How was Duke Chen Guo feeling at this moment?
Of course, he was feeling very bad.
It's obvious, his own son was killed right in front of him, who wouldn't feel terrible?
Especially when the one who killed his son was his own other son.
Duke Chen Guo stood in place, looking at the respectful scene in front of him, his emotions couldn't help but be somewhat complicated.
Chen Qi's words sounded noble and grand.
But deceiving others with words is one thing, can it deceive Duke Chen Guo?
quite satisfied, "Alright, stop pretending."
As his words fell, the crying abruptly stopped, immediately silenced.
Chen An nodded in satisfaction, "Since you have performed well, you may stay here. Continue to be the young master in Duke Chen Guo's residence."
"But the rank and wealth of Duke Chen Guo, you should not expect to inherit."
"I dare not dream, I dare not dream."
Listening to Chen An's words, Chen Qi was overjoyed, yet at the same time felt a strange sense of disappointment.
Didn't you say kill Chen Li and his family and leave? Don't want any title or wealth?
You are not keeping your word!
Of course, he could only think this internally. Voicing it out would be very risky.
Otherwise, there would be no more life left for him.
"What does Duke Chen Guo think?"
Turning around, Chen An faced Duke Chen Guo, still wearing a faint smile, looking very polite.
"Whatever you wish, it shall be."
Duke Chen Guo smiled bitterly, "At this point, old me can't stop you anyway."
"That's right."
Chen An smiled, "Duke Chen Guo, you are getting old after all. It's not good to continue toiling in your current position. It's time to let the younger generation take some responsibilities for you."
If this is considered toiling, I'd be willing to toil in that position for a lifetime.
Chen Qi thought to himself.
And then, the unexpected happened once again.
In front of him, Chen An's figure disappeared and instantly reappeared in front of Duke Chen Guo.
Boom!
A terrifying surge of energy erupted.
Immediately, Duke Chen Guo was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, coughing up blood profusely.
It seemed like he was in critical condition.
Seeing this scene, everyone was horrified.
You not only kill your father, but also want to kill your grandfather!
Isn't this too brutal!
Actually, strictly speaking, Chen Li did not die at the hands of Chen An, but everyone had already implicitly attributed this account to Chen An.
It was quite tacit.
"Don't misunderstand."
Feeling the horrified looks from those around, Chen An waved his hand, his expression unchanged, "Duke Chen Guo is not dead yet."
As he finished speaking, Chen Qi and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, in the next moment, Chen An's voice rang out again.
"I just disabled his cultivation base."
What!
Chen Qi and the others were immediately stunned.
What do you mean, you just disabled his cultivation base!
Isn't that even more severe than killing him directly!
For a martial artist of the Qi Realm, having their cultivation base disabled meant they would become a cripple, which is more unbearable than being killed outright.
Not many could bear such a huge loss.
"Duke Chen Guo seems too healthy to look like he's ill. After disabling his cultivation base, at least he can pretend it's due to some illness, right?"
Chen An looked at the people in front of him, "This way, when the King and Crown Prince inquire, we'll have a reasonable explanation."
Reasonable explanation, my foot.
You disabled his cultivation base just to make him appear seriously ill. Why didn't you just kill him? That way, you could have directly inherited the title.
The thoughts of the people present were filled with curses and speechlessness.
"Chen Qi."
Chen An's voice continued.
Chen Qi suddenly shivered and quickly knelt down, "Chang An, no, Duke Chen Guo, here I am."
"This is your father, Chen, I will leave him in your care."
Chen An spoke calmly, smiling, "Chen's condition is frail, make sure to take good care of him. Ensure he makes it through this year."
If this constitutes taking care, I am willing to do it my entire life.
Chen Qi thought.
And in the next moment, an unexpected incident occurred.
In front of them, Chen An's figure disappeared and appeared in front of Duke Chen Guo.
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted.
Then Duke Chen Guo was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, coughing up blood profusely.
It seemed like a life or death situation.
Watching this scene, everyone was shocked.
You not only kill your own father, but now even your grandfather is a target!
Isn't this too heavy-handed!
Well, strictly speaking, Chen Li did not die by Chen An's hands, but everyone around had already implicitly placed the blame on Chen An.
It was quite a tacit understanding.
"Don't misunderstand."
Feeling the horrified gazes around him, Chen An waved his hand, his expression unchanged, "Duke Chen Guo is not dead yet."
As he finished speaking, Chen Qi and the others let out a sigh of relief.
And then, in the next moment, Chen An's voice was heard again.
"I just crippled his cultivation."
What!
Chen Qi and the others were immediately dumbfounded.
What do you mean by just crippling his cultivation!
Isn't that even more severe than killing him!
For a martial artist at the Qi Realm, losing their cultivation meant falling into disability, which was even more unbearable than direct death.
That kind of enormous gap is not something everyone can endure.
"Duke Chen Guo looks too healthy to appear sick. After crippling his cultivation, at least he can pretend to be ill, right?"
Looking at the others in front of him, Chen An remarked, "In this way, when questioned by His Majesty and the Crown Prince, we will have a reasonable explanation."
Reasonable explanation, my foot.
Forcing Duke Chen Guo to look gravely ill just by crippling his cultivation base. Why didn't you just kill him? That way, you could have directly succeeded to the title.
Those present were filled with condemnations and rendered speechless.
"Master Chen, this is your father. Remember to take him back later."
Chen An had a calm expression on his face as he smiled and spoke, "Master Chen is in poor health and has a serious illness. You must remember to take good care of him and ensure that he gets through this year."
On the mention of 'this year,' Chen An deliberately emphasized his tone.
A cold silence fell upon the people around.
Well, I see. So, you didn't kill Duke Chen earlier because you were waiting for this moment.
You didn't kill him yourself, but now you want to force Chen Qi, the legitimate son of Duke Chen, to do it, to have the son kill the father? Is this necessary?
Of course, Chen An may not have intended this, just casually mentioning it.
However, the question remains, will Chen Qi take the risk?
"I obey."
Chen Qi's heart turned cold. After hesitating for a long while, he finally nodded.
Chen An was satisfied.
Previously, Duke Chen had fought against Chen An for the sake of his son. Since that was the case, Chen An now wanted Duke Chen to witness the calamity that his own son had become, to truly understand the filial piety of his children.
Chen An didn't have a deep impression of his uncle, Chen Qi, but from his past actions, although better than Chen Li, he still seemed to be someone who chased after personal gain.
For such a person, even if Chen An hadn't dropped the hint just now, it was unlikely that there would be the same treatment of Duke Chen in the future.
The former Duke Chen was the pillar of the Duke Chen house, a formidable martial artist.
But the present Duke Chen had simply become a waste of a man.
Now that he was a waste, expecting his children to honor him as before was impossible.
In the coming days, Duke Chen would probably feel the loving care of his children.
Of course, it was also possible that Chen An was mistaken. Although Chen Qi might appear disheartened on the surface, he could actually be a devoted son. But that didn't matter.
Even if Duke Chen had fallen to ruin, he was no longer a threat to Chen An.
"By the way, Uncle, you have been in the Duke's household for many years, so you must be quite familiar with the situation there."
After dealing with the matter of the former Duke Chen, Chen An continued, offering a sweet deal to Chen Qi, "Therefore, why not let you take charge of the stewardship within the house from now on? What do you think?"
Chen An's change from calling Chen Qi by name to addressing him as 'Uncle' was smoothly done.
Chen Qi's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, "Rest assured, Duke Chen, with me around, there will be no disturbances in the Duke's household."
What an unexpected joy. He had thought that just saving his life this time would be good enough, but he never expected such a surprise.
The steward of the Duke's household might seem like just a steward, but the rewards within were very rich indeed. Given the vast wealth of the Duke's household, even a small leak could provide a lifetime of comfort.
Not to mention the address Chen An had just used.
Chen An calling him 'Uncle' meant that he acknowledged Chen Qi as part of the Chen family, allowing Chen Qi and his descendants to continue practicing martial arts and even study the Chen family's martial arts manuals.
The advantages were abundant in every aspect.
Although he had lost the position of heir apparent forever, with the title of steward of the Duke's household and being recognized as Uncle by Chen An, Chen Qi's future might even be more prosperous than before.
After all, in the past, although he was the eldest son, he had been suppressed by his younger brother, Chen Li, everywhere, even by the former Duke Chen, who clearly favored his second son.
But now, everything had changed.
"Cao Commander."
Chen An spoke next.
Upon hearing Chen An's voice, Cao Commander's body froze.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to run away immediately, to turn around and leave the Duke's household. But upon seeing the ice sculptures all around and the faint screams, he reluctantly obeyed his conscience and walked over.
"Young Master Chang'an."
He bowed respectfully, his head lowered.
Chen An glanced at him, not blaming him for the address, and simply spoke with a smile, "Take some men and go fetch all of Chen Li's other wives and children."
His tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable sense of authority.
Cao Commander hesitated, subconsciously wanting to refuse.
To him, Chen Li had been his master, the one he had sworn loyalty to.
Even though Chen Li was no longer there, his body lay nearby, and now he was being commanded to fetch his former master's family members. The thought was uncomfortable and resisted.
But no matter how much he resisted, he dared not refuse.
Express loyalty and mercy towards the former master in front of the new master?
For others, such behavior might be appreciated as loyalty, but in front of Chen An? Cao Commander was sure that if he dared speak up, he would immediately become an ice sculpture.
The struggling ice sculptures outside, still writhing in agony without yet perishing, were a clear reminder of the ruthless consequences within this place.
Cao Commander did not want to end up like them.
His feelings were complicated.
However, Chen An seemed unbothered and turned to Chen Qi, speaking lightly, "Uncle, you are familiar with the ins and outs of the Duke's household. Help out with this, if you would."
"If anyone escapes..."
He smiled, his demeanor unusually warm and amiable, "your own relatives are likely here in the Duke's household as well."
His gentle words hung in the air.
Both Cao Commander and Chen Qi's hearts trembled and they were instantly awakened.
Chen An's meaning was clear.
If one of Chen Li's family members escaped, then they and their own family members would be prepared to join them in death.
"Yes, I will do it immediately, and not let anyone escape."
Chen Qi promptly declared.
Cao Commander hesitated for a moment, still appearing uncertain.
"Very well, you need not go."
Chen An glanced at him and then casually said, "It seems Cao Commander is still somewhat reluctant."
"Uncle, please help by taking care of Cao Commander's family members as well."
"No, I am willing!"
Cao Commander suddenly woke up.
At that moment, he finally realized his predicament.
Standing before him was a cold-hearted executioner, someone who could kill without blinking an eye!
In front of such a person, he had hesitated to obey?
"Duke Chen, please give me a chance! I will go immediately," he said desperately, kneeling before rising and following Chen Qi out.
It appeared that even if Chen Qi tried to hold him back, Cao Commander might confront Chen Qi.
Watching the scene of Chen Qi and Cao Commander leaving, Chen An shook his head inwardly.
People, if they weren't pressured by a knife at their backs, perhaps didn't truly know their own strengths.
He didn't enjoy killing, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do it.
After a while, the people dispersed slowly.
Chen Qi's ability was commendable, as in a short time, he had brought the disorderly Duke's household back on track.
The servants quickly moved forward, dragging the bodies away, while the maids took care of the unconscious former Duke Chen, Chen Hua.
The bloodstains were swiftly wiped away, and everything seemed to return to normal.
"Chang'an, something on your mind?"
A voice suddenly sounded from nearby.
Turning around, Chen An saw that it was Chen Ziling.
Smiling, Chen An asked, "Ziling, what's the matter?"
His expression was warm and welcoming, giving off a sense of familiarity at first glance.
However, upon seeing Chen An in this manner, Chen Ziling was almost frightened and took a few steps back in shock.
Chen An was puzzled at first, but soon understood. He couldn't help but smile wryly, "It's fine if it's someone else, but you're my own brother, how did you become like this?"
"Could I harm my own brother?"
Well, it's hard to say.
Chen Ziling subconsciously entertained this thought.
Even after having killed your father and grandfather, what's it to kill another brother? Just a piece of cake, right?
Despite these musings, upon seeing Chen An's relaxed and natural demeanor, Chen Ziling relaxed and his face returned to a more natural expression.
How was Duke Chen Guo feeling at this moment?
Of course, he was feeling very bad.
It's obvious, his own son was killed right in front of him, who wouldn't feel terrible?
Especially when the one who killed his son was his own other son.
Duke Chen Guo stood in place, looking at the respectful scene in front of him, his emotions couldn't help but be somewhat complicated.
Chen Qi's words sounded noble and grand.
But deceiving others with words is one thing, can it deceive Duke Chen Guo?
quite satisfied, "Alright, stop pretending."
As his words fell, the crying abruptly stopped, immediately silenced.
Chen An nodded in satisfaction, "Since you have performed well, you may stay here. Continue to be the young master in Duke Chen Guo's residence."
"But the rank and wealth of Duke Chen Guo, you should not expect to inherit."
"I dare not dream, I dare not dream."
Listening to Chen An's words, Chen Qi was overjoyed, yet at the same time felt a strange sense of disappointment.
Didn't you say kill Chen Li and his family and leave? Don't want any title or wealth?
You are not keeping your word!
Of course, he could only think this internally. Voicing it out would be very risky.
Otherwise, there would be no more life left for him.
"What does Duke Chen Guo think?"
Turning around, Chen An faced Duke Chen Guo, still wearing a faint smile, looking very polite.
"Whatever you wish, it shall be."
Duke Chen Guo smiled bitterly, "At this point, old me can't stop you anyway."
"That's right."
Chen An smiled, "Duke Chen Guo, you are getting old after all. It's not good to continue toiling in your current position. It's time to let the younger generation take some responsibilities for you."
If this is considered toiling, I'd be willing to toil in that position for a lifetime.
Chen Qi thought to himself.
And then, the unexpected happened once again.
In front of him, Chen An's figure disappeared and instantly reappeared in front of Duke Chen Guo.
Boom!
A terrifying surge of energy erupted.
Immediately, Duke Chen Guo was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, coughing up blood profusely.
It seemed like he was in critical condition.
Seeing this scene, everyone was horrified.
You not only kill your father, but also want to kill your grandfather!
Isn't this too brutal!
Actually, strictly speaking, Chen Li did not die at the hands of Chen An, but everyone had already implicitly attributed this account to Chen An.
It was quite tacit.
"Don't misunderstand."
Feeling the horrified looks from those around, Chen An waved his hand, his expression unchanged, "Duke Chen Guo is not dead yet."
As he finished speaking, Chen Qi and the others immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, in the next moment, Chen An's voice rang out again.
"I just disabled his cultivation base."
What!
Chen Qi and the others were immediately stunned.
What do you mean, you just disabled his cultivation base!
Isn't that even more severe than killing him directly!
For a martial artist of the Qi Realm, having their cultivation base disabled meant they would become a cripple, which is more unbearable than being killed outright.
Not many could bear such a huge loss.
"Duke Chen Guo seems too healthy to look like he's ill. After disabling his cultivation base, at least he can pretend it's due to some illness, right?"
Chen An looked at the people in front of him, "This way, when the King and Crown Prince inquire, we'll have a reasonable explanation."
Reasonable explanation, my foot.
You disabled his cultivation base just to make him appear seriously ill. Why didn't you just kill him? That way, you could have directly inherited the title.
The thoughts of the people present were filled with curses and speechlessness.
"Chen Qi."
Chen An's voice continued.
Chen Qi suddenly shivered and quickly knelt down, "Chang An, no, Duke Chen Guo, here I am."
"This is your father, Chen, I will leave him in your care."
Chen An spoke calmly, smiling, "Chen's condition is frail, make sure to take good care of him. Ensure he makes it through this year."
If this constitutes taking care, I am willing to do it my entire life.
Chen Qi thought.
And in the next moment, an unexpected incident occurred.
In front of them, Chen An's figure disappeared and appeared in front of Duke Chen Guo.
Boom!
A terrifying aura erupted.
Then Duke Chen Guo was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground, coughing up blood profusely.
It seemed like a life or death situation.
Watching this scene, everyone was shocked.
You not only kill your own father, but now even your grandfather is a target!
Isn't this too heavy-handed!
Well, strictly speaking, Chen Li did not die by Chen An's hands, but everyone around had already implicitly placed the blame on Chen An.
It was quite a tacit understanding.
"Don't misunderstand."
Feeling the horrified gazes around him, Chen An waved his hand, his expression unchanged, "Duke Chen Guo is not dead yet."
As he finished speaking, Chen Qi and the others let out a sigh of relief.
And then, in the next moment, Chen An's voice was heard again.
"I just crippled his cultivation."
What!
Chen Qi and the others were immediately dumbfounded.
What do you mean by just crippling his cultivation!
Isn't that even more severe than killing him!
For a martial artist at the Qi Realm, losing their cultivation meant falling into disability, which was even more unbearable than direct death.
That kind of enormous gap is not something everyone can endure.
"Duke Chen Guo looks too healthy to appear sick. After crippling his cultivation, at least he can pretend to be ill, right?"
Looking at the others in front of him, Chen An remarked, "In this way, when questioned by His Majesty and the Crown Prince, we will have a reasonable explanation."
Reasonable explanation, my foot.
Forcing Duke Chen Guo to look gravely ill just by crippling his cultivation base. Why didn't you just kill him? That way, you could have directly succeeded to the title.
Those present were filled with condemnations and rendered speechless.
"Master Chen, this is your father. Remember to take him back later."
Chen An had a calm expression on his face as he smiled and spoke, "Master Chen is in poor health and has a serious illness. You must remember to take good care of him and ensure that he gets through this year."
On the mention of 'this year,' Chen An deliberately emphasized his tone.
A cold silence fell upon the people around.
Well, I see. So, you didn't kill Duke Chen earlier because you were waiting for this moment.
You didn't kill him yourself, but now you want to force Chen Qi, the legitimate son of Duke Chen, to do it, to have the son kill the father? Is this necessary?
Of course, Chen An may not have intended this, just casually mentioning it.
However, the question remains, will Chen Qi take the risk?
"I obey."
Chen Qi's heart turned cold. After hesitating for a long while, he finally nodded.
Chen An was satisfied.
Previously, Duke Chen had fought against Chen An for the sake of his son. Since that was the case, Chen An now wanted Duke Chen to witness the calamity that his own son had become, to truly understand the filial piety of his children.
Chen An didn't have a deep impression of his uncle, Chen Qi, but from his past actions, although better than Chen Li, he still seemed to be someone who chased after personal gain.
For such a person, even if Chen An hadn't dropped the hint just now, it was unlikely that there would be the same treatment of Duke Chen in the future.
The former Duke Chen was the pillar of the Duke Chen house, a formidable martial artist.
But the present Duke Chen had simply become a waste of a man.
Now that he was a waste, expecting his children to honor him as before was impossible.
In the coming days, Duke Chen would probably feel the loving care of his children.
Of course, it was also possible that Chen An was mistaken. Although Chen Qi might appear disheartened on the surface, he could actually be a devoted son. But that didn't matter.
Even if Duke Chen had fallen to ruin, he was no longer a threat to Chen An.
"By the way, Uncle, you have been in the Duke's household for many years, so you must be quite familiar with the situation there."
After dealing with the matter of the former Duke Chen, Chen An continued, offering a sweet deal to Chen Qi, "Therefore, why not let you take charge of the stewardship within the house from now on? What do you think?"
Chen An's change from calling Chen Qi by name to addressing him as 'Uncle' was smoothly done.
Chen Qi's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, "Rest assured, Duke Chen, with me around, there will be no disturbances in the Duke's household."
What an unexpected joy. He had thought that just saving his life this time would be good enough, but he never expected such a surprise.
The steward of the Duke's household might seem like just a steward, but the rewards within were very rich indeed. Given the vast wealth of the Duke's household, even a small leak could provide a lifetime of comfort.
Not to mention the address Chen An had just used.
Chen An calling him 'Uncle' meant that he acknowledged Chen Qi as part of the Chen family, allowing Chen Qi and his descendants to continue practicing martial arts and even study the Chen family's martial arts manuals.
The advantages were abundant in every aspect.
Although he had lost the position of heir apparent forever, with the title of steward of the Duke's household and being recognized as Uncle by Chen An, Chen Qi's future might even be more prosperous than before.
After all, in the past, although he was the eldest son, he had been suppressed by his younger brother, Chen Li, everywhere, even by the former Duke Chen, who clearly favored his second son.
But now, everything had changed.
"Cao Commander."
Chen An spoke next.
Upon hearing Chen An's voice, Cao Commander's body froze.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to run away immediately, to turn around and leave the Duke's household. But upon seeing the ice sculptures all around and the faint screams, he reluctantly obeyed his conscience and walked over.
"Young Master Chang'an."
He bowed respectfully, his head lowered.
Chen An glanced at him, not blaming him for the address, and simply spoke with a smile, "Take some men and go fetch all of Chen Li's other wives and children."
His tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable sense of authority.
Cao Commander hesitated, subconsciously wanting to refuse.
To him, Chen Li had been his master, the one he had sworn loyalty to.
Even though Chen Li was no longer there, his body lay nearby, and now he was being commanded to fetch his former master's family members. The thought was uncomfortable and resisted.
But no matter how much he resisted, he dared not refuse.
Express loyalty and mercy towards the former master in front of the new master?
For others, such behavior might be appreciated as loyalty, but in front of Chen An? Cao Commander was sure that if he dared speak up, he would immediately become an ice sculpture.
The struggling ice sculptures outside, still writhing in agony without yet perishing, were a clear reminder of the ruthless consequences within this place.
Cao Commander did not want to end up like them.
His feelings were complicated.
However, Chen An seemed unbothered and turned to Chen Qi, speaking lightly, "Uncle, you are familiar with the ins and outs of the Duke's household. Help out with this, if you would."
"If anyone escapes..."
He smiled, his demeanor unusually warm and amiable, "your own relatives are likely here in the Duke's household as well."
His gentle words hung in the air.
Both Cao Commander and Chen Qi's hearts trembled and they were instantly awakened.
Chen An's meaning was clear.
If one of Chen Li's family members escaped, then they and their own family members would be prepared to join them in death.
"Yes, I will do it immediately, and not let anyone escape."
Chen Qi promptly declared.
Cao Commander hesitated for a moment, still appearing uncertain.
"Very well, you need not go."
Chen An glanced at him and then casually said, "It seems Cao Commander is still somewhat reluctant."
"Uncle, please help by taking care of Cao Commander's family members as well."
"No, I am willing!"
Cao Commander suddenly woke up.
At that moment, he finally realized his predicament.
Standing before him was a cold-hearted executioner, someone who could kill without blinking an eye!
In front of such a person, he had hesitated to obey?
"Duke Chen, please give me a chance! I will go immediately," he said desperately, kneeling before rising and following Chen Qi out.
It appeared that even if Chen Qi tried to hold him back, Cao Commander might confront Chen Qi.
Watching the scene of Chen Qi and Cao Commander leaving, Chen An shook his head inwardly.
People, if they weren't pressured by a knife at their backs, perhaps didn't truly know their own strengths.
He didn't enjoy killing, but that didn't mean he wouldn't do it.
After a while, the people dispersed slowly.
Chen Qi's ability was commendable, as in a short time, he had brought the disorderly Duke's household back on track.
The servants quickly moved forward, dragging the bodies away, while the maids took care of the unconscious former Duke Chen, Chen Hua.
The bloodstains were swiftly wiped away, and everything seemed to return to normal.
"Chang'an, something on your mind?"
A voice suddenly sounded from nearby.
Turning around, Chen An saw that it was Chen Ziling.
Smiling, Chen An asked, "Ziling, what's the matter?"
His expression was warm and welcoming, giving off a sense of familiarity at first glance.
However, upon seeing Chen An in this manner, Chen Ziling was almost frightened and took a few steps back in shock.
Chen An was puzzled at first, but soon understood. He couldn't help but smile wryly, "It's fine if it's someone else, but you're my own brother, how did you become like this?"
"Could I harm my own brother?"
Well, it's hard to say.
Chen Ziling subconsciously entertained this thought.
Even after having killed your father and grandfather, what's it to kill another brother? Just a piece of cake, right?
Despite these musings, upon seeing Chen An's relaxed and natural demeanor, Chen Ziling relaxed and his face returned to a more natural expression.
