Chapter 330: Ruthlessness
Feng Jun and Jiang Yan received Third Master Chen in front of Ninghui Hall.
Third Master Chen stepped down from the carriage, removing his cloak as he walked toward the study.
Feng Jun and Jiang Yan followed behind him. After he took his seat at the desk, they stood respectfully before him.
Third Master Chen remained silent in contemplation for a moment.
Many thoughts occupied his mind—Zhang Julian, Zhu Junan, Ye Xian... Conflict was inevitable sooner or later.
Feng Jun stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Third Master, the investigation you ordered regarding Fourth Master has yielded results."
"Go ahead," Third Master Chen nodded, closing his eyes to listen carefully.
"Fourth Master... has indeed colluded with the Directorate of Ceremonial. His silk factory in Yangzhou is merely a front. The ramie silk, gauze, and damask from Ever Prosperous Trading Company actually originate from weaving bureaus in Yangzhou, Suzhou, and other regions. Thirty percent of Fourth Master's profits are shared with the eunuchs overseeing the weaving bureaus, another thirty percent appear on the Chen Family's official ledgers, while the remaining forty percent is secretly diverted elsewhere. Fourth Master also used Second Madam's shops to launder these funds, covering his tracks flawlessly."
Jiang Yan continued, "As you instructed, we also investigated whether Fourth Master had any dealings with Lord Zhang. While he hasn’t met Lord Zhang directly, he maintains close ties with Lord Zhang’s third brother-in-law, Wu Ziqing. The two frequently meet for drinks, usually at the Juxian Tavern. According to the tavern staff, they never entertain guests or allow company during these meetings, often locking themselves in a private room for hours."
"The collusion between Ever Prosperous Trading Company and the weaving bureaus involves severe corruption. Fourth Master has been collaborating with the eunuchs Hu Guang and Feng An for over a year, embezzling no less than 150,000 taels of silver. In return, Hu Guang and Feng An have facilitated Fourth Master’s illicit activities in the Northern Metropolitan Region. The scale of their corruption is staggering." Jiang Yan placed a ledger gently on the desk. "All the transactions are recorded here. Please review it, Third Master."
Third Master Chen picked it up and flipped through a few pages, his expression turning icy.
He tossed the ledger back onto the desk and said calmly, "Summon Chen Yanwen."
Jiang Yan acknowledged and left to carry out the order.
When Jiang Yan came to fetch Chen Yanwen, the latter was in Consort You’s chambers.
Consort You had been coaxing him to drink, and he took a sip from the cup she held out to him.
She then rose from the wormwood bed, draping herself over him with a soft giggle as she whispered in his ear, "Shall I call those two maids in to join us..."
Chen Yanwen was in no mood for merriment, unsettled by Third Master Chen’s recent odd behavior. He downed the wine in one gulp and remarked, "You’re not jealous anymore?"
Consort You laughed. "This concubine is no proper wife. Even if I were jealous, my heart still prioritizes my lord. Your happiness is my happiness."
Chen Yanwen loved it when she spoke like this.
Sure enough, his expression softened, and he pulled her closer by the waist. "Enough. I don’t need anyone else to serve me..."
As they whispered indecent words to each other, a maid announced that Fourth Master was being summoned.
Consort You pouted in displeasure, tugging at Chen Yanwen’s sash. "It must be Madam calling for you. I won’t let you go..."
Fourth Master Chen stroked her back calmly. "Just when I praised you for not being jealous, here you are starting again."
His cold fingers sent a chill down Consort You’s spine.
She clung to his arm with a coquettish laugh. "Do you really want to leave?"
The messenger outside repeated the summons, and only then did Fourth Master Chen realize it was Jiang Yan who had come.He pushed Consort You aside with a sweep of his hand, frowning. "Stop this nonsense, it's Mr. Jiang outside!" Only then did Consort You realize and hurriedly pulled up her Dudou, which had slipped to her waist, before helping Fourth Master Chen get dressed. By the time they finished, a quarter of an hour had already passed.
Jiang Yan saw Chen Yanwen emerge and greeted him with a cupped-hand salute. "Fourth Master, you’ve kept me waiting! Third Master is at Ninghui Hall and wishes to discuss urgent matters with you."
If it weren’t urgent, they wouldn’t have summoned him at night.
What puzzled Chen Yanwen was why they were meeting at Ninghui Hall. Usually, Third Master Chen spoke with him directly in Osmanthus Hall. Today, however, it was Ninghui Hall... Something major must have happened. His heart sank at the thought.
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 soaring dragon or dancing phoenix. The string of Buddhist beads on his wrist was tucked into his sleeve, barely visible.
Spotting the beads, Chen Yanwen couldn’t help but ask, "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you wear Buddhist beads, Third Brother. Why have you started again...?"
Third Master Chen remained silent while practicing calligraphy and thus didn’t answer.
Chen Yanwen lowered his voice. "I remember giving you a string of Buddhist beads once. Though the design was common, they were blessed by a high monk. I even went to Mount Wutai myself to obtain them..."
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 respond, Third Master Chen threw an account book at him.
Chen Yanwen instinctively caught it and flipped through it in confusion. As he turned the pages, his expression grew increasingly grim, his lips pressed tightly together.
"What did Zhang Ju Lian promise you?" Third Master Chen asked coolly.
Chen Yanwen held the account book, silent.
"I’ll ask again—what did he promise you?" His tone was light.
Chen Yanwen smiled. "Since you already know, why bother asking? If you’ve uncovered these accounts, then you must know about my dealings with the Directorate of Ceremonial. Yes, I did all this. What can you do about it? You’ve already ruined my career—do you want to send me to prison now? Even if you did, it would only disgrace the Chen Family. Though I suppose you’d gain a reputation for upholding justice at the expense of family ties."
This younger brother, only a year his junior, had always been venomous with his words.
Yet Third Master Chen regarded him calmly. "Do you know why I cut off your future?"
"Because even if I gave you a future—you wouldn’t be able to handle it! Your mind is too narrow, too callous. I can guess what Zhang Ju Lian offered you. Fine, now I ask you—do you hate me so much you want me dead?"
"Death is a bit extreme," Chen Yanwen said, his delicate face eerily composed. "Third Brother, you’re a gentleman, a strategist. I’m not like you. Besides, you underestimate me. If I were truly as you say, I’d have long been crushed beyond recovery by you, wouldn’t I? Zhang Ju Lian merely wants to use this to pressure you, so when he later asks you to do his dirty work, you won’t be able to refuse. I understand that perfectly. But not only did I not stop it—I encouraged it... Of the Chen Family’s legitimate heirs, only you and I remain. Yet the gap in our prospects is so vast. Do you know what outsiders say about me?"
Chen Yanwen said softly, "I’ve toiled like an ox or horse for all of you, yet among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, I’m still the lowest. I, too, am a Scholar of the Two Boards, yet I’m forced to wallow in the stench of money. Do you think I enjoy it?"Third Master Chen smiled. "You don't want to do it? I can't tell! How much of Yongchang Trading's internal accounts have gone into your private coffers—I won't even mention that. How many things have you done under the table using my connections? Have I ever questioned you about it? Do you really think I don't know?"
"If I wanted to leave you completely powerless, would you still be standing here talking to me so calmly? Do you think you're capable? Without the Chen Family, without me, could you have built Yongchang Trading? When you first started managing the Chen Family's businesses, how many deficits were there? And who covered them? Chen Yanwen, have you ever asked yourself that?"
Chen Yanwen's face turned pale.
In truth, he had always believed he was capable. It was just because of the Chen Family, because of Chen Yanyun, that he had no future! Who would have thought Third Master Chen could say such things? He stared coldly at Chen Yanyun, silent.
"You're not convinced?" Third Master Chen found it amusing. "Fine, I won't argue with you about this."
He walked up to Chen Yanwen and stood before him.
"If you weren't my blood brother, if you weren't Mother's son, do you know what I would do to you?" Third Master Chen clasped 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 doing these things would put me in Zhang Ju Lian's grasp, making me a lifelong accomplice to his schemes—even endangering the Chen Family. And still, you didn't stop. Now I ask you: do you still consider yourself a member of the Chen Family?"
Third Brother knew he had harmed Chen Fifth—that child who, despite being born of a concubine, was more favored than him.
And he had never said a word about it.
Such composure was truly beyond ordinary people.
Chen Yanwen remained silent.
Years of accumulated hatred couldn't be forgotten in an instant.
After a long while, he finally sighed. "Blood is thicker than water... Though I... I still consider myself part of the Chen Family. Zhang Ju Lian said that if you failed, I should take office. I could still ensure the Chen Family's wealth and prosperity. I'm not so heartless as to want to harm the Chen Family."
He actually believed all this?
Third Master Chen almost laughed. His younger brother—ruthless when it came to cruelty, yet so naive and foolish when it came to this.
Chen Yanwen didn't find himself ridiculous. After a long silence, he asked Third Master Chen, "Anyway, I've already done it. What do you plan to do?"
"That's none of your concern," Third Master Chen said coolly. "Starting today, you may still oversee the Chen Family's businesses, but I'll send someone to take over. You won't be in charge anymore. I know you're resentful. Go home and think carefully. You said blood is thicker than water—no matter what, you're still the Chen Family's Fourth Master. One last question: is there anything else you've hidden from me?"
Chen Yanwen's eyes flickered. He smiled. "Do you still trust me?"
Third Master Chen was silent.
Slowly, he asked, "You should ask yourself: are you worthy of trust?"
Chen Yanwen said, "Third Brother, you say I'm ruthless, but aren't you just as suspicious? Let's not point fingers at each other. Let's leave it at this for now."
He stood up, brushed the hem of his Straight Robe as if dusting off something dirty, then slowly walked out of Ninghui Hall.
Outside, someone announced that Caifu had arrived.
Gu Jinzhao had sent her to ask why Third Master Chen hadn't returned for so long.Third Master Chen said, "I still have some matters to attend to here. I'll come over after giving my instructions. Tell the mistress to rest first, and don't forget to add an extra quilt for her."
Caifu acknowledged with a smile and went back.
Third Master Chen gazed at the pitch-black sky outside the Lattice Window, his thoughts heavy.
OpenNovel