Green Mountain-Chapter 650 - 507: Imperial Jade Seal

The Yulin Army kept watch over the grave throughout the night, only to set off for the Imperial Capital at dawn the next day.

However, they did not enter the city directly, instead waiting silently on the official road five miles outside, planning their next move after Qi Zhenzhuo went into the city to gather information.

Li Xuan looked at Chen Ji: "The news of the Crown Prince being injured has probably already reached the Imperial Capital. As members of the Imperial Guard, it is our duty to protect him. Now that he is harmed, we have failed in our duties... punishment is inevitable, and you may be stripped of your title."

Chen Ji casually replied: "Losing the baronetcy for the Crown Prince is not a loss. Besides, the title doesn't offer much stipend. It's Lord Li who might suffer because of this — you might be dismissed."

Li Xuan looked afar at the silhouette of the Imperial Capital on the horizon: "It doesn't matter. If I'm removed from office, I'll just go to Guyuan alone to seek prospects with Hu Junxian."

Chen Ji remained composed: "Have you informed your family?"

Li Xuan sighed quietly but did not respond.

By the time it was between 7 to 9 AM, Qi Zhenzhuo arrived at full gallop.

Li Xuan shouted, "Has the court decided on the Chen Wende matter?"

Qi Zhenzhuo reined in his horse in the front lines and urgently said, "Chen Wende committed suicide right after entering the Imperial Capital!"

The Yulin Army was shocked: "Committed suicide?"

Qi Zhenzhuo explained: "I asked an old friend to investigate, he is now a doctor in the Ministry of Justice. After Chen Wende's death, the forensic doctor from the Ministry was also sent, so the news is likely true."

Chen Ji frowned: "Who supplied the poison? How do they know it was suicide?"

Qi Zhenzhuo recalled: "They said he bit through a poison bag in his mouth to die. That Chen Wende had long extracted his molars and hidden a poison bag made of white wax in the molar area. The court now keeps this confidential, attributing the incident in Changping to a Jing Dynasty spy's attempt on the envoy, unrelated to the Chen family."

The Yulin Army turned their gaze to Chen Ji, without understanding how they muddled through this situation.

Only Chen Ji knew that Bai Long must have forced Chen Wende to commit suicide, but... how did Bai Long convince Chen Wende to willingly take his own life?

Li Xuan looked at Chen Ji: "Now only the Crown Prince matter remains. What is your plan?"

Chen Ji calmly replied: "I'll take it one step at a time."

Li Xuan turned back and instructed the Yulin Army: "If anyone asks, know nothing about Chen Wende."

The Yulin Army replied in unison: "Understood."

Chen Ji led the way southward on horseback: "Return to the capital."

This time, they took the Anding Gate once more. No one stopped them, and the Five Cities Military Department simply conducted a routine check of the Ministry of War Fire Ticket before granting passage.

The Yulin Army, with their bloodstained uniforms, passed slowly through the city gates, heads held high, eyes unwavering.

The passersby in the city, struck by their imposing demeanor, unconsciously stepped aside to make way.

Qi Zhenzhuo glanced back at the Five Cities Military Department beneath the city gate, marveling: "Why didn't they stop us this time?"

Chen Ji calmly said: "Like wild beasts, territories are earned through battle, not given by others."

Upon reaching the Imperial Palace Gate, they saw Jin Zhu standing outside, as if waiting specifically for them.

Chen Ji dismounted, and Jin Zhu cheerfully addressed the Yulin Army soldiers: "There's no need for you to enter the palace. His Majesty has decreed that although you have achieved merit, the injury to the Crown Prince can't be overlooked. You will forfeit three years of stipend but remain in your current positions, expected to redeem yourselves through future service."

Qi Zhenzhuo widened his eyes, not expecting such a light sentence — just a three-year stipend forfeiture.

Jin Zhu waved his hand: "His Majesty recognizes your efforts over the last few dozen days and grants you a three-day leave. After three days, report to the Yulin Army Commander's Mansion. For now, you are dismissed, go home and rest... The Marquis of Wuxiang should stay behind."

Li Xuan glanced at Chen Ji, who nodded silently, and finally, the Yulin Army dispersed.

Watching the Yulin Army depart, Jin Zhu sighed: "It seems like a lifetime ago since we left the Imperial Capital. You've become the Marquis of Wuxiang, adopted into the main branch of the Chen family, and are even set to marry a woman from the Qi family. Looking back half a year ago, you were still just a small apprentice at Taiping Medical Hall."

Chen Ji softly said: "I would rather I were still at Taiping Medical Hall."

Jin Zhu comforted him: "Lad, you need to keep moving forward, or in the end, you'll be left behind alone in the past."

Chen Ji laughed: "Is Lord Jin Zhu talking about himself?"

Jin Zhu was taken aback for a moment.

Chen Ji headed towards Chessboard Street, changing the topic: "Why don't we grab a bowl of noodles and chat about how you captured Yuan Cheng? I've always been curious about how you managed that."

The two reached Chessboard Street, and after a moment's thought, Chen Ji led Jin Zhu into Bianyifang Restaurant: "Waiter, two bowls of lamb noodles, each with three taels of lamb."

Jin Zhu added: "And two more taels of lamb offal for mine."

The waiter beamed and wiped the square table with the white towel on his shoulder: "Got it, gentlemen, please wait a moment."

When the lamb noodles were served, Lord Jin Zhu grabbed a pair of chopsticks and rubbed them together: "Actually, I still don't really know how I managed to get to Yuan Cheng in such a muddled way."

Chen Ji looked puzzled: "Hmm?"

Lord Jin Zhu recalled: "After the Pingdong Army set sail, they raised two sails to head towards Korea, originally intending to land at the 'Fuping Port.'"

Chen Ji knew that Fuping Port was what he knew as 'Incheon,' an important port between the Ning Dynasty and Korea, the gateway to Han City.

Lord Jin Zhu continued: "On the fourth night, Feng Wenzheng suddenly appeared beside Wang Daosheng with plans and strategies, and the Pingdong Army changed their course directly to Lushun, arriving there in two days. On the night of the sixth day, we quietly approached Lushun, and strangely, the entire port was in complete darkness as if Mr. Feng knew it would be so. When we landed in armor, that old boy named Feng led us directly to the old residence of Yuan Cheng, saying his elderly mother was celebrating her 80th birthday, and Yuan Cheng had specially returned from Shangjing to celebrate."

Lord Jin Zhu sighed: "That day we fought fiercely until dawn. The ancestral house of the Yuan Family was built like a fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. Many in the Pingdong Army died that day, bodies stacking up high, and in the end, Heavenly Horse and I climbed the wall on top of them. I still remember that when I finally climbed the wall, my mind was buzzing, seeing red until I saw the sunrise and came to my senses."

"Heavenly Horse stood on the wall, and the Meteor Arrow Rain had the Yuan Family's retinue unable to raise their heads. I thought the result was decided, but the Yuan family's retinue retreated into the town to engage us in street battles, holding us for another four hours. Everyone was anxious because, according to the time, the Left Wing of the Imperial Guard of the Jing Dynasty's Central Forbidden Army was near Lushun. They were Yuan Cheng's true supporters, and if they came to aid, none of us would be going home."

"I looked for Feng Wenzheng everywhere, wanting to ask for guidance, but the old boy had disappeared. The next time I saw him, he was already standing on the city tower holding Yuan Cheng. It was unbelievable; that old boy was so elusive, no one knew how Yuan Cheng was captured alive by him."

Chen Ji silently took a bite of noodles.

How could Mr. Feng manage so brilliantly even in the Jing Dynasty? Was he connected with Lu Jin, or had he pre-arranged it all?

He put down his chopsticks and asked, "Where did Mr. Feng go later?"

Lord Jin Zhu shook his head: "No, he left us after handing Yuan Cheng over to the Pingdong Army, and we haven't heard from him since. But I guess..."

Chen Ji's expression changed: "Guess what?"

Lord Jin Zhu whispered, "I guess he went to look for the Imperial Jade Seal."

Chen Ji was astonished: "The Imperial Jade Seal?"

Lord Jin Zhu nodded, speaking mysteriously, "You probably don't know this, but before the division of the two dynasties to the North and South, there was an Imperial Jade Seal said to have been passed down from ancient times, inscribed with 'Entrusted by Heaven, Long-lasting Prosperity.' Whoever held the seal could suppress the official rank cultivation within two miles completely, rendering ordinary infantry and armored soldiers bloodless and lacking courage. Xu Shu had been tasked to the North earlier, also in search of this item, but instead found only a Dragon Seed Warhorse... which is the same Zaozao that Second Miss Zhang owns."

Chen Ji suddenly realized; he had heard Zhang Xia mention this matter once, but never that Xu Shu went north in search of something.

He pondered for a moment, then asked in confusion: "How did the seal get lost?"

Lord Jin Zhu shook his head: "I don't know. In the Jiefan Building, it's only recorded that on that day, the Taizu led his army into the Imperial Palace and captured Old Tuoba alive, but Old Tuoba only claimed the seal was stolen, and not even he knew who stole it, which led to his defeat. Since then, the Imperial Jade Seal has become a mystery, only occasionally heard that official rank passersby suddenly lose all their cultivation in some area, and everyone takes these clues to search, but it's never been found."

Chen Ji fell into deep thought. Such an important item, was stolen?

He curiously asked, "Then there's no seal in the palace now?"

Lord Jin Zhu chuckled, "It's just a replica made by later generations; surely the Imperial Decree can't be issued without a stamp."

Chen Ji continued to ask, "Then how do you know Mr. Feng went to find the seal?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Eating the last of his noodles, Lord Jin Zhu wiped his mouth: "I really can't think of anything else that would be worth such a person going in person."

Despite the nuances in his words, Lord Jin Zhu still held a deep admiration for Mr. Feng.

Suddenly.

Chen Ji found himself wondering if his master had ventured to the Jing Dynasty also in search of the Imperial Jade Seal?

Then, Lord Jin Zhu suddenly changed the subject: "Have you had any breakthroughs in your cultivation recently?"

Chen Ji responded calmly: "Why do you ask that, my lord?"

Lord Jin Zhu mumbled: "Uh... I just feel like your aura has changed, as if you have broken through a major realm overnight."

Chen Ji's mind stirred; this was a probe by Lord Jin Zhu.

These days, his advancement in cultivation was only due to the over a hundred flames he obtained from the Five Mad Soldiers, not much of a breakthrough, but integrating the sword on Incense Burner Peak was a true leap forward.

It seems that the sword seed's cultivation can even feed back to Lord Jin Zhu.

Chen Ji also mumbled: "One night while stargazing, I had an epiphany."

Lord Jin Zhu marveled: "With such extraordinary talent, you can cultivate even by stargazing... how close are you to the Seeking Dao Realm?"

Chen Ji smiled and said: "Still a long way off."

Lord Jin Zhu took out two small boxes from his sleeve and handed them to Chen Ji: "These are jade I took from the Yuan Family's ancestral house, use them for your cultivation."

Chen Ji calmly put the two boxes into his pocket, jokingly remarked: "Lord Jin Zhu seems to care more about my official rank than I do."

Lord Jin Zhu stood up and dusted himself off: "I told you, we're friends... I'm off!"