Green Mountain-Chapter 706 - 562: Farewell

The sun has set, lazily leaning against the battlements of the western city wall.

Chen Ji bid farewell to Jin Zhu and rode alone through the bustling streets of Zhengyang Gate Street, filled with the smoke of thousands of families. Sitting on horseback, he watched the bone broth bubbling in the Zhang Family's noodle stall pot and smelled the pungent aroma of fried scallions and garlic from some unknown kitchen, enveloping everyone in warmth.

Stalls closing, people going home, jostling crowds, bumping carts.

Women in the alleys shouting for kids to come home for dinner, a few youngsters at the street corner still squabbling over the last few stones, arguing fiercely.

If he could, Chen Ji would sit by the street and watch all day.

Passing by a wonton stall, he dismounted and greeted the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, six bowls of wontons, please."

The shopkeeper quickly obliged, throwing wontons into a pot of boiling water, his gaze avoiding Chen Ji, not daring to look too much, while Chen Ji glanced over, seeing the dried blood from Yang Zhong's death not far away.

He turned back to the trembling shopkeeper, realizing that he must have witnessed the scene.

Chen Ji chuckled, took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and tossed it onto the table, then mounted his horse and left, heading alone towards Meihua Ferry Crossing.

When he arrived at Meihua Ferry Crossing, it was already a mess.

Meirui Building was sealed with official tape. Brother Pao was sitting on the stone steps below, bored, smoking a pipe. Xiao Man held Wu Yun, pacing worriedly.

Other buildings were dark, except for the Cold Plum Building with Liu Su's faint light still on.

Seeing Chen Ji return, Xiao Man hurriedly approached with concern: "Master, is that Imperial Censor dead?"

Chen Ji nodded: "Dead."

Xiao Man asked anxiously: "Did the little monk help?"

Chen Ji replied with a smile: "He helped."

Xiao Man asked again: "Is this matter resolved then?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "Hard to say."

He looked up at Brother Pao: "Where are the others from Meihua Ferry Crossing?"

Brother Pao grinned: "The landlord still has the Yujing Garden. I worried the matter here would affect the songstress and servants, so I sent them to Yujing Garden to stay temporarily, waiting for things to settle before returning. Since no business can open, it doesn't matter where they live."

Chen Ji nodded: "Brother Pao's thoughtful, as long as no innocents are harmed... Why hasn't Liu Su left? Logically, with three months of national mourning in the Imperial Capital, she should have returned to Jinling."

Brother Pao scratched his scalp with his little finger: "She said playing mahjong at Meihua Ferry Crossing makes her happier than going back to Jinling. I think this girl might fancy me, ready to offer herself."

Xiao Man muttered: "Self-deception, the whole Imperial Capital knows her relationship with top scorer Shen Ye... You should try to persuade the master together, instead of just smoking incessantly here."

Brother Pao took a puff of smoke, blowing the gray smoke into the night sky: "What's there to persuade, Miss Xiao Man? Between eight and eighteen years old is ten years, between eighteen and twenty-eight is a lifetime. After twenty-eight, whether thirty-eight, forty-eight, fifty-eight, it's just a moment. People should do all they want before twenty-eight, not leave regrets."

Xiao Man pouted: "Spouting endless philosophy, yet you're still single."

Brother Pao chuckled: "I'm single because I haven't met someone I like, not because I can't find someone. Haven't you seen the girls at Meihua Ferry Crossing circling around me every day? By the way, Miss Xiao Man, have you heard, when you have someone you like, a faint mole appears on the back of your right hand."

Chen Ji, Xiao Man, and the little monk simultaneously raised their hands to look.

Brother Pao burst into laughter: "Those who look at their right hand upon hearing this already have someone they like."

"Ah! You tricked me!" Xiao Man's cheeks turned red, rushing forward to punch Brother Pao's back twice.

Chen Ji laughed and said: "Let's go, there's still serious business tomorrow. Remember to send out the ruffians, you know what I'm looking for."

Brother Pao agreed: "Don't worry, I know."

...

...

Chen Ji led his horse back to the inner city, passing Chengtian Gate, and through the city gate saw silhouettes of blue-robed figures still kneeling before the Imperial Palace Gate.

Xiao Man, holding Wu Yun, exclaimed in surprise: "Why are Imperial Censors still kneeling? Master already convicted Yang family."

Chen Ji paused and stared: "Today's public execution of an Imperial Censor won't be settled merely by handing over Yang family's crime evidence. Even the Qi family can't decide this matter."

As Zhou Biao said, even if Yang Zhong committed an unforgivable crime, he should be dealt with according to the law, not left to die in the streets and alleys.

The Imperial Censors do not care whether the Yang family is guilty or whether Yang Zhong deserves his fate. Because this is not about Yang Zhong's life, Chen Ji is striking at the face of the Imperial Inspection Office, the backbone of the Clean Flow Officials.

Since it's been broken, it must be glued back together with lives and blood, and it must be glued back with the loudest commotion, for all the civil and military officials of the empire to see, for all under heaven to witness.

Otherwise, how can the censors operate in the future?

How can they establish authority?

Xiao Man worriedly asked: "Then what should we do?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "Let's wait and talk about it tomorrow."

When he led Xiao Man and the little monk back to the Fu You Street Chen Family, it was already between 9 to 11 PM. The night patrol beat the drum as they passed by, loudly shouting: "Close the doors and windows, guard against thieves."

The moon hung high overhead.

The gate of the Silver Apricot Garden was slightly ajar. Chen Ji cautiously peeked through the crack and saw Official Chen sitting by the stone table with his eyes closed, resting, while Chen Xu stood behind him, his hands tucked into his sleeves.

After pondering for a moment, he pushed open the gate.

Official Chen opened his eyes, looking tired: "You're back."

Chen Ji, calm and collected, said: "Pack your things and leave."

Official Chen pointed to the stone bench beside him and said: "Working with wise people has this advantage, understanding worldly affairs, knowing when to advance and retreat, saving the Chen family from being the villains to drive you away. But there's no need to rush, sit and have a chat."

Chen Ji walked over and sat down, laying the Whale Blade across his knees.

Official Chen curiously examined the Whale Blade and asked: "Can I take a look?"

Chen Ji handed the Whale Blade to him.

Official Chen abruptly drew part of the blade, its bright surface reflecting the moonlight, like flowing autumn water: "A fine blade, just like you. Among the younger generation of the Chen Family, you are the finest, brave, perceptive, strategic, and resourceful. If you could lead the Chen Family, perhaps it could reach another level."

Chen Ji calmly said: "Official, you're mistaken. At the peak, decline is inevitable; extreme prosperity leads to decline. If the Chen Family takes one more step forward, I'm afraid it will meet the same fate as the Liu Family."

Official Chen ran his fingers over the cold blade of the Whale Blade: "Chen Xu, I told you, he's very clever."

Chen Xu bowed slightly: "Master discerns wisely."

Official Chen sheathed the Whale Blade and handed it back: "Back when the Liu Family was in power, I advised Official Liu to leave some room for His Majesty, for His Majesty would grow up someday; when the Qi Family borrowed the Imperial Inspection Office's influence, I also advised Mr. Qi to show leniency when possible, for the lips vanish when the teeth are cold... But they never listened to me, assuming I envied their power. It's good you see through this, but how can such a wise person not see through the matters of the heart?"

Chen Ji did not answer, only taking back the Whale Blade and using his thumb to push open the blade guard.

Official Chen sighed: "I've been in the Imperial Capital for decades, and I've seen romantic fools, yet you'd be surprised, once high and mighty Mr. Qi also sought death over a woman in his youth, and His Majesty once quarreled with the Ministry of Rites for the Empress. When I left Lu State, my childhood sweetheart sent me off out of the village, accompanying me over hill after hill, bridge after bridge, extending thirty miles before stopping. At that moment, I swore that once I achieved success, I'd ensure a good life for her, yet over time, I slowly forgot. This capital is not a place for love, those with emotions and loyalty eventually walk the path of heartlessness."

Chen Ji still said nothing.

Official Chen looked at him: "After a few more years, when Princess Bai Li no longer means so much to you, only then will you be considered to have matured, and the Chen Family can rest easy handing the reins to you. But now you've joined the Eunuch Party, it's too late... The hearts of the literati across the country are the Chen Family's foundation, no matter how regrettable it is, you can only be sacrificed, that's the stance. Young man, stance is critical, it's what the Chen Family uses to kill and protect itself, if one day the Chen Family falls into hardship, honorable scholars nationwide must stand up for the Chen Family, if not, they'll be in the wrong."

Chen Ji smiled and asked: "Is Official teaching me a lesson tonight?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Official Chen also smiled: "Tonight, I just want to tell you, things in this world are complicated, the one killing you may not be a bad person, and he may not be doing it for himself. Chen Xu, give it to him."

At this moment, Chen Xu took off a string of Buddhist Treasure from his wrist and handed it to Official Chen, who then placed it in Chen Ji's palm: "I know you need silver to redeem Princess Bai Li, here it is, twenty thousand taels of silver, it's yours."

Chen Ji was puzzled: "What does Official mean by this?"

Official Chen smiled: "Upon meeting, there's a gift, upon departure, there should be a farewell gift. Though you will no longer be part of the Chen Family, there was a connection. I'm not reminiscing, just wish that if one day the Chen Family mansion is about to collapse, Duke Wu Xiang will show some leniency."

With that, Official Chen got up and left, Chen Xu bowed and cupped his hands to Chen Ji: "Take care, young master."

Xiao Man watched them leave: "Young master, they have me confused. Just today, they swaggered in and took away the silver and account books of the Chen Family Salt Shop, and now they're giving back silver at night?"

Chen Ji looked at the Buddhist Treasure in his hand and sighed: "Official Chen truly seeks only not to be defeated. During the day, they have to act for all the literati to see, at night they place a casual move, leaving a retreat for the Chen Family... Let's pack up."

The three split up to pack, and within thirty minutes, they were ready.

Chen Ji, Xiao Man, and the little monk each carried a small bundle on their shoulders as they left the Silver Apricot Garden, Chen Ji turned back to carefully close the door, then strode away.