Chapter 199: Promotion

Chen Mansion, Mingquan Garden.

Unlike the Tingquan Garden which was cluttered with杂物 (záwù - sundries), this place was clean and simply elegant.

Wax plum trees were planted in the courtyard, and it was precisely the season for their delicate pink blossoms. Under the plum trees was a square, clear fish pond, and red and white锦鲤 (jǐnlǐ - brocade carp) floated motionless at times, as if suspended in mid-air.

The ground was laid with new blue bricks, the roof with new tiles. Inside the house were new tables and chairs, and even a freshly made拉步床 (lābùchuáng - pull-step bed) by a carpenter.

Chen Ji surveyed the courtyard, but there was no look of joy on his face.

Chen Liqin's transfer order would arrive in a few days. As good as Mingquan Garden was, it was only a temporary dwelling.

At this moment, a young servant was following behind him, step by step.

Chen Ji turned back to look at him: "Why are you following me?" The young servant quickly cupped his fists in reply: "Master arranged for this humble one to come and serve the third young master... Originally, servants were to be arranged, but it's too late today to find a牙人 (yárén - tooth man/broker). Tomorrow, Master will send people to the West Market in Luocheng to find a牙人, who will bring registered servants for you to choose from."

Chen Ji suddenly realized that he was already a 'young master' in the Chen Mansion.

He said casually: "Mingquan Garden doesn't need anyone to serve, and there's no need to buy maidservants either. Go out, I want to speak with official Zhang."

The young servant said awkwardly: "Master said..." Chen Ji waved his hand: "Go out, I won't make things difficult for you. Just repeat my exact words to official Chen."

When the young servant heard the words "official Chen," his eyelids twitched. He bowed with cupped hands and took his leave.

After the young servant left, Zhang Zhuo, with his hands behind his back, exclaimed in the courtyard: "Chen Liqin didn't arrange the previous maids of the Chen Mansion for you because he was worried the Liang clan would arrange their people in your courtyard again, secretly making things difficult for you and reporting on you. This official Chen, ah, his heart is actually like a bright mirror, he knows everything."

Zhang Xia muttered: "The Chen family people are always like this, or rather, the Donglin Party people are always like this, saying one thing and thinking another, pretending to be confused while knowing everything." Zhang Zhuo looked at Mingquan Garden: "The Liang clan is really good to her maternal younger brother, ah. They put a lot of effort into repairing this courtyard, enough to build a new one. No wonder she didn't want you to live here; now she's probably heartbroken."

He turned back to look at Chen Ji, only to see Chen Ji bending down in a deep bow, saying sincerely: "Many thanks to official Zhang for lending a hand."

Zhang Zhuo quickly took two steps to support him: "What are you doing? Earlier, during the Liu family's military disaster, you were the one who stepped forward and saved my Zhang family from suffering. Helping you with this small matter is nothing. Moreover, I came here today with nothing else to do; coming to the Chen Mansion is truly more exciting than listening to opera."

Zhang Zheng giggled: "Where is listening to opera as addictive as performing it?" Saying that, he also imitated Chen Ji's manner and bowed deeply: "There was no opportunity before, but today I thank you face to face. You saved my Zhang family with great kindness and virtue, and I, Zhang Zheng, will never forget it. If I can rise high in the court in the future, I will definitely repay you handsomely."

Zhang Zhuo blurted out a scolding: "With your stupid appearance, you can't even understand the books you read, and you're still learning lines from operas? You rising high in the court is a fart!"

Zhang Zheng said aggrievedly: "It's you who won't let me participate in the imperial examination, ah. That Chen Wenxiao can pass the provincial examination as the top scholar, why can't I? Let maternal grandfather help a little, ah, I also want to be an official." Zhang Zhuo laughed in anger: "Inside the court hall is a bloody storm, possibly even more dangerous than the knife light and sword shadows of the Jianghu. People in the Jianghu might still give their enemy a chance, but the old masters in the court hall, whoever blocks their path, they will completely eliminate. Not letting you, this stupid fool, be an official is for your own good."

Zhang Zheng wasn't angry either and continued to giggle: "If I can't be an official, then I can't be an official, ah. Among us Zhang family's talents, you account for seven points, younger sister accounts for four points, if I'm a bit stupid, then I'm a bit stupid, ah."

Zhang Zhuo didn't know whether to cry or laugh: "Can you count or not? This adds up to eleven points, the total is ten points, where does this extra point come from?"

Zhang Zheng was stunned for a moment: "Ah, is that right? Then count that I owe you a point." Zhang Zhuo sighed.

Chen Ji explained seriously from the side: "Official Zhang, my thanks are not for today's matter, but for the Zhang family covering and protecting the Crown Prince and others to leave the Ning Dynasty. In this world now, the Zhang family is willing to risk their lives to help me, and I will definitely engrave it in my heart."

That day of the prison break, if not for the Zhang family borrowing the friendship between Xu Shu of the Qintianjian and Buddhism, Chen Ji would have had no way.

Zhang Zhuo sighed: "I always admired King Jing as a person, helping the Crown Prince wasn't entirely for you. Now the Crown Prince and your master have just taken a boat south, and they should reach Lvshun port in the Jing Dynasty in about two months, only..."

Chen Ji asked: "Only what?" Zhang Zhuo looked Chen Ji up and down: "I originally thought you would go to the Jing Dynasty with them, but you didn't go."

Chen Ji explained: "My matters are not yet done."

Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia both understood that only one matter could keep Chen Ji behind, and this matter was more difficult than ascending to heaven.

Zhang Zhuo thought for a moment: "You returning to the Chen family is because you want to borrow the Chen family's power to save the County Princess?"

Chen Ji didn't answer. Now, Lian Yunyang and Jiao Tu both thought he had betrayed King Jing. Within the Ning Dynasty, the only people who knew his true heart were White Dragon, Gold Pig, Zhang Zhuo, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia.

Zhang Zhuo patted his shoulder: "I only fear you're thinking a bit simply. To save the County Princess, you must first clear King Jing's name, only then can the County Princess be cleared of the crime. But the Chen family, from top to bottom, are experts at self-preservation; they won't speak up for a treasonous minister."

Chen Ji opened his mouth and said: "Many thanks for your concern, official Zhang. I have my own methods."

Zhang Zhuo saw that he didn't want to say more and didn't ask further. He turned and said earnestly: "Earlier, I pulled you to the Zhang Mansion. Although there was an element of acting, it was also from the heart. How about you enter my Zhang family and be my adopted son, or... after your matters are settled, they are my matters. Wait until I enter the cabinet and become a cabinet minister, things will always have a turnaround day." Chen Ji asked curiously: "How will they turn around?"

Zhang Zhuo looked left and right: "The one who wants to kill King Jing is His Majesty, but His Majesty will eventually pass away. That will be the turnaround."

Chen Ji was startled; the current emperor claimed to be the Ten Thousand Longevity Emperor and devoted himself to cultivating dao to prolong his life, seeking eternal and boundless life.

Zhang Zhuo's words were already treasonous. If they weren't truly close people, he would never say them.

This trust alone was not easy to come by. And Zhang Zhuo's words seemed to also provide him with a path to save the County Princess... only it was too dangerous. Even he, who cultivated the Shanjun path, had never made such a bold assumption.

Let's set it aside for now.

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, finally being frank: "Official Zhang, I came to the Chen family indeed to save the County Princess, but I never hoped for help from the Chen family people..."

Before he finished speaking, he heard footsteps outside the door.

Chen Liqin strode in, followed by a young servant carrying a tray in his arms. On the tray were sweet melons and small cucumbers. Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he praised: "You Chen Mansion people certainly know how to enjoy yourselves, ah! In winter, you can actually get these rare items, and you're willing to bring them out to entertain us, not bad, not bad!"

Chen Liqin responded coolly: "Official Zhang seems to be praising this humble official for the first time."

Zhang Zhuo reached out to take a small cucumber: "You deserve praise!"

Chen Liqin blocked his hand: "Official Zhang, you praised too early. This may not be for you, it's for Chen Ji."

In the winter of the Ning Dynasty, growing melons and vegetables was not easy. For ordinary families, after the first snowfall, the only vegetables they could see were radishes and cabbages, and fruits were even harder to find than a thousand pieces of gold. The capital had a Soup Springs Department, which specially managed the hot springs in the suburbs of the capital and grew sweet melons, cucumbers, and yellow chives in high-temperature kiln caves around the hot springs, commonly called 'cave goods'.

'Cave cucumbers' were extremely small, less than two inches long, and one could sell for over a thousand cash. If officials and nobles in the capital brought out sweet melons and cucumbers when entertaining guests, that was the greatest show of face.

Zhang Zhuo's eyes darted around: "Where did your cucumbers come from? The Chen family lives so luxuriously." Chen Liqin said casually: "There's a hot spring eye in Longmen Mountain in Luocheng. I had people buy a hot spring there early and grow melons and fruits."

Saying that, he placed the tray on the stone table in the courtyard and said as gently as possible: "Chen Ji, eat more. If it's not enough, I'll order people to go to Longmen Mountain and bring fresh ones."

Chen Ji also didn't decline, cupping his hands in thanks: "Many thanks, official Chen."

Chen Liqin was speechless for a moment.

Just at this moment, a young servant ran in from outside the door, shouting joyfully: "Congratulations, Master, happy Master! People from the capital have arrived, bringing your promotion document!"

Chen Liqin suddenly turned around: "Really?" "How dare this humble one deceive you about such a matter?" The young servant ran into the courtyard and saw Zhang Zhuo, quickly bowing: "Official Zhang is also here, ah. Your promotion document has also arrived, and they're on their way to your mansion!"

Zhang Zhuo raised his eyebrows: "Mine too?"

Chen Ji unconsciously looked towards the sky; he knew that he was finally going to leave Luocheng.