Chapter 446

The moment Yuwen Ze's figure disappeared outside the hall door, Chen Yan withdrew his gaze. He tapped his fingertips lightly on the desk and called for someone to summon Li Tan and You Xian.

Before long, the two entered side by side.

Chen Yan pursed his lips, tapped the imperial decree on the desk lightly, looked at Li Tan, and said: "You've been acting as Superintendent for over half a year; you should be familiar with all the items by now..."

"Is there anything else this Superintendent needs to explain?"

Li Tan did not answer immediately upon hearing this. Instead, he took half a step forward, his previously steady expression adding a touch of solemnity, and his tone was so serious that it didn't carry a hint of a joke: "Big Brother, if you're not okay, don't force yourself; if you want to cry, just cry!"

"We're all brothers here; no one will laugh at you!"

As he spoke, he even patted his own shoulder.

As if indicating he could provide a shoulder.

"Go to hell!"

Seeing this, Chen Yan was stunned at first, then the faint smile in his eyes instantly shattered, and he rolled his eyes at Li Tan without any concealment.

Immediately, he raised his foot and kicked Li Tan on the butt, not too hard or too soft, cursing: "What is there for me to cry about?"

"It's not like I'm going to the guillotine..."

Li Tan staggered half a step from the kick, but didn't bother to rub his butt. Instead, he stared at Chen Yan's face for a long time, seeing absolutely no displeasure or frustration, but rather that he seemed even a bit happy. He immediately asked in confusion: "Big Brother, you've been demoted, and you're not even sad?"

What kind of decent person is like this when demoted?

It's too abnormal, right?

Moreover, although he hadn't lost his composure when receiving the decree earlier, he had seen that gloomy look in his eyes.

How could it be that not long after, it was as if he had changed into a different person?

Chen Yan looked completely unconcerned. He stretched a big stretch, his dark robes unfolding with the movement, and loosened his wrists, his tone extremely relaxed: "What is there to be sad about?"

He paused, leaned back against the chair, and a rare sense of comfort appeared in his eyes: "After fighting for so long, it's rare to have a period of leisure; I'm too happy to be sad!"

This half year is just right for tinkering with some things and doing some experiments...

Preparing for future maneuvers!

Li Tan leaned forward, the confusion on his face instantly turning into full-blown resentment, his mouth pouting enough to hang an oil bottle: "Big Brother, you're relaxed..."

"But it's bitter for me, your brother!"

He rubbed his hands, his tone full of grievance: "I have to manage the Mingjing Si day and night, sigh!"

By the end, he let out a long sigh, his head drooping to the side and his shoulders slumping.

He looked exactly like someone who had lost the will to live.

No matter what was said before, there was still hope; he thought it would be easy once Big Brother returned...

Now it's truly a long, long wait!

The position of Mingjing Si Superintendent is glorious and powerful, but it's also exhausting...

Chen Yan caught a glimpse of Li Tan's half-dead look, couldn't help but hook the corners of his mouth, raised his chin toward You Xian, who was standing quietly to the side, and said: "Doesn't You Xian still have your back?"

As he finished speaking, he withdrew the smile from his face, placed his hands lightly on the desk, and slowly stood up.

His dark robes fell with the movement, the previous ease and comfort fading, replaced by a sense of steadiness and solemnity.

His gaze first fell on Li Tan, then slowly shifted to You Xian's face, his eyes full of trust and entrustment as he exhorted: "From now on, the Mingjing Si is entrusted to you both!"

You Xian's gaze was burning. He took half a step forward, clasped his hands solemnly, and bowed deeply, his movements swift and full of determination: "Superintendent, rest assured!"

With him, You Xian, here, the Mingjing Si will always be the Superintendent's Mingjing Si.

The grace of being recognized is unforgettable.

If not for the Superintendent's promotion and heavy use, he would still be just a small Embroidered Attire Envoy...

To have today is all thanks to the Superintendent's support!

Night.

The evening breeze had faded the summer heat, carrying the cold fragrance of the osmanthus trees in the courtyard, and drilled in through the half-open diamond-patterned windows of the Ya Pavilion.

The window lattice was carved with intertwined lotus patterns, and the moonlight spilled onto the blue brick floor through the patterns.

It reflected fine silver spots, which intertwined with the warm light of the twelve glass lamps in the room, making the whole room bright and soft.

The Ya Pavilion was not large, but it was elegantly furnished. A landscape painting, "River Journey," hung on the north wall, with vigorous brushstrokes and dots of sails on the river.

A pear-wood long table was set under the south wall, the surface bright enough to reflect a person, covered with a blue satin tablecloth embroidered with dark cloud patterns.

Twelve dishes were set on the table, with meat and vegetables, cold and hot, arranged in an orderly manner.

In the center was a silver three-legged tripod, in which camel hump soup was stewed. The soup was milky white, and the heat, wrapped in a mellow fragrance, rose in curls, condensing into tiny mist beads in the lamplight.

On the left were four cold dishes: sauce-colored deer tongue sliced as thin as cicada wings, emerald-like cold-dressed Japanese ginger sprinkled with white sesame seeds, crystal skin jelly wrapped with shrimp, and amber-colored honey-pickled kumquats arranged neatly.

On the right were hot dishes: oily and roasted lamb ribs inserted in a red lacquer wooden frame, with oil beads still congealing in the bone joints; next to it, steamed sea bass in a celadon plate, the fish eyes clear and bright, with scallion and ginger shreds on the fish, poured with amber-colored soy sauce.

In the white porcelain bowl at the end was freshly cooked millet cake, the cake body fluffy, sprinkled with a layer of fine sugar powder, revealing a clear sweetness in the steaming heat.

Light and slow footsteps came from outside the Ya Pavilion.

Yuwen Hu looked toward the door and saw the figure in dark robes stepping into the door, with night dew on his temples—it was Chen Yan who had rushed over. He immediately curved his brows and smiled: "A Yan is here?"

Chen Yan stepped forward quickly, clasped his hands, and bowed: "Greetings, Grand Chancellor!"

Seeing this, Yuwen Ze rose from his seat and bowed to Chen Yan: "A Xiong!"

Yuwen Hu smiled, raised his hand to press down, and tapped the empty seat beside him lightly with his fingertips. His tone carried a touch of reproach, but was full of closeness: "In your own mansion, don't bother with these empty rituals!"

"Sit quickly!"

Immediately, he picked up the white jade wine pot on the table and poured wine into the empty cup himself. The amber-colored wine slid down the cup wall, creating fine wine foam: "Today, the three of us will have a good drink!"

Chen Yan sat down in response, picked up the white jade wine cup in front of him, and said respectfully: "Your subordinate toasts you!"

Yuwen Ze also picked up his wine cup, leaned forward slightly, his eyes full of filial piety: "Child also toasts you!"

Yuwen Hu smiled, raised his hand, and tapped his wine cup lightly against the two people's cups. The crisp clinking sound rang out in the Ya Pavilion, echoing with the insect chirps outside the window, and the smile in his eyes deepened: "Good."

Before the words fell, the three of them tilted their heads back simultaneously, and the amber-colored wine slid down their throats.

The clear sweetness and slight heat spread in their mouths.

Yuwen Hu picked up a chopstick of cold-dressed Japanese ginger and sent it into his mouth. After chewing it carefully for a few times, he raised his eyes to look at Chen Yan. His tone sounded casual, but his gaze carried a touch of probing: "A Yan, I heard that A Heng led A Xiang to your mansion this morning?"

Chen Yan nodded slightly, raised his hand to pick up a piece of oily and roasted lamb rib, cut a small piece with a silver knife, and sent it into his mouth. Only after swallowing did he speak slowly: "Exactly."

He put down the silver knife, picked up a cloth to wipe his fingertips, and continued: "The Grand Marshal asked me to take A Xiang by my side to temper him a bit..."

Yuwen Ze's hand holding the silver chopsticks paused, and the millet cake he had just picked up almost slid off the plate. A flash of surprise crossed his eyes, then he lowered his eyes quietly, muttering to himself: "There's such a thing?!"

Second Uncle is trying to divide his favor?!

Once A Xiang comes, he will no longer be A Xiong's only younger brother...

Yuwen Hu picked up the white jade wine cup, took a shallow sip, and asked: "How do you plan to settle A Xiang?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan immediately picked up the wine pot on the desk and added wine to Father Grand Chancellor's half-empty cup. Only after the amber-colored wine was slowly filled did he put down the pot, raise his eyes, and reply: "Didn't I just get transferred to Magistrate of Wannian?"

"Just let A Xiang serve as Household Clerk in Wannian County to temper his abilities..."

The position of Household Clerk is responsible for household registration verification and tax collection.

These matters are trivial and are also the best for tempering people...

Hearing this, Yuwen Hu nodded with satisfaction, the approval in his eyes undisguised, and agreed: "That is very appropriate!"

He paused, changed the subject, his gaze fell on Chen Yan, and his tone added a touch of solemn exhortation: "A Heng has only this one legitimate son; you must put in more effort!"

Chen Yan nodded: "Your subordinate understands!"

Yuwen Hu turned his head to look at Yuwen Ze and said in a low voice: "A Ze, you three brothers must also support each other!"

Yuwen Ze immediately put down the silver chopsticks, straightened his sitting posture, and replied respectfully: "Yes."

Yuwen Hu picked up a piece of camel hump meat stewed until soft and rotten, slowly sent it into his mouth, and after swallowing, as if remembering something, raised his eyes to look at Chen Yan, his expression having added a touch of seriousness: "A Yan, I still want to exhort you one thing..."

He paused and said word by word: "Although Magistrate of Wannian is not high, you must not take it lightly!"

"Without a solid foundation, it is ultimately a castle in the air; rootless floating wood is difficult to last long!"

Yuwen Hu had high hopes for this child...

The previous promotions were too fast, lacking too much experience, and governing a locality is another kind of learning; now it's just right to make it up for him!

Chen Yan only felt that fatherly love was like a mountain, and a warmth spread from the bottom of his heart. He immediately stood up, clasped his hands and bowed, his waist and back straight, his voice carrying a touch of unhideable emotion: "Your subordinate will keep the Grand Chancellor's teachings in mind!"

It cannot be denied that being too smooth is indeed easy to cause trouble...

Have you not seen the stories of Yang Xiu and Wen Zhang?

Throughout history, those who became famous at a young age but fell like meteors are numerous!

What they lacked was such a good father...

"Why stand up?"

Seeing this, Yuwen Hu raised his hand to press down: "Sit down quickly! Drink and eat!"

He picked up the wine pot, added wine to Chen Yan's cup again, and his gaze swept over the two people's slightly thinner faces, full of pity: "You two boys have both lost weight..."

After three rounds of drinking, the light of the glass lamps added a touch of haziness, and the dishes on the table had cooled down a bit.

Chen Yan just put down the wine cup, his fingertips paused on the rim of the cup, as if suddenly remembering something. His voice lowered a bit, but it carried a solemnity that could not be ignored: "Grand Chancellor, I almost forgot a particularly important matter..."

"Need to report to you separately!"

"There's something I can't hear?" Yuwen Ze, who was slightly tipsy, was stunned, muttering in his heart.

"A Ze, you go back to your room to rest first..." Yuwen Hu sent him away without hesitation.

"Yes." After Yuwen Ze replied, he stood up swayingly and left.

Yuwen Hu raised his brows slightly, turning his jade thumb ring. The leisure in his eyes faded, replaced by a touch of probing and curiosity: "A Yan, tell me about this particularly important matter of yours..."