Green Mountain
Chapter 115 - 87, Sages

Chapter 115: 87, Sages

Oh no!

Chen Ji’s pupils suddenly constricted, realizing that his biological father was right in front of him and he hadn’t recognized him!

No wonder the man had been sizing him up just now, and no wonder he had asked in surprise, "You call me sir."

How was he going to explain this?

In this superstitious feudal age, if one didn’t even recognize one’s own father, one would probably be burnt alive as something unclean...

There stood Chen Liqin, clad in a blue official robe and belted with leather, his face tanned from supervising riverbank work for several months on end.

Contrasting with Zhang Zhuo’s rosy complexion, Chen Liqin didn’t seem like a civil servant at the moment but rather more like a military officer.

Prince Jing looked curiously at Chen Liqin and asked, "Mr. Chen, did you teach Chen Ji his skill in Go? You must be quite skilled in Go yourself."

Chen Liqin, with a bow, humbly replied, "Your Highness, I am not adept at Go, nor have I ever taught him. My son is a lost cause; if he won, it must be because you let him win."

Hearing the word ’son,’ Chen Ji remembered his father who had passed away.

His father had been modest, but when thirteen-year-old Chen Ji had taken second prize in a major Go competition, his father would laugh and tell everyone, "This kid just plays in his spare time. Otherwise, none of you would be his match," which really infuriated the other players.

Zhang Zhuo laughed and said, "Prince, your skill in Go has already reached perfection. I remember, seven years ago at the Jiangnan Literature Conference, you played against the abbot of Famen Temple, Monk Huitong. When he made his 137th move, he thought you would concede defeat. He was so confident and smug it showed all over his face. But what he didn’t expect was your brilliant 138th move, which thwarted all his plans. I assume the young Chen only won because you let him."

Prince Jing replied with a smile, "Indeed, I gave Chen Ji two stones in one game, but after that I didn’t, and still, I lost several games."

"Hmm?" Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin both turned to look at Chen Ji.

Prince Jing picked up a Go piece and explained, "Chen Ji has a unique talent in Go. You’ll understand if you play him someday... But Mr. Chen, why do I sense some estrangement between you and your son? You didn’t greet each other when you met, and earlier Chen Ji even called you ’sir,’ not ’father.’"

Chen Ji’s heart sank, along with the Princely Heir and Bai Li.

He thought everyone’s attention had shifted to Go by then; how could there still be such pointed remarks?

Chen Liqin glanced at Chen Ji, then turned towards Prince Jing and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, I really don’t know what happened. My son just looked at me as if I were a stranger, which surprised me greatly."

Prince Jing, with an amused smile, asked Chen Ji, "So, you can’t even recognize your own father now?"

Chen Ji hesitated.

Just as he pondered how to respond, Old Yao scoffed at Chen Liqin, "You sent Chen Ji here as an apprentice, yet you never send any gifts during the holidays. And now you keep dragging your feet on the tuition fee. It’s no wonder he doesn’t want to recognize you. You literati talk about proper conduct and relationships all day, but if a father is not loving, the son naturally need not be dutiful."

Chen Ji, surprised, turned to look at his master.

In the Medical Hall, Chen Liqin, startled, said, "Doctor Yao, don’t talk nonsense. When I entrusted Chen Ji to you, I instructed my servants to send the monthly tuition fee on time and to prepare small gifts for you during the holidays. The Chen family values teaching and propriety; we understand these customs well."

Old Yao responded indifferently, "Oh, so am I lying? As far as I know, I’ve hardly seen any gifts from your family. And considering how wealthy your family is, why do you only provide Chen Ji with 300 cents a month? It really doesn’t match your family’s status. How about this, from now on, there’s no need for your family to send tuition fee. I’ll take Chen Ji as my ’child disciple,’ and I’ll take care of his living expenses. He can support me in my old age."

Zhang Zhuo, with his hands tucked inside his robe sleeves, looked puzzled at Chen Liqin upon hearing ’300 cents.’

The patches on Chen Liqin’s official robe alone were worth probably a hundred times more than ’300 cents.’

Officials of the Ning Dynasty were given patches by the court, but many found them too plain and had artisans re-embroider them with gold and silver threads, which had gradually sparked a trend of ’patch consumption.’

A single patch cost thirty taels of silver, yet he only gave his son 300 cents a month. Was there some deep-seated resentment between father and son?

Chen Liqin did not argue further with Old Yao, sensing something was amiss.

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Doctor Yao, for this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, I specifically instructed my butler to send you money and gifts. He said he’d sent someone to deliver them to you. Did you receive them?"

Old Yao stroked his beard, "Are you referring to the 100 cents your servant brought? Yes, I received them. Thank you for your trifles."

Chen Liqin: "..."

Chen Ji: "..."

His master’s tongue was truly sharp, seemingly dipped in venom from the inside out.

Chen Liqin furrowed his brows and bowed to Doctor Yao, "Doctor Yao, I will investigate this matter and give you an explanation."

Prince Jing smoothed things over with a laugh, "There must be some misunderstanding in the Chen family’s affairs, likely a mistake by the servants. The Chen family has been prominent for generations, well-versed in literature, and would not neglect such courtesies. I remember when I used to visit the Chen Mansion often with my uncle while I was still in the Imperial Capital. The Chen family was hospitable and always polite, leaving a lasting impression... I believe, Mr. Chen, you had just finished the Autumn Imperial Examination back then, right?"

Chen Liqin bowed, "Your Highness is correct."

Prince Jing waved his hand, "Alright, I also have family matters to attend to. Everyone, please go back. We’ll discuss official matters tomorrow at Jing’an Palace."