Chapter 68

PS: Please recommend and collect!

Just as they were talking about Cao Cao, he arrived!

Cheng Chumo had only been gone for a short while when Du Yan and his group arrived at Lantian. Seeing the old man Du Yan climb down from the sled, Zhao Chen was slightly taken aback, but upon seeing Wei Hui who accompanied him, he immediately understood why the old man Du Yan also had a sled.

"This is the Deputy Magistrate of Lantian, Zhao Chen, from the Academy of Natural Studies, right?" While standing there feeling depressed, Zhao Chen suddenly saw the old man Du Yan, wrapped up like a dumpling, smiling at him and speaking.

Deputy Magistrate? Deputy Magistrate of Lantian?

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chen was momentarily stunned. Qin Shubao had only focused on scolding Zhao Chen and explaining important matters in his letter, forgetting to mention that he had forced Li Er to acknowledge Zhao Chen as the Deputy Magistrate of Lantian in the imperial hall. It was no wonder Zhao Chen was confused.

"Yes, it's me, Zhao Chen, greeting Doctor Du!" Zhao Chen was only slightly stunned for a moment, then he immediately understood. He smiled inwardly, bowed slightly to Du Yan, and said, "Doctor Du, the journey must have been cold and harsh, didn't it?"

"Ah!" Du Yan sighed, looking at Zhao Chen with a smile. "Thanks to your good fortune, with this sled, I didn't suffer too much on the way!"

As Du Yan spoke, his gaze swept through the crowd almost imperceptibly, as if searching for someone. When he realized he couldn't find the person, he casually withdrew his gaze, pretending nothing had happened.

Zhao Chen smiled inwardly. He, of course, knew what Du Yan was looking for. At this moment, it should have been the County Magistrate of Lantian, Zhao Yuankai, who should have come out to greet them. Unfortunately, Zhao Yuankai was still locked in an empty room in the county office, so how could he come to greet Du Yan and his group?

After a brief exchange at the gate, they were led by Liu Huizhi into the second hall of the county office.

The second hall was still the same as when Zhao Chen and Wei Hui first came. Several burning braziers were already set up, and a few low tables had small clay stoves on them, with a steaming lamb hot pot bubbling on top.

"Academician Zhao, Wei has only been gone for a day, why such a grand reception?" As they entered the second hall, the old man Du Yan and the others sat behind the low tables, their eyes immediately fixed on the food. Only the old man Wei Hui, taking advantage of the others' distraction, quietly approached Zhao Chen, looking pained and somewhat resentful.

"What do you mean, Wei?" Zhao Chen, upon hearing this, immediately put on a puzzled look and said to Wei Hui, "What do you mean, I don't understand."

"Enough!" Wei Hui, hearing this, stared at Du Yan and his group feasting, and lowered his voice to Zhao Chen. "The court is already in an uproar, how could you not know? Besides, Wei met Cheng Chumo, who had just left here, on the way here!"

"Ha!" Zhao Chen, exposed by Wei Hui, felt a bit embarrassed and sniffed. "So what? Who would have thought that a mere Zhao Yuankai would attract so many important figures to protect him!"

"You're wrong!" Wei Hui, of course, could hear the sarcasm in Zhao Chen's words, and replied without hesitation. "As you said, a mere Zhao Yuankai isn't enough to make so many people come forward to protect him!"

"Then why did those people step forward?" Zhao Chen sneered. "Are they just bored?"

Wei Hui was momentarily stunned, perhaps not understanding Zhao Chen's phrase "bored to death," but from Zhao Chen's expression, he guessed it wasn't a good thing.

After a moment, he looked at Zhao Chen and whispered, "It's just that you chose the wrong time! This matter could have been delayed, or the evidence could have been handed over to the Censorate, and they could have handled it, avoiding this mess!"

Wei Hui, as he spoke, suddenly regretted bringing Zhao Chen to Lantian. If not for that, there wouldn't be so many headaches. Unfortunately, it was too late now!

"Are you blaming me, Wei?" Zhao Chen sneered, looking at Wei Hui. "Do I need to consult you, Wei, before I act?"

"That's not what I meant!" Wei Hui took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said calmly, "I don't want this matter to continue to escalate!"

Seeing Zhao Chen silently looking at him, Wei Hui glanced at Du Yan and the others, then turned to Zhao Chen, frowning. "What I mean is, can we both take a step back and resolve this matter quietly?"

"Do you want me to let Zhao Yuankai off the hook?" Zhao Chen, upon hearing this, sneered and looked at Wei Hui mockingly. "Do you think that's possible?"

"I've already said, a mere Zhao Yuankai isn't enough to make anyone stand up for him!" Wei Hui was also getting annoyed, frowning at Zhao Chen. "Besides, you've seen that Doctor Du has come to Lantian. What does that mean? It means that no one in Lantian, including you, can leave until this matter is resolved!"

"Ha!" Zhao Chen laughed, his gaze suddenly focusing on Wei Hui. "Let's make a bet. In half a month, I'll return to Chang'an with dignity, but Zhao Yuankai, who knows? Do you dare to bet with me?"

"Do you really have that much confidence, Academician Zhao?" Wei Hui, upon hearing this, was taken aback. He knew exactly how chaotic the court was, with two factions at loggerheads, leaving no room for compromise.

Despite this, Zhao Chen was confidently betting with him. Seeing that Zhao Chen wasn't joking, Wei Hui was puzzled.

"Whether I have confidence or not, you'll see!" Zhao Chen smiled, looking at Wei Hui confidently.

"Fine!" Wei Hui took a deep breath, extended his hand to Zhao Chen, and said, "If you can't return to Chang'an, will you agree to resolve this matter quietly as I suggested?"

"Sure!" Zhao Chen smiled, but didn't rush to seal the deal with a handshake. Instead, he looked at Wei Hui and said, "If I return to Chang'an with dignity in half a month, what will you do, Wei?"

"What do you want from me, Academician Zhao?" Wei Hui, upon hearing this, frowned and looked at Zhao Chen.

"Promise!" Zhao Chen smiled lightly. "If I win, I don't want anything else, just a promise from you!"

"What kind of promise?" Wei Hui, upon hearing this, felt a sudden tension, frowning at Zhao Chen. "I'm just an Inner Palace Attendant, I can't make any promises to you!"

"Ha ha!" Zhao Chen laughed, then his expression turned serious. "This promise doesn't need to be fulfilled immediately, it can be fulfilled in the future. What the promise is, I'll tell you later."

If Wei Hui could get a promise from Zhao Chen, it would be worth more than any amount of money. It wouldn't cost him anything, so why not?

"If this promise doesn't violate my principles, I'll agree!" Wei Hui hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed. In fact, he was confident that Zhao Chen couldn't resolve this matter in half a month.

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!"

The two extended their hands and clapped three times, sealing the verbal bet.

While Wei Hui and Zhao Chen were quietly talking, the old man Du Yan, who was feasting, kept glancing at them with the corner of his eye. Although he couldn't hear their conversation, seeing them clapping hands, he smirked, chuckling to himself.

Xue Wanche and his three companions were ultimately pardoned by Li Er, which was within Zhao Chen's expectations. Zhao Chen not only knew that Xue Wanche was pardoned but also knew that Li Er had married his illegitimate sister, Princess Danyang, to Xue Wanche, leading to a rather amusing story.

Of course, that's another story!

"During my time in Lantian, I've been well taken care of by Brother Zhao. I will remember this, and if I have the chance, I will repay you generously!" Xue Wanche, lying in the sled, was very pleased and bowed to Zhao Chen in gratitude, though it was unclear whether this was sincere or not.

"General Xue, you're too kind!" Zhao Chen, regardless of whether it was sincere or not, couldn't act dishonorably in front of the eunuch sent by Li Er, so he bowed and smiled.

As for Xue Wanche's two companions, Zhao Chen ignored them. Since they knew they were pardoned by Li Er, they had become arrogant, looking at Zhao Chen with disdain. Zhao Chen just sneered in response.