The Azure Mountain

Chapter 130: Study Tour

In the night of Luo City, the distant and aged voice of the night watchman drifted over: "The weather is freezing cold, be careful of slippery roads."

Yin-shi. It was exactly the time to wake up.

If they were in the Capital City, the important ministers of the Imperial Court would have already gathered in front of the Wenyuan Pavilion inside the East Brilliance Gate, exhaling white breath, waiting outside the door to be dispatched by the Grand Secretaries.

Chen Ji lifted the curtain and looked at the hazy dawn light and thin mist outside the carriage window, thinking to himself that he had to rush back to Anxi Street as quickly as possible, otherwise he would be late for school again today.

He gently lowered the carriage curtain. Inside the swaying carriage cabin, Jin Zhu was slowly reminiscing: "That year, the assassination case of the Minister of Revenue caused a sensation for a while. His Majesty gave the Court of Judicial Review seven days to apprehend the true culprit. If the case couldn't be solved, all officials of rank five and above in the Court of Judicial Review would be demoted by three ranks, and all officials below rank five would be uniformly dismissed from office and sent home, never to be employed again."

"At that time, the Capital City was like it was soaked in a glacial river. Everyone walking on the street didn't even dare to breathe heavily, deeply afraid that opening their mouths would allow cold air to pour into their bodies. What a pity, in the end they still couldn't solve the case. It wasn't until the news of Lu Jin receiving a promotion and a noble title in the Jing Dynasty came back that everyone knew what had actually happened. It truly was an agonizing winter."

As he spoke, he looked at Shopkeeper Yuan, his gaze profound: "Back then, so many officials of the Court of Judicial Review, Si Zhi, and City Patrol Censors all couldn't spot a single clue. Now, after so many years have passed, for us to try and investigate anything is as difficult as ascending the heavens."

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "Lord Jin Zhu, if I am lucky enough to become a Gyrfalcon of the Secret Spy Division, I will definitely investigate and find out the identity of Lu Jin's younger sister. I believe she definitely hasn't returned to the Jing Dynasty, otherwise with Lu Jin's status and position, she wouldn't need to hide her head and show her tail at all."

Jin Zhu laughed cheerfully: "Then why do you think she hasn't returned to the Jing Dynasty? Perhaps she's dead!"

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "If she were dead, with Lu Jin's methods, he would naturally be able to find her remains and bring them back. If she's not dead, then the only things capable of making a woman stay are two things: one is love, the other is a child."Jin Zhu clapped with keen interest: "Makes sense. However, putting it that way, you have no clues or leads right now either?"

Shopkeeper Yuan nodded: "Yes."

Chen Ji let out a slight sigh of relief. He opened his mouth and said: "Lord, if there is nothing else here..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jin Zhu changed the topic and asked Shopkeeper Yuan: "Let's put aside the matter of Lu Jin's younger sister for now. Speaking of tonight first, I feel Shopkeeper Yuan is still holding something back, no?"

Shopkeeper Yuan's expression froze: "What is Lord's meaning? I have already said everything I should say."

Jin Zhu said with a beaming smile: "It's true that you sold out your colleagues in Luo City, but among the officials you confessed to, the highest Official Position was merely a minor county official. Within the account books of the Hundred Deer Pavilion in Luo City, there is currently still eighteen thousand taels of silver with an unknown whereabouts. Dare I ask, where did this silver go?"

Shopkeeper Yuan sighed with emotion: "Lord Jin Zhu is formidable. To have audited the accounts of Hundred Deer Pavilion so clearly this quickly."

Jin Zhu waved his hand: "It's not that I'm formidable, but that my Directorate of Ceremonial has the most formidable accountant in the entire Ning Dynasty."

Shopkeeper Yuan pondered for a moment: "Lord, change route, go to Tongji Street."

Jin Zhu patted the carriage wall: "Xi Feng, to Tongji Street."

He then heard Shopkeeper Yuan say: "Lord, the internal accounts of the Military Intelligence Division are the trump card I saved for myself after joining the Secret Spy Division. Inside are all the evidence and account records of Hundred Deer Pavilion, Red Sleeve Brothel, and Mingquan Courtyard bribing officials all over Yuzhou, even not lacking high officials in Luo City. Now I am handing it all over to Lord, I still hope Lord can support and promote me greatly in the future."

Jin Zhu laughed: "Easy to say, easy to say. Ah, right. Chen Ji, what were you going to say just now?"

Chen Ji, who had originally planned to take his leave, sat stably in the carriage cabin again. He shook his head: "Nothing..."

Luo City high officials? The people in Luo City who could be considered high officials didn't exceed the fingers of one hand: Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, Liu Mingxian.

He couldn't leave at this kind of time.

The carriage quietly drove into Tongji Street where the wealthy merchants gathered. Even at this hour when dawn was about to break, the sounds of duck-like laughter and amorous songs could still be faintly heard coming from the homes of certain merchants.

Jin Zhu sneered: "We fight to the death, just to protect this bunch of playthings."

The carriage arrived in front of an elegant residence.

Shopkeeper Yuan said: "This is the place, the Account Books are hidden inside."

Jin Zhu gave him a silent look. With just a casual push of his hand, he shattered the door latch inside.

However, he didn't walk in through the main door. Instead, he walked to the side, leaped lightly upwards, squatted stably on the wall Eaves, and sized up the inside.

No sneak attacks, no ambushes, the residence was completely empty.

Shopkeeper Yuan smiled: "Lord Jin Zhu, since I have already resolved to Abandoning The Dark And Joining The Light, I won't do useless things anymore."

Jin Zhu said with a spurious smile: "Sailing a ship carefully for ten thousand years. It's not that I doubt you, it's out of habit."

"Understood!"

Jin Zhu escorted Shopkeeper Yuan into the courtyard. The courtyard was not considered large, but it had everything from artificial rockeries to fish ponds, and there were over ten koi fish swimming in the fish pond.

Limping, Shopkeeper Yuan found an iron pickaxe and smashed it fiercely against an artificial rockery.

With a crash, the artificial rockery shattered, revealing a box hidden inside. The box was half a person's height. When Xi Feng opened it to look, inside were astonishingly volumes of Account Books.

Shopkeeper Yuan said from the side: "Luo City Prefect Zhang Zhuo four thousand taels of silver. Luo City Assistant Prefect Liu Mingxian two thousand taels of silver. Luo City Vice Prefect Chen Liqin two thousand taels of silver. Besides these, there are also the Kaifeng Prefect, the Zheng County Magistrate."

Jin Zhu subconsciously glanced at Chen Ji, and then looked at Shopkeeper Yuan and frowned: "Luo City Vice Prefect Chen Liqin is upright and never flatters, how could he accept you people's bribes? Don't wrongly accuse people, right?"

Shopkeeper Yuan laughed heartily: "Lord jests. All crows under the heavens are generally black. Looking at the Ning Dynasty and Jing Dynasty, where are there officials who don't accept bribes? However, this Lord Chen has always never showed his face; he always has the servants in his house come forward to collect it. On this account book, when, where, and who was bribed are all marked clearly and distinctly, and the boxes are also marked."

Jin Zhu gave Xi Feng a meaningful glance. Xi Feng immediately lit a brazier of fire in the courtyard.

Just as Shopkeeper Yuan was feeling bewildered, Jin Zhu tore off Chen Liqin's page, casually tossed it into the brazier, and said calmly: "Chen Liqin is an upright and innocent person, he has never accepted you people's bribes. Understood?"

Shopkeeper Yuan was momentarily stunned, and then smiled: "Understood, understood."

But before that yellowed page of paper fell into the fire brazier, a slender hand steadily caught it, folded it, and tucked it into his embrace.

Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu: "Lord, I am keeping this page of paper."

Jin Zhu pondered for a moment, and smiled radiantly: "Alright, you are actually more ruthless than I thought. For others it's the father manipulating the son, but you, being the son, actually want to turn around and manipulate your father."

Chen Ji then looked at the account book in Jin Zhu's hand: "Lord, the page for Zhang Zhuo."

Jin Zhu laughed heartily and loudly: "Previously when I heard the matter between you and Second Miss Zhang at the Yingxian Restaurant, I truly thought it was a false rumor, but later when I dispatched an informant to inquire, only then did I find out that Lord Zhang Zhuo was merely employing a delaying tactic. With this kind of relationship, of course I have to sell you a personal favor. I'll help cover it up a bit."

Having said that, he actually really tore out Zhang Zhuo's page.

Chen Ji didn't explain anything. Just as he was about to reach out to take it, Jin Zhu suddenly retracted his hand and exhorted solemnly: "Now we are all brothers of our own family. I can naturally cover up some matters for you, but I only have one requirement."

"Lord please speak."

"Cultivate properly."

Jin Zhu said seriously: "Only if you become a Practitioner early can you do more things for me early."

Chen Ji cupped his hands: "Lord rest assured, I will definitely cultivate diligently when I go back."

Jin Zhu coughed: "Rest well first, then cultivate well."

Chen Ji nodded: "Understood."

Jin Zhu slapped that page of paper into Chen Ji's hand, while Chen Ji calmly tossed the paper page into the fire brazier.

The firelight reflected a wash of warm color on his cheeks.

He remembered Zhang Zhuo saying in the city gate tunnel, "I have great ambitions, can you assist me?"

This could be considered as having assisted, right.

At this time, the night watchman's gong sounded from outside the courtyard: "The morning rooster announces the dawn, sleep early and wake up early."

Mao-shi, sunrise.

A streak of white was currently appearing in the distant sky, the layered clouds entirely dissipating.

Chen Ji asked: "Lord, is there still any matter requiring me today?"

Jin Zhu smiled radiantly: "None, none. Go back and get a good sleep. Wait until you wake up to think of a way to step into the cultivation Pathway. If there are no major matters these next few days, this seat will not go look for you."

"This humble official takes his leave."

Chen Ji walked towards the outside. Upon exiting the courtyard, he suddenly began to sprint wildly.

An ox cart was parked in front of Zhixing Academy on Anxi Street. A driver wearing a straw hat was lowering his head, grabbing a handful of forage and feeding it into the old yellow ox's mouth.

Some luggage was placed on the long flatbed cart, looking as if they were going on a long journey.

Beside the ox cart, Baili stood on her tiptoes, looking towards the end of the long street, searching for a familiar figure.

The Prince Heir leaned against the doorframe and said lazily: "This Anxi Street, you can see the end of it with one glance. Standing on your tiptoes won't let you see any further."

Baili said angrily: "Liu Quxing said Chen Ji went out yesterday afternoon and still hasn't returned even now. Aren't you worried something happened to him?"

The Prince Heir yawned: "This kid acts all mysterious all day long, I'm already used to it. With his skills, even secret spies wouldn't be able to do anything to him. What could possibly happen to him? Rest assured, he'll definitely be able to rush here in a bit."

Baili said: "The key is he also didn't receive the news that Mr. Wang wants to take us to Luhun Villa for a Study Tour; he hasn't even prepared his luggage yet."

While the two were talking, Zhang Xia walked out of the academy and asked curiously: "Is Chen Ji late again?"

Baili rolled her eyes at her: "He definitely had a matter that delayed him."

Chen Wenxiao also walked out the door: "Had a matter yesterday, has a matter again today. He is just a medical clinic apprentice, where does he get important matters day after day? As friends, you all should properly advise him. Since he has the opportunity to study with Mr. Wang, he ought to cherish it."

Mr. Wang, dressed in a blue scholarly robe, slowly walked out from the door, asking calmly: "Has Chen Ji not arrived yet?"

Baili was somewhat troubled: "To reply to Mister, Chen Ji must definitely have had a matter that delayed him. He absolutely did not intentionally arrive late."

Chen Wenxiao cupped his hands and bowed: "Mister, if not, let's just not wait for him. With the speed of the ox cart, if we delay for too long, I'm afraid we won't make it in time to rest our feet in Yichuan County Town before sunset. Moreover, this youngster is stubborn and unyielding; Mister doesn't need to waste time on him."

Chen Wenzong frowned: "Shut your mouth."

The expression on Mr. Wang's face didn't change, he only said plainly: "To be a paragon of virtue and learning, to teach unweariedly, how can I give up on a disciple just because he is momentarily obstinate? Let's wait a bit longer."

Having said that, he put his hands behind his back and waited quietly like this.

The sound of running came from afar. Everyone looked over, only to see Chen Ji appear at the end of the long street, sprinting wildly all the way.

By the time Chen Ji arrived in front of the academy, he bent at the waist, supported his knees with both hands, and panted violently: "Mister, I am sorry, I am late."

Mr. Wang didn't immediately reprimand him. Instead, he said to Baili: "Go, draw a cup of water for him."

Baili ran into the backyard like the wind. When she ran back out, she held a wooden cup and presented it in front of Chen Ji: "Hurry up and drink some water."

Mr. Wang said casually: "Because you ran so urgently just now, do not swallow it directly. Just rinsing your mouth will be fine. In my early years, when I was pacifying the rebellion in Jiangzhou, soldiers under my command drank water during a forced march and died from it."

Chen Ji stood up straight and rinsed his mouth.

This time, Mr. Wang didn't ask anything; he only instructed: "The rest of the people sit in the cart. You walk and follow behind."

Having said that, he got onto the ox cart without turning his head back.

Chen Ji looked at Baili and asked in astonishment: "Where are we going?"

Baili explained: "Luhun Villa in Song County is hosting a literary gathering. When the time comes, eminent monks from Tuoluo Temple, Daoist priests from Mount Laojun Daoist Temple, and some literati from the south will all participate. Mr. Wang wants to take us to broaden our horizons."

She took out a small cloth bundle from her luggage and handed it to Chen Ji: "You haven't eaten breakfast yet, right? Inside are the Traditional Snacks I brought. Hurry up and pad your stomach. We have to walk over forty li today to settle in Yichuan County Town; staying hungry won't do."

Chen Ji thought for a bit and said: "I have to tell Mr. Wang. I probably won't be able to follow him and study."

Baili was momentarily stunned: "This is fine too. If you truly don't like studying the classics, then it's fine not to study them."

Chen Ji walked towards the ox cart. But he saw that driver suddenly step forward quickly and pull him to the side: "Kid, persevere a bit longer. The Ministry of Revenue's silver will be approved immediately. Wait until the Border Army has their cotton gloves, then it won't be too late for you to drop out."

Only then did Chen Ji and Baili clearly see the appearance under the driver's straw hat, and they exclaimed in astonishment: "Dad."

"Prince?"