48. Spanking Causes Too Much Commotion

For that half-brother of his, Chen Yi had originally planned to ignore him entirely.

Who would have thought that that very night, just past Zi Shi, a streak of golden light would catch his eye.

[Daily Intelligence Grade Low Rank: Half past Mao Hour, North City Official Road. This year's Zhuangyuan, Chen Yunfan, arrives on horseback. Officials from all government offices in Shuzhou and members of noble families come to greet him. A small amount of Fortune may be obtained.]

Chen Yi glanced at it, rubbing his chin. "Looks like I have no choice but to go."

He truly held no good feelings toward Chen Yunfan, but this stroke of Fortune was exactly what he needed.

After watching the commotion within the estate day after day, his Fortune had already reached 83 points, not far from pushing his "Martial Dao" to Great Completion.

After a moment's thought, Chen Yi let out a light laugh. "The words on the Name Card are full of brotherly respect and affection. I wonder what he'll actually say to my face."

He guessed that Chen Yunfan, likely cut from the same cloth as the Chen family's First Madam, Cui Yu, wouldn't have anything pleasant to say.

In truth, Chen Yi didn't know much about this elder brother of his.

In the years he had been confined within the estate, the two had met only a handful of times.

The last time he had heard the name "Chen Yunfan" was from Li Huaigu—in this year's imperial examinations, His Majesty had overruled all objections and personally appointed him Zhuangyuan.

He had heard it stirred up quite a commotion among the scholars in the Capital Prefecture, most of whom were dissatisfied with Chen Yunfan as the top scholar.

"To make such a grand show of coming here under these circumstances, it seems he doesn't take those disturbances seriously at all."

Thinking this, Chen Yi lay back on his bed and gradually drifted off to sleep.

While he slept soundly, in the neighboring Jiaxing Garden, the two Xiao sisters were still burning the midnight oil... handling affairs.

Xiao Wan'er's expression was serious, an abacus in one hand and a ledger pressed under the other, the beads clicking and clacking as she worked.

After calculating each page, she would pick up her brush and mark the ledger in red.

Xiao Jinghong sat across from her, a fine Wolf-hair Brush dancing like a dragon in her hand, writing line after line on a memorial, the gist of which was:

"Currently, the Southern Barbarians are unstable. The Dingyuan Army's veteran and new troops lack sufficient money, grain, and military pay. It will be difficult to sustain."

Although she had previously told the Old Marquis she intended to establish a Mutual Market with the Wumeng Mountain Tribe to generate profit and solve the army's supply issues, she still had no intention of giving up on demanding money and grain from the Imperial Court.

Just as she had thought before, the Dingyuan Army was a border defense force of the Imperial Court, not a private army of their Marquis Dingyuan's Estate.

The matter of money and grain should never have fallen on their shoulders.

They worked until late into the night.

Xiao Wan'er closed the ledger. Though her face was pale, her eyes were bright as she said happily, "Second Sister, this month the estate has a surplus of four thousand taels of silver. Finally, we can pay off the remaining balance for that batch of medicinal herbs Uncle Dongchen brought in."

Xiao Jinghong finished writing her memorial as well. While carefully checking it, she reminded her, "Sis, it's been raining a lot in Jingzhou and Shuzhou lately. That batch of herbs came from the Northern Prefecture. Don't forget to let Uncle Dongchen know."

Xiao Wan'er smiled. "I already sent Hua Tang to tell him yesterday. Our Medicine Hall's business has been good lately, and we're waiting on this batch of herbs to keep things moving. I wouldn't dare be careless."

Xiao Jinghong confirmed there were no errors, put away the memorial, stood up to stretch her limbs, and looked at her. "Grandfather was right. With you here, everything in the estate is fine."

Xiao Wan'er chided her playfully, "Who praises someone to their face like that? If we're talking about credit, you're the one who works harder."

A smile curled beneath Xiao Jinghong's Half Armor Mask. "You and I, sisters working together, can surely hold things together until Wuge inherits the Marquisate."

Hearing this, a trace of worry appeared on Xiao Wan'er's delicate face. "That's true. Right now, the one we're most worried about is Wuge."

She paused, then thinking of the recent changes in Xiao Wuge, her thoughts involuntarily turned to Chen Yi, along with that poem, the "Graceful Spirit Ode."

A vague sense of shame and annoyance shattered her worry completely.

Just then, Xiao Jinghong removed her Half Armor Mask, and said, as if sighing, "Speaking of which, Wuge has grown a lot since he started following Chen Yi."

"Sis, your suggestion back then to let Wuge follow him was the right call."

"Perhaps," Xiao Wan'er said, gritting her silver teeth. After a moment, she changed the subject. "So, how are things between you and him?"

Xiao Jinghong toyed with her Half Armor Mask, her tone drifting. "For now, I suppose we're husband and wife."

"Huh?"

"I talked to him before. It went better than I expected."

"Sis, we both know Grandfather's intentions. As long as Chen Yi can stay put in the Xiao family, that's the greatest help to us."

Hearing this, Xiao Wan'er looked at her calm second sister, opened her mouth, but didn't know what comforting words to say.

Thinking of another matter, she couldn't help but feel a pang of self-blame.

"If my health were better, maybe you wouldn't have had to take in a husband this time."

Xiao Jinghong turned her head to look at her. "Sis, you're wrong. Even if you were perfectly healthy, I should be the one to take in a husband."

"Grandfather sought out the Chen family of Jiangnan Prefecture not because he valued their prestige, but simply to find a reason to shut the mouths of the various families in Shuzhou, so I could stay in the Xiao family."

"Actually, this inspection of the Three Towns..."

She didn't finish. Xiao Jinghong shook her head. "Forget it. Military matters can't be discussed outside."

Xiao Wan'er understood and didn't take it to heart. Her guilt and self-blame eased slightly.

Just then, Xiao Jinghong spoke up: "Sis, I was thinking of having my husband come help you. What do you think?"

Xiao Wan'er was flustered. "This, I..."

"You don't want to?"

"No, it's not that I don't want to, it's just... Brother-in-law is too learned. Having him do merchant work seems improper."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all."

Seeing Xiao Wan'er nod, Xiao Jinghong understood and put her Half Armor back on. "I believe my husband is a reasonable man."

"Sis, get some rest early. The day after tomorrow is Grandfather's birthday—it'll be busy."

With that, she waved her hand and returned to Chunhe Garden with Su Zhenyue, who was waiting at the door.

Xiao Wan'er stared blankly at the candle flame on the table, her heart in turmoil:

"If he were reasonable, he wouldn't—couldn't—have written that poem."

The night passed without incident.

Halfway through the Yin hour, the clouds scattered and the sky cleared.

Chen Yi woke leisurely and dressed neatly under Xiao Die's service.

Xiao Die looked at Chen Yi, who had rarely changed into fine brocade robes and stood tall and handsome, and asked curiously, "Son-in-law, are you going out today?"

Chen Yi checked himself in the bronze mirror, confirmed everything was in order, then spoke: "You noticed?"

Xiao Die nodded. "But Son-in-law, tomorrow is the Old Master's birthday. The mansion should be busy today. If you leave the mansion now, no one will be around to look after you."

Chen Yi walked out, smiling. "If I go alone, of course no one will. But bringing the Young Marquis along changes things."

Xiao Die was startled, then caught up, giggling. "Son-in-law always has a way."

Not a way—a way out of no way.

Chen Yi knew that his "Elder Brother" Chen Yunfan had come with ill intent, so he needed to prepare a contingency plan.

With Xiao Wuge present, no matter how fierce a dragon crossing the river Chen Yunfan was, could he be greater than the Marquis Dingyuan?

Thinking this, Chen Yi first informed Xiao Jinghong, then went to Jiaxing Garden, picked up Xiao Wuge, and headed out of the mansion.

Wang Lixing, who bore heavy responsibility, followed along with Yan Hong.

Chen Yi looked around and casually asked, "Where's Fourth Brother?"

Before the more familiar Wang Lixing could answer, Yan Hong replied, "Son-in-law, Fourth Brother went to the east of the city to buy supplies and hasn't returned yet."

Chen Yi sized him up, smiled, and nodded, then took Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die onto the carriage.

"Brother-in-law, where are we going?"

"Hmm... let me ask you a question."

"Brother-in-law, please speak." Xiao Wuge's small face tensed—this was probably the first time his brother-in-law was testing him.

Chen Yi pondered. "If someone has it out for you and insists on climbing over your head, how would you deal with them?"

Hearing this, Xiao Wuge looked confused. "Brother-in-law, is there someone like that?"

"Hypothetically."

"Oh, then... I'd order someone to beat them with a plank."

"Not bad, not bad. But having someone beat them with a plank makes too much noise. Better to just knock them out from behind."