Chapter 507

After a very friendly discussion lasting more than an hour, the sixteen scholars that Yuan Qi had selected all found suitable placements.

They hadn't even had time to leave the gate before Chen Wuji's men took them to their respective offices, where they first got to know the aides and familiarized themselves with the upcoming tasks.

"Huff, you're really tiring, Qin Feng, you little bastard, wait for me!" Chen Wuji took a sip of tea, as usual greeted Qin Feng who had let the pigeons go, then continued flipping through the documents sent from each county and each bureau.

He has been busy with many things lately, so the documents have naturally increased.

……

In the blink of an eye, half a month's time flew by.

During this period, Chen Wuji was almost completely buried in piles of documents and various miscellaneous affairs. Days suddenly became extremely orderly: early morning meetings and document reviews, at noon chatting and joking with Qin Zhanhong and Xiao Yuji, then continuing the routine in the afternoon.

In such days, his only variable was occasionally going to Taohua Yuan to have tea with Zhang Xiuer.

However, up to now, they have still been just having tea and chatting.

Although Zhang Xiuer's recent behavior has become increasingly clear in expressing that intention, Chen Wuji rarely retreated; he didn't know Zhang Xiuer's identity and dared not deepen the interaction.

He wanted to help Zhang Xiuer, but at this time her identity was like a fog; she deliberately kept things vague, leaving Chen Wuji with no way to start and unable to ascertain her true feelings.

Amidst these busy and fulfilling days, a military report from Guangyuan State arrived before Chen Wuji—a handwritten letter delivered by fast horse from Xu Zengyi.

In the letter, Xu Zengyi told Chen Wuji that his layout in Guangyuan State was complete, about to close the net and recover Guangyuan State, asking Chen Wuji to grant him authority to command Chen Wu Yin's cavalry, and also to order Yang Tiejiang's troops to march out of Qing County to serve as a distant deterrent.

Chen Wuji finished reading the letter and scratched his head for a long time.

Ordering Yang Tiejiang to send troops is simple.

This elder has recently been doing two things: supervising the construction of a barracks capable of housing twenty thousand troops, and training the six thousand new recruits who have just joined the camp.

But embarrassingly, the cavalry of Chen Wu Yin that Xu Zengyi cares about most, Chen Wuji now cannot find where it is.

Since giving Chen Wu Yin absolute autonomy, this kid has remained in a semi‑missing state, sending Chen Wuji a letter about every half month to report what he has been up to recently.

He has never disclosed his exact location; one can only guess a rough range based on the matters he reports.

After pondering for a while, Chen Wuji really couldn't think of a good plan, so he could only write to Xu Zengyi informing him of the approximate area where Chen Wu Yin had previously been active, letting him figure it out himself.

"Eleventh Uncle!"

Chen Wuji called out, and after Chen Li came in, he handed the finished letter and the military token to Chen Li, saying, "Send a few capable personal guards to deliver this letter to Wuyi City and hand it to Mr. Xu."

"Yes!"

Chen Li responded with a sound, then hesitated slightly and said softly, "Family Head, would you like to find some time to write a letter to a few ladies? We've been in Hezhou for some days now."

"I have written them; Eleventh Uncle, no need to worry about this." Chen Wuji said with a smile.

After arriving in Hezhou, his correspondence with Huo Sanniang and the others has never been interrupted.

However, these letters all go through Qin Zhanhong's channel; Chen Li and the others are simply unaware of it.

As for the letters written by Huo Sanniang and her companions, Chen Wuji also dares not let those personal guards handle the delivery.

Out of concern for his safety, any letters or packages delivered to Chen Wuji, although Chen Li and his team will not open them to read the contents, they will carefully inspect everything inside the packages.

Huo Sanniang and her companions have now all learned to be mischievous, always liking to slip other items into the packages; if the personal guards saw them, it would be trouble.

Chen Li had just stepped out when Qin Zhanhong's head appeared at the window.

She leaned against the window, holding two candied hawthorn sticks in her hands, her big eyes misty as she gazed at Chen Wuji, deliberately opening her mouth wide, lightly sucking on the candied hawthorn, slowly eating it.

Chen Wuji instantly felt a vein pop on his forehead, "Living ancestor, this is the office!"

"I just seemed to see Qin Feng and Li Run in the city." Qin Zhanhong suddenly said.

Chen Wuji jumped up, snatched the horizontal blade hanging on the wall, and shouted, "Where are those two little bastards? Damn it, having reached Hezhou City, they didn't even come see me first."

"Taohua Yuan!" Qin Zhanhong laughed.

"Huh? They came to Hezhou City and first ran to Taohua Yuan?"

"Seems so."

"Damn it!" Chen Wuji flared with anger, grabbed his knife and rushed out.

"If he doesn't chop Qin Feng and Li Run into a few pieces today, he won't play with Qin Zhanhong for three days."

Chen Wuji led a murderous crowd and rushed to Taohua Yuan.

Everyone in this place, from top to bottom, is now very familiar with Chen Wuji, the Lord of Hezhou; whether maiden or servant, they bow from afar.

"Just now two scholars arrived, one looking like a silly goose, the other with a smug face and carrying a sword—where did they go?" Chen Wuji stopped a servant and asked.

"Reporting to the Commandant, it seems they're at the Listening Rain Pavilion!"

Chen Wuji's teeth clenched in anger, "Fine, fine, you sure know how to play—coming in and pointing at Miss Ruo Su, right? You two little bastards, your grandfather's here!"

"Eleventh Uncle, take people to guard the entrances and exits of the Listening Rain Pavilion and the wall tops—don't let those two things get away!"

Chen Li laughed and nodded.

He knows some things are impossible, but the Family Head's orders must be carried out.

Chen Wuji strode into the Listening Rain Pavilion, knife in hand, radiating killing intent.

The servant stopped by Chen Wuji, seeing this scene, shrank his neck and hurried to the backyard to find Zhang Xiuer.

Upon reaching the Listening Rain Pavilion, as Chen Wuji stepped through the small gate, he heard Qin Feng's smug, overly self‑satisfied voice—this fellow was actually composing poetry in couplets.

Looking further ahead, that fellow was actually holding Miss Ruo Su's hand by the lotus pond, composing poetry in couplets.

"Old Qin, your grandfather's here—come, look this way!"

Chen Wuji's face bore a feral grin as he strode over.

Seeing Chen Wuji suddenly rush out to kill him, Qin Feng blinked in surprise, "No way, are you a bloodhound? I've just arrived in the city!"

"Have you forgotten who's in charge of Hezhou City? If I didn't have a few eyes, how could I manage this mess? Stand there honestly and let me slash you twice—then we'll call it even. Otherwise, you'll likely lose a few bits, and I'll let you choose which ones to lose!" Chen Wuji shouted with a feral grin.

Qin Feng hurriedly raised his hand, "Like this, first hear me out with a couple of excuses!"

"Come, you say, the opportunity to speak will definitely still be given to you; I see what you can quibble out." Chen Wuji raised the knife and waved it, gesturing for Su to step aside first.

Ruo Su, just at the age of her coming-of-age, is cute and lovable.

She simply didn't understand what had happened; anyway, she was frightened and honestly hid to the side.