Chapter 231: Chen Yan: I Quite Like It Too

Chang'an, Weinan County, Xianlya.

Fang Yizhi and Du Gou were handling paperwork, while Chen Yan idly poked at the little dent on the table.

Hey— this rain doesn't know when it'll stop; I'm bored.

Du Gou, hearing that, set the paperwork down and said helplessly, "Brother Chen, since you're bored, why don't you help us with some paperwork?"

"I've seen you picking at it for ages, and I still don't know what you're picking at."

"You want me to handle paperwork?" Chen Yan's eyes widened. "Then what's the use of you two clerks?"

Du Gou's head filled with black lines, and Fang Yizhi chuckled, "Brother Du, could it be that you still don't understand Brother Chen's temperament?"

"Let him pick away; don't disturb him."

Chen Yan: "......"

Who says my temperament's the problem?

Du Gou pursed his lips, recalled this morning's incident, and said, "Hey, what do you think that eight-hundred-li express dispatch this morning was about?"

Weinan County is not only a hub for grain transport but also the first stop east of Chang'an, so it must have a relay station to ensure the delivery of documents, the movement of officials, and military communications.

The express dispatch this morning covered eight hundred li; the envoy had even changed horses in Weinan County, so they naturally knew about it.

"Probably a flood," Chen Yan said lightly. "It's been raining for so many days; even our area has been severely affected, let alone regions with even more rain."

"But His Majesty should have a response plan, so we needn't interfere further."

Flood?

Du Gou and Fang Yizhi were startled; the former recalled the matter Chen Yan and Li Shimin discussed at Cai Duke's residence.

The latter was puzzled, but Fang Yizhi wasn't one to ask many questions; when Chen Yan said no need to meddle, he naturally didn't want to worry further.

Weinan County has accumulated so many affairs that he can't even finish his own work; where would he find time to worry about other matters?

"Brother Chen, could you say a few more words about this?" Du Gou asked tentatively.

"Enough," Chen Yan stroked his chin. "If my guess is correct, His Majesty has probably already begun the netting, so let's talk after everything's over."

"Alright," Du Gou said, a bit disappointed, but he didn't press the issue.

After all, he actually knew quite a bit as well.

Then the room fell silent again; Chen Yan kept picking at the table, while Du Gou and Fang Yizhi continued handling paperwork.

But Chen Yan's tapping grew louder; Du Gou endured for a while, then finally couldn't stand it any longer. "Brother Chen, if you're idle with nothing to do, why not go home and sleep?"

"I must quickly finish these documents for Brother Fang, otherwise once the rain stops I fear I won't have time to help."

"Brother Fang can't handle it alone."

Chen Yan withdrew his hand gloomily, "Fine, never mind; I won't pick at it any more."

"Hm?" Du Gou asked, puzzled, "Don't you usually love slacking off and going home to sleep a big nap?"

"Why let you go home today, yet you don't want to go?"

"Ugh, don't bring it up!" Chen Yan's expression was indescribable. "Didn't I bring those three things of Cheng Chu Mo home?"

"In the end, those three things keep getting busier day by day, jumping around all the time. Princess Gao Yang lately—who knows what's wrong—has been in a terrible mood, and I..."

"Lord Bo, Lord Bo!"

Before the words finished, a few urgent shouts came from outside.

Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Yan was startled, got up, and opened the door.

"Xiang Lan, why are you here?"

Xiang Lan turned around, and upon seeing Chen Yan began to sob, "Lord Bo, please return home with me; Princess is ill, now running a high fever that won't cease, and has already slipped into unconsciousness."

"Please go home quickly and save the Princess."

"...... What on earth is that?!" Chen Yan blurted, getting angry at the words.

"Then go, what are you waiting for?"

"Lord Bo, the umbrella..." Xiang Lan began to hold an umbrella for Chen Yan, but Chen Yan suddenly ran straight past her and out.

"Oops—!" Xiang Lan stamped her foot in haste and hurried after him.

Only Fang Yizhi, Du Gou, and a few low-ranking officials were left, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"......"

Princess Gao Yang's illness caused the entire County Magistrate's office to descend into chaos.

Only when night fell and the rain eased did calm gradually return.

Princess Gao Yang had a nightmare: in it, Chen Yan married Li Lizhi, and on the wedding day she watched with her own eyes her husband take vows with another.

Unlike when Chen Yan married her before, during the ceremony with Li Lizhi both faces beamed with happiness.

Numerous guests offered beautiful blessings.

She could only hide in a corner, like a mouse spying on their happiness.

From then on, Chen Yan gradually stopped quarreling with her; no matter how much she scolded, he never retorted, and no matter how she acted wildly, he no longer accompanied her as before.

At some point, Chen Yan would always ignore her, only showing a smile when he saw Li Lizhi.

Later, her wish to have a child never materialized; instead, Li Lizhi gave birth to a pair of twins for Chen Yan.

The family lived happily each day, while she became a redundant person.

In the dream, Gao Yang felt she was going mad, her jealousy driving her insane.

She brandished a knife, pressing it to Chen Yan's throat, demanding why he deceived her and why he made those false promises.

"Why!"

"Why did you deceive me!"

On the bed, a sweating Gao Yang whispered repeatedly, while Chen Yan looked up in confusion.

Then Gao Yang suddenly sat up straight, and upon seeing him roared, "You bastard, why did you deceive me!"

"Huh? Why are you lying to me?!!"

"....... What did I lie to you about?" Chen Yan was stunned.

He couldn't understand what nonsense Gao Yang was suddenly doing.

After the howl, Gao Yang gasped for breath, glanced around, and at Chen Yan under the bed who seemed to be washing his feet, gradually coming to his senses.

"So it was a dream......"

"What are you muttering?" Chen Yan frowned.

"Besides, what did I lie to you about?"

Gao Yang was a bit embarrassed, "No... nothing."

"Crazy!" Chen Yan retorted, then continued massaging her foot.

A tingling, numb sensation rose from the soles, and Gao Yang couldn't help letting out a soft whimper.

"You... what are you doing?"

"Just massaging your foot to dispel dampness." Chen Yan didn't even lift his head; his gaze was partially hidden by a strand of hair across his forehead, looking extremely serious.

"You've had a high fever all day; it must be because the recent rains have brought too much dampness into your body."

"You need to take good care of yourself these past two days; Xiang Lan is going crazy today as well."

Gao Yang twitched her foot, but found she couldn't move it, and her expression became somewhat unnatural.

"Y-you, let go of me."

"A grown man washing a woman's feet—if an outsider saw it, they'd have no idea what to mutter behind your back."

"This is our home; who would see?" Chen Yan said indifferently, "Besides, I wash my wife's feet, not a stranger's—who would dare say anything?"

"Well... that still isn't okay."

"Why not? Sigh, you talk too much; just tell me whether you like it or not."

Gao Yang's fair neck flushed a shade of red in an instant, feeling the comfort from the soles, and she sincerely nodded.

"Like... I like it."

"Hmm, I quite like it too."

Gao Yang:???

"......."