Chapter 590: A Huge Surprise

After Li Chengqian's explanation, Crown Princess Su still couldn't understand.

After all, it sounded too terrifying, unprecedented and unheard of.

If a noble family could casually produce that much money, then what does it matter that Chen Yan, as Crown Prince and Minister of Revenue, quarrels daily with many high officials over tens of thousands, at most a few hundred thousand strings of cash?

Li Chengqian didn't expect the Crown Princess to understand, because anyone who has never truly known the people of the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes can never imagine their depth.

"Zi An, brother, tell me, right now, is everyone waiting for the results of the Imperial Examination?"

After a while, Li Chengqian posed this question.

Chen Yan nodded, "It's inevitable. This year's Imperial Examination will have a greater impact than anyone imagined."

"The current calm is merely building momentum for the final moment."

"Of course, it's also possible that once the results are out, whatever is meant to happen will happen."

"It's hard to explain clearly."

He paused at this point, "Enough, let's not talk about this any more."

"I came today to tell you something."

Li Chengqian was startled, as if he realized something, and fell silent.

Chen Yan stared at him and said, "Yesterday, His Majesty couldn't wait any longer, seized all of the Wei King's former troops, and didn't spare even Du Chuke, Du Ruhui's younger brother."

"The interrogation results are in, regarding the poisoning of you..."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian and the Crown Princess both grew nervous, the latter clenching her fists.

Fearing the answer might not be what they wanted.

If that were the case, it would be bad for everyone thereafter, making continued coexistence difficult, and the consequences unimaginable.

"Wei King Li Tai truly was unaware until now."

When Chen Yan finished his last sentence, Li Chengqian and the Crown Princess both exhaled in relief.

Li Chengqian remained silent for a while, then sighed, "This is actually a good thing; at least I no longer resent Qingque. No one wants to see such events happen."

"Father Emperor will not spare those people; since Qingque was unaware, let this matter drift away with the wind."

"Further probing is now meaningless."

"You do seem rather open-minded," Chen Yan said in surprise.

"What good is it not to be open?" Li Chengqian whispered, "Putting aside whether Qingque truly didn't know, even if he did know, or even arranged it, can I really take severe action against him while I'm otherwise untroubled?"

"Zi An, brother, I lack Father Emperor's boldness, and I haven't been forced into that situation; I also don't want to abandon my feelings."

"To speak plainly, if I ever ascend the throne, being a contented, conservative ruler would truly satisfy me."

"I've experienced the beauty of family bonds and understand the value of friendship, so even if this matter involves Qingque, I probably wouldn't do anything to him; I'd likely just ask Father Emperor to keep him away from Chang'an."

"Hearing you say it's unrelated to him now makes me genuinely happy, truly."

Chen Yan clicked his tongue, stood up, approached Li Chengqian, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said earnestly, "Don't be afraid, Cheng Qian brother, I'm here!"

"I'll help you! Really!"

Hearing those incredibly familiar words, Li Chengqian felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.

Sigh~

No matter how many times Li Chengqian heard this sentence from Chen Yan, it inexplicably made him feel at ease.

It was like when he was young, being held in Empress Changsun's arms, fearing nothing.

Because he knew his mother would protect him.

"...... I know, I've always known!"

"......"

On the way home, Chen Yan this time didn't ride a carriage; he walked slowly, strolling, not as hurried as before.

It had been a long, long time since he had walked alone like this.

Now, walking through the crowded throng, Chen Yan's heart settled, and his mind thought of nothing.

All worries were cast behind his mind.

However, as he passed a tea house, a familiar shout suddenly rang out.

"Mr. Chen, long time no see!"

Chen Yan halted his steps; even without turning, he guessed who it was.

In this world, only Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng address him as "Mr.".

Moreover, those two elusive Taoist priests always manage to meet him in various places.

Chen Yan turned around.

Sure enough, Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang sat at a small table in front of the tea house, smiling brightly at him.

Chen Yan shook his head and laughed, "I ask you both, why do you always find me like this? Can't you just come straight to my door?"

"It's not that we don't see you."

"That's where the surprise comes from, right?" Li Chunfeng, like an old child, winked at him, "On life's road, after crossing thorns, you must encounter more surprises; otherwise, it's too tiring!"

"So you both came today just to give me a surprise?" Chen Yan walked over, sat beside them without hesitation, and poured himself a cup of tea.

"No, no!"

Yuan Tiangang slowly shook his head, "The path Mr. Chen walks is not one we can interfere with. Yet we have some premonition that your surprise is about to arrive."

Chen Yan nodded, "I actually have a premonition too; would you like to hear it?"

The two were startled together.

"Why aren't they following the usual script?"

Li Chunfeng: "Mr. Chen, please go ahead."

"I sense that a huge surprise is also happening to both of you recently!"

Li Chunfeng: "......"

Yuan Tiangang: "......"

Li Chunfeng appeared somewhat startled and uncertain; because of Li Yuwan's matter, he always felt Chen Yan was off, as if he could calculate yet not as if he could calculate.

Just like a prophet.

Now Chen Yan suddenly said inexplicably that a surprise would happen to them, and it would be a massive surprise; instead of feeling happy, an inexplicable unease welled up inside him.

Li Chunfeng asked, "Mr. Chen, could you be more specific?"

"No problem!" Chen Yan replied cheerfully, "I plan to assign you to guard a silver mine in the Wa Kingdom, because that area has almost been surveyed, His Majesty has also dispatched his own Mysterious Armor Army, which has already seized the territory."

"I intend to have you stay there for a long period, until the Tang Dynasty resolves the border trouble and conquers the Wa Kingdom."

"So for the long time ahead, you will be paired day and night with a huge silver mine."

"Do you think this counts as a huge surprise?"

Both: "......"

Yuan Tiangang glared with dead‑fish eyes, "Mr. Chen, is this a damn premonition?"

"Isn't this just treating us as a joke?"

"You two still have the nerve to speak!" Chen Yan said irritably, "Who has your cryptic chatter?"

"Your words are as deadly as life itself; you tell me there's a surprise but don't tell me what it is—aren't you just teasing me?"

"......"