Chapter 144 The Common "Enemy"
Crazy?
Chen Yi was certainly not crazy.
But that doesn’t stop him from pretending to be crazy for a moment.
"So, the mighty 'Knife Maniac' is planning to go back on his word?"
Liu Lang opened his mouth, and after a long while, he smiled wryly and said, "Boss, you have really given me a difficult problem."
"Burning three towns, no, even burning just one town's summer grain would be a certain death."
"Needless to say, the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion will be furious, and even the Emperor and the entire court will likely be alarmed. At that time, I, Liu, may at most die, but you, sir..."
Looking at Chen Yi's calm face, Liu Lang hesitated and said, "You will definitely not be able to escape responsibility when the time comes."
"Scared?"
"This, this isn't about being afraid or not..."
"Well, admitting you're a coward isn't a bad thing."
"..."
Liu Lang finally understood that this young medical expert was determined to burn the summer grain in the three towns.
He decided to go all out and said through gritted teeth, "Since you have already made your decision, I, Liu, will not try to persuade you any further."
"Just tell me, when do you need me to go? Which military town should I burn first?"
Seeing him speak such righteous words with such a wronged expression, Chen Yi couldn't maintain his composure any longer and said with a smile:
"As expected of the 'Knife Maniac,' he even dares to do such a treasonous thing. I admire him."
Seeing him laughing so heartily, Liu Lang realized he had been tricked and became furious.
"You have gone too far in making fun of me like this."
Chen Yi laughed and shook his head, saying, "It wasn't exactly a joke; the burning of the summer grain was real."
"Forehead."
Liu Lang was completely confused by his few words. "Are you going to burn it or not?"
To everyone's surprise, Chen Yi shook his head and said, "I won't burn it."
He then explained, "I don't really want you to go and burn it. I just want you to find some people and spread the word that you're going to burn the summer grain in the three towns."
"Of course, in order to make things more realistic, we need to make the necessary preparations."
"For example, the reward after the deed is done, which big-name demons accepted the task, and the approximate timeframe, try to make this matter as big as possible."
After listening, Liu Lang seemed to understand but not quite, unable to figure out his intention.
But at least he knew he didn't actually have to go and burn the summer grain in the three towns.
"Aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble by doing this?"
"Even if it's not true, once this gets out, the Xiao family will definitely investigate it thoroughly."
"If something goes wrong and it gets back to us, we'll lose our heads too."
Chen Yi glanced at him, smiled and nodded, saying, "This is one of my goals. What I want is to alert the Xiao family."
Since Xiao Dongchen and Ge Laosan were plotting to burn down the three towns in such a secretive way, he naturally had to warn the Xiao family.
After much deliberation, the best way to alert the Xiao family was to make the matter public.
He simply couldn't believe that under these circumstances, those two hidden guards would dare to defy the world and go against the Xiao family's defenses to burn the summer grain in the three towns.
Liu Lang vaguely understood and asked in surprise, "You mean, there are other people who are really plotting to burn down the three towns?"
"Damn it, who's so bold? Don't they value their life?"
Based on his prior knowledge that Baicaotang had a close relationship with the Xiao family, he knew that Chen Yi was doing this for the Xiao family's benefit.
Therefore, it is not difficult to conclude that someone intends to target the summer grain harvest in the three towns.
But as he said, ordinary people wouldn't even dare to think about doing such a thing, let alone doing it.
I reckon only a heretical sect like the Illusionary Sound Sect, which slaughters entire families at the drop of a hat, could come up with such a vicious plan.
But the result is the same: as long as the news leaks out, it will inevitably incur thunderous wrath.
Even martial arts masters can die in the imperial court and under the iron heel of the Xiao family.
The consequences were undeniably severe.
Chen Yi smiled and said, "They're all people who just want to stir up trouble."
He didn't say much, but instead reminded you, "However, this matter is of utmost importance. You should be careful when you do it, and don't actually expose yourself."
Liu Lang nodded. "Don't worry."
"Before coming to Shuzhou, Liu had come into contact with all sorts of people from all walks of life."
"Although their martial arts skills are mediocre, few can rival them when it comes to scheming and plotting."
Chen Yi hummed in agreement. After finishing the important matter, he poured two cups of tea and chatted with Liu Lang about the details of the matter.
He had only told Liu Lang one of the purposes of doing so.
In fact, another purpose of his was to make the waters of Shuzhou even more turbid.
The more murky and unclear the situation, the less likely malicious people are to act, thus prolonging the time.
Even if the hidden guards ultimately take a risk, the Xiao family, being prepared, will not allow them to succeed easily.
Seeing that it was getting late, Chen Yi told Liu Lang to be careful, then left Baicaotang and headed towards the house to the west.
Wang Ji watched him walk away, then turned to look at everyone in the hall. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said:
"The boss just told us that everyone has worked hard this month, and he will give you a big red envelope at the end of the month as a reward."
The group of medical apprentices were overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, boss! Thank you, manager!"
Upon hearing the voice, Liu Lang looked at Wang Ji with a strange expression, feeling a sense of melancholy.
No wonder Mr. Chen Yu entrusted Baicaotang to him so confidently; he is indeed quite capable.
While admiring him, Liu Lang was also pondering the incident of burning down the three towns.
"It needs to be realistic, but it also needs to make the Xiao family wary after receiving the news, so that they cannot doubt its authenticity."
"It's difficult in some ways, but not difficult in others."
The key is to find the right talent.
Suddenly, Liu Lang thought of someone—Black Tooth, who had sent him from the northern desert to Shu Prefecture.
"Given his money-grubbing nature, he probably wouldn't refuse such a 'good deal'."
...
As expected.
After Chen Yi left Baicaotang, some people of unknown identity followed him.
It took him some time to escape using the remaining crowd in the West Market.
By the time he changed his clothes at the house and removed his disguise, it was completely dark.
"It seems we'll have to ask Wang Ji to find another house later."
Chen Yi thought about returning to West Market Street, blending into the slightly crowded crowd, and walking outwards.
It is just past 5 PM.
There are still many vendors along both sides of the street in the West Market, mainly selling inexpensive cosmetics and jewelry.
This attracted the attention of some maids or simply dressed women.
Occasionally, there were crowds gathered in front of some food stalls.
Sizzling fried glutinous rice cakes, and roasted wild game that may not look fancy but smells delicious.
Chen Yi, who hadn't eaten dinner yet, had a rumbling stomach.
Left with no other choice, he stopped an old man selling candied hawthorns and bought one to whet his appetite.
It was eaten as a pre-meal snack.
Just as Chen Yi was about to eat and head back to the Xiao family home, he suddenly saw two people not far away, and a strange look appeared on his face.
The two people were none other than Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu.
He could also vaguely hear their conversation.
"Yunfan, I heard that the owner of Baicaotang showed up today. His name is Chen Yu."
"Chen... Ha, I never expected that he and I are from the same clan."
"Um?"
"Qingwu believes that person is him?"
"It doesn't look like it."
"I don't think so either. Ning Yu saw him before, and he was just an ordinary person without martial arts skills."
"Oh, they don't look ordinary either. Their clothes and demeanor clearly indicate that they come from a prominent family."
"Right..."
Listening to the two people's rhyming exchange, Chen Yi's lips twitched slightly. How could he not know that they were talking about him?
What he couldn't understand was that Chen Yunfan had clearly been dissatisfied with the marriage, and he and Cui Qingwu seemed to be only superficially compatible.
How come they're together now?
They even seemed to share a common hatred and wanted to cause trouble for him, the owner of Baicaotang.
After a moment's thought, Chen Yi suddenly realized, "The Immortal's Drunkenness."
Last night, Cui Qingwu was intoxicated by the "Immortal's Intoxication," yet he was able to appear in the West Market today, clearly indicating that he had already used the prescription he had previously given to Chen Yunfan.
Thus, the two of them had a common "enemy".
Chen Yi thought to himself, then shrank back and pretended not to see them, taking a detour from the other side to leave the West Market.
Little did he know that Ning Yu and Huan'er, who were following behind Chen Yunfan and the others, had seen all of his actions.
Huan'er snorted unhappily, "Why is he everywhere? The Xiao family's son-in-law."
"I ran into him once before at Fengchunlou, and now I saw him again at the West Market."
Ning Yu glanced at her upon hearing this, then looked at Chen Yi walking away and said calmly:
"Your young lady was able to wake up so quickly thanks to the physicians under Young Master Yi."
"you……"
Huan'er turned her head away with a blank expression.
Clearly, she was still bothered by Chen Yi's veiled insults that day.
Ning Yu ignored her thoughts, thought for a moment, and then leaned close to Chen Yunfan and whispered a few words.
"Um?"
"Yi Di was also in the West Market just now, and he even saw me?"
Chen Yunfan paused, turning back to look into the distance.
Amidst the bustling crowd, he naturally spotted Chen Yi.
It wasn't that his eyesight was amazing, but rather that Chen Yi's unhurried, upright figure was too easy to recognize.
Even in the dim light of the night, and amidst the crowded surroundings, one could still discern a certain extraordinary quality about him.
A moment of silence.
Chen Yunfan smiled wryly, but did not chase after them. Instead, he turned and continued deeper into the West Market.
Cui Qingwu also saw Chen Yi's figure. At this moment, he followed Chen Yunfan's footsteps and pondered:
"Compared to you and me, Chen Yi has changed more over the years."
Chen Yunfan said with a smile, "Qingzhou has indeed changed a lot."
"It seems that marrying into the Xiao family has made him give up his pursuit of fame and fortune, and he is much more low-key now."
Cui Qingwu nodded thoughtfully, inevitably recalling their encounter at Tingyu Pavilion that day, and naturally also thinking of Chen Yi's veiled insults.
"But his eloquence hasn't changed."
You mean 'sharp-tongued'?
"Well, Yunfan, you don't need to be so blunt."
"Haha, because I also think his mouth is too unforgiving, so it's me..."
Chen Yunfan immediately launched into a long, rambling account of his several encounters with Chen Yi in Shuzhou.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as a clash of titans.
Seeing that he was speaking so enthusiastically, Cui Qingwu listened carefully as well.
However, as she recounted the story, she learned that Chen Yunfan was not angry with Chen Yi because of this; on the contrary, he treated her the same way he did when they were children.
"Yunfan, do you still remember when I went to the Chen residence when I was ten years old?"
"How could I not remember? You brought a lot of people with you back then, including your younger brother. It was so boring."
“I’m not talking about him, I’m referring to you brothers who were punished because of Chen Yi back then.”
Cui Qingwu paused, then looked at Chen Yunfan, who was grinning, and said:
"If I remember correctly, when others complained about Chen Yi, you not only spoke up for him, but also taught your cousins a lesson because of it."
"Well, we're brothers after all, and besides, Qingzhou..."
"Hey, why bring up these things? They're all old news."
Chen Yunfan brushed it off lightly, then pointed to the shop next to him and said with interest:
"Let's go, let's buy some rouge to take back."
"Chunying is still busy with official duties for me at the manor. Let's treat her to a good reward."
Cui Qingwu paused, a hint of reproachful amusement flashing in her eyes as she watched his retreating figure.
This person is always unreliable.
(End of this chapter)
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