Chapter 64: What Is Destined to Come Cannot Be Avoided

Chapter 64 The One Who Was Meant to Come Could Not Escape

Pei Wanlu heard the words and, too preoccupied to gather those scum who dared speak ill of her brother behind their backs, hurried off with a rush.

At that moment, she was dressed in the distinctive attire of the mountain people—red and blue robes, silver ornaments.

With each step she took, the little bells at her throat swayed gently, like a fluttering butterfly.

Tingling, tingling, tingling.

"Brother, what a fine thing, isn't it?"

"Come on in, and you'll know."

Chen Yi said it with a stiff smile, and pulled Pei Wanlu into the main hall.

Not only that, he also waved silently toward Xiao Jinghong, who was arranging the banquet table.

Xiao Jinghong, without hesitation, followed them along.

Once Chen Yi whispered something to Pei Wanlu, learning of her deeds, she immediately locked the door.

Pei Wanlu clearly did not yet grasp the gravity of the situation. Her delicate feet were crossed as she giggled and asked:

"Brother, what a good thing you said! Jinghong Sister also has... ah?"

"Jinghong Sister, don't, don't don't hit."

"Oh oh, brother, save me, save me!"

While Xiao Jinghong was adjusting Pei Wanlu's clothes, Chen Yi quietly slipped out of the main hall and saw Chen Yunfan still standing at the doorway, so he bowed his thanks.

Chen Yunfan smiled and said, "Yi, your attitude these days is indeed much better than yesterday."

Chen Yi nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd in the courtyard, and replied, "Elder brother, you too have changed."

"What, exactly, has changed?"

"Your bearing wasn't as lofty as it was yesterday."

Chen Yunfan's smile faltered, "Yi, are you mocking me?"

"On the day of Elder Zhou's birthday banquet, many honored guests have come. Even if I were to misbehave, I dare not do so here."

Chen Yi smiled, noticing the guests' glances, and turned to ask, "Elder brother, you must know the Emperor's edict. What are your thoughts on it?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yunfan's face showed a look of resentment, "Yi, is this a display?"

Chen Yi shrugged idly, "Elder brother misunderstood me. I merely... had an accident. Now I've married into the Xiao family, and it's thousands of miles from Kyoto Prefecture."

He looked at Chen Yunfan and asked solemnly, "Why does the Emperor regard me this way?"

Chen Yunfan thought of the previous night's encounter with the Eagle, and gave a vague answer, "This, I suppose, he thinks you're more cultured than others."

"Do you truly think so?"

"Of course. For I never lie."

Only half-truths and evasions, is it?

Chen Yi understood this internally, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Forgive me, Elder brother. I must take my leave." Then he returned to the main hall.

Chen Yunfan paused, turned his head to look at the shoulder Chen Yi had patted, and watched his retreating figure for a long time.

Yi, he had... discovered my martial arts?

Chen Yi locked the main hall door and thought quietly, "Elder brother indeed possesses martial arts. It seems he's also deliberately concealing it."

But why?

Chen Yi could not know, but it must be for different reasons.

After all, how could a idle son-in-law possibly compare to the provincial top scholar?

At that moment, Xiao Jinghong had finished scolding Pei Wanlu and was worrying about how to handle her, so when Chen Yi entered, he immediately said, "My lord, you have her give those people some medicine."

Chen Yi snapped back to his senses, "Me?"

Under his armor, Xiao Jinghong's beautiful eyes showed a hint of embarrassment, "She doesn't listen to me."

Seeing Pei Wanlu pouting with her round little face, Chen Yi smiled and nodded, "Madam, there are many guests in the courtyard. Please attend to them first."

Xiao Jinghong agreed and left the main hall.

A moment of silence.

Chen Yi and the cheerful Pei Wanlu stared at each other with wide eyes, and strangely, they both began to smile.

They smiled, and Pei Wanlu suddenly vented her anger, "You scoundrel brother, I was avenging you, yet you let Jinghong Sister hit me, hmm."

Chen Yi sat beside her, his hand cupping her cheek, tugging gently, "Avenging also requires proper circumstances, you fool."

"Hmm, revenge should be settled on the spot."

"On Elder Zhou's birthday, the guests are all rich and noble. If you poison them and they find out, it would bring trouble to Elder Zhou and cause the Xiao family to lose face."

Looking at the still confused Pei Wanlu, Chen Yi couldn't help but recall that night, when she too had been knocked unconscious and charged straight into the marquis's residence.

Clearly, Pei Wanlu didn't understand what social interactions were about. Right and wrong, she had only a vague concept.

Thinking this, Chen Yi released his hand, "In any case, you act too recklessly. Next time, if similar matters arise, do them quietly."

Pei Wanlu paused, confused and asked, "So, brother, you're not angry?"

"If you scold those chattering mouths for me, why should I be angry? But if you don't remove the poison from their bodies, I fear I won't be able to let you play anymore."

"I'll go right now."

Pei Wanlu suddenly stood up and rushed out. As she opened the door, she paused, turned back, and smiled brightly, "Brother, you're really kind."

And she stepped out of the main hall.

Chen Yi looked at her rushing out, shook his head with a smile.

That girl's not bad at heart.

But in her world, things are mostly black and white.

Such people are rare.

……

Although Xiao Elder's birthday banquet had its twists and turns, it still didn't miss the auspicious time.

Morning ancestral rites, welcoming guests at the hour of the snake, seating at noon, guests presenting gifts.

First, the longevity rites. Guests bowed in order of their official rank, noble families, and then commoners. Most officials bowed, while generals knelt.

Then came the longevity gifts.

According to Wei dynasty tradition, most offered jade-carved battle standards, named swords, and other gifts.

Though not particularly valuable, they conformed to rites and laws, not causing any disputes or quarrels.

Of more interest, the calligraphy of Chen Yunfan and Pei Wanlu were identical, even the signatures at the end matched.

Chen Yi couldn't help but realize that Pei Wanlu must have stumbled upon Chen Yunfan the previous night.

Without waiting for the temper to rise in the tiger cub's throat, he struck her down with a single sentence, leaving her listless and drained. "Tell me, what did you do last night, exactly?"

Pei Mulu smiled with a slight smile, glanced at Xiao Jinghong beside her, and instantly pushed Chen Yunfan aside in her thoughts.

She had already been beaten for drugging the guests; if Jinghong Sister knew what she had done in the middle of the night, she feared another beating would follow.

She wasn't foolish.

At last, it was the turn of the rest of the Xiao family.

After exchanging polite words, the Patriarch smiled and began speaking, inviting relatives from the Xiao family's distant branches first.

One of these distant relatives, now residing in Jingzhou, rose and presented a pre-prepared ancient painting, reciting a blessing.

The Patriarch smiled and nodded, then ordered the gift to be accepted.

Then came the second, the third, until all the second sons' group had been addressed.

Xiao Qiuyng, who had been married off to the Duke of Qian, rose with a smile, "Uncle, my niece merely came to attend Jinghong's wedding. The wedding gifts were prepared hastily, only a few large roots of fifty-year-old ginseng. Please don't find them wanting."

The Patriarch would not find them wanting. "Family members need not be polite. Ginseng is a carved prestige item. Later, I'll send for a famous artisan; I'll have Master Zhou carve one myself."

Duke Zhang Xuan scoffed: "You're quite the master of borrowing flowers to offer to the Buddha."

The Patriarch retorted: "Are you a Buddha?"

"You... if you're a Buddha..."

After Xiao Qiuyng came Xiao Dongchen, who, as usual, presented a calligraphy or painting—neither outstanding nor conventional.

After the second house came the first house.

Xiao Suanxiang presented a jade sword.

Xiao Jinghong's was carved from a turtle shell, drawing much admiration.

Xiao Wan'er had prepared several large roots of ancient mountain ginseng, after all, she had made a special trip to Jingzhou.

When it came to Chen Yi's turn, the guests were already hungry, their chests pressed to their backs.

He took out the calligraphy he had prepared in advance, and with a simple blessing, he intended to sit down.

The Patriarch smiled and nodded, saying a few encouraging words, then ordered the scroll to be collected and the feast prepared.

To everyone's surprise, the silent Mr. Yue Ming finally spoke: "Duke Xiao, wait a moment."

"Huh?" Xiao Patriarch frowned at him. "Mr. Yue, what is it?"

Earlier, he had noticed several scholars from Fei Yun Academy and wondered about their purpose, especially Mr. Yue Ming. In their youth, they had not gotten along. Now, coming to offer birthday wishes, it was hard not to think he was "a wolf paying homage to a chicken."

Mr. Yue Ming ignored him, his eyes fixed on the calligraphy in the servant's hands. "Allow me to open this scroll, so we may see it?"

Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong exchanged a glance, knowing all too well that fate had brought this moment.

Xiao Patriarch, puzzled by their expressions, guessed there was something underhanded here.

But he had ruled the battlefield for decades, his heart and mind matured, and would not miss an opportunity to look after his "old rival."

"As far as I'm concerned, it's fine."

"Yue Ming, although you've come to offer birthday wishes, I'm delighted. But you offer no gifts, no blessings—I'm at a loss."

When he finished speaking, Mr. Yue Ming knew his intent, his face darkening.

"Duke Xiao, you're two years younger than me."

"This is my birthday banquet."

"……"

The others didn't know the details, but seeing the two men in their sixties, it didn't stop them from enjoying the spectacle.

Especially those who knew of their conflict, who laughed and cheered from the sidelines.

Duke Zhang Xuan and Sun Fu even waved their fans, shouting encouragement.

Yet clearly, Mr. Yue Ming had come prepared. To catch a glimpse of the new style of characters, he managed to smile despite the others: "I wish Duke Xiao, blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea, longevity as endless as... the Mu Mountains!"

"Ha ha, excellent, excellent..."

Xiao Patriarch was delighted and ordered the scroll to be opened.

As the silk box was lifted, the calligraphy scroll's ribbon was removed, and the servant held the scroll, pulling it gently.

The scroll unfurled.

On the silk base, the cloud and pine paper was as clean as new, each brushstroke bold and flowing.

In the bright daylight, a warm, jade-like glow emanated from the scroll.

At once, someone exclaimed, "The calligraphy reveals its charm!"

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Also, the second chapter will be ready before 12:30, currently under revision.

(End of chapter)