Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 603 Old Fourth! Haven't you caused enough trouble?!

"Appeal to the elders?" Chen Fan said calmly. "The regulations state that the deacons of the Public Affairs Hall must act according to the rules and must not cause trouble for those who make offerings without cause. This is the duty of the Public Affairs Hall. As a deacon of the Public Affairs Hall, you should be familiar with the regulations. Yet you are using the rules of the silver medal to restrict those who make offerings with the gold medal. Is this your way of acting according to the rules?"

The fat butler's face was no longer stiff, but gloomy.

The surrounding deacons looked at each other in bewilderment. A number of worshippers and deacons had gathered in the hall to watch the spectacle, and hushed whispers rose and fell among them.

The fat butler gritted his teeth, about to speak, when a sarcastic voice came from outside the crowd.

"Oh, isn't this Chen, the Grand Master of Ceremonies of Yu the Great? What's this, causing trouble at the government office again?"

The crowd parted automatically, and Zhao Yu strolled in, waving a jade-ribbed folding fan.

Today he wore a brand new bright yellow python robe, with a jade pendant shrouded in spiritual energy hanging at his waist. He was followed by two guards at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, making a grander spectacle than yesterday.

He walked up to Chen Fan, closed his folding fan, and a playful yet sinister smile appeared on his lips.

"Chen Fan, I heard yesterday that you caused a scene in the Hall of State Affairs and were dragged away by Han Cen. You've come again today. Do you think I'm easy to bully, or do you think the rules of Zhao can't hold you back? Let me be frank with you: in Zhao, if I say you can take a mission, you can take one; if I say you can't, you have to stay put. What, you're not satisfied? Go complain to Father Emperor and see if he believes you, this eunuch from the time of Yu the Great, or his own son, me."

Upon hearing this, his guards and several sycophantic deacons behind him let out a low snicker.

The fat deacon straightened his back and put on that fake smile again, clearly emboldened by Zhao Yu's appearance.

Chen Fan looked at Zhao Yu, his expression remaining calm and indifferent.

He didn't argue, didn't get angry, and didn't even frown.

This complete disregard hurt Zhao Yu more than any rebuttal.

You should know that he came here today specifically to suppress this eunuch's arrogance, but the other party didn't even give him a second glance from beginning to end, as if he, the fourth prince of Zhao, was not worth even a second look.

Zhao Yu's face gradually darkened.

He stepped forward, about to lash out, when a calm and authoritative voice came from outside the crowd.

"Fourth brother, haven't you caused enough trouble?"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was like a bucket of cold water poured on a raging fire.

Zhao Yu's expression suddenly froze, and she abruptly turned her head to look outside the crowd.

Zhao Yan stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the government office, followed by Han Cen, Ouyang Ye, and two guards in black armor.

He was still dressed in a plain brocade robe, without any extra decorations, yet he exuded an undeniable air of authority as he stood there.

The crowd parted automatically, and Zhao Yan stepped between Chen Fan and Zhao Yu. His gaze swept over the fat deacon's face before settling on Zhao Yu. His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet every word was like a hammer blow:

"The regulations of the Hall of Offerings are ironclad rules established by successive monarchs. Gold medal offerings are not subject to monthly quotas; this is written in black and white. I reviewed the original regulations yesterday and also questioned Elder Han and Elder Ouyang; both can testify. Fourth Prince, who gave you the authority to restrict gold medal offerings to the Hall of State Affairs using silver medal rules? Or do you think your word carries more weight than the regulations?"

Zhao Yu's face turned pale and then flushed, and although her lips moved, she couldn't utter a single word.

Although he was the king's most favored prince, in terms of status and title, Zhao Yan, the eldest son of the legitimate wife, was the rightful crown prince.

He could sabotage Zhao Yan behind his back, but he would openly contradict the Crown Prince.

Especially in such a public setting, he wouldn't dare even if he had ten times the courage.

Zhao Yan stopped looking at him and turned to face the fat deacon.

The fat deacon was already ashen-faced with fright, and the teacup in his hand fell to the table with a clatter, spilling tea all over the floor.

He knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Highness, please calm your anger! Your Highness, please calm your anger! This official... this official was only following the rules..."

"According to the rules?" Zhao Yan took out a scroll of jade slip from his sleeve and threw it in front of him. "This is a rubbing of the regulations of the Hall of Offerings, which I personally made last night. Point out to me which clause states that a Gold Medal Offering Officer can only receive a mission once a month. Point it out, and I will leave immediately and will not make things difficult for you. If you cannot point it out, you are deliberately making things difficult for a Gold Medal Offering Officer and abusing your power for personal gain, which is an even greater crime."

The fat butler trembled violently, his lips quivering so much he couldn't utter a single word.

He wasn't unaware of the regulations; he simply relied on the power of the Fourth Prince, assuming that this powerless eunuch, Da Yu, wouldn't dare to take it seriously.

But he never expected that Chen Fan would bring in the First Prince as a powerful backer.

"Since you can't pinpoint it," Zhao Yan's tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority, "from today onwards, Chen Fan's duties will be handled according to the standards for a Gold Medal Attendant, without any restrictions. If such obstruction occurs again, I will not seek out the stewards, but will confront you directly. Furthermore, as a steward of the Hall of Official Affairs, you have deliberately misinterpreted regulations to obstruct a Gold Medal Attendant; as the Crown Prince, I will strip you of three months' salary. If this happens again, you will be dismissed and investigated."

He raised his head and his gaze swept over all the deacons in the hall. Everyone whose gaze fell upon him subconsciously lowered their heads.

"I'm making this clear today: Chen Fan is my man. From now on, anyone who dares to cause trouble for him in the Hall of Worship is causing trouble for me. Don't blame me for not showing you any mercy then."

Having said that, he turned to look at Chen Fan, his tone suddenly becoming gentler: "Chen, the matter at the Hall of State Affairs is settled. You may now proceed with your tasks. If you encounter any further trouble, feel free to come to my residence to find me."

Chen Fan bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for upholding justice."

This scene, in the eyes of everyone present, was a signal that couldn't be clearer.

This top-ranking alchemist and array master has officially joined the First Prince's crew from this moment on.

The several retainers who were still observing had different expressions. Some were secretly glad that they hadn't joined the Fourth Prince in making things difficult for Chen Fan, while others quietly slipped out of the Hall of Official Affairs, obviously to inform all parties.

Zhao Yu stood there, his face so ashen it looked like it was about to drip water.

He watched Zhao Yan lead Chen Fan away from the government office, his fingers gripping the folding fan tightly.

I figured he came here today to put others down, but he ended up being put down in front of everyone, and he was completely powerless to fight back.

What angered him even more was that Chen Fan hadn't looked at him once from beginning to end.

It was as if he, the fourth prince of the Zhao Kingdom, was nothing more than a wild dog barking loudly by the roadside.

"My brother actually took in a eunuch as a servant. He's really going downhill with age," Zhao Yu muttered through gritted teeth. Then, he angrily flung his sleeve and left with his guards.