Chapter 86: Unfamiliar Even in Encounter

Inside the main hall of Taiping Medical Hall, Old Head Yao slowly and leisurely wrote out a prescription, then handed it to Chen Ji to get the medicine.

Chen Ji’s actions were slow and quiet as he weighed the medicine. His eyes were fixed on the copper scale, almost like he was looking at a cockfight, and he absolutely didn't look anywhere else, afraid that the King of Jing's anger would affect him.

Bai Li stood beside the King's son, her head lowered, continuously using the tip of her foot to kick him, urging him to quickly admit his mistake.

However, the King of Jing no longer looked at his son, only at Chen Ji. "Don't weigh the medicine first. It's rare to encounter such an eccentric talent in chess like you. Come over and play a few more games!"

"Oh..."

Chen Ji lowered his eyebrows and obediently came to the counter, picking up the chess pieces one by one into the basket.

The King of Jing smiled. "This time I won't give you two pieces. I might not win even with two pieces!"

Bai Li’s eyes widened at the side. Her own father, when playing chess with juniors, actually said he wouldn’t give pieces? This was a rare occurrence!

She moved step by step to secretly watch the two play chess, but after only two steps, the King of Jing glanced at her from the side. She then honestly retreated back, only secretly standing on tiptoe to peer over.

Chen Ji's chess skill was far inferior to the King of Jing's, but relying on the kind of eccentric, isolated technique that the King of Jing hadn't seen before, he counterattacked desperately time after time.

The King of Jing praised him, saying, "Clearly you are a smart person, why don't you take the proper path in chess strategy, but instead only love this kind of 'sword walking the slanted edge' chess method? Isn't it limiting your own chess skill?"

Chen Ji calmly placed a piece. "Greed doesn't lead to victory."

The King of Jing was slightly startled.

The so-called "greed doesn't lead to victory" is also a key point in chess strategy.

Chen Ji's meaning was that his character was like this, and he was only skilled at this one way of "curing the isolated swallow and dragon." If he had to learn how others controlled the overall situation and built up their defenses step by step, he wouldn't be able to win.

The King of Jing pinched a chess piece and sighed. "With your character, you might not become a chess player. If you can only be a chess piece, are you willing?"

Chen Ji didn't understand. Should this be something a prince asks a medical hall apprentice?

A medical hall apprentice was just one of the common people, living like wild grass, without an identity like the blue sky. How could he talk about chess players and chess pieces?

He thought for a moment and asked back doubtfully, "Must one live within this chessboard?"

The King of Jing laughed heartily. "One can also live outside the chessboard; that is another way of living."

The King's son, kneeling on the ground, quietly raised his head and exchanged a glance with Bai Li. Both of them found that after their old man played chess with Chen Ji, his mood had actually gradually improved.

The King's son gave Bai Li a look, and Bai Li understood, hurrying to take away the King of Jing's empty teacup and pour another cup of tea.

At this time, the King of Jing, while playing chess with Chen Ji, could still be distracted and chat with Old Head Yao. "Imperial Physician Yao, did Bai Li and Zhu Yunxi cause any trouble recently?"

The hearts of the King's son and Bai Li suddenly rose to their throats, and they looked eagerly at Old Head Yao.

Old Head Yao stood in front of the medicine cabinet, his back to the red wooden counter, and while grabbing medicine, he said indifferently, "There hasn't been any big trouble, but they go out to play almost every evening. They go out at Hai hour every day. We don't know where they can play so late in Lu City."

The King of Jing said calmly, "Naturally they go to Baiyi Xiang and Hongyi Xiang."

The hanging hearts of the King's son and Bai Li finally settled.

The King of Jing slowly said, "Earlier, Zhu Yunxi's monthly allowance was already reduced. He has no money to go to these places. I think Bai Li paid for him out of her own pocket. Starting this month, Bai Li's monthly allowance will also be reduced."

The King's son suddenly panicked. Finished!

Bai Li said in a low voice, "Father, I won't give my brother money later. You don't have to reduce my monthly allowance, ah."

The King of Jing didn't answer, only picked up a chess piece, ready to play another game with Chen Ji.

He raised his head and looked at Chen Ji. "Did you have a part in Yunxi and Bai Li going to Baiyi Xiang and Hongyi Xiang?"

Chen Ji said seriously, "Reporting to the Prince, this commoner is diligently studying medical skills and lessons. Where would I have time to go to that kind of place?"

The King's son: Huh?

Bai Li: Huh?

The King of Jing looked at the King's son and Bai Li. "You two should also learn more from Chen Ji."

The King's son suddenly said, "This kid went with us."

Chen Ji: "Who doesn't know..."

The King of Jing looked happily at Chen Ji. "You went too?"

Chen Ji: ...

The King of Jing put the chess pieces into the basket and smiled as he asked, "So, 'life if only like first see, what matter autumn wind sad painted fan.'"

"'Dry vine old tree dusk crow, small bridge flowing water people home.'"

"Did you write them?"

"I know Yunxi's abilities very well. He can't write those things."

Chen Ji was surprised.

So the King of Jing knew everything. Not only did he know that the King's son and the others went to Baiyi Xiang and Hongyi Xiang, but he also knew every poem the King's son used in the embroidered building.

Yes.

How could a real power feudal prince be completely unaware of Lu City!

The King's son was even more surprised.

How come he had to kneel here just for going to Baiyi Xiang, but Chen Ji went to Baiyi Xiang and was treated with kind words?

It wasn't fair, ah.

The chess game continued.

The King of Jing lost three games in a row to Chen Ji's eccentric, isolated technique. Yet, his face showed no unwillingness or anger; instead, his eyes held a few more points of probing and interest.

Just like this, game after game of chess was played.

Chen Ji played more and more strenuously, until the King of Jing blocked all his "sword walking the slanted edge" paths, making it impossible for him to "cure the isolated swallow and dragon" anymore.

He lost.

Chen Ji was just the second prize winner of Go in Lu City. Looking at the entire Go world, he didn't count for much.

Losing was an early or late matter, but he didn't expect himself to lose so quickly.

The King of Jing looked at Chen Ji with a smile and asked, "Young man, how is my chess skill?"

Chen Ji took a deep breath. "Formidable!"

"If you were to evaluate it with one word, how?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment. "Patient. The King of Jing is truly very patient."

He built up his defenses step by step, and could plan dozens of steps for the overall situation.

When laying out, it seemed that the desire to win was redundant, it was a distraction.

But looking carefully, one would find that everything he did was for the sake of winning.

At this time, the King of Jing looked at Old Head Yao. "Imperial Physician Yao, you have the grace of saving Jianzhou Surveillance Commissioner Ma Yiming's mother. Nine years ago, if you hadn't diagnosed her illness, she would probably have passed away. Now there is still some glutinous rice in the Jianzhou granary. Can you write him a letter? I want to use his glutinous rice to solve the urgent need. Our Ning Dynasty civil officials prioritize filial piety. Your letter will certainly be useful."

Old Head Yao nodded. "Yes, I will write it tonight. The Prince can send someone to pick it up tomorrow."

"Write it in a moment, don't delay for a moment, ah."

The King of Jing's expression eased somewhat, but his heart was still not completely settled.

"That Surveillance Commissioner in Jianzhou has always been unwilling to hand over this batch of glutinous rice, and he is also thinking about the livelihood of the province. Now that I am transferring this batch of glutinous rice, I still need to find a way for him to use other crops to fill the granary. This is to prevent the common people from going hungry."

Chen Ji suddenly fell into thought. Glutinous rice mortar was used in his world until the end of the 18th century.

It was gradually replaced until foreign cement technology entered the country.

At that time, cement was called 'foreign ash' by the common people.

Is glutinous rice mortar good to use?

It is!

The Great Wall used glutinous rice mortar as an adhesive and has stood for a thousand years without falling.

To some extent, it is more solid and durable than ordinary cement.

But the key is that glutinous rice mortar appeared in an era of low productivity and conflicted with people's production.

Moreover, it takes three years for glutinous rice mortar to reach standard strength after calcination, while cement only takes twenty days to reach standard strength, and the cost is very low.

Once cement appears, it will completely subvert the entire architectural field. To find wonderful taste book house, look at Aoyama complete version.

Chen Ji recalled how cement was made.

Just as he was thinking, the area outside Taiping Medical Hall became lively again.

The crowd looked and saw sedan bearers carrying official sedans towards the King of Jing's residence.

Just a rough estimate, there were thirty or forty officials, all going to visit the King of Jing together.

Chen Ji raised his head and looked, but the King of Jing seemed not to have noticed these people, only calmly placing a piece, and still reminding Chen Ji, "Your turn. Yunxi, don't kneel there and lose face, stand up."

"Oh!"

The King's son stood up happily, bending over and rubbing his painful knees.

Before long, those officials returned unsuccessful from the King of Jing's residence. It seemed they received the message that the King of Jing was not at home and only returned to their homes.

When they passed Taiping Medical Hall, an official in a sedan chair unintentionally lifted the curtain and glanced at the familiar figure by the medical hall counter.

"Stop, stop, stop."

The official shouted for the sedan bearers to stop. He fixed his eyes and looked carefully, confirming that he hadn't mistaken him.

It wasn't that he was so familiar with the King of Jing, but that the King of Jing had worn this set of clothes for so many years that it was etched into the memories of the officials.

Getting off the sedan, a crowd of officials wearing green and blue official robes, with patches of white cranes, golden pheasants, and mandarin ducks on their chests, leather belts around their waists, and black boots on their feet, gathered in front of the door of Taiping Medical Hall. For a time, they hesitated, not knowing whether they should go in or not, whispering in low voices.

The next moment, everyone looked at the two officials leading them. One of them had a long beard and a ruddy face. He thought for a moment and said, "Let's go in after the Prince wins this game of chess."

The crowd quieted down. In the cold weather, they stamped their feet and rubbed their hands, their noses frozen red.

A moment later, the leading official lightly 'eh'-ed. "The Prince's chess skill is exquisite. Today, to find wonderful taste book house, look at Aoyama complete version. How does he have the leisure to play chess with a young apprentice? What fun is there in this...ai? Chen Liqin, that kid looks a bit familiar to me. Have I seen him somewhere before!"

Chen Liqin, the Assistant Magistrate of Lu City, heard the words, raised his head, and looked intently. He suddenly discovered that the young man playing chess with the King of Jing was actually his youngest son whom he hadn't seen for half a year.

It was then that he remembered that he had sent Chen Ji to Taiping Medical Hall as an apprentice.

Zhang Zhuan turned his head to look at Chen Liqin. "I remember seeing him at your residence. I remember last year during the Lantern Festival, I went to your residence to drink wine, and he was sitting at the very end on the lower right hand side..."

Zhang Zhuan passed the scholar exam at the age of twelve, was announced at the East Hua Gate at the age of fifteen, and became the youngest top scholar in the Ning Dynasty. He had good handwriting and an even better photographic memory.

This person's first wife passed away at the age of nineteen, and he married the niece of the current Grand Tutor Xu Gong at the age of twenty-two. From then on, he rose steadily, and in fifteen years, he completed an official career that others couldn't finish in a lifetime.

It was only a matter of time before he entered the cabinet. However, Zhang Zhuan did not have the steady restraint of a prefect. He frivolously poked Chen Liqin with his elbow. "How is your family's kid playing chess with the King of Jing? Good for you, Chen Liqin, secretly taking the path to the King's residence and not telling me. No wonder you want to send your own son to be an apprentice!"

Chen Liqin frowned and didn't answer, not wanting to answer, but not knowing how to answer.

Zhang Zhuan's doubts were also his doubts.

Why could Chen Ji play chess with the King of Jing?

Moreover, at this time, within Taiping Medical Hall, the King of Jing's hearty laughter was still being transmitted. His youngest son seemed to be talking very happily with the King of Jing!

Only a sound of 'huala' was heard. Inside the medical hall, Chen Ji picked up the black pieces and threw them into the chess basket. One game was over.

Zhang Zhuan pulled Chen Liqin's sleeve. "Hurry up and follow."

The two stepped over the threshold and came behind the King of Jing. Chen Liqin only cupped his hands and bowed, but Zhang Zhuan bowed to the ground fawningly. "Greetings to His Highness the King of Jing. It was hard for you to come south to raise military grain this time."

The King of Jing slowly turned his body. "It was also hard for you two. I heard that during the snowy weather, you still went to the river bank to console the river workers. This compassionate action is worthy of being the parents of this city's officials."

Zhang Zhuan quickly smiled and said, "Where, where, it's all our duty. It's just that the flood in Yu South a few months ago drowned many fields, and now there are large numbers of refugees homeless and without land to plant. At this time, they are fleeing to our Lu City for refuge. We must quickly find a way to build houses and settle them down."

"You indeed have the common people of this province in your heart."

The King of Jing said slowly, "Speak, what difficulties do you have?"

"Building houses now is probably a bit late."

While Zhang Zhuan was talking with the King of Jing, Chen Liqin's gaze was always glancing towards Chen Ji.

But the strange thing was that his youngest son was concentrating on tidying the chessboard and fundamentally didn't look at him more than once.

By the time his youngest son finished tidying the chess set and looked up, their eyes met. The other person also only smiled politely to greet him, as if looking at a stranger.

Chen Liqin's eyebrows gradually knitted together. He had originally sent this son to Taiping Medical Hall as an apprentice because Chen Ji was a good gambler.

He asked himself that he hadn't mistreated Chen Ji. Being an apprentice at Taiping Medical Hall was a good path, and he also instructed the steward to send study silver every month.

But now, the other person was actually staying in the medical hall without even returning home, acting like a stranger to his own father. Was he sulking and breaking ties with the Chen residence?

Too insensible!

And not to mention Chen Liqin's doubts, Chen Ji also felt a bit uncomfortable.

With so many officials present, standing by the chessboard was not right, nor was not standing. There were still officials staring at him, and he didn't know what they were staring at.

Chen Ji lowered his head and sized up his clothes. There were no holes or anything.

Old Head Yao saw his discomfort and lightly said, "Chen Ji, go and pour two adults a cup of tea to warm their hands."

"Ai, good!"

Chen Ji went back to the courtyard and brought out a tray, politely handing it to Chen Liqin. "Adult, please have some tea."

On Chen Liqin's square face, his eyebrows almost knitted together. "You call me adult?"

Chen Ji was slightly startled. If I don't call you adult, what do I call you?

But by the time he reacted, he saw Zhang Zhuan holding a warm pottery cup, warming his hands while smiling. "Prince, this year, to find wonderful taste book house, look at Aoyama complete version. The Yu State autumn examination is highly anticipated. Chen Adult's family young master Chen Wen Zong was praised by the teachers when he was at East Forest Academy, saying he had the talent of a top scholar. Some scholars from Jiangnan are not convinced and declared that they will compete in the palace examination next year!"

The King of Jing glanced at Chen Ji, and also praised Chen Liqin with a smile. "Chen Adult is good at teaching children. Not only is the eldest son well taught, but this youngest son Chen Ji is also well taught. Just now when we played chess, he won quite a few games against me!"

Chen Ji's heart was shocked.