Green Mountain-Chapter 735 - 588: Draught Through the Hall

Chen Huainan had speculated about Chen Ji's identity.

Perhaps he was a former subordinate of Prince Jing? Years ago, Prince Jing had three thousand disciples; now many are dead or scattered, but there are always a few who have escaped notice, waiting for the day they can do something for their old master.

Or perhaps he was a Death Soldier secretly nurtured by Wen Yunmo? That descendant of the Wen family has great ambition; keeping a few people in secret in case of need is nothing unusual.

Chen Huainan thought about many possibilities, yet he never considered that this person might be Binghu. But he couldn't comprehend why the new gang leader Bai Li would be involved with Binghu of the Spy Department.

Binghu.

Other zodiacs may have stories told in tea houses; there are always bold storytellers daring to recount old tales of the Jianghu, such as Jiao Tu and Yun Yang working together to wipe out 127 members of the Jinmen White Lotus Sect, or the Heavenly Horse single-handedly flattening the Yangquan bandits in Taihang Mountain, or...

Yet the name Binghu is one that doesn't have any decent stories circulating in the Jianghu. What Official Gateway? What Power Realm? What did he do for the Eunuch Party? These remain unknown in the Jianghu.

This person doesn't belong to the court, nor does he reside in the Jianghu.

At this moment, Chen Ji calmly watched as Xuan Snake approached and spoke steadily, "What, do you intend to obstruct me?"

Xuan Snake bowed, cupping his hands with respect, "I do not dare, but I have long admired Lord Binghu. I just heard from my subordinates in the Spy Department that you came to the inner prison, so I came to pay my respects."

Chen Ji spoke calmly, "You're done, now step back."

Xuan Snake did not step back.

He remained bowed, with his head slightly lowered, but his eyes were slyly rolled upwards, observing Chen Ji's every move.

Xuan Snake's voice remained respectful: "May I know what purpose you have in taking Han Tong away? Meng Ji severely injured during Han Tong's interrogation a few days ago; I was supposed to continue the interrogation to find out where the Cao Guild's treasury is located. Lord, why not wait three more days? Just three days, and I assure you, I will obtain all the details of the Cao Guild's treasury cleanly."

As Xuan Snake spoke, he boldly scrutinized Chen Ji.

This Lord Binghu, although his face was hidden, is a master of justice; there are subtle hints that cannot be concealed merely by covering the face.

Those in lower ranks assume restrained postures because their lives do not allow them to make mistakes.

In contrast, those in higher ranks display relaxed postures, elegantly flaunting their gestures, embodying a "fearless of mistakes" attitude—even if they err, there is room for recovery.

Xuan Snake noticed that the Binghu before him was calmly composed, clearly exuding the stance of someone long in an elevated position, which confused him.

At this moment, Chen Ji spoke leisurely, "Lord Prime Minister is about to incorporate the Cao Guild, how could I let you drag on? Step back, I will make my own decisions."

As he spoke, the three sword seeds within the stripe emerged, lurking within the cuff.

Still unwilling to concede, Xuan Snake stepped forward and said, "Lord, Han Tong is wild and untamable, he hasn't spoken a word despite being confined in the inner prison for so long. Releasing him could prevent the incorporation of the Cao Guild and allow a tiger back to the mountain."

He took this opportunity to look more closely at Chen Ji's hands... they turned out to be the hands of a young man.

Hands are one of the biggest distinctions between youth and the elderly.

Young people tend to have slender hands, even if short and stocky, the joints are not overly large. As age advances, hands grow thicker and more robust, and the joints gradually become pronounced.

The hands of this Binghu before him were clearly those of a young person.

Xuan Snake was startled, then advanced another step, "I dare ask, each zodiac has a different title for each term, after Tomb Dog is Corpse Dog, after Ye Yang is Yun Yang, after Ling Rabbit is Jiao Tu... Binghu was the title of the previous Feng Wenzheng, what is Lord's current title?"

At this moment, he got a clear look at Chen Ji's eyes; the texture around the eyes doesn't deceive, this Binghu is indeed a young man, but why would the Prime Minister appoint a young man to the Top Three zodiacs?

Fake!

At this instant, Chen Ji calmly stated, "Bai Long is always Bai Long, Binghu is always Binghu."

Xuan Snake suddenly chuckled, very lightly, and slowly drew himself up straight, leisurely addressing Chen Ji, "No, Bai Long truly is always Bai Long, but Binghu isn't necessarily still Binghu."

In the next moment, Xuan Snake suddenly erupted into action, his black large cloak snapping open fiercely, pouncing towards Chen Ji like a night owl.

Chen Huainan reacted swiftly, pulling Zheng Zhou to dodge aside. Lü Qi and Tian Kuang simultaneously unsheathed their swords, charging at Xuan Snake from left to right.

In the nick of time, the carriage's curtain moved spontaneously, as if something erupted out from inside. A powerful aura emanated, causing everyone around the carriage to feel their chest tighten, as if punched heavily.

Xuan Snake's face changed drastically; clutching his large cloak, he barely managed to shield himself.

A gust of fierce wind suddenly swept through, with a rumbling sound, Xuan Snake was blown back five to six feet.

"My Lord!"

Hai Dongqing rushed forward to catch Xuan Snake, preventing him from landing embarrassingly. Once Xuan Snake steadied himself, he looked at the carriage with a mixture of doubt and awe, not daring to advance recklessly again.

Chen Ji calmly said, "Is my identity something you can probe? Go receive fifty imperial punishments; if you dare to offend again, you'll be demoted to Hai Dongqing."

Xuan Snake hesitated for a moment, repeatedly glancing between Chen Ji and the carriage, ultimately bowed his head and clasped his fists, "Yes, I was presumptuous, I will go receive the punishment."

He turned and strode towards the Eagle House Office.

Gao Yi followed beside him, whispering, "My Lord, is that truly Lord Binghu?"

"No!" Xuan Snake glanced at the solemn and imposing Forbidden City, "Sound the drums, impose a curfew!"

Gao Yi stopped for a moment, "My Lord, tonight is Double Ninth Festival, if we sound the drums imposing a curfew without evidence, I'm afraid we'll face severe punishment."