Green Mountain

Chapter 801 648: Playing Games

Qi Zhen, styled as Anzhi.

Qi, the cousin of Mr. Qi, was the second top scholar in the 24th year of Zhengde, at the age of nineteen, and entered the Hanlin Academy as a compiler.

In the 27th year of Zhengde, he was sent to Taiyuan Prefecture as a Magistrate, ranked seventh, specializing in criminal cases, and handled major cases in the entire prefecture.

On his first day in Taiyuan, the government office was piled up with backlog cases in three storerooms, full of cobwebs.

The former magistrate left a letter for him: "This place is fierce, nine out of ten murder cases are unsolved, be cautious."

He didn't pay attention, just moved a desk into the storeroom and started reading from the oldest file.

In three months, out of 731 backlog cases, Qi Zhen re-summoned witnesses, re-examined murder weapons, rewrote verdicts, solving 626 backlog cases, and retried 96 wrongful cases.

Upon leaving office, the people raised a grand farewell parasol for him.

Over thirty years, from Magistrate he was promoted to Imperial Censor, and then successively promoted to Left Imperial Attendant, Chief Imperial Secretary, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Communication, Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Left Assistant Imperial Censor.

He didn't rise in the ranks with ease, making his way steadily at every step.

In the 7th year of Jianing, Qi Zhen was promoted to Left Imperial Censor, and on his first day, the first thing he did was to impeach the foreign relatives of the Liu Family: "The crime of the Liu Family lies not in greed or arrogance, but in overstepping bounds. Overstepping means acting like a sovereign while being a subject."

The decline of the Liu Family also began from this day.

Emperor Ning once said, when it comes to toppling the foreign relatives, Qi Zhen's contribution is sixty percent.

In the 9th year of Jianing, Qi Zhen presided over the trial of the Ritual Supervision Chief Eunuch Wang Bao Eagle Room Office sudden death case in the Joint Court of the Three Judicial Departments, incarcerating Xu Wenhe in the Imperial Supervision Office.

Though it came to nothing, it still antagonized Xu Wenhe.

In the 24th year of Jianing, due to drunkenly criticizing the Crown Prince's unjust rise to the throne, advocating for the rightful heir, he was dismissed from office and later retired to preside over family affairs in Ji State.

Now at seventy-one years old, Qi Zhen is reinstated and entered the Imperial Capital with a coffin, not intending to return alive.

People often say the emperor's mind is hard to fathom, but the officials in the capital know, to guess what His Majesty wants to do, one need only look at where the money is spent and who is employed.

This time, Emperor Ning's reinstatement of Qi Zhen meant both the fall of eunuchs and the change of heir.

...

...

Chen Ji stood in front of the Eastern Hua Gate, watching the distant figure of Changxiu, pondering silently.

If the Military Intelligence Department's Heavenly Branch wanted to kill an official for fame and fortune, Qi Zhen was the most suitable target: new arrival, no guardians, the Imperial Decree was issued only in the evening, and even the Spy Department couldn't respond in time.

At this moment, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang approached, interrupting Chen Ji's thoughts: "Sir, what were you discussing with that boy Changxiu?"

Chen Ji replied calmly: "Qi Zhen has entered the cabinet."

Jiao Tu was initially stunned, then her eyes lit up: "So the Military Intelligence Department's target is him? Should we guard Qi Zhen, it could be a major accomplishment."

Chen Ji shook his head: "No."

Jiao Tu's eyes twinkled: "If you don't want to go, Yun Yang and I can go."

Chen Ji remained silent, not hurrying to reply.

Jiao Tu added: "Are you worried about Lord Zhang's safety? Just have the little eunuch deliver a message, telling him to stay in Wenhua Palace and not come out, since he usually doesn't leave the palace until after midnight anyway."

Chen Ji still said nothing, standing under the vermilion palace walls of the Eastern Hua Gate with his eyes closed: "Jiao Tu, if you were to assassinate an official, how would you do it?"

Jiao Tu thought for a moment: "It's not easy to kill an official. You'd have to tail him for months to confirm his routine, see if he has any usual places, how many escorts he has, and among them, how many Seeking Dao Realm experts. Then choose the method of assassination; officials repel magic, so it requires an Executive Officer skilled in arms, or use gunpowder. Once successful, you'd have to leave the Imperial Capital as quickly as possible, or you'll be caught sooner or later, and then live under a new identity."

Chen Ji kept his eyes closed.

Indeed, what Jiao Tu described is what it takes to assassinate an official.

Seasoned assassins know, tracking movements, gauging security, pinpointing opportunity, choosing time and place, preparing disguise and escape routes, creating false leads, striking once and retreating, erasing traces and hiding—this is the standard procedure for espionage assassination of key figures.

Yet what the Military Intelligence Department is doing is not this.

Psychological profiling is the art of reverse deduction, and its basic logic involves only three questions: What did the other party do, what did the other party intentionally not do, what did the other party unnecessarily yet deliberately do.

Sending oneself a New Year's gift, issuing a challenge—this is something the other party doesn't need to do, but chooses to do.

At this time, Jiao Tu further urged: "Sir, this time it surely involves a big shot from the Military Intelligence Department, an obvious chance to gain merit, we can't delay it. Even if not for merit, you and I can't sit by while an official faces assassination."

Chen Ji finally opened his eyes, glancing at Jiao Tu: "If even your first reaction upon hearing the Imperial Decree is that the Military Intelligence Department would target Qi Zhen, then Qi Zhen is not the real target."

Jiao Tu whispered softly: "What is this, I am actually quite clever... So this is just a feint, intended to provoke a reaction from the Spy Department?"

Chen Ji instructed Yun Yang: "Yun Yang, take the news of the Imperial Decree to the Eagle Room Office. It would be best if Xuan Snake finds out by accident, giving him the credit."

Jiao Tu's eyes brightened, curving into a crescent moon, as she praised: "Brilliant, Mr. Chen is becoming more like a person from our Spy Department."

But Yun Yang was reluctant: "Let Jiao Tu go, or perhaps the two of us can go together."

Jiao Tu retorted angrily: "Are you unwilling to run an errand when the master instructs you? Hurry up and go!"

Yun Yang rolled his eyes and hurriedly left.

Chen Ji glanced at Jiao Tu briefly: "Lord Jiao Tu, it's not that he's unwilling to run errands, he's just worried about leaving you alone with me. He does care for you in his heart."

"I know," Jiao Tu said as she watched Yun Yang's figure receding, suddenly feeling sentimental, "Master, do you think a place like Wunian Mountain, which is covered in snow year-round, can ever bloom with flowers?"

Before Chen Ji could respond, Jiao Tu turned back with a smile: "I'm being overly sensitive. Look at my memory, you have never been to Wunian Mountain, how could you know such things... Master, what exactly does the Military Intelligence Department intend to do?"

Chen Ji sighed: "Indeed, what do they intend... We probably have to drag them into Pipa Hall for interrogation to truly find out their intentions."

Jiao Tu pursed her lips: "How to drag them in?"

Chen Ji pondered: "If the Military Intelligence Department's target is really Qi Zhen, how did they know in advance that Qi Zhen would enter the cabinet on the first day of his arrival in the Imperial Capital?"

Jiao Tu was startled awake: "Someone knows Your Majesty's intentions, the Military Intelligence Department still has people stationed in our court, able to know Your Majesty's decisions in advance."

Chen Ji nodded: "This person is hidden even deeper than Lin Chaoqing."

The next moment, he began walking towards the Eastern Hua Gate, only to be stopped by the Jiefan Guard.

Chen Ji was about to turn around and leave when someone calmly spoke from the corner: "Mr. Chen, please come in."

He turned to look, only to see a man dressed in a bright red Fish Dragon Robe standing under the eaves of Wenhua Palace, with a strong and powerful physique, a new face he hadn't seen before.

Jiao Tu reminded him from behind: "Commander of Jiefan Guard, Li Dongyan... Be careful, this person hates our Spy Department, he has no good intentions in letting you enter the palace."

Li Dongyan slowly began speaking: "We are all ministers serving the court. Now, with the Jing Dynasty's traitors wreaking havoc in the Imperial Capital, I heard that Mr. Chen often has dealings with this group of rat-like people and has even personally captured Lin Chaoqing, a remarkable feat. If Mr. Chen is here to investigate, I naturally welcome you."

Chen Ji clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, I actually have something to trouble Commander Li with."

He lifted his foot to walk inside, Jiao Tu also attempted to follow, but was stopped by Li Dongyan: "You don't need to come in, with your intellect, you won't be of any help if you do."

Jiao Tu rolled up her sleeves and charged inside: "You son of a..."

Li Dongyan sneered coldly, lightly pushed with his thumb, causing the blade sheathed at his waist to slide an inch out.

Chen Ji raised his hand to stop Jiao Tu: "Wait for me outside the Eastern Hua Gate."

Jiao Tu pointed at Li Dongyan in the air: "Listen to Mr. Chen, I'll let you off today."

Li Dongyan ignored Jiao Tu, turning his attention to Chen Ji: "What does Mr. Chen wish to investigate?"

Chen Ji said calmly: "I want to investigate the records of Your Majesty's daily activities. I want to know who knew yesterday that Your Majesty planned to issue an order today to induct Qi Zhen into the cabinet."

Li Dongyan shook his head: "No need to investigate those activities; I can tell you now. Yesterday, Your Majesty summoned Official Hu, Official Chen, Lord Zhang Zhuo, and Minister of War Lord Wang into the palace and asked, 'I plan to induct Qi Zhen into the cabinet, what do you all think?'"

Chen Ji remained calm: "It must be more than just these four people."

Li Dongyan nodded again: "Before summoning these four to Renshou Palace, Your Majesty first summoned seven Hanlin Academy Scholars for consultation, so these seven scholars are also aware. After consulting the scholars, the Imperial Decree was drafted, so the three Chief Eunuchs from the Secretariat are also aware."

Chen Ji thought to himself, with so many people involved, the officials would inform their mentees and allies, and the scholars would inform their teachers and friends, spreading the news rapidly. Perhaps Qi Zhen's induction into the cabinet had already circulated among the officials yesterday.

While he was lost in thought, Li Dongyan spoke solemnly: "I have heard about Mr. Chen, truly you are a person of affection and righteousness, courage and wisdom. So I say this sincerely, do not associate with those parasites of the Spy Department, go to the Imperial Three Camps; that is where you truly belong."

Chen Ji was taken aback.

Just then, Yun Yang returned, rushing into the Eastern Hua Gate: "There's been an incident."

Chen Ji turned and looked: "What happened?"

Yun Yang, panting, said: "I hadn't reached the Eagle Room Office yet, but saw Xuan Snake with people surrounding Bianyifang Restaurant, searching for spies from the Military Intelligence Department and stolen gunpowder. In the chaos, somehow the coffin that Qi Zhen parked in the back courtyard of Bianyifang was opened, as if checking whether gunpowder was hidden inside."

Chen Ji frowned: "Did they find any gunpowder?"

Yun Yang explained: "No, they found nothing. Qi Zhen and more than twenty Imperial Censors are furious, they are now carrying the coffin to the Imperial Palace Gate, saying they will strike the Petitioning Drum. If Your Majesty does not severely punish the Spy Department, they will not accept the Imperial Decree, and will kneel to death at the Imperial Palace Gate. From what I gather, they intend for the Imperial Censor to oversee the Spy Department's actions henceforth, so any move by the Spy Department will require the presence of an Imperial Censor to prevent further unchecked actions."

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of drums from the direction of the Imperial Palace Gate resonated, one after another.

Chen Ji suddenly realized, this is exactly the outcome the Military Intelligence Department desired.