Conspiracy of the Chen Family

His tone was steady, carrying the majesty of one in high position.

"The Imperial Guard has always been clear in rewarding merit and punishing wrongdoing. Those with merit will certainly be rewarded; we will not treat you unfairly."

Commander Ling struck while the iron was hot from the side.

"Commander Feng, not only did Su Fei solve the case with astonishing speed, his martial cultivation is also exceptional. Yesterday, facing Wan Mengchang of the Xiantian Realm, he received one strike with merely True Qi Realm cultivation. Such strength is truly rare among True Qi Realm martial artists."

Hearing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Commander Feng's eyes before he declared in a ringing voice,

"Good. Today, I shall announce your reward."

"Su Fei, you were originally an Imperial Guard Junior Banner Officer. In recognition of your merit, you are hereby promoted one rank and appointed an Imperial Guard General Banner Officer. You are awarded three hundred taels of silver and ten bottles of cultivation pills. The ten Strongmen under your command shall each receive fifty taels of silver and one minor merit, as encouragement."

As soon as he finished speaking, a minor official entered carrying a tray. Upon it lay a brand-new General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe.

General Banner Officer was a Principal Seventh Rank military post, with a monthly salary of twenty taels.

He commanded fifty Imperial Guard Strongmen.

Compared with the Junior Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe, the General Banner Officer's robe was far more exquisite, and the golden-thread embroidery of the flying fish pattern was even more intricate.

Beside it lay a neat stack of silver ingots, a full three hundred taels.

The small courtyard at home was worth only around three hundred taels, and even that had been bought only after Su Zhan exhausted all his savings.

Yet with this single accomplishment, Su Fei had directly received three hundred taels.

It was clear just how capable Su Fei was.

Su Fei felt he had no use for ten bottles of pills, but they could be bestowed upon his subordinates.

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

"This subordinate thanks Commander Feng for your favor. This subordinate will certainly devote himself wholeheartedly to serving the Imperial Guard and will not disappoint your high expectations."

Commander Feng looked at Su Fei and nodded in satisfaction, but then changed the subject.

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

"Rest assured. I will personally send someone to warn him to observe the rules and not make things difficult for you in private. You need only serve with peace of mind and perform well. The Imperial Guard never mistreats meritorious officials."

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

Su Fei's heart stirred. Even if Captain Chen came to cause him trouble now, he had nothing to fear. Still, he said aloud,

"Thank you for your thorough consideration, Commander Feng."

Commander Ling smiled from the side.

"Su Fei, why don't you hurry and change into your General Banner Officer's uniform? From now on, you are a General Banner Officer. You have only been a Junior Banner Officer for a few days, yet you have already risen to General Banner Officer. Your speed of promotion has refreshed the record of our Qingzhou Thousand Households Office."

Su Fei answered and, under the minor official's guidance, went to a side room to change into the General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe.

The well-fitted Flying Fish Robe made him look even more valiant and heroic.

When he emerged from the study again, even Commander Feng could not help praising him.

"What a promising young General Banner Officer."

Commander Feng offered Su Fei a few more words of encouragement before finally allowing him to leave.

After leaving the Thousand Households Office, Su Fei had just reached the corridor when he saw Wang Meng and the others waiting there.

The moment they saw the General Banner Officer's Flying Fish Robe on him, they erupted in cheers.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Commander Su!"

"Thanks to Commander Su, I didn't even do anything, yet I received fifty taels of silver and a minor merit."

"Working under Lord Su is simply amazing. From now on, I, Ling Si, swear to serve Lord Su unto death."

Su Fei looked at these loyal subordinates and their excited expressions, and a trace of pride rose in his heart.

From Imperial Guard Junior Banner Officer to General Banner Officer, he had achieved it in just a few short days.

This was merely the beginning. His path through the Imperial Guard had only just begun.

"Wang Meng, you contributed quite a bit this time. Take these pills. I hope you break through to the True Qi Realm soon."

Wang Meng accepted the pills with a face full of delight. His gratitude toward Su Fei reached its peak.

Following such a generous superior, why would he need to worry about not rising in rank and making a fortune in the future?

The other Strongmen all looked at Wang Meng with envious eyes.

Was it not simply that, when they had been investigating the Missing Children Case, Lord Su had asked who was willing to accompany him?

Wang Meng had reacted the fastest and agreed first.

Looking at it now, this fellow had gained a tremendous advantage.

Their hearts were filled with an indescribable regret. If only they had reacted a little faster back then.

Perhaps the one receiving the pills would have been them.

Su Fei continued,

"Today, my treat. Let's all go to the Drunken Flower Pavilion."

The group of Strongmen cheered and surrounded Su Fei as they headed outside.

The Drunken Flower Pavilion was a fairly large brothel.

It had everything inside. There was only what you could not think of, not what it could not provide.

Su Fei brought the ten Strongmen inside and found a private room.

At the madam's arrangement, a row of young women entered the private room.

The Drunken Flower Pavilion truly deserved its reputation as a famous brothel. Every woman who came in was a beauty rarely seen outside.

Su Fei first chose two girls to sing, then had each of the men pick one to pour drinks for him.

The group began eating, drinking, and making merry.

Where there was joy, there was sorrow.

Inside the main hall of the Chen family residence, the atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

Chen Zhenyu, an Imperial Guard Hundred Households Officer, stood before the window with his hands behind his back.

His expression was dark. Just moments ago, he had met the person Commander Feng had sent, which left him deeply displeased.

"Brother, Commander Feng sent word that our Chen family is not to trouble Su Fei."

He turned around, his tone full of unwillingness.

"I had originally prepared to find people to deal with him. Who would have thought that in just a few days, that brat would solve a case and block a strike from a Xiantian Realm martial artist? Commander Feng values him so highly that he even sent someone to deliver a message. He is deliberately backing him."

The door to the inner room opened with a creak, and Chen Zhenfeng, the eldest of the Chen family, walked out. He was dressed like a businessman, though his face was somewhat haggard and thick with anger.

"Second Brother, what did you say? Feng Changqing sent someone to speak on behalf of that Su Fei?"

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

"Alas, he is still lying there. His martial arts cultivation has been crippled. I fear he will find it difficult to cultivate martial arts ever again. From now on, he can only do business like me."

Chen Zhenyu gritted his teeth.

"That Su Fei truly struck viciously. Knowing full well that Hu'er belongs to our Chen family, he still dared to act so heavily. He clearly has not placed our Chen family in his eyes. Tell me—"

Before he could finish, a furious voice rang out and interrupted him.

"Father! Second Uncle!"

"Why can't we trouble him? Su Fei is merely a brat who stepped in dog shit and got lucky. Our Chen family has been rooted in Qingzhou for many years. How can he possibly compare with our Chen family?"

Chen Zhenfeng walked into the inner room and looked at his son lying in bed, wrapped in bandages. His brows furrowed.

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

"But Commander Feng is the person in charge of the Qingzhou Imperial Guard. His authority is immense, and it is not as though you do not know the Imperial Guard's rules."

"Rules? I think he is simply playing favorites."

Chen Hu slapped the bed hard. The pain made him bare his teeth, yet he still refused to let it go.

"That Su Fei became a General Banner Officer after only a few days as a Junior Banner Officer. What ability does solving one case count as? Perhaps it was all arranged beforehand!"

Chen Zhenyu followed him inside and said in a deep voice,

"Brother, Hu'er has a point. That brat's promotion has been far too fast, and he has even won Commander Feng's favor. If this continues, by the time he becomes a Thousand Households Officer, even if we do not take revenge on him, he will take revenge on us."

Chen Zhenfeng sighed.

"Now that a Thousand Households Officer is protecting him, and he has solved the Missing Children Case, the people of Qingzhou Prefecture City have been discussing Su Fei over tea and meals these past days. His momentum is at its peak. What should we do?"

Chen Zhenyu clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

"Commander Feng only said we were not to make things difficult for Su Fei. But who can say what happens in the shadows? Brother, if we use that thing, do you think it will work?"

Chen Zhenfeng's heart jolted.

"Second Brother, would using that thing not be too risky? If we are discovered, it will be a grave crime punishable by the execution of the entire family."

Chen Zhenyu continued,

"Brother, as long as we plan carefully and ensure nothing can go wrong, once that thing is used, even Xiantian Realm martial artists will be killed if caught unprepared. Killing a True Qi Realm martial artist like Su Fei will not be a problem at all."

"If we do not kill him now, then once he grows stronger, he will become a great calamity for our Chen family."