Duke of Zhenguan

"Naturally, the bigger stone will fall first!" Yan Xiangshi said without hesitation.

"What do you think, Lady Yan?" Lin Chuan turned to ask Lady Yan again.

"Of course, the bigger one should land first!" Yan Liuniang said without hesitation.

"Think about it again?" Lin Chuan kindly suggested.

"No need to think! Just try it and you'll know! Find two stones and have Lin Shan throw them down from the attic, and you'll see!" Yan Xiangshi said confidently.

Lin Chuan nodded, went to the backyard, found two bricks, one large and one small, and brought them to Yan Xiangshi:

"Master Yan, would you please examine it?"

"No need, let Lin Shan throw it away!"

Yan Xiangshi waved his hand, indicating that Lin Chuan should give the stone to Lin Shan.

Lin Chuan placed two bricks, one large and one small, into Lin Shan's hands and instructed him:

"Erlang, when Master Yan tells you to throw, just throw. Remember, you must let go at the same time!"

"Don't worry, elder brother!" Lin Shan nodded earnestly.

As Lin Shan leaned halfway out of the attic window, Lin Chuan, Yan Xiangshi, and Yan Liuniang also walked to the front door.

"Throw it away!"

Upon hearing Yan Xiangshi's order, Lin Shan immediately released his hands, and two bricks, one large and one small, landed simultaneously in front of the three men with a muffled thud.

Lin Chuan had expected this, but Yan Xiangshi and Yan Liuniang stared blankly at the two bricks on the ground for a long time without coming back to their senses.

After a long while, Yan Xiangshi finally came to his senses, bent down to pick up the two bricks from the ground, and muttered to himself:

"This shouldn't be happening! This shouldn't be happening!"

After saying that, he took the two bricks and walked upstairs without saying another word.

I threw them myself, and both bricks landed at the same time.

Yan Xiangshi still couldn't accept it, so he ran up and threw it again.

As expected, both bricks landed simultaneously. Yan Xiangshi squatted on the ground, his eyes fixed on the two bricks:

"How strange!"

"Lord Yan? Lord Yan?" Lin Chuan walked up to Yan Xiangshi and called out softly.

"Don't disturb this old man!"

Yan Xiangshi waved his hand at Lin Chuan with dissatisfaction, but his eyes remained fixed on the two bricks.

Is he possessed?

Lin Chuan then realized he had caused trouble and awkwardly asked Yan Liuniang beside him:

"Sixth Miss Yan? What should we do?"

"It's alright, Grandpa is just thinking about something. He used to do that sometimes when he was studying. He'd figure it out in a couple of days and be fine!" Yan Liuniang said softly.

"..."

Lin Chuan nodded, feeling both puzzled and impressed.

Yan Liuniang walked to Yan Xiangshi's side and whispered:

"Grandpa, it's time to go back!"

Yan Xiangshi nodded, took the two bricks in his hand, and got up to walk towards the West Market gate.

"Lin Dalang, farewell!"

Yan Liuniang curtsied to Lin Chuan and hurried after Yan Xiangshi.

For two days in a row, Yan Xiangshi did not come to the noodle shop again.

Lin Chuan was somewhat worried, but he couldn't rashly go to the Yan family to visit them. He could only wait for Prime Minister Yan at the noodle shop before coming over.

It wasn't until the third day that Lin Chuan overheard news about Yan Xiangshi from a diner: the second master of the Yan family had gone mad.

This is not a rumor, but a fact that has been confirmed by many people.

If Yan Xiangshi really went crazy because of his own wicked sense of humor, not to mention how the Yan family would view Lin Chuan, Lin Chuan himself would feel guilty.

On the morning of the fourth day, Lin Chuan tidied himself up, changed into clean clothes and shoes, and carried some tea leaves to Tonghuafang.

The Yan family enjoys a very high reputation in Shilin, but the place where the Yan family lives is somewhat dilapidated. However, no one would underestimate the owner of this house, no matter how old it is.

Looking at the moss-covered courtyard walls and the mottled red paint on the gate, Lin Chuan, who was standing at a distance, took a deep breath and strode over.

The doorman, dressed in hemp clothing, saw Lin Chuan and greeted him politely, asking:

"Young master, do you have a visiting card?"

Calling card?

Lin Chuan then realized that it was somewhat impolite to visit without first sending a visiting card.

But since we're already here, we won't worry about that anymore. We cup our hands in greeting to the gatekeeper and said:

"My name is Lin Chuan. I heard that Lord Yan is unwell, so I came to visit him. I hope you will inform him of my absence!"

"Is the young master Lin Chuan?" the gatekeeper asked in surprise.

"That's right, old man, you know me?" Lin Chuan was also somewhat surprised.

"Heh, Second Master has been in a daze these past few days, all thanks to the young master. I can't help but know!" the gatekeeper said irritably.

Although the tone was harsh, there wasn't much malice in it.

Lin Chuan gave an awkward laugh.

"Young master, please wait a moment, I'll go and ask!" The gatekeeper waved his hand, turned around and went inside to report.

A moment later, a gaunt middle-aged man followed the gatekeeper to the main gate and politely addressed Lin Chuan:

"My master has sent me to greet the young master. Please!"

Following the middle-aged man through the front gate to the main hall, they saw an elderly man with a somewhat similar appearance to the man in the previous scene.

The middle-aged man bowed to the old man and said:

"Master, this is Young Master Lin Chuan!"

The old man nodded, glanced at Lin Chuan, and sighed:

"I am Yan Shigu, the elder brother of Xiang Shi. Xiang Shi has been in a daze these past few days, and his family is very worried. I originally planned to send someone to invite the young master over later!"

"It's just in time for the young master to arrive. Let's go and check his fortune first!"

"yes!"

Lin Chuan nodded and followed Yan Shigu through two doors to a large hall in the east wing, where he finally saw Yan Xiangshi, who looked haggard.

Standing next to Yan Xiangshi were two middle-aged men and several teenagers.

When Yan Xiangshi saw Lin Chuan, his gaze seemed to regain its clarity, and he asked in confusion:

"Lin Dalang, if the speed at which a brick falls is unrelated to its weight, then wouldn't a feather and a stone also fall at the same time? That still doesn't make sense!"

"Master Yan, you are right. The speed at which the brick falls is indeed unrelated to its weight."

Feathers and stones fall at the same time, but of course they won't land at the same time, because there is invisible gas around us.

"Feathers are too light, so these gases will create buoyancy in the feathers, just like water. But stones are too heavy, so the buoyancy these gases create in the stones is almost negligible. Therefore, feathers fall much slower than stones!" Lin Chuan didn't have time to think about anything else and quickly explained Yan Xiangshi's question in detail.

"That's right! That's right!"

Yan Xiangshi nodded, and his eyes finally regained their clarity.

He looked around, then cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Chuan:

"I was momentarily delirious, and you, Lin Dalang, have made a fool of yourself!"

"You flatter me, Lord Yan!"

"Forest……"

Just as Yan Shigu opened his mouth, the middle-aged man who had just gone to pick up Lin Chuan suddenly jogged in and shouted:

"Master, Second Master, His Majesty has arrived!"

"Quickly prepare the incense altar!"

The Yan family was immediately thrown into chaos.

A moment later, the main gate of the Yan residence opened wide, and a luxurious carriage was parked outside, surrounded by dozens of fully armed soldiers.

The Yan residence was also completely surrounded by heavily armed soldiers.

Lin Chuan stood behind the Yan family members, and together they bowed to Li Shimin, who was standing at the door.

"Welcome, Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities!"

Li Shimin waved his hand and asked in surprise, when Yan Xiangshi was standing in front with Yan Shigu:

"Is Yan Qing alright?"

"I have just woken up, thanks to Lin Chuan, the eldest son of the Lin family, who reminded me!" Yan Xiangshi bowed and replied.

Does Lin Chuan still have dealings with the Yan family?

Li Shimin was somewhat surprised, and recalling Zhang A's investigation and Cheng Yaojin's words, he smiled and asked Yan Xiangshi:

Where is Lin Chuan?