The Azure Mountain

Chapter 120: The Third Child of the Chen Family

Zhang Zhuo?

Chen Liqin?

The Liu family is going to make a move against these two people? These two are court officials!

In the dark and gloomy cell, the flame of the oil lamp on the wall suddenly stagnated.

Shopkeeper Yuan lay flat on the table, allowing the secret spies to bandage his wounds, and the secret spies' movements also slowly stopped.

Jin Zhu, who had originally been leaning close to Shopkeeper Yuan's ear, subconsciously stood up, his eyes widening as he looked at Chen Ji: "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? How about I dispatch some secret spies to protect these two Lords; Lord Chen is after all your—"

Chen Ji's right hand suddenly pressed down on Shopkeeper Yuan's wound. In an instant, Shopkeeper Yuan's tragic screams reverberated through the Inner Prison, suppressing all other sounds entirely.

A moment later, Chen Ji slowly asked: "What did the Liu family say?"

Shopkeeper Yuan panted: "Liu Mingxian said with absolute certainty that after tomorrow, within this Yuzhou, there will only be the Liu family, and no one else will stick their fingers in it."

Chen Ji asked again: "Did he state a specific plan."Shopkeeper Yuan's face was deathly pale: "On what basis should I tell you?"

"I see you are spouting nonsense," Chen Ji emotionlessly pressed toward the wound on Shopkeeper Yuan's thigh. The place that had originally stopped bleeding burst open again, and Shopkeeper Yuan began to scream violently and tragically.

Just as he was about to continue tearing open the wound to search for the aorta, Jin Zhu yanked Chen Ji's arm and walked out of the cell, lowering his voice: "I know you are anxious to save your father, but you haven't learned interrogation techniques and don't know the proper measure of force. You absolutely cannot torture such an important prisoner to death."

Chen Ji fell silent.

He didn't care about Chen Liqin's life or death at all; he merely wanted to seize the opportunity to "accidentally" torture Shopkeeper Yuan to death, lest Consort Yun and himself be implicated. But now that Jin Zhu had stopped him in time, the opportunity was gone.

Chen Ji could only sigh: "Lord, I was too impatient."

Jin Zhu chuckled: "Previously, when I heard you were going to sever all ties of kindness and righteousness with the Chen family, I was still wondering how could someone truly sever blood ties and familial affections? Presumably you were just speaking words of anger at that time, angry that your father sent you to Taiping Medical Clinic as an apprentice."

Chen Ji responded with an "Mm".

Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder: "Don't be anxious, I guarantee I won't let anything happen to Lord Chen. Just now I carefully pondered it over; the Liu family indeed has the capability to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Yuzhou, but right now they will absolutely not tear apart all pretenses with the imperial court. Therefore, what the Liu family wants to do is merely squeeze these two people out, and won't harm their lives."

"What will the Liu family do?"

"Frame them."

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu: "Lord's meaning is, the Liu family wants to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, forcing them to transfer to other official posts—does Lord know the itinerary of these two Lords tonight?"

Jin Zhu immediately replied: "Today, these two are hosting a banquet for all the newly examination-passed Juren scholars, holding a Deer Call Banquet."

The two banquets of the Imperial Examination: The first is the Deer Call Banquet after the Autumn Examination, banqueting the new Juren scholars; the second is the Qionglin Banquet after the Palace Examination, banqueting the new Advanced Scholars. This is an old precedent of the Ning Dynasty for hundreds of years.

Chen Ji asked: "Where is the Deer Call Banquet being held?"

"Yingxian Restaurant," Jin Zhu beckoned Xi Feng, striding vigorously outside: "We will go to Yingxian Restaurant right now. Tonight, not only must we protect Lord Chen well, but we must also seize evidence against the Liu family! If they dare to make a move to frame court officials, not only will my Secret Spy Division not tolerate their Liu family, but even the imperial court, the Xu family, and the Chen family will all not tolerate them!"

Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu's departing back figure, and then silently looked at Shopkeeper Yuan.

Jin Zhu stopped and turned his head, his gaze piercing through the dark and gloomy lengthy corridor to look back: "Let's go, what are you spacing out for?"

"Coming."

Yingxian Restaurant's original name was Fugui Restaurant.

It was just that on the auspicious day of its grand opening, a crane came from the west and landed on the orange glazed roof tiles.

Thus, the proprietor temporarily found craftsmen to forge a stone crane and placed it in front of the door, and changed the name to Yingxian Restaurant.

At this time.

Carriages and horses gathered like clouds in front of Yingxian Restaurant, and people cupping their hands and making obeisances came in a continuous stream.

Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo wore grand red Official Robes, standing out like cranes among a flock of chickens amidst a crowd of blue-robed officials.

Taking advantage of the time when the Juren scholars were entering the restaurant and taking their seats, Zhang Zhuo leaned close to Chen Liqin's ear and said: "Chen Ji has already agreed to Prince Jing to go to Zhixing Academy to study, but those little schemes of yours were all pierced through by Commandery Princess Baili. If I say so, the simplest method is just to beat that steward in your residence to death with a cane to vent his anger for him. Why engage in all these convoluted maneuvers? That steward is not a good thing anyway!"

—

—

Chen Liqin glanced at Zhang Zhuo: "The steward of my residence has worked conscientiously and carefully for more than ten years; even if he has no merits, he has worked hard. Lord Zhang opens and closes his mouth talking about beating and killing, it disgraces the refinement of a scholar."

Zhang Zhuo said grumpily: "Do you really think that by having those three brothers study in the same schoolroom, they can pick up their brotherly bonds again, and he will appreciate your good intentions? You might as well go to the City God Temple or Mount Laojun to burn incense and request the Daoist Deities to manifest their presence!"

Chen Liqin's face darkened: "As long as he can learn some true talent and practical knowledge, I, as a father, will be considered as having done something for him. As for whether he appreciates my good intentions, that is his own affair."

Zhang Zhuo laughed out of anger.

He flicked his robe sleeves, turned around, and walked into the building: "Just don't forget our agreement!"

Outside the back door of Yingxian Restaurant, Jin Zhu wore a bamboo hat and lightly knocked on the door.

Xi Feng pulled the wooden door open from inside, welcoming Jin Zhu and Chen Ji in: "Lord, an inescapable net has already been set up in the surroundings. If the Liu family people come to cause trouble, we will definitely make sure they come but cannot return."

Jin Zhu ridiculed, walking forward into Yingxian Restaurant: "You're quite capable of blowing cowhide. If you were really that formidable, what would you need me here for!"

Xi Feng muttered softly: "Yesterday you still called yourself Department Head—"

Jin Zhu abruptly turned around: "What the hell are you muttering? Definitely not letting out any good farts!"

Xi Feng hurriedly smiled and said: "Nothing, Lord You are wise and martial!"

Jin Zhu sneered, leading Chen Ji to sneak into Yingxian Restaurant, hiding behind a pillar to observe silently.

Inside the main hall, more than thirty Juren scholars sat around round tables raising their cups and drinking together; the atmosphere was enthusiastic. At the main table, the top five candidates of the Autumn Examination sat beside Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, their positions actually slightly higher than other officials.

During the banquet, an official raised his cup, stood up, and smilingly said to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin: "I still haven't congratulated the two Lords yet."

Zhang Zhuo was momentarily stunned: "Lord Xing, what are you congratulating? My son didn't participate in the Imperial Examination."

The blue-robed official smilingly said: "The day before yesterday, Second Miss Zhang personally said at the polo match that You are going to betroth her to the young master of the Chen Estate; this definitely couldn't be false. Now the two of You serve as officials in the same prefectural office, and the two families are forming a marital alliance; it can be described as adding joy upon joy."

As soon as these words came out, Yingxian Restaurant actually quieted down. The Juren scholars silently looked towards the main table, their gazes filled with envy when they swept past Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao.

Lord Xing's gaze also swayed over Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, asking curiously: "Two Lords, I wonder which young master Second Miss Zhang is betrothed to?"

Before Chen Liqin could speak, Chen Wenxiao smilingly said from the side: "It is not us two brothers. The one Lord Zhang fancies is the third child of our family."

Behind the pillar, Jin Zhu slowly looked towards Chen Ji. Isn't this the third child of the Chen family?

Chen Ji ignored his gaze, merely lowering his head and listening.

During the banquet, someone whispered softly: "The third child of the Chen family? Is it that gambler who was sent to the medical clinic?"

"Shh, don't let Lord Chen hear you!"

"Strange, why didn't Lord Zhang betroth his daughter to Chen Wenzong, even Chen Wenxiao would be fine too."

Jin Zhu silently sized up Chen Ji.

He saw Chen Ji merely standing quietly behind the pillar, as if the matters being discussed during the banquet had nothing to do with him.

The next moment, Chen Liqin spoke up: "This matter is a misunderstanding. Lord Zhang Zhuo previously merely mentioned it twice as a joke; the two of us didn't take it seriously. My dog of a son is stubborn and unruly; he is not a match for Second Miss Zhang."

The hand of Lord Xing raising the wine cup stiffened, and he said awkwardly: "Then why did Second Miss Zhang—"

Zhang Zhuo smilingly explained: "That was merely after she eavesdropped on the conversation between Lord Chen and me, she mistakenly thought Lord Chen and I had already finalized this matter. Little girls, you know, they hear the wind and think it's rain. She ran out and spouted nonsense everywhere by herself, creating a misunderstanding. I hope everyone will not wildly spread rumors."

Lord Xing sheepishly sat back down: "So that's how it is, so that's how it is."

However, Zhang Zhuo changed the topic, saying with great interest: "But I feel you all have misunderstood that kid Chen Ji. As the saying goes, what you hear is false, what you see is true. I've met him a few times, and personally think he isn't as despicable as everyone says. It's not just me; now even Prince Jing praises him highly. Presumably, there were some misunderstandings previously."

Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in astonishment.

Behind the pillar, Jin Zhu lowered his voice and said cheerfully: "Your father and your older brothers have never spoken up for you, but this Lord Zhang and I, as heroes, share the same views! Don't pay attention to them. Cultivate well, establish merits well. Once you are promoted to the Twelve Zodiacs, wiping out their families and confiscating their properties one by one will be Easy as Turning a Palm!"

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu with a complex expression, momentarily not knowing how to react—

The moon rose high into the sky.

The candles and lamps in Yingxian Restaurant had been changed over and over again. The new Juren scholars competed to compose poems and couplets, showing off their elegant demeanor in front of Zhang Zhuo—

—

—and Chen Liqin.

However, everything was safe and sound. The violent storm that Chen Ji and Jin Zhu were waiting for did not come.

Seeing that the Deer Call Banquet was about to disperse, if the Liu family didn't make a move to do something now, they probably wouldn't have another chance.

Jin Zhu had stood behind the pillar until his legs went numb, wondering: "Fothermucker, could it be that information was leaked again?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "No, Xi Feng has been specifically keeping an eye on the secret spies, not allowing them to leave; no one could have reported the news."

Jin Zhu leaned against the pillar and rubbed his temples: "Could it be that Jing Dynasty thief is deceiving us?"

Chen Ji closed his eyes in deep thought.

Incorrect.

Shopkeeper Yuan didn't deceive them. At this time, the other party was trying to gain the Secret Spy Division's trust to survive, how could he deceive them on a small matter?

But, what exactly is the Liu family going to do?

What could the Liu family do that would make Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin leave Yuzhou with their tails between their legs?

Jin Zhu said: "They are dispersing, let's retreat too."

"No."

"Hmm?"

In the darkness behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jin Zhu: "The place where the Liu family will make their move is not here!"

Jin Zhu was astonished.

Chen Ji asked: "Did Lord bring the Imperial Command Plaque?"

Jin Zhu shook his head: "How could that kind of thing be carried on one's person? If it's lost, heads will roll. Wait, why are you asking this—"

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

He was seen taking out a grey cloth from his sleeve and covering his face, lowering the brim of his bamboo hat, and walking quickly to Zhang Zhuo's side: "Lord Zhang, our Secret Spy Division has a matter requiring Your assistance. Please come with us for a trip."

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly: "Secret Spy Division? This official is a top current dynasty fifth-rank Prefect; you say you need me to assist, and I will assist?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, saying solemnly to Zhang Zhuo: "Lord Zhang, please rest assured, we are not trying to arrest You and take You to the Inner Prison, but genuinely have a matter requiring Your assistance. If the opportunity is missed, I fear tens of thousands of refugees outside the city will die, and You will also lose Your splendid prospects and future."

Listening to Chen Ji's voice, Zhang Zhuo suddenly revealed a suspicious and doubtful expression.

He stared into Chen Ji's eyes, and Chen Ji neither retreated nor evaded.

Ultimately, Zhang Zhuo smoothly stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his grand red Official Robe with both hands, and said calmly: "Then this official shall accompany you for a trip."

(End of Chapter)