Chapter 121: The Third of the Chen Family

Zhang Zhuo?

Chen Liqin?

The Liu family intends to move against these two? But they are imperial officials!

Inside the dim prison cell, the flame of the oil lamp on the wall suddenly flickered.

Manager Yuan lay flat on the table, letting the secret agent bandage his wound, and the agent's movements slowly stopped.

Jinhu, who had been leaning close to Manager Yuan's ear, instinctively stood up and looked at Chen Ji with wide eyes: "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? Shall I send some secret agents to protect them? After all, Lord Chen is..."

Chen Ji's right hand suddenly pressed down on Manager Yuan's wound. In an instant, Manager Yuan's agonizing scream echoed through the inner prison, suppressing all other sounds.

A moment later, Chen Ji slowly asked, "What did the Liu family say?"

Manager Yuan gasped, "Liu Mingxian said with certainty that after tomorrow, only the Liu family will hold sway in Yuzhou; no one else will dare to interfere."

Chen Ji asked again, "Did he mention the specific plan?"

Manager Yuan's face was pale. "Why should I tell you?"

"I think you're spouting nonsense."

Chen Ji expressionlessly pressed down on Manager Yuan's thigh wound. The place where the bleeding had stopped reopened, and Manager Yuan screamed violently.

Just as he was about to continue tearing the wound to find the main artery, Jinhu pulled Chen Ji by the arm and led him out of the cell, whispering, "I know you're eager to save your father, but you haven't learned interrogation techniques. Your methods are too severe; you absolutely cannot kill such an important prisoner."

Chen Ji was silent.

Manager Yuan laughed heartily, "So Lord Jinhu has heard of the codename 'Changjing.' Who revealed that name? Let me guess: Li Baoyu, Wang Chuan, Tian Ji..."

He didn't care about Chen Liqin's life or death at all; he just wanted to use this opportunity to 'accidentally' kill Manager Yuan, to avoid implicating Yun Fei and himself.

But now, Jinhu had intervened in time, and there was no longer an opportunity.

Chen Ji could only sigh, "My lord, I was too hasty."

Jinhu chuckled, "Earlier, when I heard you wanted to sever ties with the Chen family, I wondered how anyone could truly cut off blood relations. You must have just been speaking out of anger then, angry that your father sent you to Taiping Medical Hall to be an apprentice."

Chen Ji grunted in acknowledgement.

Jinhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder: "Don't worry, I guarantee Lord Chen will be fine. I've thought about it carefully. The Liu family certainly has the ability to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Yuzhou, but they would never openly defy the imperial court right now. So, what the Liu family wants to do is merely drive them away, not harm their lives."

Chen Ji looked at Jinhu, who patiently explained, "Changjing has been infiltrating our Directorate of Ceremonial for at least eight years, disrupting our plans multiple times. If it weren't for him, we probably would have captured the Chief of the Directorate himself. Jinling, the capital, Yangzhou, Suzhou—he seems to be able to be in multiple places at once; he's everywhere."

"How will the Liu family act?"

"Frame them!"

Chen Ji looked at Jinhu, "My lord, do you mean the Liu family intends to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, forcing them to move to other official posts? Do you know these two lords' itinerary for tonight?"

Jinhu immediately replied, "Today, they are to address all the new successful imperial examination candidates and host a 'Deer Cry Feast.'"

The two imperial examination banquets: The first is the 'Deer Cry Feast' after the autumn examination, for the new successful candidates; the second is the 'Qionglin Feast' after the palace examination, for the new successful scholars. This has been a long-standing tradition of the Ning Dynasty for centuries.

Chen Ji asked, "Where will the Deer Cry Feast be held?"

"Yingxian Tower!"

Jinhu beckoned to Xifeng and strode out quickly: "We're going to Yingxian Tower right now. Tonight, we must not only protect Lord Chen but also get leverage against the Liu family. If they dare to frame imperial officials, not only will our Secret Service not tolerate the Liu family, but the imperial court, the Xu family, and the Chen family will also not tolerate them."

Chen Ji glanced at Jinhu's retreating back, then silently looked at Manager Yuan.

Jinhu stopped and looked back, his gaze passing through the dark, long corridor. "Let's go, what are you waiting for?"

"Coming!"

Yingxian Tower was originally named Fugui Square.

However, on the day it opened, a celestial crane flew from the west and landed on its orange glazed tile roof.

So, the owner temporarily commissioned artisans to sculpt a stone crane to place in front of the entrance, and renamed it Yingxian Tower.

At this moment, carriages and horses gathered in front of Yingxian Tower, and people bowing with cupped hands came and went in an endless stream.

Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo, dressed in their bright red official robes, stood out prominently among the crowd of blue-robed officials.

While the scholars were seating themselves, Zhang Zhuo leaned into Chen Liqin's ear and said, "Chen Ji has already agreed to study at Zhixing Academy at Prince Jing's invitation, but your little scheme was exposed by Princess Baili. If you ask me, the simplest way would be to beat that steward of yours to death to vent his anger, instead of going through all these complicated twists and turns. That steward isn't a good person anyway."

Chen Liqin glanced at Zhang Zhuo. "My household steward has been diligent for over ten years; even if he has no great achievements, he has put in hard work. Lord Zhang, your talk is always about fighting and killing, which is an insult to scholarship."

Zhang Zhuo retorted angrily, "Do you really think those three brothers studying in the same academy will rekindle their brotherhood or appreciate your kindness? You might as well go burn incense at the City God Temple or Mount Laozi and pray for a Daoist immortal to appear."

Chen Liqin's face darkened. "As long as he can learn some real skills and knowledge, I, as his father, will have done something for him. Whether he appreciates my kindness or not is his business."

Zhang Zhuo laughed in exasperation!

He flicked his sleeves, turned, and walked into the building. "Just don't forget our agreement."

Jinhu nodded, "But after our investigation, we found that everyone has been cleared of suspicion."

Outside the back door of Yingxian Tower.

Jinhu, wearing a bamboo hat, gently knocked on the door.

After speaking, he looked at Manager Yuan, "This much information probably isn't enough to catch Changjing. If you want me to request an imperial decree now, you'll have to reveal more."

Manager Yuan remained silent.

Jinhu's eyes flickered slightly as he spoke to someone outside the door, "Liutiao, quickly bring Manager Yuan down and bandage his wounds."

Xifeng pulled open the main door from inside and welcomed Jinhu and Chen Ji. "My lord, a net has been cast all around. If the Liu family tries to cause trouble, they will certainly not return."

Jinhu scoffed and walked forward into Yingxian Tower. "You certainly talk a big game. If you're so capable, what do you need me for?"

Xifeng mumbled softly, "Yesterday, he was still calling me Chief..."

Jinhu suddenly turned around. "What the hell are you mumbling about? Surely nothing good!"

Xifeng quickly laughed, "Nothing, my lord. You are wise and mighty."

Jinhu sneered, then led Chen Ji to stealthily enter Yingxian Tower, where they hid behind a pillar, observing silently.

In the main hall, more than thirty *juzi* sat around round tables, raising their cups and drinking together, the atmosphere lively.

At the main table, the Five Prodigies of the autumn examination sat beside Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, their positions even higher than those of other officials.

During the banquet, an official raised his cup and stood up, smiling as he addressed Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin: "I haven't had a chance to congratulate you two lords yet."

Zhang Zhuo was momentarily stunned. "Lord Xing, what congratulations are these? My son didn't even participate in the imperial examination!"

Chen Ji lowered his head and analyzed, "Secret agents in various cities have their specific duties. There aren't many who can be frequently dispatched to places like Jinling and the capital. Their identities should be easy to trace."

The blue-robed official said with a smile, "The day before yesterday, Miss Zhang Er personally said at the polo match that you would marry her to a young master of the Chen household. This cannot be false. Now, with both of you serving as officials in the same prefecture, and your two families happily united in marriage, it's truly joy upon joy."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yingxian Tower fell silent. The *juzi* silently looked towards the main table, their gazes filled with envy as they swept over Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao.

Lord Xing's gaze also shifted between Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao as he curiously asked, "My lords, which young master is Miss Zhang Er to be married to?"

Before Chen Liqin could speak, Chen Wenxiao, smiling, said from the side, "It's not us two brothers. The one Lord Zhang fancies is our third brother."

Jinhu slowly looked at Chen Ji from behind the pillar: "Isn't that Chen family's third son?"

Chen Ji ignored his gaze, just listening with his head bowed.

Chen Ji suddenly understood the significance of that codename!

Jinhu's pupils contracted slightly: "Changjing is in Luocheng? What is his identity? What is his real name? If you reveal him, I will write a letter to request an imperial decree for you right now."

Someone at the banquet whispered, "Chen family's third son? Is that the gambler who was sent to the medical hall?"

"Hush, don't let Lord Chen hear you."

"Strange, why would Lord Zhang not marry his daughter to Chen Wenzong, or even Chen Wenxiao?"

Jinhu silently observed Chen Ji.

He saw Chen Ji simply standing quietly behind the pillar, as if the discussions at the banquet had nothing to do with him.

The next moment, Chen Liqin spoke, "This matter is a misunderstanding. Lord Zhang Zhuo only mentioned it twice in jest before, and neither of us took it seriously. My unruly son is not worthy of Miss Zhang Er."

Lord Xing's hand, raised with a wine cup, froze, and he awkwardly said, "Then why would Miss Zhang Er...?"

Zhang Zhuo explained with a smile, "That was merely because she overheard my conversation with Lord Chen and mistakenly thought we had settled the matter. Young girls often exaggerate what they hear. She went out and spread rumors everywhere, creating a misunderstanding. I hope everyone will not spread it further."

Lord Xing sheepishly sat back down, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is!"

However, Zhang Zhuo changed the subject, saying with interest, "But, I think you've all misunderstood that young man, Chen Ji. As the saying goes, 'hearing is not as good as seeing.' I've met him a few times, and privately, I believe he's not as despicable as you all make him out to be. Not only I, but even Prince Jing praises him highly now. There must have been some misunderstanding before."

Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise.

Behind the pillar, Jinhu lowered his voice and chuckled, "Neither your father nor your brothers spoke up for you. But this Lord Zhang and I see eye-to-eye on this hero. Ignore them, cultivate yourself well, earn merits, and when you rise to the ranks of the Twelve Zodiacs, it will be as easy as flipping your hand to raid their homes and exterminate their families."

He looked at Manager Yuan: "If you reveal Changjing, I'll guarantee you the position of Haidongqing."

Manager Yuan shook his head, "I don't know either. Changjing's status is higher than mine. If he hadn't voluntarily revealed the news of your encirclement of Hongyi Lane this time, I wouldn't even have known he was in Luocheng."

Chen Ji looked at Jinhu with a complex expression. For a moment, he didn't know how to react.

The moon was high in the sky.

The candles and lamps in Yingxian Tower were replaced repeatedly. The new *juzi* vied with each other, reciting poems and composing couplets, showcasing their talent before Zhang Zhuo.

However, everything remained peaceful. The storm that Chen Ji and Jinhu awaited did not arrive.

Seeing that the Deer Cry Feast was about to end, if the Liu family didn't act soon, they would likely lose their chance.

Jinhu's legs were numb from standing behind the pillar. He wondered aloud, "Damn it, could the news have leaked again?"

Jinhu shook his head, "No, Xifeng is specifically keeping an eye on the secret agents; they aren't allowed to leave. No one could have tipped them off."

Jinhu leaned against the pillar and rubbed his temples. "Could that Jing Dynasty scoundrel be deceiving us?"

Chen Ji closed his eyes in thought.

No!

Manager Yuan didn't lie.

At this moment, he was trying to gain the Secret Service's trust to save his life; how could he possibly deceive them about a minor detail?

But what exactly does the Liu family intend to do?

What could the Liu family do to make Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin leave Yuzhou in disgrace?

Jinhu said, "They're about to leave; let's withdraw too!"

"No!"

"How do you transmit messages?"

"Bailu Pavilion delivers medicinal herbs to Fangping Medical Hall every day. The doctor at the medical hall is our person. Go arrest them."

Jinhu shouted, "Xifeng, arrest the people at Fangping Medical Hall!"

"Hm?"

In the darkness behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jinhu: "The Liu family's target isn't here."

Two secret agents helped Manager Yuan lie down on the table and carefully cleaned his wound with strong alcohol.

As the strong alcohol poured onto the wound, Manager Yuan immediately cried out in agonizing pain.

Jinhu was surprised, "Hm?"

Chen Ji asked, "My lord, do you have a royal command tablet with you?"

Jinhu shook his head, "How could I carry something like that casually? If it were lost, I'd lose my head! Wait. Why do you ask?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath. He took a piece of gray cloth from his sleeve and covered his face, pulled down the brim of his bamboo hat, and quickly approached Zhang Zhuo: "Lord Zhang, our Secret Service requires your assistance. Please come with us."

Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. "The Secret Service? I am a fifth-rank prefectural governor in this dynasty. You say I should assist, and I just assist?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then gravely said to Zhang Zhuo, "Rest assured, Lord Zhang, we are not here to arrest you and take you to the inner prison. We need your assistance with an urgent matter. If we miss this opportunity, tens of thousands of refugees outside the city might die, and you will also lose your promising future."

Listening to Chen Ji's voice, Zhang Zhuo suddenly looked suspicious.

He gazed into Chen Ji's eyes; Chen Ji did not flinch or avoid his gaze.

Finally, Zhang Zhuo calmly stood up, smoothing the wrinkles on his bright red official robe with both hands, and said indifferently, "This official will come with you."