Green Mountain
Chapter 149 - 108, The angrier I get the more I think about it

Chapter 149: 108, The angrier I get the more I think about it

Second Miss Zhang came briskly and left just as swiftly.

Named ’Zaozao,’ her magnificent horse breathed out white, arrow-like breaths as it carried the fiery red figure away as if flying.

She Dengke, listening to the fading sound of horse hooves, looked around at the astonished crowd and asked, "How can she be so overbearing?"

The Medical Hall was silent; no one answered his question.

After a moment of silence, Liu Quxing remarked, "In all of Luocheng City, aside from the Liu Family and Prince Jing Mansion, there really is no one more overbearing than the Zhang Family."

She Dengke said bluntly, "But the Commandery Princess isn’t like her at all. I find the Commandery Princess very pleasant. She never bullies others with her power or puts on airs. Surely, the gate of the Prince Mansion is more formidable than behind her mother’s Xu Family, right?"

The Princely Heir, leaning his elbow on the counter, suddenly smiled meaningfully, "The gate of my Ning Dynasty Vassal Prince might not even be as high as the Xu Family’s. Here in this small part of Luocheng City, the Prince Mansion also must consult the Liu Family in everything. In the North, the three families of Qi, Chen, and Hu, and in the South, the Liu, Xu, and Yang families, though they do not get along, always unite when facing imperial power."

He continued, "Previously, my father wanted to get the cement formula, but as soon as Chen Ji said he was taking the formula back to the Chen family, my father immediately let it go. Why? Because if that cement formula fell into the hands of the Chen family, even the Prince Jing Mansion couldn’t get it back."

She Dengke’s eyes widened, "Even if a family is powerful, can it compete with the court for things?"

The Princely Heir laughed, "In their eyes, they are the court..."

"Stop," Old Yao glanced sideways at the Princely Heir, "Is that something an old man like me should hear? Are you trying to make sure I don’t live to see ninety-two by sending me off early?"

The Princely Heir sheepishly responded, "I’ll say no more."

At that moment, Bai Li walked up to the opposite side of the mahogany counter, staring intently at Chen Ji, "Aren’t you angry? She spoke about you like that, yet you act as if nothing happened."

Chen Ji, holding the chessboard and basket, turned and walked towards the back yard.

He had just taken a few steps when Bai Li, standing on tiptoes and reaching over the counter, grabbed Chen Ji’s arm and pulled him back, "I’m talking to you, don’t walk away!"

Chen Ji helplessly stopped and asked with a smile, "Is the Commandery Princess referring to her belittling me?"

Bai Li earnestly replied, "She doesn’t understand you at all, what right does she have to say you’re inferior to Chen Wenzong? It’s wrong of her to talk about you like that anyway."

Chen Ji retorted, "Does the Commandery Princess wish for me to prove myself to her?"

Bai Li thought for a moment, "At the very least, you should let her know that you’re not inferior to Chen Wenzong."

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "And then what?"

"Hmm?"

Chen Ji said, "And then she realizes this marriage is actually not so bad and happily accepts it. Then Lord Zhang will catch me under the marriage banner, binding me to complete the marriage. When we’re married, we can no longer go out for drinks together, as I’d need to stay home and learn needlework."

Bai Li was startled, "Ah? Then... maybe not."

Meanwhile, Liu Quxing asked, "Did Second Miss Zhang not recognize the Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir just now? Have you never met?"

The Princely Heir explained, "To my recollection, Lord Zhang came to Luocheng City to take up his post in the 27th year of Jianing, at that time without his family. It seems it was only before last year’s Lantern Festival that he brought his family over. By then, Bai Li and I had already gone to Donglin Academy. Have you heard of this Second Miss Zhang, and what she is like?"

Liu Quxing muttered, "I’ve only seen her twice; each time she was galloping through the city, startling passersby to dodge out of the way. Her horsemanship seems good, and I haven’t heard of her knocking over any pedestrians."

Liang Mao’er mentioned from the side, "I heard about her when I went drinking with my brother. It’s said that the eldest son of the Liu Family’s main branch likes her; the Liu Family sent a matchmaker to propose, but Lord Zhang declined. Not just the Liu Family, there are quite a few literati and scholars who admire her."

Bai Li grumbled, "I don’t know what these people see in her, why admire her?"

The Princely Heir laughed heartily, "Second Miss Zhang is attractive and the most cherished daughter of Lord Zhang; naturally, people flock to her. A scholar from a humble background marrying her could shortcut thirty years."

Bai Li suddenly turned to Chen Ji, "Chen Ji, do you also think she is attractive?"

Chen Ji exclaimed, "I haven’t really looked closely."

Bai Li leaned on the counter, a bit discouraged.

The Princely Heir curiously asked, "Are you still angry?"

Bai Li puffed up, "Earlier, during Zhang Xia’s presence, only she angered me, and I didn’t even get to push back at her. Now that I’ve figured out what to say, she’s already left!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became!

Bai Li turned and walked outside.

The Princely Heir quickly held her back, "Where are you going?"

Bai Li said indignantly, "I want to go talk to her again!"

The Princely Heir was incredulous, "Don’t make a fuss; she’s long gone."

He looked toward Chen Ji, smiling, "Considering background, Second Miss Zhang isn’t a bad choice. Perhaps she only rushed to set the conditions because of rumors she heard, not understanding you. But, as the saying goes, ’Time reveals a person’s heart,’ and someday she will see you in a new light... Won’t you reconsider?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "What is not understood now, need not be understood later."

...

...

Late in the quiet of the night.

Chen Ji came out of the Qingshan Dream Realm and slowly opened his eyes.

He silently counted the snores, ensuring everyone around him was asleep, then quietly got up.

However, just as Chen Ji opened the door, he saw Uncle Crow standing under the apricot tree, staring at the red cloth strips on the branches.

"Master? Why haven’t you gone to sleep?"

Uncle Crow said indifferently, "Why sleep much in life, when in death one must sleep eternally. I don’t know why, but lately, I feel I can’t get enough of the world’s scenery."

Chen Ji was taken aback, "Your health is still strong."

Uncle Crow said coldly, "I’m saying, I want to see more of this world before you get me killed."

Chen Ji: "..."

Old Yao turned around and looked at him, "Impersonating the Chief of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department in front of the Liu Family is like walking on the edge of a knife blade; a slight misstep would lead to irrevocable doom."

"Did you know all along?"

Old Yao asked, "What are your plans?"

Chen Ji was stunned.

The old man and the young man stood under the apricot tree, looking at each other.

Chen Ji recalled when he first arrived in this world, following slowly behind his master on the cobblestone path. He was eager to say something, but the old man, who avoided danger like the plague, wouldn’t listen to anything.

And now, the old man was the one who brought it up.

Chen Ji said with a smile, "You never used to ask about these things."

Old Yao was also stunned, then said somewhat angrily, "If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. Don’t act as if I care too much about you. I, an old man, am just worried about being implicated by you!"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, then finally said, "It’s better not to tell you."

Old Yao scoffed, "If you don’t want to say it, then so be it. Take care of yourself."

Chen Ji changed the subject, "Master, where is Uncle Crow? I haven’t seen him in a long time."

"He went out to lay low."

Chen Ji then asked, "What about Wu Yun? I didn’t see him today either."

"He also went out to lay low."

Chen Ji, "?"

Is this a courtyard full of outlaws?

Chen Ji wondered, "What has Wu Yun done that he needs to lay low?"

Old Yao turned and leisurely walked back to the main house, "If you want to find him, just walk a mile east along Anxi Street, turn into the alley next to the Grocery Store, and he should be there tonight. As for why he needs to lay low, you’ll understand when you see him."

Chen Ji walked outside. Under the moonlight, he followed Anxi Street eastward.

However, he had only walked halfway when he suddenly heard extremely faint footsteps behind him.

Chen Ji suddenly turned around and saw the long cobblestone road behind him resembling a clear tunnel. He looked to the end, but there wasn’t a soul in sight!

Alone on the long street under the moonlight, the thin Chen Ji stood and looked back.

Empty.

In that moment, the hairs on the back of Chen Ji’s neck stood on end.

He remembered the story of the Mountain Flower Ghost Money, and thought of the Liu Family’s unmanned carriage which moved its reins without wind...

It was as if an invisible shadow was clinging to his back on this cobblestone road, like a bone-devouring maggot, enveloped in endless black resentment, bone-chillingly cold.

Had he been targeted by that old man from the Beggar Guild named ’Zhang Guo’er’? How did the opponent find the Taiping Medical Hall?

No, it couldn’t be the Mountain Flower Ghost Money. The object the ghost money controlled wouldn’t make footstep sounds.

Chen Ji turned and quickly walked forward, but after a few steps, those faint footsteps sounded behind him again.

This time, he didn’t turn back but instead picked up his pace and began to run.

The next moment, Chen Ji suddenly darted into a dark alley.

However, just as his body had barely entered the shadow, he abruptly drew a short knife from his chest and slashed back.

The knife moved from shadow to moonlight as if it had always been hidden in the shadows, then suddenly appeared with a flourish.

A man cried out, instinctively raising a long knife to block, but the short knife from the shadows accurately chopped into the middle of the long knife with a clang, breaking it!

After chopping the long knife, the short knife continued upward, but upon hearing that ’ah,’ Chen Ji felt something was wrong and barely stopped the blade at the unwelcome visitor’s chin.

Not a fraction more, another inch would have drawn blood.

Chen Ji stood in the shadows, taking a good look at the unexpected visitor, and was stunned.

Commandery Princess!?

Under the moonlight outside the alley, Bai Li was seen holding a broken knife, her pale face filled with shock.

Behind her, there were the Princely Heir, Liang Mao’er, and Liang Gou’er!

Evidently, it had been Liang Mao’er and Liang Gou’er who had acted to help the Princely Heir and Bai Li avoid detection, which had kept Chen Ji from noticing them.

At that moment, the Princely Heir and Liang Mao’er were staring dumbfoundedly at Chen Ji.

Only Liang Gou’er’s pupils slightly contracted, his expression turning solemn.

The one who was originally nonchalant with the long knife slung over his shoulder, suddenly stood up straight.

The Princely Heir and Liang Mao’er were dumbfounded because they were shocked by the fierce strike from Chen Ji, but they were just surprised that Chen Ji’s behavior was completely different from the Chen Ji they knew.

Only Liang Gou’er knew that the strike had been flawless.

Such exquisite, accurate, and domineering Sword Skill, even a genius like Liang Gou’er couldn’t perform it at Chen Ji’s age.

This wasn’t the Sword Skill that a Medical Hall apprentice should know!

Chen Ji glanced at Liang Gou’er, slowly sheathed his short knife, and walked out of the alley’s shadow.

He looked at the knives in the hands of the Princely Heir and Bai Li, and said helplessly, "Princely Heir, Commandery Princess, Brother Mao’er, Brother Gou’er, why are you following me?"

Bai Li, still unsettled, said, "You’ve been going out at night and only coming back during the day these past few days. Everyone thought you must have encountered some trouble and were too stubborn to speak of it, so we pooled money to ask Brother Gou’er to lend a hand and check on you. Chen Ji, if there really is some trouble, don’t keep it to yourself. Let’s all help you solve it!"