Brotherly Affection, Filial Piety

Just past the Mao Hour, the sun hung high, heat and radiance rising together.

The shadows of trees on both sides fell upon the official road, a stark divide of gray and white, with faint tremors visible at the edges.

It was not a gentle breeze brushing the face, but the galloping horses and rumbling carriage wheels racing from the end of the road.

Chen Yi watched from afar, murmuring to himself, "Well, I suppose this is the might of a Zhuangyuan."

Armored soldiers on swift horses led the way, flag officers bearing banners following close behind, and after the escort came a large crimson carriage pulled by four fine steeds.

Though it sped along, the carriage's wheels ran steady, without the slightest jolt.

Only when it was still a li from the post station did the swift horses, flying banners, and the carriage itself slow down, gradually coming to a stop by the station's side.

Seeing this, the officials led by Liu Si put on smiles and crowded around.

Before they even caught sight of Chen Yunfan, most of them had already clasped their hands in salute.

Chen Yi glanced around and recognized that what hung on the carriage was not the cloud banner of the Shu Provincial Administration, but a palm-sized insignia atop the carriage roof—a black base with white clouds outlining the character "Chen."

It was unmistakably the mark of the Chen Family of Jiangnan, signifying that within sat a member of the main branch of a family with Five Hundred Years of Heritage.

Why five hundred years?

That traced back to the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, before the Great Wei. As a meritorious minister of that era, the ancestor of the Chen Family of Jiangnan had passed down the legacy for exactly five hundred years.

As for so-called aristocratic clans, though the term was brief, behind it lay not only power, status, and wealth, but more importantly—heritage.

The longer a clan's heritage, the more vast its influence within its home territory, with tendrils extending in all directions, deeply intertwined.

Not to mention the Chen Family of Jiangnan, even the Xiao Family of Shu, with its Two Hundred Years of Heritage, had marriage ties to the Duke of Gan, who held sway over Guangyue Prefecture and Jiaozhou.

The number of other powerful families and clans friendly with the Xiao Family was so great it would take half a day to count.

Thus, at this moment, Chen Yi glanced at the assembled officials of Shu Prefecture City, knowing full well that what they valued was not only Chen Yunfan's official position but also the Chen Family of Jiangnan and the Qinghe Cui Clan.

Just then, Xiao Wuge craned his neck to look. "Brother-in-law, this Cloud Carriage's specifications aren't low, are they?"

Chen Yi nodded slightly. "Indeed, not low at all."

With a frame of Nanmu Wood, the body wrapped in Refined Iron, a Canopy on top, and the Clan Seal carved into it—it wasn't just that the specifications weren't low; this single carriage alone violated enough taboos to invite impeachment from the most rigid of censors.

Even young Xiao Wuge could see that, let alone others.

Yet clearly, officials like Liu Si simply pretended not to notice.

At that moment, the silk curtain of the Cloud Carriage was lifted, and a Maidservant in thin clothing stepped down, kneeling on one leg with her thigh taut.

Then a man in a bright red robe and a Gauze Hat stepped down, using her leg as a step.

His features were extremely handsome—sword-like brows, starry eyes, red lips, white teeth, and a tall, slender frame that clearly showed his leanness.

He was unmistakably Chen Yunfan, the Legitimate Son of Main Branch of the Chen Family of Jiangnan—now the Zhuangyuan of the Great Wei Dynasty, a Rank 4b Councillor in the Shu Provincial Administration.

He swept his gaze around, passing over Liu Si and the others, and spotted Chen Yi and his group in the distance. Smiling, he raised his hand and waved twice.

That smile, anyone would agree, appeared extremely friendly and warm.

Though Liu Si felt a twinge of displeasure at being overlooked, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief—at least these half-brothers seemed on decent terms on the surface.

"I, Liu Si, Shuzhou Prefect, have been awaiting Councillor Chen for some time."

Next came Xiao Dongchen, who held the same official rank as Chen Yunfan. Smiling, he clasped his hands. "I, Xiao Dongchen, Councillor of the Shu Provincial Administration, come on behalf of the Left and Right Provincial Administrators to welcome our younger brother Yunfan."

The other officials bowed in turn.

Chen Yunfan withdrew his gaze and smiled, returning the salute. "Lord Liu, please forgive me. Lord Xiao, and all of you—I was delayed on the road and kept you waiting long."

Liu Si smiled. "No matter. The hour is still early. Tonight, Right Envoy Liu Hong has reserved a banquet at Fengchun Tower, waiting for Lord Chen to rest a while before we welcome you with a feast."

"Much obliged, much obliged."

Chen Yunfan held one hand forward, the other behind his back, appearing courteous and refined, yet his chin was slightly raised, and his expression was relaxed and at ease.

As if receiving such treatment was only his due.

Not only Liu Si and Xiao Dongchen could see it—Chen Yi could as well.

This elder brother was just as he remembered: seemingly approachable and friendly, but in his bones filled with the pride of an aristocratic clan, utterly unable to bend.

Chen Yi wondered whether, back when he ascended the Golden Treasure Hall for the Metropolitan Examination and faced the current emperor as chief examiner, he had carried himself the same way.

Just as Chen Yi was sizing up Chen Yunfan and speculating on how he would approach their conversation, the man let his right hand swing slightly, ignoring the eager Liu Si and the others, and walked straight over.

From a distance, Chen Yunfan smiled and said, "Yi, long time no see."

Yi?

"Yi" was the same as "adopted brother."

Chen Yi thought to himself, So he intends not to acknowledge me as the brother recorded in the Chen family genealogy.

"Brother Yunfan, judging by your style today, you're no less impressive than when you roamed Jinling Flower Street back in the day."

He had conveniently dropped the "elder" as well.

Chen Yunfan naturally heard it and said with displeasure, "That day, I was entrusted by our father and mother to bring you home. How can you still hold a grudge?"

Chen Yi gave no ground. "That time you caught me was only because I had invited your beloved Lady Butterfly Dance to keep me company."

"Die Wu, who is that?"

Chen Yunfan pretended not to know, pointing at the maidservant beside the carriage behind him. "Does she have more charm than my Chunying?"

Chen Yi smiled and said, "Elder Brother's reputation as a talented romantic scholar has spread across Jiangnan Prefecture. His eye is naturally discerning."

Chen Yunfan laughed heartily, looking him up and down, then waved at Liu Si and the others:

"Come, come, let me introduce you to some friends in officialdom. Since you're marrying into Shuzhou, they can look out for you in the future."

Before Liu Si and the others could approach, Chen Yi extended a hand toward Xiao Wuge, who stood nearby with an excited expression:

"Let me first introduce someone to you instead."

"The grandson of Marquis Dingyuan, Xiao Wuge."

Chen Yunfan's smile froze instantly. He looked at Chen Yi, then down at Xiao Wuge, and his smile faded.

But he showed no anger. Instead, he calmly straightened his robes, folded his hands, and bowed respectfully to Xiao Wuge, announcing in a clear voice:

"Your subordinate, Chen Yunfan, Counselor of the Shu Provincial Administration, pays respects to the Young Marquis."

The Great Wei Dynasty had strict codes of etiquette.

Though Chen Yunfan acted ostentatiously and the Chen Family bent the rules, they dared not neglect propriety.

Especially now that he had just taken office, with Liu Si and other officials at his side, he would not lose his composure.

"Rise."

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

Before Chen Yunfan could let a smile form on his face, he heard him continue: "The Third Place Scholar jumped off his white horse himself, but he had to step on a maidservant's thigh to get down."

Hearing this, Chen Yi couldn't help but chuckle.

To be fair, only Xiao Wuge would say something like that. If anyone else had, Chen Yunfan would likely have lost his temper.

Even so, Chen Yunfan's expression was far from pleasant.

After a moment of silence, he forced a smile and said, "The Young Marquis's lesson is well taken. Yunfan did not know the Young Marquis was present and was discourteous."

But Xiao Wuge simply waved his hand: "No one is a sage without fault. It's good that you can correct your mistake."

Then he pointed at Chen Yi: "All this, my brother-in-law taught me."

"... "

Chen Yunfan's face turned even uglier. Glancing sidelong at Chen Yi, who stood by with a faint smile, he said coolly:

"Yi, I still have official business today. Next time I have free time, I'll send someone to summon you."

With that, he turned and walked toward the carriage, not even acknowledging Liu Si and the others.

But just before boarding, Chen Yunfan refused the maidservant's offered hand. Stepping onto the carriage, he looked back at Chen Yi:

"Today, I see you are strong in build and neat in attire. It brings me great comfort."

"I imagine Father and Mother would also be comforted to see you like this."

He finished speaking, pulled open the curtain, and sat down inside the carriage.

Then, with armored soldiers leading the way and flag officers following behind, the carriage sped off toward Shuzhou City.

Liu Si and the others wore sour expressions. They glared at Chen Yi, then flicked their sleeves and left.

Xiao Dongchen pointed at Chen Yi with a wry smile, as if at a loss for words.

After everyone had gone, Chen Yi stood smiling on the official road, watching the dozen carriages race away, before patting Xiao Wuge:

"Next time, don't expose people's flaws so bluntly. You'll get yourself beaten."

"Who would dare hit me? I'd have Uncle Lixing and Uncle Hong hit them back."

Wang Lixing and Yan Hong nodded with wry smiles, thinking to themselves that they couldn't afford to lay a hand on that Chen Family young master—that would take the master and the young ladies.

But had the son-in-law stirred up trouble today, or not?

[Witnessed Zhuangyuan Chen Yunfan arriving at Shuzhou. A legitimate son of a noble house, his presence as Zhuangyuan overawed the officials, walking a bright and upright path of Soaring Step. Reward: Cultivation Technique—Mysterious Turtle Breath Concealment Art (Mystic Grade), Fortune: 40.]

[Comment: He arrived, his reputation preceded him, the scene was set. Though but a grain of rice's glow, he still vied for brilliance with the Zhuangyuan. Acceptable.]

After reading this, Chen Yi didn't care what they thought. He waved his hand and said, "The person's been picked up. Let's head back."

Everyone boarded the carriage. Xiao Wuge smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, I wasn't wrong. If Eldest Sister and Second Sister saw him like that, they wouldn't like it either."

"Yes, yes..."

Chen Yi brushed it off, but his mind lingered on the Breath Concealment Art, pondering.

Going by past instances, this reward should be linked to the person or event he had "witnessed."

If so, Chen Yunfan must have practiced a similar concealment technique.

It couldn't be that he was actually a Mysterious Turtle incarnate, come to Shuzhou to take Step by Step Lotus and rise to the clouds?

Just as Chen Yi was wondering, inside the Chen Family's Cloud Carriage speeding ahead, Chen Yunfan had shed his earlier arrogance. Lying on the lap of a maidservant named Chunying, he asked:

"What did you see?"

Chunying gently massaged his temples and said softly, "Young Master Chen Yi seems to have trained in the Martial Path."

Chen Yunfan closed his eyes in enjoyment, speaking lazily: "This brother of mine really has changed. The old him never knew how to hide his talent..."