Green Mountain
Chapter 287 - 229, Murderer

Chapter 287: 229, Murderer

"""

Dragon Gate Inn?

Before, Liang, the escort leader, had mentioned that there was an inn in Guyuan with great capabilities, opened by the old subordinates of General Wen Tao, capable of sending people to the Jing Dynasty.

Could it be that Liang was talking about this inn?

Chen Ji looked outside the window; the thief Third Brother Hu was leading a group of children running into the distance, leaving only him and dozens of corpses in the room, as well as the silvery white moonlight spilling from outside the window.

He listened as the sound of iron hooves grew closer and finally stopped in front of the station, the friction of dense armor pieces filling the air, and over a hundred people dismounted in front of the door.

Someone shouted, "Encircle the station!"

Amidst the shouting, Zhang Xia rushed into the room and looked at Chen Ji under the moonlight: "Chen Ji, people from outside have come to the station, it must be the Crown Prince’s men!"

She glanced at Chen Ji and went straight to pull the sheets from the communal sleeping area. When she reached the bed, she saw the corpse with blood tears and hesitated, stopping her movement.

But after hesitating for only a moment, Zhang Xia steeled herself and pulled off a sheet.

Chen Ji was slightly startled; he didn’t understand what she was going to do.

Zhang Xia came to him, bowed her head and used the sheet to rewrap the Whale Blade: "I guess you definitely don’t want to attract attention. This blade is too conspicuous; it’s better to cover it."

Chen Ji remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Second Miss Zhang keeps her wits about her in the face of danger and takes care of the smallest details, I’m impressed. Let’s go out and see."

The two of them went to the courtyard and saw Chen Liqin, carrying the hem of his official robe, rushing in hastily: "Lady, Wenxiao?"

Mrs. Liang stumbled a few steps and threw herself into his arms, crying plaintively, "My lord, you are finally back. If it had been any later, you might not have seen us again."

Chen Liqin coughed once: "The Crown Prince is here too, let’s not forget our manners."

Mrs. Liang looked up in surprise, her gaze passing over Chen Liqin’s shoulder, towards the outside of the station.

There she saw a noble young master wearing a white fox fur muff, followed by more than twenty armored soldiers in silver armor and white cloaks, hands resting on the long swords at their waists.

The young noble had his hair fastened with a White Jade Hairpin, with red lips and white teeth, as if he had stepped out of a painting.

"The Crown Prince?" Mrs. Liang hastily disentangled herself from Chen Liqin’s embrace, wiped away her tears and made a respectful bow: "May the Crown Prince be safe and well."

The Crown Prince returned the salute, speaking warmly, "Aunt Chen of the Chen family need not be so formal, I blame myself for today’s oversight. Knowing that Guyuan is not peaceful, I failed in arranging the protection of armored soldiers to ensure your safety in time. Fortunately, you are all safe, otherwise, I fear I would bear an unforgivable guilt."

Mrs. Liang, seeing the Crown Prince returning her salute, was somewhat overwhelmed by the honor: "The Crown Prince need not do so."

Chen Liqin bowed deeply and saluted: "The Crown Prince does not need to blame himself. Who could have expected such brazen villains in Guyuan, daring to assassinate a court official’s family members? Your personal visit alone is deeply appreciated."

Chen Wenxiao cried and said, "Father, this matter must be thoroughly investigated!"

Chen Liqin’s face darkened: "What is becoming of you, weeping and wailing in front of the Crown Prince? Learn from your brother, see how he has handled it?"

The Crown Prince praised, "Wenzong is truly a remarkable man. Even after such a catastrophe, he dared to come alone to the Governor’s Mansion to report. This indeed showcases his courage and strength."

Chen Ji and Zhang Xia and the others stood in a corner of the courtyard, and Zhang Zheng muttered softly, "It’s been a good while, but no one has bothered to check on the dead maids and servants."

Zhang Xia glared at him fiercely: "Brother, say less."

Zhang Zheng spoke carelessly: "Our Zhang Family and the Xu Family are not scared of them!"

Zhang Xia lowered her voice: "You may not be planning to become an official, but don’t drag others down with you!"

Zhang Zheng glanced at Chen Ji and then shut his mouth.

At this moment, Chen Ji was silent.

The moment the Crown Prince appeared, the Molten Flow within him surged wildly, like a ferocious tiger.

His heart was pounding rapidly, and as the blood pumped from his forehead passed over his veins, the sound of the heartbeat was like the roar of the Molten Flow.

After a good ten breaths, the Molten Flow gradually subsided.

This was the first time for such a wild reaction from the Molten Flow... Could it be because he saw the Crown Prince of a nation?

While pondering, the Crown Prince looked towards the courtyard, his gaze swept over Chen Ji’s face, and when he saw Zhang Xia, his gaze paused slightly, then he looked towards Zhang Zheng and Xiao Man: "And these people are...?"

Chen Wenzong stepped forward from behind and reported: "Your Highness, the person on the left is my brother Chen Ji and his personal maid, and on the right are the son and daughter of Lord Zhang Zhuo from the Zhang Family. The two of them accompanied us to Guyuan this time intending to enjoy the sights, not expecting to be caught up in danger."

The Crown Prince nodded slightly and greeted Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia with a cupped fist: "I have come to Guyuan on orders to thoroughly investigate the cases of murdering the innocent and claiming merit, I apologize for involving you both..."

Before he finished speaking, lights from a fire lit up outside the station.

Everyone turned back to see a troop of armored soldiers marching with torches, their presence fierce and vigilant. Their bamboo armor bore marks from axe and sword cuts.

They were Border Soldiers.

"""

The Crown Prince, followed by over twenty silver-armored trusted aides drawing their swords, faced the Border Soldiers clad in worn bamboo armor with their waist knives not yet drawn and their stride unbroken.

A fierce aura, born from battlefields of blood and corpses, surged toward the heavens, pressuring the trusted aides to unconsciously step back twice.

The Border Soldiers stood atop the outpost’s steps, while the Prince’s personal guard took position at the base of the courtyard steps, both sides in a tense standoff. The flames of the torches flickered incessantly, crackling in the wind.

At this moment, Chen Ji felt someone grab his arm with increasing strength.

He glanced sideways and saw Zhang Xia staring in the direction of the Border Soldiers.

Zhang Xia’s lips parted slightly, and in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s whine, said, "The person behind the Border Army’s officer came to the outpost this afternoon. He wasn’t wearing bamboo armor then, but there’s a scar on his right cheek—I won’t mistake it."

Chen Ji’s pupils dilated suddenly. He looked over intently, and the scarred man’s gaze shifted, scanning the courtyard as if searching for something.

Something was amiss.

According to the outpost’s soldiers, this place was usually deserted, the firewood not even adequate on regular days.

For a Border Soldier to have secretly come here in civilian clothes was already illogical.

If this person really was the murderer, then wasn’t he being far too brazen? After killing thirty-four members of the Chen family, he still dared to swagger back to this place?

What kind of confidence did these Border Soldiers have to defy a nation’s Crown Prince so boldly?

Zhang Xia asked in a low voice, "Should we expose him?"

"No, we can’t," Chen Ji responded calmly, "This is the Border Army’s territory. If we truly provoke them into a corner, no one will survive. Besides, we only saw him come here; we can’t prove he was here to poison. Stay calm, don’t let them notice anything odd."

Zhang Xia nodded, gradually regaining his composure, "Understood."

In the tense standoff, the Crown Prince raised his head to the Border Soldiers on the steps, "What business brings you here?"

The leading Border Soldier cupped his fists and replied, "Reporting to the Crown Prince, I heard from the Governor’s Mansion guards that a murder occurred at this outpost, and I am leading my men here to apprehend the culprit."

Li Xuan stepped forward to block the Border Soldiers, "Gentlemen, there’s no need to come in; my Yulin Army is sufficient here."

The Border Army’s officer was taken aback and immediately placed his hand on his waist knife, saying sternly, "Lord Li, I oversee thirty-six thousand households of the Guyuan City, Dusi Prefecture, responsible for governing this entire city. Apprehending spies and capturing murderers are duties of our Governor’s Mansion. I hope the Crown Prince and Lord Li won’t overstep."

Li Xuan’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword, countering, "How can I be certain this isn’t the doing of your Guyuan Border Army? If I let you handle this case, it would be the perfect opportunity for you to destroy evidence!"

The Border Soldier’s officer’s face darkened as a fierce glint appeared in his eyes, "What do you mean by this, Lord Li? Our Border Army has been guarding the frontier, giving our lives, and shedding our blood. We will not tolerate your slander!"

Li Xuan sneered, "Whether it’s slander or not, you know very well."

The Border Soldier’s officer, angered, shot back, "Our Border Army kills in direct combat with the Jing Dynasty’s enemies, swords clashing openly, when have we ever stooped to using despicable means like poison?"

Li Xuan was about to say more, but the Crown Prince held his shoulder back.

He turned and looked at the Crown Prince, "Your Highness..."

The Crown Prince spoke calmly, "It’s alright, I will speak with General Zhou."

Li Xuan hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside.

The Crown Prince raised his head to look at the Border Soldier’s officer on the steps, "General Zhou, such a misfortune befalling Mr. Chen upon his arrival is already shocking news. I will write a memorial and send it to the Imperial Capital in haste overnight, ensuring a thorough investigation. The Border Army is also under suspicion, it is better to avoid any conflict of interest."

General Zhou’s expression grew solemn, "Your Highness, it is not that we intend to defy the imperial authority, but we also worry about being falsely accused. In recent years, the Border Army has endured much criticism, and we cannot bear such a tainted reputation. The Crown Prince is here to investigate the case of meritorious impersonation, which has nothing to do with this affair. Why intervene?"

The Crown Prince shook his head slightly, "Not so. Mr. Chen is now a Junior Scholar of the Master’s Mansion, having joined my Eastern Palace Office. Therefore, anything related to him is naturally a matter for the Eastern Palace. General Zhou, you lead your men to encircle my Yulin Army, is this an intention to rebel?"

General Zhou glared at the Crown Prince, "There’s no need to intimidate me, Your Highness. I, Zhou, climbed out from mountains of corpses and seas of blood. I stand tall and have a clear conscience. Even if we were to argue this in front of the Emperor, I am not afraid. If Your Highness insists on barring us from investigating this matter, then we will have to offend."

The Crown Prince observed the grim Border Soldiers for a moment before proposing, "Why not this: the Border Army and Yulin Army can investigate this matter together. If indeed the Border Army is innocent, the Yulin Army can also serve as a witness for you."

General Zhou’s gaze flickered and after a few breaths, he made a decision, "Agreed!"

The Crown Prince turned to Chen Liqin, "Mr. Chen, this outpost is no place to stay. Let’s all return to the Governor’s Mansion with me. There are a few vacant courtyards there."

Chen Liqin clasped his hands together, "I am at the disposition of Your Highness."

The Crown Prince also looked at Zhang Zheng and Zhang Xia, "What do you two say?"

Zhang Xia answered, "Reporting to Your Highness, we will accompany the Chen family."

The Crown Prince walked up the steps first, and the Border Soldiers parted ways to clear the path.

Zhang Zheng whispered from behind, "Should we run? The Governor’s Mansion is the Border Army’s lair. If we stay there, won’t we be walking into a trap? Living in constant fear and not even daring to eat."

Zhang Xia disagreed, "If we run, it will definitely arouse their suspicion and spook them."

Chen Ji spoke calmly, "If it truly is the Border Army’s doing, they definitely won’t let anyone die within the Governor’s Mansion. Let’s go; at this point, the safest place might as well be the Border Army’s territory."