Chapter 356: Take the Money, Then Do the Work

This familiar person, with a familiar tone, left Xu Lianyue momentarily at a loss for words.

She immediately, embarrassed and angry, said, "What does 'hook up' mean?"

"You make it sound as if I have a thing with the Princess, when she is your wife."

"Could it be that I said it wrong?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow. "You didn't hook up with Gao Yang, so why would she, in order to help you, go so far as to anger me?"

"Who would believe that you two have nothing going on?"

Xu Lianyue, irritated, was about to argue with Chen Yan, but in a daze realized she seemed to have been led astray.

As before, no matter her mood, Chen Yan could always say a few words that made her angry, then made her happy again.

Only… now they are no longer the same as before.

The two have each started families; she is married, and he has also taken a wife.

More importantly, Xu Lianyue felt that Chen Yan was testing her.

He wants to know why Gao Yang helped him.

Xu Lianyue said quietly, "Sir, let's discuss the matter at hand. I heard this morning that a workshop here caught fire; we should first handle the aftermath and reduce the loss."

"Us?" Chen Yan's mouth twitched upward. "It seems Miss Xu quickly assumed a certain status, not only using honorifics but also subconsciously aligning herself with my side."

"However… Miss Xu need not worry; aside from the two guards who sadly died, it's just an insignificant workshop, not worth mentioning."

Chen Yan paused, then with a hint, said, "Of course, if Miss Xu is interested, this matter can be handed to you. After all, you immediately took charge of the white wax trade and also a portion of the silk trade; you have to earn respect."

"This can serve as a small test for you. What do you think?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Ma Zhou and Du Gou both frowned, their gazes toward Xu Lianyue turning somewhat serious.

Xu Lianyue, hearing Chen Yan's address, felt her heart throb painfully; she strained to conceal the surge of emotions in her eyes and silently nodded.

"Alright!"

"Then it's settled!" Chen Yan immediately decided, "Brother Du, you will arrange this matter."

Du Gou gave a strange look at Chen Yan and Xu Lianyue, and gave an assent.

With the discussion concluded, Chen Yan left without lingering.

To be honest, his feelings toward Xu Lianyue were still quite complicated; when he first crossed over in the third year of Zhenguan, his impression of Xu Lianyue was:

A rather perfect wife.

At that time, Chen Yan's mindset hadn't shifted yet; his face was covered with delicate bruises—how could he endure that?

With the original owner's feelings influencing him, he fell in love all at once.

Unfortunately, it was love for nothing.

Because of a single "matching families" remark, Xu Lianyue married a sickly fool without hesitation.

Chen Yan could both pick up and put down; on their wedding day he personally presented a congratulatory gift, and thereafter, aside from occasional visits to deliver items or chat like a normal friend, he had no further thoughts about Xu Lianyue.

"Miss Xu!"

After Chen Yan left, Du Gou politely said, "Later, you can come to Xianlya to find me. Regarding the workshop matter, Brother Chen has already made a rough arrangement; I will hand the rest over to you."

"Of course, those details are unimportant; what matters is the subsequent impact."

"Brother Chen values reputation in this regard; we don't want the populace to develop a bad opinion of our Government's workshop because of this, or spread idle gossip."

"Understood." Xu Lianyue mustered herself and replied solemnly.

"Alright, see you later."

Du Gou left a final remark and then departed.

Meanwhile, Chen Yan immediately returned to Xianlya, fetched a sheet of stationery, and began writing a letter.

After finishing, he arranged for someone to bring Li Shimin's Imperial Token to him and send it to the Imperial Palace.

Du Gou and Ma Zhou had expected Chen Yan to have other plans, but unexpectedly, Chen Yan plopped down and began pouring tea for himself.

Du Gou, puzzled, said, "Brother Chen, aren't we going to investigate the arsonist?"

"What's the use of finding the arsonist?" Chen Yan replied unhurriedly, "If we look, we'd be looking for the forces behind it."

Du Gou choked, "Sorry, my words were inappropriate. Shouldn't we investigate which faction is coveting the silk?"

"Can we find out?" Chen Yan retorted, "Didn't you hear Ma Zhou say it was handled cleanly, leaving no clues?"

"No!" Du Gou exclaimed, "Then we just don't bother?"

"Who said we wouldn't?" Chen Yan declared confidently, "Didn't I send a letter to the Imperial Palace?"

"Last time His Majesty took so much money from us, we can't just do nothing, can we?"

"With so few of us, what could we possibly uncover?"

"When it comes to investigations, it has to be people under His Majesty's command!"

Du Gou: "......"

Ma Zhou: "......"

The two were truly speechless.

If you say Chen Yan is wrong, it seems he's not.

After all, investigators under His Majesty need no introduction; they're certainly a notch or more above these half‑baked Xianlya officials.

The problem is, we cause trouble, do nothing, and then toss it back to His Majesty.

Is that right?

Usually the procedure is that we try first, and if there's little result, we report up the chain, right?

But you skipped the whole process and reported straight to the top?

Seeing the two's hesitant expressions, Chen Yan said irritably, "The child is being bullied; why should the elder just stand by?"

"Don't forget, last time His Majesty took tens of thousands of strings of cash from us; you think that money was free?"

"When trouble arises and we do nothing, he still expects the child to support him?"

When that was said, Du Gou and Ma Zhou were instantly persuaded.

Exactly!

It's several hundred thousand guan!

Can we take this money for free?

His Majesty must come to investigate!

In Ganlu Hall, Li Shimin had just finished discussing state affairs with a group of core ministers, and seeing that time was near, he was about to go find his empress for a meal.

But he halted because of a letter delivered by Wushe.

"Did Zi An send it?"

"Yes, the Marquis of Weinan just sent someone to deliver it, and this morning the Marquis of Weinan seemed to rush back to Weinan County..." Wushe replied.

"Hmm? Bring it forward, let me see!"

After reading the letter, Li Shimin suddenly lifted his head, squinted, and a murderous intent spread.

He had a huge share in the silk trade of Weinan County.

Rather than saying it was Chen Yan's business, it was more his.

But now, his workshop has actually been burned down?

"Wushe!"

Li Shimin slowly set the secret report alight on a candle flame, then casually tossed it into the bronze basin beside the desk.

"I am here!" Upon seeing Li Shimin's expression, Wushe knew trouble was coming.

"Notify Li Junxian and Li Daozong; I don't care what methods they use, within three days they must find out which household acted!"

"Once we find it, we will turn the enemy into..." Li Shimin's words halted abruptly.

He seemed to recall something, laughed, and changed tack: "After we find it, send the news to Zi An."