Chapter 359: Music Bureau

It was already late at night, around 10 PM, when Chen Ji returned to the Chen Residence.

He stood before the dark brown side door and knocked. After a short delay of more than ten seconds, a young servant inside approached with a lantern to open the door.

Chen Ji always felt a bit uncomfortable. If returning home meant constantly having to knock and wait, with the control over entry always in someone else's hands, then this place could probably never truly feel like "home."

The Chen Residence was magnificent.

Yet, Chen Ji always felt as if only his body had arrived, while his soul was still drifting somewhere unknown.

He clearly remembered a chipped corner on the seventh green brick from the right in the third row of the Taiping Medical Hall's backyard. He also recalled the name of each herb written on the vermilion drawers behind the counter.

But if someone were to ask him now how many chairs were in the Ginkgo Garden, or what the highest pavilion in Little Yingzhou was called, he wouldn't have the slightest idea.

The young servant, holding the lantern, said, "Young Master, I will show you the way."

Chen Ji waved his hand, "No need, the moonlight is quite bright."

He walked alone towards the Ginkgo Garden. As he passed the Cold Plum Courtyard, he could see light spilling from within, over the wall. His elder brother, Chen Wenzong, was likely still burning the midnight oil, preparing for the imperial examination in a little over ten days.

Chen Ji initially thought of knocking on the door but then changed his mind.

As he neared the Ginkgo Garden, he heard Xiaoman's giggles from a distance. He pushed open the door, and Xiaoman exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master, you're back!"

On the other side, Chen Yu sat on a stone stool in the small courtyard, saying, "When I went to inspect the granary today... Oh, what kept you?"

Chen Yu had washed off the day's dust, his hair neatly tied with a cap and scarf, and was dressed in a bright red *yisa* embroidered with white cranes and auspicious clouds. Sitting beneath the ginkgo tree, he appeared radiant, overshadowing everything around him.

Chen Ji irritably patted the dust from his clothes. "What are you doing here?"

Chen Yu replied, full of pride, "I went to inspect the granary today, and as soon as I got started, I caught two fraudsters. These two rascals, when collecting grain, would deliberately have the people fill the grain measures until they were overflowing. After the grain was weighed, they'd kick the measure twice, making the excess grain spill onto the ground. Once all the grain was collected, they would sweep up the spilled grain and resell it to other merchants at the low price of old rice... Pretty clever, wouldn't you say?"

Chen Ji suddenly realized that he was here to boast.

Xiaoman gently set down the small black cat she was holding, then brought a bowl of water from the antechamber and offered it to Chen Ji. "Young Master, please have some water."

Chen Ji drained the warm water in the bowl, then looked at Chen Yu. "You waited until almost 10 PM just to tell me this?"

Chen Yu shook his head. "Of course not. I heard today that you seized all the salt permits. A few managers from the salt monopoly went to Pianyi Square and held a banquet; they're probably still celebrating. This was truly a foolish move. You're acting alone, and without the Chen family's ninety-three salt shops, these salt permits will only be a burden to you. I was worried you had something planned, but now I have no such concerns."

Chen Ji calmly took a seat opposite Chen Yu. "So, what should I do?"

Chen Yu said sincerely, "While I want to win, I can't stand those rascals ridiculing you like this. Tomorrow, just return the ledgers and salt permits, and I'll teach you how to gradually gain control over those managers. Within three years, I guarantee I'll help you secure the entire salt monopoly."

Chen Ji's brows relaxed slightly. "Thank you for the kind offer, but it won't be necessary."

Chen Yu grew a little agitated. "They've already sent fast couriers to all the salt shops, telling them to stop selling salt. By the end of the year, when the main family audits the accounts, all these losses will be attributed to you. At that point, forget about contesting the adoption; you might even struggle to be included in the family genealogy. If those salt monopoly managers intentionally spread this around, you'll become the laughingstock of the entire capital, and your marriage with the Qi family might even be called off."

Chen Ji smiled. "I'm not worried, so why are you?"

Chen Yu, distressed, lamented, "My good intentions are being taken for granted!"

He stood up and began to walk away. "Just let yourself stumble first. When you've fallen and it hurts, come find me, and then I'll help you fix it."

Chen Yu reached the entrance of the Ginkgo Garden, then suddenly seemed to remember something and looked back. "Oh, by the way, Chen Wenren was escorted to Lingnan today. He went by ox-cart."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Shouldn't exiles to Lingnan be shackled and travel on foot?"

Chen Yu scoffed, "How many officers would dare shackle a direct descendant of the Chen family? The officers were pleased to have a cart to ride in; why would they refuse? They escorted Chen Wenren out of Yongding Gate, then removed his shackles and changed him into clean clothes. He didn't look like an exile at all. Once the carriage reaches Jinling, someone will naturally arrange the paperwork for Chen Wenren and send someone else in his place to Lingnan. After all, the officials in Lingnan don't know what Chen Wenren looks like, and no one would dare challenge the matter."

Chen Yu slowly continued, "The Chen family has prepared a residence for Chen Wenren in Jinling. From now on, he simply needs to live discreetly, and next year, during His Majesty's grand birthday celebration, he can offer ten thousand taels of silver as a special gift, which will secure a general amnesty. Lingnan is for the poor; Jinling is for the powerful."

Chen Ji calmly stated, "Chen Wenren and I don't harbor any deep-seated hatred. He can enjoy his freedom, as long as he doesn't interfere with my affairs."

Chen Yu shook his head. "The second branch will blame all of this on you... Be careful, they're always unscrupulous. I'm leaving."

Chen Ji sat on the stone stool, deep in thought. Xiaoman returned from the house with an invitation. "Young Master, the Qi family sent an invitation today, around late afternoon. It says Qi Zhenwu, the eldest direct grandson of the Qi family, invites you to the Imperial Music Bureau tomorrow."

Chen Ji took the invitation and read: "To my virtuous brother Chen Ji, your elder brother Qi Zhenwu respectfully bows. It is mid-spring, and the Qujiang River flows with warm mist. Fortunate to have received imperial favor, the Imperial Music Bureau has been newly granted the ancient tunes and new melodies of 'Four Dreams of Bianliang.' Tomorrow, in the late afternoon, I humbly invite my virtuous brother to enjoy the music together and bear witness to its elegance."

He casually tossed the invitation onto the stone table. "How did you respond?"

Xiaoman quickly picked up the invitation. "Young Master, please don't throw it away! Although this invitation is in Qi Zhenwu's name, the handwriting is delicate and small, surely belonging to a woman. A lady from the Qi family must have wanted to invite you but didn't feel it proper to do so directly, so she used her elder brother's name. But she left a clever hint by personally writing the invitation, using the penmanship to subtly suggest the true identity of the sender."

Chen Ji looked puzzled. "So many complications?"

Xiaoman smiled. "A young lady's thoughts tend to be a bit convoluted."

Chen Ji shook his head. "Then there's even less reason to go."

"Alright," Xiaoman mumbled, "the servant who delivered the invitation said that many scholars and literati will be attending tomorrow, all eager to witness your esteemed presence. Young Master, you may not know this, but the story of your triumph over the Buddhist Master has already spread through all the teahouses. Even though you're not participating in the imperial examinations, you've completely overshadowed all the scholars who are."

"Scholars and literati?" Chen Ji murmured thoughtfully.

He took the invitation from Xiaoman's hand. "I'll go after work tomorrow. You don't need to wait up for me in the evening; I'll likely be back late."

Xiaoman asked, "Young Master, would you like to arrange a carriage from the residence? Only the rich and noble attend the Imperial Music Bureau; everyone travels by carriage or sedan chair. Walking there might be considered a bit undignified."

Chen Ji shook his head. "No need."

The following day, as work ended in the late afternoon.

Chen Ji whispered a few instructions to Lin Yanchu, then turned and walked towards the main gate.

At that moment, a carriage was parked in front of the main gate. On the hinged wooden panel on its side, a *biao* was intricately carved in openwork.

The *biao* was the badge typically worn on the chest of a sixth-rank military officer.

Legend holds that among a tiger's three cubs, one will always be a *biao*. Born without stripes, the *biao* is often rejected by its mother, and most do not survive.

However, a *biao* that survives—feeding on dry bones and seizing scraps—growing up alone is said to become exceptionally ferocious and a brutal fighter. Its hide would be constantly scarred in life, and after death, not a single unbroken bone could be found.

Chen Ji paid no attention to the carriage, but as he walked past, he heard a familiar voice say, "Young Master, the Master heard you were going to the Imperial Music Bureau to hear opera today, so he specifically sent me to wait for you outside the Governor's Mansion. He also instructed that from now on, I will be responsible for all your travel arrangements."

Chen Ji slowly turned his head, only to see a figure wearing a bamboo hat, head bowed, stepping out from the side of the carriage.

Si Cao Gui.

He was a persistent presence.

Chen Ji frowned. Had Si Cao Gui really transformed into a carriage driver for the Chen Residence? Or had he been hiding within the Chen Residence's stable-hand quarters ever since he arrived in the capital?

But the Chen Residence wasn't a place just anyone could enter. How could he have infiltrated it so easily after only being back in Ning Dynasty for barely a month? Unless someone from the Military Intelligence Bureau within the Chen Residence held the authority to approve his entry.

Who could it be?

Was it a steward from the Humble Administrator's Garden or the Diligent Governance Garden? Or perhaps a prominent figure from the Chen family's first or second branch?

Chen Ji felt a headache coming on. With Si Cao Gui constantly observing him, it felt as if he was being forced to the edge of a cliff. Regarding the salt permits, he would have to carefully weigh what could be revealed to Si Cao Gui and what absolutely could not.

Seeing Chen Ji remain silent, Si Cao Gui courteously lifted the carriage curtain for him. "Young Master, please get in."

Chen Ji bent down and climbed into the carriage, taking a seat near the door. As the carriage slowly began to move, Si Cao Gui's voice drifted through the curtain. "Young Master, are we heading directly to the Imperial Music Bureau in Bensi Alley?"

Chen Ji calmly replied, "Yes."

Si Cao Gui calmly stated, "Please sit steady."

Chen Ji sat in the carriage, eyes closed, thoughts racing through his mind: Why was Si Cao Gui suddenly so eager to get close? Did anyone else in the Military Intelligence Bureau know his true identity?

When he opened his eyes again, he spoke, testing the waters. "Does the Military Intelligence Bureau not trust me, to the extent that a dignified Si Cao official must personally come and monitor me?"

However, Si Cao Gui's voice came from outside the carriage again. "There's no need to worry. I'm not here to monitor you, but to protect you. As you contend with the Chen family's second branch for adoption, you must naturally be wary of their underhanded tactics. If they can't defeat you openly, they will resort to covert means, and then you'll understand my purpose."

Chen Ji closed his eyes again and remained silent.

Si Cao Gui continued, "Helping you contend for the position of the Chen family's heir is now the greatest opportunity for our Military Intelligence Bureau. However, your identity is sensitive and cannot be easily revealed, which is why I must personally oversee your protection."

The carriage curtain swayed, and the lingering glow of the sunset fleetingly touched Chen Ji's face through a gap.

He remained silent for a long moment, then quietly said, "Thank you."

Si Cao Gui asked, "Have you visited the salt monopoly? Do you have any understanding of the Chen family's salt business?"

Chen Ji's heart stirred. Si Cao Gui's information seemed outdated. Was he not in the capital yesterday?

He replied, "I went yesterday morning, but the managers avoided me, effectively giving me the cold shoulder. Last night, I led the Imperial Forest Army to seize their salt permits; I intend to start fresh."

Si Cao Gui was startled. "You seized the salt permits? Why didn't you discuss this with me beforehand?"

Chen Ji nonchalantly replied, "This matter shouldn't require your consultation, should it?"

Si Cao Gui said in a deep voice, "The matter of contending for adoption has far-reaching implications. It concerns our Jing Dynasty's grand plan for the southern expedition. It is no longer merely your personal affair; how can you treat it so lightly?"

Chen Ji remained silent.

Si Cao Gui thought for a moment. "What do you need the Military Intelligence Bureau to do for you?"

Chen Ji's heart stirred. Given the current situation, Si Cao Gui seemed more eager than he was. "What *can* the Military Intelligence Bureau do?"

Si Cao Gui thought for a moment. "We can arrange for these managers to die suddenly. Rest assured, it will appear to be an accident; no one will find any clues."

"No, frequently using assassination methods in the capital will likely attract investigation from the Secret Service," Chen Ji probed again. "Is there anyone who can officially exert pressure on the salt monopoly?"

Si Cao Gui hesitated for a moment. "That cannot be done."

Chen Ji understood that it wasn't that it couldn't be done, but rather that Si Cao Gui didn't fully trust him yet and was unwilling to expose the high-ranking figures within the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Si Cao Gui seemed to sense Chen Ji's thoughts and immediately reassured him, "Rest assured, if you can take over the Chen family, the entire Military Intelligence Bureau can extend its influence to every corner of the Ning Dynasty through the Chen family. At such a critical juncture for this grand undertaking, the entire Military Intelligence Bureau will naturally provide strong support and will not leave you to fight alone."

Chen Ji quickly weighed the advantages and disadvantages in his mind.

As he was pondering, Si Cao Gui said, "Young Master, we're here."

Like a true carriage driver, he placed the footstool outside and used a bamboo stick to lift the curtain for Chen Ji.

Chen Ji bent down and stepped out of the carriage, saying in a low voice, "Master Si Cao, there's no need for this."

Si Cao Gui glanced at him. "Young Master, I told you, we are spies. A spy's role cannot be played incorrectly; the cost of a mistake is a lifetime... Young Master, please proceed."

Chen Ji stepped onto the footstool and descended from the carriage, then walked into the depths of the Imperial Music Bureau without looking back.