Green Mountain

Chapter 799 646: Treasure Monkey

Jiao Tu and Yun Yang have gone to deliver messages.

Treasure Monkey climbed into the carriage and tightly pulled the curtain.

No one ever opposed Chen Ji's arrangements, as if everything was expected, everyone focused on their own tasks.

Chen Ji took the whip from the driver, tucked the Whale Blade into the carriage, leaving just a portion of the handle visible, ready to draw at any time.

Zhang Zhuo was about to descend the steps but was held back by Mrs. Zhang's grip on his sleeve, whispering, "You knew all along, didn't you?"

Zhang Zhuo turned back, teasing, "Why does Lady act like she just met him? In Luocheng City, he was the one who jumped out of the city to quell the riot, rescued Princely Heir and Commandery Princess from prison, killed over a hundred Heavenly Strategy Army in Guyuan, and bore the infamy for me to shield against seductive foes. Your husband was promoted to Minister of Personnel and entered the Cabinet because he helped topple the Crown Prince and the second branch of the Chen family, chips Your Majesty exchanged from the Qi family and Chen family."

Mrs. Zhang frowned, "But I didn't know about his Binghu identity..."

At the Ritual Supervision, not to mention the Poison Minister in Jiefan Building, let alone Bai Long and Heavenly Horse, just two obscure zodiac signs, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang, weigh heavily on half of Jianghu.

Spy Department's Twelve Signs, each a frequent guest in storytelling books.

Mrs. Zhang was puzzled, wondering how Chen Ji, just a young lad of nineteen, became one of the Top Three Binghu? Even if favored by that Poison Minister, how could he command respect?

In this world, many favored officials temporarily occupy high positions, if their virtue doesn't match their rank, subordinates surely feign compliance. But Jiao Tu, Yun Yang, and Treasure Monkey show no signs of feigned compliance, clearly respectful.

Zhang Zhuo patted his wife's hand gently, saying, "Lady, no matter his identity, he's just a child without a home."

Mrs. Zhang was startled, looking at the frail figure of Chen Ji by the carriage.

Zhang Zhuo walked down the steps, clutching a memorial, and ducked inside the carriage, "Let's go, the Eastern Hua Gate is about to open."

Chen Ji turned his head, smiling at Mrs. Zhang, "Mother need not worry, Father-in-law will be fine."

The carriage slowly started moving, leisurely heading towards the Eastern Hua Gate.

On the way, running into Three Mountains Association men selling morning papers, Chen Ji waved and bought a newspaper with ten Copper Coins.

Inside the carriage, Zhang Zhuo was looking down at the memorial.

Treasure Monkey stared straight at Zhang Zhuo, a weathered voice emanating from beneath the mask, "Lord Zhang, wanting to be Cabinet Minister, diligence alone is insufficient."

A woman scoffed from beneath the mask, "Trying to stand out?"

A shrill voice teased, "A ruined dog still trying to dictate the country? Lord Zhang is the Minister of Personnel, a cabinet minister, and you, what are you?"

A heavy voice rumbled deeply, "Lord Zhang is talented, and will eventually become Cabinet Minister someday."

Zhang Zhuo, with perfect memory, never forgets what he's heard, slowly raised his head, pondering, "Liao Zhong? Yu Yuan? Changsheng? Qi Xiao?"

The carriage suddenly fell silent.

After a long while, the woman known as Yu Yuan softly inquired, "How does Lord remember a woman's voice?"

Zhang Zhuo set down the memorial, grinned, "During Jianing 27th year's Mid-Autumn at the Eight Great Hutongs choosing the Oiran, the event was unprecedented. I was dragged by Xu Shu to join the fun, fortunate enough to hear Miss Yu Yuan sing West River Moon. Her voice melodious as a nightingale, echoing around the hall, her voice haunting my dreams."

Yu Yuan excitedly exclaimed, "Really? When free, I'll sing for Lord Zhang again. Which song title does Lord like? Linjiang Xian, West River Moon, Butterfly Lovers, Zhegu Tian, Bosanzi, Pusa Man, Locking the South Branch, I can sing them all, especially West River Moon and Bosanzi are the best."

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "That's impossible, if Lady finds out, she'll go on a rampage."

Changsheng's shrill voice mocked, "When you're young and beautiful, people might want to hear you sing. Now hidden behind the wooden monkey mask, lacking face and figure, what good does singing bring?"

Yu Yuan chuckled, asking, "Will you listen if I sing for you?"

Changsheng, "Listen."

Yu Yuan snorted coldly, "Rootless man, don't sing for you."

Changsheng paused for a beat, then reluctantly turned to Zhang Zhuo, saying, "Once I served as a Jiefan Guard Thousand Households, only meeting Lord Zhang once, never expecting Lord Zhang remembers my voice."

Zhang Zhuo bowed slightly, "Lord Changsheng guarded the vital West Gate, naturally remembered, such a pity..."

The middle-aged voice under Treasure Monkey's mask sneered, "Lord Zhang, for me to take their faces, either they opposed the court or the Lord Prime Minister, nothing to pity. Yu Yuan was a Jing Dynasty spy, hidden in the Eight Great Hutongs gathering intel for our court; Changsheng accepted bribes from foreign ministers, leaking palace secrets; Qi Xiao sought to kill the Ritual Supervision's far-away Commander, all self-inflicted."

The heavy voice known as Qi Xiao sternly replied, "All past events, why mention them. Not that you are great urself."

Yu Yuan smoothed things over, "Nowadays we're all neighbors, nothing to argue about."

Chen Ji overheard the lively sounds from behind Treasure Monkey's mask through the curtain.

He quietly pondered, these people must be same-path Executive Officers with faces taken by Treasure Monkey... Qi Xiao, Qi Zhong, could this Qi Xiao be one of the Qi family's Death Soldier too?

Yet uncertain who Treasure Monkey truly is?

A killer from Wunian Mountain?

At this moment, Liao Zhong spoke again, "Lord Zhang, Your Majesty chose the Cabinet Minister looking at two things: people and money. Your new policy indeed enriches the national treasury, but it has offended the entire court of civil and military officials and the gentry. Without the support of the Xu Family, the new policy will probably fail to be implemented. If it fails, naturally you cannot be the Grand Secretary."

Zhang Zhuo smiled, "Please give me some guidance, Elder."

Liao Zhong thought for a moment and said, "Qi Zhen is about to enter the capital. He was defeated by the Poison Minister and retired earlier, allowing Qi Xianzun to take the position of Left Imperial Censor. Now he's returning to court, likely to take Official Qi's position. The Qi family's situation is precarious, and they have lost the Three Judicial Departments. If they don't want to follow in the Liu Family's footsteps, they must seek allies in court... Just perfect to be Lord Zhang's ally."

Changsheng spoke softly, "Then why doesn't he choose the Hu Family or the Chen family? Or the Jinling Xu Family or Huqiu Xu Family?"

Liao Zhong chuckled, "He doesn't dare. The Hu and Chen families are powerful; choosing them would be like seeking skin from a tiger, eventually getting devoured. The Jinling Xu Family and Huqiu Xu Family are indulgent and unreliable. Only Lord Zhang has the Emperor's favor, capability outstanding, yet lacks the foundation to swallow the Qi family, who else but Lord Zhang?"

Yu Yuan asked, puzzled, "But the other day Lord Binghu and Second Miss Zhang embarrassed the Qi family."

Liao Zhong responded calmly, "Entering the Imperial Capital requires leaving behind personal emotions, a truth everyone must understand before coming to the capital. All the cabinet ministers and departments in Wenhua Palace have the ability to endure humiliation. If Official Qi could still control the situation, the Qi family wouldn't be in this state."

At this moment, the carriage arrived outside East Gate, and Zhang Zhuo lifted his coat and got off, "Thank you Elder for the guidance, I have my considerations."

The East Gate hadn't opened yet, and many department officials were already waiting. When they saw Zhang Zhuo alight, only a few bowed in greeting, while the rest turned their heads, ignoring him.

As the hourglass on the city tower emptied, the gate slowly opened.

Changxiu stood inside the gate, smiling and bowing to the officials outside, "Gentlemen, please, the Wenhua Palace has prepared braziers and hot water, go warm yourselves..."

While speaking, his gaze passed through the crowd and spotted Chen Ji at the back, his eyes lit up, "Mr. Chen, what brings you here today?"

Chen Ji raised the reins in his hand, "Driving for Lord Zhang."

The department officials outside East Gate exchanged glances; someone whispered, "Not long ago he was Marquis Wu Xiang, now he's degraded to a coachman for the Zhang family. The Zhang family really knows how to humiliate people."

"It's his own doing..."

Chen Ji ignored the whispers, and calmly asked Changxiu, "First time driving here to East Gate, where should the carriage be parked?"

Changxiu laughed and pointed north, "Park the carriage at the 'riverfront house', there's hot water for coachmen and bearers there, you can wait inside. When Lord Zhang comes out, someone will notify you, then bring the carriage to pick him up."

Just then, the Chen family carriage arrived, smoothly stopping in front of East Gate.

Chen Xu drove the carriage and placed a footstool beside it, helping Official Chen get off; Official Chen wobbly like a candle dying in the wind.

Seeing Chen Ji while disembarking, he immediately pretended not to see him, wobbling inside East Gate.

Chen Lizun also emerged from the carriage, stunned at seeing Chen Ji, sternly asking, "The Zhang family assigned you as Lord Zhang's coachman? Outrageous, you aren't actually a son-in-law!"

Chen Ji casually explained, "Mr. Chen's anger, it's my own choice."

Then he led the carriage slowly into the hutong, not looking back.

Outside East Gate, the Inner Court government offices lined up, with the Mixed Bathing Bureau, Mingqi Factory, Food and Drink Supervisor, Southern Kitchen, Inner Transport Depot all present, separated from the red palace wall by a narrow palace path.

Chen Ji headed north to find the riverfront house, hearing bearers and coachmen inside bantering, gambling, boasting. After some thought, he chose not to enter.

He tied the horse to the stable, sitting against the carriage, holding Wu Yun wondering.

Inside the carriage, voices of Treasure Monkey echoed, like neighbors in a narrow alley arguing over who's blocking whose path.

Suddenly amid the noise, Changsheng's sharp voice cried "No," silencing everyone as if their throats were grasped.

Chen Ji turned around confused, hand resting on the Whale Blade's handle.

Next moment, a small slit opened in the carriage's curtain, revealing the wooden monkey mask timidly looking at Chen Ji.

Chen Ji calmly asked, "Who are you?"

Under the wooden monkey mask, a small girl's voice asked, "Brother Chen Ji, where are we now?"

Chen Ji was shocked, was this voice what silenced all others?

First time hearing this from Treasure Monkey, seemed she recognized him?

Chen Ji pondered briefly, "We're outside East Gate, waiting for Lord Zhang Zhuo Zhang to finish court."

The small girl curiously asked, "How long will it take?"

Chen Ji hesitated, "Afraid it will take a while, he comes out at noon."

The small girl softly replied, "Oh, then can you tell me a story?"