Chen Qiuyan's foster brother secretly inquired about the Xu and Feng families, and somehow Chen Yuanfeng found out.

Chen Yuanfeng sent someone to the Third Prince's residence to invite Chen Qiuyan home.

Chen Qiuyan was the Third Prince's wife and the mistress of the household, so she was naturally free to move around. Upon receiving the letter, she took her child and rode a carriage home.

Although the Chen family had fallen on hard times, they still lived in their original house.

The Chen family had many ancestors who had contributed to the rise of the dynasty. After the establishment of the Great Liang Dynasty, although they were not granted the title of marquis, they still held military power. Unfortunately, when the border was in crisis, many of the Chen family's sons died on the battlefield, leaving only Chen Yuanfeng's grandfather alive.

Unfortunately, Chen Yuanfeng's grandfather was in poor health, and none of Chen Yuanfeng's father's generation was capable of taking on important responsibilities. As a result, the Chen family had to hand over their military power to the imperial court, and the Chen family gradually declined.

By the time of Chen Yuanfeng's generation, Chen Yuanfeng was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age. He was determined to take the imperial examination and actually passed all the tests and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Chen Yuanfeng is the eldest son in the family and now lives in the main courtyard of the old Chen family residence.

Chen Qiuyan's mother was Chen Yuanfeng's legal wife. She passed away after giving birth to Chen Qiuyan. Chen Yuanfeng did not remarry, but instead had a kind-hearted concubine manage the household affairs. He personally raised Chen Qiuyan, so Chen Qiuyan had a younger brother and a younger sister.

When Chen Qiuyan returned home, Chen Yuanfeng had her taken directly to his study in the front yard. He didn't even go to the back yard. However, Chen Qiuyan sent Qingxing to deliver the gifts she brought back to her aunt's courtyard in the back yard, while she herself carried Mingjie to the study.

When Chen Yuanfeng saw Mingjie, he smiled and hugged her, saying, "Mingjie has grown so much. Mingjie, it's been a long time since you've seen your grandfather. Have you missed him?"

Mingjie replied with a smile, "Mingjie misses her maternal grandfather."

After playing with his granddaughter for a while, Chen Yuanfeng instructed Granny Wu to take Mingjie outside to play, while he and Chen Qiuyan discussed matters in the study.

Chen Qiuyan poured Chen Yuanfeng a cup of tea and asked with a smile, "Father, what did you want to tell me when you called me back?"

Chen Yuanfeng held the teacup in his hand, pondered for a long time, and asked with a solemn expression, "Ayan, tell me the truth, why did you ask Tiezhu to inquire about the Xu family and the Feng family?"

Chen Qiuyan was surprised that her father already knew about her inquiries about the two families. She paused for a moment and said, "Father, it's nothing, I was just a little curious."

Chen Yuanfeng was very dissatisfied with this answer. His expression became even more serious. He said, "Ayan, you are the child I raised myself. I know your temperament and personality very well. Tell me the truth."

Marrying his daughter to a prince whom the emperor was not even considering was actually quite a dangerous thing. Chen Yuanfeng and Emperor Liang had cultivated a friendship since childhood, and Emperor Liang would usually give Chen Yuanfeng some face. But now, his son-in-law, Emperor Liang's own son, was preparing to do something treasonous. If things went wrong, his whole family would be implicated or even lose their heads. Chen Yuanfeng had to be cautious.

Seeing that Chen Qiuyan remained silent, Chen Yuanfeng sighed and said, "Ayan, the Third Prince is truly unfit to be a ruler. I know that it is unfair to you to marry him, but it is the Emperor's decree, and I really have no choice."

Seeing her father's dejected expression, Chen Qiuyan quickly said, "Father, I don't resent you. Of course I know that the Third Prince is unfit to be a ruler. I will have no complaints about what will happen to him in the future, but I have to think about my Ming'er. Father, look at Ming'er, she doesn't know anything. She is so young and doesn't understand anything. Just because her father has disloyal intentions, she has to suffer a hard life with him, or even lose her head. Father, I can't bear it, and I'm not willing to accept it."

As she finished speaking, Chen Qiuyan began to sob softly.

Chen Yuanfeng understood his daughter's feelings perfectly well. As a parent himself, he naturally understood the deep love and care parents have for their children.

After pondering for a long time, Chen Yuanfeng asked, "Then tell your father what your plans are."

Chen Yuanfeng knew very well what kind of schemes and cunning his daughter possessed. Now, the adult princes were openly and secretly fighting each other, and there was a fierce battle going on behind the scenes. One wrong move could bring him to his death, so Chen Yuanfeng had to be extremely cautious.

Chen Qiuyan said, "Since the Xu family and the Feng family were able to stand up to the Third Prince in this matter without being too forceful or too soft, they must have some unknown abilities. I would like to find out how they did it."

Chen Yuanfeng sighed and said, "Ayan, I know you can get the information you want from the slightest clues. But have you ever thought that you and the Third Prince are husband and wife? To outsiders, you two are one. Sometimes your actions represent his actions. If people find out about your secret actions, won't it cause some other trouble?"

Chen Qiuyan nodded and said, "Father, of course I thought of that, but I can't wait any longer. I want to make arrangements for Ming'er as soon as possible so that I can focus on planning other things."

Seeing his daughter's willingness to do anything for her child, Chen Yuanfeng wanted to stop her, but then he thought of his beautiful granddaughter and felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

Chen Yuanfeng lowered his head and pondered for a long time before raising his head to look at his most beloved eldest daughter. He said softly, "Tell Tiezhu to come back quickly. Don't secretly inquire about the affairs of those two families. I've met Wu Muyue, the uncle of Xu Rao, the current prefect of Liaodong, a few times. I helped him once before. I heard that Wu Muyue is now with Xu Rao in Liaodong. I'll write a letter to Wu Muyue. Have Tiezhu deliver it to me. After that, don't interfere anymore."

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