Chapter 589: You Xian Rushes to Report the News

Chang'an.

Mid-May.

The dawn hue barely spreads across the sky, tinting the Duke of Wei's mansion with a hazy warm light.

The copper bell at the eave still sits in morning dew; when the wind passes, it emits a faint crisp chime, startling yet not breaking the courtyard's silence.

In the bedroom of the east wing, the window lattice is half‑closed, blocking most of the incoming daylight.

The brocade quilt on the couch is loosely gathered; Chen Yan rests his head on a cloud‑patterned pillow, his lashes fluttering slightly as he slowly opens his eyes.

He tilts his head slightly and sees Qingyu curled beside him.

The little maid is petite and delicate, barely 1.67 m tall, yet her figure is curvily striking.

Her black hair falls like a waterfall onto the plain brocade pillow, framing an egg‑shaped face as white as jade; long lashes hang, still trembling lightly as she sleeps deeply.

Chen Yan shifts his body, intending to sit up, and the quilt on the couch rustles softly.

"Hmm?"

Qingyu beside him is disturbed by the slight noise, a soft, mellow chirp escaping her throat; her lashes flutter, and she awakens.

She rubs her watery apricot eyes, her vision still a bit blurry, looks at the figure sitting up beside her, still drowsy, and asks in a soft voice, "Young Master, you're finally awake?"

Chen Yan turns his head to look at her, sees her eyelids still battling, looking utterly sleepy, and can't help but let out a low laugh.

He extends his hand, his fingertip gently brushing her perky nose, and in a warm yet teasing tone corrects, "Little maid, we're already married; you should call me husband..."

Qingyu nods dizzily, like a docile kitten, her soft voice still wrapped in lingering sleep, "Yes, husband..."

Hearing this, Chen Yan's smile deepens; he lifts his hand to rub her fluffy black hair, his palm feeling the softness of the strands, and says affectionately, "That's the way to be good!"

Qingyu seems to recall something; her watery apricot eyes widen slightly, she looks up at Chen Yan and asks softly, "Husband, are you getting up now?"

"Let me help you loosen your clothes!"

She says this while trying to prop herself up to sit.

She is naturally curvy; with this movement, the collar of her nightclothes loosens slightly, revealing a delicate patch of skin, further highlighting her balanced figure.

Seeing this, Chen Yan quickly presses his hand on her shoulder, smiling as he shakes his head, "Alright, alright, look how you can't even open your eyes; just keep sleeping!"

"I'll dress myself!"

Qingyu is pressed back onto the pillow by him; a sweet smile curls at the corner of her lips, and she replies with a gentle smile, "Thank you, husband."

Before the words finish, she curls back into the quilt, buries her head in the pillow, and after a moment her breathing becomes long and even, clearly drifting back into sleep.

Chen Yan watches her entire lying‑down process, his gaze lingering on her curvy figure; his Adam's apple rolls involuntarily, and he silently admires, "This little Qingyu is truly becoming more tumultuous..."

He paused, sized up the petite maid before him, and thought, "When a woman lowers her head and her toes vanish, she is a peerless beauty; his Chen Diao Temple truly does not deceive me!"

With that thought, he leans down and places a gentle kiss on Qingyu's smooth forehead, moving so lightly as to fear disturbing her pleasant dream.

Then, he steps off the bed quietly and walks to the screen.

A maid had already prepared regular attire behind the screen, neatly folded; the dark fabric is embroidered with subtle Qilin patterns.

Chen Yan deftly changes into the robe, his movements smooth and unhesitant.

A moment later, fully dressed, the dark robe outlines his upright figure; a jade belt cinches his waist, further accentuating his tall posture.

He pushes open the door, and a fresh morning breeze rushes in, carrying the sweet scent of May locust blossoms.

The maids standing outside hear the sound, quickly bow their heads and bodies, and together salute, their clear yet unpretentious voices saying, "Pillar of State!"

Chen Yan's steps falter slightly; he glances back toward the bedroom, sees the figure behind the window lattice still curled quietly, and lowers his voice to instruct the maids, "Madam retired late last night; let her continue resting, and do not enter to disturb her sleep."

The maids reply in unison, "Yes, Pillar of State!"

Chen Yan nods, turns, and strides toward the courtyard.

At this moment, the courtyard is bathed in bright dawn light.

Sunlight filters through the gaps in the foliage, scattering mottled shards of gold.

Several old locust trees stand in the courtyard; their blossoms drift down in a carpet, soft and spongy underfoot.

Chen Yan stands in the courtyard center, loosens his muscles and joints, then raises his hand, bends his knees, turns his body, and slowly begins the Five Animal Play.

His movements are graceful and fluid, each posture exuding steady power.

Tiger Play is vigorous, Deer Play is agile; when he reaches Bear Play, he wraps his arms around his body, his torso sinking slightly, mimicking the bear's steady heft, moving with a grounded gait.

Chen Yan looks up at the sun on the horizon; the sunrise has leapt over the roof ridge, golden light bathing the entire mansion.

He ponders silently, murmuring, "Later I'll go to the Left Martial Guard's Training Ground to practice the horse spear."

At that moment, a rapid yet orderly footstep sounds comes from outside the courtyard gate.

From the corner of his eye, Chen Yan catches a striking flash of red; looking up, he sees Hongye in a sleek outfit, cradling a cold‑glinting Long Sword, her posture as upright as a pine, stepping briskly forward.

She steps to the courtyard center, folds her sleeves and bows, her clear, crisp voice breaking the silence, "Pillar of State, You Xian, Mirror Officer, requests an audience!"

Chen Yan's movements do not cease, still following the Bear Play pattern, and upon hearing it, a low murmur escapes his throat, "Lao You?"

As he turns, he switches to another form; the previously steady, heavy stance now gains a hint of agility, and he calmly says, "Let him come forward!"

"Yes!" Hongye replies, turns, and briskly walks toward the courtyard exit, her red garments fluttering, soon disappearing behind the Drooping Flower Gate.

But after a brief moment, a dark silhouette steps forward in the morning light.

You Xian wears a dark regular attire, a jade belt at his waist, and walks hurriedly.

Reaching Chen Yan, he bows deeply, respectfully saying, "May I see the Pillar of State!"

At this point, Chen Yan has shifted into the Monkey Play, his body agile as a monkey, climbing, swinging, leaping, and bounding, each movement flowing like clouds and water.

He glances at the bowing You Xian, a smile curling his mouth, and asks, "Lao You, why this early morning, instead of going to the Mirror Office, did you rush to my mansion?"

"In such a hurry?"

You Xian straightens, his expression unusually solemn, a weight of seriousness in his brows, and in a deep voice says, "Pillar of State, I believe there is news that you must know at once!"

"Oh?"

Chen Yan's movements remain uninterrupted, the Monkey Play becoming ever more agile; hearing this, his curiosity is piqued, his eyebrows lifting slightly, and he asks with a hint of amusement, "What news could make you, Lao You, rush here so urgently?"

"Speak, I'm listening!"

Lao You did not hesitate at all, and blurted out, "The Kirin Talented Scholar will enter Chang'an in five days!"

"The Kirin Talented Scholar?"

Chen Yan murmured those four words, and as he spun, his Ape Play technique folded, turning into the lightness of Bird Play.

He raised his arm and spread his sleeves, his figure drifting like a flying bird; hearing that, he couldn't help teasing, "Surely it's not some Kirin Talented Scholar who can obtain the world at will?"

His words fell, and he laughed aloud lightly.

The laugh was bright, shaking the locust blossoms on the branches, which fluttered down.

Lao You, however, solemnly nodded and said gravely, "Exactly!"

He looked at Chen Yan, a hint of puzzlement flashing in his eyes, pondering that the Kirin Talented Scholar had only recently risen to fame in the Jianghu and court of the Liang Kingdom, so few should know of him, and couldn't help asking, "Minister, have you also heard of this person?"

When Lao You gave his affirmative reply, Chen Yan's outstretched arm suddenly halted, and the Bird Play technique stopped abruptly.

Immediately, the smile on his face vanished in an instant, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes, and he blurted, "So it really is that Kirin Talented Scholar?!"

He never imagined it would match exactly the title of that popular female web novel…

Chen Yan restrained his expression, his aura suddenly becoming steady and sharp; he raised his hand to wipe the thin sweat from his temple, his gaze fixed on Lao You, his tone solemn as he ordered, "Lao You, tell this Duke in detail about the whole affair…"

Lao You, hearing this, slightly nodded, paused briefly as if weighing his words, then looked at Chen Yan, his voice solemn and each word clear, "The Kirin Talented Scholar is called Mei Renbi, the lord of the Jiangyou Alliance in the Liang Kingdom's Jianghu; it is said he is rich enough to rival a nation, with countless talented and extraordinary subordinates!"

Chen Yan lowered his gaze, his fingertips lightly brushing the jade belt buckle at his waist, and inwardly he was startled, "Mei Renbi?"

"Isn't he called Mei Changsu?"

He had assumed the title and surname would be identical, but unexpectedly it was a completely unfamiliar name.

Nevertheless, upon careful thought, even Old Monk Xiao of the Liang Kingdom, however muddled, could not have done something that destroys the elite.

He even raised a hundred thousand Iron Cavalry in Yunnan…

With that thought, he lifted his eyes toward Lao You, his thin lips slightly pursed, and calmly ordered, "Continue speaking!"

"Yes." Lao You replied, his expression growing even more solemn, and in a deep voice continued, "This so‑called Kirin Talented Scholar is not a hermit who has been in seclusion for years, but someone whose fame has only recently exploded…"

"What made him famous was his aid to King Xiao Ji of Badong, clearing the unjust accusations he suffered, and by his own power he maneuvered the political currents of the Liang Kingdom, ultimately helping Xiao Ji to be granted Yizhou!"

"Now the King of Badong is a powerful vassal prince of the Liang Kingdom, commanding heavy troops and holding a region!"

Chen Yan, having heard, slowly nodded, a hint of approval in his brows, and smiled lightly, "With that said, he does have some ability…"

To help an unjustly accused prince turn his fate in such a short time, and also enable him to wield real power, is not the work of someone chasing empty fame.

He shifted his tone, his brows slightly raised, his gaze as sharp as an eagle, and asked gravely, "Then why does this Kirin Talented Scholar, abandoning the wealth and power of the Liang Kingdom, come to Chang'an of Great Zhou?"

Lao You's eyes flashed with a deep glint, as if perceiving some secret, he stepped forward half a pace, lowered his voice and replied, "This time he comes at the invitation of the King of Guangling…"

"King of Guangling?" Chen Yan murmured the title, a flash of surprise flickering in his eyes, then a half‑smile curved his lips, his tone tinged with amusement, "The sole Former Yan Imperial Clan member among the Eight Pillars?"

The King of Guangling, Mu Rongyuan, the eldest legitimate son of Mu Rongxin—one of the former Eight Pillars—who inherited the title after his father's death.

In recent years he has acted low‑key in court, never showing his hand, and even did not partake in the treason of Dugu Zhao and Zhao Qian…

No one ever linked him with the word "ambition".

Chen Yan pondered briefly, his tone growing more profound, with a hint of cold insight, "I truly hadn't realized this fellow is also restless!"