Green Mountain

Chapter 800 647: Vermillion

Telling a story?

Chen Ji had never told a story to a child before: "Brother doesn't know how to tell stories, how about I read you the newspaper instead?"

The little girl shook her head: "The newspaper is not interesting, I want to hear a story. Lord Bai Long, he can tell stories and make paper kites. I want him to take me to fly kites, but he said to wait until early summer to take me to the dandelion-covered hills."

The little girl's voice became cheerful: "Lord Bai Long also said he would take me to many places."

Chen Ji curiously asked: "Where else?"

The little girl suddenly took off the wooden monkey mask from her face, revealing a delicate face beneath. There was no complex and mysterious mask, just a clean face with small dimples: "Lord Bai Long said, after the awakening of insects in spring, he would take me to the outskirts of the city to search for treasure. Four-leaf clovers are treasures, and oddly shaped stones are treasures too. If I find more than he does, he will take me out to play in summer again."

Chen Ji relaxed, his hand leaving the handle of the Whale Blade, and he leaned against the carriage with a smile, asking: "Where will you play in the summer?"

The little girl said with a smile: "Lord Bai Long said, in summer he can take me to Yongding River to catch fish. Lord Bai Long said he's the best at catching fish, doesn't need a net, can catch them with bare hands. We keep the caught fish in a clay pot, and release them back into the river when we return home."

"And in autumn?"

"In autumn, when all the leaves have fallen, he'll take me to collect the prettiest leaves. He said that the leaves on Fragrant Mountain, when red, are even more beautiful than the evening clouds. The collected leaves are pressed inside books, and when you look at them in winter, it's as if autumn is hidden away."

"And in winter?"

"Winter, oh?" The little girl thought for a moment: "Lord Bai Long took me to build snowmen lately."

Chen Ji sighed: "Lord Bai Long is thoughtful."

The little girl hid behind the carriage curtain: "Brother Chen Ji..."

Chen Ji turned his head, looking down at the little girl's face: "How do you know my name?"

The little girl replied matter-of-factly: "Lord Bai Long told me. He said your name is Chen Ji, and you're a friend. If one day my uncle and aunt aren't around, and I encounter danger, I should find you, and you'll surely be willing to help me."

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Uncle and aunt?"

The little girl thought for a moment: "Those uncles and aunts staying at my house."

Chen Ji realized, this must refer to Changsheng, Yu Yuan, Qi Xiao, and others.

He felt a stir in his heart: "What else did Lord Bai Long say about me?"

The little girl recalled: "Lord Bai Long said you're particularly stubborn, like a donkey that won't move even if you pull it, and backs away if you hit it. He also said you seem smart, but you're actually dumb as a rock. He said you think too much..."

Chen Ji hurriedly interrupted: "Alright, alright, I get it... By the way, what's your name?"

The little girl obediently replied: "I'm called Vermillion, Aunt Yu Yuan calls me Nannan, the uncles call me Little Donggua."

Chen Ji let out a long sigh: "Those uncles are really mean."

Vermillion looked up and said: "You haven't told me a story yet."

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "I haven't read many stories, but I can tell you about a story called 'Night Naming Skill', where the main character is named Qing Chen, and he has a brother named Qing Zhun..."

Vermillion was puzzled: "What's 'group crossing'?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath: "Then let's change to another tale, I'll tell you a story about a little monkey."

Vermillion pointed to the wooden monkey mask beside her: "Is it the story of this monkey?"

Chen Ji was startled, then smiled: "Yes."

Vermillion became interested: "I want to hear it!"

Chen Ji smiled: "Once upon a time, there was a big stone that stayed by the sea for a long, long time, being baked by the sun, blown by the sea breeze, and drenched by the rain every day. One day, the stone suddenly cracked open..."

Chen Ji suddenly spread his arms wide, making an exaggerated gesture. Wu Yun, nestled on his shoulder, was startled by this sudden action and leapt onto the floor of the carriage, flicking its tail in displeasure.

Vermillion widened her eyes, holding the fluffy Wu Yun in her arms, looking up at Chen Ji: "And then?"

Unexpectedly, Wu Yun didn't struggle at all, just let Vermillion hold it, and listened to the story with wide eyes.

Chen Ji lowered his voice: "Then, a little monkey jumped out of the stone! This little monkey was incredible. It could run and jump and climb trees as soon as it was born. The moment it opened its eyes, two rays of golden light shot out from them, shooting straight up to the sky, shaking the Jade Emperor's throne."

Vermillion asked curiously: "Who's the Jade Emperor?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "He's the highest official in the sky, all the immortals answer to him."

Vermillion wondered: "Is he bigger than Lord Bai Long?"

Chen Ji laughed: "He's much bigger than Lord Bai Long. Bai Long just oversees the Spy Department, the Jade Emperor governs the entire world."

"Oh..." Vermillion blinked, "And then?"

"Then, the monkey played on the mountain with other monkeys. One day, while they were bathing in the mountain stream, an old monkey said, let's follow this stream upward and see where it originates. Whoever finds the source, we'll make him our king. So the monkeys walked upstream and arrived at a big waterfall. The waterfall was huge, with water rushing down from the mountain top, even faster than the water of the Yongding River."

"At this moment, our stone monkey jumped out and shouted, 'I'll go in!' He closed his eyes and jumped inside with all his might. Guess what he found?"

Vermillion shook her head.

"Behind the waterfall, there was no water, but there was a big iron bridge. On the other side of the bridge was a cave. At the cave entrance, there were twelve words: 'Blessed Land of Huaguo Mountain, Shuilian Cave Paradise.' Inside the cave, there was everything—stone pots and stoves, stone bowls and basins, stone benches and beds, spacious enough to house a thousand monkeys. It was practically a home custom-made for monkeys."

Vermillion's eyes sparkled, "Did he become the king?"

"Yes, he did..."

Chen Ji, recalling, continued telling young Vermillion the story of Journey to the West, speaking about the little monkey who crossed the seas to Southern Zhanzhou to learn dressing and speaking, and about the little monkey meeting Master Puti in the Mountain of Mind and Heart and Three Star Cave, before stopping.

He looked southward, noticing Changxiu waving at him, "Mr. Chen, Lord Zhang is leaving the palace, quickly bring the carriage over."

Chen Ji turned to Vermillion, "We'll stop here for today; the rest of the story is too long and will take a while to finish."

Vermillion didn't fuss, simply responding obediently with an 'oh', then widened the gap in the carriage curtain a bit, "Brother Chen Ji, can you continue the story tomorrow? The story you told is more interesting than the one from Lord Bai Long."

Chen Ji smiled, "Sure."

"Pinkie promise."

Chen Ji offered his little finger, "Pinkie promise."

After the pinkie promise, Vermillion contentedly put on the wooden monkey mask. Suddenly, the voice beneath the mask grew noisy, and Qi Xiao heard the drum sound from the city tower, speaking in a muffled voice, "Wait, it's already noon, why has Little Donggua been out for so long today?"

Changsheng seemed puzzled, "Isn't it usually no more than an hour? Lord Binghu, what happened today? What did Little Donggua say to you?"

Yu Yuan quickly asked, "Lord Binghu, did Nannan cry?"

Chen Ji nonchalantly replied, "Didn't cry, behaved well."

Yu Yuan was curious, "Really didn't cry, then why the delay?"

Chen Ji explained, "I told her a story, so maybe she didn't want to go back."

Yu Yuan curiously inquired, "What story?"

Chen Ji chuckled, "Not telling you."

Yu Yuan pleaded, "If Nannan wakes up at mealtime next time, could you please buy her some yellow rice cakes or osmanthus lotus root? She loves those."

"Certainly," Chen Ji agreed, and he went outside East Gate to pick up Zhang Zhuo and return to Zhang Mansion for lunch. After eating, he went to Wenhua Palace to review memorials and was busy until evening.

Seeing Official Chen and Official Hu leave the palace one after another and board their carriages, yet Zhang Zhuo's figure was nowhere in sight.

Qi Xiao questioned, "Could Lord Zhang have been assassinated in the palace?"

Changsheng scoffed, "The mountain bull is stationed in the palace, and Commander of Jiefan Guard, Li Dongyan, has just returned to the Imperial Capital. How many lives would Jing Dynasty traitors need to dare assassinate a cabinet minister in the palace? Besides, Lord Zhang is always diligent, sometimes stays in Wenhua Palace until the second period of night, then returns for a brief four-hour sleep before coming back."

Chen Ji was stunned; he realized Zhang Zhuo was working so hard.

Qi Xiao didn't understand, "Wasn't it said that the Military Intelligence Department would act against the cabinet minister today? But Official Hu and Official Chen have already left, surrounded by masters. If Lord Zhang stays until the second period of night, wouldn't they kill none?"

Changsheng casually said, "Then just wait for another day, not a big deal."

Chen Ji frowned in thought.

No, it won't be postponed.

The one from the Military Intelligence Department, who is arrogant and bold enough to issue a challenge, must be confident that there will be a chance today, but where is this opportunity?

At that moment, Changxiu walked out of Eastern Hua Gate, followed by two Jiefan Guards.

Chen Ji hurried forward, "Lord Changxiu, is Lord Zhang still in Wenhua Palace?"

Changxiu replied with a smile, "Lord Zhang is still reading urgent reports from the border. I heard that north of Datong there were movements of the Jing Dynasty's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Right now, King Wang Dao has just entered the palace, afraid he won't return until very late."

Chen Ji glanced at the imperial decree in Changxiu's arms and asked calmly, "Where is Lord Changxiu headed with this?"

Changxiu made an 'oh' sound, "Old Sir Qi from Qi Zhen is in the city today. Several Imperial Censors from the Imperial Inspection Office are hosting a welcome dinner for him on the third floor of Bianyifang Restaurant. The Holy Emperor has ordered me to issue a decree, promoting him to Minister of Rites, concurrently as Wenyuan Pavilion University Scholar, and additionally as Crown Prince's Guardian."

Chen Ji was stunned, was the Military Intelligence Department waiting for this?