Chapter 245 - 172: This Box Looks So Familiar
"Heh heh. Rest assured, nephew. Your business is my business."
Inside a military tent at the Navy Pier in Denglai City.
Commander Liu received Chen Shicheng with a smile. The young man knew how things worked, and the gift he’d brought was very much to the commander’s liking.
"Thank you, Commander Liu, thank you! Once this is all settled, I’ll have an even greater reward for you," Chen Shicheng said fawningly.
"Haha! You’re too kind, nephew. Come, come, let’s drink."
Commander Liu let out a hearty laugh and raised his cup in a toast.
They both downed the wine in one gulp.
"Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t keep you. Remember to come back tomorrow at this time. I’ll take you to meet someone. If he gives the nod on your matter, it’ll be a sure thing."
Commander Liu waved his hand, his smile widening.
"Rest assured, Commander Liu. I’ll follow your arrangements to the letter. I will not disappoint you."
Chen Shicheng hastily clasped his hands in salute, then excused himself and left.
The next day, Chen Shicheng arrived early and waited outside the Navy Camp.
He waited all the way until noon.
Only then did Commander Liu finally saunter over, a faint smile still on his face.
"Heh, my apologies for making you wait so long, nephew."
Although Commander Liu offered an apology, his expression was one of sheer entitlement, making it clear he held Chen Shicheng in no regard whatsoever.
"Not at all. After you, Commander Liu."
Chen Shicheng managed a smile. How could he dare object? When asking for a favor, you have to adopt a humble posture.
Besides, a phoenix that has landed is no better than a chicken. He was no longer the young master of a Noble Family from Shanyang Prefecture.
"Oh? And who might this be?"
At that moment, Commander Liu noticed Chen Shicheng’s carriage and saw Zhang Shu waiting there.
Instantly, the eyes of the Vice Commander of the Navy began to gleam.
Given his status, he had seen countless beauties.
But at some point, he’d lost interest in common beauties and instead developed a preference for other men’s wives.
To say nothing of Zhang Shu, who was beautiful to begin with and now possessed a mature allure. Her voluptuous figure was enough to make Commander Liu’s soul leave his body.
For a moment, his eyes simply glazed over as he stared.
Of course, Chen Shicheng witnessed the entire scene. But as Zhang Shu’s husband, he didn’t dare offend Commander Liu. Though displeasure festered inside him, he didn’t dare get angry and could only pretend he hadn’t seen anything.
He immediately made the introduction to Commander Liu, "This is my wife, Zhang Shu."
"Ah, so it is Madam Chen. Forgive my rudeness, forgive my rudeness." Commander Liu immediately snapped out of his daze, hastily clasping his hands in a salute.
Then, he turned to Chen Shicheng and said, "Let’s get going. If we’re late, we might not be able to see the lord."
After saying this, he climbed right into the carriage.
But it was obvious that in the Great Wei, for an outsider to enter a carriage occupied by another man’s wife was definitely against the rules of propriety.
Yet no one present dared to raise any objection.
’Asking for a favor... how can you succeed if you don’t bow your head?’
Furthermore, in Chen Shicheng’s mind, ’If a mere Zhang Shu can help me solidify my connection with Commander Liu, then her sacrifice might be worth it.’
’In any case, as long as his family didn’t collapse, he could remarry whenever he pleased.’
’A woman like Zhang Shu, with no powerful family of her own to back her, was ultimately disposable.’
~~~~~~
Meanwhile, on the other side of Denglai City...
In front of a small, simple-looking courtyard.
"Heh heh, Fang, today I’m going to introduce you to a venerable lord. As it happens, this lord also served as an official in Shanyang Prefecture for a few years. After retiring, he traveled all over the Great Wei and only returned to Denglai City recently when chaos began to spread throughout the land," Qi Ming said to Fang Yue with a friendly laugh.
"Qi, who is this venerable lord, if I may ask?" Fang Yue inquired.
"Heh, no need to be impatient, Fang. You’ll find out soon enough. As long as this Lord Chen gives the nod, the matter you wish to resolve will be easily handled," Qi Ming said.
Fang Yue had come to Denglai City to ask for help in finding out about the situation in Shanyang Prefecture. Of course, his main goal was to find out about Fang Hu and his father.
He had already lost contact with the two of them by the time he left Shanyang Prefecture.
When he was speaking with Qi Ming the day before, Qi had mentioned a person he could introduce him to—the very same Lord Chen they were about to meet today.
Although this man had retired, he still held considerable influence within the Denglai City Navy.
Since the Navy was blockading the border between the two prefectures, they would have an easier time gathering information. And so, the two had arranged to pay a visit today.
Qi Ming quickly led Fang Yue into the small courtyard. He left Fang Yue at the gatekeeper’s room and went inside first to find the venerable lord.
Just then, Commander Liu and Chen Shicheng emerged from the inner courtyard.
"Ah, don’t worry, nephew. Even though you didn’t get to say much, Lord Chen has probably taken note of you. I’ll just bring you to visit a few more times in the coming days," Commander Liu said with a laugh.
In reality, he had only just brought Chen Shicheng inside.
Before they could even say a single word, someone else had arrived to call on Lord Chen.
It was Qi Ming, an Inspector from the Observatory. Although Qi Ming’s official rank was one grade lower than his, his actual standing was significantly higher.
Furthermore, he was an acquaintance of Lord Chen, so the two of them were forced to leave.
Naturally, Chen Shicheng was in no position to complain. Though frustrated that his objective for the day had failed, he didn’t dare voice any objection.
Here in Denglai City, he couldn’t afford to offend any official, no matter who they were.
As he walked dejectedly toward the gatekeeper’s room, he saw a somewhat familiar figure in the distance. When he got closer, he was shocked to realize it was none other than his wife’s junior martial brother.
Seeing this man immediately brought Zhang Shu to his mind.