Green Mountain
Chapter 364 - 300, Ascend the Stage_2

Chapter 364: 300, Ascend the Stage_2

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Has someone been chosen as Deputy General and Assistant General of Guyuan, Mr. Wang?"

Zhang Zhuo shook his head, "It depends on what price the Xu, Qi, and Chen families are willing to offer. Whoever offers the highest price will get these two positions and take control of the Guyuan trade route."

Chen Ji whispered, "Two peaches kill three warriors."

Starting from Luocheng City, eliminate the Liu Family, the Vassal Princes, and the Cao Guild—killing three birds with one stone.

Upon reaching Guyuan, eliminate the Heavenly Strategy Army, and bury Mr. Feng like a knife waiting for the endgame.

Then in the Imperial Capital, Emperor Ning first renders the Crown Prince impotent, scattering his allies. Then he reduces the Prime Minister’s power, balancing the Inner Court. Afterward, he has Hu Junxian resume his cultivation, winning his loyalty. Finally, he sets up two peaches to kill three warriors, inciting internal strife among the three families.

Chen Ji murmured, "So this is the Imperial Capital, the true art of the emperor."

On the first day in the capital, he learned a vivid lesson in the emperor’s art.

Zhang Zhuo sighed, "Such an emperor, if he is devoted to the world, it is the fortune of the people. But if..."

He did not continue.

Zhang Zhuo patted Chen Ji’s shoulder, comforting him, "Don’t lose heart. It’s a good thing His Majesty didn’t give you the Right Guard’s position; it shows you’re noticed by him. First, being a minor flag officer in the Yulin Army keeps you from getting embroiled in political disputes too early, avoiding unexpected disasters and allowing you to focus on cultivation. Second, not placing you with the Crown Prince’s faction might mean future opportunities for significant roles."

Chen Ji questioned, "Since Lord Zhang knows the Crown Prince’s fall, why did you speak out for me at the imperial audience?"

Zhang Zhuo smiled mysteriously, "I knew His Majesty wouldn’t give you the Right Guard position, but I needed the officials to see that you are my man. This way, anyone who wants to harm you will have to think twice about offending the future Cabinet Minister."

Chen Ji sighed, "Lord Zhang is indeed a true mad scholar."

A madman indeed.

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "Remember, in this Imperial Capital, ’right’ and ’wrong’ don’t matter. Under the Divine Realm, personal power doesn’t matter. Who your patron is, that’s what matters most. Only this one thing can determine your life and death, success, or failure."

Chen Ji bowed, "I understand."

At this time, the officials had already boarded their sedans, returning home separately.

Zhang Zhuo’s servants and sedan also waited in the distance, surrounded by a crowd. Only Xiao Man sat alone, holding Wu Yun with Zaozao beside him, dozing off in the distance.

But Chen Ji’s gaze shifted from Xiao Man to another person outside the Imperial Palace Gate.

Zhang Zhuo followed his gaze; Bai Long dressed in white like snow, wearing a dragon-patterned mask, stood outside the palace gate, bowing at a distance to Chen Ji and Zhang Zhuo.

Bai Long? Or Mr. Feng?

Zhang Zhuo didn’t want any involvement with Bai Long and whispered to Chen Ji, "Tomorrow, wait for me at the Ministry of Personnel’s office; don’t forget to bring your household registration documents to collect your decree and seal. This step is called ’Hall Registration,’ then go to the Imperial Inspection Office to get a ’Handbook,’ and finally to the Yulin Army Commander’s Mansion."

Chen Ji said goodbye, "Understood, Lord Zhang, rest early."

Once Zhang Zhuo left, Chen Ji walked straight to Bai Long, bowing, "Thank you, Lord Bai Long, for your help this afternoon."

Bai Long replied with a smile, "No need for thanks, it was a minor effort."

At this moment, Chen Ji was certain the Bai Long before him was not the same as the one in the afternoon.

Same voice, same figure, same height, but Bai Long in the afternoon didn’t save him; he merely helped him go to Jingyang Palace to meet Bai Li.

And this Bai Long had not yet had time to communicate with Mr. Feng.

But why did the voice, figure, and height remain the same? Chen Ji’s gaze slowly moved to the dragon-patterned mask, could it be due to this item?

Is Mr. Feng controlled by the Suppression Technique?

Absolutely not.

All magic in Renshou Palace is suppressed by supreme imperial power; the Suppression Technique can’t be executed, so Mr. Feng is indeed Mr. Feng, not a puppet.

Then who is the Bai Long in front of me? How many people hide behind Bai Long’s mask?

If it wasn’t for being overwhelmed, Chen Ji would have liked to uncover the mask to see the true face beneath.

Chen Ji wanted to probe further, but Bai Long seemed unwilling to converse more today, waving his hand, "I have guard duty tonight; if there’s nothing else, return home early."

Chen Ji bowed, "Yes."

He turned to Xiao Man, "Let’s go, home."

Xiao Man lifted his head in confusion. Seeing it was Chen Ji, he exclaimed joyfully, "Young master, you finally came out. How about it, did you get the Sixth Rank officer position?"

Chen Ji whispered a few words.

Xiao Man hugged Wu Yun, indignantly, "Why, how can they break their promises!"

Wu Yun meowed, "Indeed!"

Bai Long stood at the Imperial Palace Gate, quietly watching as Chen Ji led Zaozao into the dark night of the capital, then turned and walked toward the Taiye Pond on the west side of the palace.

Taiye Pond divided into North Sea, Central Sea, South Sea, with Wansui Mountain, Qionghua Island, and Ziguang Pavilion in the middle. Early years it was the training place for the navy; now, this huge Taiye Pond has become a restricted area in the palace, only accessible during major court ceremonies.

Bai Long walked with his hands behind his back, from south to north, crossing the White Jade Bridge, arriving at Qionghua Island.

Entering the island, he came to a fake mountain, knocked on a heavy iron door.

The door opened slowly, inside sat a spy, with another larger, heavier iron door behind him.

The spy glanced at Bai Long, "Waist tag."

This Imperial Prison recognizes only waist tags, not people, even the Top Three Zodiacs don’t matter.

Bai Long took out an ivory waist tag from his sleeve, the tag was blank but had three divination symbols: the Death Gate, the Fear Gate, and the Harm Gate, the three ominous gates.

Seeing the waist tag, the spy respectfully knocked on the second door eight times, in varied intensity and speed.

The second iron door of the Imperial Prison opened slowly.

The spy stepped aside, "Sir, Prisoner Sir is in Luocheng City, not yet returned."

Bai Long walked down the stone steps, the Imperial Prison here is better than elsewhere, clean, spacious, brightly lit, with Eight Diagrams lamps along the walls.

Only the gusts of cold wind made one’s hair stand on end.

Bai Long passed through long passageways, guarded by hundreds of spies, none lazing about.

At the deepest part, he waved off the nearby spies.

In a solitary cell, Mr. Feng in a white prison robe, sat under a lone lamp reading. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, smiled, "Did Chen Ji suspect you?"

Bai Long responded affirmatively.

Mr. Feng chuckled, "That kid is very astute; be cautious."

Bai Long calmly asked, "Do you get used to living here?"

Mr. Feng said casually, "No problem, after so many years, not a single day off. Now stealing time to read and write, it’s a fortune in life."

Bai Long suddenly asked, "Can you die?"

Mr. Feng raised his eyebrows, casually took his head off, swapping from left to right hands, still smiling, "Like this?"

Then he placed his head back, laughed heartily, "A trivial trick, excuse my jest."

Bai Long asked again, "Where to go after faking death?"

Mr. Feng came to the iron bars, smiled, "Far away, far even in dreams can’t return. But when reunited, it’s the day to recreate qiankun. Believe me, that day isn’t far."

Bai Long stayed silent for a long time, "Take care."

Mr. Feng laughed heartily, "No need for me to take care, you all need to take care. Go back, it’s not a place you should be in."

Bai Long turned and walked away; Mr. Feng watched his figure receding.

The stage has rules.

There are two doors on stage, the left for ’exit general,’ the right for ’enter prime minister.’ An actor exits from the ’exit general’ door as if on a battlefield; after performing, exits from ’enter prime minister’ door like a triumphing hero.

At this moment, Mr. Feng looked at Bai Long’s back, as if watching him enter the ’exit general’ door, stepping onto the stage. Whether he can triumph, even he doesn’t know.

The iron door’s closing echo resonated through the long passage; Mr. Feng calmly turned back, sitting under that lone lamp, picking up the book.

Bittersweet dramas play onstage; alone I do not perform.