Chapter 580: An Expert at Lying with Eyes Open

The sunlight grew stronger, and warmth spread across the road.

The once crisp countryside shed its morning chill, leaving only the gentle rustle of wind through grass and trees.

Near noon, dust billowed in the distance, horse hooves beating like drums, tearing through the sky, accompanied by a few crisp "Giddy-up! Giddy-up! Giddy-up!" as a party on horseback galloped toward here.

At the head, the leader wore a dark Brothel, its hem fluttering with an imposing noble aura—it was Chen Yan.

Beside him followed Zhu Yi, Hongye, and the blue‑robed Yin Shizhi, with over ten embroidered‑armored envoys in close pursuit.

The party spurred their horses in a wild dash, momentum like a rainbow, and in an instant reached the formation.

Hua Liuchu had long ago noticed the commotion from afar, hurried to the old tree beside the road, where Liang Guan and Feng Heng were cross‑legged, sitting in the shade with eyes closed, recuperating.

Though still armored, a hint of laziness could not be concealed.

Hua Liuchu leaned forward, whispering, "General, the Grand General has arrived!"

Both snapped their eyes open, fatigue vanishing instantly, they exchanged a glance and simultaneously murmured, "Finally, it's here…"

Having said that, they rose, brushed dust from their robes, and hurried toward Chen Yan's party.

Chen Yan tightened the reins; the steed beneath let out a neigh and halted, and he dismounted.

Feng Heng and Liang Guan hurried forward, stood before him, cupped their hands in salute, and respectfully said, "We have seen the Grand General!"

As their words fell, the eight hundred provincial soldiers behind them aligned uniformly, faced Chen Yan, performed Dankui Guidi, and shouted in unison, "We have seen the Grand General!"

The wave of voices rang through the forest, full of reverence.

Chen Yan raised his hand, clasped his fists, gave the two a slight nod in return, and said with a familiar modesty, "Two esteemed elders, thank you for your effort!"

Liang Guan's face instantly lit with a friendly smile, he waved his hand, and in a bright tone said, "Everything was arranged clearly by you, Grand General; we merely follow orders, waiting here like bait, not a hardship at all!"

This interception of Xu Youwen, from tracking his movements to laying the route, was all coordinated single‑handedly by Chen Yan; they only needed to wait here, so it was hardly any effort.

"Indeed!"

Feng Heng, beside him, nodded in agreement, then raised a hand to point at the forest behind, saying steadily, "Grand General, the prey has been captured, tied and guarded in the rear woods, none missed."

Chen Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the distant forest encircled by soldiers, and said lightly, "Let's go and take a look!"

"Grand General, please!"

Feng Heng turned, made a gesturing of invitation, Liang Guan quickly followed, and the three walked side by side toward the forest.

Zhu Yi, Hongye, Yin Shizhi, and the embroidered envoys followed closely behind.

The eight hundred provincial soldiers still stood in formation, guarding with strict vigilance.

Deep in the woods, the light dimmed slightly; Xu Youwen and his family were tightly bound to a tree trunk with coarse hemp rope.

Both hands were bound behind, and the feet were also entangled, rendering them immobile.

Each had a tattered hemp cloth stuffed in their mouths, only able to emit muffled whimpers, their faces full of terror and despair.

Chi Yilan leaned against Xu Youwen, eyes reddened, tears sliding down her cheeks.

The gold and silver on the carriage had long been counted by the soldiers, packed into several large wooden crates, and placed nearby under guard.

Hearing footsteps, Xu Youwen jerked his head up, his gaze fixed on the forest entrance, seeing a party strolling in; the leader wore a dark Brothel, exuding extraordinary presence, his body twisting in struggle, and he emitted a sound, "Um um um!"

Chen Yan halted a short distance before Xu Youwen, his eyes lightly scanning the bound group before settling on Xu Youwen, and calmly ordered, "Hongye, remove what's in his mouth!"

"Yes!" Hongye responded, moving forward with crisp efficiency, grasping Xu Youwen's chin, giving a gentle tug, and pulling the torn cloth from his mouth.

Once freed, Xu Youwen inhaled sharply, opened his mouth and shouted accusations at Chen Yan loudly, his voice tinged with deliberate grievance and panic, "Injustice! I, the humble, am wronged!"

After shouting, he lifted his eyes toward Chen Yan, his gaze evasive yet still feigning composure, stubbornly proclaiming, "My family are law‑abiding good citizens, never having committed any illegal act; you bound us here without distinction and even seized our property—what is this for!"

At that moment Xu Youwen still clung to a sliver of hope, thinking that as long as he didn't confess, the other side might lack solid evidence and perhaps wouldn't dare act against him.

Liang Guan, standing nearby, saw his pretentiousness, rolled his eyes and barked loudly, "Xu Youwen, stop crying out there!"

Then he raised his hand, pointing toward Chen Yan, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Look closely, who is the one standing before you!"

Xu Youwen, hearing this, instinctively followed Liang Guan's finger, focusing his gaze on the Chen Yan before him.

He saw the other standing tall, with a handsome face, a dignified aura in his brows, the dark Brothel embroidered with hidden patterns, a jade pendant at his waist, an extraordinary bearing far from ordinary.

The more he looked, the more familiar the face seemed; a sudden image flashed in his mind, his pupils constricted, and he instantly recognized the person, his voice trembling with shock and fear, "Chen… Chen Zhuguo?!"

Who is Chen Yan? In Chang'an, no one does not know him.

Xu Youwen never imagined that those intercepting him were Chen Yan's men, let alone that Chen Yan himself would arrive; a bad premonition surged like a tide in his heart…

He vaguely sensed that his treason had perhaps been fully exposed, and instinctively shouted, "How are you here?!"

Chen Yan clasped his hands in front of his chest, looking at Xu Youwen's panicked state, a faint, slightly amused smile curling his lips, he slowly retorted, his tone gentle yet each word cutting, "I have just dealt with your son Xu You, and haven't I been rushing here without a moment's rest?"

Xu Youwen was drenched in cold sweat, his back already soaked, the clammy clothes clinging to his skin, exuding a bone‑chilling cold.

Staring at Chen Yan's icy gaze, his heart was a tangled mess of panic.

His former composure had long vanished, leaving only a survival instinct screaming wildly.

After much thought, he suddenly clenched his teeth, forced composure, his gaze involuntarily averting, and blurted at Chen Yan, "Chen Zhuguo! I'm wronged! Those deeds were done by my son Xu You, I have nothing to do with them!"

"I, the subordinate, know nothing of this; I hope you see through it and spare my family!"

His words fell, and he even bowed his head slightly, adopting a look of grievance and innocence.

As if he truly were a victim caught up in it.

Only his clenched fists revealed the turmoil within.

Xu Youwen knew that treason was a crime that implicated nine families, and only by shifting all blame onto Xu You might perhaps secure a sliver of survival…

Even if that chance was slim, he was unwilling to give up.

"Oh?"

Chen Yan clasped his hands before his chest, his gaze sharp as a blade, scrutinizing the man who would betray his own son for survival; a half‑smile curved his lips as he asked meaningfully, "Yet I don't think I've heard what exactly Xu You did?"

"Lord Xu, could it be that you can foresee the unpredicted, knowing what he has done, just to make you so eager to cut ties?"

The words struck like a heavy hammer, crushing Xu Youwen's heart.

It left him instantly speechless; he opened his mouth, but no words came, only a vague "I… I…"

His face turned even paler in an instant, his eyes filled with panic and embarrassment.

In his haste just now, he blurted out, forgetting that Chen Yan had never mentioned Xu You's crime.

This self‑incrimination instead proved he knew the inside story, rendering all his previous defenses futile.

Chen Yan shook his head, his eyes brimming with mockery, raised his hand and pointed at the family members under the guard's watch and the seized gold and silver, his tone calm yet each word cutting: "Even if we take a generous view and assume the deeds of Xu You truly have nothing to do with you, why did you hastily sell your assets, take your family, and flee Chang'an overnight?"

"If you are truly innocent, why such frantic panic?"

Xu Youwen felt a tight knot in his chest, cold sweat sliding down his temples, dripping onto his collar and spreading a small dark stain.

He forced himself to stay calm, his voice trembling unmistakably, he swallowed his pride and fabricated a pompous excuse: "It… it is because… because I have long sensed that Xu You's conduct is improper, that he may intend to commit a transgression, and I feared he would make a grave mistake that would bring disaster upon the family!"

"Chen Zhuguo, all of this truly was done solely by Xu You, and has nothing to do with me or the entire Xu clan!"

"I hope you see clearly and spare the lives of my family!"

Having said that, he even bowed slightly toward Chen Yan, lowering his posture to the extreme, his tone full of earnestness.

As if he truly fled Chang'an for the safety of his clan…

He completely forgot his own treasonous act, and also forgot that Xu You was pushed onto this path by his own hand.

Chen Yan, unable to hold back, clicked his tongue twice, "tch‑tch," his eyes even more mocking, his tone tinged with ridicule: "You're good at talking!"

"To survive, you dump all the blame onto your own son without a hint of fatherly feeling—aren't you afraid you've chilled his heart?"

"He even risked his life to buy you wealth and honor, only to become a scapegoat—how tragic and absurd!"

This is the ultimate audacity—finishing Cao's duck neck without gloves, not washing his hands, then heading straight to the mall, claiming to show them that money isn't easy to earn, and a Crayon Shin‑chan‑like figure appeared in the mall…

"I'm sorry, You'er…" Xu Youwen's heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, a sharp sting spreading, a flicker of guilt rising in his chest, but quickly suppressed by the will to survive, murmuring in his mind.

Immediately, he unflinchingly denied everything, shifting all blame cleanly, even straightening his back, assuming a righteous posture, and said confidently: "Chen Zhuguo, you are mistaken!"

"I am a subject of Great Zhou, living on the lord's stipend, bearing the lord's worries—how could I, for personal reasons, abandon my duty and shield a son who has committed heinous crimes?"

"All his actions were driven by greed for the riches promised by Qi State, and have nothing to do with me!"

"After I understood his intentions, I refused to go along with him, so I could only take my family away from Chang'an to avoid disaster, hoping not to be implicated, and I ask Chen Zhuguo to see my loyalty clearly!"

Standing nearby, Feng Heng could no longer hold back his laughter, and mockingly said, his tone dripping with contempt: "Xu Youwen, you truly have a silver tongue, your skill at twisting right and wrong is first‑rate, and your skin is as thick as a city wall!"

Liang Guan, standing beside him, nodded in agreement: "What a master of speaking blatant lies with his eyes open!"

In his view, this fellow surnamed Xu possessed an incomprehensible oddity between his ears, and a Hui dietary taboo on his neck.

Xu Youwen's whole body was limp, yet he clung to a final stubbornness, his bound form leaning slightly forward, his eyes blazing at Chen Yan, his voice trembling with sobs, still refusing to relent, pleading desperately: "Chen Zhuguo, you must believe me!"

At this moment he had lost his earlier composure, his tone full of humility and urgency.

Yet his gaze still held a trace of stubborn resentment.

Even with solid evidence, he remained as stubborn as a dead duck, refusing to admit, hoping this final plea might buy a sliver of survival…

Chen Yan, watching his obstinate demeanor, saw his mockery deepen, a half‑smile curling his lips, unwilling to continue entangling in this meaningless discussion.

Then, shifting tone playfully, he retorted: "Lord Xu, care to guess why this Duke's guild deliberately released you outside the city before ordering us to block and capture you here?"

"Th‑this… th‑this…" Xu Youwen muttered repeatedly, his heart sinking sharply, his already frantic thoughts instantly thrown into chaos.

A foreboding sense of impending disaster surged like a tide, flooding his mind, spreading down his spine, chilling his whole body, his limbs icy.

He had never considered why they were allowed to leave the city; only when Chen Yan mentioned it did he notice the oddity…

Yet the more he pondered, the greater his dread became…

He vaguely felt that what awaited him might be a fate even more terrifying than being taken back to Chang'an for trial!

Chen Yan smiled calmly and proclaimed loudly: "The Xu clan secretly colluded with Qi State, committing the treasonous crime of colluding with the enemy; after the incident they fled in fear of guilt, intending to defect to Qi State!"

"The Left Martial Marquis Guard was ordered to apprehend them, yet this scoundrel refused to confess, even trying to lead his family in resisting capture and counter‑attacking, stubbornly holding his ground…"

"In accordance with state law and to uphold the court's order, Xu Youwen and his accompanying family have all been executed on the spot by the Left Martial Marquis Guard!"

"No!"

"Chen Zhuguo! Lord Chen Yan!"

"Spare us!"

Xu Youwen collapsed instantly.

Feng Heng, standing nearby, instantly understood, his gaze turning cold as he turned to the eight hundred guards and barked: "What are you still standing around for?"

"Didn't you hear the General's command?"

"Yes!" the guards chorused, their shouts echoing through the forest, the previously taut nerves instantly relaxing, a flash of ferocity in their eyes.

Then, they each drew the Horizontal Blade at their waists and advanced toward the bound Xu Youwen and his family under the tree.

The crisp sound of the Horizontal Blade unsheathing sliced the forest's silence, bearing a chilling murderous intent that instantly chilled the surrounding air.

The sharp clatter of long swords falling rang out in succession, accompanied by Xu Youwen's scream, then quickly fell silent.

Only the gentle rustle of wind through trees and the gradually spreading scent of blood remained in the forest, a sight that chilled the heart.

Xu Youwen and his male descendants all collapsed in the pool of blood, lifeless.

The women, however, were left behind…

The guards sheathed their Horizontal Blades, lined up neatly beside, their faces expressionless.

Chen Yan placed his hands behind his back, his gaze drifting lightly over the corpses on the ground, his eyes showing no mercy, only a cold calm.

He turned to the eight hundred guards behind him, his tone softened a bit, speaking with a hint of compassion: "Brothers, you've worked hard…".

After speaking, he raised his hand and pointed at the nearby seized gold‑silver wooden chest, proclaiming loudly: "The Xu clan's assets, and the women, shall be divided among you brothers!"

The eight hundred guards' eyes lit up instantly, faces filled with excitement and joy, their previous fatigue melting away.

The gold and silver were a hefty sum; even a share would equal several years' pay, undeniably a tremendous boon.

Everyone hurriedly lined up before Chen Yan, bowing respectfully, shouting in unison: "Thank you, Great General!"

"The Imperial Academy student Xu You was a Qi spy, bribed by Gao Changjing, secretly plotting treason. At the appointed time, You suddenly rose, his blade aimed at the great scholar Lu Yuan of the Lu family in Fan Yang, intending to assassinate him."

The Founding Emperor, with keen discernment, illuminated the treachery, having stationed armored soldiers beside the school before the lesson. When the plot unfolded, the ambush troops emerged, capturing Xu You in the hall, thwarting the conspiracy, and Lu Yuan survived unharmed.

The late father Xu Youwen, fearing the crime would implicate him, took his clan and fled by night, planning to escape to the Qi lands to avoid execution.

The Founding Emperor, far‑sighted, recognized his treachery early, and beforehand ordered the Left Martial Marquis's guard soldiers to lie in ambush at the crucial pass of the thoroughfare. When Youwen arrived, the Rear Guard sprang out suddenly. Youwen, like a trapped beast, still fought, brandishing his blade to resist capture and harassing the garrison troops. The soldiers struck back fiercely, beheading Youwen before the ranks, and the rest of his party were all captured; none escaped.

—'Wei History'·Founding Emperor Wen Emperor Annals