Chapter 48: The Sound of the Caning Is Too Loud

Chapter 48: A Big Stir in the Making

As for that half-brother of his own father, Chen Yi had no intention of giving him the time of day.

Yet, that very night, just past midnight, a golden radiance slipped into his eyes.

[Daily Intelligence·Xuanji Grade Below: The Mao hour, past its midpoint. North City Road. Today, the imperial examination’s top scorer, Chen Yunfan, arrived atop his horse, welcomed personally by officials and elite families of Shu Prefecture. A small chance of fortune, however, was available.]

Chen Yi glanced around, stroking his jaw. “It seems I can’t afford to skip it.”

True, he held no particular fondness for Chen Yunfan, yet this sliver of fortune was precisely what he’d been yearning for.

Over the past few days, through the occasional disturbances within the mansion’s halls, his own fortune had reached the eighty-third mark—close enough now to elevate his martial arts and body cultivation to completion.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi smiled faintly. “The words in the imperial decree reek of brotherly affection and fraternal respect, but I wonder what he’ll say to his face.”

Presumably, Chen Yunfan’s words to the matriarch of the Chen family, Cui Yu, would be nothing but empty pleasantries.

In truth, Chen Yi knew little of this elder brother.

In the years he’d languished imprisoned within the mansion, their meetings had been few and far between.

The last time he’d heard Chen Yunfan mentioned was when Li Huiguo said it—he’d been specially chosen by the Emperor himself as the top scorer in this examination.

It was said his name had stirred up quite a ruckus among scholars in the capital, many displeased with this newly crowned top scorer.

“Under such circumstances, yet he still rallied the troops and came here—he must not take those troubles lightly.”

Thinking this, Chen Yi lay back on his bed, drifting into sleep.

While he slumbered, in the courtyard next door, the sisters of the Xiao family remained bent over their tasks by candlelight.

Xiao Wan’er worked with solemn focus, one hand gripping an abacus, the other pressing against ledgers, clicking beads with a steady rhythm.

Each calculation completed, she’d mark the ledger in red ink.

Xiao Honghong sat opposite her, a slender wolf-hair brush dancing across the official documents, inscribing line after line:

“Now, the southern barbarians are restless. The troops of the Distant Army, both new and old recruits, struggle with insufficient funds and provisions. It may prove difficult to sustain them.”

Though she’d previously spoken with Grandfather about establishing trade with the Wu Meng Mountain tribe to secure profits and resolve military needs, she still had no intention of abandoning her quest for court funds.

As she’d once thought, the Distant Army was a military force under the court’s control, not a private militia of the Distant Marquis’s household.

Such funds were not their burden to bear.

They labored until the deepest hours of the night.

Xiao Wan’er closed her ledger, her face pale but her eyes bright with hope. “Youngest Sister, the mansion’s surplus this month amounts to four thousand silver dollars—we can finally settle the outstanding payment for the medicinal herbs Uncle Dong ordered.”

Xiao Honghong finished reviewing the document, carefully checking each line, then reminded her:

“Sister, it’s been rainy lately in Jingzhou and Shu. Those herbs came from the northern prefecture—don’t forget to inform Uncle Dong.”

Xiao Wan’er smiled. “Yesterday, XiaoTang already reported it. Business at the pharmacy’s been good lately, so we’re just waiting for these herbs to arrive. We can’t afford to be careless.”

Xiao Honghong verified everything, tucked the document away, and rose, stretching her limbs. She glanced at her sister:

“Grandfather said it best—with you here, everything in the mansion remains safe.”

Xiao Wan’er playfully scolded: “You shouldn’t have praised me so openly. The credit should go to you—you’ve worked harder.”

Xiao Honghong grinned beneath his helmet. “Together, we sisters, we can hold the line until the day we inherit the marquessate without a single war.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan’er’s delicate features softened with a trace of worry. “Indeed, sister. These days, our greatest concern is Xiao Wugou.”

She paused, her thoughts drifting to the recent changes in Xiao Wugou, and inevitably to Chen Yi, and the poem she’d composed, “Song of the Gentle Spirit,” which now brought her a flush of shame.

That moment, Xiao Honghong removed his helmet, sighing: “He’s grown so much since staying with Chen Yi these past months.”

“Sister, your suggestion to let him stay with him was right.”

“Perhaps so,” Xiao Wan’er bit her silver tooth, then asked: “How is he these days?”

Xiao Honghong played with the helmet’s strap, his voice wavering: “We’ve settled into a kind of marriage, I suppose.”

“Huh?”

“Before, we spoke of it—there’s more hope than I’d thought.”

“Sister, we both know Grandfather’s intentions. As long as Chen Yi remains safe here with us, it’s our greatest advantage.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan’er stared at her composed younger sister, unsure what comfort to offer.

Yet another thought struck her—she couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. “If only my body were better, perhaps I wouldn’t have needed to arrange a match for you this time.”

Xiao Honghong turned to look at her: “Sister, you’re mistaken. Even if your health were sound, it would still be I who should seek a match.”

“Grandfather found the Chen family in Jiangnan not for their reputation, but simply to give us a reason to keep you here, to stay within the Xiao family.”

“In truth, this tour of the three towns…”

He trailed off, shaking his head: “Never mind. Military matters can’t be discussed publicly.”

Xiao Wan’er understood, her guilt easing slightly.

Then Xiao Honghong spoke: “Sister, I’ve asked my husband to come help you—what do you think?”

Xiao Wan’er froze. “This… I…”

“You don’t want him to?”

“Not that I don’t want to—it’s just… since my husband only knows commerce, if he handles official business, it might be improper.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Seeing her nod, Xiao Honghong smiled, retrieved his helmet, and said: “I trust my husband is sensible.”

“Sister, rest early. Tomorrow, Grandfather celebrates his birthday—a busy day ahead.”

With that, she waved him off, accompanied by Su Zhimyue, who stood guard at the garden entrance.

Xiao Wan’er stood staring at the candle’s flame, her heart restless:

“If he’s sensible, he shouldn’t have written that poem either.”

…

The night passed in silence.

By the Yin hour, past its midpoint, the clouds parted, and daylight broke.

Chen Yi awoke slowly, dressed neatly by Xiao Bie.

Xiao Bie, seeing the usually reserved Chen Yi now dressed in fine silk robes, tall and handsome, asked curiously: “Master, are you going out today?”

Chen Yi checked himself in the bronze mirror, confirming his appearance was flawless, then replied: “You noticed?”

“Yes, Master. But today, the old marquis celebrates his birthday. The mansion should be bustling. Leaving the grounds now might leave you without a guide.”

Chen Yi walked toward the door, smiling: “I have no one to accompany me—but bringing along this young lord is different.”

Xiao Bie blinked, then quickly followed, laughing: “Still, Master has a way of making things work.”

There is a way, but it is a way in the midst of no way.

Chen Yi knew that the "elder brother" Chen Yunfan had arrived in ill humor, and so he had prepared a contingency plan to guard against him.

With Xiao Wugou present, could Chen Yunfan, even if he were a fierce dragon crossing the river, still surpass the Duke of Qingdun?

Thinking this, Chen Yi first went to inform Xiao Hong, then proceeded to Chaoxing Garden, where he met Xiao Wugou and led him out of the imperial court.

The burdened Wang Liheng, accompanied by Yan Hong, followed suit.

Chen Yi scanned the area and casually asked, "Where is Fourth Brother?"

Before Wang Liheng could speak more familiarly, Yan Hong replied, "Master, Fourth Brother has not yet returned from his trip to the east of the city to purchase supplies."

Chen Yi took a good look at him, smiled, and nodded, then led Xiao Wugou and Xiao Diao onto the carriage.

"Brother-in-law, where are we going?"

"Hmm... ask you a question."

"Brother-in-law, please speak." Xiao Wugou tightened his face, as if this was his first test from his brother-in-law.

Chen Yi pondered and said, "If someone refuses to get along with you and insists on pressing his nose to your face, how would you deal with him?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wugou looked utterly confused, "Brother-in-law, are there such people?"

"Assume there are."

"Oh, well... then I would have my men beat him with a board."

"Not bad, not bad. But having men beat a board makes too much noise; it would be better to use a mallet instead."

(End of chapter)