Chen Estate, Mingquan Courtyard.
Unlike the Spring Listening Courtyard, which was piled high with miscellaneous items, this place was clean, neat, simple, and elegant.
Wintersweet was planted in the courtyard, and it was precisely the season when it bloomed with pink flowers. Beneath the plum trees was also a crystal-clear koi pond where the bottom could be seen. When the red-and-white patterned koi fish lay still, it looked as if they were floating in midair.
On the ground were brand-new black bricks, on the roof were brand-new roof tiles, inside the room were brand-new tables and chairs, and there was even an alcove bed that the carpenters had just finished building.
Chen Ji observed the courtyard, yet there was no trace of joy on his face.
Chen Liqin's transfer and promotion orders would arrive in these next few days. No matter how nice Mingquan Courtyard was, it was still nothing more than a temporary residence.
At this time, a manservant followed behind him, matching his every step.
Chen Ji turned around and examined him. "What are you following me for?"
The manservant hurriedly clasped his hands and answered, "Master arranged for this lowly one to come over and serve the Third Young Master... Originally, a maid was supposed to be arranged, but it is too late today and we couldn't find a Middleman. Tomorrow, Master will dispatch someone to the Western Market to find a Middleman, who will bring over maids with slave statuses for you to select from."
Chen Ji Suddenly Realized; so it turned out he was now already a "Young Master" of the Chen Estate.
He said casually, "No one is needed to serve me in the Mingquan Courtyard, and there's no need to buy a maid. Go out. I wish to speak with Lord Zhang."
The manservant said awkwardly, "Master said..."
Chen Ji waved his hand. "Go out. I won't make things difficult for you. You just need to relay my exact words back to Lord Chen."
Hearing the words "Lord Chen," the manservant's eyelids twitched. He clasped his hands and took his leave.
After the manservant left, Zhang Zhuo stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, clicking his tongue in wonder and praise. "The fact that Chen Liqin didn't assign any of the Chen Estate's former maids to you is because he's worried Madam Liang would arrange her own people into your courtyard to secretly make things difficult for you and tip her off. This Lord Chen, ah, his heart is actually as clear as a mirror; he knows everything perfectly well."
Zhang Xia muttered, "Members of the Chen Family have always been like this. Or rather, members of the Donglin Faction have always been like this. Saying one thing with their mouths while thinking another in their hearts; Feigning Ignorance While Fully Aware."
Zhang Zhuo observed the Mingquan Courtyard. "Madam Liang truly treats her maiden family's younger brother well, ah. The meticulous thought and effort spent when renovating this courtyard is enough to build an entirely new one. No wonder she didn't want to let you live here. Right now, her heart is probably aching to death over it."
He turned back to look at Chen Ji, only to see Chen Ji bending his waist in a deep bow. Earnestly and sincerely, he said, "Many thanks to Lord Zhang for extending a helping hand."
Taking two quick steps, Zhang Zhuo helped him up. "What are you doing? During the Liu Family's military mutiny previously, it was you who Step Forward Bravely to save my Zhang Family from deep water and scorching fire. Helping you with this trivial matter counts as nothing. Furthermore, having nothing to do today, coming to the Chen Estate was truly even more spectacular and exciting than listening to an opera."
Zhang Zheng chuckled. "How could listening to an opera possibly be as thrilling and satisfying as watching one acting in person?"
Having said that, he also mimicked Chen Ji's posture and gave a deep bow. "I didn't have the chance previously, so I am thanking you face-to-face today. For your grand grace and massive virtue in saving my Zhang Family, I, Zhang Zheng, will be Unforgettable Until Teeth Fall Out. If I can reside high up in the temples of the Imperial Court in the future, I will definitely repay you generously."
Zhang Zhuo cursed and swore, "With that stupid look of yours, you can't even understand the books you study, yet you're trying to copy lines from opera scripts? Residing high in the temples of the Imperial Court my ass!"
Zhang Zheng said aggrievedly, "It's you who won't let me participate in the Imperial Examination! Even that Chen Wenxiao could test into Jingkui (a top ranking Juren). Why can't I? Ask Maternal Grandfather to help out a bit; I also want to be an official."
Zhang Zhuo laughed from pure anger. "The Blood Rain and Foul Wind within the imperial court is far more dangerous than the flashing swords and sabers of the Jianghu. Figures in the Jianghu might still leave a side of the net open for their enemies, but the lords in the imperial court? Whoever blocks their path, they will exterminate them to the last man. Not letting a stupid fool like you become an official is for your own good!"
Zhang Zheng didn't get angry either, still chuckling cheerfully. "If I can't be an official, then I won't be an official. In our Zhang Family's cleverness and Wisdom, you account for seven parts, Younger Sister accounts for four parts. If I'm a bit stupider, then I'm a bit stupider."
Zhang Zhuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Do you even know how to count? That adds up to eleven parts! There are only ten parts in total. Where did this extra one part come from?"
Zhang Zheng froze for a moment. "Ah, is that so? Then just count it as me owing you one part."
Zhang Zhuo sighed.
Standing at the side, Chen Ji explained with a solemn expression, "Lord Zhang, this bow of thanks from me is not for today's matters, but for the Zhang Family providing cover for the Prince Heir and the others to leave the Ning Dynasty. In this current world, for the Zhang Family to be willing to wager their lives to help me, I will definitely engrave it in my heart."
On the day of the prison break, if the Zhang Family hadn't used Xu Shu of the Imperial Observatory's friendship with the Buddhist sect, Chen Ji would have had absolutely no viable options either.
Zhang Zhuo sighed. "I have always admired Prince Jing's character. Helping the Prince Heir wasn't entirely just for you either. Right now, the Prince Heir and your Master are traveling south by boat. Roughly two months from now, they will eventually arrive at the Lüshun Port in the Jing Dynasty. It's just that..."
Chen Ji asked, "It's just that what?"
Zhang Zhuo looked Chen Ji up and down. "I originally thought you would travel to the Jing Dynasty together with them, yet you didn't leave."
Chen Ji explained, "My matters are not yet finished."
Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia both understood that the only thing that could make Chen Ji stay behind was a single matter, and this matter was harder than ascending to the heavens.
Zhang Zhuo pondered for a moment. "You returned to the Chen Family because you want to borrow the Chen Family's power and influence to rescue the Commandery Princess?"
Chen Ji didn't answer.
Currently, even Yun Yang and Jiao Tu believed that he was the one who sold out Prince Jing. Within the entire Ning Dynasty, the only people who knew his true intentions were Bai Long, Jin Zhu, Zhang Zhuo, Zhang Zheng, and Zhang Xia.
Zhang Zhuo patted his shoulder. "I'm afraid you've thought about it a bit too simply. If you want to rescue the Commandery Princess, you must first reverse the verdict and clear Prince Jing's name. Only then can the Commandery Princess be absolved of her crimes. However, from top to bottom, everyone in the Chen Family are experts at prioritizing their own survival and self-preservation above all else. They will not speak up for a criminal subject guilty of treason and rebellion."
Chen Ji opened his mouth to say, "Many thanks for Lord Zhang's concern. I naturally have my own methods."
Seeing that he didn't wish to say more, Zhang Zhuo didn't ask further. Instead, he said earnestly, "Just now, when I tried to pull you to the Zhang Estate, although there was an element of putting on an act, it was also with genuine sincerity. Why don't you enter my Zhang Family and become my adopted son, or... from now on, your matters are my matters! Once I enter the Grand Secretariat and become a Grand Secretary, there will eventually come a day when the situation takes a turn for the better."
Chen Ji asked curiously, "How will it turn for the better?"
Zhang Zhuo looked left and right. "The one who wants to kill Prince Jing is His Majesty. However, His Majesty will eventually have a day when he ascends as an immortal and passes away. That time will be the turning point."
Chen Ji froze. The current reigning Emperor styled himself as Emperor Wanshou (Emperor of Ten Thousand Longevities), devoting himself to cultivating the Dao to extend his lifespan, seeking eternal life without bounds.
These words from Zhang Zhuo were already words of treason and rebellion. If it weren't to someone truly close, he absolutely never would have said them out loud.
Just this level of trust alone was already not easy to come by.
Moreover, Zhang Zhuo's words seemed to also provide him with a path to rescue the Commandery Princess... It was just excessively dangerous. Even though he cultivated the Mountain Lord Pathway, he had never made such a bold and audacious assumption.
Let's shelve it for now.
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, ultimately confessing truthfully: "Lord Zhang, I indeed came to the Chen Family to rescue the Commandery Princess, but I have never relied on the Chen Family members..."
Before his voice could fall, the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching from outside the doors.
Chen Liqin approached with large, vigorous strides. Following behind him, a manservant held a tray in his arms. In the tray were sweet melons and small cucumbers.
Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he praised, "It is still your Chen Estate that knows how to enjoy life, ah! To actually be able to procure such rare, novelty items in the middle of winter, and even be willing to take them out to entertain us. Not bad, not bad at all!"
Chen Liqin responded neither coldly nor warmly: "It seems this is still the first time Lord Zhang has praised this humble official."
Zhang Zhuo reached out to grab a small cucumber. "It warrants praise!"
Chen Liqin, however, swatted his hand away. "Lord Zhang praised too early. This isn't for you; it's for Chen Ji."
In the Ning Dynasty, growing melons, fruits, and vegetables in winter was not easy. After the first snowfall, the only vegetables ordinary households could see were radishes and cabbages, while fruits were even harder to seek even with a thousand taels of gold.
The Capital City established the Hot Springs Department. This department exclusively managed the hot springs in the suburbs of the capital, and in the high-temperature cave dwellings surrounding the hot springs, they grew sweet melons, cucumbers, and yellow chives, commonly known as 'Greenhouse Goods'.
The 'greenhouse cucumbers' were incredibly small, less than two inches long, yet a single one could be sold for over a thousand copper coins. When the officials and nobles in the capital took out sweet melons and cucumbers to entertain guests, it was a display of heaven-shaking "face" (prestige/honor).
Zhang Zhuo's eyes darted around. "Where did you get these cucumbers from? Is the Chen Family's lifestyle truly this extravagant?"
Chen Liqin said casually, "There is a hot spring eye on Mount Longmen in Luo City. I had someone buy a hot spring early on and grow melons and fruits there."
Having said that, he placed the tray on the stone table in the courtyard and said as gently as possible, "Chen Ji, eat more. If it isn't enough, I will order someone to go to Mount Longmen and fetch fresh ones."
Chen Ji didn't decline either, clasping his hands in thanks. "Many thanks to Lord Chen."
Chen Liqin was momentarily speechless.
Right at this moment, a manservant ran in from outside the doors, shouting loudly with jumping joy: "Congratulations Master, felicitations Master! Someone has arrived from the Capital City, bringing your transfer and promotion documents!"
Chen Liqin abruptly spun around. "Is this true?"
"How would this lowly one dare to deceive you with this kind of matter?" Running into the courtyard and seeing Zhang Zhuo, the manservant hurriedly bowed in greeting: "Lord Zhang is also here! Your transfer and promotion documents have also arrived and are currently heading toward your estate!"
Zhang Zhuo raised his eyebrows. "There are ones for me too?"
Chen Ji subconsciously looked toward the horizon. He knew that, ultimately, he would have to leave Luo City.
(End of this chapter)