Green Mountain
Chapter 365 - 301, Start Working in the Palace

Chapter 365: 301, Start Working in the Palace

Imperial Palace Gate, Duan Gate, Chengtian Gate.

Only after passing the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the Earth and Grain Altar, and exiting Chengtian Gate, was one truly out of the Imperial Palace. Without the watchful eyes of the Jiefan Guard and the Yulin Army, one could walk more briskly.

Chen Ji led Zaozao, while Xiao Man carried Wu Yun.

Under the night sky, the two of them walked west along the wide Chang’an Street. Moonlight spilled onto the road, and the Imperial Capital was far less bustling than Chen Ji had imagined. There were neither throngs of people nor brightly lit streets.

"Why is it so deserted?" Chen Ji looked back at the endless Chang’an Street behind him.

Laughing, Xiao Man said, "If you want excitement, Master, you need to go to East City. The Eight Great Hutongs and Dashlan never rest at night. We live in a place full of officials and gentry; who dares to be noisy here?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "How about we move to East City in the future?"

Hurriedly, Xiao Man replied, "No, no. Better a bed in West City than a room in East City. Who would give up a place in West City to move to East City, full of traveling actors, old gangsters, tattooed ruffians, and swindlers—all of Lower Nine?"

Chen Ji laughed and asked, "Then where do you think we should live?"

Xiao Man tilted her head in thought. "If Master becomes a high-ranking official in the future, we could get a house on Chessboard Street. It’s close to the Imperial Palace Gate, convenient for morning court; many Ministry officials rent houses there. If Master enters the Official ranks, we’ll have to live on Fuyou Street or Xuanwu Gate Street."

Chen Ji chuckled. "You’ve got it all figured out?"

Explaining, Xiao Man said, "Of course! Our Chen family and the Qi family and Hu family are all on Fuyou Street. The Xu family, Yang family, and Zhang family are on Xuanwu Gate Street. Officials from the south live on Xuanwu Gate Street, it’s very elegant, with Literary Meetings every day. They look down on Fuyou Street, calling it lifeless. People on Fuyou Street look down on them too, calling them frivolous."

Chen Ji patted Zaozao’s back: "Xiao Man, I probably won’t become a high-ranking official. We might really move to East City someday."

Xiao Man widened her eyes. "Impossible, Master, you’re so competent. Sooner or later, you’ll become a high-ranking official."

Shaking his head, Chen Ji said, "Becoming a high-ranking official is very difficult... I just discussed with Lord Zhang who were the winners and losers in today’s court discussion. It left me completely baffled, and I suddenly felt a deep sense of awe for the Imperial Capital. I think I’m only fit to be a pawn, not someone who moves the chess pieces."

Curious, Xiao Man asked, "What winners and losers? Who were the winners?"

Chen Ji explained, "The Hu family, the Chen family, the Xu family, the Qi family, His Majesty, and Wu Xiu are all winners."

Xiao Man asked again, "Then who are the losers?"

Chen Ji was silent for a long time. "The common people of Guyuan are the biggest losers."

Xiao Man was completely puzzled, not understanding what her master was thinking.

Chen Ji smiled and changed the subject, "Did big brother and second sister return to the Zhang Mansion?"

Immediately, Xiao Man was gleeful. "As soon as we arrived in the Imperial Capital, Mrs. Zhang picked them up at the city gate. She cried like a fountain, blaming them for running off to Guyuan secretly, and said she’d use family law when they got back. Zhang Zheng and second sister were as meek as quails, they both look like they’re in for a beating."

Chen Ji glanced at her: "Why don’t you call him big brother?"

Lowering her head, Xiao Man muttered, "He struts around all day with no sense of responsibility, so I don’t call him big brother... Right, Master, second sister said you went to the palace to see the stars today. Did you see them?"

Chen Ji replied quietly, "I did."

Xiao Man’s eyes twinkled. "Is it Princess Bai Li?"

Chen Ji hummed in acknowledgment.

Hesitating, Xiao Man asked, "...Is she well?"

Chen Ji instinctively tightened his grip on the reins but did not reply.

They arrived at Fuyou Street.

Xiao Man led Chen Ji into an alley, knocking on a side door on the south side of the Chen Mansion.

She kicked the stone lion in front of the door, muttering, "Master is already an official, yet we’re still not allowed to use the main entrance. Rules, rules, it’s all rules every day."

The wooden door creaked open, and a polite Chen Mansion servant said, "Third Young Master, you’ve returned. Please follow me."

He led Chen Ji inside, walking barely a dozen yards before reaching a courtyard. The servant respectfully said, "Master instructed that you’ll be living in this courtyard from now on. It was cleaned up a few days ago, and everything is ready."

Chen Ji pushed the door open—the courtyard was neat and clean.

Wu Yun jumped out of Xiao Man’s arms, stretching lazily.

The servant followed them in, saying, "Does Third Young Master want to pay respects to Master and Lady? Master specifically told me to inform him as soon as you returned..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Man already closed the door behind them, her voice floating from inside, "My master needs to rest; you can go back."

Facing the closed door, the servant opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

Xiao Man pressed her ear to the door, waiting until she heard the footsteps fade away before turning and surveying the courtyard. "Wow, Master, look, all the bricks in the courtyard are from the official kilns of Suzhou Prefecture. Even the ones inside have plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum engravings."

She roamed around the courtyard, examining it up and down. "The courtyard is so big! That bare tree must be a ginkgo tree, growing so tall—it must have been here for many years. It’ll look beautiful in the autumn. You’ll live in the main house, set up a study in the East Wing Room, and store miscellaneous items in the West Wing Room... No, wait, I remember now, this was Chen Wenxiao’s old courtyard. Ugh, unlucky."

Thinking of Chen Wenxiao, Xiao Man instantly lost interest, her excitement about living in a ’big courtyard’ beginning to fade.

She turned around to find that Chen Ji was not listening to her but was crouched on the ground, conspiring with Wu Yun.

Squatting down as well, she saw Chen Ji drawing a map in the dirt with a twig, explaining to Wu Yun: "This is the Imperial Palace Gate, where most of the Yulin Army are stationed. You have to climb over the western palace wall—inside is the Imperial Wine Room. Don’t go through the Imperial Gate; the Jiefan Guard is numerous there, with a Heavenly Venerate Grand Official stationed in the four corner towers."

While drawing the palace map, Chen Ji continued, "From the Renzhi Hall, circle around Cining Palace to Kunning Palace. At that point, you’ll only be two walls away from Dongliu Palace... Be very careful; I didn’t see the entire palace today, so there may still be hidden dangers. Remember, if it’s too difficult, retreat immediately. We’ll find another opportunity."

Wu Yun nodded.

Squatting beside them, Xiao Man looked from Chen Ji to Wu Yun, shocked. "Heavenly Venerate, how can you remember such a complicated thing?"

Wu Yun cast her a disdainful glance and meowed.

Confused, Xiao Man asked, "Master, what did Heavenly Venerate say?"

Chen Ji translated, "It asked if you can’t remember."

Xiao Man: "..."

Chen Ji turned to Wu Yun and gently reminded, "She must be having a hard time trapped in Jingyang Palace. The Daoist Nun in Jingyang Palace is crazy. If anyone bullies her, find a way to protect her and don’t let her be wronged."

Wu Yun meowed, then jumped onto the roof, blending into the night as it headed toward the Imperial Palace.

Watching Wu Yun disappear into the night, Xiao Man suddenly realized that the person Master cared about was indeed Princess Bai Li.

But if it’s the Commandery Princess... When will I see Master marry? Won’t I have to stay in the Chen Mansion forever?

Maybe that’s not so bad.

...

...

The Imperial Capital had many tall buildings, more than Luocheng City.

The layered pavilions of two, three, or four stories formed an intricate skyline, casting shadows that concealed Wu Yun’s form.

Walking and stopping along the gray tiles, it passed through Fuyou Street. When carriages passed, it patiently waited.

Inside one carriage, a noble young lady lifted the curtain, spotting Wu Yun perched on the eaves.

She exclaimed, "Someone’s using a cat as an eaves beast, how novel!"

As she called her companions to see, the eaves were already empty.

Leaping from one eave to another, Wu Yun effortlessly crossed the wide Fuyou Street and continued toward the palace walls. Upon reaching the red walls, it jumped lightly to the gray tiles, cautiously surveying its surroundings.

In front of the Imperial Wine Room, a little eunuch in a green robe was dozing off while on guard.

Following Chen Ji’s instructions, Wu Yun veered north.

As it neared Cining Palace, it slowed, ears pricked.

The bright lights of Cining Palace were guarded by Jiefan Guards with long knives at their waists, watching fiercely.

An elderly woman, supported by palace maids, approached the gate, only to be stopped by the Jiefan Guard.

Furiously, the elderly woman demanded, "How dare he treat me like this! I am his birth mother who raised him and Prince Jing for over ten years. How dare he imprison me in Cining Palace!"

Standing silently by the gate, Lin Chaoqing didn’t budge despite her outcry.

Growing angrier, the elderly woman shouted, "My Liu Family is wiped out; what threat do we pose? Even our overseas kin were hunted down! The Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele in front of Renshou Palace might as well be destroyed!"

Wu Yun wondered why everyone in the palace seemed mad.

Worried for Princess Bai Li, it bypassed Cining Palace, hurrying forward.

A patrol of Jiefan Guards passed by, their eagle-like eyes scanning everywhere. Wu Yun lay low, blending into the night.

After they left, it continued cautiously, soon forced to hide again by another patrol.

The short twenty-something-yard journey took Wu Yun ten minutes.

Approaching Kunning Palace, a sudden strong light from the corner tower panned over. A copper mirror reflected the brazier’s flame, illuminating every shadowy corner of the forbidden palace.

The middle-aged man holding the mirror had a stern face and sharp eyes.

As the light neared, Wu Yun leapt off the palace wall, hiding in the bushes.

In the next moment, a gust of wind picked it up by the scruff.

A gruff voice said, "Madam, it’s just a lost black cat."

Miserably dangling, Wu Yun looked back to see a graceful woman sitting on a stone bench.

The woman wore a sandalwood-colored cross-collared long coat, a gold-threaded horse-face skirt, with seasonal floral patterns on her collar and cuffs, her hair simply adorned with a pearl and jade phoenix hairpin.

The person holding it was an elderly female official, wearing a purple robe, her gray hair pinned with a wooden hairpin, a domino and keys at her waist.

Softly, the woman said, "Let me have a look."

Bringing Wu Yun closer, the female official remarked, "Madam, this ugly stray cat should be killed."

Laughing, the woman replied, "Aunt Yuan Jin, restrain your urge to kill. It’s just a cat. It’s actually quite rare to see such a black one."

She took Wu Yun, placing it on her lap, petting it gently. "Its fur is clean, unlike a stray. Maybe it wandered off from some Official’s house... Forget it, asking around might raise suspicions."

Aunt Yuan Jin glanced at Wu Yun. "Better to kill it and be done."

Frozen on her lap, Wu Yun suddenly nuzzled into her hand, burrowing into her embrace.

Startled, she watched as it rolled around, revealing its belly, looking at her with gleaming eyes.

She smiled. "Keep it, it’ll bring some life to the palace. We can spare it some food."

Reluctantly, Aunt Yuan Jin agreed, "As you wish. But what about seeing the Young Prince? He’s been requesting an audience for months, sending dozens of invitations... He misses you dearly. As the Empress, you can see your own son."

The woman stroked Wu Yun’s fur, her warmth fading. After a long silence, she sighed, "I can’t see him. His Majesty dreads harem interference. Meeting him would harm him. Besides, with his uncle causing trouble in Guyuan, he’s under scrutiny. My seeing him would stir more suspicion. Tell the Young Prince I’m well, and that he should follow his foster father’s arrangements. We will meet eventually."

Scratching Wu Yun’s chin, she asked with a smile, "Isn’t that right?"

Wu Yun: "..."