Chen Yi had not planned to pay any attention to that half-brother of his.
Yet that very night, just past midnight, a Golden Light flashed into his eyes.
[Daily Intelligence · Profound Grade Low Rank: Past the midpoint of the Mao hour, on the North City Official Road, this year's Zhuangyuan, Chen Yunfan, will arrive on horseback. Officials from the various yamen of Shuzhou and members of prominent families will greet him in person. A small amount of fortune may be obtained.]
Chen Yi glanced around, rubbing his chin. "It seems I have no choice but to go."
He truly held no fondness for Chen Yunfan, but this fortune was precisely what he needed.
After watching the mansion's quarrels from time to time these past days, his fortune had reached 83 points. He was not far from raising "Martial Dao · Body" to Great Accomplishment.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Yi chuckled. "The wording on the name card is full of brotherly affection and respect. I wonder what he will say when we meet face-to-face."
Chen Yunfan was likely cut from the same cloth as Cui Yu, the Chen Family's First Madam, so nothing pleasant was likely to come from his mouth.
In truth, Chen Yi knew little about this elder brother.
During the years he had been imprisoned within the mansion, the number of times they had met could be counted on one hand.
The last time he had heard the name "Chen Yunfan" was when Li Huaigu mentioned that, in this Imperial Examination, His Majesty had brushed aside all objections and personally appointed him Zhuangyuan.
He had heard that the scholars in Capital Prefecture had caused a stir for quite some time over it, most of them dissatisfied with Chen Yunfan becoming Zhuangyuan.
"To still arrive with such fanfare in a situation like this, it seems he does not take those troubles seriously."
With that thought, Chen Yi lay back on the bed and gradually drifted into sleep.
While he slept soundly, the two Xiao sisters in the neighboring Jiaxing Garden were still burning the midnight oil... handling affairs.
Xiao Wan'er wore a serious expression, holding an abacus in one hand and pressing down an account book with the other, her fingers snapping the beads back and forth.
Whenever she finished calculating a page, she picked up her brush and marked it in red within the ledger.
Xiao Jinghong sat opposite her. The fine wolf-hair brush in her hand danced like dragons and serpents as she wrote line after line upon a memorial, its general contents reading:
"Southern Barbarians are unstable at present. The Dingyuan Army lacks money and grain, as well as military pay, for its new and old soldiers alike. I fear it will be difficult to sustain."
Though she had previously told the Old Marquis that they should establish a Mutual Market with the Wumeng Mountain tribes and profit from it to resolve the army's needs, she still did not intend to give up on demanding money and grain from the Imperial Court.
Just as she had thought before, the Dingyuan Army was a border defense force established under Imperial Court regulations, not the private soldiers of Marquis Dingyuan's Estate.
No matter how one calculated it, the matter of money and grain should not fall upon their shoulders.
They worked until deep into the night.
Xiao Wan'er closed the account book. Though her face was pale, her eyes brightened as she said happily:
"Second Sister, the mansion made a surplus of four thousand taels of silver this month. At last, we can cover the remaining payment for that batch of medicinal herbs Uncle Dongchen brought in."
Xiao Jinghong had also finished writing the memorial. As she carefully inspected it, she reminded her:
"Elder Sister, Jingzhou and Shuzhou have seen much rain lately. That batch of medicinal herbs came from Northern Prefecture, so do not forget to notify Uncle Dongchen."
Xiao Wan'er smiled. "I had Hua Tang inform him yesterday. Our Medicine Hall has been doing quite well recently, and we are waiting on that batch of medicinal herbs to keep things turning over. We cannot afford to be careless."
After confirming there were no errors, Xiao Jinghong put away the memorial, stood, stretched her limbs, and looked toward her.
"Grandfather was right. With you here, everything within the mansion is well."
Xiao Wan'er reproached her playfully. "Who praises someone to her face like that? If we are talking about merit, you have worked much harder."
The corners of Xiao Jinghong's lips curled beneath her Half Armor Mask. "With us sisters united in heart, we will surely hold on until Wu Ge inherits the marquisate."
At those words, a trace of sorrow surfaced on Xiao Wan'er's delicate face. "That is true. The one we are most worried about now is Wu Ge."
After saying that, she paused. Thinking of the changes in Xiao Wuge over this period, she could not help thinking of Chen Yi, along with that Graceful Spirit Ode.
A faint sense of embarrassment and irritation instantly shattered her sorrow to pieces.
At that moment, Xiao Jinghong removed her Half Armor Mask and seemed to sigh. "Come to think of it, Wu Ge has grown considerably during the time he has been following Chen Yi."
"Elder Sister, you were right to suggest that Wu Ge follow him back then."
"Perhaps," Xiao Wan'er said through gritted silver teeth. After a moment, she changed the subject. "How are things between you and him?"
Xiao Jinghong toyed with the Half Armor Mask, her tone drifting. "I suppose we count as husband and wife."
"Ah?"
"I spoke with him before. Things are somewhat better than I imagined."
"Elder Sister, we both understand Grandfather's intentions. As long as Chen Yi can remain peacefully in the Xiao Family, that alone will be the greatest help to us."
Hearing this, Xiao Wan'er looked at her calm-faced second sister, opened her mouth, yet did not know what words of comfort to offer.
Then, thinking of another matter, she could not help feeling somewhat guilty.
"If my health had been better, perhaps you would not have needed to take in a husband this time."
Xiao Jinghong turned to look at her. "Elder Sister, you are mistaken. Even if you were perfectly healthy, I should still have been the one to take in a husband."
"Grandfather sought out the Chen Family of Jiangnan not because he valued their prestige. He merely needed a reason to stop the various Shuzhou families from talking, so that I could remain in the Xiao Family."
"Actually, this inspection of the Three Towns..."
Before she could finish, Xiao Jinghong shook her head. "Forget it. Matters of the army cannot be discussed with outsiders."
Xiao Wan'er understood. She did not take it to heart, and the guilt and self-reproach in her eased somewhat.
But then Xiao Jinghong said, "Elder Sister, what do you think about having my husband come help you?"
Xiao Wan'er immediately became flustered. "This, I..."
"You are unwilling too?"
"No, it is not that I am unwilling. It is just... Brother-in-law is exceptionally talented. If he were to engage in merchant affairs, I fear it would be inappropriate."
"Only that?"
"Mhm, only that."
Seeing Xiao Wan'er nod, Xiao Jinghong understood. She put her Half Armor Mask back on and said, "I believe my husband is a sensible man."
"Elder Sister, rest early. Grandfather's birthday is the day after tomorrow, and this is precisely when things are busiest."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, then returned to Chunhe Garden with Su Zhenyue, who had been waiting by the door.
Xiao Wan'er stared blankly at the candle flame by the table, her heart in turmoil once more.
If he were sensible, he should not have—could not have—written those lyrics.
Nothing happened through the night.
Once the hour before dawn was more than halfway over, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sky cleared.
Chen Yi awoke leisurely and dressed neatly with Xiao Die attending him.
Xiao Die looked at Chen Yi, who had rarely changed into magnificent brocade robes, his figure tall and handsome, and asked curiously, "Son-in-law, are you going out today?"
Chen Yi examined himself in the bronze mirror. Only after confirming that everything was in order did he speak. "You could tell?"
Xiao Die nodded. "But Son-in-law, Old Master's birthday is tomorrow. The mansion should be very busy today. If you Leave the Mansion now, I am afraid no one will be able to look after you."
Chen Yi walked outside, smiling. "Of course there will be no one if I go alone. But it will be different if I bring the Young Marquis along."
Xiao Die froze for a moment, then hurriedly followed after realizing what he meant. She giggled. "Son-in-law truly has a way."
It was not that he had a way; it was simply the best he could do when left with no choice.
Chen Yi knew that his "elder brother," Chen Yunfan, had come with ill intent this time. He had to prepare some sort of backup plan.
With Xiao Wuge present, no matter how fierce Chen Yunfan was as a dragon crossing the river, could he possibly overshadow Marquis Dingyuan?
With that in mind, Chen Yi first notified Xiao Jinghong, then went to Jiaxing Garden to pick up Xiao Wuge before heading out of the mansion.
Wang Lixing, who originally bore heavy responsibilities, followed along with Yan Hong.
Chen Yi looked around and casually asked, "Where is Fourth Brother?"
Before the more familiar Wang Lixing could answer, Yan Hong beside him replied, "Son-in-law, Fourth Brother went to purchase supplies in the east of the city and has not returned yet."
Chen Yi sized him up, smiled, and nodded. Then he brought Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die aboard the carriage.
"Brother-in-law, where are we going?"
"Mm... Let me ask you a question."
"Please speak, brother-in-law." Xiao Wuge tensed his little face. This should be the first time his brother-in-law had tested him.
Chen Yi pondered for a moment. "If someone is at odds with you, yet insists on pushing his luck and climbing onto your nose, how should you deal with him?"
At that, Xiao Wuge looked utterly bewildered. "Brother-in-law, are there really people like that?"
"Assume there are."
"Oh, then... then I will order someone to beat him with the board."
"Not bad, not bad. But having someone beat him with the board makes too big a fuss. It would be better to just knock him out with a club."
Before you continue