Chapter 514

Night.

The north wind rolled with fine snow, beating against the window lattice and making a soft, wailing sound.

But inside the warm pavilion deep within the Duke of Wei's mansion, there was a sense of cozy warmth.

The floor heating was burning brightly, making the blue bricks warm. The air was filled with a faint scent of pine smoke and the calming incense prepared by the wet nurse. The warm yellow candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows in the room.

In the center of the warm pavilion, two exquisite cradles were placed side by side, both crafted from top-quality beech wood, carved with intertwined lotus patterns, and the bed curtains were hung with soft white fox fur edges, isolating the cold air.

Pei Suiwan was dressed in a moon-white ru-skirt embroidered with plum blossoms, covered by a plain-colored brocade cloak, her long hair loosely tied behind her head, revealing her smooth forehead.

She sat on a low stool between the two cradles, one hand resting on the edge of the left cradle, the other gently pushing the bed rail of the right one. Her body swayed gently with the rhythm of the cradles, and she hummed a soothing nursery rhyme.

The melody was gentle and graceful, like flowing water in spring.

In the right cradle, Chen Shuying was sleeping soundly, her pink, tender little face flushed.

Her long eyelashes were like two small fans covering her eyelids, her breathing even and long, occasionally smacking her little lips in her dreams, looking charming and adorable.

Chen Ji'an in the left cradle was still awake, his pair of dark, round eyes wide open, curiously gazing at the carved caisson ceiling of the room.

His little fists were clutching the velvet balls on the edge of the bed, kicking his legs from time to time, his little feet making the thin quilt sway gently, but he did not cry or make a fuss, just quietly listening to his mother's singing, looking lively and well-behaved.

Chen Yan stood by the cradles, full of gentle smiles, his gaze falling on the two cradles, his eyes filled with such doting love it was almost overflowing, and he sighed in a low voice: "Ji'an, Shuying, these two little ones are truly precious!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Suiwan did not stop her gentle pushing of the cradles. She raised her eyes to look at her husband, a measure of worry between her brows, and asked in a soft tone: "Husband, do you think the reward the Grand Preceptor gave our son is a bit too much?"

"He is still in swaddling clothes; rewarding him with some gold, silver, silk, and rare playthings would have been enough, but why directly add the title of General of the Central Strength and concurrently hold the title of General of the Central Palace?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan's mouth curled up slightly. He reached out and touched Chen Ji'an's little face gently, his fingertips touching the warm, soft skin, his smile deepening: "The Grand Preceptor's move is also placing high hopes on the little one!"

As he spoke, his tone shifted, and he teased: "I was only promoted to Magistrate of Chang'an because of this little one..."

Then, he leaned over toward the left cradle, his gaze falling on Chen Ji'an, who was wide-eyed, his voice softening further, asking with a measure of playfulness: "Right, little lucky star?"

Chen Ji'an in the cradle had his dark, round eyes curved into crescents, his little mouth open, and suddenly he let out a series of crisp "Giggle!" sounds.

The laughter was soft and loud, like broken jade falling onto a plate.

Seeing this, the doting in Chen Yan's eyes deepened. He leaned over and gently pinched his son's soft cheeks, his tone full of joy: "Laughing so happily! I'm afraid he understood..."

Pei Suiwan sighed helplessly, her hand not stopping its gentle pushing of the cradle, a measure of amusement and exasperation between her brows: "How is it that he's getting more energetic the more he's coaxed?"

Chen Yan stood up straight, looking at his son's lively appearance, and laughed: "Perhaps he slept too long during the day..."

"It doesn't matter; we have nothing to do tonight, so we might as well keep little Ji'an company and also watch over little Shuying."

As he spoke, his gaze turned to his daughter, who was still sleeping soundly in the right cradle.

Pei Suiwan nodded gently and said no more.

Just then, the door of the warm pavilion was gently pushed open a crack. Hongye walked in with very light steps, walked to Chen Yan's side, bowed, and reported: "Duke, Chief Li and Mirror Master You have arrived!"

The smile on Chen Yan's face faded slightly, and he nodded: "Please have them come over!"

"Yes." Hongye responded and retreated, gently closing the door.

Seeing this, Pei Suiwan pursed her red lips, stopped pushing the cradle, looked up at Chen Yan, and asked in a considerate tone: "Husband, these two officials coming late at night must have urgent official business..."

"I will take the two children back to the inner chamber first and will not disturb you in handling official business."

Pei Suiwan had just stood up when her wrist was pressed by Chen Yan. "It's fine, they are both our own people..."

"It's fine for you to listen!"

Upon hearing this, Pei Suiwan did not insist and sat back down on the low stool.

Before long, light footsteps came from outside the door, and Hongye led the two of them in.

Li Tan saw Chen Yan and Pei Suiwan at a glance, and a familiar smile immediately bloomed on his face, calling out heartily: "Big Brother! Sister-in-law!"

You Xian stepped forward respectfully and bowed: "Greetings, My Lord! Greetings, My Lady!"

Chen Yan waved his hand, his tone gentle: "No need for formalities; we are all our own people, no need to be so reserved."

He pointed to the brocade stool to the side. "Sit down, Hongye, serve hot tea."

Hongye responded and retreated, soon bringing three cups of steaming strong tea.

Li Tan and You Xian thanked him and sat down, holding the teacups to warm their hands and drive away the cold from their bodies.

Chen Yan asked with a smile: "The two of you coming to my mansion together at this hour must mean that matter is almost settled, right?"

Li Tan put down his teacup and nodded heavily, a flash of brightness in his eyes: "Exactly!"

After a brief pause, his tone became solemn, and he added with a smile that was not quite a smile, "According to your instructions, Big Brother, the preliminary arrangements made by our Mingjing Si in key locations such as Jinyang, Yecheng, and Qingzhou have all been completed..."

The Qi Kingdom had planted quite a few spies in Great Zhou.

Great Zhou had also planted a large number of secret agents within the Qi Kingdom, and they had taken root in all walks of life in Qi...

This was also completed during Chen Yan's tenure as Chief.

And these people could just happen to be put to use!

You Xian put down his teacup, his fingertips tracing the edge of the cup, and added: "In the next half month, we can reach deeper cooperation with more small and medium-sized banks in the Qi Kingdom..."

The candlelight in the warm pavilion flickered. Pei Suiwan listened quietly to the conversation of the three, her gaze falling unconsciously on her own man.

She heard the depth and calculation of this layout and muttered to herself in her heart: "What is my husband trying to do by using the banks of the Qi Kingdom?"

After listening to You Xian's report, Chen Yan showed an approving smile, nodded, and praised: "Good, very good!"

He paused, a flash of sharpness in his eyes, and then ordered: "Tell our people to stay calm, do their part according to the plan, and do not be eager for success, so as not to startle the snake..."

"Yes!" Li Tan and You Xian responded in unison.

Li Tan seemed to have suddenly remembered something, his eyes shifted, and he reported with a meaningful smile: "Oh, by the way, Big Brother, on Yuwen Ang's side, he finally caught a spy from the Qi Kingdom today..."

"And they had a pleasant conversation in the Chang'an Ghost Market and happily reached a cooperation!"

Chen Yan pursed his lips and smiled, a flash of amusement in his eyes, his tone carrying a measure of emotion: "This Qi Kingdom spy is truly able to hold his ground; it's already the twelfth day of the twelfth month, and he finally couldn't help but take the bait..."

"He's a capable person!"

"Of course he is!" Upon hearing this, Li Tan nodded repeatedly, his face carrying a measure of agreement, then his tone shifted, and he joked with a smile: "If he didn't have some ability, how could he have caused so much trouble for you, Big Brother?"

Hearing this, the smile in Chen Yan's eyes deepened, and You Xian couldn't help but curl his lips.

The three looked at each other, all understanding in their hearts, and then burst into hearty laughter in unison: "Hahahaha!"

After laughing, Li Tan briefly repeated the content of the cooperation between the two sides.

"Dugu Changjing?"

Chen Yan muttered, then hooked a curve of a smile that was not quite a smile, and ordered: "Send someone to tell Qin Ci to steadily send silver to this 'Dugu Changjing'..."

Three months is enough for him, Chen, to do many things!

Li Tan felt a chill in his heart and immediately bowed: "As you command!"

After the two left, Chen Yan turned and walked to the window, looking at the deep night outside. The lights of ten thousand homes in Chang'an were blurred by the wind and snow, leaving only dots of hazy halos, like faint light under the surging dark tide.

Tracing the coldness of the window lattice with his fingertips, he muttered in a low voice: "Qi Kingdom, Gao clan, counterfeit copper coins..."

At this point, all gentleness faded from Chen Yan's eyes, leaving only bone-chilling venom, and a cold, sharp curve hooked the corner of his mouth.

This battle-hardened feudal warrior of capitalism leaned forward slightly, looking at the night sky filled with wind and snow, and said in a low, meaningful voice: "Next, let me, Chen, show you what Hayek's 'invisible hand' really is!"