Chapter 45: The Promising Fat Man

Before Zhu Jixi could speak, Fu Yu by his side could no longer hold back. Pointing angrily at Chen Kan, he shouted, “Chen Kan, you’re taking advantage of the chaos!”

Chen Kan shot him an impatient glare and snapped, “Shut up, you idiot woman.”

“You... you...” Fu Yu’s eyes filled with hurt, tears threatening to spill. Zhu Jixi quickly pulled him into his embrace. Then, cold-faced, he plucked a pearl the size of an egg from his ceremonial headdress and tossed it to Chen Kan.

“This is the Eastern Pearl from Liaodong, worth a fortune. Satisfied?”

“Hmph!” Chen Kan sneered, inspecting the pearl with disdain. “Is the prince sending charity to beggars?”

Zhu Jixi’s brow furrowed at the insult, but without hesitation, he tore an ancient jade piece from his waist and flung it toward Chen Kan.

“A warm jade of the former dynasty, from the Western Regions, worth five thousand gold.”

Fu Yu cried out in alarm, “Cousin, that’s—”

“No matter.” Zhu Jixi interrupted, shaking his head gently at her.

Seeing this, Fu Yu could only glare hatefully at Chen Kan, her eyes as if they could rip out his very heart and soul.

Chen Kan, however, ignored Fu Yu’s burning gaze. Playing with the jade pendant for a moment, he then glanced again at the disgustingly affectionate pair of Zhu Jixi and Fu Yu.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter. “Hahaha! The prince is truly generous.” Then he raised his hand and commanded, “Brothers, put away the blades. Come with me to fight the fire.” Turning back to Zhu Jixi, he smiled, “I’m off to extinguish the fire. Your Highness, please do as you wish.”

Kicking Stone Wen lightly on the behind with a grin, Chen Kan swaggered away. Stone Wen hesitated briefly but quickly caught up, utterly admiring Chen Kan’s audacity.

To submit before a prince like this was unthinkable in the past.

“Sir, are we really going to fight the fire?” Stone Wen asked hesitantly.

Chen Kan snapped furiously, “Are you an idiot? How do you fight such a massive blaze? Just make sure it doesn’t spread to the neighboring houses.”

“Yes, yes,” Stone Wen replied obediently.

Watching Chen Kan’s retreating figure, Zhu Jixi’s face darkened with malice, his fists clenched until his knuckles cracked. Since inheriting the title of Prince of Jin in the thirty-first year of the Hongwu era, he had never suffered such humiliation.

If yesterday’s assassination attempt was met with indifferent tolerance, Chen Kan had now become a target that Zhu Jixi was determined to eliminate, and high on his list.

“Cousin,” Fu Yu said with concern, gripping Zhu Jixi’s hand tightly.

After a moment, Zhu Jixi’s expression returned to calm as he said lightly, “Let’s go, to the East City villa.”

Returning to the charred ruins of the Jin Prince’s villa gate, Chen Kan’s face settled into a calm mask. He knew what he had done today was a monumental provocation. Zhu Jixi would never let this insult slide.

Tomorrow at court, there was no doubt Zhu Jixi would make a move against him. And since he had acted so openly, even if Zhu Di wished to shield him, he could not do so blatantly.

The next step depended entirely on Fang Xiaoru’s support.

Carelessly tossing the warm jade and pearl to Stone Wen, Chen Kan said calmly, “Pawn these at a shop. Split the pearl money three ways between you, Huang Gou’er, and Fang Xu. Each brother here gets ten taels of silver; the rest goes into the public account.”

Stone Wen was terrified. Such treasures worth tens of thousands of taels just casually tossed to him—what if they broke? Who would be responsible?

He carefully tucked the items into his bosom and stammered, “Sir, this is too much. I dare not accept.”

“Don’t be naive, this is just a little appetizer. Tell the brothers, if you follow me, Chen Kan, there’s meat to eat.”

After a scolding laugh, Chen Kan stared blankly at the ruined villa.

Hearing this, Stone Wen felt a chill run through him, convinced that heaven was watching. Silently, he prayed, “May the lord’s rank endure forever.”

Indeed, where else could one find such a generous superior?

They spent the entire morning fighting the fire at the Jin Prince’s villa. Chen Kan stood watch until there was nothing left to burn. Then he beckoned to the water cart teams.

As torrents of clear water drenched the ruins, a thick cloud of dust enveloped Yongning Street.

Once the flames were extinguished, Chen Kan withdrew the Imperial Guards blocking both ends of the street.

With the guards gone, the troops from the Five Cities Military Command finally arrived, albeit late.

Zhang Yong approached Chen Kan, pointing at the smoldering ruins of the Jin Prince’s villa, his face contorted with grief. “Sir, you’ve caused a disaster. I’m doomed because of you.”

“Don’t be afraid, Old Zhang. Trust me, not only will you be fine, you’ll get promoted. Believe it or not,” Chen Kan said, patting his shoulder reassuringly.

Then he asked, “Will you handle the water carts yourself, or should I arrange it?”

Sighing, Zhang Yong looked at Chen Kan with a hint of grievance. He dared not blame Chen Kan, who was a dreaded Imperial Guard officer.

But now, with such a calamity, despite the water carts being forcibly requisitioned by the Imperial Guards and the area cordoned off by them, Zhang Yong, as commander of the Southern City troops, was inevitably culpable for negligence.

Losing his position would be the best outcome; promotion was laughable. That old fox was truly cunning.

After tidying up the scene, Chen Kan led his men back to the Imperial Guard headquarters.

Why else? To eat, of course.

After a morning of burning, it was exhausting work for anyone.

Dismissed his subordinate officers, Chen Kan returned to the kitchen.

The stout chef lowered his noble head upon seeing Chen Kan and turned back to prepare the ingredients.

Chen Kan smiled at the chef’s conscientiousness. This was a promising cook.

Within half an hour, a table laden with aromatic, delicious dishes—meat and vegetables alike—was spread before Chen Kan, making one’s mouth water.

“Pack it up!” Chen Kan said coolly.

The chef, understanding perfectly, packed the food into boxes.

Whistling cheerfully, Chen Kan bounced toward his quarters, carrying the food.

Once inside, he obediently placed each dish on the table and respectfully said, “Your servant greets the commander.”

“Hmm.”

Ji Gang rose from his place under Chen Kan’s command, then without ceremony sat down and began to eat in small bites.

After a few mouthfuls, Ji Gang looked at Chen Kan standing nearby and said calmly, “A hero emerges young. Sit down and eat with us?”