Green Mountain
Chapter 271 - 214, Su Zhou

Chapter 271: 214, Su Zhou

Dong dong dong.

Chen Ji stood in front of the door, taking a big gulp of wine, before he knocked on the Chen Mansion’s gate.

As he rapped the beast head knocker on the vermilion gate, it echoed with a dong dong sound.

With a creak, a servant peered through the crack in the door, "Third Young Master?"

Chen Ji exhaled a breath full of alcohol fumes, "Open the door."

The servant, catching a whiff of the alcohol, exclaimed in surprise, "Third Young Master, how much have you had to drink?"

Chen Ji pushed past the servant, squeezing through the door’s crack, "Not much."

The drinking was to disguise his whereabouts, so that if asked where he had been that evening, he would have a plausible excuse.

Just as the servant was about to close the gate, he heard the dense sound of iron hooves galloping from afar, drawing closer from Cuiyun Lane. Peeking out stealthily, he caught sight of the Jiefan Guards passing by in hats and straw raincoats.

The servant panicked and said, "Third Young Master, is there going to be another military disaster in Luocheng? Did you see anything on your way back?"

Chen Ji, without turning his head to the commotion outside the mansion, replied, "I’m not sure, you’d better go report to my father and Lady right away."

With that, he staggered off towards Mingquan Garden. Before he could get there, the mansion was already abuzz.

Maids from each courtyard rushed out dressed hastily, and servants were holding torches keeping watch all around, in case of intruders climbing over the walls.

Chen Ji walked slowly, as an array of people scurried back and forth around him, a scene of startled birds and tumultuous chaos.

Chen Ji knew that the death of a fifth-rank General Wu Jie was a major event. The Military Department, the Jiefan Guard, and the Spy Department would surely turn Luocheng City upside down.

As he arrived at Mingquan Garden’s entrance, before he could even knock, the door opened.

Xiao Man pulled Chen Ji inside and spoke in a lowered voice, "My lord, where have you been? Sister Li Qiu said there’s another military commotion outside. Please, go sit inside; the coal brazier is lit. I’ll go pour you some tea to sober you up."

Chen Ji, recalling the Taotie he saw appear and then escape earlier that night, replied indifferently with a drunken slur, "Military commotion... someone else planning a rebellion? Then we must run quickly, hurry, pack your things!"

Xiao Man held him back, "Why the rush, my lord, what if it’s nothing?"

Regaining some sobriety, Chen Ji remembered the previous Liu Family military disaster. Countless families had wanted to flee the city, with ox carts and horse carts that could fill all the city gates to the brim: north, south, east, and west.

Having lived through the Liu Family’s ordeal, it was normal for the common folk to think about packing up and fleeing. Those who didn’t want to flee were the abnormal ones—unless... they knew beforehand that this was not a military disaster.

Chen Ji continued to probe, "What if it’s nothing? There are too many ’what ifs.’ Mr. Chen is the Luocheng Magistrate. If there’s a rebellion, the Chen family would certainly be targeted. We must leave Chen Mansion first. I’ll take you to hide in an inn."

Xiao Man became anxious, "But Mr. Chen will soon be a high official in the Eastern Palace Office, who would dare touch him?"

Chen Ji suspiciously said, "Xiao Man, are you hiding something from me?"

Xiao Man hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly explained, "No, no, I’m not hiding anything from you!"

Chen Ji hummed, "Alright then, we must run quickly."

Xiao Man bit her lip as she watched Chen Ji collect his things, looking as if he were about to take her with him to escape Luocheng.

After pondering for a while, she approached from behind and raised her hand to chop at his neck.

Sleep well, my lord, all will be fine when you wake up.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Chen Ji slowly turned around, holding his neck in bewilderment, "Xiao Man, why did you hit me?"

Xiao Man, "..."

She gasped in shock and said hastily, "My lord, there was an insect on you just now; I was trying to kill it for you."

Chen Ji, startled, quickly shook himself, "Is it dead? Where’s the insect?"

Pretending to grab something off Chen Ji’s shoulder, Xiao Man faked having caught the bug in her palm, then fled in a panic, "Got it, got it. You sit tight in the room; I’ll go boil some water for you!"

Inside, Chen Ji’s gaze settled. The Taotie must be related to Xiao Man.

Even if she wasn’t the one who sent it, she must know who did, and she must know what had happened that night.

What should he do now? Should he quietly distance himself from Xiao Man, or pretend he knew nothing and keep her by his side?

If Xiao Man was an Executive Officer, who taught her the Cultivation Path, who placed her by his side, and what was her mission?

Chen Ji’s mind was filled with questions.

...

...

While he pondered, footsteps approached from outside the door.

Chen Ji stepped out to see that the Military Department soldiers seemed to be encircling Chen Mansion thoroughly!

Chen Ji was alarmed; he hadn’t left any traces, how did they find him?

In the distance, there were fluttering torchlights, and a troop was coming from the direction of Tingquan Garden... not Chen Mansion’s servants but the Luocheng Military Department’s troops!

Chen Ji faced them with a calm expression and saw, amidst the dancing torchlight and shadows, Chen Liqin leading a squad of Military Department soldiers approaching.

He bowed his hands courteously, as if nothing were amiss, "Mr. Chen, what’s happened?"

Chen Liqin explained, "There’s a bit of trouble in the city. Today’s Wang Chongli, the General who publicly challenged you, was assassinated on his way back to camp."

Chen Ji feigned surprise, "He was assassinated? Who did it?"

Chen Liqin sighed, "It was a scoundrel from Jianghu. People from the Jiefan Guard said that this assassin belonged to ’Lantern’, and they’ve been on his trail for a long time too."

Chen Ji was puzzled, "What is ’Lantern’?"

Chen Liqin disdainfully said, "A Jianghu gang that gathers many assassins, takes people’s money, trades in lives, and engages in all kinds of illegal activities."

Chen Ji was even more puzzled, "Someone paid to have General Wang killed?"

Chen Liqin shook his head, "No, according to the Jiefan Guard, this assassin once had a close relationship with Prince Jing and was his close confidante in Jinling. Now that Prince Jing is gone, there are rumors in Jianghu that he was betrayed by General Wang. Presumably, the assassin came for revenge."

Chen Ji looked at the soldiers behind him, "Then Mr. Chen is leading this group of soldiers to..."

Chen Liqin made an ’oh’ sound and turned to look at the soldiers from the Military Department behind him holding torches, "They are here to guard the mansion that I’ve called for. Don’t be afraid, with them looking after the Chen family, you can sleep in peace."

One of the soldiers respectfully said, "Third Young Master, I will leave six soldiers here for you. Call on them if you need anything."

Chen Ji felt relieved and courteously returned the gesture, "Thank you all, big brothers."

Chen Liqin waved his hand, "Go back and rest. Tomorrow you will pack up and prepare to return to the capital. It’s best to leave this place of trouble sooner rather than later."

"Yes," Chen Ji slowly retreated back to Mingquan Garden, closed the courtyard door tightly, and secured the bolt.

But as he turned and headed inside, he gradually came to a halt: when he had left earlier, the hall door had been open, but now it was not only closed but also missing the chatter of Xiao Man.

Chen Ji became more certain that it was Xiao Man who had ordered Taotie, and now that she had seen so many soldiers from the Military Department, she had gone into hiding out of fear.

He pushed open the door and entered the room but froze in his tracks, his back suddenly covered in a fine layer of cold sweat—he sobered up!

Su Zhou!

He saw in the dim candle light Su Zhou, covered in blood, weakly sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Xiao Man hostage with an Emei dagger, the sharp blade pressed against Xiao Man’s jaw, coldly staring at Chen Ji.

Xiao Man, looking dejected, sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Chen Ji with wide eyes, "Young Master."

Chen Ji, "..."

Su Zhou coldly said, "Don’t raise your voice..."

Before she finished, with a creak, Chen Ji closed the door and left.

Su Zhou opened her mouth and looked at the closed door, then down at Xiao Man slumped on the floor, silent for quite some time.

Had he just run away?

Su Zhou let out a cold laugh, "Your young master is rather upright, isn’t he?"

Xiao Man furrowed her brows, "He must have gone to get help. You better let me go; earlier it was just because I was caught off guard by your sneak attack; otherwise, I would never have let you succeed! If you have the guts, take that dagger away and see how I beat you flat!"

Su Zhou heard Xiao Man’s words and couldn’t help but chuckle.

But her laughter had just begun when it triggered a severe cough, and she spat out a mouthful of blood onto Xiao Man’s shoulder.

Xiao Man glanced at it and expressed her disgust with a ’yuck’.

The door was pushed open again and then closed, Chen Ji leaned against it, looking shaken. "The guards outside, are they here to catch you?"

Su Zhou carefully examined Chen Ji, "Why have you come back? I thought you had gone to get help. Why didn’t you call out for them?"

Chen Ji explained, "If I had called for help, I’m sure this maid wouldn’t have survived."

Su Zhou paused for a moment.

Chen Ji continued in a low voice, "Who exactly are you?"

Su Zhou did not answer.

Chen Ji asked again, "I just heard that someone killed General Wang to avenge Prince Jing, was it you?"

Su Zhou thought for a moment, then slightly curled her lips, "It was me. Handing me over to the Eunuch Party now would indeed be a great feat."

Chen Ji was silent for a long time, "Let Xiao Man go, and I’ll have her fetch hot water to clean your wounds. Rest assured, I will not report you to the authorities and have you captured."

Su Zhou scrutinized him, "Why wouldn’t you report me?"

Chen Ji explained, "I have a close relationship with the Princely Heir and Commandery Princess. You avenged Prince Wang; how could I report you? But, why did you come to me?"

Su Zhou’s gaze shifted, "Prince Wang had someone send a message before his death. He said if I ever faced danger, I could trust you. Now I’m very badly injured, and Luocheng is under lockdown by the Eunuch Party. I need you to get me out of the city. Do you dare?"

Of course, Chen Ji did not believe this woman’s words; she had said only an hour ago that she intended to kill him too.

However, if she had truly wanted to kill him, she should have taken the chance to do so when she slipped in rather than holding Xiao Man hostage. Perhaps she hadn’t killed him because she had doubts about the accusations thrown at General Wang and didn’t want to mistakenly kill a good person?

It seemed she was not entirely crazed but rather had a probing intention.

Thinking this, Chen Ji earnestly said, "Rest assured, since Prince Wang entrusted you to me, I will find a way to get you out of the city. First, let Xiao Man go and have her treat your wounds."

Su Zhou pondered for a long time, then gradually withdrew her Emei dagger, her eyes fixed on Chen Ji.

Feeling the chill depart from her neck, Xiao Man quickly got up, ran behind Chen Ji, and clutched at his arm while peeking out, "Young Master, we should report her to the officials right away!"

Chen Ji patted Xiao Man’s arm, "Don’t panic. Go boil some water, but make sure not to alarm the soldiers outside."

"Ah?" Xiao Man’s eyes widened, "Young Master, I feel like she wants to kill us!"

Chen Ji reassured her, "It’s alright, go on now."

Su Zhou became tense, gripping the Emei dagger even tighter in her hand, but on her face, she looked intrigued as she probed, "I’ve let your maid go, are you truly not planning to report me?"

Chen Ji seriously said, "As I told you, since Prince Wang entrusted you to me, I shall not fail his trust. Wait here for a moment, I’ll be back shortly."

Su Zhou quietly accepted, "Go ahead."