Chapter 610: You Call This What?

Huh??

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were bewildered, and they raised their heads blankly.

Isn't it?

This leap is a bit too big, right?

We two are just fortune‑telling Taoist priests; first you sent us out to fight as bandits, and now you want us to investigate a case.

No!

Can you two, the father‑in‑law and son‑in‑law, find us work that matches our abilities?

"His Majesty, it's... it's not that I am unwilling to agree," Yuan Tiangang hesitated, then said, "It's just that the two of us have never investigated a case and know nothing about it."

"It's fine, you can learn it; I believe in your abilities!" Chen Yan said from beside.

Li Chunfeng twitched the corner of his mouth.

We don't even have that much confidence in ourselves, and you just believe it?

Not giving them a chance to refuse, Chen Yan cleared his throat and continued, "Anyway, I think this affair is showing signs of something wrong everywhere; floods breaking out and grain prices rising aren't surprising, and many grain merchants will use this to make ill‑gotten money."

"But according to the reports coming up, Luoyang's grain prices are continuously rising, with an accelerating trend. Moreover, His Majesty hasn't received any news yet, and the grain merchants involved are probably many; otherwise the price wouldn't rise so fast."

"Even... it could very well be a collusion between officials and merchants to earn ill‑gotten money."

Chen Yan said, solemnly, "Grand Historian, National Teacher, please both of you make sure to investigate Luoyang's exact situation and see who is behind this mischief."

Both: "......"

You've already arranged everything for us.

What else is there to say?

Li Shimin replied, "Indeed, Zi An is right; this matter is entrusted to you two, and you must not disappoint me."

"In a moment, I will have Li Daozong come to hand over to you; set out with your men as soon as possible."

"But you must remember to act in secrecy; do not make a big show."

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng sighed helplessly.

These two father‑in‑law and son‑in‑law sang in harmony, arranging everything plainly for them and giving them no chance to refuse; it seems they have been singled out.

Naturally, they have no right to refuse; they can only rise, bow, and accept.

"His Majesty, rest assured with the Duke of Wei; we will not fail the trust placed upon us!"

"Hmm, very good," Li Shimin said contentedly. "You two go out first, wait outside, and I will summon Li Daozong here."

The two read the room well and immediately withdrew.

After they left, Li Shimin said irritably, "In such matters, don't involve wealthy merchants; you may gather their funds in advance, but regarding disaster relief, you must never involve them."

"Combine your second and third approaches, allocating a part of the disaster relief funds to each area; this way the Ministry of Revenue's pressure will be lighter."

"As for the bad guys... I will first see how Yuan Tiangang and his group perform this time, then decide."

Chen Yan replied, "As long as His Majesty decides, I have no objections."

"You... sigh, never mind, I'm too lazy to argue with you," Li Shimin waved his hand, "Get out, get out, you too, get out and prepare supplies; tomorrow at court we'll finalize this matter."

"Alright, His Majesty, I'm off then~"

Chen Yan had just wanted to chat with Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang, and upon hearing this, he immediately stood up and took his leave.

As soon as he left, Li Shimin's expression darkened, "Go summon Li Daozong to the palace and say there's an urgent matter!"

"By the way, have Ke Ming, Fu Ji, Xuanling, and that Country Squire Wei Zheng come to see me!"

"Yes, His Majesty!"

"......"

Stepping out of Ganlu Hall, Chen Yan saw Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng, and immediately walked over with a grin, "How's it going? Guys, I found you a decent job, didn't I?"

"Let me tell you, His Majesty really values the bad guys, spending countless resources to build them up."

"As long as you do well this time, the bad guys will be under your command from now on."

Yuan Tiangang, his face blackened, finally couldn't hold back, "Mr. Chen, just because we two said something about you, can't you give us a proper job?"

"We are Taoist priests, fortune‑tellers!"

"Tell me, what is this thing you do every day called?"

"What on earth were you thinking, making us investigate a case!"

Li Chunfeng said nothing, but from his faint gaze, Chen Yan saw a meaning similar to Yuan Tiangang's words.

"Don't rush, don't rush!" Chen Yan clasped the two's shoulders, speaking earnestly, "We've known each other for two years; have I ever set a trap for you?"

Li Chunfeng counted on his fingers, "In the fourth year of Zhenguan, I endured countless hardships searching for the Imperial Jade Seal, spitting blood countless times, and was besieged by armed men. If Brother Yuan hadn't arrived in time, Xue Li and I would have already met the King of Hell."

In the fifth year of Zhenguan, you sketched a big pancake, and Yuan brother and I drifted at sea for several months, day after day gnawing on that pancake, and we got no benefit; the reputation you speak of... we never saw.

"This year..."

"Alright, alright!" Chen Yan hurriedly covered Li Chunfeng's mouth, "Grand Historian, that's enough, really enough; saying more would be impolite."

Yuan Tiangang interjected, "Mr. Chen, you don't seem to have any manners either."

"Ouch!" Chen Yan said with a heavy heart, "Why don't you two trust me?"

"What about the years of friendship? The trust?"

"What about the good relationship between us?"

"You make me so sad!"

Li Chunfeng brushed off the remark, "Mr. Chen, could you stop this performance?"

"To be frank, if you just asked us to plant rice, we'd have agreed, but sending us after the bad guys... aren't you just playing?"

Chen Yan stopped upon hearing that, ceased joking, and said seriously, "The bad guys really suit you; I could even say you were born for this role!"

"Besides, in the past two years I haven't been setting traps for you, have I?"

Recover the Imperial Jade Seal, bring back Champa Rice—what isn't a great achievement?

Which isn't also a good deed that benefits the nation and its people?

Grand Historian, National Teacher, the court is corrupt, the landlords and aristocrats are rampant, His Majesty needs you, the common folk need you.

Both of them covered their heads.

Damn, it's started again.

Yuan Tiangang sighed, pondered for a moment, then suddenly felt something, frowned and said, "Mr. Chen, when you say we are born to do this, what exactly do you mean?"

"There's no special meaning; I just think you're well suited for this," Chen Yan said matter‑of‑factly. "Likewise, I also believe you can do it well."

"Is that so?"

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng exchanged a glance, then immediately produced a turtle shell and a compass to cast a divination for themselves.

The two stared at the settled hexagram, looking at each other, their eyes full of doubt.

"So, how about it, you two?"

Chen Yan couldn't understand, but it didn't stop him from feeling that their resistance was waning.

Yuan Tiangang, puzzled, said, "Strange, why does even the hexagram show that we are indeed well suited to go after the rogues?"