Chapter 188 You Can't Handle It!
At night, it gets a little cool.
The heavy rain showed no signs of stopping.
It kept raining.
But in the hot summer of Shuzhou, this kind of rain is acceptable, as it's better than being exposed to the scorching sun.
Especially when the night breeze is blowing.
The fine raindrops carried on the wind gave a gentle, cool feeling.
In the Spring Lotus Garden, besides these, the breeze also carries the fragrance of purple bamboo and flowers.
It's like a perfume gifted by nature; the air and clothes are filled with this fresh and sweet scent.
At this moment, it is not yet halfway through the hour of You (5-7 PM).
Chen Yi had already changed into a set of light black clothes, not the silk robes he usually wore, but coarse linen, the roughness of the fibers of which could be felt by touch.
This was a night outfit that he had specially asked Wang Ji to prepare.
He hid ten sets of them in a partition under his bed, saving them for when he went out.
You have to prepare.
He had gone out several times before, and his clothes inevitably had some marks on them.
Some clothes that were clearly dry were soaked by the rain, some were torn during the fight, and some were stained with the smell of blood.
Even if Xiaodie doesn't ask, she will inevitably notice something amiss after a while.
Especially the tattered clothes that Chen Yi threw away made Xiao Die think a thief had broken into the garden.
If he hadn't come up with an excuse, there might have been armored guards patrolling outside Chunhe Garden.
"If this rain continues until the Mid-Autumn Festival... that would be bad."
Chen Yi, dressed neatly, looked at the rain falling outside the window and couldn't help but feel "anxious" for Hei Ya and the others.
If the rain continues, it will be much more difficult for these people to burn their summer crops.
What used to be a matter of just a few cans of kerosene would now require a dozen or twenty cans.
Otherwise, with the torrential rain and the rescue efforts of the soldiers in the three towns, it's hard to say whether all the summer grain would have been burned.
Of course, this was purely his wild imagination.
If everything goes smoothly, Xiao Jinghong should have made preparations in advance, and those people who dare to make a move will hardly survive.
Thinking about it, Chen Yi sat by the window and waited for Xiao Die and Xiao Wuge to fall asleep.
It was still early.
He could still hear Xiaodie walking around downstairs, as if she was tidying up the room.
Xiao Wuge, on the other hand, lay on the bed early, tossing and turning endlessly, muttering a few words to himself.
"The etiquette is so complicated. When will you be able to remove the tutor, elder sister?"
“My brother-in-law doesn’t help either, it’s so tough… I want to learn chess, or calligraphy, but I don’t want to learn etiquette.”
Perhaps because he didn't need to worry about being overheard, he rambled on and on, his voice gradually lowering.
Fortunately, they are all pure-hearted people with few worries, so they don't experience insomnia.
Hearing Xiao Wuge's words, a smile appeared on Chen Yi's face.
I couldn't help but recall the scene when I bumped into Xiao Wuge and that professor of etiquette saying goodbye at Jiaxing Garden after returning from the West Market.
That truly exemplifies the proper etiquette between teachers and students to the extreme.
Not only are the movements meticulous, but the facial expressions are also required to be respectful, dignified, and poised – none of these can be lacking.
Ultimately, it must reflect the stature and refinement of a successor to a king or noble.
Let alone Xiao Wuge, even Chen Yi, who was familiar with etiquette and law, found it troublesome.
But there was nothing they could do; Xiao Wan'er was the most powerful person in the backyard.
Her words, especially those concerning Xiao Wuge's upbringing and education, were difficult even for the old master to speak about.
This can be considered the ultimate manifestation of the saying "an elder sister is like a mother".
Chen Yi naturally wouldn't say things like "as long as the etiquette is acceptable."
He pretended not to see Xiao Wuge's pleading look and instead said a few words to Xie Tingyun.
This likely means that Manager Wang was very interested in her suggestion.
However, we still need to ask the owner of "Chen Yu" to confirm.
Overjoyed, Xie Tingyun didn't forget to express her gratitude.
Taking this opportunity, Chen Yi asked a couple more questions.
Questions such as "Which disciples of the Tianshan Sect can be sent out?" and "How much silver is needed each month?"
I almost burst out laughing at Xie Tingyun's comment, "You're still paying me?"
If the disciples of the Tianshan Sect heard this, they would probably blame Xie Tingyun, their senior sister, to death.
So all she ever wanted was a "Hundred Herbs Hall," and she didn't consider anything else.
After Chen Yi gave a brief explanation, he understood the situation of the Tianshan Sect.
Apart from Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang, the two disciples of the sect leader, there were more than ten other fellow disciples at the middle third rank.
Including the disciples of her several senior masters and aunts, the number of disciples who could go down the mountain to serve as guards of Baicaotang should be over a hundred.
That should be enough to handle the initial expansion of Baicaotang.
I waited for about fifteen minutes.
After hearing that Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die were breathing steadily, Chen Yi quietly left Chunhe Garden.
Tonight's events are of utmost importance, and there is no room for any surprises.
Therefore, he walked with extra caution, and it took him half an hour to finally arrive at the house on Chuanxi Street.
Zhang Dabao, who had been waiting in the hall, stepped forward to change his clothes without waiting for his instructions.
Silent and seamless, yet perfectly in sync.
In just twenty breaths, Chen Yi changed his expression.
Twenty breaths later, he changed into a black robe and then put on a black iron mask, which drastically changed his appearance and aura.
By candlelight, Chen Yi looked in the bronze mirror, and after confirming that it was correct, asked:
"How are Yan Hai's preparations going?"
While packing up his tools, Zhang Dabao replied, "Manager Yan finalized the travel route this afternoon."
"I heard that he plans to go to Guangyuan County, the farthest in the north, first, then turn northeast to central Sichuan, and then go south to Anguang, to take a look at the towns and counties along the border of Shuzhou and Jingzhou."
"Guangyuan County..."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, not thinking there was anything wrong with Yan Hai's plan.
Guangyuan County in the north is located at the junction of Jingzhou, Youzhou and Shuzhou, attracting many merchants and a large number of prominent families and people from all walks of life.
In addition, there's the Shu Prefecture Military Commandery, making the relationships incredibly complex.
Going to Guangyuan County first is a good option.
Who were the accompanying personnel?
"I don't know their specific names, but I know there was an accountant, Doctor Sun, two guards, and Manager Yan, a group of five people."
"They put in a fair amount of effort..."
The accountant is meticulous and can record details from various places; the physician can identify the skill level of some pharmacy doctors; and the guards and Yan Hai need no further explanation.
Clearly, Wang Ji and Yan Hai spent a considerable amount of time discussing this matter in the afternoon.
Wait a moment.
Liu Lang arrived despite the rain, shaking off his raincoat. Seeing that Chen Yi was already prepared, he smiled and said:
"Boss, shall we go over now?"
Chen Yi hummed in agreement, told Zhang Dabao to rest first, and then took Liu Lang to Kangning Street.
It wasn't late at night yet.
With many pedestrians and vehicles on the road, plus the city guards patrolling the streets and alleys, the two inevitably walked a little slower.
After much searching, Chen Yi and Liu Lang finally managed to sneak into Liu Wen's residence.
Upon entering.
They then saw that the courtyard was brightly lit, and several people were guarding inside and outside the wooden building.
Liu Lang glanced around and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Sir, there is a fifth-grade martial artist here, but his Dao realm is too low; he hasn't reached the minor completion stage yet."
Chen Yi remained expressionless. After observing the situation for a while, he made some deductions in his mind.
"Something must have happened, or perhaps Liu Wen wanted to test the waters."
"Shall we go back?"
Chen Yi shook his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and handed it to him.
"The immortals are drunk; each person can have a little."
Liu Lang nodded knowingly, took the porcelain bottle, and silently approached the guards, knocking them down one by one.
They didn't even spare the fifth-grade martial artist hiding inside the wooden building.
It took no more than ten breaths.
Once he confirmed that everyone except Liu Wen was still silent, Chen Yi slowly walked towards the wooden building.
He had some guesses about Liu Wen's plan.
After all, 300,000 taels of silver is no small sum, so it's normal to be cautious.
Not only that.
These guards, stationed inside and outside the wooden building, could also probe into his and Liu Lang's backgrounds.
If even people with ordinary cultivation and skills could sense their arrival, Liu Wen naturally wouldn't believe their identity as the Bright Moon Pavilion.
Thinking about all this, Chen Yi went up and knocked on the door.
However, he only took it as a reminder. After knocking, he pushed open the door and went straight upstairs without lingering in the empty main hall or living room.
Before he even arrived, he spoke up: "Young Master Liu, is it that you don't trust Black Fang, or you don't trust Bright Moon Pavilion?"
The semi-enclosed staircase made his deep, hoarse voice sound somewhat hollow.
But when the words reached Liu Wen's ears, he not only showed no anger, but instead smiled and stood up to greet him:
"Brother Hei, please forgive me. I had no ill intentions. I was just worried that I couldn't take good care of him all by myself, so I had my men attend to him."
Chen Yi naturally didn't believe him.
As she turned the corner of the stairs, her emotionless eyes fell upon him, and she said coldly:
"I'll let it go this time, but if there's a next time, Young Master Liu, please don't blame me for not knowing my limits."
"Of course, of course..."
Liu Wen agreed and gestured for him to come inside and sit down.
Chen Yi remained standing and said, "I came here tonight only for money, so I cannot stay any longer."
Liu Wen's effeminate smile froze. After sizing him up, her tone inevitably revealed a hint of displeasure.
"Elder Black Fang's rejection of me is not how one would treat a patron."
Chen Yi looked directly into his eyes and said calmly, "Tonight I still need to gather a few old demons to make some arrangements. Time is of the essence, I hope Young Master Liu will understand."
Liu Wen was taken aback, then his expression turned to joy as he asked, "Are you going to make a move so soon?"
"The longer it drags on, the greater the risk. I believe Mr. Liu can understand that."
"I understand, haha, of course I understand. But Elder Black Fang, could you tell me about your plan?"
Chen Yi stared at him for a moment, then shook his head: "To avoid leaks, I can only tell you that our purpose here is to distract the Xiao family."
Liu Wen was slightly moved. "To create an opportunity for the one who will actually make a move?"
He understood that such important matters involved a large number of people and could not tolerate even the slightest mistake.
Seeing that Chen Yi was unwilling to say more, he thought for a moment and didn't ask any more questions. He turned around, took out a thick stack of silver notes from the drawer under the table, and returned.
"Elder Black Fang and Bright Moon Pavilion have a good reputation, and I naturally trust them. These silver notes are bearer notes from Great Wei Bank. Elder Black Fang can take them himself."
Chen Yi took it and glanced at it, confirming that it was correct. He nodded and said, "Young Master Liu, please wait here for a few days. Once the important matter is accomplished, someone will come to find you."
Liu Wen was slightly taken aback. "Aren't you coming?"
"Young Master Liu is joking. Whether this matter succeeds or fails, it will attract the pursuit of the Xiao family and the Dingyuan Army. It is inconvenient for me to stay in Shuzhou for the time being."
"Once everything has calmed down, I will find an opportunity to catch up with Young Master Liu."
"Alright, I, Liu, will certainly welcome you with open arms and host a grand welcome dinner."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, bowed, and then turned and walked down the stairs.
Once they were outside the wooden building, Liu Lang drifted down and held up an oil-paper umbrella for him, and they walked outside together.
Liu Wen went to the window and watched the two figures disappear into the rainy night. A sinister smile appeared on his face.
"Mingyuelou Heiya, seeing is believing, he is indeed a man capable of great things."
Once this is accomplished, even if it doesn't completely destroy the Xiao family, it will certainly throw them into disarray.
And after this matter has fermented for a while, it will be the time for him to strike decisively and settle the score.
“Brother, although you are highly regarded by Father and several elders, you lack opportunities and abilities. This Liu family…”
"You can't handle it!"
Excitement flashed in Liu Wen's eyes, and he couldn't help but look towards the Xiao family's location, a sinister smile appearing on his face.
"And the Xiao family, Xiao Wan'er... As long as I get Xiao Wan'er, I can use her to gain control of the Dingyuan Army."
"By then, ha ha ha... who in Jingzhou and Shuzhou would dare disobey me?"
In the darkness.
Chen Yi seemed to hear Liu Wen's laughter, weighed the three hundred silver notes in his hand, each worth one thousand taels, and scoffed.
I reckon Liu Wen is having a good dream right now.
Let's just let him be happy for now.
Liu Lang, standing beside him, didn't think much of it. His eyes were fixed on the stack of silver notes, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.
Although he didn't care much about money and didn't spend much money except for romantic pursuits, he couldn't help but be tempted when he actually saw so many silver notes in front of him.
"Boss, these banknotes..."
Chen Yi glanced at him, took out two bills and handed them to him, "Spend them sparingly."
Fortunately, he had previously received 10,000 taels of silver from Liu Wen, so giving Liu Lang 2,000 taels at this moment would not affect his plan.
Liu Lang smiled and took it, tucking it into his clothes. "Thank you, boss."
However, after thanking him, seeing Chen Yi carefully put away the silver notes, he couldn't help but ask another question:
"Is this money going to be used to expand Bai Cao Tang?"
He naturally knew about what Wang Ji and Yan Hai had discussed during the day, and at this moment he couldn't help but wonder how many Baicaotang stores could be opened with 300,000 taels of silver.
To everyone's surprise, Chen Yi did not nod, but instead shook his head and said, "I have a great use for you."
Baicaotang's expansion certainly requires a large sum of money.
But there are always ways to raise money for business transactions. At worst, one can find a way from the Xiao family and the powerful families in various places with whom one has established a cooperative relationship.
However, the 300,000 taels of silver notes in his hand were crucial to the success of his plan, so he couldn't afford to use them.
...
Not long after.
Chen Yi sent Liu Lang to Chunyu Tower to find Hei Ya, while he went straight to the tailor shop in the West Market.
The two, one to the south and one to the west, parted ways on Kangning Street.
Chen Yi quickly arrived outside the West Market, carefully avoiding Fang Hongxiu and several other persistent criminal investigators, and went to the house behind the tailor shop.
The tasks he instructed Wang Ji to undertake during the day were progressing neither slowly nor quickly.
Neither of the two shops in Weiwei Tailor Shop were agreed upon, but someone couldn't resist the high price and handed over the land deed to Wang Ji on the same day for the house behind it.
Chen Yi was in that house.
It's just past 9 PM.
Although the rain had lessened somewhat, the sky was still covered with dark clouds, and the surroundings were dim, which did provide some shade for him.
About two quarters of an hour later.
Hearing a knock on the door of the tailor shop, Chen Yi silently got up and went over.
Based on his previous observations, most of these hidden guards were not highly skilled.
Among the three Silver Flag Officers, Ge Laosan, Lou Yuchun, and Xiao Dongchen, only Lou Yuxue's cultivation level reached the middle third rank.
It's almost impossible to detect his presence.
Chen Yi cautiously approached the tailor shop, pressing his ear against the outer wall.
He vaguely heard Lou Yuxue's voice coming from inside: "A letter from the Pavilion Master?"
Then Ge Laosan said, seemingly excitedly, "Quick, see what the letter says!"
"See for yourself."
After the rustling sounds, there was silence in the tailor shop for a long time.
Just as Chen Yi was wondering, Ge Laosan finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, as if he had seen something unacceptable and his mind was shaken.
"Master, he... he told us to find a way to implicate the Grey Wolf after we finished that task? Why is that?"
Then Lou Yuxue said in a serious tone, "Is there any need to ask?"
"It is clear that the Pavilion Master is dissatisfied with Grey Wolf's practice of using public office for private gain, and is even willing to eliminate the second branch of the Xiao family."
"But Harrier, I think this is a good thing for us."
"Just like this time, the Grey Wolf acted recklessly for its own benefit, which has affected us all."
"Think about it, once it's done, most of the Iron Flag officers you planted in the Dingyuan Army will definitely be lost."
"The same is true here."
"After Black Fang fled Shu Prefecture, a new elder will be appointed to take over the management of Mingyue Tower, and even I will have to disappear for a while."
Upon hearing this, Ge Laosan sighed and said, "I just didn't expect the Pavilion Master to be so decisive."
"Grey Wolf has a special status. He is not only the leader of the second branch of the Xiao family, but also a councilor of the Provincial Administration Commission. He will be useful in the future..."
"Enough with the nonsense. You dare disobey the sect leader's orders?"
"Of course I wouldn't dare..."
Upon hearing this...
Chen Yi's aura remained imperceptible, yet a ripple stirred within his heart.
He also did not expect that the hidden guards would abandon Xiao Dongchen so decisively, and it seemed that they even planned to eliminate him and the second wife together.
But think about it carefully.
Chen Yi felt that although the Hidden Guards' actions were unexpected, they were also reasonable.
Just as Lou Yuxue advised Ge Laosan earlier, Xiao Dongchen and the second branch of the family are too selfish, which will affect the plans of the Hidden Guards.
"In this way, the hidden guards' goal coincides with my own."
"I wonder who that Pavilion Master is? How could he issue such a calm order from thousands of miles away?"
That kind of intelligence and decisiveness alone is something most people can't match.
A moment of silence.
Lou Yuxue snorted, "Hurry up and take a look at the letter from Lord Jinqi. I need to return to Chunyu Tower as soon as possible."
Ge Laosan grunted in agreement and asked, "When do we make our move?"
"Tonight, Black Fang will go to that patron to collect the silver. Once I confirm that the 300,000 taels of silver have been deposited, I will begin to plan the follow-up."
"I reckon it'll be in the next day or two."
"It's the same on your end. I'll let you know when the weather clears up in a couple of days."
After listening to Lou Yuxue's words, Ge Laosan didn't say much, and then began to read the second secret letter, reciting it word by word:
"Upon receiving a calligraphy model of a fledgling calligrapher, we determine whether the calligrapher has already achieved mastery of calligraphy."
Lou Yuxue couldn't help but ask, "Perfect in calligraphy? Are you sure there's no mistake in the translation?"
"See for yourself..."
Listening to their conversation, a strange look flashed in Chen Yi's eyes.
Is the art of calligraphy complete?
How could the hidden guards know that his calligraphy had broken through to the perfect realm?
To date, he has only written characters in the Yuanman Calligraphy style for the old master and Sun Fu.
Only three people knew about it.
Even Xiao Wuge was instructed not to reveal this matter.
Chen Yi recalled what Ge Laosan had said that morning and couldn't help but secretly speculate:
"Could it be that the old master has hidden guards around him?"
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi couldn't figure it out either, but he knew clearly that the person who revealed his mastery of calligraphy was either the old master or Sun Fu.
However, after hearing about the secret letter sent by the Golden Banner official, he remembered something else.
—The calligraphy scroll he lost earlier must have been taken by the hidden guards.
"That's strange, why would they care about my calligraphy?"
A moment later.
Lou Yuxue and Ge Laosan left the tailor shop one after the other.
[Witness the hidden guard receiving the secret letter. Reward: Musical score "Guangyuan Melody", +18 Fortune.]
[Comment: The person arrived, their voice was heard, but the scene was not seen...]
Chen Yi glanced at the few lines of golden characters, thought for a moment, but did not choose to return to the Xiao family. Instead, he quietly followed behind Lou Yuxue.
Tonight, Black Fang is going to collect money from another sugar daddy; it might be worth following him to take a look.
I'll meet up with Liu Lang while I'm there and ask him about the situation.
When Lou Yuxue walked into a secluded alley, Chen Yi was about to follow when he suddenly stopped and hid in a corner.
A hoarse, deep voice came from the alleyway in the distance:
"Lou Yuxue, where did you go?"
(End of this chapter)
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