Was this a test?
Or did he have some other intention?
Chen Yi had no way of knowing.
But seeing the Old Master's earnest expression, he naturally had to respond with proper seriousness.
As for Shuzhou's present circumstances—
Calling them a tangled mess of loose threads would not be an exaggeration.
On the surface, the Xiao Family stood alone above all others, commanding heavy troops. The many aristocratic clans and powerful families, along with officials great and small throughout Shuzhou, all followed its lead.
Behind the scenes, however—
Because Xiao Fengchun and the others had died, leaving a break in the Xiao Family's core strength, some of Shuzhou's aristocratic families and officials had begun placing all manner of constraints upon the Xiao Family and testing its limits.
Moreover, some people fancied themselves possessed of power and influence. Either treachery had sprouted in their bones, or they sought to seize greater benefits.
Some even harbored thoughts of replacing the Xiao Family altogether.
And in such circumstances, there were people secretly fanning the flames.
Like the Hidden Guard and the Liu Family of Jingzhou.
Chen Yi understood Shuzhou's situation clearly, yet he had no way to lay everything out in full.
For one thing, it would be difficult for him to explain where he had obtained such information.
For another, he feared that if he said too much, he would inevitably arouse the Xiao Family Old Master's suspicions, which would only make matters worse.
With that in mind—
Chen Yi carefully chose his words and said, "It should be somewhat unsettled."
Such an answer clearly did not satisfy the Old Master. "What makes you think Shuzhou is unsettled?"
Not to mention a scholar like Chen Yi, accomplished in the Way of Calligraphy—even any scholar who knew something of current affairs could have