Green Mountain

Chapter 802 649: Nineteen Years Old

The Petitioning Drum at the Imperial Palace Gate sounded even louder than the curfew drums.

Chen Ji stood under the eaves of the Wenhua Palace. Beside him, Li Dongyan remarked, "When the Petitioning Drum sounds, the drummer can go directly before the emperor. Even if the execution is imminent, a plea can still be made to spare a life. I stayed in the Imperial Capital for twelve years in the past without ever hearing it. Now that I've just returned, it's a regret fulfilled."

Casually, Chen Ji said, "I've only been in the capital for a short year, and the Petitioning Drum has sounded three times already. I'm a bit tired of hearing it."

Li Dongyan turned his head, scrutinizing somewhat, "Has Mr. Chen ever considered that the repeated soundings of the Petitioning Drum might be because of you?"

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows.

Listening to the drum, Li Dongyan jested, "Have you heard that the Imperial Capital never fears ambitious people, but dreads three types of people. The first is the vagabond with no ties, daring to spill the blood of officials within five paces. The second is the old imperial censor carrying a coffin, willing to risk their life to pin someone in the chronicles, never to rise again for all eternity."

Casually listening to the drum, Chen Ji inquired, "And the third?"

Li Dongyan smiled, "A starving farmer with nothing to lose. You should wait here for Lord Zhang. I'm heading to the Imperial Gate. If Old Sir Qi really dies at the Imperial Gate, I might have to return to Taiyuan and deal with military ruffians and various factions. Just as I said before, I curbed the Spy Department because they were accustomed to misconduct. If Mr. Chen doesn't emulate them, there's no need to worry about me."

Chen Ji clasped his hands, "I understand."

Li Dongyan moved toward the Imperial Gate, while Chen Ji headed to the Eastern Hua Gate. They parted ways under the eaves.

In front of the Eastern Hua Gate, Jiao Tu leaned against the wall, gloating, "Xuan Snake mocked me for causing trouble at the Liu Family Ancestral Tomb, claiming I was nearly exiled to Lingnan by a minor scheme. Yet in the end, he himself fell into a trap, didn't he?"

Yun Yang retorted angrily, "It's a bit early to gloat. With the drumming of the Petitioning Drum today, if in the future, every move of our Spy Department will be monitored by the Imperial Censor, we'll be completely tied up."

Jiao Tu couldn't laugh either, grumbling, "It's all Xuan Snake's fault. He just had to stir up trouble at Qi Zhen's coffin."

Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart, the scenario was somewhat familiar: back in Luocheng City, he had similarly lured Jiao Tu and Yun Yang to the Liu Family Ancestral Tomb, forcing them to flee.

Today, the Military Intelligence Department also lured Xuan Snake to open a coffin, forcing the Imperial Inspection Office to carry a coffin and plead earnestly, thus tying up the Eunuch Party.

Was it a coincidence?

Or was someone deliberately replicating his scheme?

If deliberate, the sounding of the Petitioning Drum was indeed a declaration of battle. The opponent seemed intent on using Chen Ji's own tactics to prove their intelligence was no less than his.

Chen Ji suddenly furrowed his brow.

No, it wasn't a coincidence; otherwise, they wouldn't have sent gunpowder to the Zhang Mansion...they were targeting him directly.

But how had he provoked such a character, and why were they so determined to contend with him?

At this time, Zhang Zhuo hurried out of the Eastern Hua Gate, clutching a stack of memorials. Seeing Chen Ji, he immediately inquired with concern, "Does the sound of the Petitioning Drum have anything to do with you?"

Chen Ji was caught between laughter and tears, "Why would Father-in-law think it's related to me?"

"The last two times were more or less related to you..." Zhang Zhuo relaxed a little, "Since it's not involved, let's go home. This is something Xu Wenhe should worry about."

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Isn't Father-in-law going to review the memorials?"

Zhang Zhuo stuffed the stack of memorials into Chen Ji's arms, "Reading them at home is the same. If I stay here, I might be summoned to Renshou Palace by His Majesty to answer questions. Such trivial matters should be avoided if possible."

Chen Ji was even more puzzled, "Why don't you usually take them home to read?"

Zhang Zhuo glanced at him sideways, "You've just gotten married and don't understand yet. In a few years, perhaps you'll get it."

Chen Ji: "..."

He went to the outer room and brought the carriage, carrying Zhang Zhuo slowly towards the Zhang Mansion, lost in thought.

In the carriage, Zhang Zhuo continued to browse through the memorials, while Treasure Monkey sat obediently beside him, with Wu Yun lying on his head, asleep.

Under the setting sun, the carriage passed by the Imperial Gate, where they witnessed a thin wooden coffin placed there, surrounded by more than twenty kneeling Imperial Censors. At the forefront was a lanky figure with graying hair—none other than Qi Zhen.

Zhang Zhuo lifted the curtain and observed silently through the gap for a long time, "It seems it will be difficult for the Spy Department to act wantonly in the future."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "Does Father-in-law believe His Majesty will agree to the demands of the Imperial Censors, allowing them to act as 'Military Governors' over the Spy Department?"

Zhang Zhuo lowered the curtain, answering with a counter-question, "Chen Ji, what do you think the emperor, who stands above all, fears the most?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "When a person dies, the light goes out."

Zhang Zhuo smiled, "Everyone fears death; that doesn't count."

Chen Ji asked in return, "What does Father-in-law think the emperor fears the most?"

Zhang Zhuo glanced at Treasure Monkey sitting nearby and answered slowly, "Since ancient times, civil servants have attempted to restrain the emperor with orthodoxy, ancestral rules, etiquette, the Three Judicial Departments, and the power of impeachment. This is because they hold the authority to evaluate emperors, namely through their posthumous titles and historical records. As long as emperors care about their legacy, they must govern alongside scholars. This is the art of compromise."

At this point, Zhang Zhuo changed his tone, "But once an emperor no longer cares about their legacy, even if civil servants break their heads or try to overturn the heavens, it will be to no avail. Ultimately, the realm belongs to him alone."

The carriage reached the Zhang Mansion. Chen Ji handed the reins to the gate servant, who said, "Young master, someone came today to pay New Year's greetings. Some townsfolk, grateful for your kindness, sent chickens, ducks, fish, and eggs. The lady had them received in the back kitchen to avoid waste. Another person sent a box and a letter, which the lady said to leave for you to see yourself."

Chen Ji immediately asked, "Where are they?"

The servant, leading the carriage toward the side gate, said, "Taken to the West Garden."

Chen Ji left Zhang Zhuo behind and headed straight to the West Garden with the Whale Blade. In the courtyard, Xiao Man was there, and upon seeing him return, picked up a white cloth to dust him off, "Young master, Sister Axia has gone to the main hall... hey?"

Before he finished speaking, Chen Ji had already passed by her side and directly entered the main room. The door closed in front of her with a muffled sound.

Inside the room, a wooden box and a letter lay quietly on the desk. The wooden box was identical to the one that delivered gunpowder yesterday, both crafted by the same hands.

Chen Ji drew out the Whale Blade and used the tip of the knife to pry open the lid.

Inside was a cloth tiger.

It was very worn out, like a child's toy. It had been too long, and one ear was frayed, revealing the yellowed cotton inside. Chen Ji frowned, picked up the cloth tiger, and examined it for a moment. This cloth tiger was no different from those sold on the street, with nothing hidden inside.

He placed the Whale Blade beside the desk and picked up the letter, which was sealed with wax and showed no sign of being opened.

This time, the handwriting on the letter was the same as yesterday's:

"The heavens of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department salute the Marquis Wu Xiang."

"During the battle at Luocheng City, you used the coffin-opening tactic to trap Jiao Tu and Yun Yang in a desperate situation, forcing them to flee thousands of miles. At that time, you were in the dark, and the enemy in the light, hitting with a single strike. I have often pondered over this setup, it is truly ingenious."

"This time I imitated your strategy and repeated the old trick, unexpectedly you also fell into the trap. Is your wisdom limited to this?"

"Additionally, I congratulate you on adding age, wishing you a promising journey ahead, with youthful prosperity."

Signed, Zhang Qian.

The eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month of the 32nd year of Jia Ning.

Chen Ji finished reading the letter and suddenly lifted his head.

Tomorrow, the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, is his birthday. If not for this person's reminder, he might have forgotten it himself. But how did the person sending the gift know his birthday?

The person who sent the letter is clearly someone he knows from the past.

...

...

Late at night, everything was silent.

Chen Ji lay on the ground bedding, eyes open, looking towards the ceiling.

He carefully recollected the places he had visited and the people he had met since arriving in the Ning Dynasty, pondering who might know his birthday.

The Ning Dynasty household Yellow Register does not record birthdays; it's compiled every ten years, with one sheet per household, noting gender, birthplace, name, age, number of members, and property.

For example, Chen Ji's Yellow Register reads: male, Luocheng person, Chen Ji, eighteen years old, not yet a Ding.

Without months or days.

Who knows about his birthday?

Old Yao, Xiao Man, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, Chen Liqin.

But Old Yao and Xiao Man wouldn't be involved with the Military Intelligence Department, and Chen Liqin, She Dengke, and Liu Quxing aren't capable of such deeds. Who else knows about his birthday?

Perhaps his uncle, whom he has never met, also knows, but this matter doesn't seem like his uncle's handiwork.

Chen Ji is certain this matter wasn't orchestrated by his uncle. That uncle should already know that he defected from the Military Intelligence Department. If a subordinate of his uncle came to the Ning Dynasty, the most pressing thing should be exposing his identity, not running circles around him.

Three clues to this person's identity: first, the person is associated with the Military Intelligence Department, second, the person knows his birthday, third, the person is secretly competing with him, wanting to prove their superior intelligence.

Chen Ji thought for a long time but couldn't find anyone that matched.

He took out the worn cloth tiger from under his pillow and held it in front, examining it repeatedly under the moonlight. The person is someone who enjoys puzzles; perhaps the answer is on this cloth tiger.

Chen Ji suddenly froze, staring intently at the cloth tiger.

At this moment, outside Zhang Mansion came the sound of the night patrol's copper gong, the long tune breaking through the window: "No illness or calamity, peace and quiet!"

It was the third watch of the night.

Chen Ji suddenly heard Zhang Xia speak softly from within the tightly wrapped bed curtain: "Nineteen years old, wishing the gentleman health and peace every year, carefree in youth."

Chen Ji was slightly surprised: "You haven't slept all this time, waiting to wish me happy birthday at midnight?"

In the bed curtain came the rustling sound of Zhang Xia turning over, as Zhang Xia said with his back to Chen Ji: "I was just woken up by the night patrol's copper gong."

Chen Ji curiously asked: "How did you know my birthday?"

Zhang Xia explained: "Xiao Man mentioned it yesterday, she said Aunt had mentioned that although we don't celebrate birthdays before fifty, having someone remember your birthday is always good. A person's heart is vast and empty, and it's through birthdays, holidays, family, friends, that it gets filled. When the heart is full, the body can grow flesh."

Chen Ji chuckled: "Thank you."

Zhang Xia said seriously: "Try saying thank you again?"

Chen Ji replied sheepishly: "I just said it casually."

"Casually won't do either!"