The third day.

Chen Ji was awakened by the patter of the rain.

He draped himself with a robe and leaned against the door frame, quietly watching the curtain of rain hanging down from the eaves onto the blue bricks.

Will there be lamb buns to eat today?

I don't know, that Lord Bai Long seems to be in a murderous mood recently, maybe he won't come again.

Lost in his thoughts, he heard footsteps outside the door.

Bai Long pushed the door open and entered, holding lamb buns.

Chen Ji took the oil-paper umbrella from his hand and leaned it against the wall, then took the lamb buns from him, tore open the oil-soaked yellow paper: "Does Lord Bai Long have nothing to do, coming to the Imperial Supervision Office every day?"

Bai Long did not answer, he directly entered the room and pointed at the chessboard laid out.

Chen Ji sat down across from him in astonishment, watching as Bai Long won fifteen games from morning till night, and then got up and left.

The fourth day.

The autumn rain hadn't stopped, Bai Long still came with lamb buns.

Without saying a word, he sat at the table again, won seventeen games against Chen Ji, then got up and left holding his umbrella.

The fifth day, won seventeen games.

The sixth day, won eighteen games.

The seventh day, won nineteen games.

The eighth day, won nineteen games.

The ninth day, won eighteen games.

The autumn rain poured for six more days, and the two of them played chess for six more days.

In these six days, Bai Long did not speak a word more to Chen Ji, he just won the games and left, leaving Chen Ji feeling utterly defeated.

On the tenth day, the autumn rain finally ceased.

Chen Ji draped his robe and leaned against the main house door frame, watching Bai Long push open the door and enter, he couldn't help but say in confusion: "The weather is so nice today, if you really have nothing to do, maybe catch some spies from the Military Intelligence Department, or corrupt officials, if not, an autumn outing wouldn't hurt."

Bai Long directly sat at the stone table in the courtyard and finally opened his mouth to speak: "Yesterday in Renshou Palace, they were discussing how to deal with you."

Chen Ji pondered: "Exile to Lingnan, sent to the army, or retire safe and sound?"

Bai Long lightly tapped his fingers on the stone table: "Whether Prince Jing is exonerated or not, breaking into a prison is a serious crime. Some suggest beheading after execution, to serve as a warning to others, some say to exile you to Lingnan. Only Zhang Zhuo spoke for you, even Official Chen stayed out of it. According to Lord Zhang, considering your good deeds, they suggested fifty strokes of imperial punishment as a warning, but the ministries know you are not afraid of imperial punishment, so they all opposed it... You don't have much sympathy from others."

Chen Ji, busy eating the lamb bun, was unconcerned: "I'm currently one of the most notorious in the Eunuch Party, it's already good enough to have someone speaking for me, what did Your Majesty say?"

Bai Long looked up at him: "Your Majesty didn't say anything, probably hasn't had the time to think about how to deal with you."

After finishing his bun, Chen Ji clapped his hands: "Not sure when there will be a conclusion."

Bai Long replied: "The positions of Minister of the Ministry of Justice and Right Imperial Censor have been decided. The Xu Family donated 120,000 taels of Longevity Money, so Xu Chuanyin was brought into the capital from Jinling Prefect to serve as Minister of the Ministry of Justice. The Yang family donated 90,000 taels of Longevity Money, so Yang Zhan was promoted to Right Imperial Censor of Shuntian Prefecture. Those in charge of investigating Qing Wentao and Prince Jing's case have been dispatched. Although it's just for show, it will take them until a month after to return, only then will we know your fate."

Chen Ji uttered an "Oh": "So much silver, used to repair Cining Palace?"

Bai Long responded coolly: "Cining Palace won't be repaired for now, Your Majesty is pleased to have the Empress Dowager forever residing in Yikun Palace. Speaking of the Xu Family, Your Majesty might take the opportunity of Official Xu's critical illness to dismantle the Xu Family."

Chen Ji asked in doubt: "How so?"

Bai Long tapped his fingers on the table: "Official Xu is critically ill and is kept alive on an elixir from the Buddhist Sect, unconscious. Your Majesty has approved Zhang Zhuo to handle memorial drafts and petitions in the Xu Mansion, but the Xu Family is worried about Zhang Zhuo swallowing up the Xu Family, so they've been hindering. The Xu Family is now divided into two branches, one led by Xu Chuanyin's Jinling Xu Family, with Xu Bin of the Wenyuan Bookstore also from this branch. The other slightly weaker branch is led by Xu Chuanyin's Huqiu Xu Family, which is based in Suzhou. This branch has long been married to the Yang family, so Yang Zhan's promotion to Right Imperial Censor suggests he might not have peaceful relations with Xu Xi at the Three Judicial Departments."

Chen Ji thought for a moment: "Which branch holds the maritime trade?"

Bai Long answered: "Naturally, the Jinling Xu Family. Not only do they have money, but they've also nurtured many executive officers and death soldiers. The Huqiu Xu Family isn't idle; they maintain a gang of bandits disguised as pirates, raiding merchants' ships at sea, even targeting their own."

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows: "One lifting the maritime ban privately, the other fostering outlaws to cause havoc, the court doesn't intervene?"

Bai Long shook his head: "Currently, the court lacks the means to handle them, unable to deal with matters far away."

Chen Ji sighed: "None of them are easy to deal with, but Lord Bai Long, these have nothing to do with me."

Bai Long was silent for a moment, took a stack of Wenyuan Morning News from his sleeve: "Since the Xu Family isn't of your concern, let's talk about the Military Intelligence Department. Recently, the Military Intelligence Department has been active, I suspect they are transmitting messages through this newspaper, but using the method you mentioned before, nothing could be found. If you don't want to lose at chess, look through these editions of Wenyuan Morning News, help me find out who they are."

Chen Ji glanced at the newspaper but didn't reach to take it: "Lord Bai Long, I'm afraid I can't help."

Bai Long cast a sidelong glance at him, throwing the newspaper aside: "Bring the chessboard."

Chen Ji reluctantly went back to get the chessboard and laid it out, taking the black stones and making the first move.

Bai Long said no more, placing stones rapidly, by dusk he had won thirty games in a row.

As the evening shadows descended, Bai Long again won a game, pushed the newspaper towards Chen Ji: "Help me tackle the Military Intelligence Department."

Chen Ji asked curiously: "What is the Military Intelligence Department?"

Bai Long parted without saying more, leaving the newspaper on the table and swept out of the courtyard.

Chen Ji sat by the stone table in a daze for a long time until darkness fully settled in, he suddenly shouted loudly: "Hey, is there anyone next door?"