My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Your Excellency, it seems... Jiang Xiaobai has used some method to bewitch your son!"

Just as Chen Zhanqiu was getting angry, Zhao Sheng walked up with Zhou Chaomian. After glancing at Chen Jian, Zhao Sheng smiled and said, "But... these are just petty tricks after all!"

"If you argue with him, you'll be falling into his trap!"

"I know!"

Although Chen Zhanqiu nodded, the anger on his face had not subsided.

Yes, he was furious.

This is clearly his own son, but... he doesn't listen to him, he listens to Jiang Xiaobai instead.

Who wouldn't be angry about this?

"Lord Chen, you'd better spread this word as soon as possible!"

Zhao Sheng smiled and said, "I...I have another piece of news!"

Zhao Sheng paused, then continued, "The Princess now greatly admires Jiang Xiaobai, and is even... preparing to hold a literary gathering to specifically invite him, to see if she can win him over!"

"Heh, if his reputation is ruined, then things will get interesting!"

"Oh?"

Chen Zhanqiu frowned, gave Zhao Sheng a deep look, and said, "So, Young Master Zhao is also afraid that someone will steal your position as advisor?!"

After hearing this, Zhao Sheng smiled but remained silent.

"Okay, I got it!"

Chen Zhanqiu then spoke up, "I know how to do things that are mutually beneficial!"

"Alright, in that case, we'll take our leave!"

After Zhao Sheng nodded with a smile, he left with Zhou Chaomian beside him.

……

The carriage moved slowly along the streets of the capital.

The wheels rolled over the bluestone slabs, making a slight sound.

Zhang Xinnian sat on the carriage shaft, holding the reins, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the carriage.

After a moment, Zhang Xinnian couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Young Master, you're truly amazing! You actually thought of winning over Minister Chen's son!"

"Hey, if we can really win him over, having him help you investigate cases will be a lot easier!"

"Investigate a case? No, no, no!!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but smile and shake his head: "Chen Jian's mind is entirely on martial arts."

"It's better to expect Chen Zhanqiu to write down the evidence himself and post it on the gate of the Minister's mansion than to expect him to gather information."

what?

Zhang Xinnian was taken aback, his face full of confusion. "Then what are you doing?"

Amid Zhang Xinnian's confusion, Tang Ningshuang, inside the carriage, also glanced at Jiang Xiaobai.

Clearly, she also didn't understand why Jiang Xiaobai would go to the trouble of trying to win over Chen Jian.

"It's simple, Chen Jian is too strong."

Jiang Xiaobai said seriously, "If Chen Zhanqiu gets pushed to the limit one day and Chen Jian tries to kill me, I might actually be exposed."

"Therefore, I need to win him over!"

Ok?

Tang Ningshuang looked surprised for a moment, but then became serious.

Yes, the moment Chen Jian made his move, she knew she was no match for him.

Chen Jian's speed was too fast, and his explosive power was astonishing.

She had already witnessed just how powerful Jiang Xiaobai's "One-Finger Divine Skill" was.

The Xuanlin Armor can be broken, and so can the Vajra Subduing Demon Body.

But Chen Jian actually dodged the first blow, and... although the second blow hit, it only injured his arm.

What does this tell us?

This demonstrates that Chen Jian's strength is terrifying.

Zhang Xinnian had also considered this point, and cold sweat broke out on his back as he said, "Your Highness, you are indeed very thoughtful!"

"It's not that I'm considerate, it's just... I'm afraid of dying!"

Jiang Xiaobai said, "If someone like that really ambushes me from the shadows, I might be dead before I even have a chance to react."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai let out a soft breath.

Yes, even now, he still feels lingering fear.

Investigating a case is one thing.

Saving one's life is another matter entirely.

He certainly doesn't want to get himself killed by investigating the Ministry of Rites.

"Young Master."

Zhang Xinnian was still somewhat worried: "I heard from that servant that this man has lost his mind. He seems fine now, but what if he comes looking for you one day and happens to go mad?"

That's right, Jiang Xiaobai did leave a message at the time, inviting Chen Jian to the Zhenbei Marquis's residence.

"Hehe, this kind of person is actually quite simple-minded."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "The simpler you are, the easier it is to get stuck on trivial details, and the easier it is to get stuck on trivial details, the more extreme you become."

"Chen Jian has a deep obsession with martial arts. When he can't figure things out, he will do things that are hard for ordinary people to understand."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly, his expression filled with admiration, and said, "But it's undeniable that these kinds of people... are often geniuses!"

Zhang Xinnian was stunned.

Yes, he really hadn't thought of this angle.

In his view, Chen Jian had gone mad and lost his mind.

But Jiang Xiaobai gave it a completely different explanation.

Tang Ningshuang sat opposite Jiang Xiaobai, also looking at him.

She used to think that Jiang Xiaobai was just a smart aleck, had a lot of nerve, and loved to talk nonsense.

But now that I've heard his analysis, it actually makes some sense.

At least, Chen Jian is not an ordinary madman.

The fact that he could suppress his murderous intent after being injured by Jiang Xiaobai shows that Chen Jian was not completely out of control.

However, Chen Jian's heart was too occupied by martial arts.

"so……"

Jiang Xiaobai continued, "You can't deal with this kind of person by force. The more you suppress them, the more they rebel."

"But if you go along with his obsession, he's actually easier to talk to than anyone else."

"So, I gave him a direction, a direction that he felt only I could give him."

"I understand!"

Hearing this, Zhang Xinnian finally understood: "Young Master wants him to feel that you understand martial arts and can help him move forward?"

That's roughly the idea.

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "At least in his heart, I can't be an enemy."

"As long as he doesn't treat me as an enemy, even if Chen Zhanqiu wanted to kill me in the future, it wouldn't be so easy."

Yes, that's the key.

He didn't expect Chen Jian to help him investigate the Ministry of Personnel.

He didn't expect Chen Jian to help him stab Chen Zhanqiu in the back.

He just wanted to move the knife away from his neck a little.

Saving your life is nothing to be ashamed of.

"Young Master is brilliant."

Zhang Xinnian exclaimed in admiration.

"What's so great about it?"

Jiang Xiaobai waved his hand: "Sigh, it still comes down to this: this young master... is simply afraid of death!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ningshuang glanced at Jiang Xiaobai, her expression immediately turning somewhat strange.

This person doesn't try to hide anything at all.

Even if others are afraid of death, they have to make it sound respectable.

But Jiang Xiaobai is different; he speaks with such confidence and self-righteousness.

Zhang Xinnian grinned and said, "Young Master, you're being too honest."

"Isn't honesty a good thing?"

Jiang Xiaobai leaned back into the carriage and laughed, "This young master has always been honest and reliable."

As he spoke, Jiang Xiaobai glanced at Tang Ningshuang and said, "Right, Miss Tang!"

cut!

After hearing this, Tang Ningshuang couldn't help but roll her eyes at Jiang Xiaobai.

Zhang Xinnian, who was outside, couldn't help but laugh twice more.

He didn't quite believe Jiang Xiaobai's words.

At that time, Jiang Xiaobai talked about things like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the Nine Swords of Dugu, and the Nine Yin White Bone Claw with great seriousness.

If he hadn't secretly protected Jiang Xiaobai for many years and knew what Jiang Xiaobai's situation was, he probably would have been fooled too.

After a moment, Zhang Xinnian spoke again, "Young Master, shall we return to the Marquis's residence now?"

"Um."

Jiang Xiaobai responded, but quickly looked up with a smile: "No, let's take a stroll around the Prime Minister's residence instead!"

"The Prime Minister's residence?"

Zhang Xinnian sat outside, looking surprised.

Tang Ningshuang also looked at Jiang Xiaobai, seemingly somewhat surprised: "What are you going to the Prime Minister's residence for?"

"Go and see Miss Li."

Jiang Xiaobai said, "After all, we haven't seen each other for the past two days. I'm afraid she...misses me too much!"

"Why……"