Brotherly Respect

Just past the Mao hour, the sun hung high, and heat and brilliance rose in its wake.

The shadows of the trees on both sides were cast upon the imperial road, one gray and one white, distinct as a boundary, and the swaying of their edges could be dimly seen.

That was not a gentle breeze brushing faces, but rather the galloping of fast horses and carriage tracks racing from the end of the imperial road.

Chen Yi sized them up from afar, murmuring under his breath, "How else would one speak of the great majesty of a Zhuangyuan?"

Armored cavalrymen cleared the way, and flag officers holding banners followed closely behind, followed in the wake of the vanguard by a large crimson carriage drawn by four fine horses.

Although it came speeding over, it was not hard to see that the tracks of that carriage were steady, without even a trace of swaying.

Until it was still one li away from the post station, those fast horses and flying banners, along with the carriage that followed them, slowed their speed and gradually stopped by the edge of the post station.

Seeing this, the officials led by Liu Si successively surrounded them with smiles on their faces.

Before they even caught sight of Chen Yunfan's figure, most of them had already made the gesture of a bow.

Chen Yi glanced left and right, recognizing that what hung upon the carriage was not any cloud banner of the Shu Provincial Administration, but rather a palm-sized seal located on the top of the carriage body-a character for "Chen" outlined upon a black background of white clouds.

It was strikingly the seal of the Chen Family of Jiangnan, representing that the person sitting within was of the primary branch of the Chen Family, an aristocratic clan with Two Hundred Years of Heritage.

Why two hundred years?

This had to be reckoned from the founding period of the Great Liang Dynasty prior to the Great Wei; as ancestors of the Chen Family of Jiangnan who were meritorious ministers of the time, exactly two hundred years had passed down to the present day.

As for the so-called aristocratic clans and powerful lineages, do not look at them as merely four short words; what they represented behind the scenes was not only power, status, and wealth, but more importantly-heritage.

The longer-lived a family's heritage, the more powerful its influence not only in its ancestral lands, but its tentacles stretched even further in all directions, which could be described as intricate and deeply rooted.

Not to mention the Chen Family of Jiangnan, even the Xiao Family of Shu had two hundred years of heritage, and their marriage alliances included the lineage of the Duke of Qianguo who ran rampant in Guangyue Prefecture and Jiaozhou.

The number of other powerful clans and aristocratic families on good terms with the Xiao Family was so large that it required half a day's time to tally them up.

Therefore, at this moment, Chen Yi glanced sideways at the officials of various ranks of Shu Prefecture City, knowing in his heart that what they cared about was not only Chen Yunfan's official post, but also the Chen Family of Jiangnan and the Qinghe Cui Clan.

At this moment, Xiao Wuge raised his head and looked around. "Brother-in-law, the regulations of this Cloud Carriage are not low, are they?"

Chen Yi nodded slightly. "Indeed not low."

With Nanmu Wood as its bone and the carriage body wrapped in refined iron, furthermore adorned with a magnificent canopy on top and carved clan seals, not only were the regulations not low, but this carriage alone committed taboos enough for those rigid censors to impeach him.

Even the young Xiao Wuge could see this point, let alone others?

Yet clearly, officials like Liu Si simply acted as if they did not see it.

At this time, the silk curtains of the Cloud Carriage were pulled back, and a maidservant dressed in thin clothing stepped down, kneeling half-tethered with her thighs taut.

Then a man dressed in a large crimson robe and wearing a gauze hat was seen stepping down by treading on her legs.

His appearance was extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, red lips and white teeth, and a slender figure, yet one could distinctly perceive his thinness.

He was strikingly Chen Yunfan of the legitimate son of main branch of the Chen Family of Jiangnan-now the Zhuangyuan of the Great Wei Dynasty, a counselor of the Subordinate Fourth Rank in the Shu Provincial Administration.

He looked around, his gaze passing over Liu Si and the others to spot Chen Yi and the others far in the rear, and smiled as he raised his hand and waved twice.

To tell the truth, that smile appeared extremely friendly and cordial in the eyes of anyone.

Although Liu Si felt some displeasure upon seeing himself and the others ignored, he also felt a sigh of relief in his heart; at least these half-brothers appeared outwardly peaceful enough.

"Shuzhou Prefect Liu Si has respectfully awaited Counselor Chen for a long time."

Next was Xiao Dongchen, who shared the same official rank as Chen Yunfan, and he smiled as he cupped his fists. "This official is Shuzhou Prefectural Counselor Xiao Dongchen, here on behalf of the left and right provincial administrators to welcome younger brother Yun Fan."

The remaining officials paid their respects one by one.

Chen Yunfan withdrew his gaze and smiled as he made a bow. "Lord Liu, pardon me; Lord Xiao, and everyone else, there were many delays along the way, causing you to wait for a long time."

Liu Si smiled and said, "It is of no consequence; the hour is still early, and tonight the right envoy Liu Hong has already booked a banquet at Fengchun Tower, just waiting for Lord Chen to rest a little while so we may welcome you and wash away the dust of travel."

"Sorry for the trouble, sorry for the trouble."

Chen Yunfan had one hand in front and one hand behind, looking outwardly modest and courteous, yet his head was slightly raised, and the expression on his face was even more relaxed and at ease.

It was as if receiving such treatment was only natural for him.

Not only Liu Si and Xiao Dongchen could tell, but Chen Yi could naturally tell as well.

This elder brother of his was just as he remembered him in his memories-seemingly amiable to others, yet his bones were filled with the pride of an aristocratic clan, completely incapable of bending his waist.

He only wondered whether, when he originally mounted the Golden Treasure Hall to participate in the Metropolitan Examination and faced the reigning emperor as chief examiner, he had acted the same way.

Just as Chen Yi was sizing up Chen Yunfan and secretly guessing how he would converse face-to-face with him, he saw the right hand in front of his chest sway slightly, and disregarding the eager Liu Si and others standing by, he walked straight over.

From afar, Chen Yunfan said with a smile, "Yun Fan, we haven't seen each other in a long time."

Yun Fan?

"Yun Fan" sounded identical to "sworn younger brother" or "righteous younger brother".

Chen Yi thought to himself that this fellow intended not to acknowledge him as a brother recorded in the Chen family genealogy.

"Elder Brother Yunfan, judging by your bearing today, your elegance is no less than when you used to frequent Jinling Flower Street."

Coincidentally, the character for "elder" was also discarded by him.

Chen Yunfan naturally heard it and said with displeasure, "On that day, this elder brother was entrusted by our father and mother to go and capture you back home; how can you still hold a grudge?"

Chen Yi did not yield in the slightest. "The time you captured me was merely because I found Lady Butterfly Dance, whom you adore, to accompany me."

"Butterfly Dance, who is that?"

Chen Yunfan feigned ignorance and pointed toward the maidservant beside the carriage in the rear. "Is she as good-looking as my Chunying?"

Chen Yi smiled and said, "Elder Brother's reputation as a romantic talent has spread throughout Jiangnan Prefecture, so your eye for beauty is naturally not lacking."

Chen Yunfan laughed heartily, sized him up from top to bottom, and then beckoned to Liu Si and the others:

"Come, come, come. This elder brother will introduce you to some friends in official circles; just as well that you have married into a household in Shu, and hereafter they can also give you some care."

Before Liu Si and the others could walk over, Chen Yi stretched out his finger to point at the excited Xiao Wuge nearby:

"Let me introduce someone to you first."

"Grandson of the Marquis Dingyuan, Xiao Wuge."

Chen Yunfan's smile instantly froze. He looked at him, then lowered his gaze to glance at Xiao Wuge, his smile fading away.

Yet he did not show annoyance, instead calmly tidying up the garments on his body, crossing his hands, and bowing respectfully to Xiao Wuge as he said in a clear voice:

"Your humble subordinate, Shuzhou Provincial Administration Counselor Chen Yunfan, pays his respects to the Young Marquis."

The Great Liang-no, the Great Wei Dynasty had strict ritual laws.

Although Chen Yunfan acted ostentatiously and the Chen family's regulations overstepped bounds, he dared not be negligent regarding ritual laws.

Especially as he was assuming office with officials of various ranks like Liu Si by his side, he would all the more not lose his own refinement.

"Dismissed."

Xiao Wuge looked up at him, then looked toward Chen Yi and said, "Brother-in-law, your elder brother is indeed more impressive than the Third Place Scholar."

Before a smile could emerge on Chen Yunfan's face, he heard him continue:

"The Third Place Scholar at least jumped down from a white horse himself, but this one still has to step on a maidservant's thighs to get down."

Hearing this, Chen Yi could not help but smile amusedly.

Whether it was said or not, only Xiao Wuge could utter such words; if it were anyone else, Chen Yunfan would likely have thrown a fit.

Even so, Chen Yunfan's complexion still did not look good.

After a moment of silence, he squeezed out a trace of a smile and said, "The Young Marquis's instruction is right. Yun Fan did not know the Young Marquis was present, and was lacking in manners."

Who would have thought that Xiao Wuge would simply wave his hand. "No man is free from error; who can avoid making mistakes? As long as one knows one's faults and corrects them, that is enough."

As he spoke, he even pointed toward Chen Yi:

"These are all what my brother-in-law taught me."

"..."

Chen Yunfan's complexion instantly grew even uglier, and his eyes swept to see Chen Yi standing aside with a smiling expression, causing him to say with bland indifference:

"Yun Fan, today this elder brother still has official business; once I have leisure another day, I will send someone to summon you over."

With that, he turned and walked toward the carriage, not paying any more attention even to Liu Si and the others.

Yet right before boarding the carriage, Chen Yunfan refused the support of the maidservant beside him, climbed aboard the carriage, and looked toward Chen Yi:

"This time this elder brother sees that your physique is robust and your attire is neat, and I am exceedingly gratified."

"Presumably if Father and Mother were to see your appearance today, they would likewise be gratified."

Before finishing his words, he pulled open the curtain with a jerk and sat inside the carriage.

Immediately following, it was still armored cavalrymen clearing the way and flag officers following behind as the carriage sped toward Shuzhou City.

Liu Si and the others wore unsightly expressions, glared at Chen Yi, and flicked their sleeves as they left.

Xiao Dongchen went so far as to point at Chen Yi, a bitter smile on his face and an expression that looked as if he did not know what would be proper to say.

After everyone had departed, Chen Yi stood smiling on the imperial road, watching from afar as the dozen-odd carriages galloped away along the imperial road, before finally patting Xiao Wuge:

"Next time, don't go exposing people's shortcomings to their faces like that; it's prone to getting one beaten."

"Who dares beat me? I'll have Uncle Wang Lixing and Uncle Yan Hong beat them back."

Wang Lixing and Yan Hong nodded, smiling wryly and thinking to themselves that they certainly could not afford to beat that young master of the Chen family; the old master and several young misses would have to step forward for that.

Yet had the son-in-law caused trouble today after all, or had he not?

[Witnessed Zhuangyuan Chen Yunfan taking up his post in Shu, as a legitimate son of main branch of an aristocratic clan, the Zhuangyuan's demeanor and majesty overawed the officials, intending to walk the grand and righteous path of the Soaring Step. Reward: Cultivation Technique--Mysterious Turtle Breath Concealment Art (Mystic Grade), Fortune: 40.]

[Review: Person arrived, voice heard, the scene witnessed; though like the luster of a millet grain, it still contends in brilliance with the Zhuangyuan, acceptable.]

Having finished reading it, Chen Yi did not care what they thought, and waved his hand to signal: "The person has been received; let us also return to the residence."

The company boarded the carriage, and Xiao Wuge smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I wasn't wrong just now either; if Eldest Sister and Second Sister saw him like that, they presumably wouldn't like it either."

"Yes, yes..."

Chen Yi uttered a perfunctory reply, yet examined the Breath Concealment Art within his mind with slight contemplation.

Judging by the previous few times, this reward should be related to the person or matter being "witnessed".

Viewed thusly, Chen Yunfan should have practiced a similar breath-concealing cultivation technique.

It could hardly be that he was truly transformed from a Mysterious Turtle, intending to execute a step-by-step lotus soaring step right here in Shu?

Just as Chen Yi was feeling suspicious, at this moment inside the speeding Chen Family Cloud Carriage ahead,

Chen Yunfan had already lost his previous arrogance, lying down on the lap of a maidservant named Chunying as he asked:

"Did you discern anything?"

Chunying gently massaged his temples, speaking in a low voice: "Young Master Chen Yi should have practiced the Martial Path."

Chen Yunfan closed his eyes in enjoyment, speaking lazily: "This brother of mine has truly changed; the former him certainly wouldn't have known how to hide his clumsiness..."