Chen Ji looked at the Treatise on Cold Pathogenic and Warm Pathogenic Diseases on the table: "It seems Lord Bai Long knows as well. I can't get out for a while."

Bai Long sat opposite him: "The court is turbulent, and I actually envy you for being able to hide away here in peace."

Treasure Monkey spread a sheepskin chessboard on the table and placed two bamboo tubes filled with pieces.

Bai Long looked at Chen Ji: "Idling away time?"

Chen Ji picked up a black piece and casually placed it in the corner: "Did Lord Bai Long come to the Imperial Supervision Office just to play chess? And with so many zodiacs."

Bai Long also placed a white piece: "Our top three zodiacs in the Spy Department, with Binghu locked in the Imperial Supervision Office, someone has to support the scene. Otherwise, when the Prime Minister returns, he will think we are useless, disregarding comradery."

The hand holding the chess piece paused slightly.

Jiao Tu and Yun Yang stood at the door, glancing at each other involuntarily.

Under the Treasure Monkey mask, a hoarse voice raised in pitch: "Is he really Binghu?"

A woman's voice mocked: "I said long ago he was Binghu, but you didn't believe it. Who else would make that trip for Princess Bai Li that night?"

A sharp voice said: "I guessed he was Binghu too, just didn't say it!"

The woman sneered coldly: "Second-guessing!"

Chen Ji took a deep breath. Although the outside world didn't know about him taking the Sick Tiger waist tag, many in the Spy Department had suspicions, but it was never made public.

Now Bai Long pierced this layer of paper; it was unclear what his intent was.

Chen Ji placed a piece: "What orders does Lord Bai Long have?"

Bai Long picked up a white piece: "No orders. You and I both among the top three should support each other henceforth. However, some things need clarifying. Jiao Tu and Yun Yang are at your disposal, but the daily affairs of the Spy Department remain under my control..."

Chen Ji shook his head: "I have no intention of contending for power. Let Jiao Tu and Yun Yang remain under Lord Bai Long's jurisdiction."

Bai Long chuckled lightly, placing a white piece on the central point: "Alright."

The two played fast chess, taking turns rapidly, filling the board in less than half an hour.

The hoarse voice under the Treasure Monkey mask asked: "Who won?"

The woman sneered: "Naturally, Lord Bai Long won."

One by one, Bai Long picked up the white pieces into his palm: "You have lost your competitive spirit."

Chen Ji also picked up the black pieces: "Winning or losing doesn't cost anything, does it?"

Bai Long's hand paused in picking up the pieces: "Doesn't Lord Binghu have something he wants to do? I remember hearing you wanted to open a Medical Hall in Luocheng City."

Chen Ji picked up the black pieces absentmindedly: "Not anymore; reading medical books just passes the time."

Bai Long observed Chen Ji's disinterested demeanor, continuing to pick up pieces: "Opening a Medical Hall is good, even if not for livelihood; saving a few lives is worthwhile."

Chen Ji smiled slightly: "Others think I'm sharp enough to be used as a knife, yet you advise me to open a Medical Hall?"

Bai Long nonchalantly said: "I just think it's a pity that Lord Binghu seems disheartened. Even if you can't open one in Luocheng City, opening it next to Shaojiu Alley is also good. My Ritual Supervision has a vacant property there... Back in the day before Doctor Yao went to the Imperial Medical Hall, he practiced there; for Lord Binghu to open a Medical Hall there is fitting."

Chen Ji was startled.

Strange.

This Bai Long, does he truly intend to persuade him to open a Medical Hall?

Chen Ji joked: "Is Lord Bai Long planning to earn some rent from me?"

Bai Long suddenly said: "Lord Binghu, being one of the top three zodiacs of our Spy Department, using a shop is just a matter, no need to pay money."

Chen Ji couldn't fathom Bai Long's motive, so he simply changed the topic: "Lord Wu Xiu has been sentenced to execution and incarcerated in the Inner Prison. Who's in charge of the Ritual Supervision now, and has the Prime Minister returned?"

Bai Long collected all the white pieces into a bamboo tube: "The Prime Minister hasn't returned yet. With no word from His Majesty, no one knows if the Prime Minister will return, everything waits for the Three Judicial Departments' storm to pass, and see each household's reactions."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment: "The candidate for Minister of the Ministry of Justice has been decided; it's a bargaining chip for the Hu Family supporting Prince Fu. The Minister of the Ministry of Justice and the Right Imperial Censor aren't decided, wanting to see what each family can offer?"

Bai Long's fingers paused, waving at Jiao Tu and Yun Yang: "Wait outside."

Jiao Tu and Yun Yang, understandingly, closed the door and stood guard outside.

Under the Treasure Monkey mask, the sharp voice raised: "See, I said he's not treating us as outsiders; talking secrets doesn't require us to avoid it."

The hoarse voice said: "It's just a gesture to win over people."

Bai Long glanced sideways: "You go out too."

The woman's voice complained: "It's all your fault; now we can't eavesdrop on what they're saying."

Treasure Monkey turned and left, the original voice under the mask low and commanding: "Shut up."

When the small courtyard quieted down, Chen Ji placed a black piece on the now empty board: "Please speak, Lord Bai Long; I am willing to hear the details."

Bai Long followed with a piece: "Do you know why the Three Judicial Departments have been able to restrain His Majesty for years?"

Without waiting for Chen Ji's response, he continued: "In the early years, His Majesty wanted to rule in person and used the Qi family to eliminate foreign relatives. At that time, His Majesty personally elevated the Three Judicial Departments beyond even the Empress Dowager's reach, and thus His Majesty was also a beneficiary of the Three Judicial Departments. However, the sword cuts both ways; after the Qi family ousted the Liu Family, they grew beyond control, and the Three Judicial Departments, originally a sword in His Majesty's hand, later became uncontrollable, so someone wanted to clear this obstacle for His Majesty."

Chen Ji stared at the board: "Prince Jing?"

"That's right, but not only."

Chen Ji asked again: "There's also the Prime Minister, Mr. Feng, Wu Xiu."

Bai Long laughed: "Smart."

Chen Ji placed another piece: "Now His Majesty can rest easy."

Bai Long suddenly changed the topic: "Is that really a good thing?"

Chen Ji was taken aback.

With deep meaning, Bai Long said: "Among the thirty-three emperors of our Ning Dynasty, only seven enlightened rulers are lauded. The rest include one who favored seizing ministers' wives, one who increased taxes merely to build palaces and temples, and one who didn't attend court for thirty years just to oppose civil servants, causing a thirty-year governance stagnation. During the Chongjing Period, people were destitute and corpses littered the fields; the populace consumed tree bark and engaged in cannibalism, yet this was less than ninety years ago... Now, during the Jianing Period, it's a rare time of peace and prosperity."