Green Mountain
Chapter 249 - 194. Seeing off

Chapter 249: 194. Seeing off

The courtyard, the assassin, the black cat, the moonlight, the youth.

This scene resembled a painting, bizarre yet unexpectedly harmonious.

Jiao Tu stood on the rooftop, looking down at Chen Ji who was picking food beside the square table. She suddenly felt emotional, "Time flies so quickly. Two months ago, when Yun Yang said you might surpass both of us, I didn’t believe it. Yet in the blink of an eye, you’ve indeed become our superior."

Chen Ji sincerely responded, "It’s a matter of coincidence. On the one hand, I have risen quickly, and on the other, you two have fallen rapidly... If I had been slower, or if you had been slower, none of this would have happened."

Yun Yang’s expression turned slightly cold. He folded his arms and looked at Chen Ji coldly, "You are not yet qualified to be our superior."

Chen Ji smiled, stepping back, "I do not wish to be your superior. It’s just that the Ritual Supervision is complex, and I only wish to join hands with you. You need to regain your zodiac positions, along with cultivation resources and paths, while I need assistance. It’s that simple."

Chen Ji continued, "In private, we need not refer to each other by our official titles. I’m not your superior, and you are not my subordinates, how’s that?"

Yun Yang’s expression softened somewhat.

Jiao Tu suddenly burst out, "But how can we trust you? You betrayed Prince Jing, the Commandery Princess, and the Princely Heir; if you rise to power, you could betray us too. Alas, poor Commandery Princess, when I saw her yesterday, the light was gone from her eyes."

Chen Ji’s chopstick-holding hand paused, then he broke into a smile, "If mocking me makes you feel better, then I can’t ask for more. Please go on, let’s get this over with and then talk business."

Jiao Tu exclaimed, covering her mouth as she laughed, "I didn’t mean to mock you; we just have our concerns."

Chen Ji turned serious, "I am helping you two because I have my demands. Previously, working with you two earned me fifty taels of silver each time. Let’s form a new partnership, one where I help you regain your zodiac positions, and each of you pays me five thousand taels of silver."

Jiao Tu widened her eyes, "Five thousand taels, are you planning to rob us? Lin Chaoqing from the Criminal Justice Department is watching us every day; where are we supposed to get so much silver?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "That’s not my concern. You two better not lie about being penniless. Having worked for the Prime Minister for so many years, even if the Criminal Justice Department is formidable, there are always oversights. Besides, compared to the position of the zodiac, what’s heavier or lighter, you two know well."

Yun Yang touched his neck, asking in a grave voice, "What if, once you gain power, you seek revenge against me and Jiao Tu?"

Chen Ji laughed, "Lord Yunyang, there are no deep hatreds in this world, just the pursuit of fame and fortune."

Jiao Tu probed, "Really?"

Chen Ji replied as he casually ate a piece of mapo tofu, and after a long while, said, "I could betray Prince Jing, the Commandery Princess, and the Princely Heir, all for the sake of fame and fortune. There’s nothing I couldn’t do."

Jiao Tu clapped her hands in admiration, "I knew we’d get along well!"

Yun Yang frowned, "Jiao Tu, this guy is crafty; don’t fall for his tricks."

Jiao Tu didn’t care, "Stop nagging. If you don’t want to cooperate with Chen Ji, then I will collaborate with him alone. You may not wish to regain your zodiac position, but I do."

Yun Yang paused, then turned to look at Chen Ji, "What do you need us to do?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "There are many things I need you to do."

After saying this, he took an envelope from his sleeve and tossed it to Yun Yang, "The first thing is to deliver this letter to Chen Mansion."

Yun Yang took the envelope, puzzled, "Now?"

"Of course not now, but tomorrow," Chen Ji pointed at the dishes on the table, "Since we’re going to collaborate, let’s have a meal together first, shall we?"

Jiao Tu winked at Chen Ji, "Is there any wine?"

Yun Yang glanced at the dishes on the table, "I’m not eating, let’s go."

As he spoke, he leapt onto the rooftop, grabbing Jiao Tu’s sleeve to leave.

Jiao Tu didn’t move; she turned her head back to Chen Ji, "Tomorrow, Bai Long will personally escort the Commandery Princess to the Imperial Capital. If you want to see her one more time, I can tell you the escort route."

She then observed Chen Ji’s expression.

Chen Ji’s expression remained unchanged, as he continued eating his meal nonchalantly, "Why would I want to see her? Jiao Tu, don’t bother telling me the escort route."

Jiao Tu exclaimed in admiration, "How heartless, Chen Ji! You’re bound to rise swiftly."

Yun Yang urged, "Let’s go!"

"Oh!"

Once the two had disappeared, Chen Ji softly sighed in relief.

The collaboration among the three harbored ulterior motives and mutual exploitation, with everyone believing they would be the last one laughing.

Wu Yun came along the roof, lightly landed on the table, and asked, "Not fighting anymore?"

Chen Ji took a bite of cured meat and replied casually, "No more fighting, greed and fame are sharp enough as swords."

...

...

At dawn, the crowing of roosters broke the silence.

Chen Ji got up and went to the courtyard, stripped off his clothes, and washed away the alcohol and dust with cold water. He scrubbed his body until it turned red, and then he returned to his sleeping quarters.

He hesitated in front of the wardrobe for a long time before finally picking out a custom outfit from Li Ji.

The black Mandarin jacket with a standing collar was meticulously stitched, adorned with golden melon seeds sewn into the hem, and the clothes looked exceptionally crisp without any wrinkles.

Chen Ji went to the courtyard and, using the water in the tank as a mirror, looked at his reflection.

Without turning his head, he asked Wu Yun, "Do I look like a dignitary now?"

Wu Yun glanced at him, "Still no."

Chen Ji laughed, "Then no it is."

He packed up a cloth bundle and slung it over his shoulder.

Chen Ji reached the doorstep and turned back to look at the Medical Hall one last time, locking the main gate after he had his fill of the view. He then stepped into the early morning crowd gathering in the market.

He asked softly, "Which way will they take?"

Wu Yun emerged from his embrace, "They will start from Liu Mansion on Qingping Street, turn to Wangchun Gate Street, then head to Red Bean Alley, and finally leave the city through the North Gate. There’s not much time left; they will leave at about 7 to 9 AM."

Chen Ji hastened his steps until he began to run.

He navigated through the gaps in crowds and traffic, heading towards Qingping Street.

When he arrived at Qingping Street, Chen Ji suddenly saw a carriage moving slowly in front of Liu Mansion escorted by Bai Long and dozens of Jiefan Guards clad in straw raincoats.

Bai Long had kept his word, Chen Ji had pledged his service to Bai Long, and in return, Bai Long would not trouble the Commandery Princess. What should have been a journey in a prison cage was exchanged for a comfortable carriage.

However, he dared not get too close and had to run parallel on an adjacent street.

Rows of houses blocked his sight, only when they simultaneously passed a certain narrow alley could he glimpse the carriage through the narrow cobblestone lane.

In this manner, he followed from Wangchun Gate Street all the way to Red Bean Alley. Suddenly, someone from inside the carriage lifted the curtain and looked out.

Chen Ji abruptly stopped, unconsciously avoiding being seen.

He turned back and walked in the opposite direction.

The carriage headed north while Chen Ji walked south, separated by white walls, buildings, and grey tiles as if mountains of grey undulations stood between them.

Wu Yun looked up at Chen Ji’s jaw, "Not going to see her off?"

Chen Ji said calmly, "Not seeing her off, we still have our own matters to attend to, we will meet again sooner or later."

...

...

Cuiyun Lane.

Chen Ji stood in front of Chen Mansion, with two stone lions squatting on both sides, stone balls held in their mouths.

He looked at the tightly closed door, took a deep breath, and picked up the beast-head knocker on the vermilion door, knocking it three times, "thud, thud, thud."

With a creak, the door opened.