Green Mountain-Chapter 715 - 569: The Shortfall

Noon.

The Qi family's carriage remained quietly stationed on Chang'an Street, the early autumn scorching sun baking the compartment, yet Qi Xianzun inside simply closed his eyes to rest, seemingly unaffected.

Qi Zhenwu was sweating profusely and couldn't help but lift the curtain to peek outside; the alley near Honglu Temple was still crowded with people.

He turned back to Qi Xianzun: "Second Uncle, it's already a quarter past noon. Chen Ji will not come. You should have some snacks first, so as not to upset your stomach."

Qi Xianzun sat calmly with his eyes closed, his voice tranquil as a still pond: "As Mencius said, though possessing wisdom, it's better to seize the opportunity; though having a plow, it's better to await the time. Let's wait longer, see where he goes after leaving Duke Cheng Mansion."

At this moment, a Qi family servant in blue hurried over, bending to whisper outside the carriage: "Sir, I have inquired, Duke Cheng had that uncle Zhu Peide beaten to vent Chen Ji's anger, then gifted Chen Ji fifty thousand taels of silver."

"Noted, you may withdraw," Qi Zhenwu had a tone of confusion: "Though Duke Cheng Mansion has declined, it is still a hereditary title, nobles conferred by the Grand Ancestor himself. Acting like this, they show no backbone at all."

Qi Xianzun opened his eyes: "Duke Cheng has been biding his time for years, putting up with numerous matters. This one doesn't make a difference."

Qi Zhenwu probed: "But the more he endures, the bigger his ambitions seem."

Qi Xianzun shook his head: "Just a caged bird, forget about him for now. How much silver has Chen Ji managed to gather in total?"

Qi Zhenwu closed his eyes to calculate: "Confiscating Yang Zhong's residence, roughly seventy to eighty thousand taels could be seized; this was originally ice tribute to honor our Qi family, which we didn't accept. Unfortunately, Chen Ji took this advantage."

Qi Xianzun replied indifferently: "Unjust things, where lies the pity? The Yang family's corrupt gains were indeed the root of evil, our Qi family's generations of clear reputation cannot be tainted by ill-gotten wealth."

Qi Zhenwu hastily replied: "Second Uncle is right… The Chen family once gifted him twenty thousand taels; though the family has split, this sum should still be with Chen Ji. His 'Capital Morning News' operated for several months, after expenses, there's probably a surplus of around ten thousand taels. The Qian family offered fifty thousand taels yesterday, and today Duke Cheng added another fifty thousand… In sum, Chen Ji now holds about two hundred thousand taels. This lad is indeed adept at amassing wealth, gathering such an amount in two days."

Qi Xianzun brushed the dust off his robes: "Birds of a feather with Zhang Zhuo, let's go, back to the Imperial Inspection Office."

Just then, however, outside the carriage, a sudden commotion arose.

Da-da-da-da.

A solitary sound of hooves approached from afar, and Qi Zhenwu lifted the curtain to see a glimpse of red swiftly pass by the carriage, heading straight to Honglu Temple.

All the clerks and coachmen, who had been waiting all morning at Honglu Temple's entrance, quickly stepped back, making way for Chen Ji.

Qi Zhenwu abruptly turned to Qi Xianzun: "Second Uncle, he dares to come?"

Qi Xianzun became alert and sat up straight: "Go!"

Qi Zhenwu hurriedly disembarked, leading the Qi family servants towards Honglu Temple, keeping a distance, blending into the crowd, waiting for Chen Ji to drag Feng Xi out of Honglu Temple before arresting Chen Ji.

After thirty minutes, someone in the front whispered: "Why hasn't he come out yet… Ah? He's coming out, coming out!"

Qi Zhenwu squinted his eyes to see Chen Ji, wearing Qilin embroidery, stepping out of Honglu Temple, but oddly Feng Xi was nowhere in sight.

"Where is Feng Xi?"

"Where's Lord Feng?"

The Qi family servant inquired Qi Zhenwu: "Perhaps he was dealt with directly inside the government office? Shall we apprehend him?"

Qi Zhenwu immediately stopped them: "Do not act rashly, it's not that simple."

At this moment, as Chen Ji exited, he mounted his horse without caring about onlookers, snapped the reins, and galloped away.

The Qi family officials were about to stop him, but Qi Zhenwu suddenly halted them: "He can't escape, find Feng Xi first!"

Qi Zhenwu led the household servants into Honglu Temple, loudly calling out: "Feng Xi!"

"Feng Xi!"

"Feng Xi!"

After several calls, there was no response.

Qi Zhenwu with quick strides, while passing through the entrance, saw a clerk, angrily asked: "Where is Feng Xi?"

The Honglu Temple clerk pointed inside: "Lord Feng is in the study room at the back."

Qi Zhenwu burst into the study room, seeing Feng Xi cowering in a corner, he grabbed Feng Xi by the collar, angrily questioning: "Why are you still alive? What did you say to Chen Ji, why did he spare you?"

Feng Xi trembled as he replied: "I didn't say anything, he just sat in the chair staring at me, and left after thirty minutes."

Qi Zhenwu was momentarily stunned.

He let go of Feng Xi's collar, walked out, and went through the crowd to the Qi family carriage, reporting the recent events to Qi Xianzun.

Qi Xianzun was silent for a moment: "This lad truly does not intend to harm Feng Xi but instead wants to plant a thorn between our Qi family and Feng Xi... Such a malicious mind."

He paused, gently tapping his knee with his finger: "Not thinking of how to rescue his beloved, but rather plotting to provoke our Qi family. Arrogant, does he truly think our Qi family is helpless against him?"

Qi Zhenwu lowered his voice to test the waters: "I asked Li Bing to allocate some silver from the accounts. In five days, I'll go buy Princess Bai Li... If he wants to compete with our Qi family in terms of wealth, he's overestimating himself."

Qi Xianzun cast a sideways glance at him: "Foolish, our Qi family is of noble descent, where would we get that kind of silver? If we truly spent a fortune at the Imperial Music Bureau to buy the daughter of a criminal official, how would the scholars of the world view our Qi family? Public opinion is like a knife; the centuries-long reputation of the Qi family would be ruined overnight."

Qi Zhenwu bowed his head after being reprimanded: "Nephew has not thought things through."

Qi Xianzun's expression softened slightly: "However, we can't let him raise money so easily. We must prepare the silver, but there's no need to handle the matters at the Imperial Music Bureau personally. Recently, I've heard there's a minor official named Cui Qinghe who is quite close with Zhaoning?"

Qi Zhenwu introduced: "I know this person. He was the second-tier scholar of the 27th year of Jianing, first served as a County Chief in Capital County, then was appointed as a County Magistrate in Jinling, performing adequately. Now he's painstakingly transferred back to the Imperial Capital, serving as the Chief of the Ritual and Personnel Department of the Ministry of Rites... The Qinghe Cui Family has struggled without anyone in the court these years, so his rise has been slow, but his talent is top-notch. He has always stayed close to Zhaoning, wanting to attach himself to our Qi family."

Qi Xianzun nodded slightly: "You are to handle two matters. First, invite the son of Assistant Minister Zhou from the Ministry of Revenue and the son of the Jin Shang Chamber of Commerce President to temporarily stay at the Qi Mansion. Both have previously made bold claims, boasting about going to auction for Bai Li. Invite them to the mansion under your name, claim it's to appreciate young talents and have them come to the mansion to discuss poetry and literature."

Qi Zhenwu suddenly understood: "Second uncle's idea is to protect them so Chen Ji can't extract silver from them."

Qi Xianzun continued to instruct: "Secondly, have Li Bing allocate the silver from the accounts, but be meticulous. Do not hastily give the silver to Cui Qinghe, and do not let him know of our Qi family's foundation. On the last day, if we haven't yet taken down Chen Ji, hand the silver to him and have him purchase Bai Li from the Imperial Music Bureau. After the matter is accomplished, grant him a position as Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Bai Li will also be at his disposal."

At this point, Qi Xianzun sighed: "When that time comes, Chen Ji will lose Bai Li, and we will lose several hundred thousand taels of silver; the only one pleased would be His Majesty."

If he could choose, it would be best to resolve Chen Ji before then, to avoid all those funds being absorbed into the Inner Treasury and burned by His Majesty into an elixir.

Qi Zhenwu pondered for a moment, then lifted the curtain and told the servants: "Keep your distance, guard the carriage and don't let anyone approach."

After speaking, he turned back to Qi Xianzun: "Second uncle, how much silver should Li Bing allocate?"

Qi Xianzun responded solemnly: "To ensure safety, allocate six hundred thousand taels."

Qi Zhenwu was shocked: "So much? Second uncle, Li Bing's side silver is all invested in usury, gathering this much in a few days might not be easy, and the account lacks flexibility..."

Qi Xianzun replied indifferently: "Business can always be done, but this matter concerns the Qi family's reputation, and the priorities must be clear."

...

...

The third morning.

The third day, morning.

The rooster crows at first light, Xiao Man has already ironed the Qilin Embroidery. Chen Ji emerged in his robes, handing her several strings of Buddhist Treasures: "Today, visit the Longevity Vault at Longfu Temple, and exchange these into a whole string. It's inconvenient to wear them scattered."

More than sixty temples in the Imperial Capital have thriving incense offerings. All temples are equipped with Longevity Vaults, specializing in the exchange of Buddhist Treasures and issuing of usury.

Xiao Man's eyes lit up, holding a few strings of Buddhist Treasures: "Young Master, this is twenty thousand taels, and you give it to me like this? Aren't you afraid I'll run away?"

Chen Ji, buttoning his clothes, did not lift his head: "Can't run away with the monk, but not the temple."

Xiao Man frowned, feeling the words were odd: "Young Master, who are you planning to kill today?"

"I don't have such a strong urge to kill," Chen Ji chuckled: "The priority is raising silver."

Xiao Man nervously tugged at the corner of her clothes: "Young Master, you're not planning to sell the estates left by Aunt, are you? I've managed to make those estates profitable… You promised me before; if you leave with the Commandery Princess, these estates would be left to me. If you need to sell, then sell the Baoxiang Bookstore, that shopkeeper is a stubborn mule, impossible to reason with."

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "Alright, I won't touch what I promised you."

Xiao Man instantly beamed: "Young Master, how much silver do you still need?"

Chen Ji contemplated: "Although the merchants have little silver circulating in their shops, if the Qi family is determined to gather funds, they might be able to raise four hundred thousand within a few days."

Xiao Man's eyes widened: "Then there's still a gap of two hundred thousand taels? Where will you gather such a large gap from?"

"This is the minimal estimate," Chen Ji draped the embroidered robe over himself and buttoned it: "Desperate times call for desperate measures; there're still two families I haven't visited. Perhaps another hundred thousand taels can be raised… Let's go."

Fortunately, this isn't the era of online transfers. The silver from the various businesses hidden under the Qi family's command is scattered in different places. Bringing it to the Imperial Capital would take at least over ten days; otherwise, even millions wouldn't hold them back.

Chen Ji spurred his horse straight to the residence of Assistant Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Revenue.

But upon arriving at the Zhou Mansion's entrance, he found the gatekeeper waiting and greeting him: "Mr. Chen, our young master has been invited by the Qi family to temporarily reside at their Fuyou Street Estate. If you wish to see him, you may go to the Qi Mansion."

Chen Ji paused before continuing, then spurred his horse toward the President of the Jin Shang Chamber of Commerce's residence. But there, too, the story was the same: invited by the Qi family to temporarily reside at the Qi Mansion.

Chen Ji sat on his horse, saying nothing, only lightly flicking the reins, turning the horse's head. The sound of hooves echoed in the alley, much slower than when he came.

Chen Ji exhaled deeply, realizing that the remaining method of fundraising had also been blocked by the Qi family.

He tightened his grip on the reins, his knuckles pressing deeply into the leather.

Two hundred thousand taels, perhaps substantial, but in front of the Qi family, it still wasn't enough.

Far from enough.