Green Mountain-Chapter 708 - 564: Even More Arrogant

There is a world of difference between an imperial punishment of forty lashes and fifty lashes, despite the mere ten-lash difference.

Within the palace, there has always been an unwritten rule: fifty lashes mean death from beatings. If fifty lashes are delivered and the person is not dead, the executioner themselves would face death.

Once "fifty lashes" is pronounced, the censors standing not far away exchange glances, some gloating, "The arrogant traitor truly believes he can act recklessly through the official gateway? Little did he know that even an Innate Official can be beaten to death on the spot with fifty lashes."

Another middle-aged censor stroked his beard and commented, "It seems that even His Majesty cannot tolerate his arrogant behavior, ordering his death to set an example. This action serves as an explanation to the Imperial Inspection Office, the Ministry of Rites, and Taichang Temple."

Some others gritted their teeth, "Beat him, beat him to death outside the Imperial Palace Gate to serve as a warning to others."

Two Jiefan Guards holding the imperial rod looked at Changxiu, who smiled and asked, "What, afraid to hit?"

The Jiefan Guards gritted their teeth and swung the rod with all their strength, breaking one after every three or four strokes.

Outside the Imperial Palace Gate is the Duan Gate, and outside the Duan Gate lies the Offices of the Six Ministries, Hanlin Academy, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, Ministry of Personnel, Imperial Clan Court, Yulin Army Commander's Mansion, Taichang Temple, Ministry of Communication, Imperial Hospital, Observatory, Honglu Temple, Shanglin Garden Supervisor, Imperial Carriage House—all clustered together.

When Chen Ji dragged Yuan Wang out of the Honglu Temple, he alarmed the officials who had just started work, and the Jiefan Guards had just broken two rods, already filling the space under Duan Gate with people.

Some even crossed the Duan Gate, coming within ten steps to watch the commotion, "Didn't I say yesterday? Publicly slaughtering an Imperial Censor on the street—even if the King of Heaven came, he wouldn't be saved."

Li Xuan, initially worried watching Chen Ji being flogged, hearing this, took a deep breath, turned and scolded at the official, "What business is that of yours?"

The official turned his head, sneering, "Since when did the Qi family's son-in-law become part of the Eunuch Party? Does the Qi family know about this? Or have they also attached themselves to the Eunuch Party?"

Li Xuan stood there, speechless for a long time.

Qi Zhenzhuo stepped forward, disdainfully towards the official, "Liu Yingchun, you old codger, don't overstep your bounds, or watch out for when you're on leave, we'll corner you in an alley."

The official's face froze, stepping back half a step, mumbling, "What, did I say something wrong? Publicly slaughtering a censor deserves to be beaten to death!"

Qi Zhenzhuo, enraged, "You damned... are you ever going to shut up?"

He was about to charge forward to punch the official but was stopped by Li Xuan's cold hand on his wrist. He turned and saw Li Xuan gently shaking his head.

They were members of the Qi family, and standing outside the Imperial Palace Gate represented the Qi family's honor; the Qi family represented the country's literary heart, how could they be associated with the Eunuch Party?

Qi Zhenzhuo, flushed with anger, stood speechless for a long time.

By this time, Chen Ji's undergarments were shredded, blood flowing along the fabric, making even the executioner Jiefan Guards feel guilty, while the observing officials had long turned their heads, unable to bear watching.

But they gradually noticed something was amiss; the Jiefan Guards broke one rod after another until they had broken seven or eight, even snapping all the spare rods.

Chen Ji remained kneeling on the ground, his spine rigid like an obstinate stone, not making a single groan.

The Jiefan Guards looked at the broken rod in their hand, then looked at Changxiu, "Master?"

Changxiu smiled and said, "Go and get more, do I have to teach you such things?"

The Jiefan Guards hurried away, before returning with another seven or eight rods, continuing the execution.

The officials watched as rod after rod broke, yet Chen Ji remained indifferent.

By the forty-eighth stroke, the two Jiefan Guards grew anxious, exchanging glances and swinging with all their might; two rods snapped simultaneously.

Upon hearing the rods break, the officials rushed forward a few steps, eager to see if Chen Ji was dead.

But Chen Ji rose as if nothing had happened, bending down to pick up the neatly folded Qilin embroidery that had been previously removed and placed on the ground.

Leisurely.

He unfurled the embroidery, the bright red satin stretching out in the morning light. Then, he turned around and draped it over his shoulders, carefully fastening each button.

The officials' expressions changed dramatically, unsure of what official pathway this Marquis Wu Xiang had cultivated to withstand fifty lashes without changing face. Any ordinary Innate Realm Official's spine should have been broken by now.

At that moment, Chen Ji finished fastening the buttons, turned to the crowd of officials.

He respectfully cupped his hands, courteously asking, "Now that the beatings are done, may I ask, gentlemen, is any of you planning to visit the Imperial Music Bureau six days hence?"

The officials who had been watching suddenly had their faces change, some averted their gaze, some instinctively hid behind others, and no one dared to answer for a moment.

Chen Ji singled out one person, "You, sir, will you be going to the Imperial Music Bureau?"

The young censor's voice trembled slightly, "We, Clean Flow Officials, would never go to such a place as the Imperial Music Bureau!"

Chen Ji smiled, "Good that you won't."

He pointed to another official, "And you, sir, will you go?"

The pointed official's face twitched involuntarily, "When did I say I was going?"

Chen Ji acknowledged with a sound, then glanced over the crowd to Feng Xi, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites hiding at the back, "Lord Feng, I heard that you plan to visit the Imperial Music Bureau? And that the Feng Family holds an old grudge with Prince Jing, intending to take care of a friend's daughter?"

Feng Xi stammered, "I... I have no silver."

Speaking out loud, Feng Xi unexpectedly fled in panic.

The officials looked at Chen Ji in front of them; not only was he not dead, but his aura was even more dominant.

The young man wore a vividly lifelike qilin on his chest, with a distinct and upright shadow, the exterior righteous and the interior at ease. This red figure outside the Imperial Palace Gate stood straighter than anyone, hardly resembling someone who had just endured ninety lashes.

Chen Ji lowered his head and tugged at the wrinkles on his sleeve, "Since it's been said that I won't attend, then six days from now, don't let me see you in the Imperial Music Bureau, alright?"

The officials could only feel a chill rising from their feet, the cold surging from their Achilles tendons up to their spines, causing their hairs to stand on end.

...

...

At this moment, solitary applause came from behind Chen Ji.

He turned to look and saw Changxiu smiling and saying, "Lord Chen truly has a talent for being part of the Eunuch Party; clearly, having just become one, yet more like an eunuch than the eunuchs themselves. Lord Chen used to be by the Crown Prince's side and then went to the Yulin Army, but all those were missteps."

As he spoke, Changxiu picked up the broken imperial punishment rod from the ground and clicked his tongue in wonder, "Lord Chen, what great skill."

Two members of the Jiefan Guard immediately knelt, saying, "We are incompetent."

Changxiu laughed and reassured them, "It's alright, it's alright. Having broken so many rods, I think the Imperial Censor will not accuse you of malfeasance. The anger that needed venting has been vented. As for whether he died or not, that's Lord Chen's own ability, nothing to do with you."

The two Jiefan Guards felt relieved and quickly said, "Thank you, Lord Changxiu."

Changxiu waved his sleeves with a smile, "Alright, go do your work. In the future, when you talk about having disciplined Lord Chen, it's quite an impressive thing."

The Jiefan Guards retreated back inside the Imperial Palace Gate.

Chen Ji looked again at Changxiu, "How does this lord refer to himself?"

Changxiu cupped his hands and bowed, "Thousand households of Jiefan Guard, Changxiu. Originally, I didn't want to come out and work, but the Jiefan Guard in the Capital really has no handy people to use, so I came out first."

Chen Ji scrutinized him carefully; eighteen or nineteen years old, his brows and eyes clean and delicate. If not for seeing him casually commanding the Jiefan Guard, one might have thought he was just an ordinary little eunuch.

If placed in the market, he's just a kind-looking youth from the neighborhood.

Chen Ji smoothed out the wrinkles on the Qilin embroidery, "Lord Changxiu, is there anything else?"

Changxiu quickly waved his hand, "I dare not accept such a title from Lord Chen, just call me Changxiu. I read the Capital Morning News and Evening News every day, especially those two sections on governance and benefiting the people, passionately. Ideas of wonder fall into the homes of ordinary people, Lord Chen's courage and breadth of mind are among the top three of this generation."

Chen Ji continued to tidy the sleeves of the embroidered robe, unconcernedly asking, "Who are the other two?"

Changxiu smiled but didn't answer, changing the subject, "By the way, the rods prepared in the palace are used up. Lord Chen, don't come back today."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, "I'll come tomorrow then."

Changxiu pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, then I'll send someone to make new ones in the afternoon. What sort of wood do you want, there's chestnut wood, paulownia wood..."

Chen Ji replied, "Paulownia wood."

Changxiu nodded, "Okay."

The officials exchanged glances; absurdity in one asking, absurdity in the other answering, that's how the two decided.

The old imperial censor stepped forward shakily, filled with deep sorrow, "Marquis Wu Xiang, I don't understand. You achieved tremendous feats for the border towns in Guyuan, and upon returning to the Capital, you were bestowed a noble title with an external surname, the first in several decades. The Chen family abandoned your bastard status and wanted to make you a legitimate son imitation. For the Capital Morning News, people talk about discontent, but in their hearts, they admire it... Whether in literature or in martial skill, you have a great future ahead, and all the young scholars in this land will take you as a model. Why now associate with the Eunuch Party?"

Outside the Imperial Palace Gate, silence fell abruptly, and everyone looked at Chen Ji.

Chen Ji lowered his head in silence, then calmly said after a long time, "I'm sorry, none of you gave me a choice."

He looked at Changxiu, "Lord Changxiu, if Your Majesty has no other orders, I'll take my leave."

Changxiu smiled warmly, "There's nothing more, nothing more."

"Farewell," Chen Ji mounted his horse and rode away.

Changxiu watched Chen Ji's departing back, lamenting, "Lord Chen doesn't really want to associate with the Eunuch Party. But in this world, one must choose a side..."

Speaking thus, Changxiu looked back at the imperial censors, sincerely saying, "What do the imperial censors say; has the grievance been vented?"

The old imperial censor cursed angrily, "That Marquis Wu Xiang is clearly relying on his innate talent in the official gateway to act recklessly. Seeing him not seeking repentance, how can we sit and watch?"

Changxiu tilted his head and thought for a moment, "Uh... Do the lords want to kneel back again?"

The imperial censors were stunned on the spot, then looked at each other. For a moment, kneeling or not kneeling wasn't a good option.

The old imperial censor's beard trembled with anger, "The Eunuch Party ruins the country! The Eunuch Party ruins the country!"

Then, the old imperial censor fainted, and the imperial censors shouted loudly, "Imperial Physician, call the Imperial Physician!"