Chapter 178: If Anyone Is Bad, It's Me, I...

Chapter 178: It’s Me Who’s Going to Ruin Things, I…

After a simple wash, Chen Yi donned a fresh, crisp shirt and lifted his oil-paper umbrella as he made his way to Xiangxing Courtyard.

By then, Xiao Wanz’er had already arranged a lavish banquet, the tables groaning under the weight of delicacies and steaming dishes.

Xiao Wuzhe, Xie Tingyun, and Shen Huatang sat alongside the smaller figures of Xiao Duo, Cui Er, and Juan Er, all settled in their proper places.

When Chen Yi entered, Xiao Wanz’er and Xiao Wuzhe rose with smiles, greeting him warmly. The others followed suit, rising to welcome him.

Chen Yi bowed casually and took his seat opposite Xiao Wuzhe. To his left sat Xiao Wanz’er in the honored position, while to his right, the petite Xiao Duo reclined.

Even before he sat, the air was thick with fragrances—jasmine and lotus, perhaps, mingling with the subtle scent of Xiao Wanz’er’s hairpin and the sweeter notes drifting from Xiao Duo’s side.

After a slow sweep of his gaze, he feigned ignorance and asked, “This feast is for the owner of Bai Caotang, I presume?”

“Why, has the owner not arrived?” Xiao Wanz’er replied, her eyes flashing with a hint of irritation. “You were told to return early this morning, yet here you are, arriving only now.”

Chen Yi met her gaze, his expression calm. “Mr. Yue invited me with great honor, but I lingered at the academy.”

Xiao Wanz’er didn’t doubt his words, nor did she truly scold him. She merely nodded and added, “That Mr. Chen arrived with his entourage in the afternoon. Though quiet in speech, his manner and words are most impressive. Even Grandfather praised him highly.”

Chen Yi inclined his head. He understood she had discussed it with the patriarch. From her phrase “praised highly,” he inferred the outcome—Grandfather had agreed to the proposal.

“What sort of proposal was that?”

Xiao Wanz’er launched into an explanation, her voice growing more animated. “The plan to expand Bai Caotang into Shu Prefecture, and eventually across the nine prefectures of our Wei Dynasty. Grandfather and I have both deemed it feasible.”

“It would not only strengthen Bai Caotang but also bring substantial gains to our Xiao family. A mutual benefit, and…” She trailed off, her words growing more detailed, until she realized she had forgotten her earlier admonition.

Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang exchanged glances, studying Chen Yi with newfound interest—searching for the qualities that had earned such trust.

Xiao Wuzhe and Xiao Duo, meanwhile, seemed unfazed, their eyes fixed on the dishes before them, their lips parting slightly as they swallowed involuntarily.

Perhaps their attention was too obvious. Xiao Wanz’er paused, then gestured for everyone to begin eating.

Chen Yi, having dined beforehand, took only a few bites before engaging Xiao Wanz’er in quiet conversation.

“That Mr. Chen is indeed remarkable,” he said.

“Indeed,” she agreed. “Without such merit, he couldn’t have presented such a proposal.”

She paused, her thoughts drifting back to her meeting with the earlier “Mr. Chen,” and the strange feelings that had lingered. Her eyes lingered on Chen Yi, scrutinizing him from every angle, comparing him to the other Chen.

Their features bore resemblance—eyebrows, eyes, the shape of their faces—but their expressions differed. Xiao Duo’s gaze was softer, warmer, carrying a tenderness that made him seem approachable. Their faces were nearly identical, yet their features varied slightly. The earlier Chen’s skin was darker, his features more rugged, while Xiao Duo’s were gentler, more refined.

Physically, they were similar in stature, though Xiao Duo lacked the martial prowess of his counterpart, favoring intellect over strength. Yet this was no flaw; gifted scholars often possessed such delicate traits.

And then, in the span of a moment, Xiao Wanz’er mentally catalogued ten ways in which Xiao Duo surpassed the other Chen. The advantages were clear.

Chen Yi noticed her lingering gaze, bowed his head briefly, and asked, “Sister, might there be something amiss with me?”

But before he could finish, Xiao Wanz’er blinked, her chopsticks clattering against the plate.

Flushing, she leaned forward to retrieve them, unaware that her forehead now brushed the table’s edge.

Without hesitation, Chen Yi swiftly extended his hand, blocking the impact.

*Clack.*

The sharp sound drew a collective gasp. Even Xiao Wanz’er froze, her forehead pressed against his palm, her face flushing hotter than fire.

Not only did his hand radiate warmth, but her own embarrassment and confusion left her at a loss.

Seeing her plight, Chen Yi gently lifted her forehead, smiling softly. “Are you unharmed, sister?”

“It was merely my chopsticks, brother. You need not have bent to retrieve them. Cui Er will fetch you a fresh pair.”

Cui Er hurried over, bowing apologetically. “My mistake, sister. I’ll replace them at once.”

The others murmured their understanding, though Xiao Wuzhe, ever perceptive, chuckled. “You owe thanks to your brother, sister. Without him, you’d have cracked the table with your head.”

Xiao Wanz’er’s cheeks flared crimson, her face reddening with a mix of shame and indignation. She jabbed him playfully. “Don’t talk nonsense. If anything, it’s my own clumsiness—though that table *was* rather hard.”

Her voice wavered slightly, the words tumbling out awkwardly.

Finally, she recalled the impropriety of her actions, lowered her gaze, and offered a shy bow.

Chen Yi smiled, understanding she had been lost in thought, but said nothing further, lest he unsettle the sensitive Xiao Wanz’er.

When Cui Er returned with new chopsticks, Chen Yi resumed his earlier topic. “With the patriarch’s approval, Bai Caotang will soon flourish across Shu?”

Xiao Wanz’er inhaled deeply, then steadied herself, organizing her thoughts carefully.

“The patriarch is hesitant, wishing to wait a while longer.”

“Wait?”

“Yes, to confirm the origins of Boss Chen’s associates, though I suppose there shouldn’t be any issues. Today I heard he studied medicine under his master since childhood, and he mentioned…”

The rest of her words, Chen Yi clearly hadn’t heard.

Grandfather Xiao’s caution, though not entirely unexpected, was bound to cause some trouble. Especially back when he first ordered Wang Ji to establish the Bai Caotang, he hadn’t given it much thought—it was merely a casual arrangement.

As a result, numerous flaws had crept into its details.

Take the background of “Chen Yu,” the whereabouts of his master, and the people involved with Ma Liang and Ji Shi Pharmacy—each of them was vulnerable to scrutiny.

Chen Yi thought of these things, knowing he needed to devise a way to patch things up, to handle the Xiao family’s investigation.

Otherwise, his identity would be exposed—not to mention the development and expansion of the Bai Caotang, it would also invite unnecessary troubles.

Perhaps sensing he hadn’t listened attentively, Xiao Wanz’ voice fell silent, and because of the previous incident, she dared not meet his gaze and looked away.

“Do you think there are problems with the Bai Caotang?”

Chen Yi blinked back to awareness, met her gaze, and smiled, shaking his head.

“Elder sister, forgive me—I was just thinking of a few matters.”

Xiao Wanz turned her head, feigning naturalness by lifting a piece of cake, eating it in small bites.

“What matters?”

“Grandfather has some concerns, and he also needs to spend effort and silver to maintain relations with various parties. Why not let the Bai Caotang receive a share of the profits?”

“Grandfather once had a similar idea, but I refused.”

“Oh?”

“After all, it was Boss Chen who proposed it, and earlier the Bai Caotang had acted to assist him. It would be unkind to burden him now.”

Upon hearing Xiao Wanz’ words, Chen Yi understood she was harboring ulterior motives, unwilling to let things go smoothly.

He felt a warmth in his heart, yet also couldn’t help but admire.

It was, in all likelihood, the same thoughts as Grandfather Xiao.

Xiao Wanz was exceptionally kind-hearted, whether in business dealings or in matters of family, always thinking of others.

When things went well, they went well.

Without the help of others, she would have suffered some injustice.

After a brief chat, dinner finally concluded.

Xiao Wanz noticed the remaining food on the table, and upon reflection, asked, “Husband, did you not have much of an appetite today?”

Chen Yi offered an excuse and dismissed it.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to eat; he simply couldn’t manage it.

Besides, with Zhang Tuo and Shen Huatang present, he couldn’t rely on the Four Symbols Technique to aid his digestion.

Even matching Xiao Huangdi’s appetite was something he had forced down.

After a short rest.

Chen Yi led Xiao Huangdi and Xiao Duo back to the Spring Herb Garden, waving from a distance to signal Xiao Wanz not to linger outside, lest she catch a chill.

Xiao Wanz smiled and waved until their figures disappeared into the Spring Herb Garden, then returned to the wooden building.

Only after seeing Er Er’s chopsticks move did she think again of the earlier events, gently touching her smooth, fair forehead.

Her hand was cold, yet inexplicably, she felt a warmth.

My husband… he truly was far superior to Boss Chen.

In the Spring Herb Garden.

Chen Yi didn’t know Xiao Wanz had compared him to herself.

After washing up and changing clothes, he and Xiao Huangdi and Xiao Duo each retreated to their chambers to rest.

After a day’s labor, he finally felt truly at ease.

At this moment, the rain had slightly eased.

The thunder and lightning had ceased, and the wind had also calmed.

Yet within the Spring Herb Garden, the drip-drip of rain and the croaking of frogs in the pond added color to the tranquil rainy night.

Chen Yi stood by the window for a while, then sat cross-legged on the bed, practicing the Four Symbols Technique.

Checking the time, he figured that Liu Lang should still not have departed toward Liu Wen’s location.

“Hope everything goes smoothly there.”

…

Just after the hour of Hai.

The rain in Shouzhou City had ceased.

Only sporadic drizzles fell occasionally, brushed by the cool breeze, chilling the faces of passersby.

Liu Lang felt no chill, focused on concealing his figure as he hurried toward the north, Kangning Street.

Since he had left early, he was still wearing his raincoat and bamboo hat. The slight rustling of his movement, combined with the new sword at his side, which he couldn’t help but occasionally draw to examine, added a faint clink-clink sound.

If there were more people on the street at that time, and if he hadn’t known to avoid the city guards and the execution commissioner, he would surely have been stopped long ago.

Thankfully, he escaped danger unscathed. After spending nearly an hour, he finally reached the courtyard where Liu Wen and Liu Shuoxue resided.

Scanning the area, he noticed the guard at the entrance, and with a slight sniff of disdain, he sidestepped and slipped into the courtyard.

Though the noble family was wealthy and powerful, in terms of martial arts, those guards and attendants were mostly low-tier martial artists.

Even if there were a couple of strong ones, they would be the personal attendants of the young lords and noble ladies, unlikely to be stationed outside.

Thus, Liu Lang wandered through the courtyard’s depths without encountering a single guard worth noting.

Yet this courtyard, though a temporary residence for Liu Wen and Liu Shuoxue, was not small in size.

Each side had three gates, and at the back was a garden separated by a corridor.

It was, in truth, quite luxurious.

So Liu Lang spent considerable time determining where Liu Wen and Liu Shuoxue lived.

“West side—Liu Wen; east side—Liu Shuoxue… I’m sure of it.”

Liu Lang lay against a wall, inspecting both sides for a while, then rolled into the western residence, quietly heading toward the chambers.

Approaching closely, he suddenly stopped, then turned to hide behind a nearby tree.

In the next moment, a creak sounded.

A figure emerged from the ten-zhang wooden building’s door.

Not the tall, slender Liu Wen, but Liu Shuoxue in a red dress.

Liu Zhi cast a glance, muttering under his breath about the Liu family’s lack of propriety and tradition. Just as he was about to head toward another residence, a voice called from behind:

“Come out.”

What?

Liu Zhi paused, his heart quickening. Had someone discovered him? Before he could react, another voice emerged from his rear:

“Miss Zhao Sleeve, don’t worry.”

The voice carried a low, sly undertone.

“Is that you?”

Unable to suppress his curiosity, Liu Zhi turned his head slightly, glancing sideways with his peripheral vision.

There, perched atop the wooden eaves of the pavilion, was a shadowed figure dressed in black, revealing only two eyes. The man locked eyes with Liu Zhao Sleeve below.

How peculiar—were there others hiding here?

Liu Zhi mused, his brow furrowing. Concerned he might be seen, he wondered if this stranger was one of the Black Ya. After all, Chen Yi had cautioned him to be wary of the Black Ya’s true intentions in brokering an alliance with the Liu family.

As he pondered, Liu Zhao Sleeve spoke behind him:

“You came at a time when you weren’t afraid of being discovered by my second brother?”

The black-clad man’s voice was low: “Afraid of what?”

“Liu Wen is with Yu Yu beside him. How could he care for your half-sister?”

“Rather than worrying about him, you should worry about yourself.”

“I have nothing to fear?”

“Hah. Do you truly believe that?”

Silence stretched between them.

Liu Zhao Sleeve arched her brow, her gaze lifting to meet his: “Why did you come here? Just say it.”

The black-clad man cleared his throat, a sly smile playing on his lips: “I, Wang, came to assist Miss Zhao Sleeve. Why the need to ask you again?”

“Assist me?”

“You said the same before. Yet this time, Xinlin Pavilion expanded into Shu Zhou, and Liu Wen was still in charge.”

“As you know, the matter of the six Liu princes ended in disaster in Shu Zhou… an accident, unrelated to us.”

Liu Zhao Sleeve let out a soft, dismissive hum, unconvinced. After a pause, she asked:

“Then tell me—how does the Five Venom Demon Sect plan to help me this time?”

The man laughed outright. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

“You should know, Miss Zhao Sleeve—your situation is precarious. Without outside aid, the outcome would be worse than Xiao Jinghong’s.”

“She commands the general of Qinglong Army, wielding military power. As for you…”

“You’re probably just being sent to another clan for marriage.”

Liu Zhao Sleeve ignored his words, pressing on: “If that’s all, then leave.”

“Not so fast.”

After a moment, the man quickened his pace: “Someone’s coming. It’s inconvenient today. I’ll return at this time tomorrow.”

“Hope you don’t reject me from afar like tonight.”

Before his words faded, a soft *shing* echoed—a sound of breaking air.

The black-clad figure had already departed. Yet Liu Zhi noticed his expression had darkened.

“Five Venom Demon Sect?”

“Weren’t they destroyed decades ago by the mountain clan matriarch?”

“Yet here they are, resurfacing in the world… Ugh. Shu Zhou’s world is about to stir.”

As Liu Zhi mused, he paid the matter little mind. He wasn’t from the mountain clan, nor did he have grievances with the Five Venom Demon Sect. Still, he couldn’t help but note: this Liu family princess wasn’t ordinary.

Collaborating with such a sect, she dared to strike deals with tigers and negotiate with foxes. Her courage alone surpassed many.

Soon after, two figures emerged from the courtyard. One was tall and fair-featured, with a cold, sharp gaze. The other was a woman, her attire suggesting she wasn’t a servant.

Liu Zhao Sleeve spotted them. “Why are you here so late? Second brother isn’t resting in the chambers?”

Second brother—Liu Wen?

Liu Zhi noted his appearance carefully, then tucked himself away.

Liu Wen stepped forward: “Our uncle sent men to inform us—we must prepare.”

“What?”

“Father received a letter. He intends to resolve this conflict with the Xiao family by tomorrow, sending us to draft a letter to Lord Xiao. We’re to go to the Xiao estate.”

Liu Zhao Sleeve blinked. “Father plans to provoke Lord Xiao?”

“The letter didn’t specify, and Uncle didn’t mention the content. I imagine he expects us to act when the time is right.”

“Indeed. I thought Father might finally fulfill his wish—sending a proposal to the Xiao family.”

“Perhaps… who knows?”

(Chapter End)