In front of the steps of the White Tiger Hall, the Feather Forest Army soldiers carefully wrapped strips of cloth soaked in tung oil around wooden sticks to make torches, and ignited them in the fire basins.
The crowd walked out holding their weapons and brightly burning torches. The Crown Prince took the lead on his horse, but was stopped by Li Xuan. "Your Highness, if it is truly as Chen Ji says, I'm afraid we will clash with Jing Dynasty rebels tonight. With your noble and precious body, it is better for you to stay in the Regional Military Commission."
The Crown Prince laughed heartily. "Why does General Li treat me like a coward? Since you and I came to Guyuan together, we should naturally share sweet and bitter together! Where is the logic in letting you shed blood and lay down your lives at the front while I hide in the back? Ever since the founding of our Great Ning Dynasty, there has never been a Son of Heaven who was afraid of battle, nor has there ever been a Crown Prince who was afraid of battle."
Li Xuan was moved. "Your Highness, if any unforeseen disaster befalls you, how will I explain to His Majesty!"
The Crown Prince raised his hand to stop the conversation. "No need to say anything more... Third Young Master Chen, where are the Jing Dynasty rebels?"
Chen Ji cupped his hands and answered, "East of the city, Taohuai District, Shache Street. It's the household with an elm tree in front of the door."
The Crown Prince asked loudly, "Does anyone know where Shache Street is? Take the lead."
The Feather Forest Army soldiers looked at one another in blank dismay. They had only been in Guyuan for a little over ten days. Since arriving, they had closely followed the Crown Prince and hadn't yet had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with Guyuan.
Li Xuan said from the side, "Your Highness, in a moment, I will just order a Border Army soldier to lead the way."
The Crown Prince nodded. "Alright!"
The crowd flipped onto their horses holding their torches. Over a hundred riders on white horses galloped out from the Regional Military Commission, startling the Border Army armored soldiers in front of the door into retreating one by one.
In front of the red-lacquered main doors of the Regional Military Commission, the torches illuminated Old Wu's face, revealing his shock and uncertainty. "Your Highness, where is everyone going?"
"Important matters of military strategy; do not ask what you shouldn't ask," Li Xuan pointed at a Border Army armored soldier and said. "Mount your horse and lead the way for us."
Old Wu suddenly cupped his hands and said, "General Li, the infantryman you pointed at is not skilled in horsemanship. This general is more familiar with Guyuan. How about this general leads the way for you?"
Li Xuan sneered, "No need. I can just take him on my horse!"
Old Wu said no more. He turned his head and exhorted the Border Army armored soldier, "Earnestly lead the way for His Highness. Do not make any mistakes!"
The Border Army armored soldier cupped his fists and received the order: "Yes!"
After the Border Army armored soldier mounted the horse, the Feather Forest Army soldiers raised their torches and galloped away, guarding the Crown Prince. Their white pheasant tail feathers and cloaks looked awe-inspiring and majestic. The long military formation was like a flawless white ivory blade stabbing into the heartland of Guyuan city.
At the back of the contingent, Chen Liqin also followed on horseback. When he looked at Chen Ji's back, his mind was weighed down with anxiety, as if covered by a haze that hadn't cleared for over ten years.
After hesitating for a long time, Chen Liqin finally raised his whip, wanting to catch up to Chen Ji. But just as he arrived beside Chen Ji, Zaozao suddenly accelerated and left him behind.
Having no other alternative, Chen Liqin spoke out: "Chen Ji, I have words to speak with you!"
Chen Ji lightly patted Zaozao's back. Zaozao understood tacitly and slowed down. He cast a sidelong glance. "What does Lord Chen want to say?"
Chen Liqin looked forward, backward, left, and right. After confirming no one was close by, only then did he ask mysteriously in a low voice, "Have you met anyone recently?"
Chen Ji frowned slightly. "What is the meaning of Lord Chen's words?"
Chen Liqin chose his words carefully for a moment. "Have you already met her?"
"Who?" Chen Ji was puzzled. "What exactly does Lord Chen want to ask?"
Chen Liqin said in a low voice, "No need to put on an act. I ask you, where did you learn all these abilities of yours?"
Chen Ji responded without batting an eyelid, "To answer Lord Chen, I learned them from my mentor at the medical clinic."
Chen Liqin emphasized his tone, "Stop trying to fool me. Physician Yao has practiced medicine in the capital city for decades. When has anyone ever heard that he is a practitioner?"
Chen Ji remained silent.
He then heard Chen Liqin suddenly say, "Chen Ji, have you met your mother? Do you already know... that she's still alive?"
Chen Ji was shocked inwardly but feigned surprise: "My Auntie is still alive?! Lord Chen, what's going on? Didn't my Auntie die?"
"Stop putting on an act!" Chen Liqin then pursued with a string of questions. "Did she go to Luo City to look for you? When did she look for you? What did she say? Where is she now?"
Chen Ji's thoughts raced like lightning. The amount of information revealed in these two sentences from Chen Liqin was immense: His biological mother, Madam Lu, really wasn't dead!
But since Madam Lu wasn't dead, why didn't she return to her Jing Dynasty hometown? What exactly happened back then that forced Madam Lu to fake her death, leave, and conceal her name and identity?
But why did it seem like Xiaoman didn't know about this matter?
Seeing that Chen Ji remained silent the whole time, Chen Liqin frowned deeply and chattered incessantly, "I told her long ago that since she was going to leave, she should leave cleanly. Why did she have to come back to see you again? If she taught you these abilities, do you think she's doing it for your own good? By doing this, she's only dragging you into trouble!"
Chen Ji deliberated for a long time before saying calmly, "Lord Chen, are you confused? My Auntie passed away long ago. How could she come looking for me? I've said before, these abilities of mine were taught to me by my mentor, Yao Qimen, Physician Yao. If a single word of this is a lie, may I be struck by lightning from heaven."
Chen Liqin shouted in a low voice, "How long are you going to keep lying? Just remember this: in the future, do not see her again, and do not casually show off your abilities to others, especially the ones she taught you. Furthermore, stop getting close to the Crown Prince or other royal princes. Be careful that she doesn't use you to stir up an apocalyptic disaster!"
At this time, Chen Liqin was already certain that Chen Ji's biological mother had returned. Otherwise, it was completely impossible to explain where all of Chen Ji's abilities came from. He didn't believe that an old imperial physician could teach Chen Ji an Official Path Gateway.
Chen Ji turned his head, stared at Chen Liqin, and asked straightforwardly, "Lord Chen, what exactly happened back then?"
Chen Liqin's expression changed, and he said angrily, "This is not a matter you should inquire about. You only need to remember not to see her again. I would never harm you!"
Chen Ji fell into silence. So Chen Liqin actually had such an underlying layer of misgivings... Looking at it this way, Chen Liqin definitely knew a lot of inside information, perhaps even knowing of Madam Lu's Jing Dynasty identity!
The other party had probably sensed his abnormalities long ago but didn't dare make a scene. Only now, when he could no longer hold back, did he come to question him.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Chen Liqin's voice softened a bit. "You don't understand your mother's character. Her mouth is full of endless lies. Sometimes she even deceives the people closest to her, and even herself. Listen to my advice: don't have any further entanglements with her. Steadily and honestly test for official honors; this is the true path."
Right at this moment, the Border Army armored soldier pointed at a narrow street. "Generals, we have arrived at Shache Street."
Chen Ji looked over, only to see that there were three elm trees within Shache Street. Who knew which household that night soil collector was talking about?
He vaguely felt that something was wrong. "Your Highness, the information I obtained earlier said it was the household with an elm tree in front of the door. Yet there are actually three elm trees here. I'm afraid..."
Li Xuan said in a low voice, "It doesn't matter. Just raid all three households together and that will be that!"
He glanced at Shache Street and immediately gestured to the Feather Forest Army soldiers on his left and right. The Feather Forest Army soldiers dismounted, vaulted onto the rooftops one by one, and sneaked toward those three households.
Chen Ji didn't dismount. He quietly stopped his horse and stood at the intersection of Shache Street, frowning deeply.
Right at this time, the Crown Prince pulled the fox-fur coat closer around his shoulders, turned his horse around, and came to Chen Ji's side. "Didn't Third Young Master Chen leave last night? Why did you suddenly deliver information today?"
Chen Ji explained, "To answer Your Highness, this commoner left yesterday to spy for information. This Guyuan is a mixed bag of fish and dragons. While some people stand in the light, naturally, there should also be people hiding in the dark."
The Crown Prince praised, "Third Young Master Chen is indeed worthy of being a disciple of Mister Wang Daosheng, possessing both civil strategy and military tactics. I just wonder, from where did you obtain this information?"
Chen Ji's expression remained unchanged. "To answer Your Highness, from the entertainment districts and brothels. It's not worth mentioning."
The Crown Prince smiled and abruptly changed the subject to ask, "Both of your older brothers tested and became Jingkui this year. Why are you the only one who didn't participate in the imperial examinations?"
Chen Ji pondered for a moment and answered, "Your Highness, what I learned from my mentor was not the Confucian classics, but military strategy. I have no intention of taking the imperial examinations."
"Oh?" The Crown Prince became interested. "So you mean to say, you intend to join the military?"
Chen Ji gave a grunt of affirmation. "Originally, after his mourning period ended, my mentor was supposed to be reinstated in the Ministry of War, but for some reason, it was delayed. I had no choice but to return to the capital with my family first and seek a job afterward."
The Crown Prince sighed with emotion, "I know a thing or two about this matter. Elder Hu submitted the memorial recommending Mister Wang to the Renshou Palace, but it was rejected by the Directorate of Ceremonial. The Inner Chancellor said that when Mister Wang led the border army in his early years, he was greedy for merit and acted rashly, thus needing further tempering."
Chen Ji lamented, "It's a pity for my mentor's brilliant talents."
The Crown Prince sized Chen Ji up with great interest. "Worthy little brother Chen Ji, what are your plans after returning to the capital?"
Chen Ji cupped his hands. "To answer Your Highness, I currently have no plans."
The Crown Prince smiled as he spoke ambiguously, "Very good."
Suddenly, Li Xuan's voice came from the distance, "Your Highness, there are no Jing Dynasty rebels as Chen Ji said here, nor are there the supposed dozen or so vats of Golden Juice!"
The Crown Prince was stunned for a moment. He turned his horse and walked into Shache Street. "None in all three households? Could it be that the Jing Dynasty rebels caught wind of it beforehand and moved those dozen or so large vats away?"
Li Xuan escorted the commoners of the three households out the door. "Your Highness, that is absolutely impossible. Even if those dozen vats of Golden Juice were moved away by someone, there would at least be some smell left in the courtyard. Still, these three households are spotlessly clean, without the slightest trace. We've been deceived!"
At this time, the seventeen people from the three households knelt on the ground, their faces deathly pale. "Military lords, spare our lives! What crime has this lowly one committed?"
The Crown Prince hurriedly said, "Everyone, please rise quickly. It was our mistake."
Qi Zhenzhuo glared fiercely at Chen Ji. "Brat, you heard some rumors about catching wind and grasping shadows from the marketplace and you dare come make a fool of His Highness? What crime should you be charged with?"
Chen Ji lowered his head and remained silent.
Chen Liqin hurriedly rode forward and cupped his hands to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, my dog of a son was only concerned about the safety of Guyuan and committed no major fault. At worst, he merely caused Your Highness to make a wasted trip and didn't really cause any losses..."
Qi Zhenzhuo rested his hand on the long sword at his waist and said in a cold voice, "That's not how it works. If His Highness encountered assassins while venturing out tonight, could he bear the responsibility?"
The Crown Prince suddenly opened his mouth. "Qi Zhenzhuo, say no more."
He turned to Chen Ji and smiled. "I know worthy little brother Chen Ji had good intentions, and it was nothing more than coming up empty-handed. How can this be considered a fault? While investigating the case of killing civilians for military merit these past few days, haven't we come up empty-handed every single time? Worthy little brother Chen Ji is simply young and acts a bit impulsively. Dealing with more experiences will temper him well, it's no big deal."
However, right at this moment, sitting on Zaozao's saddle, Chen Ji abruptly raised his head. "Wait... That's not right! Seize that Border Army armored soldier... Wait, where is the Border Army armored soldier who led the way? He just entered the courtyard with you all, where did he go now?"
The Feather Forest Army soldiers holding torches looked at one another in blank dismay. They searched through the crowd for a long time, but there was already no trace of that Border Army armored soldier!
A Feather Forest Army soldier recalled, "He said he needed to go to the latrine..."
Chen Ji said in a grave voice, "If there are numerous elm trees in Shache Street, the person who gave me the information would definitely not use 'the household with an elm tree in front of the door' as a clue. This is not Shache Street!"
After saying that, he looked at the alarmed commoners in Shache Street. "What street is this? Is this Shache Street?"
The commoners looked bewildered. "Military lord, this is Kule Street. It is still an entire kilometer away from Shache Street."
Chen Ji didn't say another word. He spurred his horse past a young man, reached down, grabbed the man's waistband, and left.
He didn't look back as he ordered the Feather Forest Army behind him: "Everyone, keep up. The Border Army armored soldier who pointed the way is a Jing Dynasty spy. Right now, he must have run off to warn the Jing Dynasty rebels in Shache Street. We must find them immediately! If we let them pollute half of Guyuan city's well water, when the Jing Dynasty Heavenly Strategy Army arrives, everything will be over!"