Chapter 617: Utilizing Value

Murong Yuan's whole body trembled violently, the iron chain scraped the Blue Bricks with a harsh screech, cold sweat mixed with blood from a split wound ran down his temples, smearing his face in a disheveled mess.

"No… don't!" he struggled desperately with his bound body, his wrists reddened from the iron shackles, yet he felt no pain, staring fixedly at Chen Yan's face just inches away, his voice trembling like a candle in the wind, "Minister, Chen Zhuguo! I… I still have use value!"

"I really do have use value!"

Yuwen Ze stood with his arms crossed beside them, looking down from above, his boot tip nearly touching Murong Yuan's hand lying on the ground.

He raised an eyebrow, his thin lips parting slightly, his tone full of unabashed contempt, murmuring the four words repeatedly: "Use value?"

He elongated the final syllable with a hint of amusement, then suddenly raised his voice, the rhetorical question sounding like ice‑forged: "You?"

"A traitor who colluded with the enemy, caught red‑handed, a worthless scum?"

"Right!" Murong Yuan seemed spurred by the retort, and also driven by a survival instinct that gave him a burst of confidence, answering resolutely.

He jerked his head upward, the wound at his temple tearing open another gash from the sudden movement, bright red droplets fell onto the Blue Bricks, mingling with the earlier water stains and spreading a larger dark blot.

He held his neck rigidly upright; even though his body was limp on the ground, his eyes conveyed a desperate, all‑or‑nothing urgency, and with measured emphasis he declared, "I truly still have use value!"

"It's no empty boast!"

"I ask the Minister and the Prince to allow me to explain in detail!"

Chen Yan had already straightened up, ready to turn and leave, but upon hearing that, his steps halted, and he turned back with interest.

One hand brushed the jade pendant at his waist, his fingertips tracing its warm surface, a half‑smile curving his lips, his eyes full of curiosity.

The previously indifferent chill faded a bit, replaced by pure curiosity, as if he were examining a rare novelty.

"Oh?" he elongated his tone, slowly squatting to meet Murong Yuan eye‑to‑eye, close enough to see his own reflection in the other's pupils, "Tell me, then!"

"I, for my part, want to see whether the 'value' you, treasonous rebel, speak of can outweigh your death sentence for plotting rebellion and spare your wretched life!"

Those words were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly igniting a fierce blaze in Murong Yuan's eyes—a hope that had nearly gone out but now flared anew.

He breathed rapidly, his chest heaving violently, the blue veins on his forehead throbbing.

Clearly he was weighing his words hastily, fearing that a single mis‑spoken character would cost him his chance.

Murong Yuan clenched his fists so tightly his nails seemed about to embed into his palms, his gaze blazing at Chen Yan, his voice trembling with excitement yet noticeably steadier than before, "Minister! That Qi State traitor Gao Changjing—he's still on the run, hasn't been captured yet, right?"

Chen Yan, hearing this, nodded without confirming or denying, his curiosity deepening, his fingertips still caressing the jade pendant, and in a flat tone he asked, "Yes, how so?"

"Gao Changjing is extremely cunning, having slipped away several times right under the watch of my Mingjing Office; who in the court and the realm doesn't know that?"

He paused, then continued, "So? Are you implying you can bring him bound before me?"

"I may not be able to bind him directly, but I can help the Minister set a trap to capture him!" Murong Yuan's eyes burned even brighter, as if clutching a lifeline, and he spoke at a rapid pace, fearing Chen Yan would interrupt him.

His voice rose slightly with urgency, carrying a desperate fervor: "I can aid you, Minister, by setting a heaven‑and‑earth net for Gao Changjing, luring him to reveal himself—what's called 'inviting the lord into the jar'—and ultimately snaring him like a turtle in a jar, eliminating a great calamity for Great Zhou!"

"Tsk!" Yuwen Ze clicked his tongue beside them, producing a meaning‑laden sound.

He crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow at Murong Yuan, his tone sarcastically laced, the mockery nearly spilling over: "What a huge calamity you're getting rid of!"

Murong Yuan, at that moment, was consumed by thoughts of survival, unable to hear any sarcasm in Yuwen Ze's words.

He took Yuwen Ze's comment as agreement, nodding rapidly, his head knocking against the ground with a "thud‑thud", eagerly echoing, "Exactly, exactly! The Prince is right!"

"That treacherous Gao Changjing must never be allowed to continue his misdeeds within Great Zhou's borders, further harming the Da Zhou People!"

Speaking thus, he turned to Chen Yan, his gaze full of pleading and hope, his tone resolute as if truly patriotic: "Minister, Prince! As long as Gao Changjing remains, Great Zhou faces a daily hidden threat!"

"I know my crimes merit ten thousand deaths, but if I can contribute to capturing Gao Changjing, I'll spare no effort, even to the point of sacrificing my liver and brain!"

"I hope the Minister and the Prince can grant me a chance to atone, to make up for my faults and redeem some of my sins!"

By then, Murong Yuan was nearly sobbing, his eyes blood‑shot, yet he forced himself not to cry, clenching his lower lip, trying to move the two before him with sincere appeal.

He knew this was his only chance; if missed, not only his own life would be in jeopardy, but the entire Guangling Prince's household would perish together.

Yet, watching Chen Yan's half‑smile, he felt the fledgling spark of hope in his heart being whisked by an invisible wind, hanging in mid‑air, neither rising nor falling.

Murong Yuan held his breath, awaiting Chen Yan's response, his fingers gripping the crevice of the Blue Bricks so tightly that even the sting of the dragging chain went unnoticed.

Suddenly, Chen Yan elongated his tone, a long "Oh—!" rolling from his throat.

The trailing note rose, carrying a hint of laziness and an indescribable playful nuance.

In the silent Shufang, it resonated, causing the lamp hanging from the beam to sway gently.

"So this is the 'value' you speak of!" The curve of his mouth grew more pronounced, a half‑smile, as if admiring an oddly timed yet oddly entertaining trinket.

His tone's light contempt was almost spilling over.

Murong Yuan seemed to receive great affirmation, hastily nodding vigorously, blood droplets from his temple splashing with his movements, blooming tiny blood spots on the Blue Bricks.

"Exactly! Minister, your insight is clear!" He moved forward eagerly, the iron chain scraping the floor with a harsh screech, his eyes full of hope, mistakenly believing Chen Yan was already swayed by his proposal, he added greedily, "If, Minister, you could use this matter to speak a few kind words for me before Your Majesty and the Grand Preceptor, to wash away some of my sins, I would be immensely grateful!"

"In the future, whenever the Minister sends me on a task, I will spare no effort, laying down my liver and brain, without hesitation!"

With those words, the Shufang fell into a brief silence, leaving only Murong Yuan's heavy breathing.

Immediately after, Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze, as if hearing a cosmic joke, burst into loud, simultaneous laughter.

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan's laugh was clear yet oppressive, while Yuwen Ze's was hearty and blunt, full of unabashed sarcasm; the two laughs intertwined, rattling Murong Yuan's eardrums.

The embroidered‑clad envoys exchanged uneasy glances, daring not to move, only bowing their heads to pretend not to see the absurd scene before them.

Murong Yuan, startled by the sudden uproar, froze, his face's color draining away by half.

The newly kindled hope was doused like water poured over his head, extinguishing instantly.

He stared blankly at the two men laughing wildly, his eyes full of bewilderment, his lips muttering, his voice tinged with timidity as he asked, "Minister, Prince, what are you two laughing at?"

He paused, then cautiously lifted his gaze, tentatively adding, "Could it be… that my proposal is somehow wrong?"

Chen Yan's laughter gradually subsided; he slowly raised his hand, lightly clapping his palms, each sound crisp and loud, as if striking Murong Yuan's heart.

"Yes, exactly right!" he said evenly, as if truly endorsing Murong Yuan's proposal, but as soon as the words left his mouth, his tone sharply shifted, the lingering smile vanishing, replaced by a blade‑sharp cold glare, and he added meaningfully, "However, to deal with that Gao Changjing, I have nine methods!"

"Each is cleaner and more efficient than your clumsy 'invite the lord into the jar', saving time and effort!"

【9】 "This… this…" Murong Yuan was completely stunned, his facial expression frozen as if struck by a petrification spell, his mouth opening but no word could emerge.

【10】 The arguments he had prepared were now all stuck in his throat, his mind a blank, leaving only boundless panic and bewilderment.

"This.... this....." Mu Rong Yuan was completely stunned, his facial expression frozen as if a petrification spell had been cast on him; he opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

All the excuses he had prepared were now stuck in his throat, his mind a blank, leaving only boundless panic and astonishment.

He never expected that the desperate plan he had devised would be considered so insignificant in Chen Yan's eyes, not even worthy of serious consideration.

Chen Yan looked at his speechless expression, gave a calm smile, his eyes cold yet with a hint of gentle persuasion, and asked slowly, "Murong Yuan, why don't you guess why I have continuously allowed that scoundrel Gao Changjing to leap about in my Chang'an City, yet never truly exerted any effort to capture him?"

He paused, raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone adding a touch of cunning, and continued, "Even the Grand Preceptor, from beginning to end, never once urged any matter concerning the capture of Gao Changjing..."

"You never considered the reason behind this?"

Murong Yuan, subconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva at the question, felt his heart race uncontrollably, a foreboding sense flooding over him like a tide.

He opened his mouth, his voice trembling uncontrollably, and asked instinctively, "W-why... why?"

Chen Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery, his tone playful, and he said deliberately, "Because, looking across the entire Great Zhou, there is no better scapegoat than Gao Changjing!"

Boom—!

Those words, like thunder on a clear day, exploded in Murong Yuan's mind, striking him as if hit by lightning, his whole body shuddering violently.

A bone‑piercing chill surged from his feet to the top of his head, forcing him to gasp a cold breath, his teeth chattering.

Every hair on his body stood on end; even though he was clothed, he felt as if standing naked in an icy wasteland, the cold searing his very marrow.

"Then... doesn't that mean earlier...?"

Murong Yuan's voice abruptly stopped, the remaining words strangled by an invisible hand, unable to continue.

His pupils suddenly contracted, his gaze filled with terror and disbelief.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant; the previously overlooked details now surfaced clearly.

Gao Changjing had been infiltrating Chang'an for several months, committing numerous heinous acts, each case shocking to hear.

Yet upon careful thought, although those deeds seemed rampant, they never truly shook the foundations of Great Zhou nor sparked major popular resentment...

On the contrary, after each incident, the blame could be deftly shifted toward Qi State, deepening the court and populace's hostility toward Qi.

More strangely, Gao Changjing acted each time with brazen confidence, as if he knew the Mingjing Office's pursuit routes, always escaping easily...

Sometimes, the clues he left were overly deliberate and pointed, making them seem somewhat unreal.

Previously, Murong Yuan thought Gao Changjing was merely too cunning and lucky, but now, after hearing Chen Yan, he suddenly realized the situation might be entirely different from his assumptions!

The evils Gao Changjing committed in Chang'an may have largely been scapegoats deliberately assigned by Chen Yan!

Chen Yan was never unable to capture Gao Changjing...

Rather, he intentionally let him go, even covertly "cooperating" with him, turning him into a pawn in his own hand!

A pawn used to shift conflicts, frame others, and even achieve unspeakable goals!

At this thought, Murong Yuan felt a chill rise from his spine, coursing through his blood, leaving his whole body icy.

Murong Yuan looked at the smiling, composed Chen Yan before him and, for the first time, truly sensed his terror.

The Chen Yan before him was no longer the Duke of Wei who rose through military merit and the Grand Preceptor's trust, nor the senior Pillar of the State who oversaw the Mingjing Office with ruthless methods.

He was an unfathomable schemer, whose meticulous plotting was hair‑raising.

He could manipulate an enemy state's treachery at his fingertips, turning the other side into a blade in his hand, a scapegoat bearing his own stain...

And all this, even the Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu tacitly approved, perhaps a scheme jointly set by the two!

Murong Yuan suddenly understood how laughably childish his previous scheming and self‑righteous plans were before someone like Chen Yan.

It was like a leaping clown, believing he controlled the whole board in a game already set by others, unaware that he had been a mere piece in someone else's hand from start to finish...

"Y-you..." Murong Yuan's lips trembled, his gaze scattered, his face full of despair.

Since Chen Yan could toy with Gao Changjing at his fingertips, his own so‑called "useful value" was probably insignificant in Chen Yan's game.

Yuwen Ze looked at Murong Yuan's disheveled state, a smile appearing on his face; folding his arms, he said with a hint of mockery, "What? Just now realizing?"

Murong Yuan snapped back to his senses, his eyes filled with terror as he stared at Chen Yan, his voice trembling with sobs, pleading again, "Pillar of the State... Pillar of the State, spare me!"

"I truly know I was wrong!"

He said this while desperately kowtowing, his forehead striking the Blue Bricks with a clatter, blood flowing, "I beg the Pillar of the State for another chance!"

"I am willing to be a Herd of Cattle or a Horse for the Pillar of the State, even a dog, gladly!"

Chen Yan lowered his gaze, looking down from his height at the prostrate, pleading Murong Yuan.

His eyes were as deep as an ancient well, unmoving; his gaze swept over the blood‑stained, tear‑marked face, the trembling shoulders, and the hand clenched on the Blue Bricks' crevice, knuckles white, as if inspecting a worthless relic.

After a brief silence, he suddenly spoke, his voice light yet bearing undeniable authority, "Tell me, do you think your relationship with me is closer, or Yuwen Ze's relationship with me is closer?"

The words floated lightly, yet struck Murong Yuan's heart like a heavy hammer.

His whole body shivered, the pleading on his face froze, his lips stammering, unable to utter a single word.

Indeed, what is he?

He is merely a prisoner in the lower tier, a traitor to the state; on what grounds does he think Chen Yan would grant him leniency?

And what about Yuwen Ze, whom he himself plotted against?

He is Chen Yan's brother, his comrade, a kin with whom one can fight side by side and entrust one's back.

There is no comparison between the two.

Murong Yuan's heart sank bit by bit, descending into a bottomless abyss.

Yet his instinct to survive still clung to a final sliver of hope; he lifted his head, bloodshot eyes, his hoarse voice like a cracked gong, "Pillar of the State... in honor of my father's face, grant me the Guangling Prince line, preserve a bloodline?"

The voice trembled with sobs and desperation, "My father once bled for Great Zhou, defending the borders, earning great martial merit!"

"I beg the Pillar of the State for mercy, spare the innocent children; they know nothing!"

"No!" Chen Yan's reply was categorical, leaving no room for negotiation.

Those two words, like a blade tempered with ice, instantly pierced Murong Yuan's final defense.

He stared at Chen Yan's cold, hard face, at those emotionless eyes, feeling all his strength drained.

He collapsed on the ground, his gaze scattered, unable to utter another word.

Chen Yan, too lazy to glance at him again, turned to Hou Mo Chen Xiao standing nearby, his tone indifferent, and ordered, "Take these four back to the Mingjing Office!"

"Shuyi, obey!" Hou Mo Chen Xiao bowed, clasped his fists, his voice resonant and forceful.

He turned his head and gave the embroidered‑cloak emissary restraining Mu Rongyuan and the other three a look.

The embroidered‑cloak emissaries instantly understood, responded in unison, increased the force on their hands, and dragged the limp, mud‑like Mu Rongyuan and his companions toward the exit of the Shufang.

The clanking of iron chains on the ground, mingled with the faint whimpering of Mu Rongyuan and his companions, gradually faded into the night.

Inside the Shufang, calm finally returned.

Chen Yan turned around, looked at Yuwen Ze standing nearby, and the chill on his face lessened, replaced by a hint of warmth.

He patted Yuwen Ze's shoulder, his tone caring: "A Ze, the remaining matters, hand them over to your elder brother to sort out!"

"You go back to the residence first, to stay with your younger sister‑in‑law…"

Yuwen Ze nodded, the hostility in his brows dissipated considerably, leaving only a trace of fatigue.

He knew that A Xiong was afraid for him, worried about his wife who was about to go into labor at the residence.

"Hmm." Yuwen Ze replied, his voice low.

Chen Yan looked at him, thoughtful, and added: "In a moment I'll send someone to your residence to invite Xi Er to the Jin Wang Fu!"

"With Xi Er there, you'll be much more at ease!"

Hearing that, Yuwen Ze felt a warmth in his heart, quickly clasped his fists, and said sincerely: "Thank you, A Xiong!"

Chen Yan raised his hand, placed it on Yuwen Ze's, gave a light pat, and a faint smile curved his lips: "My own brother, saying that sounds formal!"

He paused, his tone growing more solemn: "Your younger sister‑in‑law is about to give birth; for the next few days stay at the residence and watch over her…"

"The official duties you have, I'll temporarily take over for you, so rest assured!"

Yuwen Ze felt moved, his eyes slightly warm, gave a heavy nod, and replied: "Hmm."

"Then I'll head back to the residence first!" Yuwen Ze clasped his fists again, his tone tinged with urgency.

His heart raced homeward like an arrow; he longed to fly back to the residence and stay by his wife's side.

Chen Yan waved his hand, his tone relaxed: "Go! Take care on the way."

Yuwen Ze no longer lingered, turned and headed out of the Shufang: "Cangfeng, let's go!"

"Yes!" Lu Cangfeng nodded, quickly following.

The two figures soon vanished into the heavy night.

Inside the Shufang, only Chen Yan and Zhu Yi remained.

He walked slowly to the window, opened it, and the night breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, brushed his face, dispersing the lingering scent of blood and the oppressive atmosphere in the Shufang.

He looked up, gazing at the waning bright moon on the horizon, his eyes deep, thoughts unreadable.

Late night.

The lingering summer heat had not fully faded; the evening breeze, tinged with a hint of warmth, silently swept over the eaves.

Deep within the Mingjing Si, a sealed stone chamber, candlelight flickered, casting a cold, hard glow on the surrounding green‑stone bricks.

The interior was sparsely furnished, with only a low table, two wooden chairs, and a pot of still‑warm clear tea on the table, its steam curling, creating a rare tranquility.

Ye Jingjie sat upright at the table, his handsome face bearing the gentle refinement of a scholar, yet also a seasoned composure.

At that moment, he lifted his tea cup, gently blew the tea leaves floating on the surface, his movements unhurried, as if entirely unaffected by the recent blood‑rain and foul wind at the Guangling Wang Fu.

The stone door of the chamber gave a soft "creak", breaking the silence.

Ye Jingjie's heart stirred; looking up, he saw a tall, slender figure emerging against the light, its dark robe shimmering with a muted sheen in the candlelight.

A jade pendant at the waist swayed lightly with each step, producing a crisp sound.

The newcomer was Chen Yan.

Ye Jingjie promptly set down his tea cup, rose, bowed in a formal salute, his tone steady: "I present myself before the Pillar of the State!"