Chapter 590
He is a Sick Tiger
The drumbeats on the nine city gate towers finally stopped, their lingering sound trailing long in the night wind before reluctantly dissipating.
The Double Ninth Festival is over, leaving only a scene of devastation. A curfew has been imposed, and the vast capital city, like a rampaging wild beast, has swallowed all the heat accumulated during the day.
Chen Ji walked alone in the middle of the empty Andingmen Street. Crushed dogwood fruits, crushed into the cracks of the bluestone slabs by people's feet, were a dark red. A thin layer of chrysanthemum petals covered the ground, yellow and white mixed together. When the wind blew, they rolled gently along the ground, rustling as if someone was whispering in the dark.
The flickering firelight on the Andingmen city tower behind him stretched his shadow long, making him appear somewhat thin and desolate.
Chen Ji didn't go home because the matter wasn't over yet.
Since Han Tong was released, someone has to give Jiefanlou an explanation.
The sound of horses' hooves could be heard in the distance.
It was very urgent and very close together; there were at least twenty or thirty riders.
Chen Ji continued walking without stopping, heading towards the sound of horses' hooves.
The sound of hooves grew closer and closer, and dozens of guards followed the carriage tracks towards them, just in time to encounter Chen Ji returning home.
Commander Wang Zhao of the Jiefan Guard led a large group of men at breakneck speed. They seemed to have no idea they would encounter Chen Ji, and immediately surrounded him: "You audacious thief, impersonating one of the Twelve Zodiac Animals to kidnap a wanted criminal of the imperial court!"
Chen Ji raised his head, his gaze calm beneath his bamboo hat: "If you believe Xuan She's one-sided story, you will have to go and receive twenty strokes of the cane afterward, twenty strokes per person."
The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clearly audible to everyone.
His bodyguards, who were surrounding him, were stunned.
Firstly, they didn't expect Chen Ji to not flee and that they would meet on Andingmen Street. Secondly, they didn't expect this wanted criminal to be so arrogant, not only refusing to surrender but also demanding that they come and receive the court flogging themselves.
A guard rode up to Wang Zhao and asked in a low voice, "Sir, could there be a mistake?"
Wang Zhao's expression was uncertain. Their information all came from Gao Yi, the sea eagle under Xuan She's command, but now it seemed that the information might be wrong.
Chen Ji walked through the encirclement as if no one else was there: "If you want to follow, then come and see where I'm going."
The guards looked at Wang Zhao, who pondered for a moment and could only silently follow behind Chen Ji.
Wang Zhao watched as Chen Ji crossed Andingmen Street, then slowly walked along Chang'an Street, until he reached Taiye Pond, where Chen Ji went straight into the depths.
Upon entering Taiye Pond, they encountered Gao Yi coming towards them, followed by dozens of secret agents, who were about to capture Han Tong from all over the city.
But the spies saw that Chen Ji was fearless and had dozens of Jie Fan guards following behind him, so they didn't dare to move for a moment.
Chen Ji continued walking forward as if nothing had happened, while the spy retreated.
With spies in front and guards behind, they swarmed around him as he headed toward Xihua Gate.
Upon arriving at Xihua Gate, a figure emerged from the gate opening.
Long embroidery.
He stood in the shadows where the torches couldn't reach, smiling as he looked at the huge crowd, and said lazily, "With so many people, Xihua Gate is going to be lively tonight."
The secret agents and the guards stood outside the door, and no one spoke.
Changxiu's gaze fell on Chen Ji at the front, and she politely cupped her hands and asked, "This gentleman looks unfamiliar, may I ask your name?"
Chen Ji took out his ivory token: "Sick Tiger, I have important business to discuss with the Grand Chancellor."
Changxiu then asked politely, "May I examine it by hand?"
Chen Ji tossed the ivory token to Chang Xiu from a distance.
Changxiu caught it and examined it closely by the moonlight: the yin-yang symbol and the Three Auspicious Gates.
His fingertips slowly traced the ivory tablet, from the Open Gate to the Rest Gate, and finally stopped at the Life Gate, where there was a tiny mark, so small that it was almost invisible unless you looked closely, and it wasn't even drawn on the map.
Changxiu smiled and said, "That's right, it was carved by Master Xu himself back then."
Having said that, he stepped forward, returned the ivory token with both hands, and then made way for him: "Lord Sick Tiger, please."
Chen Ji passed him by and walked alone into the depths of the Forbidden City.
After Chen Ji left, Chang Xiu smiled and looked at Wang Zhao, the commander of the Jie Fan Guard: "Has Lord Wang had dinner tonight?"
Wang Zhao frowned: "Why ask that?"
Changxiu said meaningfully, "Originally, I thought that arguing with Lord Wang about the position of Commander of the Jiefan Guard would damage our relationship and hinder Lord Wang's future. But now it seems that, given Lord Wang's intelligence, losing the position of Commander of the Jiefan Guard may not be a bad thing. I have helped Lord Wang save his head and his family... Thinking about it this way, I don't feel so guilty anymore."
Wang Zhao's expression changed drastically: "What the hell do you mean?"
Changxiu shook her head silently and walked into Xihua Gate with her hands behind her back.
……
……
At this moment, the Black Serpent stood bowing outside the Tower of Relief from Troubles.
Inside the dark, gaping gate of Jiefanlou, Shanniu sat upright in an enormous armchair, his eyes closed in repose.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Xuan She finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "I want to see the Grand Chancellor."
Shan Niu didn't even lift his eyelids: "The Grand Minister finally fell asleep. Let him rest for a while. He will naturally call you up when he wakes up."
Xuan She stood outside the door, his voice turning deep: "Someone has impersonated one of the three Sick Tigers and kidnapped Han Tong. This is a matter of great importance; how can we delay?"
Mountain Ox kept his eyes closed: "Eat one bite at a time, do one thing at a time. Even the biggest things have to wait until the Minister wakes up before we talk about them."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bailong led Baohou to the outside of Jiefan Tower. Baohou's chattering voice, hidden under his wooden monkey mask, said, "I think little Annam has great ambitions. The way the King of Annam looked up to our dynasty tonight was all an act."
Beneath the mask, a hoarse voice said, "Whether he's faking it or not, brute force can overcome anything. Does he dare to rebel?"
One of the women said, "That's not how it works. We shouldn't give Jingchao the opportunity to collude with Annam. If Jingchao marches south again and Annam takes the opportunity to rebel and declare independence, we'll have a headache too."
Amidst the noise, the White Dragon led the Monkey King without giving the Black Serpent a second glance and went straight into the Relief Pavilion. After crossing the threshold, the White Dragon suddenly stopped and turned back to the Monkey King, instructing, "You're too noisy. Stay downstairs."
A shrill voice came from beneath the monkey mask, angrily saying, "You call yourselves good friends? How could good friends find us noisy?"
The monkey, in its original voice, quickly said, "Shut up."
Bai Long went upstairs, and a moment later, the lights on upstairs in Jie Fan Lou came on, and a faint light shone through the windows.
Xuan She's expression was uncertain. He looked at Shan Niu and his voice was forced out through clenched teeth: "Aren't you afraid that someone will disturb the Prime Minister's rest at this time?"
Mountain Ox said slowly, "He is one of the top three, I can't control him."
The shrill voice beneath the monkey mask mocked wildly: "A mere black snake dares to compare its official rank and status with Lord White Dragon?"
The black serpent's face darkened, and it said no more.
Bao Hou was beside him, and the voice behind the mask talked about Annam, Jingchao, and Chen Ji and Bai Li's affairs a few days ago.
The shrill voice is critical of everything, the woman's voice is gentle and rational, and the hoarse voice is extremely murderous. Talking to oneself is not boring.
The black snake's ears were ringing, and it felt incredibly irritated: "Enough!"
A shrill voice chuckled, "He's getting anxious!"
At that moment, the sound of a copper bell rang out from inside the building.
The mountain ox finally opened its eyes and looked at the black snake: "Let's go up."
Xuan She hurried upstairs and respectfully greeted the Inner Minister at the gate, saying, "Inner Minister."
He glanced inside and saw Bai Long standing behind the screen, his hands tucked into his sleeves, as if he had already reported the events of the Annamese envoy's farewell banquet to the Prime Minister.
The Grand Secretary, engrossed in writing documents, asked without looking up, "What brings you to the Jie Fan Lou so late at night?"
Xuan She pondered for a moment: "This humble servant interrogated Li Muzhe in the inner prison today. He has confessed that the 500,000 taels of silver in Miss Qi's hands a few days ago were indeed handed over by him personally. This was silver that the gentry of Jiangnan presented to His Highness the Crown Prince when he was in charge of the case of privately minting copper coins. However, he did not know who the owner of this silver was."
The minister grunted in agreement and continued writing hastily.
After a moment, the inner minister suddenly asked, "What is it? Is there something else?"
Xuan She pondered for a moment: "While I was interrogating Li Muzhe, a subordinate came to report that someone carrying the 'Sick Tiger' Zhaocan Tooth Token went to the inner prison and took away Han Tong, claiming that he wanted to use Han Tong to control the Cao Gang."
The Minister of the Interior did not respond; he simply stopped writing.
After a moment, Xuan She gritted his teeth and said, "My lord, judging from his bone structure, that sick tiger... is clearly an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy in disguise."
The Jiefan Building fell silent.
The man behind the screen looked up, and the white dragon also glanced at the black snake.
Xuan She's heart pounded with anxiety: "Your Excellency, if this man is not a sick tiger, I am willing to request an imperial warrant to arrest him and Han Tong, and bring them both back to the inner prison..."
At this moment, the Minister of the Interior casually interrupted, "He is a sick tiger."
The black snake froze on the spot... Was he the sick tiger?
How could that young man be a sick tiger? He, Xuan She, fought his way out of Wunian Mountain at the age of sixteen and served in the Secret Service for eighteen years before finally managing to reach the position of the Zodiac. Every step he took was paved with bones.
How could an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy be a sick tiger?
As I pondered, I heard footsteps coming from the Jiefan Building. Steady footsteps trod up the wooden steps, one by one, from the dark staircase.
Xuan She looked over and saw that the other person was wearing a bamboo hat and had his face covered with a black cloth; it was the sick tiger.
Chen Ji stopped as he passed by, quietly watching Xuan She until Xuan She bowed and greeted him, saying, "Lord Sick Tiger."
Chen Ji calmly asked, "I ordered you to receive fifty strokes of the cane yourself, but you didn't go to receive them. What are you doing here with the Inner Minister?"
The black snake lowered its head even further: "This subordinate will go immediately."
After saying that, he left in a hurry.
The inner minister slowly said, "White Dragon, go and rest too. I have something to tell Sick Tiger."
Bai Long remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Yes."
The Jiefan Tower returned to tranquility, leaving only Chen Ji and the Inner Minister.
Chen Ji entered the room and stood behind the screen: "Your Excellency, I released Han Tong without authorization. Please punish me."
The minister placed the brush beside the inkstone and carefully examined the traces of time, as if he could see right through the screen.
After an unknown amount of time, the inner minister chuckled softly, seemingly both mocking and wistful: "Fools blindly conform, while the wise seek imperfection. Most of a person's life is spent seeking stability and smooth sailing, yet they never understand until death that these are nothing but delusions. Only those who seek change through change can live to the end. Your master cannot teach you this lesson, because he himself did not understand it; you must experience it yourself."
Chen Ji remained silent; this was the first time the Inner Minister had mentioned Old Man Yao to him.
The Minister of the Interior abruptly changed the subject: "Do you still remember the agreement between us?"
Chen Ji said softly, "Two lives for one life."
The Prime Minister calmly said, "You used Lin Chaoqing and Han Tong's lives to exchange for Bai Li's life. Now I've given you Bai Li's life, but you've let Han Tong go... So you still owe me a life, right?"
Chen Ji calmly replied, "Yes."
The Prime Minister smiled and said, "Your life now belongs to Jie Fan Lou. When I need your life, no matter what dangers or changes in circumstances, you will have to hand it over."
Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Alright."
He knew that the reason why this Grand Chancellor had previously refused the methods for improving firearms, clearing fertile land, and replenishing the national treasury was simply because the other party had only wanted his life from the beginning.
The other person sat idly in this place called Jiefanlou, watching the clouds rise and fall, the wind blow and the wind blow, all just waiting for today.
Chen Ji suddenly asked, "Is the Grand Chancellor not afraid that I will break my promise?"
The Minister of the Interior slowly picked up his brush again, lowered his head, and said, "A person of true feeling and righteousness need not wear shackles anymore; feeling and righteousness themselves are shackles. Go." (End of Chapter)