Green Mountain-Chapter 684 - 541: Farewell

Once upon a time, Chen Ji thought he was already very close to that ending.

He entered the Jiefan Building and used Lin Chaojing to repay the Prime Minister for the first life. Although he couldn't capture Lin Chaoqing, there were still more than half a year until the grand gathering ceremony next April, enough to make up for the second life.

He could take a good breath and rest for a while, then wait for the Prime Minister to let him know who he wanted to kill.

In the meantime, perhaps he could take Xiao Man and the little monk to stroll around the Chessboard Street night market, or watch how the Eight Great Hutongs choose the Oiran, and together see how glorious and bustling the Ning Dynasty Capital City is during the Lantern Festival night.

But the moment the Annan Envoys entered the capital, everything began to take a sharp turn.

At some point, Chen Ji felt that since he came to the Ning Dynasty, he had been living in a hurry, as if everyone couldn't bear to see him stop and take a breath.

Chen Ji waited all night until Brother Pao came back at dawn.

Brother Pao came upstairs alone, patted the dust off his clothes, and said, "The Cao Guild's Hall Master is hard to find. If you go directly to their door, you won't find anyone. So last night I found Qigong of the Three Mountains Association to act as a mediator, but he was unwilling to get involved in this mess to introduce me. So I went to Qian Ping."

Chen Ji asked, puzzled, "Qian Ping, the one from Heji?"

Brother Pao grinned and said, "That's right. Back then, I bet with him that the Landlord could settle the Eight Great Hutongs. He didn't believe it, so I made a deal with him. If I won the bet, he would have to work under me. Unexpectedly, even though I won the bet, he was intercepted by Qigong, and now he's replaced Qigong as the Chief of the Three Mountains Association. In a way, he owes me a bet, so when I asked him to do something, he agreed."

Brother Pao picked up the teapot from the table and took a big gulp of tea: "Qian Ping said that just as someone from the Four Beams and Eight Pillars had arrived in the capital, he led me to Chongnan Fang to meet one of them, Zhu Xiao. Zhu Xiao didn't waste words and promised Qian Ping he would deliver the message to Han Tong before sunset today. As for whether Han Tong would agree to the meeting, he didn't know."

Chen Ji pondered: "It seems that in this capital, the face of the Three Mountains Association is more useful, even daring to promise to deliver the message before sunset, not afraid of revealing that Han Tong is in the capital..."

Brother Pao explained, "Qian Ping said Han Tong sneaked into the capital in February this year and has been hiding in Chongnan Fang. The Spy Department has been looking for him for a long time, but to no avail."

Chen Ji speculated, "Han Tong should be here for Princess Bai Li as well, and the other side is also thinking of a way to rescue her. Let's wait for Han Tong's reply and see if we can help with anything."

From dawn to dusk, Chen Ji waited and waited in Meirui Building until he saw the lights across at Cold Plum Building, but he didn't get a reply from the Cao Guild, only Qian Ping.

Today, Qian Ping was wearing a brown Daoist robe, simply tied with a wooden hairpin on top of his head. After entering the Three Mountains Association, this Master Qian had lost some of his killing intent and gained some elegance.

He followed behind Er Dao upstairs and politely cupped his hands toward Chen Ji: "Marquis of Wuxiang, Wan An."

Qian Ping's left hand was missing a little finger, and he wore a black finger cover, beneath which was a wooden fake finger. This was the price he paid when he formed a blood alliance with Heji and Furui Xiang, and now, both Heji and Furui Xiang no longer existed.

Chen Ji got straight to the point: "Master Qian, did the Cao Guild reply?"

Qian Ping corrected, "The ruffians of the market call me Master Qian, and I shamelessly respond, but Marquis of Wuxiang calling me Master Qian, I, a defeated general, dare not respond. You can just call me Qian Ping."

Chen Ji didn't dwell on the matter: "What did the Cao Guild say?"

Qian Ping calmly stated, "The Cao Guild's Zhu Xiao replied that Han Tong said, since their paths are different, they don't need to meet as they are not on the same path."

Chen Ji felt his heart sink.

Earlier in Luocheng City, Chen Ji used Han Tong to draw away Yun Yang, Jiao Tu, and Jin Zhu, causing the other side to almost get caught. Chen Ji wasn't sure if the other side misunderstood that he had colluded with the Eunuch Party to betray them, but it seemed Han Tong still didn't trust him now.

At this point, Qian Ping changed the subject: "I don't know why the Marquis of Wuxiang is looking for the Cao Guild, but I can tell you that the Four Beams and Eight Pillars gathered in the capital today, and even the seldom-seen Zhu Zheng arrived, so there must be a big move. If the Marquis of Wuxiang holds a grudge against the Cao Guild, please return to the inner city quickly. If the Marquis of Wuxiang simply plans to conspire with the Cao Guild, it's better to stay away recently to avoid being implicated in what they're going to do."

Chen Ji asked, "Why does Master Qian want me to stay away from the Cao Guild?"

Qian Ping lowered his eyes: "With the Four Beams and Eight Pillars all here, they might be planning a big operation of confiscating properties and beheadings, and those involved will not have a good end. Moreover, the Cao Guild has been in decline in recent years, with Han Tong hiding and the Hall Master under him daring to privately conduct tabooed transactions. The people within the Four Beams and Eight Pillars may not be united, and there's likely someone who's already defected to the court."

Chen Ji pondered: Since Han Tong came to the capital, the Cao Guild has employed several little eunuchs to secretly aid Bai Li in the Forbidden City. Apart from providing daily necessities, they should also be discussing how to escape from the Forbidden City.

And with Zhu Xiao and the Four Beams and Eight Pillars suddenly coming to the capital, they should have also heard about the marriage alliance and want to rescue Bai Li in advance... all of this should also have the Empress's help.

So, has Han Tong joined hands with the Empress?

It's uncertain.

Chen Ji cupped his hands to Qian Ping: "Thank you, Master Qian, for the reminder. There will surely be a generous reward from the Red Gate."

Qian Ping shook his head slightly: "There's no need. As they say, Jianghu grievances, both are cleared. Last time, Qian owed the Red Gate a favor, and this time it's repaid, cause and effect are settled. From now on, the Red Gate is the Red Gate, the Three Mountains Association is the Three Mountains Association, each minding their own business."

Chen Ji nodded: "Alright."

Qian Ping cupped his hands again and said, "Farewell."

Chen Ji watched as the Second Blade Leader, Qian Ping, departed. At that moment, a distant song drifted from the Cold Plum Building, singing tonight's new lyrics of "Prelude to Water Melody," filled with melancholy and sorrow. Chen Ji listened quietly until the songstress sang the last line.

He took a deep breath. Perhaps, if he waited a little longer, there might be a turning point.

Standing atop Meirui Building, Chen Ji gazed into the distance, his eyes seemingly penetrating the towering Zhengyang Gate and Imperial Palace Gate to see the Jingyang Palace inside the Forbidden City.

...

...

Jingyang Palace.

A female servant carried a palace lantern in her left hand and a food box in her right, arriving at the palace gate to softly call, "Princess, it's time to go to Kunning Palace. The Empress has extended the banquet today."

Bai Li's silhouette slowly emerged from the main hall, followed by the plump Xuan Su.

She approached the female servant, "Sister, please refrain from calling me Princess. If outsiders hear, it might cause trouble."

The female servant smiled and said, "Who would dare gossip?"

Xuan Su quickly agreed, "We won't speak carelessly."

Bai Li didn't argue further. She took the food box from the female servant and handed it to Xuan Su, whispering, "Inside are two roasted geese and some mooncakes given by the Empress. Take them to the rear hall and share them with everyone... We're all people fated to suffer, and we must not bully others any longer."

Xuan Su, blind in one eye, laughed sheepishly, "The Princess is right. It's rare for Jingyang Palace to see better days now. Anyone who doesn't cherish it is blind as a bat. Rest assured, even if I don't take a bite, everyone will get a share."

Bai Li nodded, "Then I'll go to Kunning Palace. I'll return before the hour of the pig."

After Bai Li left with the female servant, Xuan Su brought the food box back to the rear hall, where the nuns gathered around, smelling the aroma of meat before the box was even opened.

Xuan Su placed the food box on the communal bed and coldly said, "Don't grab; the Princess instructed that everyone gets a portion."

The nuns eagerly watched as Xuan Su tore off the goose meat bit by bit, distributing it to everyone. In the end, she was left with only the bony breastplate to nibble on.

Du Miao approached with her goose leg, "Steward, have mine."

Xuan Su replied expressionlessly, "Eat yours. Don't curry favor with me. I said yesterday that the tribute fruits are shared in turns. Whether you win my favor or offend me, the rules won't change, so don't dwell on it."

Du Miao sulked back, "Being kind is seen as a donkey's liver and lungs. I'm doing this for your good, yet you don't appreciate it."

Xuan Su picked at the tiny bits of meat on the goose breastplate, indifferent, "Think of the decades lived worse than pigs and dogs, then think of the days now. Remember the Princess's kindness, and don't plot in your heart. Don't try your tricks on me; they won't work. Cause trouble, and there'll be no goose left to eat."

Du Miao muttered, "Look at you, fawning like a lapdog. You're here eating goose meat, while the Princess is at Kunning Palace having the Empress's formal banquet. With your loyalty, why didn't the Princess take you along? Don't forget who blinded that eye of yours."

Xuan Su looked up at her, "Everything in Jingyang Palace stems from Xuanzhen. Had the Princess not shown mercy back then, I might have died at your hands. Say another bad word about the Princess, and I'll tear your mouth apart."

Meanwhile, Bai Li silently followed the female servant, passing through the quiet palace alleys. Each alley had Jiefan Guards on duty, and more patrolled in shifts every quarter-hour. Yet they were accustomed to Bai Li's visits to Kunning Palace and looked the other way.

Upon reaching Kunning Palace, she saw the Empress holding Wu Yun in her arms, standing at the main hall's threshold waiting for her. Despite the heat, Wu Yun wasn't wearing a jacket today, only a pure gold longevity lock hanging from its neck.

Seeing the Empress waiting, Bai Li hastened her steps. Wu Yun cleverly darted from the Empress's arms onto the ground, quickly leaping into hers.

Bai Li lowered her head, touching noses with Wu Yun.

The Empress feigned jealousy, "Why is the Mountain Lord so close to you? Sees you coming, and without a second glance at anyone else, jumps into your arms. Usually, it pretends to coax me just the same, doesn't it?"

Wu Yun mewed obediently at the Empress.

Bai Li laughed and explained, "The Empress has misunderstood Wu Yun..."

The Empress, tugging her arm playfully, said, "Alright, alright, no need to defend this little one. Let's eat. Tonight's meal is to send you off. After tonight, who knows if we mother and daughter will see each other again. When you leave this Forbidden City, don't forget me."

It was only then Bai Li noticed that Kunning Palace felt especially sparse today. Aside from the Empress's usual trusted servants, all others had been sent away.