"Young lad, quickly think! What exactly is that missing stanza?!"
"It was so hard to finally come across such a poem, yet you just had to forget a stanza. You're truly going to make us lose sleep all night!"
Scholars and literati chimed in one after another, having long tossed the matter of 'betraying Prince Jing' to the back of their minds. They absolutely had to grab onto Chen Ji and make him recall the incomplete poem!
To them, a fine poem having an incomplete part was like a beauty with half her face covered by a veil—it made one itch terribly with unbearable desire to see.
A 'Po Zhen Zi', seemingly a 'heroic poem' portraying a general's unwavering loyalty and devotion, actually wrote of the 'grief and indignation' as well as 'regret' of lofty ambitions remaining unfulfilled. While drunk, it was as if he was still that young general; inside the military camp, the cold glint of swords and sabers flashed, while outside, the continuous sound of bugle horns rose and fell.
But upon waking from this grand drunken dream, the soldiers and the battlefield had long vanished from his side. The bowstrings were unstrung and shelved away, leaving behind only vast, hoary white hair.
How sorrowful, how lamentable!
In the crowd, Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Xia looked at Chen Ji.
Only the two of them, father and daughter, knew that after leaving behind this poem for Prince Jing, Chen Ji would never be able to write another half-line of poetry for the rest of his life.
Zhang Zhuo stepped forward and patted his shoulder, saying in a low voice, "It was hard on you."
Chen Ji smiled. "It's no matter."
Zhang Zhuo's eyes darted around. "Did you truly forget a stanza, or did the text of the poem violate some taboo and thus could not be written?"
Chen Ji said softly, "I truly forgot."
Chen Ji wasn't lying. He was fundamentally not good at liberal arts. Even the poems he had previously given the Prince Heir were given half a line by half a line. To be able to remember more than half of this poem was already not easy. Before writing it, he was deeply afraid of writing or remembering any line incorrectly.
He truly forgot.
At this time, seeing everyone discussing the poetry, General Wang took a step forward and said coldly: "Lord Zhang, could you allow me to have a private word with Chen Ji?"
Zhang Zhuo neither yielded nor avoided him. "No. General Wang, without distinguishing black from white, you intended to dump a basin of shit onto Chen Ji's head! How shall we settle this matter?!"
Chen Ji grabbed Zhang Zhuo's arm. "Lord Zhang, just let me chat for a few words with General Wang."
Zhang Zhuo cast a glance at him, flicked his robe sleeves, turned around, and walked to the side. Xiaoman and Zhang Xia also moved further away.
General Wang approached until only a one-chi distance remained between him and Chen Ji. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he said in a low voice: "You arrogant brat, your reactions are quite fast."
Chen Ji smiled. "General Wang overpraises."
General Wang's voice thickened: "As for what exactly the contents of the blood letter are, you and I both know clearly in our hearts! What reaction do you think the Secret Spy Division will have upon hearing your words today? When everyone learns that what was written on the blood letter wasn't the poem you just wrote down, do you think you can still escape infamy?!"
Chen Ji's eyelids drooped slightly.
A blood letter?
Currently, the Secret Spy Division only announced to the public that Prince Jing committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the case was still under investigation. As for the progress of the investigation and what evidence they had grasped, everything was kept strictly secret and unannounced.
Originally, the Secret Spy Division intended to use Consort Yun to supply the missing evidence. As long as they firmly pinned down the Prince Jing's Estate's collusion with the Jing Dynasty, the crimes of collaborating with the enemy and plotting rebellion would be solidly established. But now, Elder Liu, who could have proven this matter, hanged himself; Consort Jing smashed her head against a pillar and died; and Consort Yun vanished as if she had evaporated from the face of the earth, her whereabouts unknown.
All the evidence had become incomplete and fragmented.
Bai Long did hold Prince Jing's blood letter in his hands. However, the contents of the blood letter could only prove that after Prince Jing had been framed and thrown into prison, he had attempted to order the Thousand-Year Army to break into the prison to protect himself. Even if this blood letter was brought out, in the eyes of the civil official faction, it had no direct connection to plotting rebellion. It was clearly a case of the Eunuch Faction persecuting a loyal and good official first, followed by Prince Jing acting to protect himself.
Therefore, Bai Long directly suppressed the matter of the blood letter, treating it as if this blood letter had never existed. The Prince Jing rebellion case thus became an unsettled case.
This was also the reason why Bai Long was able to help Chen Ji protect the Commandery Princess and keep her from being executed.
At a certain moment, Chen Ji had also pondered a question: Why would a person as meticulous and thoughtful as Bai Long make so many glaring omissions and mistakes when convicting Prince Jing? When Elder Liu hanged himself and Consort Jing smashed into the pillar, Bai Long was present! Why didn't the other party save these two crucial witnesses?
Did Bai Long do it intentionally, or was it truly an oversight amidst a busy schedule?
If Bai Long truly intentionally turned this case into an unsettled one, what was the purpose?
As for the blood letter...
As long as Bai Long still needed Chen Ji to lie dormant in the Chen Family, he would naturally cover for him.
General Wang's biggest oversight today was not knowing that Chen Ji had already thrown his lot in under Bai Long's banner and become a Gyrfalcon of the Secret Spy Division!
Chen Ji raised his eyes to look at General Wang: "General Wang should look after himself instead. Those who betray their master to seek glory do not meet a good end."
General Wang sneered coldly. "Youngsters are accustomed to throwing out harsh words. It's useless! I'll just let you live for a few more days."
After saying that, he turned and left, entering the main hall to take his seat.
Xiaoman finally dared to lean closer, muttering softly: "Young Master, he slandered you! Are we just going to let it go like that?!"
Chen Ji smiled helplessly and said, "What else can we do? He is a primary fifth-rank General of Martial Virtue of the Thousand-Year Army. I am nothing more than a Concubine's Son of the Chen Estate. What can I do to him?"
Xiaoman was indignant and aggrieved. "What's so great about a primary fifth-rank general?! Even I dared to stand up to him! Young Master, why are you always getting bullied by people..."
During the banquet, Zhang Zhuo seemed to want to ease the atmosphere, continuously urging General Wang to drink.
Inside the main hall, sitting by the long table, General Wang had doubts in his heart. From the corner of his eye, he looked over at the long table for the younger generation not far away. Zhang Zheng was pouring wine down Chen Ji's throat cup after cup.
In the short span of two incense sticks burning, Chen Ji was already unable to handle the alcohol and fell asleep, slumped over the table.
Pulling General Wang, Zhang Zhuo teased: "Why is General Wang looking at others?! Drink up, drink up!"
Withdrawing his gaze, General Wang cast a glance at the wine cup in Zhang Zhuo's hand: "Lord Zhang truly has a massive capacity for alcohol. Why is drinking wine like drinking water to you? Could it be that what you're drinking is actually water?"
Zhang Zhuo feigned anger: "General Wang, you can say that I, Zhang Zhuo, have bad moral character, but you cannot say my tolerance for alcohol is bad! Taste it!"
Taking the wine cup, General Wang took a light sip. Inside this wine cup was indeed authentic thirty-year-old aged Huadiao wine. "It is I who wrongfully blamed Lord Zhang with the heart of a petty man. This final general will punish himself with three cups."
Zhang Zhuo said, Earnest and Sincere: "General Wang, this official knows you feel depressed and bitter in your heart, which is why I accompanied you to drink a few more cups. This wine, ah, is a good thing! Once you finish drinking, you forget all your depression and bitterness!"
General Wang remained expressionless: "What depression and bitterness do I have? Lord Zhang, do not urge me to drink anymore. This final general is the commander of an army; how can I get drunk?"
Zhang Zhuo was confused: "With such a massive incident happening at the Prince's Estate, is General Wang not depressed and bitter? If you aren't depressed and bitter, wouldn't your absolute loyalty be fake? Rest assured, General Wang! Getting drunk occasionally, others won't say anything!"
General Wang's heart chilled, and he hurriedly said: "It is still Lord Zhang who understands me! Drink, drink!"
By the time the drinking ceased, it was already evening. Aside from a few drunkards, the guests of the Zhang Estate had all dispersed.
General Wang looked at Zhang Zhuo slumped over the table. Standing up unsteadily, he walked behind Chen Ji.
He patted Chen Ji's shoulder. Seeing that the other party didn't wake up, his expression turned gloomy and depressed. Gripping the hilt of the sword at his waist, he pondered for a long time before walking out with unsteady footsteps. Supported by armored soldiers, he boarded his carriage outside the doors.
He turned back to cast a glance deep into the Zhang Estate. The guests were all gone; it was as if nothing had happened today, as plain and uneventful as in the past.
Sitting securely inside the carriage, General Wang exhaled a breath smelling of alcohol, withdrawing the drunk appearance from his face. "Return to camp."
The carriage slowly drove away. Over ten armored soldiers of the Thousand-Year Army rode on horseback, guarding the left and right.
Listening to the sound of rolling carriage wheels outside the doors, Zhang Zhuo sat up straight and burped. He clapped his hands, and Zhang Zheng and Chen Ji immediately stood up.
Chen Ji's gaze swept over the drunk guests in the hall as he silently stood up.
Zhang Zheng had already changed into a black robe identical to his, and slumped exactly where Chen Ji had been slumped previously.
Chen Ji cupped his hands in a greeting towards Zhang Zhuo: "Thanks for your hard work, Lord Zhang."
Lowering his voice, Zhang Zhuo laughed cheerfully: "What hard work did this official do?! This official can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. That General Wang trying to compete in drinking with me is still far off! Rather, it's you. I was drinking wine, but you were drinking water. But you don't know this: the person who remains sober until the very end at the wine table actually has it the hardest! No more idle chatting, go."
Grabbing a cloth bundle, Chen Ji walked towards the Zhang Estate's rear doors. The servants along the way had long been sent away by Zhang Xia.
Exiting the Zhang Estate, he traversed through Red Date Alley. When he came out, he had already swapped out the Hairpin on his head.
After passing through Lihao Alley, the black robe on his body had been changed into a grey short shirt.
Passing through Copper Drum Alley again, the Black Official Boots on his feet were also swapped into black cloth shoes.
Alley after alley, scene after scene, the Third Young Master of the Chen Estate had completely vanished. Like a lowly carriage driver, Chen Ji ran into the crowd.
He had to reach the south city gate earlier than the carriage!
...
...
The sun sank in the west, as if drawing away the final trace of warmth from the human world. Under the veil of night, the pavilions, towers, and terraces rose and fell in a continuous stretch, and the lamps extinguished one by one.
Chen Ji sat silently on a grey roof ridge. Wu Yun sat beside him, ears perked up.
Under the moonlight, the alleys of Luo City were empty. The flying eaves curving upwards resembled black waves rippling into the distance. It was as if only this one person and one cat remained sitting in the human world.
Wu Yun meowed: "At the banquet, General Wang wanted to pour the dirty water of betraying Prince Jing onto you?"
Chen Ji gave an "Mhm": "Yes."
Wu Yun thought for a moment. "Why didn't you expose him?"
"There's no need." Chen Ji said calmly, "If he wants to satisfy himself with words, let him go ahead. Regardless of whether he speaks a thousand times or ten thousand times today, I can take it all, as long as he is willing to leave the Thousand-Year Army camp."
These past few days, General Wang had constantly cowered inside the Thousand-Year Army camp, surrounded constantly by thousands of soldiers. Trying to execute him was harder than ascending to the heavens.
Before Chen Ji left Luo City, he had finally waited for today's opportunity with great difficulty; and there was only this one opportunity.
Wu Yun meowed: "They're here."
The sounds of horse hooves and carriage wheels came from the distance. The Thousand-Year Army was escorting General Wang toward the south city gate.
Chen Ji pulled out two Emei Piercers from his lower back: "I will go assassinate him. You wait for an opportunity to act from the shadows. Remember, the one surnamed Wang must die under the Emei Piercers!"
Arching her back, Wu Yun stretched lazily: "I understand."
The carriage drew closer and closer. The gazes of the Thousand-Year Army armored soldiers were like blades, vigilantly sweeping their surroundings.
However, right at this moment, the fur on Wu Yun's back suddenly bristled: "Meow!"
Taking advantage of the moonlight, Chen Ji looked far into the distance. He saw a cloud of black smoke nimbly leaping across rooftops far away. Like a cunning antelope running on the grasslands, it traversed the high and low undulating roof ridges without any hindrance, as if stepping on clouds.
Sheep's body, human face, stepping on black auspicious clouds, the bloodthirsty maw on its chest and abdomen tightly shut.
Taotie!
This was the first time Chen Ji had seen the Taotie Wu Yun mentioned. If one hadn't seen the scene of the other party eating humans, one wouldn't think this spirit was all that terrifying.
But why did the other party appear here?
Following his line of sight, he wanted to find the person commanding the Taotie from behind the scenes. However, looking out, he completely couldn't locate the other party's hiding spot, and couldn't even confirm whether the other party had come here at all.
In the next moment, that Taotie moved like lightning across the rooftops, catching up to the Thousand-Year Army from behind.
The black silhouette leaped forcefully, pouncing down from the rooftop!
The Thousand-Year Army armored soldiers were riding on horseback when a shadow suddenly obscured the moonlight above their heads. By the time they looked up, it was already too late.
With a thunderous crash, the Taotie slammed squarely into the carriage, smashing the wooden carriage apart, turning it into a sky full of wooden splinters!
Caught entirely off guard inside the carriage, General Wang was actually sent flying out from the collision! He crashed heavily against a brick wall by the roadside far away, then tumbled to the ground.
Chen Ji muttered, "Fierce and ruthless!"
In the long street, the Thousand-Year Army armored soldiers roared in anger: "Protect the General!"
Over ten armored soldiers spurred their horses forward, blocking the path in front of General Wang. Yet, to everyone's surprise, that Taotie actually didn't pursue them to fight and kill anymore. Instead, it turned around and ran!
It was just like children fighting each other; one child kicks out, takes advantage, and leaves—earning one kick per kick.
With a nimble leap, it jumped onto the rooftop. Stepping on the grey tiles, it vanished into the night among the undulating roof ridges. It was as if its visit here was merely a momentary whim; once its interest was satisfied, it could happily return home.
Wu Yun: "Ah, this!"
Lying prone on the roof, Chen Ji and Wu Yun were Dumbfounded. For a long time, they couldn't figure out exactly what was going on with this Taotie.
Furthermore, the other party first swallowed the Practitioner monitoring Chen Ji, and then ran over to crash into General Wang's carriage.
To say this had nothing to do with Chen Ji was absolutely impossible!
Wu Yun meowed: "What do we do now?"
Chen Ji said calmly, "Charge down and kill him. Take his life while he's injured! Remember, absolutely do not leave a single person alive who has seen you make a move!"
However, right when the human and cat were preparing to charge down and slaughter, they saw yet another human figure charging over rapidly from afar! The other party wore black clothes, black pants, and a black Bamboo Hat. Their figure was exceptionally thin and frail, yet moved like a thunderclap!
The black-clothed person's movements had absolutely no hesitation or sluggishness whatsoever, as if they had gone through Deep Deliberation a thousand times, ten thousand times. The instant they saw the Thousand-Year Army, they pounced down from the rooftop to kill!
A Thousand-Year Army armored soldier drew his waist saber and slashed over. Handily crouching low, the black-clothed person darted past right underneath the horse's belly. Not entangling with the armored soldiers at all, they aimed solely for General Wang's life!
Seeing this, another Thousand-Year Army soldier instantly flew into a raging fury, pulling up his warhorse. High in the air, the warhorse raised its front hooves, stomping down right into the black-clothed person's path: "Die!"
In a flash of lightning, as the black-clothed person retreated backwards, they pulled out two Emei Piercers from their lower back. One of them flew from their hand, passing through the gap between the armored soldier and the warhorse, and nailing firmly into the hollow of General Wang's shoulder!
Amidst General Wang's muffled groan, Wu Yun looked at the remaining Emei Piercer in the black-clothed person's hand, then looked at the two Emei Piercers in Chen Ji's hands...
Chen Ji originally intended to pin the crime of killing General Wang onto this person. He truly never expected that the main culprit would actually come over to kill by themselves!
(End of this chapter)