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Chapter 282 People of the Chen family, hurry up and receive the imperial decree!

Yingchuan Prefecture.

The Chen family is a prominent family in Yingchuan Prefecture, second only to the first-class aristocratic families, and has considerable influence throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Especially in Yingchuan, the Chen family's influence is absolutely deep-rooted.

At this moment, more than a dozen heads of prominent families and powerful clans are gathered in the Chen family's council hall.

Each of them looked somewhat tense, with their brows slightly furrowed.

The head of the Chen family was seated in the main seat.

The Chen family patriarch's expression was the same, his brows furrowed.

"Clan Chief Chen, the imperial court is currently investigating the Assassin's Tower with all its might. Cao Zhengchun of the Eastern Depot has already left Luoyang. Will this matter lead to us?"

"Yes! If this matter is traced back to us, then all of us will be in deep trouble."

"That's right, the imperial court certainly wouldn't dare to do anything to those young masters, but it won't hold back when it comes to us."

"If the court finds out, those young masters might not necessarily do everything in their power to protect us."

The dozen or so heads of prominent families all looked at the Chen family patriarch in the main seat with worried expressions.

The Chen family patriarch looked up at everyone and said, “Don’t worry, everyone! Only the leader of the Assassin’s Guild knows that we were the ones who commissioned this. The other members of the Assassin’s Guild don’t know. Even if the imperial court investigates with all its might, they won’t be able to find us.”

"Unless the imperial court can capture the leader of the Assassin's Guild, but the chances of that are slim."

"Even if the imperial court were to capture the leader of the Assassin's Guild, it would be very difficult for the court to get the leader to talk."

"So, everyone, don't worry too much, just relax!"

The Chen family patriarch comforted everyone.

In fact, the Chen family patriarch himself shared the same concerns as these people.

After all, this is no small matter.

Once the imperial court discovers this, there will be no other outcome than the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire clan.

But seeing the worries of these people, the Chen family patriarch knew that he had to comfort them and calm them down.

Otherwise, you'll give yourself away.

"That's good."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so people all breathed a sigh of relief.

If only the leader of the Assassin's Tower knew the situation, they would feel much more at ease.

What they feared was that the assassins would find out they had too many people under their command, and that the Eastern Depot would capture them, thus exposing their existence.

Now that only the leader of the Assassin's Tower knows their situation, the chances of them being exposed are much smaller.

"Furthermore, because Cao Zhengchun, the head of the Eastern Depot, left Luoyang, those young masters have already gone to the Assassin's Tower."

"I'm sure you all understand what those young masters are up to, without me having to say more!"

The Chen family patriarch spoke again.

This reassured the dozen or so people present.

"So, Cao Zhengchun, the former head of the Eastern Depot, has come to the end of his glorious days."

"With those young masters taking action, it seems Cao Zhengchun will have no chance of finding anything about us."

"Heh heh, our Emperor in the palace is probably going to lose one of his henchmen soon!"

After hearing the Chen family patriarch's last words, the dozen or so people present all relaxed completely.

They all knew that Cao Zhengchun was very strong and also very dangerous.

But no matter how strong Cao Zhengchun was, they didn't believe he could be stronger than those young masters.

After all, Cao Zhengchun was a worldly person, while those young masters were people who transcended worldly affairs.

The two are not even on the same level.

As long as those young masters make a move, Cao Zhengchun won't be able to cause any real trouble.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the hall.

Immediately afterwards, the gates of the Chen residence were blasted open, and the sounds of clashing weapons suddenly arose.

"what happened?"

The Chen family patriarch and the others all changed their expressions and stood up immediately.

His expression, which had just relaxed, tensed up again. "Master, something terrible has happened! Soldiers have surrounded the mansion."

"Without saying a word, they stormed in aggressively."

The butler hurriedly came in and said.

what?
Are soldiers surrounding the mansion?
Upon hearing this, the Chen family patriarch and the others all changed their expressions.

Their first thought was, "Has the imperial court discovered what we've been doing?"

However, before the Chen family patriarch and the others could think about it, a sharp voice rang out throughout the entire Chen family.

"The imperial edict has arrived."

"Members of the Chen family, come out quickly and receive the imperial decree."

The expressions of the Chen family patriarch and the others changed once again.

None of them expected that the imperial court would suddenly send an imperial edict to the Chen family.

Judging from the steward's words, the people from the imperial court stormed into the mansion without saying a word, which clearly indicated that they had ill intentions.

The Chen family patriarch and the others exchanged glances, their expressions extremely solemn.

"Let's go out and take a look."

The Chen family patriarch walked directly outside.

The others followed closely behind and left the council hall.

Since the imperial court has issued an edict, no matter what the edict is, the head of the Chen family must go out to receive it first.

When the Chen family patriarch led everyone out of the council hall and into the front yard, they saw a eunuch in special attire standing there with his hands behind his back, surrounded by guards dressed in eagle-feather uniforms with crescent-shaped swords at their waists.

East Factory?

When the Chen family patriarch saw these people, his pupils shrank slightly.

Especially when the Chen family patriarch saw the corpses of more than a dozen of his mansion's guards lying on the ground, his heart sank even further.

The visitor is not good.

Could it be that what they did was really discovered by the imperial court?

The dozen or so heads of powerful families who followed behind the Chen family patriarch also turned grim upon seeing the corpses of the imperial guards and the bodyguards on the ground.

"May I ask how this gentleman is addressed?"

"What decree does His Majesty have for the Chen family?"

The Chen family patriarch stepped forward and looked at Cao Zhengchun politely.

That's right.

The eunuch standing with his hands behind his back was none other than Cao Zhengchun, the Grand Supervisor of the Eastern Depot.

After receiving instructions from Emperor Zhou Chen, Cao Zhengchun led his troops directly to the Chen family in Yingchuan.

Because the people behind the ambush of the Prince of Kao Shan and the assassination of the Ministry of Revenue officials were more than a dozen powerful and influential families, led by the Chen family.

Among them, the Chen family is the leading force and backbone.

Cao Zhengchun looked at the Chen family patriarch and said in a sinister tone, "Who am I? I'm sure you already know, so I don't need to say more!"

"I didn't expect that most of you would be at the Chen residence. This saves me the trouble of running around to each of you."

Cao Zhengchun glanced at the other dozen or so heads of prominent families behind the Chen family patriarch and said.

Upon hearing this, the Chen family patriarch and the others felt a chill run down their spines.

Clearly, they could tell from the implied meaning in Cao Zhengchun's words that he was not only conveying an imperial decree to the Chen family, but also seeking out the heads of these dozen or so major families.

Instantly, a sense of foreboding enveloped their hearts.

"Receive the imperial decree!"

Cao Zhengchun stopped wasting words and directly produced an imperial edict.

Upon seeing this, the Chen family patriarch and the rest of the family immediately knelt down.

Before an imperial edict, regardless of their status, they all had to kneel to receive it.

"His Majesty has decreed that the Chen family has committed heinous crimes by hiring assassins from the Assassin's Guild to ambush Prince Kao Shan and assassinate court officials. Their crimes are utterly heinous..."

Cao Zhengchun loudly read out the imperial edict.

(End of this chapter)