CHAPTER 1131: CHAPTER 1110: THREAT

Bai Shan felt the figure looked familiar, and couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.

Manbao also turned to look, finding the figure familiar as well, and took a couple of steps forward. Upon seeing the person standing in the shadow clearly, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, "Lord Chen?"

Chen Fulin then came to his senses, realizing that he had been standing in Changqing Alley lost in thought. Seeing Zhuang Xun’s three disciples looking at him, he turned to leave.

Bai Shan, seeing that he was finally willing to let go of his pretense and show his true colors, called out to him: "Since you’re here, Lord Chen, why not come in and sit for a while?"

He said, "My mentor is inside."

So Chen Fulin stood before Zhuang Xun.

Zhuang Xun was leisurely reading a book in the late afternoon sun. When he looked up and saw Chen Fulin being led in by his three disciples, he was stunned, to say the least.

But he had become accustomed to the constant shocks from his disciples, and quickly composed himself. He stood up from his reclining chair, casually placing the book on a nearby table, and smiled at Chen Fulin, "Lord Chen, what brings you here? Please, have a seat."

After speaking, he looked towards the three disciples.

Manbao looked at Bai Shan, who didn’t even glance at Bai Erlang, but directly commanded a servant, "Bring a chair for Lord Chen."

The servant, after a brief pause, quickly went to carry out the task.

As this part of the backyard was mostly where the masters spent their time, the servants rarely stayed long, popping in and out just to bring tea and snacks.

Whenever guests arrived, it was usually the masters themselves who would entertain, which made the instruction to fetch a chair quite unusual – Chen Fulin was the only one.

It seemed the masters were not particularly fond of this guest. In the past, when the young masters and Mr. Zhuang’s friends visited, it was the young masters and ladies who personally attended to them.

Mr. Zhuang gave them a glance, not wanting them around any longer, and waved his hand, "You three go ahead and wash your hands, then get to your homework."

All three responded in unison, bowed respectfully, and stepped back.

But as soon as Manbao and Bai Shan returned to their room and put their things down, they sneaked out and quietly slipped into Bai Erlang’s room. The three of them quietly opened his window and peered out stealthily.

There was no helping it – his room was the closest to where their mentor was sitting.

Three heads huddled at the window to peek out, and saw Chen Fulin sitting across from Mr. Zhuang. After a servant served tea to the two and stepped aside, he did not leave.

Manbao couldn’t help but praise in a whisper, "Bai Shan, Ah Yuan has done well, reward him later."

Bai Shan nodded in agreement.

Mr. Zhuang, with a light smile, invited Chen Fulin to drink tea. Chen Fulin, who always liked to keep a smile on his face, was now without one. He lifted his head and stared seriously at Mr. Zhuang for a while, then lightly slid his finger over the tea lid and said, "Junmei, have you decided to become my enemy?"

Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly and replied, "We have known each other for nearly thirty years, I understand you, and you should understand me."

He continued, "I’m old now, unable to serve in government. As for my reputation, it couldn’t get any worse than when I left the capital all those years ago, so I’ve let it go. My coming to the capital is not to seek office nor to seek justice, but merely to take my three disciples out to study and experience the world."

Would Chen Fulin believe this?

Of course not, that was impossible. He set down the tea cup in his hand, glanced at Mr. Zhuang, smiled, and nodded, "What Junmei said makes sense. At our age, what more can we seek? The grievances and grudges of the earlier years can’t be clearly stated anymore. Whether you wronged me or I wronged you, there’s no evidence, and it can’t be clearly spoken of. It’s better to let it go in confusion."

Mr. Zhuang said he understood him, and that certainly wasn’t false. From just one listen, it was clear that Chen Fulin was still the same as always. Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but laugh softly. Then his laughter grew louder and louder until he burst into loud guffaws.

Chen Fulin stared at him, wide-eyed.

Mr. Zhuang laughed until he had tears in his eyes, then looked at Chen Fulin with a diminishing smile. Though still seated, he held a contemptuous posture, slightly looking down on Chen Fulin from above and said, "Chen Fulin, do you really think that I have no concrete evidence and can’t overturn the past?"

Chen Fulin frowned and replied, "Junmei, as I have said, the matter of that year was a misunderstanding, but you have never been willing to listen to my explanation..."

"Perhaps you do not know that I have a letter left by Yao Ge."

Chen Fulin’s heart skipped a beat, though his expression remained unchanged, and he frowned, questioning, "What letter?"

Mr. Zhuang sighed, looking at him and saying, "Not only do I have Yao Ge’s letter, but I also have correspondence from Mr. Huang. Would you like to see them?"

Chen Fulin looked pale.

"I’ve said before, I do not wish to probe into the affairs of the past. It’s not because I have generously forgiven you, but because I feel it’s not worth it," Mr. Zhuang said. "In trying to catch a mouse, you risk breaking the porcelain dishes. I now have three disciples to look after. Even if the past could be clarified, there will always be those who are biased and will likely harm them."

Mr. Zhuang added, "It’s an old issue from over twenty years ago; those from that time are gone or scattered, and few remain who know of the matter. Therefore, clearing it up doesn’t make much difference to me. It would only serve to see you in disgrace for the satisfaction of venting my spleen."

Chen Fulin turned pale, his face tinged with green. He opened his mouth to speak, but Mr. Zhuang raised his hand to stop him, saying, "There’s no need for excuses; I know you won’t admit it out loud, but we both understand what I mean."

"If I had no attachments and was alone, indeed I could do such a thing," Mr. Zhuang said with a bitter laugh, "But I had descendants before, and now I have disciples. I am reluctant and incapable, hence I’m willing to bear this injustice. But, Chen Fulin, this does not mean I’m willing to let you continue to twist right and wrong."

"I’m not aware of what’s happening outside, nor do I care. If you stop harming me, naturally, I won’t bring out those things. But if you harm me, harm my descendants, my disciples," Mr. Zhuang said with a smile, "things are different now. Even just by using my three disciples’ networks today, I would settle this matter once and for all."

Chen Fulin asked with trembling hands, "You’re not afraid of ruining your disciples’ reputation now?"

Mr. Zhuang smiled and replied, "I was afraid before, but now my eldest disciple has entered the palace, haven’t they? Do you know who they are treating?"

Chen Fulin looked up, "The Crown Prince?"

Mr. Zhuang shook his head slightly, smiling, "In the past, you were in a high position, able to go over my head and Mr. Huang’s, quietly switching my allotted position. You should know, some things are very difficult for ordinary people, but for those in high positions, they’re just a matter of a few words."

"Now, I am still the poor scholar in straw shoes, while you, the wealthy young master, are already barefoot. If you do not want to harm your feet, you better not actively seek trouble. Otherwise, I too will scatter thorns on the ground."

Chen Fulin asked in a deep voice, "Are you threatening me?"

Mr. Zhuang chuckled and said, "You could say that. What do you think of this threat, Lord Chen?"