Chapter 562: Chapter 562 The Backer You Mentioned Is Zhao Xianzheng!

“What!” Chen Shijing kicked Old Li, the gatekeeper, in the chest.

Old Li clutched his chest as he fell down, extremely afraid of the Chen Family Master. He endured the pain and knelt before Chen Shijing once more.

“Master, this old servant hasn’t uttered a single lie…”

Chen Jun knew that Old Li was an honest and straightforward person, so he surely wasn’t lying. He looked at Chen Shijing, “Father, perhaps we should go out and have a look.”

Chen Shijing calmed his anger-induced rising and falling chest and left the house with his hands clasped behind his back.

Chen Jun followed him out.

When the two of them, accompanied by the family servants, arrived at the gate of the Chen Family, the scene was infuriating. More than twenty of the Chen Family’s Protectors were beaten to the ground, moaning incessantly.

Chen You, with a bruised and swollen face, knelt on the ground, as did several other prodigal relatives.

“Disgraceful wretches!” Chen Shijing’s face turned red with anger. He had never seen the Chen Family humiliated to this extent. This was Ding’an City, and not far away were onlookers who were whispering among themselves.

His son and several juniors were kneeling in front of a woman’s carriage, not daring to stand up—an utter humiliation!

Chen Jun’s face wasn’t looking good either. The curtain of the carriage was down at this moment, so he couldn’t see the woman’s appearance. His younger brother, though usually a bully, had never ended up in such a predicament.

Could it be that he offended someone who shouldn’t be offended, like a County Lord, a Commandery Princess, or perhaps the daughter of a high-ranking official?

Before understanding the truth, Chen Jun nodded politely toward the woman inside the carriage and said, “I am Chen Jun, the elder brother of Chen You. May I ask what inappropriate thing my brother has done to offend you?”

Hearing his eldest son speak so courteously, Chen Shijing, who had great trust in him, endured his anger while waiting for the person inside the carriage to speak.

Little Anzi rolled up the curtain of the carriage again. As Chen Jun saw Zhan Lan’s elegant figure, he was captivated by her aura. In Ding’an City, there weren’t many women with such grace.

He quickly speculated on the identity of the woman inside the carriage.

Seeing that the woman inside the carriage sat aloof without any intention of getting down to apologize, Chen Shijing bellowed, “Who are you and why are you targeting our Chen Family? You just assaulted my son and several nephews, as well as our Protectors. If you don’t give the Chen Family an explanation, we’ll report this to the authorities!”

Chen Jun held his father’s arm and said with a slight smile, “Miss, everything can be resolved. If my brother did something wrong, I apologize on his behalf.”

Zhan Lan looked at the well-dressed Chen Jun. In the past life, it was Chen Jun who led his whole family to Japan in secret, providing Japan with maps of islands near Nanjin. After the pirates successfully landed, they occupied dozens of Nanjin’s islands.

Later, Chen Jun’s father, Chen Shijing, took his second son, Chen You, and secretly sailed to join Chen Jun. Heaven had eyes; that day, a sudden storm capsized their ship, and they both died at sea, their bodies washed back to shore.

Afterward, only Chen Jun remained in Japan and never returned.

Zhan Lan rubbed her fingers. When she learned today that Chen You was a member of the Chen Family, she wanted to take action against the Chen Family.

Resolving the situation for Qingcheng was merely an incidental matter; the three Chen Family members collaborating with pirates needed to be dealt with to prevent them from bringing endless trouble to Dayu.

Zhan Lan gave Chen Jun a once-over; his clothes were made of fabric unique to Japan.

It seemed he had already started doing business with the pirates.

Chen You knelt on the ground. He had already resisted fiercely, but he never expected that the woman in the carriage and her five Protectors would be so formidable, defeating even their twenty Protectors, who were not weak in martial arts.

Taking advantage of Zhan Lan not noticing him, he tried to rise from the ground. Just as he stood up, he was whipped back down by a Hidden Guard brought by Zhan Lan.

Chen You looked at his elder brother, “Brother, save me!”

“Father, save me!”

Chen Shijing could no longer endure it. This woman was simply too arrogant, bullying his son right in front of him!

Outrageous!

He looked at Housekeeper Liu standing behind him and urged in a low voice, “Quickly report to the authorities! Go through the back door and ride fast to the Capital Government to find Prefect Zhao, and say the Chen Family is in trouble! Go quickly!”

Housekeeper Liu slipped away immediately when no one was watching.

Chen Jun, being close, overheard his father’s words to Housekeeper Liu. At present, they could only seek help from Prefect Zhao. He stepped forward to continue the conversation, buying time for Housekeeper Liu.

“Miss, you have already taught my brother a lesson and beaten our men. If you still aren’t appeased, aren’t you being too overbearing? Our Chen Family is respected in Ding’an City; with such bullying from you, wouldn’t everyone else dare to trample over us!”

Zhan Lan finally spoke, her voice filled with disdain, “Yes, from now on, everyone can spit at your Chen Family’s door!”

“You scoundrel, what did you say!” Mr. Chen was so enraged by Zhan Lan’s words that he trembled all over, his hand with the jade thumb ring shaking as he pointed at Zhan Lan.

“How dare you!” Little Anzi was furious; this person must have a death wish!

To speak to Her Majesty the Empress in such a manner, just that one sentence was enough for their entire family to be executed!

With a snap, the Chen Family Master was whipped across the face by a Hidden Guard, his left cheek split wide open, causing Chen Shijing to stumble back two steps, with Chen Jun supporting him up.

Seeing that the woman inside the carriage was impervious to both soft and hard tactics, Chen Jun’s expression became fierce as he shouted, “Looks like you’re deliberately targeting our Chen Family!”

Zhan Lan sneered, “Targeting? You’re not even worth it!”

The Chen Family Master’s cheek hurt as if it had been split open. Supported by Chen Jun, he said fiercely, “Whose daughter are you that you dare to be so reckless? This Family Head tells you that soon enough, you’ll regret it!”

Zhan Lan, sitting inside the carriage, rubbed her fingers. She sent Chen You to the Capital Government today just to see Prefect Zhao’s handling of the situation.

Last time, she noticed that Lady Guoyue didn’t seem to fear Prefect Zhao at all. Prefect Zhao was well-versed in officialdom and had many friends.

An official with so many friends certainly raised some concerns.

If Prefect Zhao could let Chen You off, he must be quite close to the Chen Family Master.

And next, a sentence from Chen Shijing made Zhan Lan more certain of her suspicions.

Chen Shijing, lowering his voice, said, “My backer will be here soon. By then, even if it costs your life, this Family Head won’t let you off—just wait for your doom!”

Chen Jun frowned; his father, enraged by the woman in front of them, spoke recklessly. How could he say such a thing!

Before Chen Shijing could finish speaking, Zhan Lan’s voice cut in, “The backer you’re referring to is Zhao Xianzheng!”

Chen Shijing froze instantly at Zhan Lan’s words.

Chen Jun’s gaze changed dramatically—how dare this woman call Prefect Zhao by his full name!

Who exactly was she!