Chapter 65 Unless I Can't Help It

One of the life creeds Chen Kan had always strictly adhered to was never to hit women.

Unless he simply could not help it.

This time, Chen Kan truly could not bear it any longer. It was one thing to leverage past favors for personal gain, but to resort to moral blackmail as well?

Who in the entire world did not know that Chen Kan was the very patriarch of playing the moral blackmail card?

Wiping his hands on his clothes, Chen Kan looked with utter disgust at Fu Yu, who was still dazed from his slap, and said indifferently, "For the sake of your ancestor, the Duke of Ying, I can point out a clear path for you. But from here on, we are even. I will no longer make any effort to clear the Duke of Ying’s name, and you are forbidden to mention the Duke of Ying’s honorific in front of anyone ever again. Do you agree?"

Hearing Chen Kan’s conditions, a flash of struggle appeared in Fu Yu’s eyes.

Yet very quickly, that trace of hesitation was washed away by the overwhelming joy of surviving.

"I agree, I agree! Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

Joy bloomed across Fu Yu’s face as she nodded like a pecking chick, coming dangerously close to kowtowing to Chen Kan.

"Tomorrow at dawn, after the morning court session, your fourth uncle will come to inspect the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison. Wait by the gates of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters and beg your fourth uncle. Only if he nods will you survive. Do you understand?"

"Your great kindness, Senior Brother Chen, is unforgettable. Your humble junior sister will surely repay you in the future."

Watching the ecstatic Fu Yu, Chen Kan cast one last look of loathing before turning and walking away.

To be honest, he felt a genuine sense of pity that Fu Youde should have such descendants.

Chen Kan was neither a saintly savior nor some humanoid beast unable to control his lower impulses upon seeing a woman.

Someone who brought disaster upon herself like Fu Yu—under normal circumstances, Chen Kan would not even spare her a second glance, lest it stain his eyes.

Yet when she invoked the name of Fu Youde, even though this Chen Kan was no longer the original Chen Kan, he still could not bring himself to turn a blind eye.

After all, for a figure like Fu Youde to be invoked by the likes of such a person was an insult in and of itself.

Chen Kan did not mind trading a slim, distant hope in exchange for keeping that name untarnished.

Zhu Di would definitely visit the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison tomorrow morning; that much was certain, though Chen Kan had no idea precisely when he would arrive.

As for how Fu Yu intended to evade the countless patrols of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, sneak into their stronghold, and successfully manage to see Zhu Di, that was no longer any of Chen Kan’s concern.

Besides, he had never promised her that Zhu Di would definitely grant her a pardon.

After this delay, by the time Chen Kan returned to the Fang residence, it was already midnight.

Seeing that the lamp in Fang Xiaoru’s study was still lit, Chen Kan pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Fang Xiaoru showed not the slightest bit of surprise at Chen Kan’s sudden return, merely saying calmly, "You're back. Well done."

Chen Kan walked over, sat down across from Fang Xiaoru, and asked with some astonishment, "Teacher, you figured it out?"

Fang Xiaoru put down the book in his hand, meticulously smoothing out the crease at the corner of the page, and remarked, "You are not the only clever person in this world."

Chen Kan’s face instantly crumpled into a bitter expression.

"If you could figure it out, doesn't that mean Ji Gang figured it out too? And His Majesty as well?"

"Doesn't that mean your student is completely doomed?!"

Stroke his beard, Fang Xiaoru smiled and said, "His Majesty has known for a long time."

"Ah?"

Chen Kan’s eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible, I handled everything so covertly."

"Otherwise, why do you think things went so smoothly? His Majesty is simply using this opportunity to beat and rein in Ji Gang."

At Fang Xiaoru’s explanation, Chen Kan understood instantly and asked with renewed curiosity, "His Majesty is dissatisfied with Ji Gang?"

"You can hardly call it dissatisfaction. It’s just that when you keep a hound, simply feeding it meat isn't enough; sometimes you have to give it a few beatings to keep it in line."

Fang Xiaoru’s explanations were always so simple and direct, so straightforward that they were understood at a single hearing.

Chen Kan suddenly dawned on him. "No wonder that Chen Qia didn't implicate me. Teacher, was that your arrangement?"

"Heh, I merely happened to coincide with the moment."

Fang Xiaoru chuckled with a quiet sense of accomplishment, before his tone shifted. "Your days within the Embroidered Uniform Guard are drawing to an end."

Chen Kan instantly perked up, eagerly pursuing the matter. "Teacher, what do you mean?"

"His Majesty intends to reopen the imperial examinations next year, and this teacher plans to have you enter the Imperial Academy to study first."

"Study?"

"Correct."

Fang Xiaoru nodded. "In February of next year, the county examination will be held in Shangyuan County; in April, the prefectural examination in Yingtian Prefecture; and in August, the academy examination. This teacher has already registered your name. Go ahead and bring back the title of a Licentiate for me first."

The imperial examinations of the Great Ming dynasty were divided into four stages: first, the academy examination; second, the provincial examination; third, the metropolitan examination; and finally, the palace examination.

Before the academy examination, there were two preliminary tests held locally: the county examination hosted at the county level and the prefectural examination hosted at the prefecture level.

Candidates who passed the county, prefectural, and academy examinations were commonly referred to as *shengyuan*, or *xiucai* (Licentiates).

From the tone of Fang Xiaoru’s words, he evidently harbored not a single shred of doubt about Chen Kan’s ability to pass the academy examination.

Frowning, Chen Kan asked, "Must all three examinations be taken separately? Can't this student just take them all at once?"

Fang Xiaoru laughed and scolded him, "Do not be overly ambitious. If you can pass the county, prefectural, and academy examinations consecutively, you should burn incense in gratitude."

"Hmph!"

Chen Kan’s disdain was practically written across his face. As a model youth forged and tempered by the grueling test-oriented education of later generations, what kind of examinations had he not experienced?

Not to mention that he still retained the memories of the original body in his mind—it was practically the equivalent of running a cheat code. Securing the status of a Licentiate would be as easy as reaching out and taking it.

Fang Xiaoru said nothing further, though the look he cast at Chen Kan was somewhat unfathomable.

It was as if his eyes were saying: Let's see just how long you can remain arrogant!

"All right, get some rest early. I estimate that His Majesty will inspect the Embroidered Uniform Guard during tomorrow's morning court. You won't need to report for duty there tomorrow, lest His Majesty fly into a rage and take out his anger on you."

With those instructions, Fang Xiaoru waved his hand to dismiss him.

Returning to his room, Chen Kan imagined Zhu Di’s furious expression and suddenly shivered.

It would definitely be much safer to hide at home tomorrow, especially since he had stirred up such a massive commotion.

Chen Kan had no desire to be thrown into prison for a third time.

......
......

Meanwhile, Li Jinglong dazedly realized that someone seemed to be missing from his side.

However, he did not pay it much mind; after all, the one thing the Embroidered Uniform Guard never lacked was people.

It was not until midnight, when Xu Yuan—who had been inside Cell Number Three of the Heaven Tier interrogating Zhu Jixi—emerged from the cell looking utterly exhausted and handed a roster over to Li Jinglong.

Half-asleep and half-awake, Li Jinglong opened the document, and his sleepiness vanished entirely in an instant.

He turned his head to look around and suddenly asked, "Wait, where is Chen Kan? Where did Chen Kan go?"

"Reporting to my lord, Lord Chen has finished his shift and gone home."

A timid voice replied weakly from nearby.

"What?"

Li Jinglong was incensed. "Who authorized him to leave his shift? Who gave him permission to go?"

"You told him he could leave, my lord."

The weak voice replied once more, even quieter than before.

"Chen Kan, you motherfu..."

Enraged, Li Jinglong began cursing Chen Kan’s entire lineage with absolute fluency.

If Chen Kan had slipped away after a night's sleep, didn't that mean when dawn broke, he would have to bear the full brunt of His Majesty's wrath all by himself?

"So utterly lacking in loyalty!"