Green Mountain
Chapter 161 - 119, third son of the Chen family

Chapter 161: 119, third son of the Chen family

Zhang Zhuo?

Chen Liqin?

The Liu Family wants to make a move on these two? But these two are imperial officials appointed by the court!

In the dimly lit cell, the flame on the wall-mounted oil lamp suddenly wavered.

Manager Yuan lay flat on the table, letting the Spy dress his wounds, while the Spy’s movements also came to a halt.

The Golden Pig, who had originally been leaning close to Manager Yuan’s ear, subconsciously stood up and stared at Chen Ji with widened eyes, "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? Should I send some Spies to protect the two of them? After all, Mr. Chen, he is your..."

Chen Ji’s right hand suddenly pressed on Manager Yuan’s wound, and in an instant, Manager Yuan’s screams echoed through the inner prison, drowning out all other sounds.

After a moment, Chen Ji slowly asked, "What exactly did the Liu Family say?"

Manager Yuan gasped, "Liu Mingxian firmly stated that after tomorrow, within Henan Province, there will only be the Liu Family, with no one else meddling."

Chen Ji pressed further, "Did he mention a specific plan?"

Manager Yuan, pale-faced, retorted, "Why should I tell you?"

"I think you’re spouting nonsense," Chen Ji, expressionless, pressed on Manager Yuan’s thigh wound, causing the previously clotted blood to burst open again, and Manager Yuan screamed in agony.

Just as Chen Ji was about to continue tearing at the wound to find the major artery, Golden Pig pulled Chen Ji’s arm and left the cell, lowering his voice, "I know you’re desperate to save your father, but you haven’t learned how to torture properly, and your heavy hand could kill such an important prisoner."

Chen Ji remained silent.

He didn’t truly care about Chen Liqin’s well-being; he just wanted to seize the opportunity to make a ’mistake’ and kill Manager Yuan to prevent implicating Consort Yun and himself. But now with Golden Pig’s timely intervention, the chance was lost.

Chen Ji could only sigh, "My lord, I was too anxious."

Golden Pig chuckled, "Earlier when I heard you were severing ties with your family, I wondered how someone could really cut off ties of blood and kinship. You must’ve been speaking in anger at that time, angry at your father for sending you to be an apprentice at the Taiping Medical Hall."

Chen Ji just grunted in acknowledgment.

Golden Pig patted Chen Ji’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, I guarantee Mr. Chen won’t come to harm. I’ve thought it over carefully, and while the Liu Family has the ability to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Henan Province, they definitely won’t turn against the court now. What the Liu Family plans to do is simply to drive the two away without harming their lives."

"How will the Liu Family do it?"

"Framing."

Chen Ji looked at Golden Pig, "You mean the Liu Family wants to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, forcing them to transfer to other official positions... My lord, are you aware of the two lords’ schedule for tonight?"

Golden Pig promptly answered, "Today, the two of them are hosting a banquet for all the new scholars, organizing a Deer Ming Feast."

The two banquets of the imperial examinations: the first is the Deer Ming Feast after the Autumn Imperial Examination, hosting the new scholars; the second is the Qiong Lin Feast after the palace examination, hosting the new Jinshi – this has been a tradition of the Ning Dynasty for hundreds of years.

Chen Ji inquired, "Where will the Deer Ming Feast take place?"

"At Yingxian Building," Golden Pig called for West Wind and strode purposefully out, "Let’s head to Yingxian Building right now. Tonight, we have to protect Mr. Chen and catch the Liu Family in the act! If they dare frame court-appointed officials, not only my Spy Department won’t tolerate the Liu Family, but the court, the Xu Family, the Chen family, none of them will tolerate them!"

Chen Ji glanced at Golden Pig’s retreating figure and then silently looked back at Manager Yuan.

Golden Pig paused and looked back, his gaze traveling down the long, shadowy corridor, "What are you waiting for? Let’s go."

"Coming."

...

...

Yingxian Building was originally named Fugui Square.

However, on the day of its grand opening, a crane flew in from the west and landed on the orange glazed tiles of the roof.

Therefore, the proprietor had a stone crane carved and placed at the entrance, and renamed it Yingxian Building.

At this moment.

Carriages and horses were crowded in front of Yingxian Building, and the continuous flow of people bowing and greeting each other was unending.

Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo, draped in red official robes, stood out from the crowd of blue-robed officials.

Taking advantage of the moment the scholars were entering the building and taking their seats, Zhang Zhuo whispered to Chen Liqin, "Chen Ji has agreed to go study at the Zhi Xing Academy at Prince Jing’s request, but all your little maneuvers have been seen through by Princess Bai Li. In my opinion, the simplest method is to just execute that steward of yours to vent your anger. Why bother with these roundabout schemes? That steward is not any good either!"

Chen Liqin cast a glance at Zhang Zhuo, "The steward in my house has been diligent for more than a decade; if not for his merits, he at least has put in hard work. Lord Zhang, all you speak of is violence and killing; it’s beneath scholarly dignity."

Zhang Zhuo was clearly annoyed, "Do you really think that if the three brothers study in the same academy, they can rekindle their brotherly bond, and can appreciate your efforts? You might as well go to the City God Temple or Laojun Mountain to burn incense and pray for the Daoist Master to manifest a miracle!"

Chen Liqin’s face darkened, "If he can learn some true knowledge and skills, then as his father, I will have done something for him. Whether he appreciates me or not is his own concern."

Zhang Zhuo laughed scornfully.

He flicked his sleeves and turned to walk inside the building, "Just don’t forget our agreement!"

Outside the back door of Yingxian Building, Golden Pig wearing a bamboo hat, tapped gently on the door.

West Wind opened the wooden door from inside, ushering Golden Pig and Chen Ji in, "My lord, I’ve laid a trap around the perimeter. If the Liu Family comes to cause trouble, they’ll surely not leave unscathed."

Golden Pig scoffed and walked towards Yingxian Building, "You sure can brag, if you’re that capable, why do you need me here!"

West Wind muttered quietly, "Just yesterday, you were calling me Division Head..."

Golden Pig abruptly turned around, "What the hell are you muttering? Definitely nothing good!"

West Wind quickly laughed, "Nothing, my lord, you are wise and valiant!"

Golden Pig snorted coldly and led Chen Ji into Yingxian Building, hiding silently behind a pillar to observe.

In the main hall, over thirty scholars sat beside round tables, raising their cups and drinking merrily, the atmosphere lively. At the head table, the top five ranks of the Autumn Imperial Examination sat beside Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, their seats even slightly higher than those of the other officials.

During the banquet, an official stood up with his cup and laughed as he said to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, "I have not yet congratulated the two lords."

Zhang Zhuo was momentarily stunned, "Lord Xing, what congratulations are you speaking of? My son did not participate in the examination."

The official in the blue robe laughed and said, "A few days ago, Second Miss Zhang personally said at the polo match that you were going to arrange her marriage to a son from the Chen Mansion, surely that cannot be false. Now that you two serve in the same office, and with your two families forming a marital tie, it can be said to be joy upon joy."

At these words, Yingxian Building fell silent, the scholars silently turned their eyes to the main table, their gazes filled with envy as they swept over Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao.

Lord Xing looked curiously between Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao and asked, "Lords, do you know to which son Second Miss Zhang is betrothed?"

Without waiting for Chen Liqin to speak, Chen Wenxiao chuckled and said from the side, "Neither of us brothers, the person Lord Zhang favors is our third brother."

Jin Zhu slowly turned his gaze behind a pillar towards Chen Ji — wasn’t this the third son of the Chen family?

Chen Ji did not heed his gaze, simply bowing his head and listening.

Someone at the banquet whispered, "The third son of the Chen family? Is it that gambler who was sent to the Medical Hall?"

"Shh, don’t let Mr. Chen hear you!"

"Strange, why did Lord Zhang not betroth his daughter to Chen Wenzong, or even Chen Wenxiao would do."

Jin Zhu silently observed Chen Ji.

He saw Chen Ji just standing quietly behind the pillar, as if the discussions at the banquet had nothing to do with him.

The next moment, Chen Liqin spoke up. "This matter is a misunderstanding. Previously, Lord Zhang had mentioned it twice in jest, and neither of us took it seriously. My reckless son is not worthy of Second Miss Zhang."

Lord Xing’s hand, which was holding a cup of wine, froze, and he said awkwardly, "Then why did Second Miss Zhang..."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and explained, "It was just her overhearing a conversation between Mr. Chen and me and mistakenly assuming that Mr. Chen and I had settled the matter. A young girl, you know, takes the wind for rain and ran out talking nonsense, causing a misunderstanding. I hope everyone will not spread it further."

Lord Xing awkwardly sat back down, "I see, I see."

However, Zhang Zhuo subtly changed the subject, his interest piqued as he said, "However, I think you all misunderstand that young man Chen Ji. It’s said that hearing is false and seeing is true; I’ve met him a few times and personally think he’s not as despicable as you say. Not just me, even Prince Jing holds him in high regard now. Perhaps there was some kind of misunderstanding before."

Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise.

From behind the pillar, Jin Zhu lowered his voice, chuckling, "Your father and brother have not spoken for you, yet it seems Lord Zhang and I share a similar view of heroes! Ignore them, concentrate on cultivating and achieving merits, and once you reach the rank of the Twelve Signs, it will be easy for you to wipe out their families and destroy their homes!"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu with complex emotions, unsure how to react...

...

The moon climbed high into the sky.

The candles and lamps in Yingxian Building were replaced over and over, the newly minted scholars vied with each other in reciting poetry and showing off their elegance in front of Zhang Zhuo.

Yet, everything was peaceful and tranquil; the storm Chen Ji and Jin Zhu were waiting for did not come.

As the banquet was about to end, if the Liu Family didn’t make a move soon, they might miss their opportunity.

Jin Zhu, standing behind the pillar, was feeling numb in his legs and muttered to himself, "Damn it, did the news leak again?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "No, West Wind was specifically watching the spies and didn’t let anyone leave to send messages."

Jin Zhu leaned against the pillar and massaged his Taiyang acupoint, "Could it be that the spies from the Jing Dynasty are deceiving us?"

Chen Ji closed his eyes in thought.

No.

Manager Yuan did not deceive anyone; right now, the other side needed to gain the trust of the Spy Department to save their lives. Why would they deceive them over a small matter?

But what exactly did the Liu Family want to do?

What could the Liu Family do that would force Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin to leave Henan Province in disgrace?

Jin Zhu said, "They’re about to end the banquet, we should leave too."

"Not yet."

"Huh?"

From behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jin Zhu, "The Liu Family’s target is not here!"

Jin Zhu was surprised, "Huh?"

Chen Ji asked, "Do you have the King’s Command Flag with you?"

Jin Zhu shook his head, "How could one carry such a thing at all times? If it’s lost, heads would roll. Wait, why are you asking this..."

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

He pulled out a piece of gray cloth from his sleeve, covered his face with it, lowered the brim of his hat, and quickly approached Zhang Zhuo, "Lord Zhang, the Spy Department requires your assistance. Please accompany us."

Zhang Zhuo slightly narrowed his eyes, "The Spy Department? I am a current fifth-rank Magistrate; you say I should assist, and I just assist?"

Chen Ji paused for a moment, then earnestly said to Zhang Zhuo, "Lord Zhang can rest assured, we are not here to take you to the inner prison, but we need assistance. If we miss the opportunity, I’m afraid tens of thousands of refugees outside the city might die, and you could lose your promising future."

Zhang Zhuo listened to Chen Ji’s voice, his expression suddenly suspicious.

He stared into Chen Ji’s eyes; Chen Ji did not back down.

In the end, Zhang Zhuo stood up composedly, smoothing out the folds on his red official robe, and said indifferently, "I shall accompany you then."