Feng Jun and Jiang Yan received Third Master at Ninghui Hall.

Third Master Chen dismounted from his carriage, unfastening his cloak as he walked toward the study.

Feng Jun and Jiang Yan followed behind him. After he sat down at his desk, they stood before him with lowered hands.

Third Master Chen silently contemplated for a moment.

He was thinking about many things—Zhang Julian, Zhu Jun’an, Ye Xian… Conflict was inevitable, sooner or later.

Feng Jun stepped forward and said softly: “Third Master, we’ve found results regarding the matter of Fourth Master that you asked us to investigate.”

“Mm, tell me,” Third Master Chen nodded, closing his eyes to listen carefully.

“Fourth Master… indeed has collusion with the Imperial Household Department. His silk factory in Yangzhou is merely a front. The silk gauze, silk damask, and thin silk from Yongchang Commercial Firm come from textile bureaus in Yangzhou, Suzhou, and other places. Fourth Master gives thirty percent of his earnings to the textile eunuchs, and another thirty percent appears in the Chen family’s official ledgers. The remaining forty percent is secretly transferred elsewhere by the Fourth Master. He has also used Second Madam’s shops to move these funds, doing so without anyone’s knowledge.”

Jiang Yan continued: “As you instructed, we investigated whether the Fourth Master had any contact with Minister Zhang. Fourth Master hasn’t met Minister Zhang directly, but he has close dealings with Zhang’s third brother-in-law, Wu Ziqing. The two often meet for drinks, usually at Juxian Tavern. According to the attendants at Juxian Tavern, when drinking together, they never call for companions or entertain guests, always closeting themselves in a room for several hours.”

“Yongchang Commercial Firm’s collusion with the textile bureaus involves severe corruption. Fourth Master has been cooperating with textile eunuchs Hu Guang and Feng An for over a year, embezzling no less than 150,000 taels of silver. Hu Guang and Feng An have also used Fourth Master for other matters, facilitating their activities in the Northern Metropolitan Region. Their harbor of filth and corruption is alarming.” Jiang Yan took out a ledger and gently placed it on the desk. “All the personal connections are recorded here. Please review, Third Master.”

Third Master Chen picked it up and flipped through several pages, his expression growing cold.

Tossing the ledger back onto the desk, he said blandly: “Summon Chen Yanwen.”

Jiang Yan acknowledged and departed.

When Jiang Yan went to summon Chen Yanwen, he was in Concubine You’s chambers.

Concubine You were trying to get him to drink with her. He took a sip from her hand.

Concubine You raised herself from the bed, softly leaning against him and giggling in his ear: “Would my lord like me to call in those two maids as well…”

Chen Yanwen wasn’t in good spirits. He felt Third Master Chen had been acting too strangely lately. He took the wine cup and drained it, saying: “So you’re not jealous anymore.”

Concubine You smiled: “I’m not the wife, so even if I were jealous, my heart still prioritizes my lord. When my lord is happy, I’m happy.”

Chen Yanwen loved it when she spoke like this.

Indeed, his expression softened considerably as he wrapped his arm around her waist: “That’s enough, no need for others to serve…”

The two were whispering lewd talk when a young maid announced that Fourth Master Chen was being summoned.

Concubine You was most displeased, tugging at Chen Yanwen’s belt: “It must be Madam calling you over. I don’t want you to go…”

Fourth Master Chen calmly stroked her back: “Just said you weren’t jealous, and now you start.”

His cold fingers sent chills down Concubine You’s spine.

She laughed coquettishly, clinging to Fourth Master Chen’s arm: “Do you want to leave?”

The person outside spoke again, and Fourth Master Chen finally heard clearly that it was Jiang Yan who had come.

He pushed Concubine You away, frowning: “Stop fooling around, it’s Master Jiang outside!” Only then did Concubine You hear clearly, hurriedly pulling up her undergarment that had slipped to her waist, helping Fourth Master Chen dress. By this time, a quarter-hour had passed.

Jiang Yan saw Chen Yanwen emerge and smiled, clasping his hands in greeting: “Fourth Master has kept me waiting! Third Master is waiting for you at Ninghui Hall, he has important matters to discuss.”

If it weren’t important, he wouldn’t have come to summon someone at night.

What Chen Yanwen found strange was why it was at Ninghui Hall. Usually, when Third Master Chen wanted to see him, they would speak directly in Muxi Hall. Today it was at Ninghui Hall… something significant must have happened, and his heart sank.

When Chen Yanwen arrived at Ninghui Hall, Third Master Chen was practicing calligraphy.

Third Master Chen habitually used his left hand, his brush moving like a flying dragon or dancing phoenix, the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist tucked into his sleeve, faintly visible.

Seeing these prayer beads, Chen Yanwen couldn’t help asking: “It’s been some time since I’ve seen Third Brother wearing prayer beads. Why are you using them again…”

Third Master Chen didn’t speak while practicing calligraphy, so he didn’t answer.

Chen Yanwen said softly: “I remember I once gave Third Brother a string of prayer beads. Though a common style, they were blessed by a high monk. To obtain those beads, I even went to Mount Wutai personally…”

Third Master Chen set down his brush.

He looked up at Chen Yanwen: “Do you know why I called you here?”

Before Chen Yanwen could speak, Third Master Chen tossed over a ledger.

Chen Yanwen instinctively caught it and perplexedly opened it. As he read page by page, his expression worsened, and his lips pressed tightly together.

“What benefits did Zhang Julian promise you?” Third Master Chen asked calmly.

Chen Yanwen held the ledger, remaining silent.

“I’ll ask once more, what benefits did he promise you?” His tone was soft.

Chen Yanwen smiled slightly: “Since you already know, what’s the point of asking? You’ve discovered these accounts, so you must know about my dealings with the Imperial Household Department. Yes, I did all this. What can you do about it? You’ve already ruined my official career. Do you want to send me to prison now? Even if you send me to prison, it would disgrace the Chen family, though you’d gain a reputation for righteousness by punishing your kin.”

This brother, only a year younger than him, had always been venomous in his speech.

Yet Third Master Chen calmly looked at him: “Do you know why I cut off your career prospects?”

“Because even if I gave you a career—you couldn’t handle it! Your thoughts are too narrow, and you’re too heartless. I can guess what benefits Zhang Julian offered you. Fine, now I ask you, do you hate me so much that you want me dead?”

“Death isn’t necessary,” Chen Yanwen’s effeminate face bore a serene expression. “Third Brother, you’re a gentleman with strategy. I’m different from you, and besides, you underestimate me too much. If I were really as you describe, wouldn’t I have been rendered helpless by you long ago? Zhang Julian just wants to use this matter to coerce you, so that when he wants you to do some dirty work in the future, you can’t easily refuse. I understand this clearly. But not only did I not prevent it, I even encouraged it… The Chen family has only you and me as legitimate sons, yet the difference in our prospects is so vast. Do you know what outsiders say about me?”

Chen Yan’yun said softly: “I work like an ox or horse for all of you, yet among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, I’m still at the bottom. I’m also a jinshi degree holder from both lists, yet I have to be stained with the stink of copper coins. Do you think I enjoy it?”

Third Master Chen smiled: “You don’t want to do it? I don’t see that! How many secret accounts from Yongchang Commercial Firm went into your private treasury, I won’t even mention. How many times have you secretly used my connections for your purposes? Have I ever questioned you once? Did you think I didn’t know?”

“If I wanted to leave you without any recourse, would you still be standing here talking to me? Do you think you’re capable? Without the Chen family, without me, could you have established Yongchang Commercial Firm? When you first started managing the Chen family’s businesses, how much deficit was there? And who covered it? Chen Yanwen, have you ever asked yourself!”

Chen Yanwen’s face turned pale.

He had always thought he was capable. It was only because of the Chen family, because of Chen Yan’yun, that he had no future! Who would have thought Third Master Chen would say such things? He stared coldly at Chen Yan’yun, saying nothing.

“You’re not convinced?” Third Master Chen found it amusing. “Fine, I won’t discuss these matters with you.”

He walked in front of Chen Yanwen and stood firmly, looking at him.

“If you weren’t my blood brother, if you weren’t Mother’s son, do you know how I would deal with you?” Third Master Chen had his hands behind his back, his tone calm. “When you harmed Fifth Brother back then, I already thought you were ruthless. Yet I still trusted you. You knew that doing these things would put me in Zhang Julian’s hands, forcing me to be his accomplice for life, possibly even harming the Chen family, yet you didn’t stop. I ask you now, do you still consider yourself part of the Chen family?”

Third Brother knew he had harmed Chen Five, that child who, despite being born of a concubine, was more favored than himself.

Yet he had never mentioned it.

This level of wisdom was indeed beyond ordinary people.

Chen Yanwen remained silent.

The hatred accumulated over many years could not possibly be forgotten in an instant.

After a long while, he finally sighed: “Blood is thicker than water… Although I… of course I consider myself part of the Chen family. Zhang Julian said that if you were to fail, he would let me take office. I could still protect the Chen family’s wealth and prosperity then. I’m not so ruthless as to want to harm the Chen family.”

He believed these words to be true?

Third Master Chen found it laughable. His brother was truly ruthless as claimed, but when called naive and foolish, he was truly foolish as well!

Chen Yanwen didn’t find himself ridiculous. After a long silence, he asked Third Master Chen:

“Anyway, what’s done is done. What do you plan to do?”

“That doesn’t concern you anymore,” Third Master Chen said indifferently. “From today onwards, you may still oversee the Chen family’s business, but I will send people to take over. You will no longer be in charge. I know you’re unwilling, so go back and think carefully. ‘Blood is thicker than water’ were your words, and no matter what, you’re still the Fourth Master of the Chen family. My final question… besides these matters, is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”

Chen Yanwen’s eyes flickered, and he smiled: “Do you still trust me?”

Third Master Chen was silent.

He slowly asked: “You should ask yourself, are you worthy of trust?”

Chen Yanwen said: “Third Brother, you say I’m ruthless but aren’t you also quite suspicious? Let’s not criticize each other, let’s leave it at that for now!”

He stood up, patting the hem of his long robe as if it had been soiled, then slowly walked out of Ninghui Hall.

Outside, someone announced that Caifu had arrived.

Third Master Chen had been away for so long that Gu Jinchao had sent her to inquire.

Third Master Chen said: “I still have some matters to attend to. I’ll come over after I’ve given my instructions. Tell the madam to sleep first, and don’t forget to add extra quilts for her.”

Caifu acknowledged with a smile and left.

Third Master Chen gazed at the pitch-black sky beyond the latticed windows, his thoughts heavy.