Chapter 77: Reserve Personnel for the Hidden Guards?

Chapter 77: The Backup Agent of Yin Wei?

“I have completed the task you entrusted to me, yet the second lady has been meddling in it. The matter of the fledgling is for you to decide.”

“I have uncovered that the second lady and her family’s wealth is being jointly invested in a market with the Mountain Clan, aiming to fill the grain and funds shortage of the Dingyuan Army, an endeavor that requires your assistance.”

Chen Yi stared at the cloud-silk paper, these two sentences trailing off without conclusion.

Yet from them, he could extract a few pieces of information.

First, this was not a report sent up the chain of command or a directive issued from above, but a clear communication between two individuals of equal standing.

Second, Xiao Dongchen had once helped the other party with a matter—about the fledgling… which pertained to him.

Third, Xiao Dongchen, or rather Yin Wei, was also targeting the Xiao family, seeking to prevent them from filling the Dingyuan Army’s needs for grain and funds.

It seemed that this last objective aligned with the court’s actions against the Xiao family?

So, was Yin Wei one of the court officials?

After much contemplation,

Chen Yi circled three words on the cloud-silk paper: “I,” “the fledgling,” and “the Dingyuan Army.”

“I have encountered Xiao Dongchen only a handful of times: once to deliver a gift, twice when welcoming Chen Yunfan, and thrice at the banquet.”

Beyond these, there were several incidents with no direct contact but some connection.

One was after his assault on Cloud Fragrance, where Xiao Dongchen had spoken in his defense.

However, it was clear that the secret letter did not refer to this incident, for at that time, the second lady, Xiao Jinghong, was not present in the capital.

The second was a remark Xiao Duochan had once made.

“The old lord and lady wished to question the guilt of the marquis, yet the duke and duchess spoke of appointing an official for the marquis at the Bureau of Frontier Affairs, a favor Xiao Dongchen had arranged through his connections.”

If the secret letter referred to this matter, it could be said to make sense.

Chen Yi then circled the word “you,” thinking, “He had me arrange an official position for himself?”

“It seems my earlier guess was correct.”

“They really intend to cultivate me as their ‘fledgling,’ don’t they?”

“But what is their purpose?”

Chen Yi replayed the events in his mind, and two words surfaced: “Xiao family!”

It could only be to use him against the Xiao family.

In that case, all the pieces could be connected.

“Yin Wei sought to counter the Xiao family by gathering intelligence, creating difficulties, and obstructing their ability to supply grain and funds to the Dingyuan Army.”

“Chen Yunfan and Li Huigu, serving in Shuzhou, must be the same. They likely have other arrangements behind them.”

“And finally, there is me—now the patriarch of the Xiao family, Xiao Jinghong’s husband.”

Upon thinking this, Chen Yi burned the cloud-silk paper to ash, muttering under his breath, “To serve as an official, my purposes are no different—just a few.”

“Either to frame and blame me, thereby implicating the Xiao family.”

“This possibility is quite high. A treason charge would be enough to topple the entire Xiao family.”

“Or to use me against Xiao Jinghong… hah, they cannot possibly believe I could subdue Xiao Jinghong and thus control the Xiao family, can they?”

His voice faltered.

Chen Yi’s expression grew grave, his eyes acquiring a cold edge as he reduced the last remnants of the cloud-silk paper to ashes.

It was unthinkable.

Not only was his strength insufficient, but his thoughts and ambitions lay elsewhere, beyond the halls of officials and armies.

Yet if he were in his original body, if he were that Chen Yi who had been suppressed by the Chen family for five years, missing the imperial examinations, then perhaps at this moment…

His thoughts were overturned in an instant.

After a moment of contemplation,

Chen Yi chuckled dryly, “Thank goodness I didn’t reveal Yin Wei’s identity to Xiao Jinghong earlier, or I’d probably never have been able to wash that off, even if I jumped into the Yellow River.”

“So in their eyes, I’m already one of their own, a backup agent for Yin Wei?”

He brushed the ash from his palm, rose, and opened the window, letting the night breeze disperse the smoke and the lingering scent of burning paper from the study.

He glanced toward the pavilion in the distance, his mind drifting to the past few months.

It had indeed been a pleasant and comfortable existence.

After a long silence, Chen Yi’s face once again bore a smile, “Damn it, days pass like clockwork, never giving me a moment’s peace.”

…

The hour of midnight had just passed.

Xiao Duochan, as usual, rose from bed, simply making her bed and putting on a clean silk robe and trousers.

Under the light of the oil lamp, she dampened a cloth and wiped her face, then tied the two topknots in her hair.

Everything was in order.

Xiao Duochan carried a porcelain basin and two freshly dried towels, then went to the back kitchen to draw water.

At that moment, the rain outside had begun to ease, though the sound of raindrops pattering on the stones could still be heard.

Xiao Duochan moved quietly, her steps light as she stepped out into the courtyard, glanced at the dim sky, and extended her hand to feel the eaves.

A few drops of rain fell into her palm.

“The rain isn’t that light.”

She assumed a ready stance for running, gathered her strength, and was about to dash into the rain.

Just then, a voice called out from beside her: “Going to draw water? Get more hot water.”

The sudden voice made the unsuspecting Xiao Duochan jump, nearly dropping the porcelain basin.

She looked toward the voice and saw Chen Yi, covered in mud from head to toe outside the wooden building, “My lord, you—you’re…?”

Chen Yi glanced down at himself, smiled, and said, “I’ve been practicing the pile driver technique.”

Xiao Duochan looked at the sky, then at him, and thought, “When did my lord rise this morning to practice pile drivers for an hour?”

She didn’t know, but she ran as instructed.

After Xiao Duochan ran off, Chen Yi didn’t wipe the mud from his feet to soil the wooden floorboards beneath the eaves.

He simply stood in the rain, letting the cold water wash over his burning muscles and skin.

Realizing Yin Wei’s purpose, he understood his strength was far from sufficient to handle everything.

Unless he defected to Yin Wei—or rather, the court—he would meet the same fate as the Xiao family.

Either brought down by various conspiracies, or clearing all obstacles to stand firm.

There was no third possibility.

“The husband and the old lord must have realized this too, which is why they acted so urgently.”

How exactly, Chen Yi need not dwell on it.

At least until he possesses some degree of self-protection ability, he merely needs to act as though he knows nothing, and everything can proceed as usual.

Not long after.

Xiao Di came running, gave him a quick wipe, and then led him to stand beneath the eaves, where she fetched a set of clean robes after tidying up.

"Master, you shouldn't practice outdoors on a rainy day, mind you might catch a chill."

Chen Yi nodded with a smile, taking the garments and retreating to the inner chambers to change, and only after she had arranged herself did he make his way to the main hall to take a seat.

"Bring some food."

Xiao Di obeyed the command.

Chen Yi, meanwhile, after his internal qi and marrow had settled, began to employ the Xuanwu Contraction and Dissipation Technique to conceal his residual vitality.

Now that his martial cultivation body had reached completion, the Xuanwu Contraction and Dissipation Technique and the Great Spear-Post Skill both surged in proficiency, his cultivation advancing day by day.

Once he had fully refined his bone marrow, flesh, internal organs, limbs, and skeletal framework, his martial foundation would only grow more solid than that of other martial artists.

Soon enough, Xiao Di returned with the food, and Chen Yi, eating as he sat, instructed her:

"Later, go to the Gate of Benevolence Pharmacy. You stay at the manor with Wu Ge; I'll have Zhang Brother bring men to accompany him."

Before Xiao Di could even speak, Chen Yi smiled and lifted his gaze: "Rainy days, after all, spare Wu Ge from catching a chill."

In truth, another piece of intelligence had surfaced in the southern part of town, in the lane lined with smoke, flowers, and willows.

No alternative, he needed to pay it a visit and see what the commotion was about.

(Chapter Complete)