The Chen Family's Conspiracy

His tone was steady, carrying the authority of someone in a superior position.

"The Imperial Guard has always been clear about rewards and punishments. Those who perform well will be rewarded and will not be mistreated."

Commander Ling seized the opportunity to add.

"Commander, Su Fei not only solved the case with incredible speed, but his martial arts cultivation is also very impressive. Yesterday, facing Wan Mengchang, who is in the Xiantian Realm, he took a blow with his True Qi Realm cultivation. This kind of strength is truly rare for someone in the True Qi Realm."

Hearing this, Commander Feng's eyes flashed with surprise before he announced loudly.

"Good. This Commander will now announce your commendation."

"Su Fei, your original position was an Imperial Guard Squad Leader. Due to your meritorious service, you are promoted one rank to the position of Imperial Guard General Banner Officer. You are awarded three hundred taels of silver and ten bottles of cultivation elixirs. Each of your ten Strongmen subordinates will receive fifty taels of silver and a minor merit, as encouragement."

As soon as he finished speaking, a minor official entered with a tray. On the tray was a brand-new General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe.

A General Banner Officer was a military official of the seventh rank, with a monthly salary of twenty taels.

He commanded fifty Imperial Guard Strongmen.

Compared to the Squad Leader's Flying Fish Robe, the General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe was more exquisite, with more intricate gold thread embroidery of the Flying Fish pattern.

Beside it was a stack of neatly arranged silver ingots, a full three hundred taels.

The small courtyard at home was only worth about three hundred taels, which Su Fei's father had bought by exhausting his savings.

He never expected Su Fei to earn three hundred taels just by performing a meritorious deed.

This showed how capable Su Fei was.

As for the ten bottles of elixirs, Su Fei felt he wouldn't need them, but they could be given to his subordinates.

Su Fei stepped forward, took the tray with both hands, and said solemnly.

"This subordinate thanks the Commander for his grace. This subordinate will definitely do his best to serve the Imperial Guard and live up to the Commander's high expectations."

Commander Feng looked at Su Fei and nodded with satisfaction. Then, he changed the subject.

"By the way, Su Fei, I heard that you crippled Chen Zhenyu's nephew, Chen Hu, at the training grounds a few days ago and offended Captain Chen."

"Don't worry. This Commander will personally send someone to warn him, to make him abide by the rules and not to make things difficult for you privately. You just need to focus on your duties and perform well. The Imperial Guard never mistreats those who have rendered meritorious service."

"If you achieve new merits in the future, there will be further rewards."

Su Fei's heart stirred. Even if Captain Chen came to trouble him now, he wouldn't need to fear anything. However, he still said aloud.

"Thank you, Commander, for your consideration."

Commander Ling chuckled from the side.

"Su Fei, hurry up and change into your General Banner Officer's robe. From now on, you are a General Banner Officer. You've only been a Squad Leader for a few days, and you've already been promoted to General Banner Officer. Your promotion speed has broken the record for our Qingzhou Thousand Households Office."

Su Fei responded and, guided by the minor official, went to a side room to change into the General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe.

The well-fitting Flying Fish Robe made him look even more heroic.

When he emerged from the study again, even Commander Feng couldn't help but praise him.

"What a promising young General Banner Officer."

Commander Feng offered Su Fei a few more words of encouragement before letting him leave.

After leaving the Commander's office, Su Fei had just reached the corridor when he saw Wang Meng and the others waiting there.

Upon seeing the General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe on him, everyone immediately cheered.

"Congratulations, General Banner Officer Su, on your promotion."

"Thanks to General Banner Officer Su, I didn't do anything, and I received fifty taels of silver and a minor merit."

"It's great working for Lord Su. From now on, I, Ling Si, will pledge my loyalty to Lord Su until death."

Su Fei looked at these supportive subordinates and their excited expressions, feeling a sense of pride.

From an Imperial Guard Squad Leader to a General Banner Officer, he had achieved it in just a few days.

This was only the beginning; his path in the Imperial Guard had just started.

"Wang Meng, you contributed a lot this time. Take these elixirs. I hope you can break through to the True Qi Realm soon."

Wang Meng accepted the elixirs with a look of surprise, his gratitude towards Su Fei reaching its peak.

Following such a generous superior, why would he worry about not being promoted or getting rich in the future?

The other Strongmen looked at Wang Meng with envious eyes.

It was just that during the investigation of the missing children case, Lord Su had asked who was willing to accompany him.

Wang Meng had been the fastest to respond and agreed.

Now, it seemed this kid had struck it rich.

They all felt an indescribable regret, wishing they had reacted faster back then.

Perhaps they would have been the ones to receive the elixirs.

Su Fei continued.

"Today, I'm treating everyone. Let's all go to the Drunken Flower Pavilion."

A group of strongmen cheered and surrounded Su Fei as they walked outside.

The Drunken Flower Pavilion was a rather large brothel.

It had everything; if you could think of it, they could provide it.

Su Fei entered with ten strongmen and found a private room.

Under the madam's arrangement, a line of girls entered the room.

The Drunken Flower Pavilion lived up to its reputation as a famous brothel; the women who came in were beauties rarely seen in the outside world.

Su Fei first chose two girls who could sing, then had them each pick someone to pour drinks for them.

The group began to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves.

Where there is joy, there is also sorrow.

In the main hall of the Chen family mansion, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Chen Zhenyu, a Hundred Households Officer of the Imperial Guard, stood with his hands behind his back by the window.

He looked displeased. Just moments ago, he had met someone sent by Commander Feng, which greatly annoyed him.

"Big Brother, Commander Feng has sent word, telling our Chen family not to trouble Su Fei."

He turned around, his tone full of unwillingness.

"I was already preparing to have someone deal with him, but I never expected that in just a few days, that kid would solve a case and block a blow from a Xiantian Realm expert. Commander Feng values him so much that he sent someone to deliver a message, specifically to back him up."

The inner room door creaked open, and Chen Zhenfeng, the eldest of the Chen family, walked out. He was dressed like a businessman, but his face looked somewhat haggard, and his expression was filled with intense anger.

"Second Brother, what did you say? Feng Changqing sent someone to deliver a message for that Su Fei?"

"Yes, Big Brother. How is Hu'er?"

"Alas, he's still lying there. His Dantian was destroyed, and I'm afraid he'll never be able to cultivate martial arts again."

"He'll have to do business like me from now on."

Chen Zhenyu gritted his teeth.

"Su Fei was truly ruthless. He knew Hu'er was one of our Chen family, yet he still struck with such force. He doesn't put our Chen family in his eyes. You say..."

Before he could finish, a furious voice interrupted him.

"Father! Second Uncle!"

"Why shouldn't we trouble him? That Su Fei is just a kid who got lucky. Our Chen family has been rooted in Qingzhou for many years. How can he compare to our Chen family?"

Chen Zhenfeng walked into the inner room and looked at his son, who was bandaged in bed, his brow furrowed.

"Hu'er, one Su Fei is nothing."

"But Commander Feng is the person in charge of the Qingzhou Imperial Guard. His authority is immense, and you know the rules of the Imperial Guard."

"Rules? I think he's just being biased."

Chen Hu slammed the bed, wincing in pain but refusing to stop.

"Su Fei only became a Squad Leader a few days ago and was promoted to General Banner Officer. What's so impressive about solving one case? Maybe it was all planned beforehand!"

Chen Zhenyu followed him in and said in a deep voice.

"Big Brother, Hu'er has a point. That kid's promotion speed is too fast, and he's gained Commander Feng's favor. If this continues, when he becomes a Commander, even if we don't retaliate, he will retaliate against us."

Chen Zhenfeng sighed.

"He has the Commander protecting him now, and he solved the Missing Children Case. Recently, the people of Qingzhou Prefecture City have been talking about Su Fei during their tea breaks. He's at the peak of his momentum. What should we do?"

Chen Zhenyu clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

"Commander Feng only said not to trouble Su Fei, but who can say for sure about things done in secret? Big Brother, if we use that thing, do you think it would work?"

Hearing this, Chen Zhenfeng's heart leaped.

"Second Brother, isn't using that thing too risky? If it's discovered, it's a crime punishable by death for the entire family."

Chen Zhenyu continued.

"Big Brother, as long as we plan carefully and ensure it's foolproof, once that thing is used, even a Xiantian Realm martial artist caught off guard will be killed. Killing a True Qi Realm martial artist like Su Fei will be no problem at all."

"If we don't kill him now, and let him grow stronger, it will be detrimental to our Chen family and potentially a great disaster."

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