Chapter 563
Farewell
The sun had set, its rays lazily slanting across the western city wall.
Chen Ji bid farewell to the golden pig and rode alone through the bustling streets of Zhengyangmen. Sitting on his horse, he watched the pork bone broth bubbling in the pot at Zhang's noodle stall and smelled the fragrant aroma of scallions and garlic from some unknown stall, which enveloped him in a warm, comforting scent.
People were packing up their stalls, heading home; crowds of people and cars were bumping into each other.
The women in the alley were yelling for their children to come home for dinner, while a few teenagers on the street corner were still fighting over the last few pebbles, making a huge fuss.
If he could, Chen Ji could sit on the street and watch all day.
Passing by a wonton stall, he dismounted and called out to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, six bowls of wontons, please."
The shopkeeper hurriedly agreed, threw the wontons into the pot of boiling water, and avoided looking at Chen Ji. Chen Ji turned his head and saw the bloodstains from dragging Yang Zhong to death drying not far away.
He turned back to look at the trembling shopkeeper, presumably because the other person had witnessed what had happened.
Chen Ji chuckled, took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and threw it on the table, then mounted his horse and rode away alone towards Plum Blossom Ferry.
When he arrived at Plum Blossom Ferry, the place was already in ruins.
Mei Rui Lou was sealed off, and a member of the Gelaoge gang sat on the stone steps beneath the seal, idly smoking his pipe. Xiao Man, holding Wu Yun, paced back and forth, looking worried.
The other buildings were also dark, with only Liu Su's Hanmei Building having a faint light.
At this moment, seeing Chen Ji return, Xiao Man hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern, "Young Master, is that censor dead?"
Chen Ji nodded: "Dead."
Xiaoman asked anxiously, "Did the little monk help?"
Chen Ji replied with a smile, "It helped."
Xiaoman asked again, "So, is this matter settled?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "It's hard to say."
He looked up at the gangsters: "Where are the others in Plum Blossom Ferry?"
The man grinned and said, "Doesn't the boss still have Yujingyuan? I was worried that what happened here would affect the singers and servants, so I sent them to stay at Yujingyuan temporarily until things calmed down. Anyway, we can't open for business, so it doesn't matter where they stay."
Chen Ji nodded: "The brother is very thoughtful. As long as the innocent are not harmed... Why didn't Liu Su leave? Logically speaking, she should have returned to Jinling during the three-month national mourning period in the capital."
The man scratched his head with his little finger: "She said she's happier playing mahjong at Plum Blossom Ferry than going back to Jinling. I think this young lady might have taken a fancy to me and is about to offer herself to me."
Xiaoman muttered, "How presumptuous of her. Everyone in the capital knows about her relationship with the top scholar Shen Ye... Instead of trying to persuade the young master, you just keep smoking here."
The man took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled the gray smoke into the night sky: "What's there to advise, Xiaoman? There are ten years between eight and eighteen, and a lifetime between eighteen and twenty-eight. After twenty-eight, whether you're thirty-eight, forty-eight, or fifty-eight, it's all just a moment. You have to do everything you want to do before you turn twenty-eight, so you don't have any regrets."
Xiaoman pouted: "He's all talk and no action, but he's still a bachelor himself."
The man chuckled and said, "I'm still single because I haven't met anyone I like yet, not because I can't find anyone. Haven't you seen the girls in Plum Blossom Ferry surrounding me every day? By the way, Miss Xiaoman, have you ever heard that when you have someone you like, a faint mole will grow on the back of your right hand?"
Chen Ji, Xiao Man, and the little monk all raised their hands to look.
The gangster laughed heartily: "The person who looks to their right when they hear this means they already have someone they like."
"Hey! You're teasing me!" Xiao Man's cheeks turned red as she rushed forward and punched the man in the back twice.
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Let's go, we have important business to attend to tomorrow. Brother, remember to throw out the sticks, you know what I'm looking for."
The brother replied, "Don't worry, I know."
……
……
Chen Ji led his horse back to the inner city. As he passed Chengtian Gate, he saw through the gate opening that there were still many figures in blue robes kneeling in front of the Meridian Gate.
Xiaoman, holding Wuyun beside her, asked in surprise, "Why is the censor still kneeling? Didn't the young master convict that man surnamed Yang?"
Chen Ji paused and stared: "Today, a censor was brutally murdered in the street. I'm afraid that simply handing over the evidence against the Yang family won't solve this problem. Even the Qi family can't make the decision on this matter."
As Zhou Biao said, even if Yang Zhong had committed a heinous crime, he should be dealt with according to the law, not left to die in the streets. The censors didn't care whether the Yang family was guilty or whether Yang Zhong deserved to die. Because this wasn't just about Yang Zhong's life; Chen Ji was a slap in the face to the Censorate and the backbone of the upright officials.
If it's broken, it has to be pieced back together with lives and blood, and it has to be pieced back together with the loudest commotion, for all the officials and the people of the world to see.
Otherwise, how will the censors carry out their duties in the future?
How to establish authority?
Xiaoman asked worriedly, "What should we do then?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "Let's wait and talk about it tomorrow."
When he led Xiaoman and the little monk back to the Chen family's residence on Fuyou Street, it was already 9 PM. The night watchman passed by, ringing his drum and shouting, "Close the doors and windows, beware of thieves!"
The moon hangs high overhead.
The gate to Ginkgo Garden was ajar. Chen Ji cautiously peered through the crack and saw Grand Secretary Chen sitting at a stone table, eyes closed, resting. Chen Xu stood behind him, his hands tucked into his sleeves.
He pondered for a moment, then pushed open the courtyard gate.
Grand Secretary Chen opened his eyes, looking exhausted, and said, "I'm back."
Chen Ji remained calm and said, "Pack your things and leave."
Grand Secretary Chen pointed to the stone bench beside him and said, “That’s the good thing about working with smart people. They’re worldly-wise and know when to advance and retreat, which saves the Chen family from having to play the villain and chase you away. But there’s no need to rush. Sit down and let’s talk.”
Chen Ji walked over and sat down, placing the whale knife across his lap.
Grand Secretary Chen examined the whale-shaped knife curiously and asked, "May I take a look?"
Chen Ji handed the whale knife to the other party.
Grand Secretary Chen suddenly drew the Whale Blade a section out, its gleaming blade reflecting the moonlight like flowing autumn water: "A fine blade, just as fine as you. Among the younger generation of the Chen family, you are the best, with courage, insight, wisdom, and strategy. If you could take charge of the Chen family, perhaps the Chen family could rise to another level."
Chen Ji calmly said, "Your Excellency is mistaken. When things reach their peak, they will inevitably decline, and when things reach their extreme, they will inevitably reverse. If the Chen family takes another step forward, I'm afraid they will end up like the Liu family."
Grand Secretary Chen ran his fingers over the cold blade of the whale knife: "Chen Xu, I told you, he is very intelligent."
Chen Xu bowed slightly: "Your Excellency is wise."
Grand Secretary Chen sheathed his whale-shaped dagger and handed it back: "When the Liu family was in power, I advised Grand Secretary Liu to leave His Majesty some leeway, after all, His Majesty will eventually grow up; when the Qi family gained power through the Censorate, I also advised Grand Secretary Qi to be lenient, for if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold... But they didn't listen to me, they all thought I was jealous of their power. It's good that you can see through this, but how can such a smart person not see through the word 'sentiment'?"
Chen Ji did not answer, but took the whale knife and used his thumb to push open the jaws.
Grand Secretary Chen sighed, “I’ve lived in the capital for decades, and I’ve seen my share of lovelorn characters. You probably wouldn’t believe it, but even the high and mighty Grand Secretary Qi once tried to kill himself for a woman in his youth, and His Majesty once argued with the Ministry of Rites over the Empress. When I left Luzhou, my childhood sweetheart saw me off from the village, escorting me across mountain after mountain, bridge after bridge, for thirty miles before stopping. At that time, I vowed to myself that once I achieved fame and success, I would give her a good life, but later I gradually forgot about it. The capital is not a place for romance; those with feelings and righteousness eventually cultivate the path of ruthlessness.”
Chen Ji remained silent.
Grand Secretary Chen looked at him: "In a few years, when Princess Baili is no longer so important to you, then you will have truly succeeded in your cultivation, and the Chen family can entrust her to you with peace of mind. But now that you have become a member of the eunuch faction, it's too late to say anything... The hearts of the scholars of the world are the foundation of the Chen family. No matter how regrettable it is, you can only give her up. This is a matter of principle. Young man, principle is very important. This is what the Chen family uses to kill and save lives. Once the Chen family falls into trouble, all the scholars of the world who have any sense of honor will have to stand up and speak for the Chen family. If they don't, they will be wrong."
Chen Ji asked with a smile, "Is the Grand Secretary going to teach me a lesson tonight?"
Grand Secretary Chen laughed as well: "Tonight I just wanted to tell you that things in this world are very complicated. The person who killed you may not be a bad person, and he may not have killed you for his own sake. Chen Xu, give it to him."
At this moment, Chen Xu took off a string of Buddhist coins from his wrist and handed them to Grand Secretary Chen. Grand Secretary Chen then patted them into Chen Ji's palm: "I know you need money to redeem Princess Baili. Here is 20,000 taels of silver, for you."
Chen Ji asked in confusion, "What is this, Grand Secretary?"
Grand Secretary Chen smiled and said, "There should be a greeting when we meet, and a farewell ceremony when we part. You are no longer a member of the Chen family, but we have had a connection. It's not that I'm thinking of old times, but if one day the Chen family's empire is about to collapse, I hope that you, Lord Wu Xiang, will show some mercy."
After saying this, Grand Secretary Chen got up and left. Chen Xu bowed to Chen Ji and said, "Take care, young master."
Xiaoman watched their departing figures and said, "Young master, they've confused me. They brazenly took the silver and account books from Chen Family Salt Shop during the day, so why are they bringing silver again tonight?"
Looking at the Buddhist coin in his hand, Chen Ji sighed, "Grand Secretary Chen is truly only seeking to avoid defeat. During the day, he puts on a show for all the scholars in the world, but at night he makes a casual move to leave a way out for the Chen family... Let's pack up."
The three of them packed their things separately, and finished in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
Chen Ji, Xiao Man, and the little monk each carried a small bundle over their shoulder as they left the Ginkgo Garden. Chen Ji turned around, carefully closed the door, and strode away. (End of Chapter)