Chapter 282: The Fortune of Having Two Wives Simultaneously (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 282: The Blessing of the People of Qi (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Stepping out of the Pure Abode.

Chen Yi glanced back once, shook his head silently, and was led by the three stewards, Lu Guan, and Wang Ji to the Garden of Prosperity.

This visit to Hou’s mansion had, at last, achieved its purpose.

The journey proceeded as he had anticipated, with little complication.

Yet the old duke, a warrior who had spent decades commanding armies across the battlefield, remained unmoved.

His attempts at probing had all met with silence.

At most, he had discerned that the old duke harbored some displeasure toward Liu Hong and the Liu family of Jingzhou.

But regarding the “patron” who had dispatched his forces to purge the evildoers from the three cities before the Bright Moon Tower, the old duke showed no reaction at all.

Chen Yi surmised that the old duke either did not deem those merchants worth his attention, or else was too powerless to act.

The former possibility seemed more likely.

As for Fu Wanqing…

Chen Yi had finally dispatched this “hot potato” to the Xiao family.

Not that he lacked the will to intervene in the matter.

Rather, he could not bear to shoulder the secret alone; the Xiao family needed to know of it.

Only then could he proceed with lighter burdens.

Moreover, Fu Wanqing now dwelled within barbarian lands.

To rescue her and return her to the Wei dynasty would demand a steep price.

Even if Fu Wanqing waited a lifetime among the barbarians, there was no hope of rescue in time.

In such circumstances, why should Chen Yi add further worry to his load?

It would be better to wait for the old duke to take further action, then act when opportunity arose.

“Ah, once I’ve settled the troubles at hand, I must go to the Red River once more.”

“Don’t bet on it—‘One Point of Cold Plum’ won’t reel in those damned fish.”

Chen Yi’s thoughts wandered, yet his face remained calm.

Under Lu Guan’s guidance, they approached the Garden of Prosperity.

Just then,

[At three o’clock in the afternoon, Hou Xiao Yuanuan Xiao Yuan meets with the owner of Bai Caotang, Chen Yi. Chen Yi employs his great medical art to treat Hou Xiao Yuanuan; Xiao Yuan learns that his daughter-in-law, Fu Wanqing, has not perished…]

[Reward: Military Art “Seven Essentials of Warfare,” chance +35.]

[Evaluation: Presence, voice, and spectacle all evident. Performance rated excellent.]

Not long after, the trio arrived at the Garden of Prosperity.

Xiao Wǎn’er had already welcomed guests—including Qie Tingyun and Shen Huatang—at the entrance.

Strangely, beside her stood Cui Qingwu and her maid, Huan’er.

This unsettled Chen Yi’s thoughts.

Xiao Wǎn’er, however, gave no heed to his unease.

Upon seeing the arrival of “Chen Yu,” she offered only a faint, courteous smile.

She wore a plain white overcoat, her pale neck adorned with a white fur collar, her delicate jawline visible beneath.

Her complexion, nourished by recent medicinal soups, had gained a rosy hue, like plum blossoms.

It indeed mirrored the saying, “Like jade carved in the imperial palace, rare in this world.”

“Lord Chen, you arrive unharmed.”

Chen Yi stood, bowing calmly: “Lord Xiao, I have remained in Shu for many days without visiting. I hope you will forgive my absence.”

When he rose, his gaze lingered only below Xiao Wǎn’er’s waist, avoiding any impropriety.

Yet in his peripheral vision, he noted Qie Tingyun and Shen Huatang—

These two disciples of the Tian Shan school, though not deeply versed in martial arts, possessed keen eyes.

They likely perceived his cultivation at that moment.

Cui Qingwu and Huan’er, upon seeing him, merely glanced him up and down, showing no unusual interest.

Yet Chen Yi understood clearly—Cui Qingwu was comparing him to “Liu Five.”

She likely still bore resentment over his past “poisoning” incident.

Xiao Wǎn’er, unbeknownst to him, continued speaking without hesitation, welcoming him and Wang Ji, and introducing Cui Qingwu:

“This is Cui Qingwu, mistress of the Cui family.”

“She happened to visit our mansion today.”

Chen Yi slightly bowed: “Mistress Cui, I have long admired your reputation.”

Cui Qingwu glanced at him, raising her head slightly: “Lord Chen, have you heard of me?”

“Of course. I am the owner of Bai Caotang. Our shops face each other in the western market.”

After a pause, Cui Qingwu smiled lightly: “It is a pity, then, that Lord Chen and I have had little occasion to meet.”

“Indeed, Lord Chen keeps to himself. Qingwu, alas, has had no chance to see you.”

“In the future, we may visit one another often. My Qingluo shop relies on your Bai Caotang’s tea.”

Chen Yi gave a slight nod in response.

This woman had abandoned her former haughtiness, actively engaging in conversation—clearly harboring ulterior motives.

He would not be so easily deceived.

Furthermore, in recent times, Bai Caotang’s tea had been sold in limited quantities, affecting Qingluo’s business.

He had no surplus tea to sell to Qingluo.

Xiao Wǎn’er, unaware of this, assumed they were neighbors, seeing no harm in cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship, and smiled:

“Both of you have achieved some success in the city. We should move about more often.”

Such words, in the past, she would never have uttered.

But since setting her goal on establishing a medical academy, she had begun to venture into new endeavors.

Just as she had accepted Cui Qingwu’s proposal to jointly construct the academy.

A moment later, they took their seats, and the feast commenced.

The delicacies of mountain and sea, needless to say, were not the focus.

Chen Yi had tasted them before.

Yet at this moment, he feigned ignorance, keeping his head bowed as he ate silently, as though famished for two days.

Xiaowan’er looked at him with her eyes, though she didn’t know the reason, she didn’t think much of it.

But Cui Qingwu was someone who couldn’t stand still.

After all, she had guessed that “Chen Yu” was none other than “Liu Wu.”

So throughout the time, she kept probing from the sidelines, asking where Chen Yi lived, about this year’s bai cao tang business, and other questions.

Chen Yi mostly kept silent, and when he had to answer, he merely gave a perfunctory nod or two.

Seeing this.

Cui Qingwu couldn’t help but show some displeasure on her face, and spoke again: “Sir Chen, you must also practice martial arts, I wonder, what stage of cultivation are you at now?”

Chen Yi looked up at her, and said coolly: “I only practice martial arts for the sake of medical arts, hardly worth mentioning.”

“Then, how about your level in medical arts?”

“A small accomplishment.”

Cui Qingwu hummed, and in her mind, the words that Lou Yuxue had once spoken came to mind.

When “Liu Wu” first appeared at Chunyu Lou, he had won the trust of Hei Na through his medical skills.

Could it be that he truly was “Liu Wu”?

Cui Qingwu dared not confirm it.

Even with her sharp eyes, she had never noticed any resemblance between “Chen Yu” and “Liu Wu.”

Their builds were slightly different, Chen Yu was more handsome and upright.

Their auras were vastly different.

Chen Yu’s aura was faint, with the aura of a cultivator at the fifth rank, yet it lacked the sharp sword path intention that Liu Wu possessed.

Most importantly, their gazes—Chen Yu’s gaze remained calm and still as water throughout…

No, it was like “ice.”

Regardless of whether facing her or Xiaowan’er, this person’s gaze never changed.

His tone as well.

Calm, even cold.

In contrast, “Liu Wu” always had a gaze full of aggression, and his tone carried some inexplicable arrogance.

Even when facing her and Lou Yuxue, two white tiger guard silver flag officials, Liu Wu maintained the same attitude.

Cui Qingwu thought of these things, and continued: “Sir Chen, with such medical skills, no wonder the Bai Caotang has been thriving.”

Chen Yi hummed, and bowed his head to eat.

“Then, who is your master?”

“My master is from outside the family.”

“……That’s it?”

Chen Yi gave her a strange look, and then continued to bow his head to eat.

Seeing his attitude, Cui Qingwu didn’t get angry, turned her eyes, and asked:

“They say you’ve been lacking in medicinal herbs lately?”

“Cui Guiniang, you know this all too well. If there were enough herbs, the Bai Caotang wouldn’t have reduced its tea offerings.”

“Then… would you need my help in finding a solution?” “If there’s a need, I’ll have the landlord go ask for assistance.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Qingwu secretly bit her lip, this man was truly unteachable.

“You…”

Before she could speak again, Chen Yi put down his bowl and chopsticks, and looked at Xiaowan’er:

“Miss Xia, I have some matters to attend to later, so I won’t be able to stay long, I hope you’ll understand.”

Xiaowan’er looked at Qingwu’s displeased face, though puzzled, she didn’t intervene.

She said: “Sir Chen, you may go ahead first.”

After a pause, she continued with a smile: “Originally, I would have come today, but he had to go to Guiyun Academy.”

“Thank you for Sir Chen’s care of him in the previous occasions.”

Chen Yi slightly bowed his head: “I’m glad to meet Master Ruo again, Miss Xia, you needn’t be so polite.”

“Then that’s good…”

Seeing him about to leave, Qingwu couldn’t help but show some displeasure on her face, but in front of Xiaowan’er, she dared not act.

“Sir Chen, please go. If there’s a chance next time, Qingwu will definitely visit the Bai Caotang to pay my respects to you.”

“Very well.”

Chen Yi stood up and bowed, and walked toward the courtyard with the steward.

To their surprise, as they stepped out of the wooden building, they saw Xiao Shen of the Xiao family’s third room bringing people from outside the garden.

Seeing their arrival, Xiao Shen’s gaze fell on Chen Yi, “Sir Chen, are you leaving?”

Chen Yi hesitated slightly, and nodded: “Today I’ve caused too much trouble, I really should be going back.”

Xiaowan’er noticed his expression, and spoke up: “Sir Chen, this is Xiao Wuer’s third elder.”

“Chen Yu has met Xiao San’er.”

Xiao Shen laughed and waved his hand: “Sir Chen, no need to be so formal.”

“Before, I only heard of Sir Chen’s name, today I finally saw him, truly as the rumors say, extraordinary in martial arts!”

Chen Yi was puzzled in his heart, but his tone remained calm: “Third Elder Xiao, you flatter me.”

Xiaowan’er was also curious, and hesitated: “Third Elder, today Sir Chen came to visit your third elder.”

Xiao Shen smiled and said knowingly, then extended his hand toward the back: “Old brother had received the elder’s arrangements, and came to deliver a jar of wine.”

“Wine?”

“The finest ‘Daughter’s Red.’”

“Daughter… red?”

Xiaowan’er looked at the jar with the old paper seal, and her eyes suddenly widened.

“This, this is…”

Xiao Shen saw her recognize it, and nodded slightly, his tone a little ambiguous:

“It’s the jar of wine your father buried in the ground, father’s own hand.”

Xiaowan’er’s expression changed, and without thinking of anything else, she hurriedly asked: “Is, is this father’s will?”

“The elder didn’t say anything, old brother dared not speak for you.”

“But, but how…”

Xiaowan’er was clearly at a loss, her eyes darting over Chen Yi, her face already tinged with a faint redness.

It was not a matter of shyness, but of urgency.

Chen Yi naturally understood the old master’s intention, his heart silently cursing: “This swan song book must be opened, must it not?”

After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward: “Your kindness, Third Young Master, is deeply appreciated. I’ve already troubled the household for the day—this wine… perhaps you and Duke Hou should keep it for yourselves.”

Xiao Shen paused, eyeing him up and down: “Sir Chen isn’t from Shzhou, perhaps he doesn’t realize—this wine…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Wan’er seemed to relax her grip, quickly interjecting: “Third Young Master, Sir Chen has matters to attend to and need not stay much longer.”

“I—I’ll escort him away first. We can pay our respects to the Old Master at the Pure Clear Courtyard afterward.”

Xiao Shen glanced at her, slightly hesitated, then nodded.

Seeing his agreement, Xiao Wan’er led the way without delay, guiding Chen Yi and Wang Ji out of the Xiaxing Garden.

“Sir, forgive any inconvenience. This matter… I… I forgive you.”

Chen Yi’s eyes flickered with a hint of a smile, feigning ignorance: “No need for such kindness, Sir. I was merely visiting Duke Hou to discuss matters concerning the expansion of Bai Caotang.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan’er turned her head, meeting his gaze, then instinctively averted her eyes once more.

“Sir Chen, do take care.”

For some reason, she felt a strange familiarity in those eyes, as though she’d seen them before—on their first meeting.

Unaware of her thoughts, Chen Yi bowed politely to those around him and rose to depart with Wang Ji.

Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Shen stood in silent farewell.

Only Zhou Zhiyun called out: “Sir Chen, thank you for looking after my Tian Shan disciple.”

This remark she’d held in for quite some time, and now, in the moment, couldn’t help but speak it aloud.

Chen Yi paused slightly, gave a curt nod, and turned away without looking back, leaving the courtyard.

Cui Qingwu watched Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Shen, her intention to leave fading.

Clearly, she was more curious than ever about why the Old Master was so keen on that “Chen Yu.”

Even the “Nüdào Hong”—the red powder extracted through the ritual of binding Xiao Wan’er’s marriage—was brought out to entertain “Chen Yu.”

Xiao Shen noticed, sighed softly: “Wan’er, I’ll go find the Eldest Brother first.”

“Third Young Master, do take care.”

After Xiao Shen and his group departed, Xiao Wan’er finally relaxed, apologizing to Cui Qingwu: “Sister Qingwu, I’m afraid we can’t discuss the matter of the Medical Academy today.”

Cui Qingwu smiled and nodded, then said: “Sister Wan’er, the Old Master’s wine—was it for you and…”

She gestured toward where Chen Yi had left.

Xiao Wan’er bitterly nodded: “I… perhaps so…”

She never imagined the Old Master would have such intentions.

Even more perplexed, she wondered what reason had brought “Chen Yu” here, prompting such a gesture from the Old Master.

Cui Qingwu pressed further: “What do you think?”

Xiao Wan’er shook her head nervously: “I… I hadn’t thought of it.”

Seeing her uncertainty, Cui Qingwu let the matter drop, though she harbored her own suspicions.

At the Poetic Gathering at Guoyun Academy, she’d noticed Xiao Wan’er and the Gentle Willow Scholar had shared some ambiguous rapport.

Perhaps Xiao Wan’er was reluctant to accept any connection between “Chen Yu” and the Gentle Willow Scholar.

After all, they both bore the surname Chen—could they not be…?

Cui Qingwu entertained such thoughts, then bowed and departed.

“I’m afraid Sister Wan’er is occupied today. I’ll come tomorrow.”

“Alright…”

……

Meanwhile, on another path.

Wang Ji, driving the carriage ahead, couldn’t help but voice his suspicion: “Master, the Duke seems to be planning to… let you…”

Chen Yi sat calmly inside the carriage, interrupting with a flat tone: “First, to Bai Caotang.”

“Master, you’re coughing—yes!”

Wang Ji obeyed, swiftly turning the carriage southward along Nanzhong Street.

Though he’d received no answers he sought, as one who knew Chen Yi’s true identity, he couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

After all, Chen Yi was the husband of General Xiao Hong.

If the Old Master truly intended to arrange “Chen Yu” to marry Xiao Family’s daughters, then…

What a fortunate destiny for all involved.

Chen Yi, aware of Wang Ji’s lecherous thoughts, wore a faint, bitter smile, shaking his head inwardly.

That old fool—truly, he was clueless.

A life of joy for the people of Qi? That wasn’t how it worked.

It should be…

Chen Yi reined in his thoughts, resolved to avoid using the identity of “Chen Yu” in public for the time being.

He couldn’t risk the old man making another move.

Not long after.

The carriage passed the Prefect’s Office.

Chen Yi pushed aside the curtain, glanced inside, and raised an eyebrow.

“So soon, Du Cang’s news?”

(Chapter Complete)