Green Mountain
Chapter 246 - 191. Depth of mind

Chapter 246: 191. Depth of mind

government office, candlelight, chessboard.

Chen Ji placed a black piece, making a brilliant move.

Bai Long stared at this brilliant move and fell into thought.

This was the first time he had thought for more than ten moments. As the piece was placed, he felt that although Chen Ji had given up one corner, he had revitalized the whole situation.

Bai Long said with a smile, "It seems I can’t play rapid chess with you anymore. Enlightenment in life, sometimes it’s an instant, sometimes it’s a lifetime. How many people wander aimlessly into old age without understanding what they want to do with their lives. Congratulations, it looks like you’ve figured it out."

Chen Ji remained expressionless, "Lord Bai Long flatters me, I actually haven’t figured it out yet. However, you have a proper path as a scholar, why would you join the Spy Department?"

Bai Long looked up at him, "Still daring to pry into my affairs, showing neither respect nor propriety. If there’s a next time, be careful, I’ll hang you from the rafters and beat you."

Chen Ji didn’t take his words to heart; by now, he had realized that although this Bai Long was capricious, as long as he remained useful, there would be no trouble.

He pondered and then asked, "You mentioned earlier that you had a task for me, may I know what it is? Is it to capture Han Tong?"

"Capturing Han Tong isn’t urgent right now. He has slipped into the river like a loach, not so easy to find. We’ll have to wait," Bai Long, gazing at the chessboard, asked leisurely, "What do you know about the Patriarch of the Chen Family, Chen Luchi?"

A chill went through Chen Ji’s heart. Was the Spy Department’s next target the Chen Family?

Bai Long glanced at him, "What, even the people of the Chen Family don’t know their own family affairs?"

Chen Ji spoke softly, "The Patriarch is a suspicious person, capricious and stubborn. In the Chen Family, his word is law. The entire Chen Family operates under his absolute authority."

Bai Long laughed, "What about the legitimate eldest son of the main branch, Chen Lizun?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Weak and incompetent, his position in the Ministry of Revenue entirely depends on the shelter of the Chen Family. He holds little status at home, with his wife Mrs. Wang calling the shots in his branch."

"What about Chen Lizhi from the second branch?"

"On the surface, he appears gentle and innocent, but in reality, he’s cunning and scheming. He manages the Chen Family’s finances, lands, and business affairs. Behind the scenes, he also runs a brothel and gambling dens, engaging in the business of usury."

The so-called usury meant loaning ten silver taels and having twenty returned the following year, or else the borrower’s family would be ruined and torn apart.

Such business could not be conducted openly; it had to be carried out covertly through proxies.

Bai Long’s inquiries startled Chen Ji, but he was not caught off guard.

Earlier, to hide his identity as a foreigner, he had meticulously read through the official correspondences regarding the Chen Family in the inner prison, which now proved useful.

However, Bai Long suddenly changed the subject, "And Chen Yu?"

Chen Ji hesitated... Chen Yu?

He had never even heard of this name, and there was no record of him in the Archive Room of the Spy Department. Why would Bai Long suddenly ask about this person?

How should he respond? Was he supposed to know him or not?

According to Chen Family tradition, legitimate sons of the same generation had three characters in their names, like Chen Liqin, where ’Li’ indicated his generational position. Bastards did not have this generational character and had two-character names.

Chen Yu must also be a bastard of the Chen Family, but he didn’t know from which branch.

If Chen Ji was familiar with Chen Yu, there would likely have been correspondence between them, yet he had never seen any letters from him.

After considering for a moment, Chen Ji said, "Lord Bai Long, I am not familiar with this person."

"Not familiar?" Bai Long scrutinized Chen Ji, "Really not familiar? I thought you entered the Chen Family academy the same year; you should have had some interactions."

Chen Ji kept his composure, "My lord, who nowadays can dare say they truly understand someone?"

"That’s true," Bai Long stood up and paced within the government office, "The third branch, your father’s line, I won’t ask further. The first task I want you to do is to return to the Chen Family."

Chen Ji was stunned, return to the Chen Family?

Bai Long smiled, "I know you’ve mentioned severing ties with the Chen Family and having no further association with them. But in this world, can blood ties truly be cut off? Your return to the Chen Family would probably make Mr. Chen too happy,"

Chen Ji stood up, "Lord Bai Long has commanded, and I shall obey without objection."

Bai Long laughed heartily, "Father-son relationships are always complicated, like ruler and subject, like friends, and yet like enemies. Only at the last moment when a father lies on his sickbed does the true nature of father and son reveal itself. I won’t pry into the matters between you and your father. It’s time to let go of some past grievances for the sake of the greater good."

Chen Ji bowed his head, "I understand."

His head bowed, his eyes flickered with thoughts.

Bai Long was absolutely right, ordinary father-son relationships really were complicated and hard to sever, but he came from the Forty-nine Heavens and had no ties with Chen Liqin.

However, Bai Long didn’t know this.

The reason Bai Long hadn’t killed him was not just because of Binghu’s face, but also because he wanted to make use of his identity in the Chen family early on.

Ordinary people play chess, looking three moves ahead makes them masters, but Bai Long was different, he looked ten moves, even a hundred moves ahead.

At that moment, Bai Long smiled and said, "But you also need to understand, back then at Prince Jing Mansion, Mr. Chen didn’t protect you, he only protected Wenxiao. From now on, take family emotions lightly, you only need to serve His Majesty and Lord Prime Minister, disregard everything else."

Chen Ji replied humbly, "Understood. But, Lord Bai Long, why do you want me to return to the Chen family?"

Bai Long stood by the desk, tapping it with his finger, "After the Lantern Festival, both Wenzong and Wenxiao will come to the Imperial Capital for the examination, the transfer order for Chen Liqin is also on its way. Chen Luchi is being transferred back to the Imperial Capital as a Junior Scholar at Master’s Mansion and will enter the Eastern Palace Office to assist the Crown Prince. Your return to the Chen family will naturally also lead you back to the Imperial Capital with them."

Master’s Mansion, an institution responsible for serving the princes, where Junior Scholar is a Standard Fourth Rank. Chen Liqin’s fortune soared, not falling but rising after the incident in Luocheng City.

Bai Long looked at the night sky outside the government office, "Chen Ji, the Capital region is truly a dangerous place, be very careful in all things. Only by staying alive and safe can you do more."

Chen Ji was puzzled, "But sir, I am only a bastard from the third branch, even if I return to the Chen Family, return to the Imperial Capital, I’m afraid I won’t be welcomed and won’t be able to probe into the core secrets of the Chen Family."

Bai Long chuckled, "I don’t expect you to find out anything in a short time; just get inside first, once you are in the Imperial Capital, arrangements will naturally be made for you to work."

Chen Ji asked flatly, "Sir, the Chen Family is of the Pure Stream and disdains associating with people like me."

Bai Long smiled, "Not many people know about your Hai Dongqing identity. Nowadays, those who are dead are dead, those who are captured are captured, those who have fled have fled. I believe Mr. Chen is still in the dark about this. Don’t worry, my side will make arrangements and help cover for you."

At this moment, footsteps approached from outside; a Spy was escorting the remnants of the Liu Family into the government office, a total of forty-seven people.

Chen Ji asked, "Sir, do we need to kill all the remnants of the Liu Family?"

Bai Long looked amused and aghast, "The Liu Family’s side branches consist of tens of thousands of people; if I killed them all, I’d have nightmares in the middle of the night. Just capture those who are beyond the fifth degree of mourning and interrogate them. If there’s no issue, let them go."

"Mm."

Bai Long waved his hand at Chen Ji, "Go rest. Let the bygones be bygones, from now on just follow me properly. Regarding the matter of the Commandery Princess, I will still advocate for you, I won’t let her suffer."

Chen Ji hesitated, "Sir, may I visit the Commandery Princess?"

Bai Long scolded with laughter, "Don’t be greedy in my presence; sparing you was because I appreciate your talents. You still have great use, get out."

Chen Ji bowed to take his leave, "Yes."

Just before stepping out, Bai Long called out to him, "Chen Ji."

Chen Ji turned around, "What are your orders, sir?"

Bai Long spoke calmly, "To achieve great things, you must have deep schemes, don’t let others easily see through you. Those who cannot give up anything also cannot change anything."

Chen Ji was stunned, then responded after a moment, "I will remember this."

"Go."

As he left the government office, Chen Ji suddenly stood still; among those captured Liu Family remnants was a familiar figure... Liu Quxing.

In the courtyard with its scattered snow, Liu Quxing and his family members had their hands bound, detained among a crowd.

Liu Quxing, cowering behind his mother, by chance looked up and saw Chen Ji coming out of the government office, and his eyes immediately reddened as he staggered toward him.

Then he saw Liu Quxing arrive in front of him, spitting saliva onto Chen Ji’s face, lowering his voice, and angrily shouting from his throat, "Were you also involved in the trap set against Prince Jing Mansion? Beast! The Commandery Princess and the Princely Heir treated you so well, and you are worse than a beast!"

Liu Quxing cried as he cursed, "What’s wrong with this world? What’s wrong with all of you?"

Chen Ji stood there, in the heavy snow, he didn’t speak, nor did he raise his hand to wipe the saliva off his face.

The Spy responsible for detaining the remnants of the Liu Family saw Liu Quxing spit on Chen Ji’s face, and was instantly horrified, hurriedly running over to pull Liu Quxing back, "Sir, I deserve to die!"

Chen Ji wiped the saliva with his sleeve, "This person is acquainted with me; his family was not involved in the Liu Family’s conspiracy. Let him go."

The Spy was shocked, "Sir?"

Chen Ji looked calmly, "Are my words not efficacious?"

The Spy bowed, "They are."

Chen Ji spared Liu Quxing no further glance, walking vigorously into the pouring snow. Later, he no longer liked heavy snow, nor eagerly awaited the night and day.