Green Mountain
Chapter 251 - 196, Supply Condition

Chapter 251: 196, Supply Condition

Chen Mansion’s back hall was deathly silent; the two names Jiao Tu and Yun Yang were like sharp blades plunged into Chen Liqin’s chest, leaving him feeling as though his blood was surging uncontrollably and his body was utterly drained of strength.

Mrs. Liang rose to support him, asking in a low voice, "Master, perhaps it’s nothing serious?"

Chen Liqin sighed inwardly. Jiao Tu and Yun Yang represented two of the Twelve Zodiacs, and for both figures to visit at once must be an extremely important matter. How could trivial issues warrant their attention?

After pondering the situation, he instructed the servant, "Please, let them in..."

Before he could finish, a frivolous voice wafted from outside, "No need for invitations, we have already let ourselves in. It’s really unexpected that Mr. Chen is being so courteous to our Ritual Supervision. I was actually worried that Mr. Chen might not let us enter."

All the people in the back hall turned their gaze to the entrance, where they saw Yun Yang leading the way with Jiao Tu trailing behind, casually strolling through the archway and heading straight for the back hall.

Yun Yang was dressed in a black robe, which accentuated his fair and handsome features.

He held an envelope in his right hand, leisurely slapping it against the palm of his left hand like a cultured noble coming to a feast with an invitation in hand.

Yun Yang looked around the back hall with a smile, "Oh, there are quite a few people here. Are you discussing some important matters? Mr. Chen, seems like our timing isn’t great. Should we come back another day to visit?"

He stopped in front of the door, reading the couplet on the wall of Chen Mansion’s back hall aloud, "Literature leads to fortune..." then muttered, "Mr. Chen, I fear your literature won’t lead to fortune though."

Chen Liqin felt his heart sink. His eyes fixed on the envelope in the man’s hand... The visitor’s intentions were undoubtedly malevolent.

He whispered instructions to Chen Wenzong, Chen Wenxiao, Mrs. Liang, and the others, "I must discuss urgent matters with Jiao Tu and Lord Yun Yang. Please, leave us."

"Hold on!" Yun Yang, with a smile brimming with amusement, interjected, "Mr. Chen, the matter we have to discuss isn’t confidential. Everyone can stay and listen."

Chen Liqin’s expression darkened.

Yun Yang, seemingly intrigued, asked, "Mr. Chen, won’t you offer me a cup of tea?"

Mrs. Liang quickly stood up and headed out, gesturing for the maid, "Serve our guests some tea."

Yun Yang nodded in satisfaction. He scanned the room, spotted the only vacant chair, and fixated his gaze directly on Chen Wenxiao.

Only after Chen Wenxiao vacated his seat did Yun Yang express his thanks, smiling and gesturing to Jiao Tu to take a seat, "Jiao Tu, come and sit."

Yun Yang’s eyes swept past Chen Ji hurriedly without pausing; Chen Ji made no effort to look at them either, gazing up at the room’s rafters in silence, his thoughts inscrutable.

Giving Chen Ji another glance out of the corner of his eye, Yun Yang turned to Chen Liqin with curiosity, "Mr. Chen, what important matter was the Chen Mansion deliberating over just now? Care to share it with us?"

Chen Wenzong answered coldly, "Since when does a guest inquire about the host’s private affairs? If your Ritual Supervision wishes to trouble us, you may as well speak plainly instead of posturing."

Yun Yang raised an eyebrow, "Oh? Not even a simple question is allowed? Could it be that the Chen family has secrets that must not see the light of day? We from the Spy Department conduct Imperial Inspections on behalf of His Majesty to alleviate his worries. Matters of the families of court, civil or military, thus become matters of the state. What is there that we cannot inquire about?"

Chen Wenzong snapped irritably, "You..."

Mrs. Liang, anxious that her son might offend the Eunuch Party, hurried back into the house, pulling Chen Wenzong to one side.

She smiled at Yun Yang as she explained, "Gentlemen, the matter we were discussing pertains to family affairs. My son from the Chen family was once wild in his youth and developed a gambling vice. Now that he has suddenly come into money, I, as his mother, worry he might fall back into old habits, so I intended to have him deposit this sum into the public funds of the Chen Mansion to prevent any wasteful extravagance."

Jiao Tu exclaimed as if having an epiphany, "This third son of the Chen family, is he not named Chen Wenxiao?"

Mrs. Liang was taken aback, "Sir, you are mistaken; my third son’s name is Chen Ji, and there he stands at the doorway."

Jiao Tu looked at Yun Yang, doubtfully, "That doesn’t seem right?"

Yun Yang, too, began to show doubt, "Indeed, something’s off!"

Chen Liqin, seeing their expressions, suddenly felt confused, "What are you talking about?"

Smiling, Yun Yang stood and handed over the envelope, "Mr. Chen, take a look at what’s inside this envelope first."

Chen Liqin reached for the envelope, but just as his fingers touched it, Yun Yang withdrew it back.

Yun Yang then joked towards Mrs. Liang, "Lady, does the mansion have any An Gong Bezoar Pills? You should prepare some for Mr. Chen, in case the contents of the letter cause him to faint."

Annoyed, Chen Liqin snorted coldly, "Lord Yun Yang, you’re welcome to kill or flay me as you wish; there is no need for such mockery."

He snatched away the envelope from Yun Yang’s hand, unfolded the paper, and his brow immediately relaxed.

It wasn’t the call to arms he had written to Mr. Feng!

It wasn’t, and that was good!

However, as he read further, his expression turned grim once more.

While reading the paper, Chen Liqin’s eyes shifted toward Chen Wenxiao.

As he read, he suddenly erupted at Chen Wenxiao, "Look at the trouble you’ve caused!"

Mrs. Liang, utterly confused, rushed over and asked, "Master, what is this about? Why are you lashing out at the boy without reason?"

Chen Liqin shoved the paper into Mrs. Liang’s arms, "Just look for yourself; this is the result of your constant coddling!"

Chen Wenxiao, initially clueless, suddenly remembered what he had written to the Spy Department, and his face turned ashen!

Glancing involuntarily at Chen Ji before turning back to Chen Liqin, he protested, "Father, I was coerced into writing it; I didn’t commit those deeds!"

With a teasing tone, Jiao Tu interjected, "Oh? The Chen family’s young master implies that our Spy Department has subjected you to torture to extract a confession? May I ask if you suffered any injuries from it?"

Chen Wenxiao stuttered, "No... no."

Jiao Tu let out a light gasp, "Then it is rather strange, with no injuries on your body, how did we force you to write this confession statement? You had better not falsely accuse us, otherwise, we might just have to take you away again for further verification."

Chen Liqin glared angrily at Chen Wenxiao, "Stop making excuses!"

It wasn’t until he saw this confession statement that he suddenly understood that all the bad records that had plagued Chen Ji over the years were smears cast by Chen Wenxiao.

Had Chen Ji ever explained? Of course, he had, but back then, when Chen Ji cried foul, Chen Liqin didn’t believe it at all.

Now, Chen Wenxiao confessed everything on the confession statement, and the truth was laid bare.

Chen Liqin’s face turned from green to red, at a loss for what to do for a while.

Chen Wenzong looked at his father, then at his mother, and suddenly became curious, "What confession did Wenxiao write?"

With that, he moved closer to look.

However, he saw Mrs. Liang quickly fold the statement and said nonchalantly, "This is none of your business, Wenzong, Chen Ji, you both withdraw."

"Wait a moment, Chen Ji?" Jiao Tu stood up, puzzled, "Previously, the lady said that the third son of the Chen Mansion was named Chen Ji, but according to the confession statement, Chen Wenxiao pinned all the gambling debts on Chen Ji... hey, boy, aren’t you Chen Ji?"

Chen Ji was startled, "Yes, I am."

Jiao Tu clicked her tongue twice, "Carrying such a big scapegoat for your own brother, how unlucky. Earlier, we also heard that there was a disloyal bastard in the Chen Mansion addicted to gambling, but it turns out he was framed."

Chen Ji suddenly turned his head to look at Mrs. Liang, and after a moment, turned to Chen Liqin, incredulously asking, "Mr. Chen, is it true what Lord Jiao Tu just said?"

When Chen Liqin heard the address ’Mr. Chen’, a pang of pain hit his heart, "It is..."

Mrs. Liang quickly grabbed his arm, "My lord, this is a scandal of the Chen Mansion, we must not let it spread."

Chen Liqin shook off his sleeve, flinging Mrs. Liang to the side, and angrily asked, "How much longer will you favor Chen Wenxiao, when people are already bringing the confession statement to our door to accuse us, do you still think we can cover this up?"

Yun Yang smiled and played peacemaker, "Mr. Chen, please don’t misunderstand, we were just clearing paperwork before withdrawing from Luocheng City, and we came across this confession statement by chance. Mr. Chen loves the people like his own children, after coming to Luocheng City, you have been personally managing things and maintaining order in the city, earning our great admiration. When we found the statement, we felt it shouldn’t be left behind, so we especially brought it back, there’s no intention of accusing you, after all, the Spy Department doesn’t concern itself with these matters."

Chen Liqin remained silent.

He always felt there was something strange about today’s events, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu seemed to have come specifically to clear Chen Ji’s name, and it was peculiar both the timing and the matter at hand.

The Spy Department under the Twelve Signs were ruthless, and he was all too aware of their character, so he would not believe a word when they said they were returning the confession statement out of admiration for him.

But the problem lay here; what kind of people were the Twelve Signs under the Prime Minister, and why would they come specifically to defend Chen Ji?

The more Chen Liqin thought about it, the more perplexed he became.

At this point, Yun Yang clasped his hands together, "Now that the confession statement has been delivered, we will not disturb you further, farewell."

With that, he suddenly stepped forward, bent down beside Chen Liqin’s ear, and spoke in a very low voice, "Mr. Chen, do you still remember what you wrote back in Prince Jing Mansion? The Spy Department knows more than you might think."

Chen Liqin’s face changed dramatically!

So, the other party truly was aware of the matter, the proclamation seeking out the rebel had indeed fallen into the hands of the Spy Department, their trip to return the confession statement was a ruse, they had actually come to knock on his door.

Chen Liqin’s voice lowered as he asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

Yun Yang, in fact, did not know what Chen Liqin had written, it was just something Chen Ji instructed them to say. He didn’t expect such a significant reaction from Chen Liqin after hearing these words.

But the act had to go on.

Yun Yang’s expression was mockingly playful, "Mr. Chen, what we want to do, we haven’t quite decided yet. When we do, we will come to tell you. Jiao Tu, let’s go."

Turning to leave, Jiao Tu followed behind.

As she passed by Chen Ji at the doorway, she asked in a mosquito whisper, her back to the others, "Mr. Chen, how was my performance? If you are satisfied, you will have to reward me, you know."

Before Chen Ji could react, Jiao Tu had already left with a light laugh.

In the back hall of the Chen Mansion, there was a dead silence, leaving only Chen Liqin’s heavy breathing.

After a while, Chen Liqin commanded angrily, "Wang Gui! Drag Chen Wenxiao down and beat him with twenty hefty planks, after that, drag him into the ancestral hall to kneel, for a day and a night before we discuss any further!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liang hurriedly caught Chen Liqin’s arm, "My lord, he has to attend the poetry meeting with Wenzong tomorrow, how can he go after being beaten with twenty planks?"

Chen Liqin’s mustache trembled with rage, and he sneered three times, "Is there still a thought of attending a poetry meeting at a time like this? He is worthy? Chen Ji has borne so many slanderous names for him over the years, how innocent was Chen Ji? Wang Gui, what are you waiting for, drag Chen Wenxiao away for me!"

Mrs. Liang sobbed, "My lord, it cannot be, he’s about to go to the Imperial Capital to take the civil service examination, what if the beating harms him?"

Enraged beyond control, Chen Liqin blurted out, "The civil service examination? I’ll send a letter to the Imperial Capital right now, asking Mr. Scholar to submit a memorial, stripping him of his scholar title!"

Mrs. Liang was struck with disbelief.

She stopped sobbing, turned to face Chen Ji, and attempted to kneel, "Chen Ji, please forgive your brother, he was just confused for a moment!"

Chen Ji arched his eyebrow and stepped aside. During the Ning Dynasty, filial piety was the primary principle, and if Mrs. Liang truly kneeled to him, his own reputation would be damaged.

Fortunately, Chen Wenzong was quick to support his mother, saying angrily, "Mother, what are you doing, Wenxiao was wrong and deserves to be punished!"

Chen Wenxiao’s eyes widened, "Brother?!"

Chen Ji looked up at Chen Liqin and clasped his hands together, "Mr. Chen, how to punish Chen Wenxiao is a family matter for the Chen Mansion, it’s up to you to decide. I just want to ask, now that the truth is out, do I still need to pay that silver?"

Chen Liqin was silent for a long time before he said dejectedly, "No need."

Chen Ji bowed, "Then I will go rest, I take my leave."