Green Mountain
Chapter 351 - 291, Lushun

Chapter 351: 291, Lushun

On the official road, the strong wind swept the yellow sand into the sky, blowing fiercely.

Everyone bent over, sitting on their horses, using their arms to cover their mouths and noses, almost unable to open their eyes due to the wind and sand.

The original plan was to reach Tianshui County in two days. With the horses given by the border army, they started in the morning and saw the distant outline of Tianshui County by dusk.

Chen Ji rode over to Qi Zhenzhuo: "Tell everyone..."

Qi Zhenzhuo could not hear clearly in the wind and sand, so he leaned closer and shouted: "Master, what did you say?"

Chen Ji glanced at him and raised his voice: "Pass the order, we are now merchants fleeing from Guyuan, having lost our goods, seeking refuge in Taiyuan Prefecture. Before arriving in the Imperial Capital, address His Highness as ’Young Master’. Anyone who reveals His Highness’s identity will be dealt with by military law."

"Got it," Qi Zhenzhuo accepted the order and ran off to remind each member of the Yulin Army, ensuring no one would let the secret slip.

When they entered Tianshui City, the wind and sand subsided slightly.

Zhang Xia looked back at Tianshui’s city gate and asked Chen Ji curiously: "Are you worried about what Mr. Chen said, that someone might use this opportunity to seize the throne?"

Chen Ji nodded, checked his surroundings to ensure no one was nearby, then reminisced: "I couldn’t figure it out before. Hu Junxian suddenly called me to the city gate tower and told me about the plan to open the gates and surrender the city. It was extremely suspicious."

Zhang Xia bowed his head in thought: "The timing when he called you was the most suspicious. Mr. Wang’s letter arrived before us, yet Hu Junxian didn’t summon you until the day before surrendering the city... Moreover, he never intended to recruit you."

Chen Ji replied: "Indeed. He used me to send a message to the Dragon Gate Inn: It was time to take action."

Zhang Xia was astonished: "But you didn’t reveal any details to the shopkeeper... Was it through the eavesdropping jar at Dragon Gate Inn?"

Chen Ji nodded: "It’s not just the Ritual Supervision that wanted the Crown Prince dead; even the border army did."

Zhang Xia whispered: "Prince Fu."

Hu Junxian, General of the Border Army, Third Master Hu Junyuan, and Director of the Observatory Hu Junyan—by relation, they are all Prince Fu’s uncles.

Chen Ji looked at the Crown Prince’s back.

Previously, he only knew the danger of the struggle for power, but not where the danger lay. Now, the Crown Prince almost being silently killed in the border town was truly unforeseen.

At this time, Li Xuan stood in front of an inn, looking back at the Crown Prince: "Young Master, shall we stay here tonight?"

The Crown Prince casually replied: "This place is too close to the city gate; there will be many refugees from Guyuan passing through at midnight. Let’s move forward a bit."

Li Xuan remained silent.

The team moved forward another mile. Li Xuan pointed to another inn and asked: "Young Master, how about this place?"

The Crown Prince looked straight ahead, seemingly lost in thought and not hearing.

Until Chen Ji pointed to an inn and asked the Crown Prince: "Young Master, how about this place?"

The Crown Prince gently replied: "It’s fine."

Chen Ji instructed the Yulin Army to lead the horses into the stable, then told Li Xuan: "While it’s not yet dark, Lord Li, take some men to buy water bags and food. We’ll continue our journey early tomorrow morning... Ensure night watch is arranged. If strangers approach the inn recklessly, kill them first and ask questions later."

"Alright," Li Xuan asked softly, "Shall we hire a carriage for His Highness?"

"No," Chen Ji shook his head, "No matter how hard it is, we can only switch to a carriage after leaving Shan Province. If someone attacks, the carriage won’t be fast enough."

Li Xuan asked no more questions.

Chen Liqin saw the two discussing in low voices and approached. Just as he was about to ask, Li Xuan had already left in a hurry with his men.

He then turned to Chen Ji, wanting to ask about the next plans. But Chen Ji didn’t look at him, turned around, and entered the inn, booking the entire inn with the silver taels given by the Crown Prince.

Mrs. Liang silently observed from the end of the team, seeing the power shift within the Eastern Palace completed in less than two hours.

Wang Gui whispered: "Lady, clearly Lord has the highest official position, how can he tolerate Chen Ji overshadowing him?"

Mrs. Liang calmly responded: "This is the rule of the Heavenly Family. Regardless of official position or noble status, whoever has the Emperor’s favor has the loudest voice."

She stepped over the threshold, waiting for a room in the inn’s main hall.

She heard Zhang Zheng saying to Chen Ji: "The four of us can continue to stay in one room."

But the Crown Prince suddenly spoke: "Zhang Zheng, there are enough rooms in this inn, there’s no need to squeeze into one room. You and Second Miss Zhang should stay separately."

Before Zhang Zheng could respond, the Crown Prince continued warmly: "Chen Ji has worked hard these days and should rest well."

Mrs. Liang’s eyes brightened slightly, she glanced at the Crown Prince and then at Zhang Xia.

It wasn’t necessarily unbreakable.

...

...

Late at night.

Chen Ji sat alone in the superior room, silently reflecting on the events in Guyuan.

With a creak, the door opened.

Xiao Man rolled up her sleeves and entered with a wooden basin: "Young Master, soak your feet to relieve fatigue."

She squatted in front of Chen Ji, reached out to help him take off his boots.

Chen Ji quickly withdrew his foot: "No need, I’ll do it myself."

Xiao Man was puzzled: "Young Master, did I do something wrong?"

Chen Ji calmly replied: "You did nothing wrong. Just, you don’t need to do these things anymore."

Xiao Man’s eyes widened: "Young Master, what nonsense are you saying. If a maid doesn’t do these things, what does she do... Are you going to dismiss me?"

The next moment, Chen Ji took out a yellow paper from his sleeve: "I promised you that if we survived and left Guyuan, I’d retrieve your indenture contract. Xiao Man, you’re no longer a maid; you no longer need to work servilely."

Xiao Man was initially stunned, then joyfully accepted the contract: "When did Young Master retrieve it?"

Chen Ji explained: "I returned to Dragon Gate Inn ahead of you all to fetch luggage and took this from Mrs. Liang’s belongings."

Xiao Man lowered her head and spoke softly: "Young Master was thinking of me."

Chen Ji shook his head: "I didn’t go specifically for your indenture. I was worried Mrs. Liang would renege after Chen Wenxiao’s death, so I went to find the property deeds Aunt left, though she didn’t carry them on her."

Xiao Man murmured: "Those things are kept in the Imperial Capital; surely not carried on person... But, but where will I go now."

Having longed for years, now truly free, she suddenly felt lost.

Chen Ji pondered: "When we return to the Imperial Capital, I’ll retrieve Aunt’s estate. You can become a shopkeeper. If you want to go to Gufu Building, go to Gufu Building. If you want to go to Yujing Garden, go to Yujing Garden."

Xiao Man retorted angrily: "Young Master is joking. I wouldn’t go to Yujing Garden, that’s in Eight Great Hutongs, a place of ill-repute. I’m a young girl, going there to manage affairs is absurd. If I go anywhere, it’s to Gufu Building."

Chen Ji agreed: "Then be the shopkeeper at Gufu Building."

Xiao Man looked at him, then lowered her head again: "Alright, I’ll surely manage it well. If the business fails, Xiao Man will come and see you with my head..."

At this moment, Zhang Xia and Zhang Zheng pushed the door and entered.

Xiao Man suddenly handed back the indenture to Chen Ji: "Keep this for me first. When I need it, give it to me."

She hurriedly left with the basin, almost bumping into Zhang Zheng.

Chen Ji hesitated... The hot water hadn’t been used.

Xiao Man, after leaving, looked left and right, not knowing where to go.

After a while, she set the basin on the ground, silently heading towards Wang Gui’s room.

At the door of room Ding, she took out a dagger from her sleeve and tried to open the latch through the seam.

Strangely, the door wasn’t locked.

Feeling something was wrong, Xiao Man pushed open the door. Inside, there was no sign of Wang Gui.

She gripped the dagger, checking the room furiously. The bed was untouched, the cup on the table unmoved—clearly unoccupied!

Xiao Man frowned and went downstairs, finding Qi Zhenzhuo on duty: "Hey!"

Qi Zhenzhuo turned around and smiled quickly: "Miss Xiao Man, did Master call me?"

Xiao Man retorted: "I’ve already said my Young Master doesn’t acknowledge you as his disciple! I ask you, have you seen Wang Gui?"

Qi Zhenzhuo recalled: "Yes, after we settled, he took a horse out, saying he’d help Lady Chen buy some items."

Xiao Man sternly asked: "When did he leave?"

Qi Zhenzhuo replied: "About an hour ago."

Xiao Man thought, this was bad. She had planned to eliminate the trouble before returning to the Imperial Capital, but Wang Gui proved too cunning, fleeing ahead.

"Troublemaker!" Xiao Man angrily returned to her room.

Chen Ji saw her upset expression, asked puzzled: "Where did you go? Who angered you?"

Xiao Man sat on a small stool sulking: "It’s nothing."

She shifted her seat, turning her back to Chen Ji and others, plotting how to deal with Wang Gui upon their return.

In the room, Zhang Xia said to Chen Ji: "From Guyuan to the Imperial Capital, passing Qingyang, Tongchuan, Yun City, Taiyuan, Huolu, totaling 2,600 li. Now it’s January, reaching the capital might not be till February. Mr. Chen urges the Crown Prince to leave quickly, fearing delay will affect Chen Wenzong’s imperial examination."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Xia continued: "Throughout the journey, I’ve seen Mrs. Liang and Wang Gui conspiring something. Once back, you should move out of Chen Mansion. Either stay in our Zhang Mansion or buy a small house—it’ll be better than staying with the Chen family..."

She saw Chen Ji lost in thought and curiously asked: "What are you thinking about?"

Chen Ji snapped back, smiled: "I’m thinking Master should have arrived in Lushun."

...

...

Outside Lushun Port, in the darkness, a twin-masted ship sailed towards the harbor.

An old man stood at the ship’s side, watching the port getting closer, then turned back to the cabin.

Inside, Liang Gou’er slept soundly on the bed. Liang Mao’er watched Zhu Yunxi practice with a wooden sword in the cramped cabin, sweating profusely.

Old Yao glanced at them: "Prepare to disembark. The Military Strategy Department will meet us on the shore and escort us to the Jing Dynasty Capital. Heir, remember your purpose here. Only with patience can you succeed."

Zhu Yunxi lowered the wooden sword: "I remember."