"Have you ever fought in a war before?" Ye Xian suddenly asked Chen Yanyun.
Without turning his head, Chen Yanyun replied, "I'm a civil official. How could I have?"
Ye Xian said, "My spies told me you know martial arts..."
Chen Yanyun avoided the question: "Then have you fought in a war?"
Ye Xian also shook his head: "I've been frail since childhood and never even practiced martial arts. Actually, my health still isn't great... But when my father fought against the Mongols, I provided strategies from the rear."
Chen Yanyun narrowed his eyes. The rain was too heavy to see clearly below.
"You were only thirteen when the Jalair Mongol tribe rebelled, weren't you?"
"That's right," Ye Xian answered. "At thirteen, Lord Chen was probably still at the Imperial Academy, right?"
"I never attended the Imperial Academy. My uncle taught me." Chen Yanyun said. "Why are you making small talk with me?"
"Just passing the time," Ye Xian said before falling silent.
Their men could no longer hold out.
The city gates were breached, and a flood of people surged in, their weapons gleaming. The sound of marching troops, their synchronized footsteps, was so overwhelming it drowned out even the rain. Arrows rained down from all directions—the imperial walls were heavily manned with crossbowmen.
But the vanguard consisted of heavily armored soldiers. Though slow-moving, their defenses were formidable.
Seeing this, Ye Xian frowned and waved his hand.
His men retreated silently at once, replaced by another group of crossbowmen. Their crossbows were specially crafted and extraordinarily powerful.
Arrows poured down like a storm, blotting out the sky.
This volley was far more devastating, claiming many lives, but it still couldn't halt the enemy's advance.
"Your crossbows are quite impressive," Chen Yanyun complimented.
Ye Xian smiled wryly. "And yet we'll still die."
"I'll die, but you won't," Chen Yanyun said with a laugh. "You're the last heir of the Marquis Changxing's household. If you die, and the Marquis suddenly retaliates, Zhang Ju Lian won't be able to handle it. You'll be captured as a puppet, and Zhang Ju Lian will use you to negotiate terms with the old Marquis."
"Then I'd rather die," Ye Xian said coolly.
A deputy general beside Ye Xian, who was directing the shield bearers, hastily interjected, "Young Master, you mustn't come to harm! If anything happens to you, how will I explain it to the old Marquis?" This deputy had campaigned north and south with Marquis Changxing for years and was well-versed in military tactics.
But no amount of experience could bridge the gap between the two opposing forces.
Ye Xian glanced at him, then said, "Chen Yanyun, this is also your miscalculation, isn't it? You didn't expect Zhang Ju Lian to be driven to desperate measures?"
Chen Yanyun remained silent.
The city gates were wide open, and cavalry had already entered. At the forefront, riding on horseback, was Fu Chi. The moment he appeared, arrows flew toward him in a concentrated barrage.
But Fu Chi stopped just inside the city gates, beyond the range of the arrows.
Ye Xian signaled his men to cease fire—no point wasting arrows.
After Fu Chi halted, Zhang Ju Lian slowly rode forward on his horse. Gazing at the two men before the Hall of Imperial Supremacy, he smiled. "Nine Balance, your strategies may be sound, but warfare isn't your forte, is it? If you surrender now and hand over Zhu Junan, I might spare your life."
"Teacher, after all these years together, we understand each other's temperaments well," Chen Yanyun said. "You'll definitely kill me—no need for empty promises."
Zhang Ju Lian laughed heartily. "After all these years, it's still you, Chen Yanyun, who knows me best. Our teacher-student bond wasn't in vain."Their people had already been subdued.
Ye Xian caught sight of the dark figures stealthily infiltrating the city walls—so numerous that the dense array of arrows aimed at them made him gasp sharply.
"Seems we're really going to die together," Ye Xian murmured softly.
Fu Chi commanded the troops to advance; they were no longer a threat.
Their forces split into two flanks as Zhang Ju Lian and his party rode forward slowly on horseback.
The rain had stopped, and the air was icy cold. At this moment, everything seemed unusually silent, even solemn.
Every time he attended court assemblies, Zhang Ju Lian would walk this very path, never finding it remarkable. But today, he felt it keenly—he was ascending step by step toward the pinnacle. Everything he desired would soon be within his grasp.
"Lord Chen, there's no need to worry," he said with a smile. "I've already dispatched a Garrison's worth of troops to the Chen Family. They'll surround and slaughter your kin. If you die, you'll soon be reunited with your family."
Chen Yanyun glared at him coldly. "Zhang Ju Lian, though I know you well—times like these make me realize I still don’t truly understand you. Your level of ruthlessness is indeed unmatched."
With a wave of Fu Chi's hand, dozens of men surged forward, encircling them tightly.
But Ye Xian suddenly stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Chen Yanyun.
"What are you doing?" Chen Yanyun asked in a low voice.
Ye Xian smiled. "I once promised Gu Jinzhao that I’d fulfill a request for her. But she never asked anything of me. If I save you now, that would count as keeping my word to her. The deputy general will protect you—you know martial arts, so you should be able to break through the encirclement, right?"
Chen Yanyun frowned, about to speak, but Ye Xian had already addressed Zhang Ju Lian: "Lord Zhang, I have an idea. Would you like to hear it?"
Zhang Ju Lian maintained his smile. "Oh, Young Master Ye, you’ve always been resourceful. I dare not entertain your suggestions. Since you wish to shield Lord Chen, why don’t I send both of you on your way together? After all, eliminating one or two makes no difference to me. You’ll have company for the journey ahead."
Ye Xian opened his mouth to speak again, but a hand settled on his shoulder.
"Step back. Let me handle this," came Chen Yanyun’s voice.
Before Ye Xian could respond, Chen Yanyun firmly pressed his shoulder and moved in front.
The encircling men tensed, stepping back as their embroidered spring sabers pointed at him.
"Lord Zhang, don’t you find anything amiss?" Chen Yanyun asked softly and deliberately.
Zhang Ju Lian narrowed his eyes. What did Chen Yanyun mean by that?
"Lord Chen, there’s no need for empty bluffs when death is at your doorstep," Zhang Ju Lian replied with a chuckle.
"Hmm, it’s understandable that Lord Zhang doesn’t believe me." Chen Yanyun seemed as relaxed as if strolling through a garden, unfazed by the saber tip now pressing against his chest. He took another step forward, letting the blade make contact.
Fu Chi’s voice turned icy. "Chen Yanyun, if you move again, don’t blame us! Do you know how many of our crossbowmen lie in wait?"
"I don’t. But you’re welcome to test that," Chen Yanyun replied with a faint smile.
Zhang Ju Lian’s heart tightened. Chen Yanyun didn’t seem to be bluffing—something was definitely wrong.
"If you won’t test it, then I will." Chen Yanyun nodded slightly and gestured with his hand.The crossbowmen hidden on the city walls immediately shifted their aim, their densely packed arrows now directed at Zhang Ju Lian and Fu Chi.
Zhang Ju Lian felt a chill run down his spine. How could this be? The crossbowmen were supposed to be his men, yet they had somehow become Chen Yanyun's!
Next, the men who had been pointing their swords at Chen Yanyun's chest swiftly withdrew their blades and took their places beside him. Dozens of them now stood respectfully behind Chen Yanyun and Ye Xian.
The reversal was so sudden that Ye Xian stared at Chen Yanyun in astonishment.
He had thought it strange that the old fox had been so quiet—surely there was something afoot. But when had Chen Yanyun managed to turn Zhang Ju Lian's men against him?
And here he had been, playing the part of the tragic hero so convincingly—turns out he was just toying with him all along!
Zhang Ju Lian was speechless.
His face turned deathly pale as one of his own lieutenants pressed a blade to his throat, smiling at Fu Chi. "Left Commander, would you kindly step back with your men? It wouldn't do for me to accidentally harm the Grand Secretary, now would it?"
"You... when did you..." Zhang Ju Lian rasped at Chen Yanyun before changing his question. "Just how many are there?"
"Many," Chen Yanyun replied. "But you'll never see them, which is why you were destined to lose. Lord Zhang, do you know how many of your own people no longer trust you? How many resent you? I truly couldn't count them all."
Zhang Ju Lian let out a bitter laugh, unable to speak for a long moment.
Fu Chi took a few steps back, his face twisted with unwillingness. "Chen Yanyun, even if you've replaced the crossbowmen, do you really think you can defeat the troops I've brought?"
If death was inevitable, he might as well abandon Zhang Ju Lian and fight his way out with his own men.
But then, the sound of an army echoed from beyond the city gates—a mighty, thunderous noise. Fu Chi's expression changed, and he turned to look. Indeed, a vast force had halted outside the walls, their numbers likely equal to or greater than his own. As the army came to a stop, a single rider slowly made his way forward—Zhao Huai, the Commander-in-Chief of Shaanxi. He yawned lazily at Chen Yanyun. "I've been waiting outside the Meridian Gate for ages—what took you so long?"
Spotting Fu Chi, he grinned. "Well, well, if it isn't the Left Commander! You here for the fun too?"
Chen Yanyun smiled faintly. "You're too impatient. Couldn't you have waited a little longer?"
At this point, Zhang Ju Lian understood everything.
He had walked right into Chen Yanyun's trap.
He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by despair. Xiao You had once warned him—if he didn't eliminate Chen Yanyun, the day would come when Zhang Ju Lian would die by his hand. Back then, he hadn't taken it seriously. Yet now, Xiao You's words had come true.
Perhaps this was fate. No matter how he tried to guard against Chen Yanyun, it was never enough.
Chen Yanyun, however, had no desire to linger. He turned to Zhao Huai. "Since you're here, you can handle the rest. I have other matters to attend to."
With that, he mounted his horse and swiftly rode out of the city.
Zhao Huai shouted after him, "Chen San, where the hell are you going? Should we kill this old bastard or lock him up—hey!"
Ye Xian's calm voice drifted from behind. "Let him go."
A strange feeling settled in his heart—no longer the threat of death, but a mix of loss and relief, tangled together in complexity.
This was for the best, Ye Xian thought to himself.
It had to be.Meanwhile, a hundred miles away at the Chen Family residence, Gu Jinzhao looked at Chen Xuanyue with an extremely peculiar expression.
Not just her—Madam Chen and Chang Laofuren were also staring at him with odd expressions. Chen Xi, who had just woken up, held her younger brother while gazing unblinkingly at her ninth brother. Outside, the guards of Crane Extension Tower stood by the door, their faces drenched in sweat.
Chen Xuanyue was baffled. "Why is everyone looking at me like that..."
Gu Jinzhao glanced toward the moon gate, where the scene remained chaotic—charred wood, collapsed beams and pillars... and armored corpses strewn about.
Before the rain, things had been manageable. But after the rain stopped at midnight, Chen Xuanyue had ordered pine oil to be poured out, letting it flow with the rainwater. Then, he had his men shoot flaming arrows into the mix, igniting a massive blaze. The attackers, clad in armor, couldn't withstand the flames. He immediately had crossbowmen take positions on the walls, picking off the survivors with poisoned arrows. Half were killed or wounded, and the rest, exhausted, were captured alive by Crane Extension Tower's men.
However, the front courtyard of the Chen Family had been largely burned down, and rebuilding it would likely be a tremendous hassle.
Seeing the ruins, Chen Xuanyue seemed to realize something. "Aunt, survival comes first. Wealth is just an external possession..." Were they upset that he had burned down the front courtyard?
Gu Jinzhao waved her hand. "It's fine. You did well." Truly, he was destined to become a great general.
For the first time, Madam Chen regarded her grandson with serious attention and called him over. "Xuanyue, come here. Your grandmother has a few questions for you."
Her tone was unusually gentle. Chen Xuanyue had no choice but to obediently approach and listen.
As dawn approached, Gu Jinzhao still felt a lingering worry. They had been up all night dealing with the chaos, but she had no idea how Third Master Chen was faring—had anything unexpected happened?
Just as she was lost in thought, she saw Chen Yi sprinting toward them from a distance. Though his face was smeared with soot and he looked utterly disheveled, he was beaming.
"Madam! Madam!" he shouted as he ran. "Third Master has returned—he's already at the alley entrance!"
Gu Jinzhao stood up, a smile spreading uncontrollably across her face.
She could already picture his tall figure, and her grin widened further.
She felt silly, yet she couldn't restrain herself.
She quickened her pace toward him.
Soon, she was nearly running, her urgency undeniable.
Before Chen Yanyun could even react to the destruction of the Chen Family's property, he saw her rushing toward him like an excited child. A smile broke across his face, and he spread his arms to catch her, afraid she might stumble.
Nothing else mattered as much as her.
On the twentieth day of the fifth month of the third year of the Wanli era, Zhang Ju Lian and Fu Chi's rebellion failed, and they died by arrow wounds. On the twenty-eighth day of the sixth month of the same year, their faction was purged, plunging the court into a storm of bloodshed. Over two hundred officials, high and low, were imprisoned. On the third day of the seventh month, He Wenxin assumed the position of Grand Secretary of the Grand Secretariat, with Chen Yanyun serving as Deputy Grand Secretary.
On the second day of the fourth month of the fifth year of Wanli, He Wenxin passed away from illness. On the first day of the fifth month of the same year, Chen Yanyun was appointed Grand Secretary and granted the additional title of Crown Prince's Tutor, while Liang Lin became Deputy Grand Secretary. Ye Xian was promoted to Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The second day of the fifth month of the fifth year of Wanli.
Early summer again, and the willow trees in the imperial city flourished even more vibrantly.
Ye Xian emerged from the Huangji Gate after court dismissal. Ahead of him, he saw Chen Yanyun surrounded by several officials, now clad in the crimson robes of the first rank, embroidered with cranes.
Quickening his pace, Ye Xian approached with a faint smile. "Grand Secretary, allow this humble official to congratulate you.""You're too kind, Young Master," Chen Yanyun simply replied.
Ye Xian looked around but couldn't spot Chen Yanyun's sedan chair, which had the privilege of entering the Meridian Gate.
"Has the Grand Secretary come to observe the common people's lives today? How come you don't even have your sedan chair?"
"My wife is in the sedan, so it wasn't appropriate to bring it inside," Chen Yanyun explained.
Ye Xian made an understanding sound. "Lord Chen, why have you brought your wife along?"
"She's never been to the capital before. I promised to show her around, and today seemed perfect," Chen Yanyun replied with a gentle smile.
Ahead stood the Meridian Gate, where indeed his sedan chair waited by the gate, guarded by attendants.
Ye Xian stopped and called out, "Grand Secretary."
Chen Yanyun turned to look at him.
"Will we remain enemies in the future?" Ye Xian asked with a smile.
Chen Yanyun nodded, also smiling. "Naturally."
He entered the sedan, and just as it was about to be lifted, the curtain was drawn aside. A woman in a lilac-colored beizi smiled at him. "Young Master, we'll be on our way now."
Ye Xian's smile faded, and he responded indifferently with a hum. "Take a good look at the capital."
The woman nodded, the curtain fell back into place, and the sedan was lifted, slowly moving away.
Ye Xian stood staring after it for a long while.
Li Xianhuai hurried over and whispered in his ear, "Young Master, you must return at once! The Young Mistress..."
Ye Xian frowned. "What has she done now?"
"She's taken all the books from your library, saying they were getting moldy and needed airing..."
Ye Xian's face darkened upon hearing this. "How many times have I told her not to touch my things? Isn't she pregnant? Why can't she stay idle... And why isn't Mother keeping an eye on her?" With that, he followed Li Xianhuai back in quick strides to salvage his books...
There was someone at home waiting to be scolded.
...Perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing after all.
(The End).
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