Chapter 2840 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 45

Unexpectedly, half an hour later, Ayan rushed back, looking somewhat flustered.

Jin Chen was taking a nap on the balustrade of the pavilion when she heard the sound. She lazily opened her eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ah Yan gasped for breath, "Young Master... I ran into Hulu on the street."

"A gourd?" Jin Chen didn't react for a moment, raising an eyebrow. "A person or an object?"

Ayan: "..." He was truly impressed by the young master's memory.

“Young Master, have you forgotten?” Ayan said helplessly, “It was the eldest young master’s personal servant, Hulu.”

Jin Chen then remembered that the original owner of this body had such a troublesome family.

Over the past few days, Ah Yan has been influenced by what she sees and hears, and has learned a lot of skills from the Gu family army, including intelligence gathering.

His expression was not good. "It's strange. The eldest young master became the new runner-up in the imperial examination and got a mansion in the capital. The master and madam also came. They seem to be living a very glamorous life."

As Ayan spoke, she felt sorry for the young master.

The young master has been missing for more than three months, and the Jin family has never looked for him. Now, they are acting as if nothing happened, and are doing very well in the capital.

It's as if... as if this young master never existed.

Jin Chen gave a soft hum, got up from the bamboo couch, and straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes. "Did the gourd say anything to you?"

Ayan gritted her teeth, "He said... if you were still alive, you could come back to the manor for a visit."

"What else did you say?" Jin Chen asked, his tone carrying a hint of cold interest.

Ayan shook her head: "No, but judging from his face and the tone of the people around him talking... it seems that the young master is very proud now and is quite close to the Crown Prince's faction."

"They seem... unaware that the court has already undergone a change of power, and that the Crown Prince is now a prisoner."

Wu Chengjing deliberately controlled the news of the Crown Prince's capture and did not publicize it widely.

The Jin family is new to the area and lacks a strong foundation. Jin Xuan is only a newly appointed second-place scholar and may not have access to information. He is still dreaming of becoming a retainer of the Crown Prince.

[Interesting! Host, let's go slap them in the face!] Zero Rolling emerged excitedly from the pile of snacks.

Jin Chen stood up. "...Okay, then let's go back and take a look."

-

The Jin family's new mansion is located in the east of the city. It is not large, but it is still quite impressive.

Ayan stepped forward and knocked on the door.

The door opened, and an unfamiliar doorman sized them up before asking arrogantly, "Who are you looking for?"

"Jin Chen," Jin Chen said, his voice calm.

The gatekeeper was stunned, his expression changed. Jin Chen? Wasn't that the deceased second young master of the manor?

He looked closely at the person in front of him; he didn't resemble the frail and sickly good-for-nothing from the rumors at all.

"...Wait a minute." The gatekeeper had never seen the second young master before, so he could only rush in to report.

Before long, a servant hurried out and welcomed Jin Chen into the main hall.

There were still quite a few guests in the hall today.

Jin Hui's face darkened when he saw Jin Chen. He demanded, "Who are you? Why are you impersonating my second brother?"

Jin Chen looked up at him, her gaze languid, as if she were looking at something interesting. "Impersonating?"

"My elder brother doesn't even recognize me?"

Jin Hui's face turned even uglier.

The Jin Chen in my memory always kept her head down and spoke softly, but the person in front of me was dressed in brocade and had an air of nobility about him, as if he was born to be fawned over.

How could that be that good-for-nothing?

"My second brother was killed by bandits in Nanzhou," Jin Hui said coldly. "Who exactly are you, and why are you impersonating him?"

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Died at the hands of bandits? Who said that?"

Jin Hui choked.

Jin's parents exchanged a glance, their expressions turning somewhat grim.

Jin's mother's voice was choked with sobs, but it lacked genuine emotion. "Chen'er... if you really are Chen'er, why have you only come back now? Do you know how long we were heartbroken, thinking you were dead?"

Jin Chen looked at her, leaning back in his chair with a leisurely air. "How heartbroken are you? Are you so heartbroken that you haven't sent anyone to look for me for three months, or are you so heartbroken that you're in a hurry to spread the news of my death throughout the capital, so that your elder brother's career can be smoother?"

Jin's mother turned pale.

Jin Hui retorted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Did you enjoy spending the five thousand taels of silver sent by the Ruan family, elder brother?"

Jin Hui was shocked, and his parents also froze.

They kept this a secret; even the servants in the manor didn't know. How could Jin Chen have found out?

"You're spouting nonsense!" Jin Hui's face flushed red as he pointed at Jin Chen. "As the second-place scholar in the imperial examinations, why would I do such a despicable thing!"

Jin Chen's smile deepened. "On another note, did you really get this second-place ranking through your own efforts?"

Jin Hui: "..."

"How could that not be true! I am a retainer of the Crown Prince, how dare you slander me!"

Jin Chen turned to look at the guests who came out with Jin's parents, who were obviously Jin Hui's colleagues, and then looked back at Jin Hui, "The Crown Prince is already a prisoner."

Everyone's expressions suddenly changed.

The officials and colleagues present today were all taken aback, and then looked at Jin Chen. Only a few people knew this news, mostly officials in the court. Why did this person know? Come to think of it, the name Jin Chen seemed a bit familiar...

Wait a moment.

An official stared at Jin Chen for a moment, then suddenly remembered something, "Jin Chen... are you... Young Master Jin Chen, who serves General Gu?"

Ah Yan straightened her back and said loudly, "Of course!"

The officials: "..." Oh no! We misjudged the situation!

They quickly straightened their clothes and bowed to Jin Chen in unison, saying, "Greetings, Young Master Jin!"

Jin family: "???"

Jin Hui's face was ashen, his lips trembling, "...What are you doing? He...he's impersonating my second brother..."

An official turned to look at him and said, “Lord Jin, you don’t know yet, do you? The Ninth Prince will soon ascend the throne. General Gu has rendered meritorious service in supporting the prince and will be appointed as a Grand General in the future, commanding the three armies. This young master Jin is the apple of General Gu’s eye.”

"As for the Crown Prince, he is already a prisoner. You, the second-ranked scholar, will probably never be able to become one. We are here today to tell you this."

Jin Hui's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Jin's parents panicked and rushed forward, trying to take Jin Chen's hand, their voices trembling with tears, "Chen'er, listen to your mother...we had no choice back then..."

Before he could finish speaking, the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open again.

"The general has arrived!"

General? Which general?

Which general could it be!