Chen Yi naturally had not gone mad.
Not only had he not gone mad—on the contrary, he was calmer now than he had ever been.
Ever since learning last night that Xiao Dongchen was a member of the Hidden Guard, and deducing the role he, this "fledgling," played among them, Chen Yi had understood that he needed to give himself some protective coloring from now on.
The pharmacy shopkeeper and the Xiao Family's Idle Son-in-Law were his first layer of protection, as well as his disguise in the open.
Wang Ji and Boss Yan were the second layer, contingencies he had prepared for the future.
As for the third layer, it was his Martial Path cultivation base and progress in his techniques.
Naturally, this was also the most important layer of protection.
If he possessed a Martial Path cultivation base comparable to Lady Xiao Jinghong's, those Hidden Guards certainly would not dare look down on him so lightly.
That was right.
In Chen Yi's eyes, this "fledgling" of his was merely an inconspicuous chess piece in the Hidden Guard's hands.
He looked important, but in truth, he ought to have been insignificant.
Otherwise, how could those Hidden Guards have allowed his fleeing marriage to happen before?
They knew the original owner had been a frail scholar, yet they had not protected him, simply allowing him to grow on his own...
They had probably regarded him as no more than an idle piece on the board.
If he succeeded, it would be a windfall without investment; if he failed, he would not affect the greater game.
The Hidden Guard—or rather, those ministers in the Imperial Court of Capital Prefecture—had already drawn their bows, nocked their arrows, and aimed them at the Xiao Family.
*If the original owner were still alive, he