196. Confession

The back hall of the Chen Mansion was completely silent. The names Jiaotu and Yunyang were like two sharp blades stabbing into Chen Liqin's chest. For a moment, his blood was boiling and he felt weak all over.

Liang stood up and supported him, whispering, "Master, maybe it's not a big deal?"

Chen Liqin sighed inwardly. The Rabbit and the Goat were two of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. For two of them to visit at the same time must be a truly significant event. How could such a trivial matter possibly alarm them?

He thought it over again and again, then ordered the servant, "Please ask them to come in..."

Before he finished speaking, a frivolous voice drifted from outside the door: "No need to invite us in, we're already here. It's rare for Master Chen to be so polite to our Imperial Household Department. It's really surprising. I was worried that Master Chen would not let us in."

Everyone in the back hall looked at the same time and saw Yunyang in front and Jiaotu behind. The two of them walked leisurely through the archway and headed straight for the back hall.

Yun Yang was wearing a black suit, which made his face look fair and handsome.

I saw him holding an envelope in his right hand, slowly patting the palm of his left hand, like a scholar and nobleman holding an invitation to a banquet.

Yun Yang smiled and looked into the back hall. "Oh, so many people here. Are they discussing something important? Master Chen, we came at a bad time. How about visiting again another day?"

He stopped at the door, looking at the couplet in the back hall of the Chen Mansion, muttering to himself: "Wen Tong means Yun Tong... Sir Chen, I'm afraid Wen Tong won't be able to Yun Tong."

Chen Liqin's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the envelope in the other person's hand... the visitor was indeed not friendly.

He whispered to Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, Liang Shi and the others, "I am discussing important matters with Jiaotu and Lord Yunyang. Please leave."

"Wait!" Yun Yang smiled and said, "Master Chen, there's nothing shameful about what we want to discuss. Everyone can stay and listen."

Chen Liqin's face darkened.

Yun Yang asked with great interest, "Master Chen, would you like a cup of tea?"

Liang quickly stood up and walked out, raising her hand to call the maid: "Make tea for the guests."

Yun Yang nodded in satisfaction. He looked around and found that there was only one empty chair, so he turned around and stared at Chen Wenxiao.

It wasn't until Chen Wenxiao stood up and made way that he thanked him and called out to Jiaotu with a smile, "Jiaotu, come and sit down."

Yun Yang's gaze did not linger when it passed over Chen Ji, and Chen Ji did not look at them either. He just looked at the beams in the back hall, without saying a word, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Yunyang glanced at him again, then turned and asked Chen Liqin curiously, "Master Chen, what important matter was the Chen Mansion discussing just now? Could you tell us about it?"

Chen Wenzong said coldly, "How can a guest ask about the host's affairs? If you, the Imperial Household Department, want to make things difficult for us, you could just state your intentions directly. There's no need to be so pretentious."

Yun Yang raised an eyebrow. "Eh, can't I even ask? Is there some shameful secret in the Chen Mansion? I, the Secret Service, patrol the country on behalf of the Emperor, sharing His Majesty's worries. The family affairs of the civil and military officials are also state affairs. What can't we ask?"

Chen Wenzong said angrily: "You..."

Liang was worried that her son would anger the eunuch party and hurried back to the house and pulled Chen Wenzong aside.

She smiled and explained to Yunyang, "My Lords, what we were discussing just now was a family matter. My third son of the Chen family was a mischievous child, and once developed a bad habit of gambling. Now that he has suddenly come across a sum of money, I, as his mother, am worried that he might repeat his past mistakes. So, I want him to deposit the money with the Chen family to prevent him from squandering it."

Jiaotu said with a sigh as if suddenly realizing something: "You, the third son of the Chen family, are called Chen Wenxiao, right?"

Liang was startled. "This lord has made a mistake. My name is Chen Ji, the third son of the Chen family. Look, he's the one standing at the door."

Jiaotu looked at Yunyang doubtfully: "Isn't that right?"

Yun Yang also became puzzled: "That's definitely not right!"

Seeing the two of them like this, Chen Liqin suddenly became confused: "What are you two talking about?"

Yunyang stood up with a smile

Come, hand over the envelope in your hand: "Master Chen, please take a look at the contents of this envelope first."

Chen Liqin reached out to take it, but when he touched the envelope, he saw Yun Yang pull the envelope back.

Yun Yang looked at Liang and jokingly said, "Madam, do you have any Angong Niuhuang Pills in the mansion? We need to prepare some for Lord Chen, so he doesn't pass out after reading the contents of the letter."

Chen Liqin snorted angrily, "Lord Yunyang, you can kill me or chop me up as you please. There's no need to tease me like this!"

He took the envelope from Yunyang's hand, shook out the paper and took a look, his brows immediately relaxed.

It was not the anti-enemy manifesto he wrote to Mr. Feng!

That’s good!

However, when he looked down again, his expression became serious again.

While looking at the paper, Chen Liqin glanced at Chen Wenxiao who was standing beside him.

As he watched, he suddenly roared at Chen Wenxiao: "Look at what you've done!"

Liang was confused and hurriedly came forward to ask, "What's wrong with the master? Why is he angry with his son for no reason?"

Chen Liqin threw the paper into Liang's arms: "Look for yourself, this is the result of you pampering him every day!"

Chen Wenxiao didn't understand what was going on at first, but when he heard this, he finally remembered what he had written to the Secret Service, and his face turned pale!

He subconsciously glanced at Chen Ji, then turned to look at Chen Liqin: "Father, I was forced to write it down at the time. I didn't do those things!"

"Oh?" Jiaotu said playfully, "Young Master Chen, are you saying that my Secret Service tortured you? May I ask if you sustained any injuries at the time?"

Chen Wenxiao murmured, "No...no."

Jiaotu uttered a sigh, "That's strange. You're not injured. How did we force you to write this confession? Don't frame us, or we'll recapture you and verify it again."

Chen Liqin glared at Chen Wenxiao and said, "Stop quibbling!"

It was not until he saw this confession that he suddenly realized that all the bad deeds that Chen Ji had done over the years were caused by Chen Wenxiao.

Did Chen Ji explain it? Of course he did, but when Chen Ji cried out for injustice, he didn't believe it at all.

Now, Chen Wenxiao has confessed everything in his confession, and the truth has come to light.

Chen Liqin's face turned blue and red, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.

Chen Wenzong looked at his father, then at his mother, and suddenly became puzzled: "What confession did Wenxiao write?"

As he said this, he leaned over to take a look.

But Liang quickly folded up the confession and said nonchalantly, "You have nothing to do here. Wen Zong and Chen Ji, please leave first."

"Wait, Chen Ji?" Jiaotu stood up and asked doubtfully, "Madam said earlier that the third son of the Chen family was named Chen Ji. It's written in the confession. Chen Wenxiao framed Chen Ji for all the gambling debts... Hey, kid, is your name Chen Ji?"

Chen Ji was startled: "It's me."

Jiaotu tutted twice. "How unlucky to have to take such a huge blame for your brother. We also heard earlier that there was an unfilial bastard in the Chen Mansion who was a gambling addict, but we didn't expect it to be a frame-up."

Chen Ji suddenly turned to look at Liang, then looked at Chen Liqin after a moment, and said in disbelief, "Master Chen, is what Master Jiaotu said true?"

When Chen Liqin heard the name "Master Chen", his heart ached again: "Yes..."

Liang hurriedly grabbed his arm and said, "Master, this is a scandal in the Chen family. It must not be spread outside."

Chen Liqin flicked his sleeves, tossed Liang aside, and angrily asked, "How long are you going to continue to favor Chen Wenxiao? He's already come to your door with a confession and is demanding vengeance. Do you still think you can sweep this matter under the rug?"

Yun Yang smiled and acted as a peacemaker: "Master Chen, please don't misunderstand. We were cleaning up the documents before evacuating Luocheng and accidentally found this confession. Master Chen loves the people like his own children. After coming to Luocheng,

"You've taken matters into your own hands, keeping Los Angeles in perfect order, which I admire greatly. When we came across this confession, we both felt we shouldn't have kept it, so we've returned it to you. We have absolutely no intention of accusing you of anything; after all, our Secret Service doesn't deal with such matters."

Chen Liqin remained silent.

He always felt that something was a little strange about what happened today. It was as if Yunyang and Jiaotu had come specially to stand up for Chen Ji, and it happened to be this matter, and at this time.

He knew very well how ruthless the Twelve Zodiac Signs of the Secret Service were. He wouldn't believe a word the other party said when they returned the confession because they admired him.

But the problem lies here. Who are the twelve zodiac animals under the Internal Minister? Why would they come all the way to stand up for Chen Ji?

The more Chen Liqin thought about it, the more confused he became.

At this time, Yun Yang bowed and said, "Since the confession has been delivered, we will not disturb you any longer. Goodbye."

After saying this, he suddenly stepped forward, leaned over to Chen Liqin's ear, and whispered in a very low voice, "Master Chen, do you remember what you wrote in Prince Jing's Mansion? I'm afraid my Secret Service knows more than you imagine."

Chen Liqin's expression suddenly changed!

It turned out that the other party really knew about this matter, and the anti-traitor manifesto had indeed fallen into the hands of the Secret Service. The confession delivered by the other party was false, and the purpose was actually to come to his house and threaten him.

Chen Liqin lowered his voice and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Yun Yang didn't actually know what Chen Liqin had written, but Chen Ji told them to say so. He hadn't expected Chen Liqin to react so strongly to this.

But the show must go on.

Yun Yang said with a half-smile, "Master Chen, we haven't decided what we want to do yet. We'll let you know when we do. Jiaotu, let's go."

He turned and left, with Jiaotu following behind.

As she passed by Chen Ji at the door, she turned her back to the others and asked in a whisper as soft as a mosquito: "Master Chen, how was my performance? If you are satisfied, you will receive a reward."

Before Chen Ji could react, Jiaotu left with a chuckle.

In the back hall of the Chen Mansion, there was dead silence, with only the heavy breathing of Chen Liqin remaining.

After a moment, Chen Liqin shouted angrily, "Wang Gui! Take Chen Wenxiao down and give him twenty lashes of the board. Then drag him into the ancestral hall and make him kneel for a day and a night!"

Upon hearing this, Liang hurriedly grabbed Chen Liqin's arm and said, "Master, he has to go to the poetry gathering with Wen Zong tomorrow. How can he go after being beaten with twenty sticks?"

Chen Liqin was so angry that his beard trembled. He sneered three times, "It's already this late, and you still want to attend a poetry gathering? He doesn't deserve it! Chen Ji has carried so much infamy for him over the years, how can Chen Ji be innocent? Wang Gui, what are you still standing there for? Drag Chen Wenxiao away!"

Liang sobbed, "Master, this is unacceptable. He's about to go to the capital to take the imperial examination. What if he gets hurt?"

Chen Liqin was furious: "Imperial examination? I will send a letter to the capital right now and ask the education commissioner to submit a memorial to strip him of his juren title!"

Liang was shocked beyond words.

She stopped sobbing, turned to face Chen Ji, and pretended to kneel down: "Chen Ji, please forgive your brother, he was just confused for a moment!"

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows and stepped aside. The Ning Dynasty was governed by filial piety. If Liang really knelt before him, his reputation would be ruined.

Fortunately, Chen Wenzong supported his mother in time and said angrily, "Mother, what are you doing? Wenxiao did something wrong and he deserves to be punished!"

Chen Wenxiao's eyes widened: "Brother?!"

Chen Ji looked up at Chen Liqin, bowed, and asked, "Master Chen, how to punish Chen Wenxiao is a family matter of the Chen family, and it is up to you to decide. I just want to ask, now that the truth is out, do I still have to pay the money I paid?"

Chen Liqin was silent for a long time, then said dejectedly, "No need."

Chen Ji bowed and said, "Then I will go back to rest. Goodbye."