Chen Cong frowned slightly. "Aren't you afraid those old fossils in the imperial family will have objections?"
Chen Xiaojun chuckled and said with utter unconcern, "Are they afraid a Titled Douluo will appear in an official academy under their own command?"
"Hmph. What did we do? Nothing more than you, as Old Zhuo's colleague, gifting him a few spiritual herbs and a few jars of wine."
"Whether he succeeds or not mainly depends on Old Zhuo himself, doesn't it?"
Then he spoke with a somewhat free and unrestrained air. "As long as it looks acceptable on the surface, what can they do even if they find out?"
"You deliberately supporting a colleague is also a show of how wholeheartedly you're serving the academy."
Chen Xiaojun's tone turned a little teasing. "As for whether they really can't make sense of it, then let them fail to make sense of it."
"There are plenty of things they're unhappy about. This one won't make much difference."
"We don't live for their sake, so why care about what they think?"
"When you're fine, I'm fine, and everyone's fine—that's what's truly fine."
Though those words sounded rather like sly sarcasm, they were indeed the plain truth. Did they really have to be one family that loved and fought each other?
Chen Cong fell silent, and Chen Menglin likewise sank into thought.
After a long while, Chen Cong sighed and said, "I was fixated on appearances. I worried too much."
"Old Meng, when Old Qiu comes back, have him bring a precious herb of both wind and lightning attributes. Prepare the other things as well."
Chen Menglin nodded and replied, "That works."
Chen Cong looked at Chen Xiaojun again and instructed, "Once Old Qiu arrives, Xiaojun, notify Old Zhuo to come over."
Chen Xiaojun agreed with