Chapter 349: Koi Fish

In the early morning, roosters crowed.

Chen Ji, still on his bed, gently sat up, but still woke Xiao Man.

Xiao Man, holding a small black cat, rubbed his eyes with his right hand. "Young Master, are you awake? I'll go heat some water for you."

Chen Ji sighed. "Xiao Man, can't you sleep in the wing room? Our east and west wing rooms are empty, and the furniture inside looks brand new."

Xiao Man ignored the question. "What would Young Master like for breakfast?"

Chen Ji chuckled. "You truly have attained the realm of selflessness."

Xiao Man was confused. "What riddle are you speaking, Young Master?"

Chen Ji chuckled as he explained, "There was a Chan Buddhist monk named Zhaozhou. A monk, hearing of his exceptional learning, wished to debate Buddhist scriptures with him. The monk asked, 'What is the Way?' Zhaozhou replied, 'Go, have some tea.' The monk then asked, 'What is selflessness?' Zhaozhou said, 'Go, have some tea.' The monk asked again, 'What is the meaning of the Patriarch's coming from the West?' Zhaozhou said, 'Go, have some tea.'"

Xiao Man didn't understand. "Isn't that just answering irrelevantly?"

Chen Ji asked again, "Xiao Man, can you please sleep in the east wing room? You don't need to guard me every night; I'm not going anywhere."

Xiao Man retorted, "Young Master, shall I cook some plain congee and crack open a salted duck egg to go with it?"

Chen Ji burst out laughing, no longer bothering to argue with Xiao Man. He stood up, picked up a carrying pole from the side room, and swayed toward the well, his thoughts drifting far away.

He was about to embark on a military expedition to Goryeo. What else did he need to do before he left?

Chen Ji didn't want to go to Goryeo.

He had only just established himself in the capital. There were the businesses in the Eight Great Hutongs, the salt merchant business, and retrieving his concubine from the Liang clan. He had too many things he wanted to do but hadn't yet.

If he went, it would be at least half a year, or as long as three to five years, and he didn't even know if he would return alive.

He wondered if he could find cheap ginseng in Goryeo by chance? Would there be older, more potent ginseng there? Were there opportunities to make money doing business in Goryeo?

The Mountain Lord was simply too expensive. Without money, even with Ice Flow, he couldn't cultivate.

Or perhaps he should just stay at sea and become a pirate?

As Chen Ji let his mind wander, he worked the well-crank until both wooden buckets were full, then swayed back towards the house.

When he returned to Ginkgo Garden, Xiao Man was still in the back kitchen preparing breakfast.

Chen Ji sat at the desk, ground the ink, and picked up a brush, preparing to write a few letters. If he truly couldn't return, at least he could give some instructions.

But picking up the brush was easy; putting it to paper was difficult. It felt as if the small writing brush, less than a foot long, was harder to control than an eighteen-foot cavalry spear.

Finally, he lowered his head and wrote three letters. Before the ink was dry, he heard Xiao Man's voice from outside the door: "Young Master, breakfast is ready!"

Chen Ji quickly blew on the letters, folded them, tucked them into envelopes, and sealed them with melted red wax.

Just as he finished sealing them, Xiao Man squeezed into the room, holding a tray and pushing aside the cotton door curtain with his shoulder.

Chen Ji handed her the letters. "In a few days, I will be accompanying Master Wang on an expedition to Goryeo..."

Xiao Man paled with shock. "Young Master, are you trying to get yourself killed? What are you doing going so far? So many people have died at sea these past years; those who transport goods by sea are risking their lives. They say there are not only great winds and waves, but also strange fish as big as houses; it's terrifying."

Chen Ji didn't answer, only said solemnly, "Here are three letters. If I don't return within half a year, give the first one to Miss Zhang Er, the second to Master Zhang, and the third to the Pao Ge of the Eight Great Hutongs in the outer city."

Xiao Man's eyes widened. "Young Master, you mustn't go to Goryeo!"

But Chen Ji simply picked up his bowl and quickly devoured the plain congee. "Give me the silver from the house; I need to buy some ginseng before the expedition."

Seeing his resolve, Xiao Man reluctantly took three strings of Buddhist coins and some loose silver from his purse. "Three hundred ten taels are what was left from Guyuan, six hundred taels are a sworn brotherhood gift from Second Sister, and five hundred seventy taels are this month's tuition fees from Qi Zhenzhuo and the others. That's a total of one thousand four hundred eighty taels of silver."

Chen Ji looked at the Buddhist coins in his hand. At thirty-five taels per coin, this amount of silver wouldn't even be enough to grow a fourth stripe.

He genuinely considered becoming a pirate.

Upon exiting the side gate of Qin Zheng Garden, he saw all thirty-seven Imperial Forest Guards gathered outside the door.

Qi Zhenzhuo leaned against a stone lion, boastfully proclaiming, "Having been seasoned by the Eight Great Hutongs, us lads will certainly not disgrace our brothers on this expedition to Goryeo. Just watch my performance! When we return from Goryeo, we'll meet again with honor and fortune, and drink to our hearts' content!"

Duo Bao sneered, "Just don't throw up when you see dismembered limbs."

Qi Zhenzhuo retorted, "The disgrace I was supposed to incur, I've already incurred in my first twenty-one years. Don't laugh, brothers, this is what they call late blooming."

At that moment, a creaking sound came from the side gate of the Chen Residence. Chen Ji emerged, dressed in plain grey cloth, and everyone instinctively straightened up, their eyes fixed on him, shining brightly.

Qi Zhenzhuo excitedly said, "Master, brother-in-law said you convinced Master Wang last night... no, General Wang."

Chen Ji's gaze swept over the faces of the Imperial Forest Guards one by one; even Li Xuan's expression couldn't hide his excitement.

He shook his head. "People die on the battlefield. Don't be happy too soon. Don't think that just because you're an official, you can gallop across the battlefield. The number of officials who die unjustly on the battlefield is countless."

Qi Zhenzhuo paid no mind. "Master, why have you become so cautious and steady, just like my brother-in-law?"

Chen Ji offered no more advice.

For the entire morning, the Imperial Forest Guards ceased their training.

Over thirty men stood guard in front of the main gate, waiting for the imperial decree to be issued from the palace. Once it came, they would immediately go home to pack their belongings and report to the Ministry of War.

Qi Zhenzhuo and the others discussed gleefully, "With our official ranks, we should be able to lead our own troops once we join the Pacifying East Army, right? With Master and General Wang's connection, we'll be the direct lineage among the direct lineages. We must help the general discipline his subordinates."

Zhou Chong mused, "Then we'll compete to see whose troops are better, not just in military achievements but also in discipline."

Li Xuan didn't join the discussion; he simply rubbed his hands silently, pacing back and forth in front of the main gate.

But by noon, as the clerks from the Six Ministries' yamen offices left for lunch, there was still no sign of the imperial decree.

Qi Zhenzhuo mumbled quietly, "Could something have gone wrong? Did Master Wang agree on the surface but then not draft the transfer order for the Ministry of War?"

Li Xuan said anxiously, "Master Wang is a paragon of scholars in this age; how could he break his word? If he truly didn't want to help, he wouldn't have agreed in the first place. Let's wait a bit longer; perhaps the memorial is still in the Wenhua Hall and hasn't been presented to His Majesty yet."

He instinctively looked at Chen Ji, but saw him leaning motionless against a wooden pillar of the main gate, eyes closed, resting.

For the entire afternoon, no one even ate, fearing they might miss the chance to receive the decree, and that it would then be withdrawn. Qi Zhenzhuo had five golden peanuts in his pocket, intended for the eunuch delivering the decree, but he hadn't had the chance to give them.

Until dusk, the sun sinking in the west.

Li Xuan finally couldn't hold back. Seeing the Director of the Ministry of War from the opposite office leaving after his shift, he quickly crossed the long street and stepped forward to inquire, "Director Zhou, may I ask if there is a transfer order from the Ministry of War for my Imperial Forest Guards today?"

Director Zhou stammered a couple of evasive remarks and was about to get into his sedan chair, but Li Xuan grabbed him and pulled him out. "Director Zhou, is there some hidden reason you can't tell us?"

Director Zhou's face fell. "Lord Li, please don't trouble me with your Qi family's private affairs. If there's anything, go home and ask Elder Qi or your wife."

Li Xuan froze on the spot.

Director Zhou lowered the sedan curtain and urged the sedan bearers, "Let's go, let's go."

The sedan bearer looked at Li Xuan beside the sedan. "Lord Li, please step aside."

In the distance, the setting sun sank behind the tall, majestic city walls.

Li Xuan retreated step by step, returning to the Imperial Forest Guard Commandery in despair, his spirit and energy seemingly withered in an instant, leaving him like a drooping, shriveled stalk of sorghum.

Qi Zhenzhuo followed beside him, pressing, "What happened, brother-in-law? What did you just say to that man named Zhou? Where's our transfer order?"

Li Xuan took a deep breath. "Qi Zhenzhuo, do you know why the Qi Residence is called Carp Garden?"

Qi Zhenzhuo paused. "Why bring that up now?"

Li Xuan chuckled softly. "Carp Garden wasn't a name the Qi Residence gave itself in the early years; it was a jocular nickname from the streets. People said that the women of the Qi family often favored young, handsome men and invited them to become live-in sons-in-law. Those sons-in-law were like the beautiful carp in the Qi family's vast pond — pretty, but forever unable to leap over the Dragon Gate."

Qi Zhenzhuo frowned. "Brother-in-law, why are you saying this? You and my sister have always treated each other with mutual respect and harmony; isn't that good?"

Li Xuan turned and looked at him intently. "Your sister and the head of the family won't allow us to join the military expedition to Goryeo. It must be that the head of the family intervened and rejected Master Wang's memorial."

Qi Zhenzhuo's expression changed. He disregarded Li Xuan's earlier disparaging remarks about the Qi family. "How can this be? Do we have to consider others' feelings for where we want to go?"

Li Xuan whispered, "Both your official positions and mine were given by the Qi family, so how can we not heed their wishes? We are all birds in a cage, fish in a pond, butterflies in a cocoon; we can't go far."

Qi Zhenzhuo looked at Chen Ji for help. "Master, is there any other way? Or perhaps you could talk to Master Wang again?"

Chen Ji leaned against the main gate's wooden pillar, eyes closed in deep thought, without even lifting his eyelids. "In this matter, Master Wang's word doesn't count."

Qi Zhenzhuo turned back to look beyond the main gate. "What's the point of training now? Come on, let's go drinking. I brought five golden peanuts today but couldn't give them away, so they'll be just enough to buy drinks for us brothers!"

Chen Ji opened his eyes. "You go ahead. I'm going home to sleep."

He turned and went back to the Commandery, removed his silver armor, changed into plain cloth clothes, and leaving the Imperial Forest Guards behind, walked towards Fuyou Street.

There were few pedestrians today.

The Five City Patrol Division watched the clepsydra. The moment the戌 hour (7-9 PM) arrived, soldiers beat drums on the city tower, eighteen slow beats, then eighteen fast beats, repeating for three rounds. This was the curfew drum.

Soldiers from the Five City Patrol Division walked the streets, striking gongs and shouting loudly, "By imperial decree, the streets are cleared at the戌 hour! Lights out, doors closed! Violators will be arrested!"

As soon as the curfew was announced, the entire city fell silent, every sound ceased.

Chen Ji hurried back to the Chen Residence before the curfew and pushed open the wooden gate of Ginkgo Garden.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Xiao Man rushed out to greet him. "Young Master, you're back so early today?"

Xiao Man cautiously scrutinized Chen Ji's expression. Chen Ji glanced at him. "What misdeed have you committed, acting so furtively?"

Xiao Man gasped. "No, no, what misdeed could I commit?"

Chen Ji casually brushed off the dust from his clothes. "Usually, when I come in, you'd first say, 'Young Master, I'll get you a basin of water to wash your face.' But today, you asked why I returned so early and still claim you haven't done anything wrong?"

Xiao Man stammered anxiously, "Oh, I... I didn't keep an eye on the little black cat, and it accidentally peed on Young Master's bed. But I've cleaned it all up."

Chen Ji didn't expose him, merely saying casually, "Burn all three letters I gave you this morning. Don't let anyone see them. Remember, no one at all."

Xiao Man quickly agreed. "Alright, I'll go burn them right away... Young Master, why do you suddenly want to burn the letters?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "There's no need to go to Goryeo anymore."

Xiao Man simply said, "Oh."

Chen Ji went inside, poured himself a cup of tea, and quietly pondered.

He had to stop Wang Daosheng from leading the expedition to Goryeo... But how could he stop him?

The best plan was to use someone else's hand to disrupt the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Bureau's plan, so Master Wang wouldn't have to risk his life in Goryeo. The worst plan was to confront Master Wang directly, but even then, Master Wang couldn't change the outcome of the expedition.

Chen Ji gazed silently at the bare ginkgo tree in the courtyard, contemplating his countermeasures.

It wasn't until the cry of the night watchman came from outside the Chen Residence, "Dry weather, be careful with fire," that he stirred.

It was the first watch.

Chen Ji suddenly stood up and walked out. Xiao Man asked from behind him, "Young Master, where are you going? The city is already under curfew."

"I have something to do," he said, avoiding the Chen Residence servants and climbing over the wall. He kept to the shadows of the eaves along Fuyou Street, moving closer to Taiye Pool.

As he passed through Stone Tiger Alley, outside the alley, ten-man patrols from the Five City Patrol Division were patrolling the streets with lanterns, their gazes sharp. Chen Ji stopped, hid behind the alley corner, and waited for their footsteps to fade before continuing on his way.

He dodged and hid all the way, finally scaling the high wall of Taiye Pool and waiting behind a rockery with his eyes closed.

It was the second watch.

It was the third watch.

It wasn't until the fourth watch that Chen Ji heard the rumbling sound of the Imperial Prison's iron gate in the distance.

He didn't dare approach, so he hid behind a rockery tens of yards away, quietly observing. Black Snake was leading a group of secret agents, leaving in a hurry.

Chen Ji retreated back into the shadows behind the rockery to continue waiting. After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the iron gate opened again. This time, White Rabbit and Cloud Sheep passed by from outside.

He pondered for a moment, then hid back behind the rockery.

When the Imperial Prison's iron gate opened for the third time, Chen Ji squinted, seeing White Dragon, Heavenly Horse, and Golden Pig emerge together from the prison. White Dragon seemed to be giving them instructions, and only after a long while did he wave his hand, signaling them to leave.

White Dragon stood alone by the shore of Taiye Pool, his hands hanging by his sides, quietly contemplating something. All his emotions — joy, anger, sorrow, happiness — were hidden beneath his white dragon-patterned mask, making him unfathomable and inscrutable.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he walked south.

Chen Ji closed his eyes and deliberated for a long time, finally making a decision only when White Dragon passed by the rockery.

He slowly stepped out of the shadows and bowed with cupped hands. "Lord White Dragon."

White Dragon turned and looked at him. "It's you. Do you know that, according to the laws of our Great Ning, violating curfew without urgent official documents is punishable by sixty strokes of the rod? Trespassing in Taiye Pool is punishable by one hundred strokes and three thousand miles of exile."

Chen Ji bowed his head. "Your subordinate is a Sea East Green of the Secret Service. Naturally, there is no question of trespassing in Taiye Pool, let alone violating curfew. Your subordinate merely heard about the incident at the Huichong Pavilion and found it suspicious, so I decided to see if there was anything I could do to help."

White Dragon chuckled. "What, are you also coveting one of the top three zodiac positions left vacant by Sick Tiger? With so many people vying for them, I'm afraid it won't be your turn. Be careful not to lose your life."

Chen Ji shook his head. "Your subordinate has no interest in a zodiac position. I only wish to relieve Lord White Dragon of your worries. Although the court officials may have already reached a conclusion on this matter, if the arsonist and the culprit who secretly poisoned the Goryeo envoy are not found, I fear it will be difficult for Your Lordship to explain to His Majesty."

White Dragon observed Chen Ji with interest. "You're quite bold. How dare you come to find me?"

Chen Ji replied earnestly, "Master Feng told your subordinate that if, from now on, I could only trust one person in the Directorate of Ceremonial, it would definitely be Lord White Dragon."

White Dragon was silent for a moment, seemingly surprised. "Did he truly say that?"

Chen Ji affirmed confidently, "Indeed."