Chapter 453: Yan

Cui Xuan left, startled and uncertain; the matter went too smoothly, and he couldn't quite believe it.

He doubted Chen Yan was playing himself.

He walked a short distance away, turned back to glance, saw Chen Yan holding the little girl while eating, pondered for a moment, yet still couldn't understand.

"Fine, go back and explain the whole process plainly to the clan elder, let them fret."

Cui Xuan shook his head and left the Duke of Yi's residence directly.

On the other side, Sizi tilted his little head up, quite proudly saying, "Brother, I'm clever, right? I understood your meaning in an instant."

"Exactly, exactly, the Little Princess of Jinyang is the smartest!" Chen Yan chuckled, pinching the kid's nose, "Much smarter than Princess Chengyang and Li Xin!"

The kid tilted his head, seeming unsatisfied with the answer, "What about Princess Changle and Princess Gao Yang?"

Chen Yan: "......"

"Hehe...... you should ask them yourself, I don't know."

Sizi, hearing that, shrank his head, "Then never mind, I'm afraid they'll beat me."

Chen Yan gave them a cold stare.

Knowing they'll beat you and you still ask?

At this moment, Sizi added, "Brother, I feel that that young master Cui is being deceived by you."

"Hmm?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "How do you know?"

"Because you were laughing so happily." The kid counted on his fingers, "The first time you laughed like that, my two older sisters were tossed around by you, fighting over everything, and in the end you left both wives barren. After that, every time you laugh like this, someone ends up unlucky; last year at Mother's birthday banquet, Fourth Imperial Brother was almost driven to death by you, and could only swallow the bitter result."

"Also in daily life, during your tenure, who knows how many people you've doomed."

"Among them, my two older sisters are the worst; they say privately, when Yan's child smiles, life and death become unpredictable."

"Anyway, I saw you smile today, so that young master Cui is probably in big trouble."

Chen Yan, momentarily losing composure, gave them a brain‑splitting blow, "What's this 'Yan's child smiles, life and death unpredictable'? I think you're the one saying that!"

"Your two older sisters have an idiotic brain to say that!"

Sizi opened his little mouth and gave a wry smile.

"Hehe~"

"Old Chen, how's it going?" At this moment, Cheng Chumo and Yu Chi Bao Lin returned.

They sat down and immediately asked.

Chen Yan shook his head, "Nothing, just as expected; in a way, it's still a good thing."

"Not a good thing." Cheng Chumo, somewhat worried, said, "There were too many people today, and since you were so young when you were made a Duke, you've already attracted a lot of attention. Just now, when you were chatting casually with that Mr. Cui, many people were watching."

"Never mind what you talked about, who knows how the news will be spread tomorrow."

"My father has been reminding me lately to be clever in Chang'an, and never get too close to the aristocratic families. That Mr. Cui looks like a complicated person; don't mess it up."

Yu Chi Bao Lin said gravely, "Why don't we go home and call the old man, inform them first, so that if anything happens no one is left without backup."

If you ask what skill a second‑generation top‑ranked noble in Chang'an must master, it's certainly calling "Dad!"

If trouble arises, no problem, I can call "Dad!"

In this world, there are few matters that the fathers of these young masters cannot resolve.

However, Chen Yan didn't want Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong and the others to intervene, and declined Yu Chi Bao Lin's suggestion.

"Don't worry too much, our Emperor isn't the type who takes everything at face value."

"What difference does it make even if we get involved?"

"His Majesty might even enjoy it."

Cheng Chumo and Yu Chi Bao Lin hesitated briefly and stopped urging.

They knew their own abilities well; in terms of wit, Chen Yan outdistanced them by miles.

And having known each other so long, they had long cultivated the habit of trusting Chen Yan.

Since he said it's fine, it must be fine.

Immediately after, Chen Yan and Sizi ate calmly, their moods untouched by Cui Xuan's arrival.

Chen Yan didn't think the aristocratic families only used such petty tricks; Cui Xuan's arrival was probably just a simple preliminary test.

They also would never think that some circulating rumors could sway Li Shimin's judgment.

Everyone knows that Li Shimin is a particularly special emperor, whose bearing and tolerance far exceed ordinary people's.

Looking through history, many say the saint's heart is unfathomable, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, but Li Shimin is not.

He is a man with unparalleled confidence in himself.

For example, when a minister got drunk, Li Shimin, unbothered, gave his own dragon robe for the person to cover themselves with.

Li Shimin flaunted his calligraphy, asking who wanted it; the ministers scrambled to snatch it, and one minister accidentally sat on the dragon throne; Li Shimin didn't blame him, but instead covered for him.

In Li Shimin's view, even if you wear the yellow robe and sit on the dragon throne, it's not yours if it isn't truly yours.

What can a tattered shirt and a broken chair represent?

What does it matter if Chen Yan chats with guests at a friend's banquet?

It's such a trivial matter!

"Alas, I have no idea when this banquet will end; I'm still waiting to cause a ruckus at the bridal chamber."

"How dare you!"

Yu Chi Bao Lin glared, "How the hell dare you cause trouble at my sister's bridal chamber?"

"That's tradition!" Cheng Chumo said, stretching his neck, "If this part is missing, the grand wedding isn't complete."

"I don't care about completeness; you still can't cause a ruckus!" Yu Chi Bao Lin snorted, glanced at Chen Yan, then added, "Besides, old Chen married twice, and I never saw you cause trouble then."

"I..." Cheng Chumo said, at a loss for words.

Dammit, whose the hell would dare cause a ruckus in the two Princesses' bridal chambers?

"Forget it, forget it, I'm too lazy to talk to you." Cheng Chumo waved his hand disinterestedly, "Old Chen, what are your plans now, going straight back to Weinan County tomorrow?"

"No, I need to stay in Chang'an for a while; if you want to go back, go ahead," Chen Yan said lightly.

"You're not going back..." Cheng Chumo hesitated a moment, his interest waning, "Then let's not go back either; after all, His Majesty's recruits haven't arrived yet, and we've been given some time to rest, so let's hang out in Chang'an first."

Chen Yan looked him in the eyes and suddenly said, "Hmm, staying in Chang'an is right; if you dared to leave, Aunt Cui would probably get angry."

"What would she be angry about?" Cheng Chumo asked, puzzled.

"If you leave, how would she find a wife for you?"

Cheng Chumo:???

He was stunned for a while, then suddenly realized, "No way?"

"Why not?" Chen Yan retorted, "Now I'm married, my children are born, Lao Qin is also married, Aunt Jia is expected to hold a grandson next year, do you think Aunt Cui isn't eager?"

"What the hell!"

Cheng Chumo suddenly felt it made damn much sense.

Yu Chi Bao Lin scratched their head, feeling they should be about the same as Cheng Chumo.

The two fell silent for a while, exchanged a glance, and hung their heads dejectedly.

What are we supposed to do now?

"......."