Green Mountain
Chapter 174 - 129. Study Tour

Chapter 174: 129. Study Tour

In the night of Luocheng, the distant and aged voice of the night patrol echoed: "It’s cold and freezing, be careful of the slippery road."

At 3 AM, it was time to get out of bed.

In the Imperial Capital, the high-ranking officials of the court would have already gathered inside Eastern Hua Gate in front of Wenyuan Pavilion, huffing white breaths in the air, waiting outside for the orders of the Officials.

Chen Ji lifted the curtain and, peering through the carriage window at the dim dawn light and the thin mist, thought that he had to hurry back to Anxi Street or he would be late for school again.

He gently put down the curtain. Inside the swaying carriage, Jin Zhu was slowly recalling:

"That year, the assassination case of the Minister of Revenue caused a great sensation. His Majesty gave Dali Temple seven days to catch the real culprit. If they failed, officials of Dali Temple above the fifth-rank would be demoted by three levels, and those below the fifth-rank would be dismissed forever."

"Back then, the Imperial Capital seemed to be immersed in an icy river, people didn’t even dare to breathe heavily in the streets, fearing that cold air would be sucked into their bodies. Unfortunately, the case remained unsolved until news of Lu Jin’s promotion and nobility in Jing Dynasty reached us, and then everyone knew what had actually happened... It was a tough winter."

As he spoke, he looked towards Shopkeeper Yuan with a deep gaze: "Back then, so many chancellors and inspectors of Dali Temple, and the Imperial Censors patrolling the city, could not find any clues. Now, after many years, to investigate the truth is as hard as reaching the sky."

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "Lord Jin Zhu, if by chance I become the Hai Dongqing of the Spy Department, I will definitely find out the identity of Lu Jin’s sister. I believe she surely hasn’t returned to the Jing Dynasty; with Lu Jin’s status, she would have no need to hide."

Jin Zhu laughed heartily: "Then why do you think she hasn’t returned to the Jing Dynasty? Perhaps she is dead."

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "If she were dead, with Lu Jin’s means, he would naturally retrieve her body. If she’s alive, then only two things can keep a woman from leaving: love or a child."

Jin Zhu, intrigued, clapped his hands: "Makes sense! So, you mean to say that right now you also have no clues or leads?"

Shopkeeper Yuan nodded: "That’s right."

Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief and was about to speak: "My Lord, if there’s nothing else here..."

But before he could finish, Jin Zhu suddenly changed the subject, asking Shopkeeper Yuan: "Let’s not talk about Lu Jin’s sister for the moment. Regarding tonight, I feel Shopkeeper Yuan still has something held back, right?"

Shopkeeper Yuan’s countenance stiffened: "What do you mean, my lord? I have already told everything."

Jin Zhu grinned: "You may have betrayed your colleagues in Luocheng, but among the officials you reported, the highest rank is but a minor official in a county. There is still eighteen thousand silver taels unaccounted for in the books of Bailu Pavilion. May I ask where has the silver gone?"

Shopkeeper Yuan, impressed, said: "Lord Jin Zhu is formidable, to have so quickly sorted out the accounts of Bailu Pavilion."

Jin Zhu waved his hand away: "It’s not that I am formidable, but that the Ritual Supervision department has the most skilled accountants in the Ning Dynasty."

Shopkeeper Yuan pondered for a moment: "My lord, let’s change our route, head to Tongji Street."

Jin Zhu patted the carriage wall: "West Wind, to Tongji Street!"

Shopkeeper Yuan then said: "My lord, the internal accounts of the Military Intelligence Department were my last resort after joining the Spy Department. They contain evidence and records of bribes given to officials all over Henan Province by Bailu Pavilion, Red Sleeves, and Mingquan Garden, and even involve high officials of Luocheng. Now I hand them all to you, hoping you will keep me in high regard in the future."

Jin Zhu laughed: "Well said, well said... By the way, Chen Ji, what were you about to say just now?"

Chen Ji, who had been planning to take his leave, sat back down comfortably inside the carriage and shook his head: "It’s nothing."

High officials of Luocheng? Those who counted as high officials in Luocheng would not exceed the fingers of one hand: Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, Liu Mingxian.

This was not the time to leave.

...

...

The carriage quietly entered the merchant-filled Tongji Street. Even at this hour close to dawn, some merchants’ homes were still emanating faint sounds of laughter and bawdy songs.

Jin Zhu scoffed coldly: "We fight to the death just to protect a bunch of these things."

The carriage stopped in front of an elegantly furnished mansion.

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "This is the place, the ledgers are hidden inside."

Jin Zhu gave him a silent look and with a casual push of his hand, broke the door latch of the mansion.

However, he did not enter through the main entrance but moved to the side, lightly leapt up, and squatted on the eaves, surveying the interior.

No traps, no ambush, the inside of the mansion was empty.

Shopkeeper Yuan laughed: "Lord Jin Zhu, having determined to abandon darkness for light, I wouldn’t do anything futile."

Jin Zhu didn’t smile with his eyes as he spoke: "It’s better to be safe than sorry. It’s not that I distrust you; it’s just habit."

"Understood."

Jin Zhu, with Shopkeeper Yuan in tow, entered the courtyard. It wasn’t large but featured all the usual adornments like rockeries and a fishpond, the latter swimming with more than a dozen koi carp.

Shopkeeper Yuan, limping, brought out a crowbar and fiercely smashed it against a rockery.

With a clang, the rockery shattered, revealing a chest hidden inside. The chest was half a person tall, and West Wind opened it to find stacks of ledgers.

Shopkeeper Yuan said from aside: "Luocheng City Prefect Zhang Zhuo, four thousand silver taels; Luocheng City Judge Liu Mingxian, two thousand silver taels; Magistrate of Luocheng Chen Liqin, two thousand silver taels. Apart from these, there are also the Prefect of Kaifeng, Prefect of Zheng County..."

Jin Zhu glanced at Chen Ji unconsciously, then frowned at Shopkeeper Yuan: "The Luocheng Magistrate, Chen Liqin, is known for his integrity. How could he accept bribes from you? Are you falsely accusing him?"

Shopkeeper Yuan laughed loudly: "My lord jests; crows are universally black. Across both Ning Dynasty and Jing Dynasty, where is there an official who doesn’t accept bribes? However, Mr. Chen always stays behind the scenes, sending his servants to collect the bribes. This ledger details the time, place, and person of each bribe, marked clearly, with even the chest labeled."

Jin Zhu signaled West Wind with his eyes, and West Wind promptly lit a fire in the courtyard.

As Shopkeeper Yuan was puzzled about his actions,

Jin Zhu tore off the page about Chen Liqin and nonchalantly threw it into the fire, calmly stating: "Chen Liqin is an upright and honest man; he has never accepted any bribes from you. Do you understand?"

Shopkeeper Yuan was taken aback, and then quickly smiled: "Understood, understood."

But before the yellowed page could fall into the fire, a lean hand steadily caught it, folding it and tucking it away into a jacket.

Chen Ji looked towards Jin Zhu: "My Lord, I’ve kept this page."

Jin Zhu thought for a moment, then smilingly said: "Okay, you’re even more ruthless than I thought. Others are controlled by their fathers, but you, this son, wish to control his father in reverse."

Chen Ji then looked towards the ledger in Jin Zhu’s hand: "My Lord, about that page on Zhang Zhuo..."

Lord Jin Zhu laughed heartily, "When I heard about your affair with Second Miss Zhang at Yingxian Building, I really thought it was a false rumor. But later, when I sent someone to inquire, I found out that Lord Zhang Zhuo was merely employing a delaying tactic. With such a connection, of course I should do you a favor and cover things up for you."

With that, he actually tore off the page about Zhang Zhuo.

Chen Ji refrained from any explanation, and just as he reached out to take it, Lord Jin Zhu suddenly pulled back his hand with a serious reminder, "Now that we’re all brothers, naturally I can cover up some things for you, but I have just one request."

"Please speak, Lord."

"Cultivate diligently," Lord Jin Zhu said earnestly. "Only when you become an executive officer sooner can you do even more for me."

Chen Ji bowed, "Rest assured, Lord, once I return I will definitely cultivate with great effort."

Lord Jin Zhu coughed, "First, rest well, then cultivate diligently."

Chen Ji nodded, "Understood."

Lord Jin Zhu slapped the paper into Chen Ji’s hand, who calmly tossed the sheet into the fire basin.

The firelight reflected a warm color on his cheeks.

He remembered Zhang Zhuo saying in the city gate tunnel, "I have great aspirations, can you aid me?" This could be considered as having helped him, right?

At that moment, from outside the courtyard came the sound of the night patrol’s gong: "The morning cock crows, rise early and retire early!"

At mao hour, the sun rose.

A white tint was spreading on the distant horizon, and the clouds were dispersing.

Chen Ji asked, "Lord, do you have any tasks for me today?"

Lord Jin Zhu smiled warmly, "No more, no more. Go back and get a good night’s sleep. When you wake up, find a way to step onto the cultivation path. If nothing major comes up in the next few days, I won’t seek you out."

"I take my leave, Lord."

Chen Ji walked out, and as soon as he left the courtyard, he suddenly broke into a sprint.

...

...

A cow cart was parked in front of Zhi Xing Academy on Anxi Street; a carter wearing a straw hat was bowing his head, stuffing a handful of fodder into the old yellow cow’s mouth.

Long baggage rested on the cart bed, as if ready for a long journey.

Next to the cow cart, Bai Li stood on tiptoes, searching for a familiar figure at the end of the long street.

The Princely Heir leaned against the door frame, languidly saying, "You can see the end of Anxi Street in one glance, tiptoeing won’t let you see any further."

Bai Li said in irritation, "Liu Quxing said that Chen Ji went out yesterday afternoon and has not yet returned. Aren’t you worried something happened to him?"

The Princely Heir yawned, "This kid is always mysterious; I’m used to it. With his skill, ordinary spies can’t handle him. What could possibly happen to him? Don’t worry, he’ll surely arrive in a while."

Bai Li said, "The key is, he hasn’t even received Mr. Wang’s message about taking us to visit Lu Hun Manor. He hasn’t even packed yet."

While they spoke, Zhang Xia emerged from the academy and curiously asked, "Is Chen Ji late again?"

Bai Li gave her a cold look, "He must have been delayed by something."

Chen Wenxiao also walked out the door saying, "Yesterday it was one thing, today another. For a medical apprentice, where do these pressing matters come from every day? As his friends, you should counsel him properly. Since he has the chance to study with Mr. Wang, he ought to cherish it."

Dressed in a blue scholar’s robe, Mr. Wang walked slowly out and calmly asked, "Hasn’t Chen Ji arrived yet?"

Bai Li looked somewhat troubled, "Reporting to Master, Chen Ji must have been delayed by something; he certainly didn’t mean to be late."

Chen Wenxiao saluted with cupped hands, "Master, if this continues, let’s not wait for him. With the speed of the cow cart, if we delay too long, we may not be able to reach Yichuan County before sunset. Besides, this young man is obstinate; Master need not waste your time on him."

Chen Wenzong frowned, "Shut your mouth!"

Mr. Wang’s face showed no change in expression and he simply said, "As a teacher, it’s my duty to teach tirelessly. How can I give up on a student just because he acts wrongly from time to time? Let’s wait a while longer."

After speaking, he stood with hands clasped behind his back, quietly waiting.

A running sound came from afar. Everyone looked, only to see Chen Ji at the end of the long street, sprinting all the way.

When Chen Ji arrived at the academy’s gate, he bent over and braced his knees, panting heavily, "Master, I’m sorry for being late."

Mr. Wang did not interrogate him on the spot but instead told Bai Li, "Go, fetch him a cup of water."

Bai Li ran into the backyard like the wind, and when she came back she held out a wooden cup to Chen Ji, "Quickly drink some water."

Mr. Wang casually remarked, "Don’t drink it all at once after running so fast, just rinse your mouth. When I quelled the rebellions in Jiangzhou in my earlier years, I had soldiers who died from drinking water hastily during a forced march."

Chen Ji stood up straight and rinsed his mouth.

This time Mr. Wang didn’t ask anything else and just ordered, "Everyone else board the cart; you walk behind."

Then, he boarded the cow cart without looking back.

Chen Ji looked at Bai Li, perplexed, "Where are we going?"

Bai Li explained, "A literary meeting is being held in Song County at Lu Hun Manor. There, high monks from Tuoluo Temple, Taoists from the Dao Court of Laojun Mountain, as well as scholars from the south will participate. Mr. Wang wants to take us to broaden our horizons."

She took out a small cloth bag from the luggage and handed it to Chen Ji, "You haven’t had breakfast, have you? Here are some pastries I brought; eat something quickly. We have to walk more than forty li to Yichuan County today, and it won’t be good to go on an empty stomach."

Chen Ji considered, then said, "I need to tell Mr. Wang, I might not be able to follow him in his studies anymore."

Bai Li paused, "...that might be for the best. If you truly don’t enjoy studying the classics, it’s okay not to learn."

As Chen Ji approached the cow cart, the carter hurriedly stepped forward, pulling him aside, "Young man, just hold on a little longer. The silver from the Ministry of Revenue is about to be approved! Once the border army has cotton gloves, it won’t be too late for you to drop out of studies!"

Chen Ji and Bai Li only then clearly saw the face under the carter’s straw hat, shocked, they exclaimed, "Father?"

"Prince?!"