Green Mountain-Chapter 657 - 514: Fuyou Street

Chen Ji walked towards Wenchang Bookstore, his mind constantly pondering over Zhang Li's words.

Two things intrigued him the most: Firstly, the fact that the other party had guessed his intention to leave the Ning Dynasty, which was one of his biggest secrets, something he had been planning for a long time, known only to those closest to him.

Did Zhang Li predict it? But Old Yao had said he could no longer predict Chen Ji's fate, and Zhang Li's fortune-telling skills shouldn't be more advanced than Old Yao's.

Secondly, the Wordless Heavenly Scripture. According to Zhang Li, the new script was not personally written by him, but rather by the Wordless Heavenly Scripture. Could it be inferred that when he wrote his name on the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, his life began to appear on it? This might also be the reason Zhang Li knew he was planning to leave the Ning Dynasty.

Being spied on is an unpleasant feeling, yet according to Zhang Li, now the two of them share each other's fate; Zhang Li also doesn't want anything to happen to him.

But... what exactly can Zhang Li gain from him?

Like Jin Zhu?

Just then, Chen Ji heard a distant voice shouting frantically, "No one is allowed to look! This Capital Morning News is spreading deceptive rumors; it's all gossip, Chen Ji and Zhang Xia are impossible!"

Chen Ji looked up suddenly; it was Qi Zhaoning's voice.

He silently turned the corner of the street and saw Qi Zhaoning tearing apart a newspaper in front of Wenchang Bookstore, the yellowed pages scattering in all directions.

The street was filled with dumbfounded scholars, one of whom angrily shouted, "What are you doing? I bought this!"

Qi Zhaoning waved to Qi Zhenzhu, "Give him one tael of silver!"

The scholar whose newspaper was torn grew even more furious, "This was the last copy; now it's impossible to buy another one. I don't want your silver; I want you to replace it with an identical copy, or we'll go to the government to settle this!"

Qi Zhaoning stared at him intently, "Really?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

A passerby carefully tugged at the scholar, saying, "Don't argue with her; she's the third miss of the Qi family on Fuyou Street."

The name 'Qi family on Fuyou Street' shattered the scholar's anger like a hammer.

"Forget it. I won't argue with a woman," the scholar hesitated slightly, then waved his hand and disappeared into the crowd.

Outside the crowd, someone whispered, "She's the Marquis of Wuxiang's betrothed, so it's understandable she's upset after seeing the rumor about him and Second Miss Zhang."

Qi Zhaoning looked around and, upon seeing Chen Ji standing alone at the street corner, showed a brief moment of panic but quickly regained her composure.

She calmly approached Chen Ji, "Do you have anything you want to explain?"

Chen Ji gazed at the woman before him, her dress a soft yellow, adorned with the Empress Dowager's gifted Butterfly Jade Hairpin, its wings seemingly fluttering in the sunlight.

When she was silent, she carried the demeanor of a noble lady, radiant and enchanting.

Chen Ji spoke softly, "Third Miss, there are many people here. Could we speak privately?"

Qi Zhaoning paused for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Alright, let's see what you have to say."

Chen Ji turned and left, with Qi Zhaoning following behind. The two walked to a secluded alley, where Chen Ji stopped and turned, "I apologize."

Qi Zhaoning's anger filled her heart slowly, "Chen Ji, the affair with Zhang Xia has been causing a huge stir; isn't it a bit late to apologize now?"

Chen Ji replied earnestly, "I discussed with Third Miss at Xiangshan Villa before..."

Qi Zhaoning stepped forward, her voice tense, "Do you truly have feelings for Zhang Xia?"

Chen Ji shook his head, "This has nothing to do with Zhang Xia. Third Miss, everyone now thinks I'm the one at fault, and if your Qi family breaks the engagement, you won't be criticized; people will only blame me for being heartless, which is the best outcome for you."

Qi Zhaoning replied gravely, "Chen Ji, you don't decide what the best outcome is; I do. Since childhood, my grandfather told me I was the Qi family's treasured pearl, deserving of the best in the world. The world's best must be mine, and even if it's not, it can't be someone else's!"

Chen Ji remained silent.

Qi Zhaoning retreated step by step, "Do you know, Chen Ji, I won't be upset because you're just an uneducated martial artist; frankly, you have no chance of entering the cabinet. In terms of Executive Officer rank, you can't compare with Li Xuan; in terms of talent, you can't compare with Lin Chaojing. Just you wait; I'll make you the laughingstock of the Imperial Capital. Is that Capital Morning News run by Zhang Xia? What does she want, to provoke me into retreating? She should give up; what I can't have, she won't either, and that Capital Morning News won't continue either!"

At the mouth of the alley, Qi Zhaoning turned abruptly and left without looking back.

...

...

At Meirui Building, Brother Pao leaned against the railing, his black shirt draped casually over his shoulders, holding a tobacco pipe and taking gentle drags.

He overlooked Zhengxi Fang, watching the yellowed newspapers circulate through the Outer City and rendering the bamboo paper tattered in just three hours.

Like Chen Ji, they were all strangers to this land.

Arriving in this unfamiliar world, buns must be served on palm leaves, wiping after using the loo requires bamboo strips, traveling depends on walking, calling for someone requires shouting, there's no air conditioning in summer, and no heating in winter.

Even in this flourishing and prosperous Imperial Capital, there are always people relieving themselves freely, and you can always smell the stench of urine by the walls outside Meihua Ferry Crossing, forcing Brother Pao to station someone there, which improved things greatly.

This world seems to, in its own way, constantly remind them that they don't truly belong here.

It's like a sharply defined stone being thrown into a millstone, every incongruous part gets painfully ground down.

Only when things from their own world appear here does Brother Pao feel he has truly arrived, and begins to change.

This is an accomplishment unique to time travelers.

The salt permit trading can only be considered half an achievement, while the newspaper truly gives him a sense of existence.

Behind him in Meirui Building, the sound of abacuses clattering fills the air, and someone lightly walks up the stairs behind Brother Pao.

Without turning his head, Brother Pao says, "Sorry to offend."

Zhang Xia comes to the railing to look into the distance: "Brother Pao, writing this front-page article wasn't just for attention, was it?"

Brother Pao smiles slightly, answering indirectly: "Second Miss Zhang, Chen Ji is someone who keeps everything to himself. Now that he's trying to settle his affairs, I'm not at ease, and need to find something to tie him down."

Zhang Xia is silent for a moment: "Are you very worried about him?"

Brother Pao gently exhales smoke and says slowly: "Second Miss Zhang, you actually worry about him too, but he has survived against odds so many times that you all think he always has a sure-win plan, gradually forgetting his determination that always defies life and death. But not me, I won't forget… because I've already seen him die once."

Zhang Xia stands still in a daze.

With a smile, Brother Pao says: "Second Miss Zhang is a person who knows her limits. Even if you suspect we don't belong here, you never ask too much. But I bet you've held it back in your heart for a long time."

Zhang Xia calmly replies: "Chen Ji will speak when he is ready."

Brother Pao taps off ash with his foot: "Chen Ji is stubborn, and what he wants to do, he must achieve. But just like Xiaoman, I don't understand Princess Bai Li; we only see you and Chen Ji live and die together. Though saying this might be unfair to the princess, we all hope you can persuade Chen Ji to change his mind and not go to his death."

Zhang Xia shakes her head: "Since Brother Pao understands Chen Ji, you should know he won't turn back before rescuing the princess. Now, to serious matters, the first batch of newspapers is sold out; it's a good time to strike while the iron is hot. Should we print more?"

Brother Pao denies: "We can't print more."

The first time Brother Pao printed the newspapers, he only printed 1,200 copies. It wasn't due to lack of capacity, but a very restrained probing of the court's boundaries.

Brother Pao sighs: "Second Miss Zhang, in the Ning Dynasty, local tabloids are naturally the court's enemy, because it should be up to the court to decide who is right or wrong. Now you have the right to speak, and truth is no longer just in the court's hands."

Zhang Xia murmurs: "Truth…"

It's the first time she's heard the word "truth," fresh yet fitting.

Brother Pao continues: "When Chen Ji proposed setting up a newspaper, he knew it would eventually be reined in by the court. By then, it would be the great weapon in Lord Zhang's hand for implementing reform. But before that, Chen Ji intends to use it to accomplish something earth-shattering… Before he does, we can only cautiously avoid those wild beasts, first ensuring the newspaper survives. We can't be too greedy or let those beasts have their eyes on it prematurely."

Zhang Xia nods: "Understood, then keep the daily print run under three thousand, exclude palace secrets, official appointments, and anything related to the court."

Brother Pao smiles and says: "Exactly, that's the idea."

Zhang Xia suddenly states: "Brother Pao is cautious, and rightly so, but still underestimates this Imperial Capital. Firstly, passing the Qi Zhaoning gate won't be easy."

Brother Pao raises his eyebrows: "What do you mean?"

Just then, a commotion arises in the distance. Brother Pao looks up but can't discern what's happening.

Moments later, the heavy footsteps of Er Dao are heard on the stairs of Meirui Building, as he comes over, speaking in a deep voice: "Brother, people from the Five Cities Military Department suddenly arrived and grabbed many brothers, confiscating newspapers all over the streets, accusing us of spreading demonic words and rebelling."

Brother Pao scratches his head with his pinky: "Their reaction is too quick. This isn't something I can resolve; I must find Chen Ji."

Zhang Xia shakes her head: "No need."

Brother Pao is puzzled: "Huh?"

Zhang Xia smiles and says: "Brother Pao underestimates Chen Ji too. He's no longer the penniless lad you knew; he is now Chen Ji of Fuyou Street."

Just then, Brother Pao sees a group of ruffians in black shirts suddenly rushing into the Eight Great Hutongs, surprisingly it's those who were previously captured by the Five Cities Military Department.

When the ruffians reach below Meirui Building, Brother Pao curiously asks: "How come you've returned so soon?"

The ruffian, equally puzzled, says: "We were just taken into the Five Cities Military Department when someone named Chen Xu showed up, simply saying 'release them,' and we were let go."

Brother Pao grins at Zhang Xia: "I never expected I'd end up with such a strong ally."