn't it obvious enough?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow and retorted.

"It's over!"

"It's over!"

"If Second Uncle knows, then Father will know too...."

"Father will surely break my legs...."

Hearing Chen Yan's reply, the last glimmer of hope in Yuwen Ze's heart was completely shattered.

At that moment, it felt as if the sky had collapsed....

"Don't worry!"

"You're how old already— it's time you went out to see the world...."

Chen Yan smiled faintly and soothed.

"Never mind!"

Yuwen Ze let out a long sigh, steeled himself, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Since it's come to this, even if my legs are broken, that's tomorrow's problem!"

"Let's enjoy ourselves first, then talk!"

He put on the air of a broken pot that's already smashed.

"That's the way to do it!"

"We'll talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow...."

Immediately, Yuwen Ze and Li Tan each returned to their respective courtesans' quarters, while Chen Yan went back up to the attic of Luanchao Xiaozhu once again.

As soon as he entered the door, Jiang Li flung herself into his arms, leaning against him, and whispered softly, "Cao Lang, I was worried sick about you...."

I never expected you to be a junior of the Grand Marshal!

No wonder you're so fearless!

His tone held surprise, astonishment, and relief, perfectly capturing the feeling of having just survived a disaster.

This doesn't matter....

Chen Yan raised his brows slightly, then, seizing the moment, he scooped her up in a horizontal embrace and said meaningfully: "You've rested so long; you should have recovered your strength by now?"

"Cao Lang, what are you trying to do?" Jiang Li, who had been suddenly embraced, jumped in fright.

Chen Yan licked his lips, holding the beautiful woman in his arms, he walked toward the bed with a wicked grin: "Let you see, let you see—what is a place the sun cannot reach, but I can!"