Chapter 52: Not afraid of villains racking their brains, only afraid of fools having a sudden spark

"What does it mean?"

Chen Tongyuan felt confused, and anxiously retorted, "Chen Yan, what have you done this time?"

The Weiguo Gongfu and the Pingyang Marquis Mansion have had no grievances lately, no old enmity; when Old Master was alive, their private relations were fairly good.

How could there be revenge coming from the Tao Family?

Unless that wayward son meddled in it!

"Wrong, wrong, wrong!"

Chen Yan's mouth curved into a smile, he wiggled his fingers and said playfully, "It has nothing to do with me!"

He paused, glanced at Chen Gubai, and continued, "Ask your precious son!"

"Failed to steal a chicken and lost the rice, tsk!"

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan burst into hearty laughter, sympathetically patted Chen Tongyuan's shoulder, and led Zhu Yi away without looking back.

No wonder the Weiguo Gongfu is full of talent.

Not afraid of villains racking their brains, only afraid of fools having a sudden spark.

After Chen Yan's figure disappeared into the distance, Chen Tongyuan finally came to his senses, turned his head toward his son lying on the ground, and asked, "Gubai, what did you do?"

"Why are you entangled with the Pingyang Marquis Mansion again?"

At that moment, an ominous premonition rose in Chen Tongyuan's heart.

What could make Chen Yan laugh so heartily cannot be a trivial matter...

Don't be fooled by the Chen Family being dukes and the Tao Family only marquises; with Old Master Chen Hu gone and the second generation in a transitional stage, their power has already changed.

The Pingyang Marquis Tao Zhuicai is in his early forties; after a few more years of accumulating military merit, he might become a duke.

Meanwhile the Chen Family cannot halt its decline and must not become hostile to them.

"This..."

"This..."

"Father, this is a long story..."

Chen Gubai, suddenly questioned, hesitated, stammered, and didn't know how to begin explaining.

After all, this matter truly is as Chen Yan described...

"Then let's make a long story short!"

Chen Tongyuan, seeing Chen Gubai's reaction, became even more certain of the problem's seriousness and shouted, "What foolish deed did you commit that dragged the Pingyang Marquis Mansion into this?"

Chen Gubai, whose lips were colorless, was startled into a shiver.

"Why are you so fierce?"

Meng Wan Yi, seeing the scene, felt heartache, nudged Chen Tongyuan and scolded, "You scared little Gubai!"

"He's just suffered such a severe injury, and you, as his father, show no compassion?"

Saying that, he pulled his beloved son into his arms.

He gently stroked the wounded spot.

"A loving mother often spoils her child!"

Chen Tongyuan sighed helplessly.

Compared with the son he had cherished and meticulously raised, he was far inferior to the current Chen Yan.

A trace of remorse involuntarily arose in Chen Tongyuan's heart...

If Chen Yan were to command the Weiguo Gongfu, given time, he could surely restore the glory that Old Master enjoyed.

Unfortunately, both sides have already escalated to a point of irreconcilable hostility, a life‑or‑death struggle.

"Father, calm your anger!"

Chen Gubai chose his words carefully and said, "My child originally intended to involve the Pingyang Marquis Mansion, using Tao Yunshi's hand to deal with that scoundrel Chen Yan!"

"Regardless of who wins or loses, even if both suffer, we would gladly watch it unfold and reap the profits..."

"Result... result..."

Saying that, he clenched his fist.

He recalled the scene of being brutally beaten by Tao Yunshi.

His eyes were filled with venomous resentment.

"What was the result?" Chen Tongyuan asked, brow slightly furrowed, puzzled.

Normally, his son's plan was good, the calculations were spot‑on, a perfect diversion of disaster eastward, using a borrowed knife to kill.

If it proceeded smoothly, they could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

But where did the near‑victory collapse?

"Midway, the Prince of Jin's heir burst onto the scene!"

Chen Gubai gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Not only did you give Chen Yan a beating from the Pingyang Marquis heir, you disrupted my child's plan..."

"And for some reason, the child who was spying in secret was discovered, and the Pingyang Marquis heir learned the truth..."

That hatred burned in Chen Gubai's heart!

How could Chen Yan be so lucky, entering the Tianlao Siyu without being torn apart, and even cozying up with a powerful minister, that's enough.

Yet this brilliant scheme let that damned bastard dodge a disaster again, and made me set myself on fire.

Can't Chen Yan just obediently die!

"You... are truly incompetent at accomplishing anything and excel at ruining things!"

Even though Chen Gubai only said half, Chen Tongyuan still pieced together the cause and effect and scolded.

Scheming against Chen Yan, only to have his own family drawn into the scheme.

How could he have produced such a fool?

No wonder Chen Yan laughed so happily!

"Old Master, please stop scolding Bai'er…"

Meng Wan Yi, seeing the situation, timely tried to smooth things over, "He also wants to vent his anger to relieve your worries!"

"Who let that Chen Yan bully others so excessively?"

With just a few words they try to shift the blame, pinning everything on Chen Yan.

"Yes, yes!"

"All because of that scoundrel Chen Yan!"

"The child also means well…"

Chen Gubai kept nodding, then echoed.

"Heh!"

Chen Tongyuan let out a cold snort, his anger rising, "Chen Yan, Chen Yan, Xie Jintang truly bore a fine son!"

"Again and again to kick the nose and raise the face—some can be endured, but this is beyond endurance!"

The last sentence, Chen Tongyuan almost shouted it.

The bastard‑born rebellious son riding on his head is something he cannot tolerate.

"Old Master, now Chen Yan is guarded by the overwhelmingly powerful Grand Tomb Steward; how shall we deal with him?"

Meng Wan Yi pursed her red lips, seizing the moment, "This resentment cannot be swallowed easily!"

Chen Tongyuan's mouth twitched with a cold smile, "That wretched thing actually reminded me…"

"What words?" Meng Wan Yi asked, puzzled.

"Also go find a patron…"

Chen Tongyuan grasped the woman's hand, gave it a gentle pat, and said meaningfully, "Our Duke of Wei mansion is now weak; we urgently need a patron!"

Chen Tongyuan knows well that, despite holding the duke title, he is only a Biaoqi General without actual power.

We must have a strong patron to support us.

"But Yuwen Hu, being the power holder who oversees military and civil affairs and the head of the imperial clan, who can stand up to him?"

"There is!"

Chen Tongyuan's gaze was firm, he said resolutely, "The late Old Master's friends, Grand Minister of Justice Zhao Qian, and Grand Minister of Education Dugu Zhao!"

"These two have long been dissatisfied with Yuwen Hu's autocracy!"

Night.

Chen Fu.

Shufang.

Chen Yan leaned against the chair back, staring at his hand‑drawn Chang'an power‑relationship map, when he heard Zhu Yi's voice from outside the door:

"Young Master, the Deputy Envoy Song requests an audience!"

Chen Yan was startled, "Lao Song?"

"Please let him in."

A moment later, Song Fei entered the Shufang, bowed to Chen Yan and said, "I have seen you, sir!"

"There's no outsider, no need for extra courtesy…"

Chen Yan waved his hand, his gaze still on the tangled diagram, and said casually, "Old Song, at this hour, what urgent matter do you have?"

"Nothing can be hidden from you, sir; indeed there is a pressing urgent matter!"

Song Fei, without further ado, took a document from his chest and handed it over, "Please have a look, sir!"

"Chen Tongyuan dispatched someone to contact the Duke of Wei, the Duke of Chu…"

Chen Yan took it, skimmed quickly, a curious smile curling his lips, "My father can't restrain himself; he's turning to those two veteran pillars!"

"Sir, do we need to do something?" Song Fei inquired.

"No need."

Chen Yan casually tossed the document onto the table and said lightly, "Just watch it…"

"Just observe the changes quietly like this?"

Song Fei narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the seated Chen Yan, and asked puzzled, "That's not like your usual style, sir…"

Chen Yan moved his neck, smiled calmly, and said evenly, "Old Song, do you think such a possibility exists…"

"Is this what I have deliberately promoted and facilitated?"

———

Seeking a free little gift and a five‑star review, (? ′? ‵?)IL???????