Chapter 69: I

The situation outside is a bit tense, but the household is still relatively peaceful.

Chen Wuji's reinforced front gate remains tightly shut, with faint, hazy lights visible in the courtyard.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, "Wife, You Wei, I'm back!"

A crack opened in the gate.

The first thing that appeared wasn't the charming faces of Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei, but a spear tip.

The moment that thing sprang out, Chen Wuji instinctively stepped back.

Chen Luozi laughed from the side, "Wuji, you're about to catch Liu Bei in bed with his wife; act well and there's no praise, act poorly and you'll be cut with swords and knives!"

Chen Wuji's face darkened, "Jiu Shu, this is the doorway, not the boudoir."

The gate swung fully open, revealing Shen Youwei's small face full of vigilance.

"Husband, you finally returned; sister almost worried herself to death. Today there have been refugees wandering the village, and some are shouting that they'll kill people if they aren't given food."

"It's fine, it's fine, I'm back!" Chen Wuji said soothingly.

Chen Luozi laughed, "Didn't I already greet you all? Stop worrying."

"What greeting did you give?" Chen Wuji asked.

"I made them sense something was wrong, then they ran toward the Ancestral Hall," Chen Luozi said.

Chen Wuji had previously guessed that, given the Chen Family's typical conduct, if something happened they would certainly have a way to deal with such incidents.

After all, with such a large bandit nature, it would be unreasonable not to have a backup plan.

But he still dared not place all his hope on his clan members.

"Let's go in first and talk later," Chen Wuji stepped aside, and he and Chen Luozi entered the house one after another.

At that moment he realized that Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei had actually formed a formation.

Shen Youwei held a wooden spear at the doorway, while Huo Sanniang concealed a kitchen knife behind the door.

This formation increasingly smelled of the Chen Family's style.

Most women, when encountering this, would first look for a place to hide quickly.

Only a few would think to take a weapon, and even fewer would hold a weapon without hiding, instead blocking the gate; even if they did nothing else, that alone shows great courage.

"Wuji, where does that strong smell of blood on you come from?" Huo Sanniang wrinkled her nose and asked.

Chen Wuji, knowing some things couldn't be hidden, honestly said, "When I returned I met refugees; they had seized Zhao Village, and I cut down a few people before running back."

Huo Sanniang and Shen Youwei were startled, and hurriedly began a thorough inspection of Chen Wuji.

"Wife, You Wei, I'm fine, just a few cuts on my hand!" Chen Wuji said.

The two women then released their grip.

"You almost scared me to death," Huo Sanniang sighed lightly, "How has the world suddenly become chaotic? The household just seemed to be improving, and now this whole mess arrives again."

"Sister, rebellions break out every year; this year the north suffers a massive drought, and these refugees must have come down the trail along Shenxian Ling. We shouldn't go out for a while; the Court will handle it," Shen Youwei soothed.

Chen Wuji also said, "Wife, don't overthink it; the situation isn't that serious."

He set down the Millet he was carrying, and sheathed the extra Knife, "Wife, let's prepare some food first; I still need to go to the village entrance later."

This matter isn't just talk; the villagers have gathered to defend the village, and he cannot be an exception.

"Alright, you sit for now, I'll go prepare; it'll be ready soon," Huo Sanniang said hurriedly.

Chen Luozi, seeing this, said, "Don't bring me a portion; Lao San went to the city, I asked him to get me something tasty. He should be back by now, so you eat."

"Jiu Shu, those who see get a share, remember to leave some!" Chen Wuji laughed.

Chen Luozi suddenly slapped his own mouth, "My broken mouth, got it."

He shook his head, swayed, muttering as he left the door.

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, walked over to close the gate, splashed a ladle of cold water, washed his face briskly, and removed the blood scent from his body.

No wonder people say that only soldiers who have stepped onto the battlefield and killed become true soldiers, undergoing a rebirth; Chen Wuji finally understood this saying today.

Having blood on him, something inside truly changed.

"You Wei, let Wife tidy up, I have something to tell you."

Chen Wuji waved his hand, calling Shen Youwei over.

Shen Youwei hurried over, "Husband, planning something bad?"

Chen Wuji:?

"What bad thing would I do at this time? Just business."

This guy's thought process is something else.

"I heard that some people become more impulsive about such matters after seeing blood; I thought you couldn't hold back, husband…"

Chen Wuji: …

He looked at Shen Youwei speechlessly, "Where did you hear such twisted nonsense? I'm not the 'some people' you mentioned; this is proper business, legitimate business."

Shen Youwei smiled and nodded heavily.

"I recall you said your father is Deputy Censor-in-Chief; do you know of a Censor named Zhang in Jingcheng? Logically he should be an official under your father," Chen Wuji asked.

"Zhang? Censor?" Shen Youwei lifted her chin, thought, "There are many Censors named Zhang in the capital, husband… you must be asking about the Censor whose ancestral home is Nan Jun, right?"

"Yes, their family is a Nan Jun Aristocratic Clan," Chen Wuji said.

"I think…," Shen Youwei pondered seriously for a moment, then asked, "Is the person you mentioned square‑faced, with thick eyebrows, speaking haughtily, and often glaring with his nostrils?"

"That's him!"

"Then I know, his name is Zhang Mingyuan, a Supervisory Censor." Shen Youwei's complexion turned sour, her little fists clenched, "He was one of those who impeached my father back then."

"He has a daughter; we're somewhat familiar, having met a few times."

Chen Wuji hadn't expected that merely inquiring would uncover Shen Youwei's painful story.

"Condolences, the past is beyond our power now; keeping it inside only harms yourself. If there's a chance, I'll avenge you," Chen Wuji advised.

This is court factional strife; what he can actually say is hardly anything, and I don't even know where to start trying to persuade him.

Shen Youwei pressed a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth, shook her head, "Although they impeached my father, reducing our family to this state, I don't blame them; my father brought it on himself."

"Not mentioning this, why did you suddenly think to ask this, husband? Have you seen Inspector Zhang?"

Chen Wuji nodded, "I accidentally cured his daughter's Baihe Disease; he promised to kill two people for me. I want to know if this matter has any repercussions. Your husband I am just a small hunter; I've never seen such a high-ranking official, and I don't know how to deal with these people."

Shen Youwei's small mouth gradually opened wide; for a while she couldn't close it, her face full of surprise.

Chen Wuji reached out and poked.

"Mm, husband!" Shen Youwei said with a touch of coquettishness, giving a light reproach.

"Husband, you've done so much today going out; I'm confused hearing about it. The person you want to have killed via a borrowed knife is Yuan Laoer's brothers, right?"

"Yes! Besides them, I have no other enemies." Chen Wuji said.

Shen Youwei waved her little fists, regretfully saying, "Husband, your demand is too low; at the very least you should ask him for a hundred taels of Silver, or simply have him owe you a favor."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "This favor would be hard to owe."

"Husband, you don't know; this group of inspectors values their own feathers the most, he will surely agree." Shen Youwei said regretfully, "It's a pity; our family could have gotten rich off this opportunity, but I'm simply not destined to be a young lady."