Chapter 58: Speak Plainly, Reason Ethically

Chapter 58: Speak When You Have Something to Say, Reason When You Have a Point

The banquet was set for the afternoon, with four and a half hours still to spare.

It seemed a long stretch, yet every moment was already brimming with engagements.

The unlucky hour had passed half its course.

Xiao Wanzhen and Xiao Jinghong, accompanied by Xiao Wugou, stood outside the Jia Xing Garden.

As the eldest daughters of the Xiao family’s first and second primary residences, they were duty-bound to accompany the old marquis to the ancestral hall for rites.

Outside them, the Xiao family’s second and first primary residence’s collateral descendants—Xiao Suanqiao among them—had no standing to follow.

Chen Yi himself was not among them.

Yet he sat with ease, the venerable patriarch among the crowd of Xiao kin.

He would glance at Xiao Jinghong, compare her with Xiao Wanzhen, and judge whose features were finer.

Then he’d turn to Xiao Suanqiao, pondering when the latter would challenge the martial arts academy.

More often, his gaze lingered on the multitude from the second primary residence, led by the esteemed Duke Xiao Wang.

There were simply too many of them, too formidable a presence for his eyes to overlook.

To top it all, the duchess Xiao Qiuyun—seen but twice before—now regarded him as if meeting him for the first time, her peach blossom eyes pressing close to his face as if scrutinizing him.

Chen Yi, though not one to fathom motives, paid them no heed.

In recent days, he’d witnessed the duchess’s temperament firsthand—

She observed proper courtesy toward elders, yet showed no restraint with servants, guards, or those beneath her station.

Had she not, young Master Zhang Heng would have been lashed so cruelly with his own bamboo whip.

Chen Yi thought of this, and gave Zhang Heng a subtle wink.

Whether he’d noticed, he could not say, but Xiao Qiuyun’s gaze never wavered from him, her eyes flickering with something unspoken.

Soon, the auspicious hour arrived.

The old marquis entered, accompanied by several honored guests: Duke Qian Guo, the former governor of the provinces Sun Fu, and three young men of varying stature and similar age.

“Please wait a moment. I shall first perform the ancestral rards.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Chen Yi bowed in deference with the crowd, and as he rose, he saw the old marquis pat Xiao Wugou’s shoulder, guiding his slightly stooped frame toward the ancestral hall deep in the courtyard.

Xiao Wanzhen and Xiao Jinghong followed behind.

They should have waited outside, yet their father, Duke Xiao Fengchun, had fallen in battle, and young Marquis Xiao Wugou, still a child, had not yet inherited the marquisate.

Chen Yi watched them disappear, and his gaze withdrew, only to settle on a smiling figure ahead.

It was one of the three young men who’d accompanied the marquis.

A tall, handsome man in blue robes, his face marked by the passage of middle age, bowed and saluted: “I am Li Changqing, commander of the Iron Wall Army.”

Chen Yi took in his appearance with a single glance, bowing in return: “Chen Yi.”

He’d heard the name before, and the fellow had once visited Spring Lotus Garden, though they’d never met.

Now, Chen Yi saw the bearing of command in him—indeed, a man of some merit.

Thinking this, Chen Yi chuckled softly to himself.

He, too, was but a youth, though his mind and disposition leaned toward old age.

His composed manner was no different from a recluse in the mountains.

After their greeting, Li Changqing smiled: “Brother-in-law, forgive me. I was tied up with military affairs and couldn’t return for your wedding to Jinghong. No matter, then.”

“It’s nothing, really. I did flee the wedding, after all. But this toast is forgiven.”

Their words fell like a stone into the quiet courtyard, drawing every eye.

Some smiled, others frowned, some muttered in thought, others scoffed.

Chen Yi knew the thoughts of those around him without looking.

He simply regarded Li Changqing calmly, his expression grave but unyielding.

Ah, this one came bearing a grudge.

Li Changqing noticed, yet still wore his smile: “Brother-in-law, if it displeases you, do not fault me. I’ve served long in the army and speak plainly.”

Chen Yi smiled.

“Your words are true, brother. I did act rashly in fleeing.”

“Then perhaps tomorrow I’ll bring my wife to pay you a visit and make amends?”

Li Changqing’s smile faltered, his narrow eyes flashing with a cold light. The scent of battle—blood and slaughter—clung to him like a shadow.

Chen Yi saw this and remained still, still smiling: “Brother, if it displeases you?”

“Perhaps I’ve not thought it through. Then we’ll meet again tomorrow, and I’ll bring a gift as well.”

“When my wife returned from inspecting the three cities, she brought some local specialties, including those from the Iron Wall Army. I’m sure they’ll suit your eye.”

“Ah, but does brother still find fault? Let us discuss it further later, when we meet.”

Up until then, he’d been puzzled. Even with Xiao Jinghong wearing her armor, her appearance no different, how could there be no suitor?

So there was one—indeed, a general from the Qingguo Army.

Yet Chen Yi had a million ways to make this Li general surrender, if only he didn’t strike first.

“You’re sharp-tongued, but…”

“Li Changqing!”

Before he could finish, another young man stepped forward, voice urgent: “This is the marquis’s banquet—don’t let people mock us!”

Beside him, a broad-shouldered man in a low voice added: “If General Xiao Jinghong knew of this, you’d face punishment.”

Li Changqing’s smile vanished. His eyes fixed on Chen Yi with a sharp nod, his mouth unyielding:

“If you dare repeat such actions, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Chen Yi smiled, shook his head, and turned away, his tone light:

“Then I’ll leave it to brother’s care.”

*Click, click.*

Li Changqing’s fists clenched, his teeth grinding. His eyes blazed like fire.

The other two young generals stepped in, one on each side, dragging him away.

The first to speak—a thin man in white robes—saluted Chen Yi from afar: “Brother Qingzhou, Li Changqing has been quite the troublemaker.”

“Bao Xuan…”

Before Li Changqing could finish speaking, General Pang Xuan, whose name was known as such, barked at him: "Shut up! You want to make it even more embarrassing?"

Chen Yi glanced to the side with a slight smile and nodded.

This General Pang Xuan was the garrison commander of the Canglang Army, apparently his cultivation and strength were the strongest among the three garrison commanders.

Though as a general, his strength was second, his focus was on strategy and courage.

Looking at it now, Li Changqing's strategy was average, his courage... well, he had quite the nerve.

Dared to cause a commotion in such a situation.

Thinking this, Chen Yi mused, "Oh, he mustn't think I'm afraid of him, right?"

Probably so.

Then he must have made a blunder.

Just then, Xiao Wang of the Second House finally spoke up, "Alright, everyone be quiet, lest we disturb my Xiao family's ancestors."

General Pang Xuan bowed his hand in apology and led Li Changqing back into the crowd.

Thus, the farce came to an end.

Chen Yi internally sighed, "That old Xiao from the Second House is truly biased, why didn't he mention disturbing the ancestors before?"

Indeed, this son-in-law of the Hou family really isn't well-liked.

Though upon reflection, the things he did were indeed against propriety and law.

"Never mind, as long as they don't cause trouble like that Li Changqing, that's all I need."

Chen Yi stood tall, standing in place, showing no signs of being affected at all.

Meanwhile, Li Changqing was visibly angry, even in the dim light, his dark-red flushed face could be seen.

The others looked at each other, most of them shaking their heads and sighing.

In their eyes, this son-in-law was simply foolish, for he could have easily overlooked it, yet dared to offend the old Duke's right and left arms.

However, a few others praised Chen Yi more.

Old Gong, beside him, whispered, "Changming, did you see it? I told you earlier, wasn't that deliberate interference by him?"

Sun Fu disagreed, "Scholars are raised with a righteous spirit, naturally they have something to say and reason to say it."

"Moreover, he had already been punished for fleeing from marriage; it's not the way of a gentleman to keep pressing the matter."

Old Gong fell silent, not needing to look, knowing the power of those words.

Those words nearly made the majority of those present lose face.

Only Chen Yi smiled, turning to face Sun Fu and Old Gong Zhang Xian, bowing politely:

"Students greatly appreciate your teachings, Master Sun."

Sun Fu saw his expression, paused for a moment, then sighed and shook his head, "If Ju Yi heard you speak like this, he'd have to nail your ears to the wall."

He had only spoken up righteously before, saying a fair word.

But Chen Yi's response turned it directly into "instruction."

Beside him, Old Gong Zhang Xian looked around, then smiled, "Well, it's the scholars again, scolding so harshly without even a single dirty word."

At that, those who already had a bad complexion now looked even worse.

Among the three speakers, two held noble status, while another, though low in rank, was not a good companion.

If they truly spoke out, they'd probably end up like Li Changqing, attracting trouble.

Chen Yi glanced at the crowd, his smile becoming increasingly gentle.

Since someone today didn't want him to be quiet, he decided to let it be.

He merely hoped those who didn't like him would be more tolerant and open-minded.

After all, if anger ruins the body, it's not right to blame him for it.

(End of Chapter)