Chapter 9: Did you come back on purpose to torture Cijiu and humiliate my Chen Family?

Several Embroidered Uniform Envoys responded, lifting the torture devices up.

Each of these came from Chen Yan's strict selection.

After all, Chen Cijiu is his beloved younger brother, their bond deep; he must give him the best....

"You... you actually want to torture your brother?"

"You heartless, wicked wretch!"

Chen Tongyuan gazed at the dazzling array of torture devices, his eyes filled with disbelief, and he burst out cursing.

He never imagined Chen Yan's preparations could be so thorough...

What's more, he didn't expect this show of force to be mere bluster.

"Smack!"

Chen Tongyuan's words had not yet faded.

Chen Yan flicked his hand, and a Big Ear Seed landed on Chen Cijiu's face—"Ah!"

Chen Cijiu staggered from the slap, crying out as he fell heavily to the ground.

On his pale left cheek, a red palm print instantly appeared, strikingly conspicuous.

"A son may not strike his father, but I can strike your son!"

Chen Yan remained calm, blowing on his right palm and flexing his wrist, speaking nonchalantly.

He paused, looked up at Chen Tongyuan, and continued: "Duke of Wei, watch your mouth!"

"Endure in silence?"

"Sorry, Chen Yan doesn't have that habit!"

"Chen Yan, you've rebelled against heaven!"

Witnessing all this, Chen Tongyuan exploded in rage, feeling utter shame and humiliation, his inner fury surging straight to his Heavenly Spirit Cover.

This is provocation, naked provocation!

The next moment, reason collapsed under anger; he intended, as before, to step forward and slap Chen Yan, but the Embroidered Uniform Envoys on either side firmly held him, immobilizing him completely.

Chen Tongyuan, with nowhere to vent his fire, had no choice but to swallow it helplessly.

At that moment, looking at Chen Yan, he felt utterly alien—was this still the son he could easily push around and who used to endure anything?

"Administer punishment!"

Chen Yan had no mind to consider Chen Tongyuan's thoughts; he simply waved and uttered two words.

Zhang Wenqian understood, picked up a specially made silver needle, and hurried toward the target.

What a thick needle.... Chen Cijiu stared at the enlarged, thickened silver needle, his heart jolted, cold sweat pouring as he began to beg: "Don't!"

"Big brother, I am your own younger brother...."

"Ah!"

He hadn't even finished two sentences when Zhang Wenqian drove a specially made silver needle into Chen Cijiu's nail bed.

Instantly, a heart-rending, lung-splitting scream erupted.

Chen Yan, as if hearing heavenly music, strolled up to Chen Tongyuan, the corner of his mouth curling: "Duke of Wei, a mere fifty thousand taels is but a drop in the bucket for your Chen Family."

"How can you bear to watch your cherished son, held in your palms, suffer such a grave crime?"

Chen Yan laughed, extremely radiant.

It felt like basking in a spring breeze.

But in Chen Tongyuan's eyes, it was far from pleasant; this son was becoming increasingly alien to him.

In the past, he wouldn't dare to do such things, let alone even think of them.

Clearly the same person, why such a drastic change?

"Ah!"

"Father, save me!"

"It hurts so much!"

Chen Cijiu's anguished cries continued.

Having been pampered since childhood, when had he ever endured such pain?

"He is, after all, your own brother—blood thicker than water!"

Chen Tongyuan's eyes nearly burst, bloodshot, as he shouted angrily: "Unfilial son, how could you resort to such poisonous means?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan covered his mouth with a feigned look of sudden realization, speaking in a sarcastic tone: "So the Duke of Wei also knows what 'blood thicker than water' means."

"Those unaware might think it was someone else who reported me to the Tianlao."

"Moral blackmail?"

"That only works on people who actually have morals!"

"But unfortunately, Comrade Chen Yan has a little, but not much!"

"You... you knew all along?"

"Even if he had suspected it earlier, hearing it straight from Chen Yan's mouth still startled Chen Tongyuan a bit."

"How did he come to know?"

"This idiot, knowing it, why seek revenge instead of enduring in silence as before, swallowing even broken teeth?"

"Hahaha!"

Chen Yan burst into loud laughter, ignoring Chen Tongyuan's fluctuating expression, turning instead to the suffering Chen Cijiu and teasing: "My dear brother, your mouth is really tough."

"Come, there are plenty of torture devices I brought; let's experience them slowly...."

"Until you're willing to confess!"

Having said that, he picked up a spiked wooden clasp and casually tossed it to Zhang Wenqian.

Being tough-mouthed is good, Chen Yan just appreciates such an iron-bone, resonant tough guy.

Hold out a bit longer, and you'll get to play with one more torture device!

"You're extorting a confession!" Chen Tongyuan, who was being held down, struggled wildly and roared.

Just this one torture method—even if innocent, you can't withstand it and will confess.

Damned bastard!

"Dad!"

"Quick, save me!"

"Let my older brother stop!"

Both hands already bound into red pig trotters, Chen Cijiu cried with snot and tears, pleading heart-wrenchingly.

"Stop!"

Chen Tongyuan felt heartbroken, could no longer hold back, gritted his teeth and said: "Fifty thousand taels, right?"

"I'll give it!"

After saying that, all that remained was for the steward guarding the gate to go to the accounts office to fetch the silver notes.

"If you'd been this cooperative earlier, it would've been fine."

"It would also spare my good brother from suffering so much...."

Chen Yan nodded satisfactorily, putting on an act, and said: "Really makes one feel heartbroken!"

Saying that, he raised his hand and gave a light wave.

Signaling to release this father-son pair.

"Huh~"

"Huh~"

Having escaped disaster, Chen Cijiu slumped to the ground, gasping heavily.

"You okay?"

Chen Tongyuan stepped forward, took Chen Cijiu's hand, and asked concernedly.

"Dad, I almost died from the pain...." Chen Cijiu said with red-rimmed eyes, sobbing.

"What a touching scene of father-son affection!"

Chen Yan clicked his tongue, watching the scene with great interest.

He paused, then reached out to take the five 10,000-tael silver notes from the steward, smiling: "I'll gladly accept these five 10,000-tael silver notes...."

There's no jealousy or regret.

Still, gleaming silver makes one's heart feel refreshed and delighted!

Chen Tongyuan held Chen Cijiu's hand, glared at the wanton Chen Yan, and questioned: "Did you deliberately come back to torture Cijiu and humiliate our Chen family?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Yan had no hesitation and blurted: "You hit the nail on the head!"

"If you do the first, don't blame me for doing the fifteenth!"

There's nothing to be done—whether in the past or now, Chen Yan's vengeful heart is strong.

If he suffers injustice and anger and doesn't take revenge, he surely won't be able to sleep at night....

"I don't know what tricks you used to cheat your way into the position of Mingjing Mirror Keeper...."

Chen Tongyuan gave a cold snort, gritted his teeth, and said: "But today's matter is absolutely not over!"

"You'd better not even think about returning to the Chen family!"

Today's humiliation inflicted on him and his son must be repaid a hundredfold.

As for the position of heir to the Duke of Wei, you might as well forget about taking it back....

"A threat?"

"I'm so scared!"

Chen Yan heard that, raised his eyebrows slightly, covered his chest, and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

He paused, then continued: "Too bad, now I'm under the protection of the Grand Secretary!"

"If you have any objections, go to the Grand Secretary!"

Having said that, he greeted everyone and turned to leave.

"Sure enough, it's inseparable from him...." Chen Tongyuan slammed a fist into the ground, furious beyond control.

He had long guessed that Chen Yan could escape from Tianlao, even command the Mingjing Mirror Keeper's Vermilion Bird Guard, return to flaunt his power—must be connected to that man.

After all, only he has this ability....

It's all the fault of that damned slut woman!

Thinking of this, Chen Tongyuan's eyes were full of vengeful venom....

Chen Yan's steps didn't stop; he glanced back and said lightly: "Our grudge will certainly not end!"

"As for the Chen family, after my mother and grandfather passed, it's no longer my home...."

Chen Tongyuan punched the ground a few more times, began his impotent rage: "Damn it!"

"Unfilial son!"

Outside the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Chen Yan took out three 10,000-tael silver notes from his pocket, handed them to Song Fei, and said: "Old Song, I'll take two 10,000 taels, you and Old Zhang each get one 10,000 taels....."

"The remaining 10,000 taels will be divided among the brothers."

"Thank you, sir!" Song Fei reached out to take them, and everyone thanked in unison.

But the most excited were the embroidered-uniform envoys behind them.

Don't look at them splitting ten thousand taels among a group, just getting a small share, while the superiors eat meat and we still have soup to drink; before, there was no such good thing.

Following me, we've been busy all night; go back and rest early!

There's still more work ahead....

Chen Yan smiled faintly and waved his hand.

Yes.

Shuyi takes his leave.

Song Fei and the others immediately dispersed.

Chen Yan also led Zhu Yi back; on the return journey, noticing Zhu Yi's hesitant expression, he said, 'If you have any questions, just ask them directly....'

Zhu Yi hesitated repeatedly, carefully choosing his words, then asked: 'Young Master, with such a good opportunity and the Grand Chancellor as our backing, why did you let them off so easily?'