“Have you ever fought in battle before?” Ye Xian suddenly asked Chen Yan Yun.

Without turning his head, Chen Yan Yun replied, “I’m a civil official, how could that be possible?”

Ye Xian said, “My spies told me you know martial arts…”

Chen Yan Yun avoided the topic, “Have you ever fought in battle?”

Ye Xian shook his head, “I’ve been physically weak since childhood and never even studied martial arts. My health still isn’t very good… but when my father fought against the Mongols, I did provide strategies from behind.”

Chen Yan Yun narrowed his eyes; the rain was too heavy to see the scene below.

“When the Mongolian Jala’er tribe rebelled, you were only thirteen, weren’t you?”

“Yes,” Ye Xian answered. “When Master Chen was thirteen, you must have been studying at the Imperial Academy, right?”

“I never attended the Imperial Academy. My uncle taught me,” Chen Yan Yun said. “Why are you making small talk with me?”

“Just chatting,” Ye Xian said, then fell silent.

Their forces could no longer hold back the enemy.

The city gates were finally broken open, and a tide of people surged forward with gleaming weapons. The sound of marching troops, their footsteps in perfect unison, was so overwhelming that even the rain couldn’t drown it out. Arrows flew from all directions, as numerous crossbowmen were hidden throughout the Imperial City.

But the vanguard consisted of heavily armored soldiers who, though slow-moving, had extremely strong defenses.

Ye Xian frowned at the sight and waved his hand.

His men immediately withdrew silently, replaced by another group of crossbowmen. Their crossbows were specially made, with extraordinary power.

Arrows rained down like a storm, covering the sky.

This volley was much more powerful, killing many, but still could not stop the advance.

“Your crossbows are quite formidable,” Chen Yan Yun complimented.

Ye Xian replied self-mockingly, “We’re still going to die.”

“I will die, but you won’t,” Chen Yan Yun said with a smile. “You’re the sole heir of the Changxing Marquis Manor. If you died, the Changxing Marquis would suddenly retaliate, and Zhang Ju Lian wouldn’t be able to withstand it. You’d be captured as a puppet, and Zhang Ju Lian would use you to negotiate with the old Marquis.”

“Then I’d rather die,” Ye Xian said flatly.

Ye Xian’s deputy, who was directing the shield bearers nearby, quickly said, “Young Master, you mustn’t come to harm! If anything happens to you, how will this subordinate answer to the old Marquis!” This deputy had accompanied the Changxing Marquis in campaigns north and south for years and was skilled in military tactics.

But no matter how skilled, he couldn’t overcome the disparity between the opposing forces.

Ye Xian glanced at him, then said, “Chen Yan Yun, this counts as a miscalculation on your part, doesn’t it? Didn’t you anticipate that Zhang Ju Lian would be driven to desperate measures?”

Chen Yan Yun remained silent.

The city gates were wide open, and cavalry had already entered. Leading them on horseback was Fu Chi. As soon as he appeared, arrows flew toward him from all directions.

Fu Chi stopped just inside the city gate, beyond the range of the archers.

Ye Xian signaled his men to cease fire and not waste arrows.

After he stopped, Zhang Ju Lian slowly rode forward. Looking at the two men before Huangji Hall, he smiled, “Jiuheng, you may be skilled in strategy, but I fear you’re no match in actual warfare. If you surrender now and hand over Zhu Jun’an, I might spare your life.”

“Teacher, we’ve known each other for so many years and understand each other’s nature,” Chen Yan Yun said. “You would certainly kill me, so there’s no need for false promises.”

Zhang Ju Lian laughed heartily. “Indeed, after all these years, you, Chen Yan Yun, understand me best. Our teacher-student relationship hasn’t been in vain.”

Their men had already been subdued.

Ye Xian noticed black shadows stealthily infiltrating the city walls, countless in number, their arrows aimed at them, and he drew a sharp breath.

“Looks like I really will die alongside you,” Ye Xian said softly.

Fu Chi directed the troops to enter; they no longer posed any threat.

His forces split into two groups and fanned out. Zhang Ju Lian and his party slowly rode forward on horseback.

The rain had stopped, the air was chilly, and now an extraordinary silence prevailed, even a solemn one.

During each court assembly, Zhang Ju Lian would walk this path, never feeling it was special. But today he sensed it—he was walking step by step toward the highest position. All of this could be his if he desired it.

“Master Chen needn’t worry,” he said with a smile. “I’ve already dispatched a garrison’s worth of troops to the Chen residence. They’ll slaughter everyone there. If you die, you’ll soon be reunited with your family.”

Chen Yan Yun coldly regarded him, “Zhang Ju Lian, though I understand you—at times like this, I feel I don’t know you at all. Your cold-bloodedness is truly unmatched.”

Fu Chi waved his hand, and dozens of men quickly swarmed forward, surrounding them.

Suddenly, Ye Xian stepped forward and stood in front of Chen Yan Yun.

“What are you doing?” Chen Yan Yun asked in a low voice.

Ye Xian smiled and said, “I once promised Gu Jin Chao that I would do something for her. But she never asked anything of me. If I save you, it could count as fulfilling that promise. My deputy will protect you. You know martial arts, so you should be able to break through, right?”

Chen Yan Yun frowned and was about to speak, but Ye Xian had already addressed Zhang Ju Lian: “Minister Zhang, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?”

Zhang Ju Lian continued smiling, “Oh, the Young Master has always been resourceful. I dare not listen to your suggestions. Since you wish to protect Master Chen, why don’t I send you both on your way together? Whether I eliminate one or two makes little difference. You can keep each other company on your journey.”

Ye Xian was about to speak again when a hand rested on his shoulder.

“Step back. I’ll handle this,” came Chen Yan Yun’s voice.

Before he could respond, Chen Yan Yun firmly pressed his shoulder and moved to the front.

His encircles immediately tensed, stepping back. Their spring-decorated sabers pointed at him.

“Doesn’t Minister Zhang notice something amiss?” he asked softly and slowly.

Zhang Ju Lian narrowed his eyes. What did Chen Yan Yun mean?

“Master Chen, facing death, you shouldn’t waste time with feints,” Zhang Ju Lian merely smiled.

“Hmm, it’s understandable that Minister Zhang doesn’t believe me,” Chen Yan Yun seemed as casual as if taking a stroll in a garden. The sword tip nearly touching his chest didn’t concern him; he stepped forward again until the blade pressed against him.

Fu Chi’s tone hardened, “Chen Yan Yun, make another move, and don’t blame us! Do you know how many crossbowmen we have hidden?”

“I don’t know, but you can find out,” Chen Yan Yun smiled slightly.

Zhang Ju Lian’s heart tightened. Chen Yan Yun wasn’t bluffing; something was wrong.

“If you won’t try, then I will,” Chen Yan Yun nodded and gestured slightly.

The crossbowmen hidden on the city walls immediately changed direction, and countless arrows now aimed at Zhang Ju Lian and Fu Chi.

Zhang Ju Lian’s scalp tingled. How was this possible? The crossbowmen were his men—how had they become Chen Yan Yun’s?

Then, those who had been pointing swords at Chen Yan Yun’s chest immediately withdrew their weapons and stood beside him. All several dozen men positioned themselves behind Chen Yan Yun and Ye Xian, showing utmost respect.

The reversal happened so quickly that Ye Xian stared at Chen Yan Yun in astonishment.

He’d known something was strange when the old fox had shown no reaction… but when had he turned Zhang Ju Lian’s men?

He had acted so tragically just moments ago—clearly, it had all been an act to fool him!

Zhang Ju Lian was speechless.

His face turned pale as one of his deputies now held a sword to his throat, smiling at Fu Chi, “Pardon me, Left Commissioner, please have your men step back. Otherwise, I might harm the Chief Minister, and that wouldn’t be good, would it?”

“When… when did you…” Zhang Ju Lian asked Chen Yan Yun hoarsely. Then he changed his question, “How many men?”

“Many,” Chen Yan Yun said. “But you’ll never see them all, which is why you were destined to lose. Minister Zhang, do you know how many of your subordinates don’t trust you? How many resent you? I truly lost count.”

Zhang Ju Lian laughed, unable to speak for a long time.

Fu Chi stepped back but remained defiant, “Chen Yan Yun, even if you’ve replaced the crossbowmen, can you defeat the troops I’ve brought?”

Since death seemed inevitable, he might as well abandon Zhang Ju Lian and try to break through with his men.

But the sound of another army came from outside the city gate, mighty. Fu Chi’s expression changed as he turned to look. Indeed, a vast force had stationed itself outside, seemingly no fewer in number than his own… The army halted, and a man slowly rode in on horseback—it was Zhao Huai, the Commander-in-Chief of Shaanxi. He said to Chen Yan Yun with boredom, “I’ve been waiting for you outside the Meridian Gate for ages—why has there been no signal!”

He spotted Fu Chi and smiled, “Well if it isn’t the Left Commissioner. Are you joining in the excitement too?”

Chen Yan Yun smiled slightly, “You’re too impatient. Couldn’t you have waited a bit longer?”

Seeing this, Zhang Ju Lian understood everything.

He had been trapped by Chen Yan Yun.

He closed his eyes, filled with despair. Xiao You had once warned him that if he didn’t eliminate Chen Yan Yun, one day he, Zhang Ju Lian, would die at Chen Yan Yun’s hands. He hadn’t taken it seriously then, but now Xiao You’s words had come true.

Perhaps it was fate. No matter how he guarded against Chen Yan Yun, it was never enough.

Chen Yan Yun had no desire to linger. He said to Zhao Huai, “Since you’re here, you can handle the rest! I have some business to attend to.”

He mounted a horse with his men and quickly departed through the city gate.

Zhao Huai shouted after him, “Chen San, where are you going? What should we do with this old scoundrel—kill him or imprison him? Hey!”

Ye Xian’s voice sounded faintly from behind, “Let him go.”

He felt a strange mix of emotions—the threat of death had passed, yet he felt lost, relieved, and incredibly complex.

This is for the best, Ye Xian thought to himself.

This is definitely for the best.

A hundred miles away at the Chen residence, Gu Jin Chao looked at Chen Xuan Yue with a most peculiar expression.

Not just her—Old Madam Chen and Old Madam Chang also regarded him strangely. Chen Xi, who had just awakened, held her younger brother and stared at her Ninth Brother without blinking. The guards from Heyan Tower stood at the door, their faces covered in sweat.

Chen Xuan Yue was puzzled, “Why are you all looking at me like that…”

Gu Jin Chao looked up to see the area outside the Verandah Gate still in ruins—charred wood, collapsed beams… and armored corpses.

It had been better before the rain, but after it stopped at midnight, Chen Xuan Yue had ordered pine oil to be poured out, which flowed outward with the rainwater. Then he had men shoot fire arrows into it, causing flames to erupt everywhere. The attackers, wearing heavy armor, couldn’t withstand the fire. He immediately had men use poisoned crossbow bolts, lying on the walls for precision shots. The poison killed many, and the rest were exhausted and captured by the men from Heyan Tower.

However, the front courtyard of the Chen residence had largely burned down, and rebuilding would be troublesome.

Chen Xuan Yue looked at the ruins and seemed to realize something, “Aunt, staying alive is the priority. Material possessions are external things.” They couldn’t be blaming him for burning down the front courtyard, could they?

Gu Jin Chao waved her hand, “It’s fine. You did very well.” Indeed, he was destined to become a great general.

Old Madam Chen, for the first time, truly acknowledged this grandson and called him over, “Xuan Yue, come here. Grandmother has a few questions for you.”

Her tone was extremely kind. Chen Xuan Yue could only obediently go to hear what Old Madam Chen had to say.

Gu Jin Chao saw that dawn was approaching but still felt concerned. They had been up all night with the commotion and didn’t know how things had gone for the Third Master, whether there had been any mishaps…

As she was thinking, she saw Chen Yi running quickly from a distance. Though his face was covered in soot and he looked disheveled, he was smiling broadly.

He ran while shouting, “Madam, Madam! The Third Master has returned and is already at the entrance of the alley!”

Gu Jin Chao stood up, her face also breaking into a smile.

She could almost see that tall figure, and her smile grew uncontrollably.

She felt foolish but couldn’t restrain herself at all.

She walked quickly toward him.

As she walked, she almost began to run, appearing extremely anxious.

Chen Yan Yun hadn’t even had time to be shocked by the burned buildings of the Chen residence when he saw her childishly running toward him. A smile appeared on his face, and fearing she might fall, he opened his arms to receive her.

What else could be more important than her?

On the twentieth day of the fifth month in the third year of Wanli, Zhang Ju Lian and Fu Chi failed in their attempt at rebellion and died from arrow wounds. On the twenty-eighth day of the sixth month of the same year, their party was eliminated, and the court experienced a bloody purge, with two hundred and three officials, both high and low, imprisoned. On the third day of the seventh month of the same year, He Wenxin was appointed Chief Minister, and Chen Yan Yun became the Second Minister.

On the second day of the fourth month in the fifth year of Wanli, He Wenxin died of illness. On the first day of the fifth month of the same year, Chen Yan Yun was appointed Chief Minister, and granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, while Liang Lin became the Second Minister. Ye Xian was promoted to Chief Justice of the Court of Judicature.

The second day of the fifth month of Wanli.

Early summer had arrived again, and the willow trees in the Imperial City grew even more beautifully.

Ye Xian left the court, walking out from Huangji Gate. He saw Chen Yan Yun walking ahead of him, surrounded by several officials. He now wore the crimson official robe with the crane pattern, befitting his first-rank status.

He hurried forward and said with a faint smile, “Congratulations, Chief Minister.”

“The Young Master is too kind,” Chen Yan Yun merely replied.

Ye Xian looked around but didn’t see Chen Yan Yun’s sedan chair, which was permitted to enter the Meridian Gate.

“Is the Chief Minister observing the people’s conditions today? How is it that you don’t have your sedan chair?”

“My wife is in the sedan, so it wasn’t appropriate to bring it inside,” Chen Yan Yun said.

Ye Xian made a sound of understanding, “Why has Master Chen brought his wife out?”

“She has never been to the capital, and I promised to show her around. Today seemed like a good opportunity,” Chen Yan Yun said, smiling tenderly.

The Meridian Gate was just ahead, and indeed his sedan chair waited there, guarded by escorts.

Ye Xian stopped and called out, “Chief Minister.”

Chen Yan Yun turned to look at him.

“Are we still enemies in the future?” Ye Xian asked with a smile.

Chen Yan Yun nodded and also smiled, “Naturally.”

He entered the sedan chair, and just as it was about to be lifted, the curtain was raised. Inside, a woman wearing a lilac-colored jacket smiled at him, “Young Master, we’ll be on our way now.”

Ye Xian no longer felt like smiling and responded flatly, “Enjoy your tour of the capital.”

The woman nodded, the curtain fell, and the sedan chair was lifted, slowly moving away.

Ye Xian stood watching for a long time.

Li Xianhuai hurriedly approached and whispered in his ear, “Young Master, please return home quickly! Your wife…”

Ye Xian frowned, “What has she done now?”

“She’s moved the books from your library, saying they were about to get moldy and needed to be aired out…”

Upon hearing this, Ye Xian’s face darkened, “How many times have I told her not to touch my things? Isn’t she pregnant? Why can’t she stay still… Why isn’t Mother watching her?” As he spoke, he hurried away with Li Xianhuai to rescue his books…

Someone was waiting at home for him to scold.

…Actually, that seemed quite nice too.