The Azure Mountain

Chapter 106: Zhang Zhuo

In the study of the Zhou residence.

Sitting behind the redwood desk, Jin Zhu cast a sidelong glance at Xi Feng with a spurious smile: "Department Head, your acting skills are so good. Could it be that your usual appearance of absolute loyalty to me is also acted?"

Xi Feng: "Ah?"

Jin Zhu's words were like a bolt of lightning, striking Xi Feng who was still immersed in the role of the Department Head.

He was striking awake.

Xi Feng complained endlessly in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Lord, my loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon, there is absolutely not the slightest bit of falsehood."

Jin Zhu smiled and didn't entangle himself too much on this matter: "What do you think of that person wearing the tiger mask just now?"

Xi Feng immediately said: "Quite formidable. Anyway, more formidable than me."

Jin Zhu said with profound meaning: "If I told you that he is merely a young shop assistant in some shop, would you believe it?"

Xi Feng froze: "How is that possible?!"Jin Zhu fully leaned his body against the chair and slowly closed his eyes: "Exactly, how is that possible."

Logically speaking, he shouldn't suspect someone questioned by Meng Ji anymore.

But the reason Jin Zhu continued to be suspicious was precisely because of this phrase "how is that possible".

Chen Ji first helped Jiao Tu and Yun Yang tide over their difficulties, then helped him grasp the Liu family's weak point, was also able to mix with the Prince Heir and Commandery Princess and become friends, and even entered Prince Jing's discerning eyes.

Was this something a lowly apprentice could achieve?

The key was, it was clearly written in the Secret Spy Division's Imperial Gazette that the concubine's son of the Chen Estate was wooden and taciturn. Yet looking at this Chen Ji now, where was there even the slightest bit of him being wooden and taciturn?

Xi Feng asked: "Lord, did you spend a heavy price to invite Meng Ji over just to interrogate him?"

Jin Zhu answered casually: "My original intention for inviting Meng Ji over was to interrogate the Liu family people, but since he's already been invited from Kaifeng Prefecture, interrogating one more person does no harm. This person won't remain a nameless nobody. Without interrogating him thoroughly, I cannot put my heart at ease."

Xi Feng asked curiously: "When do you plan to interrogate him?"

Jin Zhu pondered for a moment: "After solving the Liu family matters, immediately secretly arrest him into the Inner Prison."

"Understood."

The study quieted down.

Xi Feng suddenly asked: "Lord, do you truly have a grudge against the Liu family? Isn't it the Xu family that you have a grudge against?"

Jin Zhu leaned back against the back of the chair and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Who said I have a grudge against the Xu family?"

Xi Feng placed a teacup in front of Jin Zhu and said softly: "Lord Xuan She said it. This matter seems to have spread within our Secret Spy Division. A few days ago, someone even secretly asked me."

Jin Zhu didn't take the teacup, allowing Xi Feng to hold it with both hands, and asked absentmindedly: "What all did Xuan She say?"

"Lord Xuan She said your family originally engaged in maritime trade, and your goods could be sold as far as Luzon, Champa, and Java. Later, the Xu family forcibly conscripted your entire family into corvée labor, and only you survived."

Jin Zhu frowned: "Did he say how he knew?"

"He didn't say." Xi Feng quietly sized up Jin Zhu: "Lord, is this matter true?"

Jin Zhu finally took the teacup, drained the tea in the cup in one gulp, and said with calm indifference: "True."

"Then why don't you seek out the Xu family for revenge," Xi Feng didn't understand.

Jin Zhu stood up, held his hands behind his back, and looked out the window: "That Lord Inner Chancellor of ours, ah, if he hasn't squeezed out the very last bit of surplus heat from your body, he won't let your wishes be fulfilled. I am also waiting, waiting for the day he allows me to exact my revenge."

"When the time comes, this humble official will definitely go through fire and boiling water, and lay down his life for You, Lord!"

Jin Zhu sneered: "Expressing your loyalty all day long, don't you find it nauseating?"

"If it's not nauseating, then I'm used to it!"

Jin Zhu turned his head to size up Xi Feng: "For so many years, I've suppressed you and not let you be promoted to Gyrfalcon. Do you resent me?"

"A little bit, perhaps."

Jin Zhu laughed. He suddenly sighed with emotion: "You're quite honest. Sooner or later there will be a day when you will understand. Reaching the position of Gyrfalcon means entering Lord Inner Chancellor's eyes. At that time, what you obtain won't be happiness, but suffering. Being a Pigeon rank secret spy is quite good: the salary isn't small, you just risk your head working, and you don't have to think so much."

"Lord, is this sentence of yours the truth or a lie?"

"Get out."

"Oh..."

Xi Feng slipped out the door. Jin Zhu sat back in his chair, slowly leaning against the back of the chair.

He picked up an Imperial Gazette and covered his face with it.

When lies were told too often, sometimes even he himself couldn't distinguish whether what he said was the truth or a lie.

...

...

Amidst the heavy traffic, two secret spies tailed far behind Chen Ji. It was as if two invisible threads connected them, unable to be broken no matter how hard they pulled.

Suddenly, it became bustling within the crowd. A fast horse was seen galloping on the street, and a muscular man with a red belt tied around his waist shouted at the top of his voice: "Chen Wenzong of the Chen Estate, Top Provincial Candidate (Jieyuan)!"

Behind him, there was another young muscular man riding a fast horse, similarly shouting: "The young master of Luo City Vice-Prefect's Chen Estate, Chen Wenzong, successfully achieved Top Provincial Candidate!"

"Young Master Lin of the Lin family, Lin Chaojing, successfully achieved Second Place Candidate (Yayuan)!"

"The young master of Luo City Vice-Prefect's Chen Estate, Chen Wenxiao, successfully achieved Jingkui (Top Five)!"

One after another, the "Jiezi" (Good News Messengers) scrambled to be the first to report the good news to the top five candidates.

This so-called "reporting the five chiefs" meant that the Jiezi would wait in front of the examination hall early in the morning for the results to be published. After the results were published, they would immediately scramble to report the good news to the top five candidates. The person who arrived first at the top five candidates' homes could receive a heavy reward.

As little as five taels, as much as fifty taels. For example, for a lintel (family status) like the Chen Estate, it would definitely be the maximum heavy reward of fifty taels. Therefore, the Jiezi vied with each other, and it was even possible for fights to break out on the road.

Chen Ji watched silently, suddenly becoming somewhat absent-minded. It was as if just the previous day he was still keeping company with cement dust in the kiln factory, yet in the blink of an eye, the results of the Autumn Examination had been published.

For a certain moment, he also wanted to sit in a bright and clean academy, studying carefreely... Still, forget it. He couldn't learn a single bit of this classics and righteousness stuff.

Chen Ji smiled: "I'm still more suited to gambling with people's lives."

At this time, the commoners on the street made way one after another. Even ox carts were pulled aside, as if there was no matter in this world more important than having to make way for reporting the good news of the Autumn Examination.

The two secret spies didn't look at the Jiezi, but tightly stared at Chen Ji's back figure in the crowd. However, when the fast horses passed between them, in merely the brief span of a breath, the fast horses galloped past, but Chen Ji's figure was already gone from before their eyes, as if he had vanished into thin air.

Those galloping fast horses were like a sharp saber, severing that thread connecting them.

Half a shichen (1 hour) later, Chen Ji stood at the entrance of Taiping Medical Clinic carrying two roasted chickens, letting the flow of people going to the early market pass before and behind him.

He took several deep breaths of air and rubbed his face with his hands to wash away his slightly exhausted expression.

Only after his face became gentle did he smile, lift his foot, and cross the threshold: "Master, I'm back."

Beside the redwood counter.

Old Yao was playing chess with someone across the counter. Hearing Chen Ji's voice, he lifted his eyes and looked over: "So you still know how to come back? Coming back when you want, leaving when you want, you might as well change the name of my Taiping Medical Clinic to Taiping Inn."

At this time, the person playing Go with Old Yao turned around: "Little Doctor Chen is back, I was worried I wouldn't be able to wait until you returned!"

Chen Ji froze.

The person who came was impressively the Prefect of Luo City, Zhang Zhuo!

Zhang Zhuo was seen today rarely wearing casual scholar's clothing, wearing a fashionable tasseled corrugated black gauze hat, and stepping on brand new black official boots.

The other party didn't look like an official, but rather more like a romantic/uninhibited figure going to attend a banquet.

Chen Ji handed the roasted chickens in his hands to She Dengke, and asked in puzzlement: "Why did Lord Zhang come?"

Zhang Zhuo affectionately patted his shoulder: "That thing you manufactured called 'cement' solved my urgent crisis, I naturally should come visit to express my thanks."

Chen Ji smiled and said: "Lord Zhang doesn't need to thank me, I was also doing it for business."

Zhang Zhuo's face turned stern: "How could I not thank you? Do you know how many people freeze to death in our Yuzhou every winter?"

"How many?"

Zhang Zhuo said: "In the 19th year of Jianing, the thirty-one charity mortuaries in Yuzhou collectively gathered thirty-three thousand, four hundred and twenty-one frozen corpses. In the 20th year of Jianing, they collectively gathered..."

Listening to this Lord Zhang enumerate the number of people who froze to death each year, the more Chen Ji listened, the more alarmed he became. In merely the single provincial territory of Yuzhou, so many people froze to death every year?

Yet he heard Zhang Zhuo say: "If we can build another batch of houses before the second snow falls this year, presumably many fewer people will die in Luo City. As the parent official of Luo City, it is only right and proper for me to come thank you in person."

Chen Ji smiled and said: "Being able to do a little something for the commoners of Luo City, I am honored."

He originally thought that after exchanging some polite pleasantries with each other, Zhang Zhuo would bid farewell and leave. But unexpectedly, Zhang Zhuo didn't leave, but instead pulled his arm and dragged him to the Go board: "Come come come, I heard from the Prince that your Go skills are peerless, let you and I have a few rounds of hand-talk (playing Go)."

Chen Ji subconsciously looked at Old Yao. He always felt it was somewhat strange. This Lord Zhang suddenly ran to the clinic, saying it was to express his thanks, but came visiting without carrying any gifts.

After a hasty expression of thanks he didn't leave, but wanted to play Go instead.

If this dragged on a bit longer, it would be lunchtime, and who knows, he might even stay to eat lunch.

What kind of eccentric and flighty personality was this?

Seeing him looking over, Old Yao sneered: "Lord Zhang called you to play Go, so just play. What are you looking at me for? It's a good thing. Others want to play Go with the Lord Prefect but don't even have this opportunity. If you play until Lord Zhang is happy, he might even recruit you to his residence to play Go every day."

These words confused Chen Ji.

Listening to Master's meaning, could it be that Zhang Zhuo's trip here was to invite him to be a staff member at the government office?

Standing inside the counter, Chen Ji picked up Go pieces with his hand while calculating how to tactfully decline.

However, Zhang Zhuo didn't speak to recruit him, but unhurriedly said: "It's a good thing for a youth to be lofty and arrogant. Others think you depart from the classics and rebel against orthodoxy, but I think you have backbone. It's just that, if a person loses their family, they also lose their roots. Like a rootless duckweed, they can only drift about... One still needs to have a home ah."

Chen Ji frowned: "Did Lord Zhang come to be a lobbyist for Lord Chen?"

Zhang Zhuo was amused: "Of course not. If you ask me, your decision to not return to the Chen family is right. The entire Chen family are Pure Stream pedantic scholars, everyone says they are gentlemen, yet I stubbornly feel they have elm-wood brains and don't know how to be flexible. Let's just talk about repairing the river dikes. Lord Chen insisted on personally inquiring about every single matter, resulting in from top to bottom no one being able to fish for any grease/profits. In the end, the construction period dragged on and on, no one was willing to work ah!"

Zhang Zhuo continued: "Speaking about your Chen family matters again, without the authorization of the people above, would a small young servant dare to embezzle two taels of silver every month? He wouldn't dare even if you beat him to death. You absolutely must not go back; you'll just suffer grievances the same if you go back. Besides, you can now receive a share of two thousand five hundred taels of silver from the Prince's Estate every year. Isn't living separately outside more comfortable than in the Chen Estate? If you go back, you're the fall guy/sucker!"

Chen Ji was completely confused by Zhang Zhuo.

What exactly did this Lord Zhang come here for?

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Then your trip to the clinic today is?"

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, answering a different question: "Play Go, play Go."

Zhang Zhuo was seen skipping the 'guessing the first player' step, and took the lead to place a piece down first.

Chen Ji froze: "How come You directly placed a piece down, no need to guess who goes first?"

Zhang Zhuo chuckled happily: "No more guessing who goes first. With my Go strategies, holding black and going first makes it easier to win."

Chen Ji: "..."

The first game of playing Go.

Chen Ji originally thought Zhang Zhuo was a lousy chess player, but the moment he revealed his intention of stabilizing a weak group of stones and swallowing the dragon, he was forcefully pressed to death in the corner by Zhang Zhuo.

Back then, Prince Jing still needed three games to figure out Chen Ji's strategies, but Zhang Zhuo only used half a game to have Chen Ji in the palm of his hand.

Chen Ji's expression regained its composure. He used AlphaGo's routing to seize corners. Whenever he saw a place where Zhang Zhuo had placed two or more pieces, he would immediately crash into it without adhering to standard Joseki patterns.

Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he also copied the style, pestering and fighting relentlessly.

In the eyes of scholars, Go was originally an art containing the Heavenly Dao. But in the hands of these two people, it suddenly turned into swinging turtle fists like street hooligans; as long as they could win, they had no scruples.

Zhang Zhuo raised his head to look at Chen Ji and praised: "Also a person who uses any means necessary in order to win. Very good, very good!"

Chen Ji asked in puzzlement: "I previously heard Lord Zhang flatteringly compliment the Prince's Go skills, practically describing him as number one in the Central Plains. But I didn't expect Lord Zhang to be even more formidable than the Prince."

"Shh," Zhang Zhuo chuckled happily. "What's there to be afraid of losing a few games, how much is face really worth? If the Prince is happy after winning the game and agrees to the matters I request of him, the ones who will benefit are the hundreds of thousands of commoners in Luo City."

Chen Ji was lost in thought.

Right at this moment, the sound of jumping over the wall came from the backyard. Zhang Zhuo stretched his head and looked towards the corridor, only to see Commandery Princess Baili just crossing over the gray-tiled wall eaves.

He turned back and smiled at Chen Ji: "Still have to attend a banquet today, we'll chat another day!"

Saying that, Zhang Zhuo didn't even turn his head back as he boarded the official palanquin outside the door.

Chen Ji looked blankly at Old Yao: "What exactly did he come here for?"

...

(End of Chapter)