Volume One - The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Nineteen - Keeping Them in Suspense

In an instant, the atmosphere within the Su family compound shifted subtly. From the family members at the main gate to the lowest-ranking maids and servants, all those who had previously looked upon Chen Chang’an with disdain now gazed at him with fervent hope and admiration, as if he were their own son.

Especially for the servants who remained in the Su residence and would accompany the family to the outer city, while those transferred to other households would inevitably suffer bullying as “outsiders,” staying with the Su family in the inner city was, without question, the most desirable outcome. The environment was familiar, the connections established, and they knew full well the temperaments of their masters, the quirks of each maid, and which manservant was likely to stir up trouble—everything was intimately known.

Master Su Qingtang, the head of the household, exchanged glances with his wife Qin Fulou, both hoping to seize this chance to restore their inner city household registration through Chen Chang’an’s intervention. The second daughter, Su Wanqing, knowing she had been too harsh toward him in the past, was too embarrassed to speak and instead pinched her husband Zhu Jiawen’s arm, hoping this gentle scholar would make the request on her behalf.

Only Su Wanqiu wished Chen Chang’an would leave without accepting the case; only an outer city registration could completely sever Yuan Yunfei’s harassment. This long-awaited opportunity for change was not something she was willing to reverse.

She spoke up as a reminder: “Chen Chang’an, it is an honor for Her Highness the Princess to invite you to investigate this case, but you are no longer my husband and have nothing to do with the Su family.”

Qin Fulou shot a vicious glare at her third daughter, putting on a facade of gentle forbearance yet cursing her as a hopeless child.

At that moment, Princess Changning stood on the steps at the entrance, looking down at Chen Chang’an with the authority of her station. Her voice rang out, clear as jade pendants clashing: “I do not care what your current relationship is with the Su family. You will accompany me at once to investigate the case. I shall reward you personally for your service.”

Chen Chang’an did not give an immediate answer, but instead asked, “May I inquire, Your Highness, what is the nature of this case?”

The princess hesitated briefly, then stated each word with gravity: “Last night, my personal maid Xiaolian was murdered. Help me find the culprit.”

Chen Chang’an shuddered at her words; a path of reasoning formed instantly in his mind. The last time Xiaolian was missing for three days but returned unharmed, he had suspected the motives of the abductors were not simple. Now, only a few days after her rescue, a maid in the princess’s residence had been murdered. It was impossible not to draw connections.

If it really was the work of the same group of bandits, his earlier interference must have already earned their enmity. Intervening a second time would likely provoke them to send someone after his life. Yet, if he refused, the princess’s status and power meant that disposing of a blind son-in-law like him would be as easy as drawing a circle in the dirt.

After careful consideration, Chen Chang’an tilted his head forty-five degrees to look at the white-robed youth perched on the beam above. Even if the real culprits were nothing more than crude warriors, his former brother-in-law—no, ex-brother-in-law—was a cultivator. With him present, who would dare act recklessly?

And if that failed, there was always the bamboo hairpin in his hair. After the insights gained at Fragrant Pavilion the previous night, he was confident that, without resorting to direct combat, he could still use the hairpin to kill a formidable enemy and save his own life.

Former brother-in-law plus bamboo hairpin—a double safeguard!

He clasped his hands and bowed toward the beam, raising his voice: “If Sword Immortal Su is willing to accompany me, I will certainly investigate this case thoroughly and give Her Highness a satisfactory answer.”

This, of course, was for the benefit of the officials at the door.

“Not going!” The young man in white on the beam replied crisply and decisively.

Damn it...

If not for the disparity in strength, Chen Chang’an would have launched into a tirade on the spot. Helpless, he turned to Princess Changning and the others, forcing a wry smile: “Your Highness, since he refuses to go, there’s truly nothing I can do.”

The moment he finished speaking, Su Dingfeng’s voice echoed from the beam: “Do not attempt to use the court to pressure me. Do you really think I care?”

“Uh…” Chen Chang’an was at a loss for words.

Princess Changning, nearly hopping with anger, snapped, “Chen Chang’an, I command you to investigate. Why must you insist he accompany you? If you refuse, I shall execute your entire Su family!”

“Ah…”

Qin Fulou hurriedly stepped forward, bowing as she explained, “Your Highness, Chen Chang’an is no longer a son-in-law of our family. His refusal has nothing to do with the Su family!”

Chen Chang’an chuckled, “It’s not that I won’t go; it’s that the one on the beam won’t go. He’s your own son—isn’t that relevant?”

“You…”

Qin Fulou’s face turned red as an apple freshly dropped on Newton’s head. She bit her lip, searching for a rebuttal, but found none.

She had no choice but to look up at Su Dingfeng: “Feng’er, why don’t you accompany Chen Chang’an to investigate?”

Su Dingfeng raised his chin proudly, “Foolish court…”

He paused, reconsidered his words, then corrected himself, “I am a disciple of the Bashan Sword Sect. I must enter and leave the world as a stream of purity, untainted by mundane affairs.”

Chen Chang’an’s expression grew more wrinkled as he realized he was about to be caught in open and covert struggles with a gang of martial experts—and without the cultivator, he would not go either.

But when he noticed the unfriendly glances from Princess Changning and Hua Mulan, his bravado wilted. He looked to Li Shu for help: “Lord Li, could you send me up to the beam?”

“Oh, certainly!”

Li Shu grabbed him by the collar, muscles bulging as he bent his arm. With a crack of broken roof tiles, Chen Chang’an was launched up to his chosen perch.

“Ah! Ah! Ah!” He shielded his head and braced his legs, cursing Li Shu under his breath. After straightening his hair, he faced Su Dingfeng and clasped his fists: “Brother-in-law... Oh no, Swordmaster Su…”

Su Dingfeng waved him off, “Don’t disturb my cultivation. I’m not going.”

Chen Chang’an grinned, “I’m not here to persuade you—just to recite four lines inspired by your heroic bearing. Once I’ve finished, I’ll leave.”

Seeing no objection, Chen Chang’an continued on his own, “You possess a blade of azure steel, long confined by the dust of the world. One day, when the dust is gone, that blade will shine…”

At the first line, Su Dingfeng arched an indifferent brow. At the second, he unconsciously glanced at his iron sword. When the third line entered his ears, the meaning of the previous lines slowly dawned on him.

He recalled how, in the sect, he was always overshadowed by his senior brother, whose sword energy could withstand the fury of the Eastern Sea and who famously slew three hundred and thirty demons at Boundless Cliffs. The image of being “long confined by the dust of the world” fit him perfectly.

And “one day, when the dust is gone, that blade will shine” seemed to predict that he, the great Sword Immortal Su, would one day achieve renown, fulfill his ambitions, and let his sword intent soar. But what then? What happens after the long-awaited triumph? Finish the verse.

The feeling of being left hanging was like being suddenly interrupted mid-defecation—unable to continue, yet unable to retreat; it was excruciatingly uncomfortable. Su Dingfeng sensed that the last half-line would be the most striking, grand and sweeping.

His bright eyes fixed on Chen Chang’an, he carefully controlled his tone: “And finally? Tell me the last line.”

Chen Chang’an’s lips curled into a modest smile as he replied, “Please accompany me to investigate the case. Once it is resolved, I will recite the ending for you!”

Su Dingfeng leaned in, shielding his words from the others as he whispered, “Why must I go with you?”

Chen Chang’an was candid, “After all, when investigating a case, one risks offending the hidden hand behind the crime and courting mortal danger. So, I ask you to protect me.”

Ha! So that’s all!

Su Dingfeng had thought he was being asked to join in some earth-shattering endeavor. His brows shot up, and he stepped back, straightening with a resounding voice atop the beam: “Very well! Since that is the case, I shall accompany you!”

“Though as a disciple of Bashan Sword Sect I should not meddle in worldly affairs, I cannot bear to see the innocent suffer injustice.”

With that, he lifted Chen Chang’an by the collar and floated down to the ground. He glanced at Princess Changning, giving a slight nod: “Let’s go!”

Princess Changning’s lips twisted as if she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue.

Li Shu, Wu Yuanheng, and Hua Mulan exchanged glances, all wearing the same expression. For a moment, they created such an awkward atmosphere that Chen Chang’an felt compelled to break it with a roguish grin: “Let’s go, let’s go! Princess, please tell me the details of the case.”

“Who’s your sister!” Princess Changning rolled her eyes and turned on her heel.

Li Shu chuckled, “Come, I’ll explain as we walk.”

With that, they led Chen Chang’an and Su Dingfeng toward the princess’s residence.

Before they had gone far, Qin Fulou sidled up to her third daughter, grinning: “Wanqiu, listen to your mother. If Chen Chang’an solves this case, the princess will reward him, and you must not finalize the divorce. That way, we might regain our inner city registration.”

“But if he fails, sever ties immediately, understand? In any case, Dingfeng was not officially assigned to this, and with the Bashan Sword Sect supporting us, we have nothing to fear!”

Su Wanqiu was far from pleased. Not to mention that regaining their inner city registration would only subject her to more harassment from Yuan Yunfei; her mother’s opportunistic way of handling matters was something she could not approve of.

But before she could voice her objection, her father Su Qingtang and elder sister Su Wanqing both chimed in with the same advice, and together with Qin Fulou, they formed a semicircle, hemming her in.

Qin Wanqiu replied helplessly, “I’ve already divorced him. How could I reverse that just for household registration? Look at Jiawen—he cares for nothing but his books. Honestly, if we were all like him and pursued what we truly love, what would it matter if we lived inside or outside the city walls?”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhu Jiawen, squatting beneath the eaves with a copy of the Annals of Spring and Autumn in hand, looked up with a guileless smile: “Mother-in-law is right. The inner city stands for integrity. The inner city is best!”

Su Wanqiu could only sigh in exasperation.