Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Thirty-Eight: Entering the Wrong House?

Su Wanqing was still in a daze, blankly catching the stick handed to her by Chen Changan, her round little mouth agape.

Chen Changan leisurely swung the imperial edict in his hand. “Our family is now officially registered in the Inner City. These four ruffians still dare to cause trouble—what do they take the laws of Great Min for, what do they take Her Majesty the Empress’s authority for? Second Sister, have at them. I’d like to see which one of them dares fight back.”

Zhao Gang, clutching his bleeding shoulder, pleaded repeatedly, “Young Master Chen, we didn’t know, truly, we didn’t. Spare us!”

Chen Changan beckoned with his finger. “You, crawl over here and lick up the spit you just spat out—right now.”

“What?” Zhao Gang was shocked, but, in the end, crawled obediently in front of Su Qingtang, stuck out his tongue, and forced himself to lick it clean—after all, their earlier conduct could easily be deemed defiance of an imperial edict.

Su Qingtang, on the other hand, instantly became proud and upright.

Su Wanqing, face flushed and teeth gritted, glared at him. When the spittle was gone, she slapped him twice, hands on her hips: “What did you say? What do you want? Hmph! Just a constable from the Capital Commandery—so what?”

Slap! Slap!

Smack! Crack!

The crisp sound of slaps rang out without pause. Zhao Gang was beaten into a pig’s head. Only then did Second Sister Su Wanqing realize she really could do as she wished; she swung the stick in her hand and charged at the other three.

Whack! Crack! Thud! Their cries of pain rose and fell, but none dared dodge, at most shielding their heads with their hands.

“Look what you’ve done to my husband!”

“That’s for hitting my husband! And that! And that!”

“Aiyo, have mercy, Second Miss Su, have mercy! We were wrong!”

“Hmph! Mercy? Not a chance!”

Smack!

“Ah!”

After a full half hour, Su Wanqing, stick in hand, sat on the ground panting heavily. She’d never realized beating people could be so exhausting. But seeing her husband, Zhu Jiawen, bruised and battered, her pretty brows drew together. “Just wait—when I’ve rested, I’ll continue.”

Nearby, Su Qingtang, ever the doting wife-devotee, burst forth with the peak inner energy of the Third Grade Initiation Art, seizing Zhao Gang in one swoop: “So you want to see what color my wife's underclothes are, do you? Well, let’s see what color your eye sockets are!”

Two straight punches in quick succession, and the man was transformed into a living panda.

The Su family’s courtyard resounded with ongoing cries for mercy.

Another half hour later, Zhao Gang and his three constable companions, battered, bloodied, and limping, leaned on their swords as they crawled in disgrace out of the Su family’s gates.

Qin Fulou came to her senses. “Master, wasn’t that a bit much? They are, after all, constables of the Capital Commandery.”

Su Qingtang blew his beard. “Too much? They bullied my daughter, and even spoke rudely to you. They deserved it.”

“Bah! Just a few constables. If I were still Captain of the Imperial Guard, what would they amount to?”

Chen Changan listened to his father-in-law’s bold boasts. Out of the corner of his blurred vision, he caught a glimpse of Qin Fulou’s position, and, reaching out to put his arm around her shoulder, declared in the manner of a gallant hero, “Exactly, Mother, don’t worry. Just a few constables.”

“We have Her Majesty’s imperial edict in our hands. Even if the Prefect of the Capital Commandery himself came, he’d have to kneel and obey.”

“That’s good, that’s good!” Qin Fulou patted her chest lightly, then realized this son-in-law had just put his hand on her and even called her “Mother.” In this era, what did “Mother” mean? Isn’t that what they called the madam of a brothel? She jerked away, face flushed. “Nonsense—what are you saying?”

“Oh!” Chen Changan belatedly realized his gesture had been too forward. The Great Min dynasty was conservative, after all. He clasped his hands in apology. “Forgive me, Mother-in-law. It was unintentional.”

“It’s… it’s nothing!” In the past, she would have cursed him out, but times had changed. Now, with the imperial edict restoring their Inner City status in his hands, he was the family’s benefactor.

Even the patriarch, Su Qingtang, greeted him with a smile. “Changan, you are truly the Su family’s blessing. We owe it all to you this time!”

In the past, the one who treated Chen Changan the worst—Su Wanqing—who would constantly complain and curse, even came over now, a little embarrassed, lowering her head slightly: “Brother-in-law, earlier it was my fault. If I was ever unreasonable, please forgive me, all right?”

Chen Changan waved magnanimously. “It’s nothing. I understand.”

“Good! That’s good!” Su Wanqing bowed deeply. “Thank you for standing up for Jiawen. Thank you.”

Outside the Su family’s gates, Zhao Gang limped along on his sword, face full of hatred. “Damn that blind son-in-law, Chen. Daring to lay hands on me! And the Su family—now nothing more than mere commoners. Outrageous!”

“One day, I’ll make them pay.”

His followers, clutching their wounds, whined, “But, boss, they have the Empress’s own edict. What else can we do?”

“Exactly! I really don’t get it—how did a useless blind man get an imperial edict? Isn’t he helping Princess Changning investigate a case? Could it be he’s already cracked it, and that’s why the princess intervened…”

“If that’s so, boss, revenge won’t be easy.”

Zhao Gang’s face was cold and grim. “Even if he did get the edict for solving the case, so what? The princess only rewarded him for the matter at hand. It’s not as if she’ll come out to protect some blind man. As long as he slips up, I’ll make sure that Chen dies with no grave to bury him in.”

…

By the fourth quarter of the evening, just after six by modern reckoning, the Su family laid out a grand banquet to celebrate the restoration of their Inner City status. Everyone was smiling from the patriarch Su Qingtang to the lowest maid and servant, all coming to toast the “hero of the hour.”

Chen Changan responded to each in turn. Having grown accustomed to strong liquor in the modern age, he could easily drink everyone under the table here.

The last incident at the Three Origins Temple had been seen as a fluke, and, demoted to the Outer City, the family’s spirits had been low. They still regarded Chen Changan as useless.

But this time was different—an imperial edict from the Empress herself, restoring their Inner City status, was nothing short of miraculous.

At this moment, Chen Changan was indisputably the treasure of the Su family.

With his head wrapped in white cloth and his right arm in a sling, Zhu Jiawen dragged Chen Changan into a corner. “Brother-in-law, Wanqing told me it was you who saved me from the hands of the constables.”

“And our family owes it all to you for getting our Inner City status back. Brother-in-law, if you ever need anything, just say the word—I’ll do everything I can.”

Well… you’re nothing but a bookworm who lives and dies for study. What help could you possibly be? Chen Changan mocked inwardly but smiled on the surface. “No problem, it’s what I should do.”

“No!” Zhu Jiawen raised his hand solemnly, an air of righteous loyalty about him. “As scholars, we must uphold benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust. Let it be settled today—if you ever need me, just say so. Do not refuse.”

He lifted his chin, resolute.

Chen Changan raised an eyebrow. “All… all right!”

“Good!” Zhu Jiawen nodded heavily, finally at ease.

Chen Changan pursed his lips, returned to the table for a few more bites, then retired to his room. Before long, Su Wanqiu gently pushed the door open and walked in gracefully, standing before him, her beautiful eyes gazing at him.

He sized her up. Hmm… Even with a natural blur obscuring her features, her curves were apparent—she could rival the peach blossom for beauty.

He was quite looking forward to seeing exactly how stunning this little wife was once his eyesight returned.

Chen Changan coughed twice.

Su Wanqiu’s eyes softened, and she smiled gently. “Thank you for what you did today.”

Chen Changan clicked his tongue in amusement. “By rights, didn’t you want the Su family to move to the Outer City? That way you’d finally be free of Yuan Yunfei’s harassment.”

Su Wanqiu paused, then replied, “I did, but I have to consider my family as well.”

“True.”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment. Chen Changan remembered he still had to prepare the Longevity Festival gift for Princess Changning. He got up. “Miss Su, do you know where in Chang’an one can find skilled craftsmen?”

Su Wanqiu thought for a moment, then asked, “What do you need it for?”

Chen Changan answered honestly, “The Longevity Festival is approaching. I need to prepare a gift for Her Majesty on behalf of Princess Changning.”

Su Wanqiu’s eyes widened in surprise. Even if Chen Changan was good at solving cases, preparing a birthday tribute for the Empress was no small matter. What could he possibly come up with?

But she didn’t ask further, and after some thought replied, “When it comes to master craftsmen, none surpass Mao Ji, also known as ‘Miao Shou.’ But he only works for nobility and aristocrats. I’m afraid we won’t be able to see him.”

Chen Changan replied confidently, “Just take me. As for whether he’ll see us, don’t worry—he will.”

“A gentleman’s sword, though long imprisoned by dust and toil, when the dust is gone, it gleams with light, ready to cleave through mountains and rivers.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear, loud voice rang out from outside. Su Dingfeng soared in on his sword, circling above the Su family’s courtyard, his voice echoing.

“You unfilial son, you dare come back?”

Su Qingtang, hearing the commotion, kicked open his door, broom in hand, erupting with the peak force of the Third Grade Initiation Art, and hurled it skyward. Remembering how all his rouge and powder had been squandered on a bunch of gossipy old ladies, Second Sister Su Wanqing was furious as well, hurling rotten vegetables by the basketful.

Su Dingfeng dodged back and forth on his sword, scratching his head in confusion. “What’s going on? Did I come to the wrong house?”