Lobby.
Chen Yun sat calmly in the chair, showing no sign of fear.
Jin Fu turned to his daughter on the right, "Qiaoqiao, tell your father why you had him tied back to the mansion."
"Father, this little thief is not a son." Jin Qiaochao said with indignation: "A few days ago, he...he suddenly intruded into my daughter's room!"
Jin father was shocked and looked at Chen Yun in surprise, "Master, is it true?"
Why is Jin father so shocked?
If it were during the pre-Qin period, perhaps a man entering a woman's chamber wouldn't be such a big deal.
In the 37th year of the Qin Dynasty, there was an inscription on the Kuaiji Stone that said: "Adorn with propriety and promote righteousness; a woman who marries with a child is doubly faithless. Prevent the mingling of inside and outside, prohibit licentiousness and promiscuity, maintain purity and sincerity between men and women. If a man acts like a slut, he should be killed without guilt; men should uphold justice and righteousness. If a wife elopes to marry, her children lose their mother; everyone should cultivate honesty and purity. Greatly improve customs, so that the whole country follows this wind; covered by auspiciousness and prosperity. All people follow rules and norms, live in harmony and encouragement, none defying orders. The people of Qianyu strive for cleanliness, everyone enjoys living in harmony, praise be to peace."
The "Kuaiji Stone Inscription" repeatedly emphasized the importance of the great separation between men and women.
It requires men and women to interact within the rules, eliminate lewdness, be loyal to their respective families, and maintain "purity and sincerity".
This is an example of Emperor Qin Shi Huang strengthening the concept of female chastity.
From then onwards, ordinary men are not allowed to enter a woman's private room, let alone the woman's own father. Even if he wants to enter, he must first notify.
Now that Jin father has heard that Chen Yun dared to enter his daughter's private room, he naturally appears extremely shocked.
Chen Yun naturally understands this principle.
He didn't deny it either, saying boldly and decently, "It's true."
Jin father's eyebrow twitched, and he looked at his daughter again, "Qiaoqiao, how did he dare to barge into your bedroom? Slowly tell me what happened that day."
Jin Qiaochao recounted the entire sequence of events from her acquaintance with Chen Yun to how he entered her bedroom, without omitting or altering any details.
After listening to everything, Jin father nodded slightly and looked at Chen Yun again, saying, "Understood, it's not surprising."
Based on this attitude, Jin father appears to be quite reasonable and seems ready to forgive Chen Yun.
Chen Yun was rather puzzled in his heart.
Was it that he had misunderstood before? Was the other party actually a wealthy official?
Not some high official from Daoist Academy testing him in person?
Just as he was in doubt.
Jin father suddenly spoke again: "A woman's chastity is like her life. Although you entered her bedroom for a valid reason, you still caused harm to her chastity. If this matter were to be spread out, who would dare to marry her in the future? Master, what do you plan to do?"
Indeed, it appears he has no intention of letting me go.
The previous doubt in Chen Yun's heart was dispelled.
Chen Yun said calmly and courteously, "I am not aware, please teach me, Mr. Jin."
Jin father didn't directly say the solution, but instead asked: "May I ask what is the Daoist's surname and given name? How many people are in his family?"
Chen Yun answered truthfully: "I am Chen Yun, aged 17. I originally came from Heishishan Black Stone Village. My parents are still alive, and I have a younger sister and two brothers. However, about a few months ago, my father sold me, and I was fortunate to be taken in by the Wanlizhi Immortal of the Endless Mountain Yingyang Cave, and thus became a worker in the pharmacy of the Endless Mountain Yingyang Cave."
Jin Hong's eyes lit up, asking: "Are you saying that you have no family to care for?"
Indeed, in ancient times, after being sold, one would no longer have any relationship with the original family.
Because according to the law, the ownership of those sold would belong to the buyer.
Of course, the premise is to sign a slave contract and become a servant.
Although Chen Yun did not sign a slave contract with the temple, at the moment of being sold, he indeed no longer had any relation with his original family.
He answered immediately, "Yes."
At this moment, Jin father nodded slightly and said, "In that case, everything can be settled. I will give you two choices."
Chen Yun raised his hand, "I would like to hear the details."
Jin father slowly said, "The first choice is that you will marry my daughter..."
Jin Qiaochao interjected from the sidelines, "Father! I only tied this thief back so you could give him a minor punishment. Daughter has not yet considered marrying this early..."
"Shut up!" Jin father glared, "You lured a man into your room; that in itself is a disgraceful matter. I am handling this for you; how can you talk so much here?"
Stunned by her father's authority, Jin Qiaochao dared not speak further.
Although he knew the other party was acting, Chen Yun did not rashly speak up, but instead waited quietly for the other party to finish speaking.
To test, how can you get results without testing?
Chen Yun wanted to see what kind of medicine the "Mr. Jin" who was likely a high official from the Daoist Academy was selling in his gourd.
Naturally, he did not speak out hastily.
After reprimanding his daughter, Jin father turned to Chen Yun again and continued, "The first choice is that you become a son-in-law of the Jin family and marry my daughter..."
Chen Yun was about to speak.
"Ah, Chen Jun, hear me out," Jin father extended his hand to stop him from speaking. "I know that a good man doesn't want to bear the shame of being a son-in-law. However, I, Jin Hong, have no sons; I only have Qiaochao as my daughter. If you become a son-in-law of my Jin family, I will treat you like a son and cultivate you. To put it bluntly, after I pass on at one hundred years old, all the wealth and official positions of my Jin family will be passed down to you, Chen Jun. What do you think about it?"
Chen Yun smiled embarrassedly and said, "Mr. Jin, I seem to have never said that I want to marry your daughter..."
"You!" Jin Qiaochao was upset.
Jin Hong raised his hand again to stop his daughter, his face as still as water as he stared at Chen Yun and said, "Oh? According to what you said, you are a common man with no family. Mr. Jin says something a bit offensive: Although you are currently the head worker of the pharmacy in the Taoist Academy, according to what I know, the long-term workers in the Taoist Academy are dispersed after five years. By then, aren't you just a destitute stray dog with nowhere to go? If you become a son-in-law of my Jin family, and since I only have Qiaochao as my daughter, I dare not say anything else. At least, you can lead a life of comfort and wealth with fine clothes and food. Isn't that better than having nowhere to depend on?"
Chen Yun nodded in agreement and said, "If it were as Mr. Jin said, Chen Yun marrying into the Jin family is indeed reasonable, but..."
"Good men have the ambition to build achievements, and I understand," Jin Hong interrupted again and spoke on his own, "Fine, I promise you. If you marry into my Jin family, I will try my best to help you enter the court as an official. First, start from the bottom ranks of scholars, and in the future, with my connections, I'm determined to make you a State Councillor before you are forty years old."
Chen Yun smiled and said, "My ambition does not lie in becoming an official in the court."
Jin Hong smiled embarrassingly and asked, "Do you not believe that I have the ability to do so?"
Chen Yun said, "That's not it. I believe Mr. Jin has this ability, but my true ambition does not lie in this."
Jin Hong laughed heartily, "You still don't believe me? Fair enough, words are cheap. Lin Xi, fetch my official seal and edict."
Lin Guanzhi bowed slightly and said, "Yes, master."
After speaking, he turned around and walked inside.
Seeing Jin Hong's "stubbornness," Chen Yun simply didn't feel like arguing anymore.
A few minutes later, Lin Guanzhi carried a jade box back.
Jin Hong opened it to check, ensuring there were no issues, "Take it and show it to Chen Jun."
Chen Yun waved his hand and said, "Mr. Jin, there is no need for that. I have already made it very clear. I believe you have the ability to do this, but my ambition does not lie in power and wealth. Please spare me."
Jin Hong insists, "You'll see for yourself."
As the words were spoken, Lin Guanzhi had already placed the jade box in front of him, "Mr. Chen, please take a careful look."
Reluctantly, Chen Yun had no choice but to look down and see that inside the box, there were indeed the official seal and the imperial edict.
At the right time, Jin Hong interjected, "Lin Xi, let him take a closer look."
"All right, master."
"Good, master," said Lin Guanzhi carefully as he took out the official seal and flipped it over so that Chen Yun could see clearly. At the same time, he explained, "Our master is the Prime Minister of Qin State. The official seal is not fake, Mr. Chen, please take a good look."
When Chen Yun saw the official seal, he indeed saw that the name of the position engraved on it was "Prime Minister."
In Qin State, the Prime Minister is indeed a high-ranking official.
That is someone who holds a position second only to the emperor and the prime minister, and is the highest-ranking official of the second grade in Qin State!
In addition to the name of the position, the official seal also bears a short warning phrase.
Lin Guanzhi confirmed that he had seen it clearly, then put the official seal back into the jade box, and took out the imperial edict and unrolled it, "This is the appointment decree by Emperor Qin, Mr. Chen, please distinguish its authenticity again."
Chen Yun saw that the edict clearly stated the date of appointment, the position, and a series of detailed information, and there was an imperial seal from Emperor Qin stamped in the lower right corner.
After a preliminary glance, it indeed seems to be true.
In the Qin and Han dynasties, official seals were carried around. They clearly indicated the location of the appointment and the name of the holder. Even some blessings and warnings were engraved on them. Moreover, just a seal alone might not be enough; a legitimate appointment decree issued by the imperial court was also required.
The official seal was generally owned exclusively by the official in question. Whether during office or after retirement, as long as the official did not engage in illegal or unethical behavior, there was no need to return it.
One could say that the official seal is like a business card for this person in the court.
Moreover, whether it is the imperial court or common people in general, when recognizing people or issuing appointment decrees, they usually do not pay much attention to the official seal. However, forging an official seal can be said to be a completely meaningless thing.
Most people would not dare to forge one.
There is no need to forge it.
After all, it wouldn't serve any purpose even if it were forged.
Indeed, there is no indication in the official seal or the appointment edict that they have been forged.
If it weren't for Chen Yun's early judgment that Jin Hong was a high official of the temple, it might have been believed to be true.
Seeing him look at the official seal and the edict.
Jin Hong smiled and asked, "So, does Mr. Chen now believe that Jin has the ability to have you enter the court and rise through the ranks in the future?"
If the other person really is the Prime Minister, he does have this ability.
Chen Yun nodded and said, "I believe it."
Jin Hong asked again, "If you believe it, then let's talk about the matter of becoming a son-in-law."
Chen Yun shook his head again and said, "Mr. Prime Minister, I have already made it clear that my ambition does not lie in becoming an official. I will not become a son-in-law of your family."
With these words, Jin Qiaochao "oh" cried out abruptly, "You...you're being too harsh!"
Saying this, she ran away crying.
"Chaoqiao! Chaoqiao!" Jin Hong stood up, looking very worried.
Seeing his daughter running further and further away, he quickly told Lin Guanzhi, "Send someone to bring Chaoqiao back."
Lin Guanzhi hurriedly said, "I'll go after Miss Qiaochao right away."
After saying that, he also left directly.
Marvelous!
This performance is truly excellent!
Chen Yun looked stunned. He truly did not expect the acting skills of Jin Hong and Jin Qiaochao to be so natural. If he had this kind of talent in his previous life, he could have won an Oscar.
The hall was left with Chen Yun and Jin Hong.
Jin Hong glared at Chen Yun with an unkind expression, "Mr. Chen, do you really not want to marry my daughter?"
Chen Yun nodded and said, "Yes, Prime Minister Jin. I remember that you mentioned there were two options earlier, but please enlighten me. If your proposal can make Miss Jin clear her name, I Chen Yun will definitely not refuse."
"Good! Good! Very good!" Jin Hong was so angry that he burst into laughter and his eyes became ominous, "This second path, since you have defamed my daughter's reputation, then die to atone for your sins!"
Chen Yun feigned shock and exclaimed, "Prime Minister Jin, why say such a thing?"
Jin Hong sneered coldly, "If you die, the world won't know that a man broke into my daughter's bedroom?"
Chen Yun deliberately acted disoriented and shouted fiercely, "Prime Minister Jin, Qin State is a country that upholds the law. As the Prime Minister, you can't be unaware that forcing someone to die is a crime with a death penalty!"
Jin Hong's tone was cold and stern, "I will kill you right here in the hall and accuse you of trying to assassinate me. Don't you think anyone would suspect that?"
Chen Yun was enraged, his fingers trembling as he pointed and exclaimed, "You! You!"
Jin Hong roared, "I'm asking you one last time, will you marry into my Jin family or die in atonement?"
Chen Yun stood motionless, his face changing color repeatedly, looking extremely conflicted.
Jin Hong there gently persuaded, "Marrying into my Jin family not only can enjoy a hundred kinds of prosperity and wealth, but also have the chance to rise in the future. If you die, you will have nothing. Mr. Chen, think it over."
After speaking, he remained silent and calmly awaited Chen Yun's decision.
Chen Yun kept his head down and didn't say anything.
For a moment, silence spread throughout the hall.
On the surface, it seemed as if Chen Yun were really struggling and thinking, as the matter at hand concerned life and death.
But in reality, he was thinking that, at the stage where things were about to reach their climax, the test should soon be over.
Hm, we've been acting for so long; we can't blow it at the last moment.
So far, Chen Yun has been very satisfied with his acting skills.
He dare not say that he is an Oscar-winning actor, but at least there are no leaks.
However, the next step might truly involve the other party performing a "kill" on him.
How can I show the complex emotions of facing death with fear and determination to seek enlightenment?
Yes, Chen Yun's silence and keeping his head down was not because he was struggling.
He was actually contemplating how he should perform next to make it seem more natural!
In general, only gods can test others.
And only Chen Yun can turn a test into a performance.
There's no way, Chen Yun has never placed himself in a "small" position.
He thinks that since others can design a test, why can't he play the role?
Luckily, Zhongli Quan, who is playing the role of Jin Hong, is unaware of Chen Yun's thoughts in his heart. Otherwise, he would definitely be so angry he would cough up blood.
