Chapter 568
Feint to the East, Attack in the West
At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the area outside Chengtian Gate became bustling with activity as officials from various government offices came and went in a steady stream.
The roll call ceremony was complicated. Officials of lower rank had to go to the front hall of their respective government offices, sign their names on the roll register, and then wait for the presiding official to call out their names one by one.
High-ranking officials from the Six Ministries were required to go to the Meridian Gate to report for duty in preparation for an audience with Emperor Ning.
Originally, this set of procedures had become a mere formality. Each household's register was placed in the front hall, and the first person to arrive would sign it for their colleagues. Even if someone didn't come on a particular day, they only needed to inform their superior, who would usually grant their request.
Those were wonderful days; drinking until dawn the night before was no problem... until Zhang Zhuo presided over the capital inspection.
Nowadays, officials throughout the capital are complaining bitterly. If they are absent from work, they will be fined or even dismissed. In just a few months, the six ministries have dismissed more than a hundred people.
In the past, officials would begin their work after reporting for duty.
Today was a little different. The clerks from various government offices were dispatched by their superiors to the alleys of the Court of State Ceremonial, where they whispered among themselves and waited for something.
A minor official from the Ministry of Works, with a handful of melon seeds in his pocket, huddled with the sedan chair bearers of his clerk, a senior official from the Qingshui Division, and secretly observed the Court of State Ceremonial: "Have you heard? Lord Feng didn't dare leave the yamen last night. He hid in his private quarters, and his family brought him his meals."
The sedan chair carriers perked up: "How did you know?"
The minor official cracked melon seeds, but his eyes never left the gate of the Court of State Ceremonial: "His coachman said so. The coachman stood guard outside the Court of State Ceremonial all night."
A sedan chair carrier reached out to take some melon seeds from a minor official, but the official avoided him.
The sedan bearer said sullenly, "Do you think Viscount Wu Xiang will come today?"
The minor official casually replied, "Of course he'll come. I saw him get up after being flogged yesterday and ask questions like the King of Hell was calling roll."
At this point, mimicking Chen Ji's manner, he pointed at a sedan chair bearer and said coldly, "Sir, do you know how to go to the brothel?"
The driver asked curiously, "Who did you order?"
The minor official, Le Hehe, said, "It's Censor Zhou from the Censorate." Censor Zhou's expression changed, and he quickly replied, "How could we upright officials go to a place like the Music Bureau?"
The onlookers, seeing how vividly he described it, also gathered around.
The clerk spoke with even more enthusiasm: "Then Viscount Wu Xiang appointed Lord Xing, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Revenue. When Lord Xing also said he wouldn't go to the Jiaofangsi, he asked Lord Feng Xi, who was several people away from him."
The clerk mimicked Chen Ji's tone: "Lord Feng, I heard you're going to the brothel? And that the Feng family has an old grudge against Prince Jing, and you're going to take care of an old friend's daughter?"
Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! What did Lord Feng say?"
The clerk chuckled: "Lord Feng quickly claimed he had no money and fled in disgrace. Without a doubt, someone as vengeful as Viscount Wu Xiang would definitely target Lord Feng today, there's no doubt about it."
"His Majesty will surely reduce the punishment; this time it might be more than fifty strokes."
"Viscount Wu Xiang is exceptionally gifted in officialdom. He was beaten with ninety strokes of the cane yesterday but was unharmed. It's worth it to take a few strokes of the cane in exchange for his life."
Those who enjoy watching a spectacle never think it's too bad.
The minor officials and sedan chair bearers had no connection with Feng hope. Considering that a high-ranking official like the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies lived a life of luxury and revelry, they felt that it didn't matter if Feng hope died; as long as they could enjoy the spectacle.
More and more people gathered in front of the Honglu Temple, and officials from various government offices sent their clerks to wait and report back immediately if there was any news.
At this moment, the Qi family carriage was quietly parked on Chang'an Avenue, surrounded by more than ten attendants.
Inside the carriage, Qi Xianzhun leaned against the wall and closed his eyes to rest: "Have all the personnel been arranged?"
Qi Zhenwu lifted the carriage curtain a crack: "Two people arrived last night and are guarding the back gate of the Court of State Ceremonies. Two more will arrive at dawn and disguise themselves as sedan chair bearers to guard the gate of the Court of State Ceremonies. There will be no mistake. Once Chen Ji makes a move, we will arrest him on the spot and escort him to the Meridian Gate."
Qi Xianzhun didn't even lift his eyelids: "No need. He's going to drag Feng hope to the Meridian Gate anyway. My Qi family is a noble family. We should stay out of this kind of thing if we can avoid it. We just need to keep an eye on him."
Qi Zhenwu cupped his hands and said, "I understand."
Qi Xianzhun stopped speaking and waited patiently.
But as time passed, Chen Ji's red figure was nowhere to be seen in front of the Honglu Temple.
Some sedan chair bearers and coachmen were getting impatient and stood on tiptoe to look out of the alley: "Strange, Chen Ji went to the Meridian Gate before dawn yesterday. Could he have overslept today?"
Someone else asked, "Is Viscount Wu Xiang afraid to come?"
"That can't be right. He was so fierce yesterday, and he's backed down today?"
"It's possible that the ninety strokes of the cane yesterday damaged his body, so he's resting today."
The clerk from the Ministry of Works, who was cracking melon seeds, said, "Impossible. I saw him with my own eyes yesterday. He didn't look injured at all."
"Then why didn't he come?"
"This……"
Just as the foot soldiers on the Zhengyangmen city tower sounded the watchman's drum, Qi Zhenwu, inside the Qi family carriage, whispered a reminder: "Second Uncle, it's past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and Chen Ji still hasn't arrived. Is he too afraid to come?"
Qi Xianzhun suddenly opened his eyes: "If you think he doesn't dare to come, then you underestimate his courage and boldness. Looking at all his achievements, big and small, every single one of them was earned with his life. If he had ever backed down even once, he wouldn't have made it this far. If he didn't dare to come, he wouldn't deserve the old man's praise, and he wouldn't be worth me sitting here waiting for him."
Qi Zhenwu asked in confusion, "But why isn't he here yet? Could he have really overslept?"
Qi Xianzhun pondered for a moment: "This boy is used to taking unconventional approaches. Since he didn't come to the Court of State Ceremonies, he must have gone somewhere else. Quickly, send out men to find him."
Qi Zhenwu immediately got off the car.
……
……
At this moment, Chen Ji rode his horse to Tea Alley next to Chaotian Palace.
The entire Tea Alley consisted of seven courtyards, which were bought up and combined into one, and a gilded plaque was hung up that read: "Qian Mansion".
The plaque was brand new, its gold paint gleaming brightly, clashing sharply with the surrounding ancient blue bricks and gray tiles. The stone lions in front of the gate were also newly carved, lacking the imposing presence they had accumulated over the years.
The Qian family, one of the eight major merchant families, based in Lianghuai, sent their youngest son to study at the Imperial Academy in the capital. For this, they spared no expense to buy and combine seven courtyards next to Chaotian Palace.
Chen Ji reined in his horse in front of the mansion gate, but did not dismount. He simply stared quietly at the vermilion gate.
The gatekeeper, with his sharp eyes, had already spotted the traces of the past through the crack in the door, along with the whale-shaped sword lying across the saddle. The qilin-patterned robe and the five-foot-five-inch-long whale-shaped sword—it was indeed the Martial Viscount.
Before long, the vermilion gate suddenly opened, and more than twenty servants carrying guns and clubs came out to greet him, surrounding Chen Ji with menacing eyes.
Inside the threshold, a young man with unsteady steps said in a fierce but cowardly tone, "Chen Ji, others may fear you, but I don't. My Qian family is one of the eight major merchant families, and my father holds an official position!"
Chen Ji glanced at him, then dismounted, his whale-shaped sword in hand. With a calm expression, he led the twenty-odd servants toward the gate. With each step he took, the servants nervously retreated. The twenty-odd men surrounded him, but none dared to make a move, forced to retreat into the Qian residence.
Chen Ji kept his gaze fixed on Qian Xingzhi, the youngest son of the Qian family. Qian Xingzhi felt as if someone was pointing an arrow at his brow from ten paces away, and subconsciously avoided his gaze.
But as soon as he looked away, he felt that it was a bit spineless, so he looked at Chen Ji again, and then had no choice but to look away again and back away.
The next moment, Chen Ji stepped across the threshold and walked inside as if no one else was there. His bright red Qilin robe shone brightly in the sunlight, and his black lacquered gauze turban was upright and dignified.
He led his servants like a tidal wave into the Qian residence, as if he were walking in his own home.
For a moment, you could hear a pin drop in the courtyard.
Only Chen Ji's footsteps echoed, unhurriedly treading on the bluestone slabs as he walked in step by step. More than twenty servants wielding sticks surrounded him, as if escorting him or being driven away, their formation scattered as they retreated into the inner courtyard.
With nowhere left to retreat, Qian Xingzhi braced his heel against the stone steps in front of the main hall.
He forced himself to remain calm: "Stop! You've trespassed on private property! Is there no law in this capital city?!"
Chen Ji stopped before the steps.
He didn't look at Qian Xingzhi; his gaze swept over the pale-faced maids and servants peeking out from under the eaves before finally landing on Qian Xingzhi's face.
silence.
The silence was suffocating Qian Xingzhi, his mind a jumble of images: the bloodstains left by Yang Zhong being dragged, Yuan Wang's shrill screams, and the broken pieces of court beatings scattered outside the Meridian Gate yesterday.
Chen Ji suddenly turned and walked towards the Wind and Wind Pavilion in the Qian residence, sat down at the stone table, and placed the whale knife across his lap: "Pour tea."
The servants turned to look at Qian Xingzhi, whose face flushed red: "What are you looking at me for? Do I have to teach you how to do things? Li Du, my Qian family has raised you for so many years, just so you could be running around doing other people's bidding?"
A middle-aged man whispered, "Young master, he holds a noble title. If we make a move, I fear there will be endless trouble in the future."
Qian Xingzhi flew into a rage: "Then go pour the tea! Poison it, poison this bastard to death!"
The maidservants of the Qian family hurriedly went to make tea, while Chen Ji sat alone in the Fengxin Pavilion, his fingers slowly tapping the table, his gaze always fixed on Qian Xingzhi.
A moment later, the tea was served. Chen Ji, unafraid of poison, picked up the teacup and brought it to his lips.
Qian Xingzhi mustered his courage and stepped forward angrily, shouting, "What are you doing here at my Qian residence? I haven't offended you!"
Chen Ji didn't speak, but only sipped the tea in his cup.
Qian Xingzhi felt a little guilty: "I did say I was going to the brothel, but I was just bragging to someone..."
As he spoke, Chen Ji put down his teacup, drew his whale knife with a clang, and pulled a piece of fine linen from his sleeve, wiping it repeatedly.
Qian Xingzhi was startled and quickly stepped back, saying in a fierce but weak voice, "I only said I was going to join in the fun, I didn't say I had to buy Princess Baili!"
Chen Ji ignored him and continued wiping the whale knife.
Qian Xingzhi gritted his teeth, took a string of Buddhist coins from his wrist, and tossed it onto the stone table: "This is ten thousand taels of silver. Consider it a gift from the Qian family. I wish you and Princess Baili a long and happy life together, a long and blessed marriage, many children, abundant fortune, and longevity..."
Chen Ji continued wiping the whale knife, calmly saying, "Not enough."
Qian Xingzhi's expression changed: "I came to the capital to study, how could I bring so much cash? Do you know how much 10,000 taels is? It's enough to buy five houses in the inner city, and you couldn't spend it all in ten years in the Eight Great Hutongs! 10,000 taels of silver is enough to redeem the best gangster in Nanjing!"
Chen Ji remained silent.
Qian Xingzhi quickly explained, "My family's businesses are all in Lianghuai. My father wants me to study hard at the Imperial Academy and doesn't give me much money to spend... You have no leverage over my family, so why are you asking me for money?! I'm just not going to the brothel!"
The more he explained, the more guilty he became, and with each explanation, his confidence waned.
But Chen Ji remained silent.
In the long silence, Qian Xingzhi turned to Li Du and roared, "What are you standing there for? Go get the emergency funds!"
Li Du left in a hurry, then returned just as quickly, handing a string of Buddhist coins to Chen Ji: "Viscount Wu Xiang, this is forty thousand taels of silver."
Chen Ji finally stopped wiping the whale knife, but instead of taking it, he looked at Qian Xingzhi.
Qian Xingzhi's expression changed several times, but he finally stepped forward, took the Buddhist coin from Li Du, and presented it to Chen Ji with both hands.
Chen Ji stuffed the two strings of Buddhist coins into his pocket, got up and left. He walked past the servants as if no one else was there, uttering only four words the entire time.
not enough.
Pour the tea.
……
……
At noon, on Chang'an Avenue, Qi Zhenwu hurriedly returned, lifted the carriage curtain and said, "Uncle, that brat Chen Ji went to the Qian family's residence."
Qi Xianzhun slowly opened his eyes: "The Qian family, one of the eight major merchant families?"
Qi Zhenwu explained, "Yes, the Qian family sent their youngest son to study at the Imperial Academy, but this kid is good for nothing and spends his days indulging in drinking, gambling, and whoring with a group of merchant sons. I heard that the day before yesterday, in front of many people at the Imperial Academy, this kid said he was going to buy a white carp from the brothel, and quite a few students joined in the commotion, saying they wanted to go with him. So today, Chen Ji came to his door."
Qi Xianzhun frowned slightly: "He dragged the Qian family's son to his death? Why didn't he come to the Meridian Gate to apologize? Does he really think that because he has a noble title, he can get away with killing a merchant's son? The Eight Great Merchants are nominally officials."
Qi Zhenwu shook his head: "Chen Ji did not kill anyone. He was just sitting in the Fengxin Pavilion in the Qian family mansion, leisurely drinking tea. Before he had even finished his cup of tea, the Qian family's son was terrified and immediately offered him 10,000 taels of silver to beg for leniency, saying that he was just talking nonsense and had no intention of going to the Jiaofangsi."
Qi Xianzhun frowned: "Chen Ji agreed?"
Qi Zhenwu shook his head again: "Chen Ji didn't agree, he just continued drinking tea until the Qian family took out another 40,000 taels of silver before he leisurely left."
Qi Xianzhun slowly leaned against the car wall: "A feint? We've been tricked."
Qi Zhenwu climbed into the car and asked in a low voice, "Does Second Uncle mean that he never intended to harm Feng hope from the beginning?"
Qi Xianzhun slowly said, "From the beginning, he went crazy to endure those ninety strokes of the cane, making everyone in the capital think he was insane and didn't care about his life. But he knew from the beginning that he couldn't save Princess Baili just by being fierce; he had to rely on money."
Qi Zhenwu nodded: "That's right. He knows that killing people won't scare everyone away, at least not my Qi family, nor the Xu family. Right now, everyone is reading newspapers, and fewer people are buying books. Xu Bin from Wenyuan Bookstore hates him to death and is eager to trip him up. With Plum Blossom Ferry being shut down, the Morning Post can only come up with a few thousand taels of silver at most. Even if he confiscates Yang Zhong's property, the silver won't be enough to buy Princess Baili."
Qi Xianzhun exclaimed in admiration, "So he spent two days establishing his authority with ninety strokes of the cane and two lives. Now, all he has to do is stand in front of those good-for-nothings, and they are terrified and obediently hand over their silver with both hands... Where has he gone now?"
“Someone saw him head straight for the Duke of Cheng’s mansion,” Qi Zhenwu replied. “The second master of the Duke’s mansion once said at Bianyifang that he wanted to buy back the white carp. Now there’s going to be some excitement. Although the Duke of Cheng’s mansion has declined, it’s not something that Chen Ji can handle.”
Qi Xianzhun seemed thoughtful: "Not necessarily." (End of Chapter)