Green Mountain
Chapter 217 - 172, Official Mortgage

Chapter 217: 172, Official Mortgage

Jin Zhu once said that when he left Wunian Mountain, he never looked back, and from then on, he no longer trusted anyone. This vast Ritual Supervision was like a breeding ground for poisonous insects, and what it raised was bound to be the deadliest of vermin.

Chen Ji never expected that Jin Zhu, a man of such astuteness, could be so careless just once and be pushed by colleagues into an abyss from which there was no return.

At this moment, the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry had chained Jin Zhu by the ankles and were dragging him unconscious behind a horse.

Chen Ji’s expression was hidden behind his mask. "Mr. Feng, there are more than ten miles from here to the Liu Mansion. If we drag him alive to his death like this, I fear it might cause a delay in tomorrow’s drumming and flag ceremony."

Mr. Feng chuckled. "How could someone at the Innate Realm be so easily dragged to death? Don’t show misplaced compassion. If I show any sympathy for Jin Zhu, Official Liu’s discerning eyes will not miss it. All other Liu Family Army troops are stationed to the north of the city, merely waiting for tomorrow’s flag ceremony before setting out. Only this Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry remains with Official Liu, its military authority critical and not to be lost."

Chen Ji silently watched as Jin Zhu was dragged out of the city, all the way to the front gate of the Liu Mansion, over more than ten miles. Along the way, he gripped the handle of his knife, with his thumb gently pushing the blade slightly out of its sheath.

Mr. Feng glanced at him, speaking carelessly, "Don’t do anything rash. It’s good for a young man to be spirited; many things in this world are accomplished with such vigor. But if you mess up my plans, I will be the first to kill you."

Chen Ji took a deep breath and silently re-sheathed his knife.

By the time they reached the Liu Mansion, Jin Zhu’s clothes had been rubbed away on his back, leaving a long trail of blood on the official road.

The gray high walls of the Liu Mansion were like a fortress. After the armored soldiers atop the guard tower confirmed the identities of the arrivals, they raised a red flag as a signal to open the grand gates.

The creaking red lacquered gates opened, and a gaunt middle-aged man came out to greet them. He squatted next to Jin Zhu to check his face and wounds, then smiled and cupped his hands towards Mr. Feng, "Congratulations to Mr. Feng on another great achievement. Having the heads of the Twelve Signs to present at tomorrow’s ceremony is an auspicious sign."

Mr. Feng responded offhandedly, "Grandmaster Liu, this is an accomplishment made with General Qian, who also got wounded because of it. It shouldn’t be credited to me alone."

"Oh?" Grandmaster Liu was surprised. "General Qian is wounded?"

"Yes, on the carriage back there."

Grandmaster Liu, holding up the hem of his robe with one hand and a lantern with the other, went to the carriage and lifted the curtain.

He climbed into the carriage, first feeling General Qian’s wound below the ribs, then rubbed his fingertips and smelled them before instructing the armored soldiers, "Hurry and carry General Qian inside for treatment!"

After that, Grandmaster Liu turned to Mr. Feng, "Mr. Feng, please come with me to the ancestral hall to meet the old master, he’s waiting for you. By the way, bring Jin Zhu as well, let him have a look."

Mr. Feng smiled and replied, "I’ll follow Grandmaster Liu’s arrangement."

The Liu Mansion was pitch black, with no lanterns hanging under the eaves.

Chen Ji and four other armored soldiers carried Jin Zhu on a stretcher, following behind Mr. Feng. They went through the long alleys, seeing white banners hanging under the eaves of both sides, stretching like curtains deep into the estate.

Liu Mingxian had yet to be buried; his coffin rested within the mansion.

Normally, a family would lay out the coffin for three days. Some prominent households would take seven, and others might wait for officials from afar to return home for the mourning, lasting a few weeks or even months.

But the Liu Family was waiting not for someone returning home, but for an enemy’s head and blood.

When passing by Liu Mingxian’s spirit hall, Chen Ji turned his head and saw the lonely coffin of Liu Mingxian in the hall.

Beside the coffin, one by one, women clad in white mourning garments were hanged by white silk from the hall’s beams.

The wind outside swept through, making the hanging corpses sway left and right, like a string of silent wind chimes. Chen Ji’s pupils contracted, his hair standing on end; even the battle-hardened armored soldiers beside him uttered a startled cry.

The leading Grandmaster Liu didn’t turn back, nonchalantly saying, "These women were my second elder brother’s concubines. They could not cry in front of the spirit hall, so we sent them to accompany my brother on his journey to the netherworld. I imagine this is your first time inside this mansion; don’t be alarmed."

The aforementioned armored soldier quickly turned his head back and said in a panic, "I will take twenty military floggings afterward."

Grandmaster Liu chuckled, "A vassal of General Qian is indeed sensible."

Gradually, a faint light shone through at the end of the cobblestone alley. The opulent red doors of the ancestral hall were wide open, where on the main altar, the ancestral tablets of the Liu Family stood tall like a forest, with Liu Xuning, the family’s founder who once ranked among the three most senior officials, at the top, never to be moved.

Under the main altar, on a hardwood table, various offerings were arranged, with more than twenty incense sticks and countless everlasting lamps, lighting the ancestral hall bright as day.

Official Liu knelt on a cushion in front of the table, bowing his head as if in prayer, resembling a devout believer before an ancient Buddha under a green lamp.

When they were three zhang from the entrance, Grandmaster Liu turned to Mr. Feng and instructed, "Please wait here, Mr. Feng. I’ll report to the old master."

With that, he stepped lightly into the ancestral hall, bending over to whisper into Official Liu’s ear, "Old master, Mr. Feng has returned. He has brought Jin Zhu, barely alive, and General Qian, who is gravely injured."

Official Liu’s eyelids remained closed, "Is it really Jin Zhu?"

Grandmaster Liu whispered, "Confirmed, without wearing a human skin mask. Dragged here on iron chains from the city by Mr. Feng. The left side of his ribs is shattered, likely kicked by someone."

Official Liu slowly opened his eyes, "At last, he has been brought back. My son can rest in peace tomorrow."

Grandmaster Liu uttered a sound of acknowledgment, "Don’t worry, old master. It’s just that General Qian’s injury is somewhat untimely. Tomorrow, during the assembly for the flag ceremony, with all of the Liu clan gathered, someone needs to command the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry for complete protection."

Official Liu pondered for a moment and then suddenly asked, "Has Mr. Feng treated General Qian?"

Grandmaster Liu replied, "He has."

Official Liu continued, "Was there any issue with the medicine used?"

Grandmaster Liu flattered with a smile, "I’ve sniffed it, Mr. Feng uses the medicines from Laojun Mountain Dao Court, no problem. Rest assured, my lord, if there had been any tampering, I would have smelled it. Over the years, so many have tried to poison you, and none could escape my nose."

Official Liu slowly closed his eyes, clearly lost in thought.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh, "Call Mr. Feng in."

Grandmaster Liu went out to usher Mr. Feng inside, then stepped out beyond the threshold himself.

Mr. Feng stood behind Official Liu, bent over and clasped his hands, "My lord, I have brought the Jin Zhu back for you."

Official Liu pushed himself up from his knees, slowly rising to his feet, and looked up at the ancestral tablet in the shrine without continuing Mr. Feng’s topic, "Mr. Feng, the ancestors entrusted the Liu Family to my care, yet I never imagined the Liu Family might fall while in my hands."

Mr. Feng replied with a smile, "How could that be? The Jing Dynasty Divine Martial Army has already crossed the frozen Chunlei River, moving toward Chongli Pass, and four out of the Imperial Capital’s Five Camps have set out. We press forward vigorously; the one in Renshou Palace is wholly unguarded. Once we clear the court in the Imperial Capital, should we succeed, Prince Jing’s position will be unstable without proper foundation, and he will have to rely on you and Mr. Qi."

Official Liu sighed again, "The reason families like ours become such, is never about ’victory’; it’s about ’not being defeated.’ But the current state of the Liu Family has been a step by step misstep, leading to an unavoidable revolt. As I reflect on these past years, I can’t decide whom to blame... Should I blame it on my foolish and ignorant sister? Or my brash and reckless son?"

"I’ve been thinking all night," Official Liu gazed at the ancestral tablet, his eyes showing a trace of confusion, "Prince Jing showed rebellious intentions in early years, but now he seems concerned for the common people of the realm. Could it be that with age, he has become indecisive? Or perhaps, this was all a trap meticulously prepared for the Liu Family."

The wrinkles beside Official Liu’s eyes tightened, "If this is truly a grand deception, the Liu Family is in peril."

Mr. Feng thought for a moment, "Maybe he fears the Shi Family’s denunciation and wants to push the entire blame for the rebellion onto the Liu Family. Then, the Shi Family’s records would state that the Liu Family supported his claim to the throne, not his own initiative."

Official Liu sighed again, "That is the only speculation we can make. Mr. Feng, you have served our family loyally for many years, and the Liu Family has treated you well. You have done much for us. Now, with General Qian seriously injured, and the other generals leading their troops, I entrust these six thousand Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry to you; do not let them down."

Outside the ancestral shrine, Chen Ji watched Mr. Feng’s hands lifting his robes as he earnestly knelt and bowed, "With the trust of the family head, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Please bestow upon me the Liu surname, and henceforth, I, Feng Wenzheng, as well as my descendants, will take the Liu name, ever ready to brave fire and water for the Liu Family."

When he lifted his head again, Mr. Feng’s face was streaked with tears.

Official Liu immediately helped Mr. Feng up, lamenting, "Mr. Feng possesses great talent; how can he be a mere household servant of the Liu Family? Once we secure control of the lands, with Mr. Feng’s talents, he can surely become a General or a Minister."

Having said that, he pulled out a Tiger Talisman from his sleeve and handed it to Mr. Feng, "Go to the Tiger Armor Camp for the handover. Lead the Tiger Armor Iron Cavalry back here to set up defenses. It’s already 3 AM, and within two hours, we’ll beat the drums to summon the soldiers; do not miss it."

Mr. Feng grasped the Tiger Talisman tightly in his hands, bowed again, "Thank you for your trust, my lord."

...

...

Mr. Feng left hastily with his wish fulfilled.

Chen Ji, holding the Jin Zhu, stood outside the ancestral shrine watching his back, yet unaware of Ritual Supervision’s next move. And the Jin Zhu had become a true abandon pawn.

This long night seemed endless.

Official Liu approached the stretcher and quietly observed the Jin Zhu, "Wake him up."

Grandmaster Liu took out a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and waved it below the Jin Zhu’s nose.

Jin Zhu suddenly opened his eyes and immediately tried to struggle and fight. However, with a light tap from Grandmaster Liu on his forehead, he was immobilized.

Chen Ji felt a jolt of shock. This unassuming Grandmaster, a deeply concealed Grand Official, was no wonder the only one Official Liu kept by his side, without a single guard seen nearby the ancestral shrine.

Official Liu looked at Jin Zhu with pity, "In this chaotic world, we are all helpless pawns, do not blame me, but if you must, blame the Eunuch Party for never considering leaving a way out for the Liu Family. Grandmaster, take him to my son for a last look, execute Jin Zhu by lingchi before his coffin, then sever the head to assure my son’s peaceful journey."

As he spoke, it seemed as if deciding to kill Liu Mingxian wasn’t his wish; the only mistake belonged to the Eunuch Party.

Grandmaster Liu hesitated, "My lord, shouldn’t we wait to behead him during the flag ceremony?"

Official Liu, weary, dismissed with a gesture of his hand, "Go now, my son has waited too long, setting up the severed head tomorrow will be enough."

Grandmaster Liu gestured to Chen Ji and the others, "Carry him with me."

Several men carried Jin Zhu to Liu Mingxian’s memorial hall. All the armored soldiers lowered their heads, unwilling to look up at the female corpses above, holding their breath to avoid the stench of the hall.

Yet, Grandmaster Liu acted as if nothing was amiss, drawing a silver short knife from his sleeve, humming a tune as he severed Jin Zhu’s tendons in his hands and feet, then slicing away his flesh.

Chen Ji watched Jin Zhu’s eyes bulge in struggle but ultimately said nothing, did nothing. Behind his mask, he just stared silently at Grandmaster Liu, gripping his knife handle, firmly remembering his voice and appearance.

After some time, Grandmaster Liu suddenly asked, "How many cuts have we made for the lingchi?"

The soldiers looked at each other, no one able to answer.

Grandmaster Liu laughed, "No matter, no matter, three hundred and sixty cuts should suffice."

The next moment, he took Chen Ji’s waist knife and struck toward Jin Zhu’s neck.

However, as the blade neared Jin Zhu, Chen Ji saw a bizarre smile on Jin Zhu’s face. With the slash, no blood sprayed, no head fell to the ground.

Jin Zhu’s body turned instantly into countless Copper Coins and silver ingots, clattering to the floor.

It was as if what lay beneath those clothes wasn’t Jin Zhu at all, but a puppet stuffed with money!

Grandmaster Liu was taken aback at first, then cursed furiously, "It was the officials’ door trick! Quick, quick, chase after Mr. Feng!"