Chapter 661
Secret Meeting
The dark clouds on the rooftop leaped down and landed on the table.
Aunt Ping's voice trailed off. She tried to reach out and touch Wuyun's head, but Wuyun dodged her and jumped straight into Zhusha's arms.
Zhu Sha didn't even bother to eat, pulling Wu Yun into her arms: "Wu Yun, Wu Yun, have you eaten?"
Wuyun stood in her arms, leaned close to the table and smelled the noodles. Zhusha fed it with a spoon, and it accepted the food without hesitation.
Chen Ji looked at Aunt Ping's outstretched hand and quickly explained, "Wu Yun is shy and only lets close people hold it. It took Xiao Man several months to gain its approval. However, it has known Xiao Zhu Sha for a short time, and I don't know why it became close to her."
Aunt Ping slowly withdrew her hand and said casually, "Does it want Lord Zhang and Madam Zhang to hold it?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "No."
Aunt Ping suddenly asked again, "What else did you want to ask just now?"
Chen Ji ate a few bites of noodles, then looked up and asked, "Aunt Ping, did the craftsman from Dongyuan go to the Qi family on the day of the funeral?"
Aunt Ping withdrew her gaze from Wu Yun and Zhu Sha, and turned to Chen Ji: "On the day of the funeral, the craftsmen from the East Garden were to be responsible for Qi Gelao's encoffining and closing of the coffin... Do you think there's something wrong with them?"
Chen Ji avoided answering, instead pondering carefully: "A high-ranking official of the first rank in the court must have been bestowed with a secret artifact from the Eastern Garden upon his death. The other party must have calculated this... But the funeral was on the third day and the mourning on the fourth day, which doesn't make sense. Wait, on the day of the funeral, would the court send someone to the Qi family?"
Aunt Ping shook her head: "I have been traveling around the martial arts world for many years and am not very familiar with the specific rituals of the imperial court."
Chen Ji said to Zhu Sha, "Little Zhu Sha, let your brother Chang Sheng speak."
Zhu Sha obediently replied, "Okay, then brother, tell me the story of the little monkey again next time."
Chen Ji hummed in agreement: "Pinky promise."
After he and Zhu Sha made a pinky promise, Zhu Sha obediently closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, a face with brown, red, white, and black patterns appeared on her face, and a third eye between her eyebrows was tightly closed.
Changsheng put on the wooden monkey mask and asked in a shrill voice, "Why were you released?"
Chen Ji pressed further, "On the day of Grand Secretary Qi's funeral, which high-ranking officials of the court will be present?"
Chang Sheng recalled: "On the day of the funeral, officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices would be present to observe the ceremony and check whether the funeral regulations conformed to the rites for a first-rank official or whether there were any overstepping of the bounds. The Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies would personally attend to preside over the ceremony... Perhaps a prince would also be ordered to personally attend the funeral and offer condolences, and bestow a posthumous title on behalf of His Majesty. However, this was a special honor, and not everyone received it."
Chen Ji seemed to be deep in thought: "If His Majesty were to send someone to offer condolences, who would he choose?"
Changsheng said with certainty, "The Crown Prince has a leg ailment and cannot see outsiders, so the person who went to offer condolences must be Prince Fu."
Upon hearing the name "Prince Fu," Chen Ji recalled a name he had written in the kitchen, and everything made sense.
At this moment, seeing that he remained silent, Aunt Ping asked softly, "Is the noodle soup delicious?"
Chen Ji took a few bites and agreed, "Delicious."
Aunt Ping casually asked, "How does it compare to Madam Zhang's?"
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Each has its own strengths. My mother makes Suzhou-style soup noodles from the south, which are lighter in flavor, while my aunt makes northern-style noodles, which are stronger in flavor... But I am from the north, so I prefer noodles with a stronger flavor."
Aunt Ping's expression was hidden behind the black veil of her veil: "I'm better at making dumplings and steamed buns. I can make some for you to try tomorrow."
Chen Ji smiled and replied, "Thank you, Aunt Ping."
Aunt Ping suddenly asked, "Has it come to the point where you have to leave the capital? Unable to prove your innocence?"
Chen Ji sighed, "It's difficult. It's not just the rumors circulating in the streets; there are even more powerful figures hunting me down. My only chance of survival lies outside the capital."
Aunt Ping then asked, "You've just gotten married. If you were to secretly flee the capital like this, what would happen to Miss Zhang?"
Chen Ji remained silent for a long time.
Aunt Ping said softly, "I had heard of Miss Zhang's reputation long ago. In Changping, you could hear scholars discussing that 'Rouge Tiger' from the Imperial Academy. At the time, I just thought she was some spoiled young lady from another family. But later I heard that she stormed Jiang Xianzong's White Tiger Hall for you. She risked her life to save you. This courage and character are a thousand times more precious than any social status, talent, or needlework... In this chaotic world, those who value loyalty and righteousness are most easily betrayed. She did not betray you, so you should not betray her."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Aunt Ping, what are you thinking... I'm going out for a bit."
……
……
Chen Ji left the whale knife at Master Hu's residence and walked alone towards Xuanwumen Street, wearing a bamboo hat. Only Wu Yun jumped onto the roof and silently followed him.
He hadn't gone far when he encountered the Five Cities Military Command coming towards him. He slipped into the alley and stood under the eaves, where he saw that the Five Cities Military Command was holding his portrait.
Chen Ji turned and walked deeper into the alley. On the way, he met a peddler carrying a load on a shoulder pole, calling out, "Steamed rice cakes, dried fruits and candied fruits!"
Chen Ji stopped him: "How much would you sell both loads to me for?"
The vendor was taken aback: "Sir, why are you buying so much?"
Chen Ji casually replied, "There are many people in my family, and we also need it when visiting relatives."
The vendor thought for a moment and said, "Sir, three hundred coins will suffice."
Chen Ji took out a small piece of silver from his sleeve and handed it to the vendor: "Give me the carrying pole and basket too." The vendor beamed and put down the pole: "The carrying pole and basket aren't worth much, you've given me too much."
Chen Ji didn't care and picked up his load and left.
He walked hunched over onto the main road, calling out in a hoarse voice as he went: "Steamed rice cakes, dried fruits and candied fruits!"
As Chen Ji walked to Xuanwumen Street, he lowered his straw hat and quickly scanned the street, instantly identifying the twelve guards who were keeping watch.
As he carried his load forward, he passed an alleyway and caught a glimpse of Li Dongyan hiding in the shadows under the eaves, staring intently at the side gate of the Zhang residence.
Chen Ji walked unhurriedly through the alley, but just then, Li Dongyan saw his profile and a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "A peddler..."
Before the words had even finished, Zhang Xia led Zao Zao out of the side gate of the Zhang residence, nimbly mounted his horse, and galloped off to the east.
Li Dongyan disregarded Chen Ji and leaped onto the roof, chasing after Zhang Xia's red figure eastward.
Chen Ji's heart sank. He had come to find Zhang Xia, but Li Dongyan also knew that as long as he kept an eye on Zhang Xia, he could find him.
How to do?
He looked back in the direction Zhang Xia had left, gritted his teeth, and chased after her.
Li Dongyan followed behind Zhang Xia. After crossing two blocks, Zhang Xia suddenly pulled on the reins and looked up at Li Dongyan on the roof: "Lord Li, as the Commander of the Jiefan Guard, why do you have to do such a sneaky thing?"
Li Dongyan was not bothered at all when he was discovered. He simply said calmly, "When I investigate suspects, I only care about whether I can find them, not what methods I use."
Just then, a peddler's hoarse voice rang out from afar: "Steamed rice cakes, dried fruits and candied fruits!"
Zhang Xia raised an eyebrow slightly and said loudly to Li Dongyan, "I am only going to the tailor shop to pick up the clothes I ordered. Lord Li, please do not follow me any further."
Having said that, she spurred her horse and rode away again.
Li Dongyan frowned, feeling that something was wrong. A moment later, he suddenly looked towards the direction from which the peddler's voice came, but there was only an abandoned carrying pole on the long street, and the peddler had long since disappeared.
Li Dongyan sneered and continued to swagger across the rooftops, following Zhang Xia all the way.
Zhang Xia led Li Dongyan around the inner city, first to Yanle Hutong, then to the Drum Tower, but no matter what she did, she couldn't shake him off.
Just as the sun was high in the sky, Zhang Xia suddenly turned his horse and headed south: "Zaozao, hurry!"
Zaozao suddenly accelerated, its heavy hooves drumming, startling pedestrians who scrambled to make way.
Upon arriving at Liu's tailor shop, before Zaozao had even come to a complete stop, Zhang Xia had already leaped off his horse and rushed into the tailor shop.
As soon as she entered, Zhang Xia asked the old tailor urgently, "Where is he?"
The old tailor didn't say anything, but glanced at the backyard. Zhang Xia understood and walked straight to the backyard.
In the backyard of the tailor shop, there was a tall bamboo frame with bolts of dyed silk hanging on it. Zhang Xia parted the silk and saw Chen Ji quietly looking at her.
Chen Ji's risky hawking earlier was to remind Zhang Xia that he was nearby. He knew Zhang Xia would definitely recognize his voice, even if he was faking it.
When Zhang Xia angrily rebuked Li Dongyan, she said she was going to a tailor shop, but she didn't specify which one. However, she knew that Chen Ji would know which shop it was once he heard her.
But they didn't have much time. Li Dongyan was still trailing behind, and would catch up in a dozen or so breaths. They didn't have time to explain what had happened, nor did they have time to argue. They only had two sentences to say.
Zhang Xia spoke very quickly, and said in a deep voice, "Get to the most important thing."
Chen Ji gazed at Zhang Xia: "No matter what dangers I face, I will definitely come back to see you."
Zhang Xia was taken aback. She took a step forward, stood on tiptoe, and gently kissed Chen Ji on the cheek. Chen Ji stared wide-eyed and froze on the spot.
Before Chen Ji could react, she had already pushed him away: "Go quickly."
Chen Ji turned and left.
Ten breaths later, Li Dongyan landed in the courtyard from the rooftop. He drew his sword and slashed horizontally. The silk cloth hanging on the bamboo frame was cut in two and fell down with a rustling sound.
But after the silk cloth was gone, only Zhang Xia remained.
Li Dongyan looked at the swaying silk behind Zhang Xia, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly sheathed his sword: "Miss Zhang, what you are doing will not help him. It would be better to let Lord Chen come out and be interrogated honestly. If he is innocent, I will clear his name."
Zhang Xia brushed past him: "What did Commander Li say? I don't understand."
Li Dongyan watched her retreating figure and said in a deep voice, "It seems that I have no choice but to issue a warrant for her arrest."
Zhang Xia didn't even turn her head: "Do as you please."
At this very moment, in a small alley a hundred paces away, Chen Ji, wearing a straw hat, walked briskly with his head down. Dark clouds leaped down from the eaves, landed on his shoulder, and tilted their heads to examine him for a long time.
Chen Ji took a few dozen more steps forward, then looked down and found that Wu Yun was still staring at him with her head tilted. He tilted his head back and asked somewhat awkwardly, "What are you looking at me for?"
Seeing the barely suppressed smile on Chen Ji's face, Wu Yun meowed, "Why do I feel like she just sucked your brain away?" (End of Chapter)