Green Mountain
Chapter 203 - 158, Fall off a horse

Chapter 203: 158, Fall off a horse

The bustling streets were crowded with people coming and going. The common folk carried pole loads, and ox carts trudged through the snow out of Luocheng City, rushing to return to their rural farms before sunset.

The smell of ox dung mixed with the shouts enlivened the winter day in Luocheng.

Chen Ji stood amid the ceaseless crowd, silently withdrawing his hand into his sleeve, hiding the parchment brought by the West Wind.

A chill crept up his back. The Spy Department was the Inner Court’s personal guard, generally moving unhindered with the King’s Command Flag in plain sight. Why would they need to disguise their identities and secretly pass messages?

Now, the West Wind had lowered his hat and hurried away, signaling that the Spy Department had moved into the shadows...

They had to be cautious; the Liu Family might act recklessly and ruthlessly.

In Mr. Feng’s eyes, only Chen Ji remained visible, making him the Liu Family’s natural target.

Chen Ji had thought that after eradicating the military town of Dragon King Village, the Spy Department would have concrete evidence of the Liu Family’s rebellion. All they needed to do was deliver this evidence to the Imperial Capital, and the Liu Family could be eradicated.

Once the Longevity Army arrived, the Liu Family would vanish like smoke and ashes.

However, the Liu Family had no intention of sitting idly by, and the Spy Department’s secret reports couldn’t even leave Henan Province.

No wonder Mr. Feng was so brazen... The Liu Family was ready to break ties!

Chen Ji looked back, his gaze piercing through the crowd to the quiet carriage outside the city gates.

Why was Official Liu so eager to find Prince Jing? What conspiracy was he plotting?

Bai Li, noticing his distraction, curiously asked, "Chen Ji, what’s wrong? You look pale."

Regaining his composure, Chen Ji smiled at Bai Li, "Commandery Princess, it’s nothing."

Bai Li took hold of his sleeve and led him forward, "Just ahead is the southern branch of Li Ji’s Clothing Store. I’ll take you to get measured for clothes. It’s a good place to wait for my father, and then we can all go back to Anxi Street together."

Zhang Xia looked at Bai Li’s hand and subconsciously gauged the Princely Heir’s reaction.

Feigning ignorance, the Princely Heir looked away.

Zhang Xia asked curiously, "Princely Heir, are you planning to turn a blind eye?"

The Princely Heir responded helplessly, "Including this time, Chen Ji has saved us siblings twice, each time fraught with danger, each time a narrow escape from death. I, as an older brother, have overlooked this. Second Miss Zhang, why pry further as an outsider?"

Zhang Xia laughed, "Indeed."

Inside Li Ji’s Clothing Store, the shopkeeper himself took a leather tape to measure Chen Ji.

Chen Ji stood before the counter with his arms outstretched, yet his eyes wandered to the door. Bai Li sat nearby, her fair hands propping her chin, watching with interest.

Two maids brought tea and preserved fruits, placing them diligently beside Bai Li on the table, and immediately knelt to massage her legs.

Bai Li jumped in shock, "No, no, no, what’s all this for?"

The shopkeeper laughed, "Commandery Princess, perhaps you’re unaware. Tailoring can be a time-consuming process. Even a slight deviation in measurement can make the clothes uncomfortable to wear. Here at Li Ji, we employ maids specifically to entertain our esteemed clients while they wait."

Bai Li quickly waved her hands, "No need, no need, I’m ticklish."

The shopkeeper instructed the maids with a smile, "Since the Commandery Princess says no need, you both may leave."

The maids bowed and replied softly, "Yes."

The shopkeeper added, "There’s also a place for playing pai gow in the back courtyard. If the Commandery Princess finds the wait tedious, you can call a maid to join you for a few rounds."

Bai Li laughed helplessly, "Really, there’s no need. I can wait."

"Alright then," the shopkeeper carefully measured Chen Ji’s clothing—sleeve lengths, collar, waistline—meticulously ensuring every detail was perfect, which was no wonder why Li Ji’s Shop was renowned in Luocheng.

After about the time it took for two cups of tea, the shopkeeper finished measuring Chen Ji and chirped cheerily, "Commandery Princess, what items do you plan to have tailor-made for this gentleman?"

Counting on her fingers, Bai Li listed, "Two mandarin collar robes, two pairs of winter trousers, two pairs of soap boots, one official hat. Can you make a large cloak here? Make him a black winter cloak lined with fox fur for warmth, but keep the fur as a lining since he dislikes ostentation..."

Chen Ji was taken aback, withdrawing his gaze from the door, "Commandery Princess, isn’t this too much?"

Bai Li’s eyes curved into crescent moons, her voice warm, "You’re always so busy, we must make several pieces when you do come to get clothes made. This is to thank you for saving my life. Isn’t my life worth these silver coins?"

Chen Ji also smiled, "It is."

Bai Li waved her hand, "That’s settled, then. Step outside for a moment. I need to speak with the shopkeeper, then I’ll join you."

Chen Ji turned and left the store to talk with the Princely Heir and Zhang Xia.

Bai Li peeped to see if they weren’t looking this way, then stood up and approached the counter. Pulling six golden melon seeds from her sleeve, she said, "Shopkeeper, when you make the clothes, sew these golden melon seeds into the hem."

The shopkeeper was taken aback.

It was common for noble families to sew thin silver cakes as large as fingernails into hems for added weight, which helped the garments hang more elegantly.

Some also sewed auspicious copper coins with phrases like ’attract wealth and promotions’ for good luck.

But sewing in golden melon seeds was a first.

Seeing the shopkeeper’s confusion, Bai Li explained with a smile, "They’re for his emergency use. Just sew the seeds in."

The shopkeeper, not asking further, grinned and agreed, "Alright!"

...

...

At that moment, Prince Jing lifted the carriage curtain and dismounted, then quickly mounted a horse and hurried toward the city center.

Chen Ji looked from afar and saw his figure, then turned to Bai Li and said, "Commandery Princess, we should leave."

Bai Li answered from inside the house, "Coming."

But just as she spoke, Prince Jing on horseback began to sway. Before reaching the door of Li Ji’s Clothing Store, he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and slumped sideways off his horse.

The Princely Heir cried out in alarm, "Father!?"

Chen Ji, with quick reflexes, dashed forward and caught Prince Jing before he hit the ground.

He looked up to see Mr. Feng sitting high on the coachman’s seat outside the city gate, nonchalantly whipping the horses southward.

No one had expected that the Liu Family would make such a treacherous attack on a reigning Vassal Prince in the bustling city.

The Princely Heir’s eyes were filled with rage, and although he harshly glared at the retreating carriage of the Liu Family, he did not pursue them. Instead, he turned to Chen Ji and whispered urgently, "Let’s go back to Anxi Street to seek help from your master first!"

Chen Ji swiftly hoisted Prince Jing on his back and sprinted towards Anxi Street. Amidst the unceasing crowd, Zhang Xia and others gave chase on horseback but failed to catch up.

Chen Ji’s expression was heavy.

If it really was the Liu Family behind this vile act, it indicated that they were now unrestrained and utterly reckless.

However, he pondered back and forth, unable to fathom why the Liu Family would have any reason to kill Prince Jing.

As the sun set beyond the city, the world turned dim.

Taiping Medical Hall had already shut its doors for the day, but Chen Ji burst in, calling loudly, "Master, Master!"

The long-absent Old Yao was standing behind the counter, lighting a kerosene lamp and fiddling with an abacus, glanced at Chen Ji and Prince Jing, then at his own precarious door, and said blandly, "Has the sky fallen?"

The Princely Heir barged in from outside, urging frantically, "Doctor Yao, please save my father, he has been poisoned by the Liu Family!"

Old Yao nonchalantly asked, "Did you see it with your own eyes?"

The Princely Heir helplessly replied, "What time is it for you to still be so unhurried?"

Old Yao made his way around the counter, his left hand stroking his white beard and his right hand’s three fingers gently resting on Prince Jing’s wrist. Chen Ji held his breath, fearing any delay in taking the pulse.

After a moment, Old Yao casually said, "His Highness was not harmed by others, but rather, the previous cold had not healed before he left the city; it is merely a recurrence of the old illness."

Chen Ji suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, at least the Liu Family had not yet reached such a state of utter ruthlessness.

Old Yao, hands clasped behind his back, walked towards the backyard and calmly arranged, "Chen Ji, carry the Prince into the main house; She Dengke, light the stove in the house to keep his Highness warm; Liu Quxing, bring me my silver needles. Princely Heir, Commandery Princess, close the door well, do not let outsiders in... even people from Prince Mansion aren’t allowed."

Inside the main house, Old Yao left only Chen Ji to help. He gently laid Prince Jing on Old Yao’s bed couch and removed his armor.

Old Yao sat by the stove, methodically heated each of the silver needles, and then applied them to Prince Jing, who quickly became covered with needles on his chest.

Chen Ji softly asked, "Master, is it truly just a cold?"

Old Yao glanced at him, continued applying the needles, and countered, "You’ve also studied the pathology of colds; what do you think?"

Chen Ji didn’t answer.

After all the silver needles were applied, Prince Jing suddenly coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood.

Chen Ji, startled, queried, "Master?"

Prince Jing slowly opened his eyes, smiling at Old Yao, and said weakly, "You’ve saved me again."

Old Yao stood up to wash his hands at a basin stand, drying them with a white towel while scoffingly saying, "Your Highness, you should stop sneaking out without telling anyone. I’m a physician, not a sorcerer; I don’t have the power to erase entries from the Book of Life and Death."

Prince Jing smiled, accustomed to Old Yao’s acerbity. He turned his head towards Chen Ji, "Young man, please call Yunxi in; I have some things I need to tell him. Also, help guard the door, make absolutely sure no one enters."

Chen Ji nodded, lifted the door curtain, and stepped out.

In the courtyard, Bai Li, holding the Whale Blade, stood beneath the apricot tree, pursing her lips. The Princely Heir paced back and forth anxiously, while She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Liang Mao’er, and others squat nearby, at a loss.

Seeing Chen Ji come out, the Princely Heir immediately rushed up to him, "Chen Ji, how is my father?"

Chen Ji spoke quietly, "Princely Heir, His Highness is calling for you."

The Princely Heir entered the main house, and as the door curtain swayed, a knocking sounded from outside the medical hall.

Princess Consort Jing demanded from outside, "Open the door!"

Chen Ji calmly directed, "Brother Mao’er, secure the door, do not let anyone into the medical hall yet."

Liang Mao’er responded and walked towards the entrance, but before he reached it, Princess Consort Jing, leading a dozen or so strong servants, forcefully pushed their way in.

Chen Ji took the Whale Blade from Bai Li’s hands and stood outside the main house with the blade propped up: "Princess Consort Jing, the Prince ordered that while he is speaking with the Princely Heir, no one may enter."

Princess Consort Jing stared straight at him, "Did the Prince tell you this himself, or are you misrepresenting his will? Step aside!"

Chen Ji slightly twisted the handle of the blade, the sharp edge facing Princess Consort Jing and her group, "It can’t be done."

Princess Consort Jing stepped forward, unbothered by Chen Ji and the Whale Blade, "Young man, don’t mislead yourself; you’re merely a medical apprentice. Threatening royalty with a blade is a capital offense either way. Step aside now, and I will overlook your transgression."

Chen Ji remained unmoved.

Just then, someone parted the curtains behind him.

Chen Ji turned to see the Princely Heir, his eyes red, walking out, wiping tears from the back of his hand as he looked towards Princess Consort Jing: "Aunt, my father is calling for you."

In the quiet courtyard, Chen Ji, holding the Whale Blade, stepped aside, as Princess Consort Jing proudly walked past him, heads held high.

Chen Ji watched as the Princely Heir, tears streaming, pulled Bai Li away from the medical hall. He then turned back towards the silent main house... What exactly had Prince Jing told the Princely Heir?