Chapter 676: Chen Yan: What Do You Think You Are?

Inside a somewhat secluded Taoist temple in Chang'an, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng sat opposite each other, silent for a long while.

After a long while, Li Chunfeng slowly spoke, "Brother Yuan, I don't know why, but I suddenly have an ominous premonition."

Yuan Tiangang fell silent and said, "To be honest, I have the same premonition."

The two stared at each other, again looking at one another without words.

Now it's just the two of them.

It's not exactly busy, and when there's nothing to do they're fairly idle; because of the peculiar nature of the rogues, they actually don't have to worry much.

So they can still drink tea here.

However, whether busy or not, the matters that need attention still require attention.

For example, the temple they are staying in now is almost turning into a hidden gathering place for rogues.

That's quite distressing.

Li Chunfeng mused, "Do you think Mr. Chen might be thinking of us again?"

"Can't… be?" Yuan Tiangang hesitated.

He also really wanted to say that.

But it doesn't make sense.

These days Chen Yan and his group are extremely busy, with matters everywhere; the campaign against Tuyu Hun is imminent, and many preparations are nearing completion.

Those matters have nothing to do with them at all.

But recalling Chen Yan's past reckless schemes—making Li Chunfeng fetch the Imperial Jade Seal, sending them to command troops, and now having them deal with the rogues—

has turned them into a circus act!

Now Yuan Tiangang truly doesn't dare to be certain.

"How about… casting a divination?" Yuan Tiangang said.

He meant divining not about Chen Yan, but about themselves.

"Fine!"

Li Chunfeng earnestly agreed.

After deciding, the two immediately stopped hesitating, took out turtle shells, and instantly began the divination.

But just as Yuan Tiangang was about to toss out the copper coins, a surprised shout suddenly came from outside.

"Hahaha, Grand Historian, National Teacher, long time no see, I've missed you so much!"

Yuan Tiangang's hand trembled, and three copper coins flew out irregularly—one landed on the table, the other two on the floor.

Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang fell silent instantly.

At that moment, Chen Yan entered with a smiling grin, looked at the two sitting together drinking tea, and cheerfully greeted, "No wonder you're the Grand Historian and National Teacher, you seemed to have anticipated my arrival, even preparing tea already."

"Don't be so polite, who are we with whom?"

The two said nothing, merely gazing softly at the three scattered coins.

This divination… still needs to be cast?

When Chen Yan shows up, it's bound to be great misfortune!

"Why are you both silent?" Chen Yan, familiar as ever, sat down and asked, puzzled.

Li Chunfeng, weary at heart, closed his eyes.

You ask why we are silent?

Do we dare to speak?

"Sigh~" Yuan Tiangang sighed, "Mr. Chen, what brings you here today?"

"It's not a big deal," Chen Yan said with a grin. "I just want to go out for a spring walk, enjoy the breeze, and I realize I've been rather troublesome to you two in the past, so I'd like to invite you both to join."

"Is it really that simple?" Li Chunfeng asked, unable to hide his disbelief.

Chen Yan is that kind‑hearted?

Specifically taking them out for a spring outing?

Why does he doubt so much?

"Look, look."

Chen Yan pretended to be dissatisfied, "Trust? The trust built over many years? Loyalty? The camaraderie we've shared for so long?"

"So in your eyes I'm just that unreliable…"

"Enough!" Li Chunfeng raised his hand to interrupt, expressionless, "Mr. Chen, whether you're reliable or not, I think you know it yourself."

"Let me ask you one thing: this time is it really just a casual outing?"

Chen Yan shrugged, "What else could it be?"

"I've brought both my wives and my daughters along; could there be any pretense?"

Upon hearing that, the two immediately felt reassured.

Since they've brought the two Princesses and the little Princess, it must be a carefree outing for sure.

Chen Yan couldn't possibly be that unscrupulous, using his own wives and daughters to deceive them, right?

Yuan Tiangang instantly smiled, somehow produced a teacup, and poured a cup of hot tea for Chen Yan:

"Mr. Chen, you should have said so earlier."

"We've agreed to this, here, have some tea."

Chen Yan neither accepted nor declined, nor did he expose their thoughts, and gladly lifted the cup to drink.

"By the way, Mr. Chen, weren't you supposed to go treat His Majesty? Today His Majesty announced that the Crown Prince would act as regent, so why did you suddenly think of going out for a spring walk?" Li Chunfeng still harbored some doubt, quietly probing.

Chen Yan replied calmly, "Exactly because I need to treat His Majesty, that's why I want to go out for a spring walk."

"Otherwise, if I were away that long, would my Princesses be happy? I must spend time with them, don't you think?"

"Well......" Li Chunfeng always felt something was off, but he didn't know what.

Chen Yan's words sounded fine; there really seemed to be no problem, and the logic held up.

As for His Majesty Li Shimin being poisoned...... they were different from others; they did somewhat believe it.

They didn't want to know more than that.

After pondering it carefully for a moment, Li Chunfeng still felt nothing was amiss, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

They believed Chen Yan probably wasn't planning to trick them this time.

"Then I'll obey rather than show mere respect."

Li Chunfeng asked, "By the way, Mr. Chen, when are you planning to go out for an excursion?"

Speaking of that, Chen Yan said calmly, "You also know I'm about to leave; His Majesty's poison can't be delayed, so I plan to depart on the fifth."

"The sooner you go, the sooner you'll return."

"Just come to my house directly on the morning of the fifth."

"Sure, no problem." Li Chunfeng readily agreed.

The closer the time came, the more reassured he felt.

"All right, it's settled then—remember to come early, or I won't wait for you." Chen Yan said with a smile.

Those words completely dispelled Li Chunfeng's last lingering doubt; he clasped his hands and said, "Rest assured, since Mr. Chen has invited us, we will certainly be on time."

"Not bad!" Yuan Tiangang nodded slightly, "I just wonder where Mr. Chen intends to go."

"Isn't it the harvest season lately?" Chen Yan said with a grin, "I know a nice place with mountains, water, and farmland."

"We can just go see how the people's harvest is this year; what do you think?"

Upon hearing that, Li Chunfeng inexplicably felt a sense of indebtedness well up inside him.

It turned out Chen Yan really just wanted to go out and have fun, and even while playing he didn't forget to observe the people's conditions.

I actually doubted him like that—really inexcusable!

At that moment, Chen Yan seemed to feel he had stepped on something; he lowered his head, lifted his foot, and looked, saying, "Huh, how did a copper coin end up here?"

As he spoke, he noticed the turtle shell on the table, his expression odd, and said, "You two were just...... divining?"

Li Chunfeng said solemnly, "Mr. Chen, you know that I and Brother Yuan have no other hobbies; we just like to do a bit of divination, so you don't need to mind these things."

"Am I disturbing you?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, picked up the copper coin from the floor, and placed it on the table: "Look, it fell onto the ground."

"By the way, what did you divine?"

"......."