The rear hall of the Chen manor was utterly silent. The names Jiaotu and Yunyang felt like two sharp blades piercing Chen Liqin’s chest; in an instant, his blood churned, and he felt utterly drained.

Madam Liang stood up to support him, asking in a low voice, “Master, perhaps it’s nothing serious?”

Chen Liqin sighed inwardly. Jiaotu and Yunyang were two of the Twelve Zodiac Envoys; for both to arrive simultaneously, it must be an extremely significant matter. How could a trivial issue alarm them?

After much deliberation, he instructed a servant boy, “Please invite them in…”

Before his words had fully faded, a flippant voice drifted in from outside the door: “No need to invite, we’re already in. It’s quite surprising to find Lord Chen so courteous to our Directorate of Ceremonial; I was previously worried he wouldn’t let us through the gate.”

Everyone in the rear hall looked over simultaneously. They saw Yunyang in front and Jiaotu behind, casually strolling through the archway directly into the rear hall.

Yunyang wore a black close-fitting outfit, which highlighted his fair and handsome face.

In his right hand, he held an envelope, slowly tapping it against his left palm, looking like a refined young nobleman attending a banquet with an invitation.

Yunyang glanced into the rear hall with a smile. “Oh, so many people here. Are you perhaps discussing something important? Lord Chen, perhaps we’ve arrived at an inopportune moment. Shall we visit another day?”

He paused at the door, looking at the couplet in the Chen manor’s rear hall. He murmured, “‘Literary flow means good fortune flow’… Lord Chen, I’m afraid your literary flow might not lead to good fortune flow after all.”

Chen Liqin’s heart sank. He looked at the envelope in the other’s hand… The visitors certainly boded no good.

He quietly instructed Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, Madam Liang, and the others, “I need to discuss important matters with Lord Jiaotu and Lord Yunyang. You all may withdraw.”

“Hold on!” Yunyang said with a beaming smile. “Lord Chen, what we’re about to discuss isn’t something secretive. Everyone can stay and listen.”

Chen Liqin’s expression darkened.

Yunyang asked with interest, “Won’t Lord Chen offer us a cup of tea?”

Madam Liang hastily stood up and headed outside, raising a hand to signal a maidservant, “Brew tea for our guests.”

Yunyang nodded with satisfaction. He looked around and found there was only one empty chair left, then turned and stared fixedly at Chen Wenxiao.

Not until Chen Wenxiao stood up and moved aside did Yunyang thank him, then smilingly invited Jiaotu, “Jiaotu, come sit.”

Yunyang’s gaze did not linger on Chen Ji when it passed over him. Chen Ji also did not look at them; he simply gazed at the rafters in the rear hall, remaining silent and seemingly lost in thought.

Yunyang cast another sidelong glance at him, then turned and curiously asked Chen Liqin, “Lord Chen, what important matter was the Chen manor discussing just now? Would you care to share?”

Chen Wenzong said coldly, “What kind of guest inquires about their host’s private family matters? If your Directorate of Ceremonial intends to cause us trouble, you can state your intentions directly, instead of putting on an act here.”

Yunyang raised an eyebrow. “Oh, is merely asking not allowed? Does the Chen manor have some unspeakable secret? Our Secret Directorate acts on behalf of Heaven, sharing His Majesty’s burdens. The private affairs of all officials are matters of state. Why can’t we ask?”

“You…” Chen Wenzong retorted angrily.

Fearing her son would anger the eunuch faction, Madam Liang hastily returned to the room, pulling Chen Wenzong aside.

She smiled and explained to Yunyang, “My Lords, what we were discussing just now was a family matter. My third son of the Chen manor was mischievous in his youth and developed a gambling habit. Now that he has suddenly acquired some money, I, as his mother, worry he might revert to his old ways, so I wanted him to deposit this money with the Chen manor’s public funds, to prevent him from squandering it again.”

Jiaotu let out an “Oh,” as if suddenly enlightened. “Isn’t your third son of the Chen manor named Chen Wenxiao?”

Madam Liang was startled. “This Lord has made a mistake. My third son of the Chen manor is named Chen Ji. Look, he’s the one standing by the door.”

Jiaotu looked at Yunyang doubtfully. “Isn’t that incorrect?”

Yunyang also looked puzzled. “Indeed, it’s incorrect!”

Seeing the two of them act this way, Chen Liqin suddenly felt confused. “What are you two talking about?”

Yunyang stood up with a smile and handed over the envelope he held. “Lord Chen, please take a look at what’s inside this envelope first.”

Chen Liqin reached out to take it, but just as his hand touched the envelope, Yunyang pulled it back.

Yunyang looked at Madam Liang and joked, “Madam, do you have any Angong Niuhuang Pills in the manor? You should have some ready for Lord Chen, lest he faints from anger after reading what’s inside the letter.”

Chen Liqin gave an angry snort. “Lord Yunyang, you may do as you please, but there’s no need to mock this official!”

He snatched the envelope from Yunyang’s hand, shook out the paper to read it, and his brow instantly relaxed.

It wasn’t the declaration against the rebels he had written for Mr. Feng!

That was good!

However, as he read further down, his expression grew solemn once more.

As Chen Liqin read the paper, he simultaneously cast his gaze towards Chen Wenxiao standing nearby.

As he continued to read, he suddenly roared at Chen Wenxiao, “Look at the mess you’ve made!”

Madam Liang was utterly bewildered. She hastily came forward and asked, “What’s wrong, Master? Why are you losing your temper with our son for no reason?”

Chen Liqin flung the paper into Madam Liang’s arms. “See for yourself! This is the result of you pampering him every day!”

Chen Wenxiao had originally been bewildered, but upon hearing this, he finally remembered what he had written for the Secret Directorate. His face instantly turned ashen!

He instinctively glanced at Chen Ji, then turned to Chen Liqin. “Father, I was forced to write that at the time! I didn’t do those things!”

“Oh?” Jiaotu said playfully. “Does Young Master Chen mean our Secret Directorate tortured you into a confession? May I ask if you sustained any injuries at the time?”

Chen Wenxiao stammered, “N-no…”

Jiaotu let out a soft “Hmm?” “That’s strange then. If you have no injuries, how did we force you to write this confession? Don’t you dare falsely accuse us, or we’ll have to arrest you again for further verification.”

Chen Liqin glared at Chen Wenxiao. “Stop trying to argue!”

Not until he saw this confession statement did he suddenly understand that all the misdeeds attributed to Chen Ji over the years were actually slander orchestrated by Chen Wenxiao.

Had Chen Ji ever explained? Of course he had, but at the time, when Chen Ji cried injustice, he simply didn’t believe him.

And now, Chen Wenxiao had confessed everything in the statement, and the truth was clear.

Chen Liqin’s face alternated between green and red. For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.

Chen Wenzong looked at his father, then at his mother, and suddenly looked confused. “What confession did Wenxiao write?”

As he spoke, he leaned in to look.

But Madam Liang quickly folded the confession and said casually, “This doesn’t concern you. Wenzong, Chen Ji, you two may withdraw for now.”

“Wait, Chen Ji?” Jiaotu stood up and asked doubtfully, “Earlier, Madam said the third son of the Chen manor was named Chen Ji. But this confession states that Chen Wenxiao framed Chen Ji for all the gambling debts… Hey, young man, are you Chen Ji?”

Chen Ji was startled. “That’s me.”

Jiaotu clicked her tongue twice. “It’s so unlucky to take such a big blame for your elder brother. Oh dear. We had also heard earlier that there was an unfilial illegitimate son in the Chen manor who was addicted to gambling, but we didn’t expect him to be framed.”

Chen Ji suddenly turned to look at Madam Liang, then a moment later at Chen Liqin, asking incredulously, “Lord Chen, is what Lord Jiaotu said true?”

Hearing “Lord Chen,” Chen Liqin felt another pang in his heart. “Yes…”

Madam Liang hastily grabbed his arm. “Master, this is a disgrace to the Chen manor; it must not be spread further.”

Chen Liqin flung his sleeve, pushing Madam Liang aside. He asked angrily, “How much longer will you keep favoring Chen Wenxiao? They’ve already come to our door with the confession, demanding an explanation. Do you still think this can be concealed?”

Yunyang, with a beaming smile, played the peacemaker. “Lord Chen, please don’t misunderstand. We were simply sorting through documents before withdrawing from Luocheng and accidentally came across this confession. Lord Chen treats the common people as his own children and has personally managed everything since arriving in Luocheng, keeping it in perfect order, which we greatly admire. When we found this confession, we felt it shouldn’t be left behind, so we specifically brought it back to return it. We certainly have no intention of demanding an explanation; after all, our Secret Directorate doesn’t handle such matters.”

Chen Liqin remained silent.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that today’s events were peculiar. Yunyang and Jiaotu seemed to have come specifically to champion Chen Ji, and it was precisely this matter, at precisely this time.

He knew perfectly well how ruthless the Twelve Zodiac Envoys of the Secret Directorate were. He wouldn’t believe a single word that they returned the confession out of admiration for him.

But the problem lay here: What kind of people were the Twelve Zodiac Envoys under the Grand Imperial Secretary, and how could they specifically come to stand up for Chen Ji?

The more Chen Liqin thought about it, the more confused he became.

At this point, Yunyang cupped his hands in salute. “Since the confession has been delivered, we shall not disturb you further. We bid you farewell.”

With that, he suddenly stepped forward, leaned close to Chen Liqin’s ear, and whispered, “Lord Chen, do you remember what you wrote in the Prince of Jing’s manor? Our Secret Directorate probably knows more than you imagine.”

Chen Liqin’s expression suddenly changed!

So, they really knew about this matter. The declaration against the rebels had indeed fallen into the hands of the Secret Directorate. Their pretense of delivering the confession was false; in reality, they came to warn him.

Chen Liqin lowered his voice and asked, “What exactly do you want?”

Yunyang actually didn’t know what Chen Liqin had written; Chen Ji had simply instructed them to say that. He hadn’t expected Chen Liqin to react so strongly upon hearing it.

But the act had to continue.

Yunyang said with a half-smile, “Lord Chen, we haven’t quite figured out what we want yet. We’ll let you know once we’ve decided. Jiaotu, let’s go.”

He turned and left, Jiaotu following behind.

As she passed Chen Ji by the door, she turned her back to the others and asked in a voice barely above a whisper, “Lord Chen, how was my performance? If you’re satisfied, there should be a reward, you know.”

Before Chen Ji could react, Jiaotu had already left with a light laugh.

In the Chen manor’s rear hall, there was a deathly silence, with only Chen Liqin’s heavy breathing remaining.

A moment later, Chen Liqin roared, “Wang Gui! Take Chen Wenxiao away and give him twenty heavy strokes! After that, drag him into the ancestral hall to kneel for a day and a night, then we’ll talk!”

Hearing this, Madam Liang hastily grabbed Chen Liqin’s arm. “Master, he’s supposed to attend the poetry gathering with Wenzong tomorrow. How can he go after twenty heavy strokes?”

Chen Liqin’s beard trembled with anger. He sneered three times, “At a time like this, he still wants to attend a poetry gathering? Does he even deserve to? Chen Ji has borne so much ignominy for him all these years. How innocent is Chen Ji? Wang Gui, what are you waiting for? Drag Chen Wenxiao away at once!”

Madam Liang sobbed, “Master, no! He’s about to go to the capital for the imperial examination. What if he’s injured?”

Chen Liqin was furious. “Imperial examination? I’ll immediately send a letter to the capital and ask the Educational Commissioner to submit a memorial to strip him of his provincial scholar title!”

Madam Liang was utterly shocked.

She stopped sobbing, turned to face Chen Ji, and made as if to kneel. “Chen Ji, please forgive your elder brother; he was just momentarily confused!”

Chen Ji raised an eyebrow and swiftly moved aside. The Ning Dynasty governed by the principle of filial piety; if he allowed Madam Liang to truly kneel to him, his own reputation would be ruined in the future.

Fortunately, Chen Wenzong, standing nearby, promptly supported his mother. He said angrily, “Mother, what are you doing? Wenxiao made a mistake; he should naturally be punished!”

Chen Wenxiao’s eyes widened. “Brother?!”

Chen Ji looked up at Chen Liqin, cupped his hands in salute, and asked, “Lord Chen, how to punish Chen Wenxiao is a family matter for the Chen manor, for you to decide. I merely wish to ask, now that the truth is clear, do I still need to hand over that sum of silver?”

Chen Liqin remained silent for a long time, then said dejectedly, “No, you don’t.”

Chen Ji cupped his hands and bowed. “Then I shall return to rest. I take my leave.”