Entrusting an orphan.
The deepest trust between men.
A person solemnly entrusting someone they cherish as a treasure in this life into the hands of another.
From then on, regardless of war, illness, poverty, or wealth, the other person would wade through three thousand miles of a mountain of blades and a sea of flames without looking back. Is it worth it? Is it reasonable?
No one ever considers whether it's worth it or reasonable. In front of the Eight Immortals table, Chen Ji and Prince Jing looked at each other in silence.
It wasn't until the attendant of the Fulou Teahouse placed the tea, preserved fruits, and melon seeds between the two of them that the heavy atmosphere finally eased. After the attendant retreated, Chen Ji picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for Prince Jing. "Your Highness, why me?"
Prince Jing picked up the teacup and took a small sip. "In terms of strength, you aren't even at the Xiantian Stage; there are many people under my command who are more formidable than you. In terms of intelligence and wisdom, although you have a sharp mind, you aren't someone capable of planning schemes a thousand miles away."
Prince Jing continued, "But you seem to be a bit different from others. You painstakingly manufactured the cement yourself, yet you gave away the dividends just like that when you said you would. When a civil rebellion occurred that others couldn't avoid fast enough, you jumped right in when you said you would. And even in the narrow escape of Longwang Village, you didn't run away alone. Sometimes, even I am unsure if you are intelligent or foolishly stubborn."
Chen Ji remained silent.
Prince Jing stared at the leftover tea in his cup, then cast a sidelong glance at Chen Ji and said, "Leaving so much wealth to Bai Li might not necessarily be a good thing for her. Although I really don't want to praise you, and right now I even find you a bit annoying, I have to admit that if I switched to anyone else to protect her, I wouldn't feel at ease. But if it's you... it's acceptable."
Chen Ji was puzzled. "Why does Your Highness find me annoying?"
Prince Jing grabbed a handful of melon seeds and shot Chen Ji a glance. "Figure it out yourself."
Chen Ji didn't dwell on this question, but rather asked casually, "Hasn't Your Highness made any plans for the Prince Heir? You haven't mentioned the Prince Heir from beginning to end."
Prince Jing fell silent for a moment. "He has his own path to walk."
After deliberating for a long time, Chen Ji finally mustered his courage and asked, "What exactly is Your Highness planning to do, and why must you entrust an orphan? In this impending situation with the Liu Family, what kind of role is Your Highness playing? Suppressing the rebellion, or plotting treason?"
Prince Jing didn't answer this question, merely saying calmly, "The storyteller is here. Let's listen to the storytelling."
At this moment, a grey-haired middle-aged man took a fierce drag from his tobacco pipe offstage, then used the sole of his shoe to knock out all the ash from the pipe's bowl. He walked unhurriedly to the table, heavily slammed down his Storyteller's Block, and delivered his opening lines with a sonorous and forceful tone:
"Human life in this world, day after day, the sun and moon fly like a shuttle, year after year. The wealthy families, they have, have, have; the impoverished people, they freeze, freeze, freeze. Promoted in rank and striking it rich, you gain, gain, gain; stretching both legs to kick the bucket, it's done, done, done!"
"Storytelling and singing plays advise people to act righteously, walking the middle of the three grand avenues. Good and evil will ultimately have their recompense in the end; the righteous path of the human world is full of vicissitudes!"
"It is said that in the winter of Jianing 31, during the Buddhist-Daoist scripture debate at Luhun Villa, a young man made a sudden emergence. Sitting amidst the Yin-Yang Fish, he questioned the Buddhist monk: if there is no self, who is undergoing reincarnation, and who requires liberation?"
Chen Ji was stunned. This storytelling actually pushed him to the opposite side of the Buddhist Sect right from the very beginning, leaving absolutely no room for maneuvering.
Cracking melon seeds, Prince Jing gloated over his misfortune. "Surprised? Right now on this Anle Street, nineteen out of twenty-one teahouses will be telling this story. The script was written by an expert. As long as a storyteller tells it once, they can earn one hundred copper coins."
Chen Ji's heart jolted. Someone was trying to use his scripture debate to ruin the Buddhist Sect's reputation. "Who did this... asking this is superfluous. It must be the handiwork of the Daoist Court."
"You guessed right," Prince Jing chuckled happily. "After the scripture debate, Zhang Li led a group of young Daoist priests from the Mount Laojun Daoist Court to Luo City. They stayed at the Yingxian Inn and wrote out the script overnight. Not only did they spend money to have storytellers tell the story, but they also found a publishing bureau to print the script."
Chen Ji frowned.
Prince Jing tossed aside a melon seed shell and laughed happily. "I guess that in two months at the latest, storytellers north and south of the great river will be telling the story of your scripture debate every single day. By then, the Buddhist Sect will get a headache just hearing the words 'Chen Ji'... Eh, you don't seem panicked at all?"
Chen Ji lowered his head, sensing the Furnace Fire blazing vigorously inside his body.
The Daoist Court was using him to suppress the Buddhist Sect's momentum, but he was also benefiting from it. If it truly was as Prince Jing said, and this story would be praised far and wide north and south of the great river in the future, his Furnace Fire might be able to use this to transform into a bright yellow color.
"Brat, what are you thinking about? Aren't you afraid the Buddhist Sect will try to trip you up?"
Chen Ji looked up and said, "Your Highness, I'd better just survive this current tribulation first. Right now, the Liu Family views me as a nail in their eye and a thorn in their flesh. It's not the Buddhist Sect's turn to find me an eyesore yet."
Prince Jing sighed with emotion. "You're truly the epitome of 'too many debts don't weigh down the body'."
As his voice fell, the synchronized marching sounds of a military formation arose outside the Fulou Teahouse. The tea-drinkers inside the teahouse all looked outside, only to see a squad of foot soldiers clad in light armor passing by the door holding long halberds.
Chen Ji's pupils slightly contracted. The Liu Family's army had entered the city! He turned his head to look at Prince Jing. "Your Highness?"
"Once the Liu Family no longer conceals their private army, it means they are going to lay everything out in the open. Let's go, it's time to return," Prince Jing stood up and walked outside.
Before stepping out the door, Prince Jing looked back at the storyteller in the teahouse. The light from outside the teahouse shined in from behind him, making it seem as if he was standing within his own shadow. "Young man, how do you think the storytelling stories of later generations will speak of me?"
Chen Ji stared fixedly at Prince Jing's silhouette. "Your Highness, that depends on what choices you make."
...
At noon, the winter sunlight was just right.
Covered with a blanket, Old Yao sat on the bamboo recliner in front of his door, swaying gently with his eyes closed to rest his mind.
She Dengke, Liu Quxing, and Liang Mao'er sat on small wooden stools in the courtyard, using a guillotining blade to cut whole medicinal herbs into small segments. The next moment, Eunuch Feng rushed into the medical clinic like a whirlwind leading the guards of the prince's estate, finally stopping in front of Old Yao's recliner. Looking down at Old Yao, he asked with his thin voice, "Physician Yao, where is His Highness?"
Old Yao lifted his eyelids and cast a slow glance at him. "His Highness is taking his noon nap right now; it would be best not to disturb him. She Dengke, have some tact and bring a chair over for Eunuch Feng."
Eunuch Feng furrowed his brows. "Is His Highness not inside?"
Old Yao sat completely still on the recliner in front of the door, his expression turning to one of surprise. "If His Highness isn't inside, where could he be? You've already dispatched troops to tightly surround the Taiping Medical Clinic. Could His Highness have sprouted wings and flown away? I confirmed it when applying needles to him yesterday: His Highness hasn't grown wings."
Eunuch Feng glanced at the thick cotton door curtain, feeling that something was amiss. "Physician Yao, pardon my offense." Having said that, he waved his hand at the guards. "Please invite Physician Yao to step aside!"
Several guards surged forward, making a show of moving Old Yao's bamboo chair away. Liang Mao'er stood up and shouted angrily, "Stop!" His burly figure charged forward, and with a casual swipe, he sent a guard tumbling to the ground.
Eunuch Feng wasn't bothered, merely saying softly, "Physician Yao, it would be best if you asked him to stop. This humble official is also acting for the sake of His Highness's safety, and any delays are unacceptable." しかし, However, just at this moment, Chen Ji walked out from inside the room supporting Prince Jing. Prince Jing sounded weak as he asked, "Eunuch Feng, what happened?"
Eunuch Feng hurriedly bowed. "Your Highness, this humble official has come to welcome you back to the estate."
Prince Jing asked curiously, "Eunuch Feng, you usually look like you're sitting securely on the fishing platform. Why are you in such a burning rush today?"
Eunuch Feng glanced at She Dengke and the others, then turned back to Prince Jing. "Your Highness, this is not the place to speak."
Prince Jing gave a slight smile. "There's no harm in speaking."
Eunuch Feng took a deep breath. "Your Highness, the private army from the Liu Family's Yanshi Grand Camp has already entered the city! They just completely surrounded the Luo City government office and are currently heading toward Anxi Street! It seems the Liu Family is rebelling!"
In the courtyard, She Dengke, Liu Quxing, and Liang Mao'er exchanged glances.
Liu Quxing's face turned the color of dirt. "Weren't things perfectly peaceful yesterday? Why are they rebelling today?"
She Dengke sneered with a muffled voice. "What the hell are you scared of?!"
Liu Quxing cursed, "This is a capital offense resulting in the execution of nine familial relations, and I'm right in the middle of those nine relations! You tell me if I'm scared or not? Sons of bitches! I never get the slightest advantage from the Liu Family on normal days, yet when something goes wrong, I'm going to be dragged down by them!"
She Dengke was dumbfounded. Only then did he realize that if the Liu Family's rebellion failed, Liu Quxing would also be implicated and beheaded. "Then... then what if the Liu Family succeeds?"
Liu Quxing subconsciously shot Prince Jing a glance and hurriedly pinched She Dengke's arm, scolding him in a low voice, "What kind of bullshit are you talking about..."
Eunuch Feng paid no attention to their conversation. Hearing the sound of approaching horse hooves in the distance, he pleaded earnestly once again, "Your Highness, there is no time to delay! Please follow this humble official back to the prince's estate first. If we send someone holding the Tiger Tally to mobilize the Thousand-Year Army, there might still be a chance to salvage the situation!"
Prince Jing pondered for a moment. "Let's go. Return to the estate."
At this moment, Chen Ji suddenly said to Old Yao, "Master, His Highness's illness cannot be separated from you. How about we also go to the prince's estate together?"
Old Yao frowned in deep thought for a moment before agreeing. "Alright."
With that, the group cleanly and crisply gathered their things and walked outside together with Prince Jing.
When they reached the doorway, everyone looked back and saw a squad of military tough guys already riding their horses over, drawing closer and closer. She Dengke said in shock, "Quick, let's go! They're heading for the prince's estate!"
However, Chen Ji acted as if he had just remembered something. "Master, you guys go ahead first. I forgot to take something."
Looking back as he walked, She Dengke saw Chen Ji dive headfirst back into the Taiping Medical Clinic.
He shouted angrily, "Chen Ji, hurry up and follow us! What are you still getting a thing for at a time like this?! What could possibly be more important than your life?!" She Dengke stopped and waited for several breaths of time, but never received a reply from Chen Ji.
A moment later, he gritted his teeth and was about to go look for Chen Ji, but was grabbed tightly by Physician Yao and forcefully pulled into Prince Jing's Estate.
Right before entering the prince's estate, he suddenly discovered that the leading squad of cavalry didn't head toward the prince's estate, but instead tightly surrounded the Taiping Medical Clinic first. Everyone abruptly realized with shock: these people had actually come for Chen Ji!
In front of the Taiping Medical Clinic, the Liu Family military tough guys jumped off their horses, drew their waist sabers, and charged inside with Murderous Spirit Rising, rummaging through everything. The kitchen, the dormitory, the main room—nobody anywhere.
A military tough guy stood in the main room, frowning as he observed his surroundings. He had clearly seen Chen Ji return to the medical clinic with his own eyes just a moment ago. How could he have vanished into thin air?
While pondering, his gaze fell on the bed...
The next moment, the military tough guy violently pulled the bed aside, revealing the pitch-black tunnel underneath.
"He ran? Pursue!"
(End of this chapter)