Fighting them was, of course, out of the question.

But Xiao Wan’er did have a bit of a headache dealing with the young ladies and madams from the noble families who tried every trick in the book to pay her a visit.

Although their status, family background, and prestige were no match for the Xiao Family’s, they all had connections of some sort and were tied to the Xiao Family by a complex web of relationships.

Among them, only Madam Tang came to the Xiao residence simply to foster a closer relationship, as her son was already studying under Chen Yi.

The rest mostly wanted to pull some strings, hoping that one of the Xiao Family’s influential figures would put in a good word and persuade Chen Yi to let their children study the Calligraphy Dao under him.

That, at least, was manageable. Xiao Wan’er could always find a way to tactfully refuse them.

At worst, she could use Chen Yi as an excuse, saying his energy was limited.

Or she could bring up Xiao Jinghong, explaining that with her second sister not yet having returned, her brother-in-law rarely socialized.

But every time these people came to visit, they would bring gifts.

Those from less wealthy families would bring inexpensive items, like blankets or ivory from Poshisu Country.

The wealthier ones would often bring cartloads of rare trinkets, with no shortage of gold and silver jewelry.

Accepting these items was awkward, but so was refusing them.

Xiao Wan’er had even specifically sought out the Old Marquis about this. Only after he told her to accept everything did she know what to do.

She briefly explained the situation.

Xiao Wan’er looked at Chen Yi and asked softly, "This can’t go on, don’t you think?"

Chen Yi met her gaze and, after a moment of thought, said, "You’re right. We need a permanent solution."

Her heart stirred, and she couldn’t help but remind him, "Most of the people who come to visit are close to the Xiao Family."

"Some are old subordinates of Grandfather and Father, others are close to the second and third branches of the family, and many are just the womenfolk. Perhaps..."

"Perhaps their methods are inappropriate, but their intentions are for the sake of their children. They’re not wicked people."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi was exasperated. "What are you worried about?"

"Do I look like the kind of person who would bully them?"

’He does.’

Xiao Wan’er supplied the thought in her mind, inevitably recalling a few things Chen Yi had done in the past.

Running away on his wedding day.

Visiting Yanhua Lane after being confined.

Pretending to abduct a commoner’s daughter to help the Third Place Scholar.

And writing that poem for her...

Each and every one of those incidents could be considered scandalous and unconventional. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

It made Xiao Wan’er worry that Chen Yi might come up with some bizarre scheme that would put his visitors in an impossible situation.

"It’s best not to offend them too much, to avoid giving people something to gossip about."

"Don’t worry, don’t worry."

Chen Yi readily agreed. Seeing it was getting late, he took Xiao Wuge and left Jiaxing Garden, heading straight for Qingjing Residence.

Xiao Wan’er watched them until they were out of sight before pulling back her gaze, a faint smile gracing her lips.

Beside her, Cui’er and Juan’er exchanged a glance before asking, "Miss, should we accept all these visiting cards?"

Xiao Wan’er hummed in affirmation, then collected herself and instructed, "Accept them all."

"But stagger the times. Some people will need to be separated."

"Schedule Miss Wan and Miss Li for the same time. Madam Tang and Madam Xie are of similar status, so put them together as well..."

Until Chen Yi came up with a solution, she had to handle things carefully to prevent people from gossiping about him.

After all, they wouldn’t dare say anything against the Xiao Family.

「Meanwhile.」

Chen Yi had a rough idea of what Xiao Wan’er was thinking. He felt a sense of gratification, along with a touch of gratitude toward her.

He was the one who had caused this situation, after all.

He couldn’t just keep letting the Xiao Family and people like Mr. Yue Ming of Guiyun Academy take the heat for him.

But some matters were more urgent than others.

Right now, his priority was dealing with Black Tooth and his men. Refusing the visits from the various nobles of Shu State could wait a few days.

「Not long after.」

Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge passed through the gatehouse into the central courtyard, then turned into a long, covered corridor.

Glancing around, he saw Uncle Gui sweeping fallen leaves in an open area of the courtyard.

Come to think of it, Chen Yi hadn’t seen Uncle Gui in some time.

The same went for Ge the Third and Liu Si’er. It was as if they had been deliberately avoiding him; he hadn’t seen them in ages.

But upon careful reflection...

Chen Yi knew in his heart—these Hidden Guards each had their own missions.

Ge the Third was coordinating with Xiao Dongchen and Lou Yuxue on the plan to burn the summer grain supply of the Three Towns.

Liu Si’er, having just recovered from his injuries, was now inspecting the Xiao Family’s five Medicine Halls with Wang Lixing.

Xiao Dongchen was at the Governor’s Office, handling the collection of the summer grain tax from all over Shu State, just like Chen Yunfan and Li Huai’gu.

Only Uncle Gui remained at the residence.

As Chen Yi pondered this, he couldn’t help but glance over again, just in time to meet the eyes of Uncle Gui, who had straightened up to look his way.

The man seemed surprised, as if not expecting to see Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge, and only lowered his head after a brief pause.

Noting the man’s reaction, Chen Yi continued nonchalantly through the corridor.

Soon, he and Xiao Wuge arrived at Qingjing Residence.

The Armored Warriors guarding the gate hesitated for a moment, then bowed. "Greetings, Young Master, Master Yi."

Seeing that Xiao Wuge didn’t slow down, Chen Yi gently pulled him back and asked with a smile,

"Is the Old Marquis free?"

One of the Armored Warriors didn’t answer immediately, instead glancing at Xiao Wuge before speaking.

"Someone from the Governor’s Office came to visit early this morning. The Marquis is meeting with him now."

"Oh? Who is it?"

"The Right Minister of the Governor’s Office, Yang Ye, and Assistant Governor Chen Yunfan."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, not having expected these two.

’For the Three Towns’ grain tax?’

’It must be.’

Li Huai’gu had mentioned in his letter yesterday that the Governor’s Office’s new order was to have him collect the summer grain from the Three Towns at a one-tenth tax rate.

He reckoned that Yang Ye and Chen Yunfan’s visit to the Old Marquis today was to explain this matter.

’So Governor Liu Hong has washed his hands of this completely.’

The thought stirred something in Chen Yi.

If Yang Ye and Chen Yunfan were here for the Three Towns’ grain tax, then the people from the Jing State Liu Family who were coming later must be here for something else.

’A marriage proposal?’

’Heh.’

Xiao Wuge, however, paid no mind to these things. Hearing that it was someone from the Governor’s Office, he simply stood quietly outside the gate with Chen Yi to wait.

But he was fidgeting restlessly, occasionally shifting the brocade box in his hands. He was clearly eager to present the gift he had chosen for the Old Marquis as soon as possible.

After waiting for about an hour, just past mid-morning, two sets of footsteps could be heard from within Qingjing Residence.

Faintly, Chen Yi could hear his brother, Chen Yunfan, muttering and complaining.

"...I knew this would be the result."

"Lord Left Envoy Liu forcing us to deliver that kind of message... The fact that the Old Marquis didn’t just throw us out already shows how magnanimous he is."

"Yunfan, calm down. Whatever arrangements Lord Liu makes, you just have to carry them out."

"Lord Yang, it’s easy for you to say! You have nothing to worry about, but I’m just a newcomer here. I have to spend the next few years in Shu State. How can I afford to offend the Old Marquis?"

"Heh, you just need to deliver the message. I’m sure Marquis Xiao won’t hold it against you."

"I hope... Hmm? Brother Yi?"

Catching sight of Chen Yi around the corner, Chen Yunfan’s impatient tone vanished, replaced by a smile.

Luckily, he remembered Xiao Wuge was also present. While winking and making faces at Chen Yi, he properly bowed to Xiao Wuge.

"This subordinate greets the Young Master."

Xiao Wuge put on a serious expression and replied, "Assistant Governor Chen."

He then bowed to Yang Ye along with Chen Yi, greeting him.

After they straightened up, Chen Yi glanced around, then patted Xiao Wuge on the shoulder, signaling for him to go into Qingjing Residence first.

Chen Yunfan did the same.

Except he patted Yang Ye. "Lord Right Envoy, please excuse me. This subordinate would like a word with Qingzhou."

Yang Ye naturally nodded in agreement.

However, he clearly remembered Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan talking about him behind his back at Li Huai’gu’s wedding. With a stern face, he warned them,

"You two can talk, but watch where you are and show some propriety."

Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan exchanged a look and smilingly agreed.

Once Yang Ye was a good distance away, Chen Yi led Chen Yunfan to a pavilion by the pond outside Qingjing Residence to sit for a moment, and inevitably asked about his brother’s recent situation.

At the mention of this, Chen Yunfan let out a bellyful of complaints.

"This damned Assistant Governor job is so boring. Every day, I’m either in the east of the city collecting grain taxes or in the west."

"Not only do I have to collect them on time, but I can’t afford the slightest mistake."

"If there’s even the slightest error, the two Governors come down on you. You have no idea how miserable it is."

Seeing his brother’s gloomy face, Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother, you’re complaining about a position others couldn’t get even if they begged."

But taking a closer look, he did notice that in the few days since they’d last met, Chen Yunfan had gotten quite tan.

Clearly, he really had been rushing about outdoors lately.

Chen Yunfan pouted. "I’d be thrilled if one of those ’others’ would push me out."

He paused, then turned to Chen Yi with a grin. "Then again, I forgot how impressive Brother Yi has been lately."

"How so?"

"Now that you’ve achieved Great Success in the Calligraphy Dao and even taught several accomplished students at Guiyun Academy, your fame is second to none right now."

"I’ve heard that countless students from both inside and outside Shu State are already on their way here, all hoping to study under you."

Chen Yi chuckled and shook his head. "That’s just distorted rumors. It’s not that exaggerated."

Chen Yunfan, of course, didn’t believe him.

He chattered on about how enviable Chen Yi’s life was now and how he’d trade places if he could.

Chen Yi selectively agreed here and there, and their conversation was no longer as tit-for-tat as it had been before.

After a bit more small talk, the smile on Chen Yunfan’s face faded. He glanced around, then leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you, but you should spend more time at Guiyun Academy these days."

"If possible, it would be best for you to stay at the academy."

Chen Yi knew there was a hidden meaning in his words. "Does this have to do with your visit to the Old Marquis today?"

Chen Yunfan nodded without hesitation. "The Governor’s Office is dead set on collecting the summer grain tax from the Three Towns this time."

"I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what the stakes are."

Chen Yi murmured an "oh." He was well aware that the root of this issue wasn’t the Governor’s Office, but the Jing State Liu Family wanting to test their strength against the Xiao Family.

"Are you in a difficult position, Brother?"

"Not really. This matter has nothing to do with me. If that old bastard tries to drag me into it, at worst I’ll just throw down my Official Seal and walk away."

Hearing Chen Yunfan’s cavalier words, Chen Yi just smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you for the warning, Brother. I know what to do."

"That’s the spirit. You’re an Instructor at the academy now. The affairs inside and outside the residence have nothing to do with you. Just focus on teaching. That’s for the best."

Seeing it was getting late, Chen Yunfan didn’t linger and rose to take his leave.

Just then, they saw several figures enter from the central courtyard. Leading them was none other than the second son of the Jing State Liu Family, Liu Yu.

Chen Yunfan let out a surprised "Huh?" "What’s that bastard doing here in Shu State?"