"The weather is dry, and objects catch fire easily; be careful with candles and fires... Young man, hurry home to rest early; do not let your family worry."
"Alright, thank you, old uncle."
At the first watch of the night (7-9 PM), an old, feeble night watchman carrying a white paper lantern brushed past Chen Ji, who was walking from the opposite direction.
Holding a soundly sleeping Wu Yun in his left arm and a jug of wine in his right hand, Chen Ji crossed through Anxi Street and pushed open the wooden doors of the Taiping Medical Clinic just a crack.
He blanked for a moment. Orange-yellow lamplight seeped out through the crack in the door from inside the room, resembling a rare touch of warmth in this winter.
Behind the counter, Old Yao was flicking an Abacus to keep accounts. Uncle Crow, who hadn't been seen for a long time, had returned to the medical clinic and was standing on his shoulder.
Old Yao lifted his eyes, sweeping a glance over Chen Ji, and asked indifferently, "Why didn't you shout 'I'm back' today?"
Chen Ji entered the door with a smile. "Uncle Crow, long time no see."
Uncle Crow lifted a wing, which counted as returning the greeting.
Looking at the jug of wine in Chen Ji's hand, Old Yao's gaze flickered with an unfathomable, obscure meaning. "Do not go fetch water tomorrow morning."
Setting the wine jug down on the counter, Chen Ji asked curiously, "Why?"
Old Yao said casually, "Commit this to memory from now on: after killing someone, do not go to the City God Temple, and do not look down into a well. The Fengshui is bad."
Chen Ji was slightly startled. Although he didn't know the exact meaning behind these words, he still gave an affirming 'Mhm' sound. "Alright."
Old Yao asked, "Do you regret it?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment. "I do not regret it."
It turned out Old Yao hadn't slept because he knew what Chen Ji had experienced tonight, and thus intentionally waited up for him.
Just like the feeling he had when he first stepped foot into the Taiping Medical Clinic: it was as if the moment he stepped one foot inside, everything outside could be temporarily forgotten and laid down entirely.
This caustic and harsh old imperial physician—although his blood might be cold, his heart was hot.
Breaking the mud seal on the wine jug, Old Yao took a sniff of the scent and frowned. "Exactly how heavy a burden on your mind must you have to buy such strong liquor? Go fetch two bowls."
Giving an affirming 'Oh' sound, Chen Ji went to the kitchen and returned with two earthenware bowls.
Old Yao poured himself a shallow layer just covering the bottom of the bowl. Bringing it to his lips, he slowly took a tiny sip.
Chen Ji asked curiously, "Master also drinks wine? I thought you never drank."
Staring at the lamp flame on the counter, Old Yao said, "I loved to drink when I was young; later on, I stopped drinking."
Chen Ji was perplexed. "Why did you stop drinking?"
Old Yao thought for a moment. "After growing older, the wine tastes a bit bitter when drinking it."
He looked down at the liquid wine at the bottom of the bowl swaying in the lamplight. "The longer one lives, the more one sighs with emotion over how the hand of creation makes fools of people. Is it timing? Is it fate? In killing this person tonight, the crucial point does not lie in whether the Commandery Princess will find out the truth; it lies in whether you yourself can overcome that hurdle in your own heart."
Chen Ji remained silent and didn't speak.
Looking at him, Old Yao said, "But fortunately, you have finally understood a principle: someone who is entirely unable to discard anything is also entirely unable to change anything."
Chen Ji seriously pondered this sentence. Afterward, he also poured himself a bowl of wine. It wasn't much—only a shallow layer covering the bottom of the bowl.
Taking a light sip, he exhaled a breath of wine vapor as intense and sharp as a blade.
At this moment, Wu Yun also woke up. It craned its neck to lick a mouthful of the wine in Chen Ji's bowl, only to instantly stick its tongue out from the spiciness. This amused Uncle Crow so much that it pointed at it with a wing, laughing soundlessly.
Wu Yun grew angry and chased Uncle Crow around the room, pouncing repeatedly.
Chen Ji suddenly said, "Master, Prince Jing and His Majesty plotted this scheme together, didn't they? They've suffered for a long time due to aristocratic families monopolizing the nation's finances and grain, yet they had absolutely nowhere to strike. The only option was for Prince Jing to Personally Enter The Dangerous Game, baiting the Liu Family into rebellion, and using the Liu Family as their very first strike of the blade."
Taking another light sip of the strong liquor, Old Yao remained silent.
Chen Ji continued speaking, "It's just that Prince Jing never expected Emperor Ning to turn around and kill him right after executing the Liu Family... Wait, Prince Jing knew!"
That was exactly why Prince Jing went to listen to that opera,
The Tale of the White Boat
. The opera was precisely about how 'Peace is originally secured by the General, yet the General is forbidden from witnessing peace.'
That was exactly why Prince Jing entrusted his orphaned children to him before the incident occurred!
Prince Jing had known the Emperor wanted to pursue the policy of 'reducing vassal power' all along!
Chen Ji was bewildered. "But since Prince Jing already knew the outcome, why did he act entirely like someone allowing themselves to be captured without putting up a fight? Does he have other schemes?"
Old Yao said casually, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?"
Chen Ji stared blankly.
Watching real one cat and one bird causing a ruckus, Old Yao asked casually, "You have now obtained the Ice Flow from Consort Jing and Consort Yun, supplementing that with two roots of Ginseng every single day. With such a massive progression speed in your cultivation, are you not afraid Jin Zhu will grow suspicious?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment and explained, "Master, I can no longer afford to wait."
The amount of Ice Flow provided by Consort Jing and Consort Yun was far greater than anyone had ever provided in the past. Roughly calculated, it was enough to digest over twenty roots of Ginseng. The only pity was that Elder Liu had resigned from office to observe his mourning period and return home, thereby generating no Ice Flow. Otherwise, the Ice Flow produced by a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty would probably be more than the two princely side-consorts combined.
Old Yao let out a sigh. "What the Mountain Lord Pathway fears most is impatience. If someone notices a discrepancy, the world beneath the heavens will not tolerate you."
Chen Ji answered, "Master, I have the Cultivation Pathway bestowed by the Secret Spy Division acting as a cover. Even if Jin Zhu discovers there is a problem with my cultivation speed, he will not know I am cultivating the Mountain Lord Pathway. Furthermore, in this world, the only thing capable of firmly binding people together is shared interests. Although I do not know exactly what Jin Zhu is doing lying dormant within the Secret Spy Division, it must absolutely be a matter of monumental importance."
Chen Ji continued, "He requires strength. The faster I cultivate, the more inseparable he becomes from me. If you were to ask me to name the single person who least wants me dead right now, it would definitely be him."
Old Yao raised an eyebrow. "And what will you do when he finishes his matter and no longer needs you?"
A thin mist flashed past Chen Ji's eyes as he spoke in a low voice, "That time will never arrive."
Old Yao seriously scrutinized him for a moment, then said with gratification, "You finally are no longer a guest from a foreign land."
Chen Ji's gaze froze; this sentence seemed to carry the weight of thirty thousand catties.
The aged imperial physician and the tender, young boy stared at each other across the counter, piercing through this layer of window paper for the very first time.
Chen Ji had previously thought that Old Yao most likely knew he came from the Forty-Nine Heavens; that was why the other party hadn't even questioned it when his personality underwent a massive shift.
On that very first night he arrived as a newcomer, the other party claimed to have calculated an 'Auspicious Hexagram' before heading to the Zhou Estate. But recalling it all now, the other party seemed more worried that he wouldn't be able to find the doors home and would become a lonely wandering soul and wild ghost, which was why he went to lead him home.
If Old Yao hadn't gone to lead him back that night, once he stepped out of the Zhou Estate, he wouldn't have even known where he was supposed to go.
Old Yao sighed with emotion. "I simply don't understand where exactly you lived previously to actually nurture such an innate Compassionate Heart. But in this current World's prevailing situation, good people do not live long. Now that your blood has cooled down, it is very good. Otherwise, I would seriously worry that you would step ahead of me in walking toward the end of your life."
Chen Ji remained silent and didn't speak.
Looking at him, Old Yao said, "But I still have one more sentence to gift you."
Chen Ji asked, "What sentence?"
Old Yao said slowly and methodically, "Your blood can be cold, but your heart must be hot."
The exact same eight words, yet his Master spoke them in a switched order this time.
"It's also time to pass this item to you." Pulling an object out of his sleeve, Old Yao placed it on the counter and pushed it toward Chen Ji before pointing at it.
Taking it in his hand to look, Chen Ji was shocked to find it was actually an ivory white Waist Plaque engraved with the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) diagram. There was not a single word on the Waist Plaque; there were only three hexagram images.
He was entirely perplexed and completely bewildered. "Master, what is this?"
Old Yao said completely nonchalantly, "I originally didn't want to give it to you, worried that holding it would make you die even faster. As for what exactly it is, I am unable to say, nor do I want to say. You are a smart person; when the day comes that you are able to use it, you will naturally understand."
Chen Ji asked another question, "Why are there only three hexagram images drawn on this Eight Trigrams diagram on the Waist Plaque?"
Old Yao replied casually, "Open Gate, Rest Gate, Life Gate—the Three Auspicious Gates. There's no particular significance or deep meaning; it's just meant to draw good luck and auspiciousness."
Chen Ji gave an affirming 'Oh' sound and shoved the Waist Plaque into the bosom of his robes. "Master..."
Waving his hand impatiently, Old Yao said, "I have no free time to casually chat with you; I'm going back to sleep. Let me say this again: there's no need to fetch water tomorrow morning. Stop acting like a rooster crowing at the crack of dawn every single day, disturbing this old man's sleep."
Chen Ji: "..."
Draining the wine in his bowl in a single gulp, Old Yao turned to look at Chen Ji. "You're the one who bought the wine; why aren't you drinking it?"
Chen Ji blanked for a moment. "Master, I didn't buy this wine to drink, ah."
Filled with suspicion, Old Yao asked, "Was it not to drown your sorrows with alcohol?"
Torn between tears and laughter, Chen Ji went to the kitchen and fetched some charcoal. Crushing it, he mixed it with the Strong Distilled Liquor, spread it out flat, and waited for it to evaporate. "Master, this exact process is to purify the charcoal, allowing the stuff inside the charcoal to... Anyway, it's just to manufacture exactly that masculine, resolute, overbearing, and domineering item you mentioned before."
Eyes widening into massive circles, Old Yao subsequently flicked his sleeves and stomped toward the backyard. "I was worrying about you completely for nothing!"
Chen Ji smiled. Focusing his attention, he meticulously crushed all the black charcoal, mixed it together with the strong liquor, and spread it out flat to dry.
Once everything was entirely finished.
Chen Ji soundlessly blew out the oil lamp. Sitting alone behind the counter in a daze, he allowed the darkness to completely submerge him.
...
Daybreak broke through the darkness.
The thin mist wafted with the fishy scent of early morning water, as if the very air itself had grown soft, tender green moss.
Leading the warhorse that had been tied to the apricot tree, Chen Ji walked onto the flagstone-paved path amidst the thin mist. The
clack, clack, clack
sounds of horse hooves traveled far, far away, echoing throughout the utterly empty and hollow streets.
He first headed to the Eastern Market, purchasing the Zhengxin Studio's Traditional Snacks all over again. Only then did he exit through the south city gates, spurring all the way toward the Liu Family's main residence.
Now that Consort Yun was gone, the Secret Spy Division would naturally be unable to use any criminal evidence to nail down Prince Jing. He reckoned they would place the Prince Heir and the Commandery Princess under house arrest for a brief period before helplessly releasing them.
However, when Chen Ji arrived in front of the Liu Family's main residence and looked at those vermilion doors, a hint of hesitation ultimately arose within him.
On the journey here, his only thoughts had been about finally saving Prince Jing's Estate. Yet standing before the doors, his steps faltered, deterred by the sight. Consort Yun's words echoed in his mind:
"Every single day hereafter, whenever you see her face, you will remember that you were the very one who killed her mother with your own hands."
Remaining silent for a moment, Chen Ji ultimately leaped off his horse and knocked on the main doors.
With a creak, the vermilion doors were pulled open forming a crack from the inside. A young secret spy stuck his head out. Seeing it was Chen Ji, he asked in bewilderment, "Lord Chen, why are you here?"
Chen Ji handed over the Traditional Snacks. "Please trouble yourself to deliver this to Prince Jing; I will not be going inside."
That secret spy said, "Lord Chen, this item was delivered to the wrong place."
Chen Ji frowned slightly. "What do you mean by this? Did Lord Jin Zhu leave behind any specific instructions?"
The secret spy hurriedly explained, "Early this morning, Lord Bai Long already led a group of men to escort Prince Jing, the Prince Heir, and the Commandery Princess to the Inner Prison. Therefore, these Traditional Snacks of yours should be delivered to the Inner Prison."
Chen Ji asked completely composedly and without altering his expression, "For what reason did Lord Bai Long escort them into the Inner Prison?"
The secret spy offered an apologetic smile. "This humble subordinate is completely unclear about that. Perhaps you will have to personally go to the Inner Prison to take a look for yourself."
Standing in front of the doors, Chen Ji remained completely speechless for a very long time. The manic, frigidly chilling wind blew sharply and piercingly, blowing the strands of his hair toward the east.
Tossing the Traditional Snacks in front of the doors, he flipped himself onto the horse. Reining in his mount and turning his horse's head around, he lowered his body and spurred entirely in the direction of the Inner Prison.
He suddenly recalled the words Jin Zhu had said:
If the person with the most authority in the Ning Dynasty wished for Prince Jing to die, then he absolutely must die; this was the general trend of events.
Chen Ji finally understood.
The Secret Spy Division's arrow was already notched on the bowstring; they possessed absolutely no choice but to loose it. Without Consort Yun, they would simply fabricate other evidence until Prince Jing was thoroughly and utterly dead, permanently exterminating any future hidden dangers once and for all.
Two hours later, Chen Ji dismounted in front of the Inner Prison doors. Steadier his breathing, he finally knocked on the iron doors at an unhurried pace.
A jailer took a glance through the tiny window behind the iron doors. Seeing it was Chen Ji, he hurriedly opened the iron doors. "So it is Lord Chen."
(End of this chapter)