105. Zhang Zhuo
In the study of Zhou Mansion.
Jin Zhu sat behind the mahogany desk, glancing at Xi Feng with a half-smile: "Master Si, your acting is so good. Your usual loyalty to me, isn't that just an act?"
Xifeng: “Ah?”
Jin Zhu's words were like a bolt of lightning, striking Xifeng who was still immersed in the role of Si Zhu.
Woke up.
Xifeng groaned inwardly and said hastily, "Sir, my loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and the moon, without a trace of falsehood."
Jin Zhu smiled and didn't dwell on the matter any further. "What do you think of the man wearing the tiger mask just now?"
Xifeng immediately said: "It's quite impressive, at least it's better than me."
Golden Pig said meaningfully, "If I told you he was just a shop assistant, would you believe me?"
Xifeng was stunned: "How is it possible?!"
Jin Zhu leaned back in the chair and slowly closed his eyes: "Yeah, how is that possible."
Logically speaking, one should not doubt someone who has been interrogated by Meng Ji.
But the reason why Jinzhu continued to doubt was because of this sentence "How is it possible".
Chen Ji first helped Jiaotu and Yunyang overcome their difficulties, and then helped him to find evidence against the Liu family. He was able to hang out with the prince and the princess and become friends with them, and even caught the eye of Prince Jing.
Is this something a little apprentice can do?
The key point is that the Secret Service's official bulletin clearly stated that the Chen family's concubine's son was taciturn, but how could Chen Ji look taciturn at all?
Xifeng asked, "Sir, did you spend so much money to invite Mengji here just to interrogate him?"
Jin Zhu replied casually, "I asked Meng Ji to come here to interrogate the Liu family, but since everyone has been invited from Kaifeng Prefecture, it won't hurt to interrogate one more person. This person is not an unknown person. I won't feel at ease until I have thoroughly investigated him."
Xifeng asked curiously, "When are you going to try him?"
Jin Zhu thought for a moment and said, "After resolving the Liu family's issue, immediately arrest him and secretly put him in the inner prison."
"clear."
The study became quiet.
Xifeng suddenly asked, "Sir, do you really have a grudge against the Liu family? Isn't it the Xu family that has a grudge against you?"
Jin Zhu leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes slightly: "Who said that I have a grudge against the Xu family?"
Xifeng brought the teacup to the Golden Pig and whispered, "That's what Lord Xuanshe said. It seems to have spread throughout our Secret Service. Someone even asked me about it secretly a few days ago."
Jin Zhu didn't take the teacup, letting Xifeng hold it with both hands. He asked nonchalantly, "What did Xuan Snake say?"
"Master Xuanshe said that your family was once engaged in maritime trade, and their goods could be sold as far as Luzon, Champa, and Java. Later, the Xu family forced your entire family into forced labor, and you were the only one who survived."
Golden Pig frowned: "Did he say how he knew?"
"No." Xifeng looked at the Golden Pig quietly: "Sir, is this true?"
Jin Zhu finally took the teacup, drank the tea in it, and said calmly, "Really."
"Then why don't you seek revenge on the Xu family?" Xifeng was puzzled.
Golden Pig stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked out the window. "Our Lord Internal Minister, if he hasn't squeezed every last bit of energy out of you, he won't let you get what you want. I'm also waiting for the day when he allows me to take revenge."
"When the time comes, I will go through fire and water for you, my Lord!"
The Golden Pig sneered, "Don't you get tired of showing your loyalty all day long?"
"I'm not tired of it anymore!"
Golden Pig turned around and looked at Xifeng: "For so many years, I have suppressed you from becoming a Haidongqing. Do you blame me?"
"A little bit."
Jin Zhu was amused. He suddenly sighed, "You're quite honest. Sooner or later, you'll understand. If you reach Hai Dongqing's position, you'll be noticed by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Then you won't get happiness, but pain. Being a pigeon-level spy is pretty good. The salary is not bad. Just work hard and don't worry too much."
"Sir, is this true or a lie?"
"Get out."
"oh……"
Xifeng slipped out the door, and Jinzhu sat back in the chair, slowly leaning back.
He picked up a court newspaper and covered his face with it.
He told so many lies that sometimes even he couldn't tell whether what he said was the truth or a lie.
…
…
Amidst the hustle and bustle of traffic, the two spies trailed far behind Chen Ji, as if connected by two invisible threads that could not be severed.
Suddenly, the crowd became noisy. A fast horse galloped down the street, and a man with a red belt around his waist shouted, "Chen Wenzong of the Chen Mansion, the champion!"
Behind him, a young man on a fast horse also shouted: "The son of the Chen family, the co-magistrate of Luocheng, Chen Wenzong, has won the first place in the imperial examination!"
"Young Master Lin Chaojing, the highest-ranking student in the high school!"
"The son of the Chen family, the co-magistrate of Luocheng, Chen Wenxiao, has won the highest honor in the imperial examination!"
One after another, the "Jiezi" rushed to report the top five.
The so-called "reporting the top five" means that the "successful candidates" would wait in front of the Imperial Examination Hall early in the morning for the results to be announced. After the results were announced, they would immediately rush to report the good news to the top five. The first person to reach the homes of the top five would receive a generous reward.
The minimum reward was five taels, and the maximum was fifty taels. For example, for a door lintel like the Chen Mansion, the reward must be fifty taels, the highest reward. Therefore, all the lucky guys were scrambling for it, and it was possible that they would fight on the road.
Chen Ji watched silently, and suddenly felt a little dazed, as if he was still in the kiln factory surrounded by cement dust the day before, and in the blink of an eye the autumn examination results were announced.
At some point, he also wanted to sit in a bright and clean academy and study without worries... But forget it, he couldn't learn anything about the meaning of the scriptures.
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I am more suitable for gambling with others."
At this time, the people on the street gave way and even pulled the ox carts to the side, as if no matter how important the matter was, it had to give way to the good news of the autumn examination.
The two spies did not look at Jie Zi, but stared at Chen Ji's back in the crowd. However, when the fast horse passed between them, in just a breath of time, the fast horse galloped past, and there was no trace of Chen Ji in front of them, as if he had disappeared out of thin air.
The galloping horse was like a sharp knife, cutting the thread between them.
Half an hour later, Chen Ji stood at the door of Taiping Clinic holding two roast chickens, letting the crowds of people rushing to the early market pass by him.
He took a few deep breaths and rubbed the slightly tired look on his face with his hands.
When his expression softened, he smiled and stepped over the threshold: "Master, I'm back."
Next to the mahogany counter.
Old man Yao was playing chess with someone across the counter. He heard Chen Ji's voice and looked up. "You still remember to come back? You can come back when you want to, and leave when you want to. You can change the name of my Taiping Clinic to Taiping Inn."
At this time, the person who was playing chess with Old Man Yao turned around and said, "Doctor Chen is back. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to see you!"
Chen Ji was stunned.
The person who came was the prefect of Luocheng, Zhang Zhuo!
Zhang Zhuo was seen wearing a casual scholar's robe, a fashionable black gauze hat with a tassel, and brand new black boots, which was rare today.
The other party did not look like an official, but rather a distinguished figure who was going to a banquet.
Chen Ji handed the roast chicken to She Dengke and asked in confusion, "Why is Mr. Zhang here?"
Zhang Zhuo patted him on the shoulder affectionately and said, "The thing you made called 'cement' solved my urgent need. I came to thank you."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "Master Zhang, you don't have to thank me. I am also doing this for business."
Zhang Zhuo's face turned serious. "How can I not thank you? Do you know how many people freeze to death in Yuzhou every winter?"
"How many?"
Zhang Zhuo said, "In the 19th year of the Jianing reign, the 31 charity estates in Yuzhou collected a total of 33,421 frozen corpses. In the 20th year of the Jianing reign, a total of 33,421 bodies were collected..."
Chen Ji listened to Lord Zhang counting the number of people who froze to death every year, and he became more and more shocked. In just one state of Yuzhou, so many people froze to death every year?
Then Zhang Zhuo said, "If we can build another batch of houses before the second snow falls this year, I'm sure there won't be many deaths in Luocheng. As the governor of Luocheng, I should come and thank you in person."
Chen Ji smiled and said, "I am honored to be able to do something for the people of Luocheng."
He originally thought that after some pleasantries, Zhang Zhuo
He was about to say goodbye and leave, but unexpectedly Zhang Zhuo did not leave. Instead, he took his arm and dragged him to the chessboard: "Come, come, the prince said that you are a great chess player. Let's play a few games."
Chen Ji subconsciously looked at Old Man Yao. He always felt it was a little strange that this Mr. Zhang suddenly came to the clinic, saying that he was expressing his gratitude, but he did not bring any gifts.
After a hasty thank you, he didn't leave, but instead wanted to play chess.
If we delay a little longer, it will be lunch time, and we might have to stay for lunch.
What kind of weird and eccentric personality is this?
Seeing him coming, Old Man Yao sneered, "Master Zhang asked you to play chess, so just play. Why are you looking at me? Good thing others want to play chess with the prefect, but they haven't had this chance yet. If you make Master Zhang happy, he might even invite you to play chess with him every day."
This confused Chen Ji.
From what my master said, could it be that Zhang Zhuo came here to invite me to be a staff member in the government office?
Chen Ji stood at the counter, picking up chess pieces in his hand while thinking about how to refuse politely.
However, Zhang Zhuo did not offer to recruit him. Instead, he said slowly, "It's good for a young man to be arrogant. Others may think you're unconventional, but I think you have integrity. However, if a person loses his home, he loses his roots, like a rootless duckweed, drifting... He still needs a home."
Chen Ji frowned: "Is Master Zhang here to lobby Master Chen?"
Zhang Zhuo laughed. "Of course not. I think you're right not to return to the Chen family. The Chen family are pure and honest scholars. Everyone says they are gentlemen, but I think they are too stubborn to adapt. Take the river embankment construction, for example. Master Chen insisted on intervening in every detail, leaving no one in the family with anything to gain. In the end, the construction period was repeatedly delayed, and no one wanted to work!"
Zhang Zhuo continued, "Speaking of your Chen family, without permission from above, how dare a servant embezzle two taels of silver every month? Even if you're beaten to death, he wouldn't dare. You'd better not go back, or you'll be bullied just the same. Besides, you're getting a profit of 2,500 taels of silver from the palace every year. Wouldn't it be more comfortable to live outside the family than in the Chen Mansion? If you go back, you'll be a sucker!"
Chen Ji was completely confused by Zhang Zhuo.
Why on earth is this Mr. Zhang here?
Chen Ji was puzzled: "Then why did you come to the clinic today?"
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily and answered irrelevantly: "Playing chess."
Zhang Zhuo skipped the 'guess first' and made the first move.
Chen Ji was stunned: "Why did you make the move directly? Didn't you have to guess first?"
Zhang Zhuo laughed happily and said, "No need to guess the first move. My chess style makes it easier to win when playing Black first."
Chen Ji: “…”
The first game of the game.
Chen Ji originally thought that Zhang Zhuo was a bad chess player, but just as he showed his intention to defeat the lone dragon, he was pinned to death in the corner by Zhang Zhuo.
At first, Prince Jing needed three games to figure out Chen Ji's moves, but Zhang Zhuo only needed half a game to control Chen Ji.
Chen Ji's expression calmed down. He used the method of AlphaGo to grab the corner. As long as he saw Zhang Zhuo place two or more pieces, he would immediately rush forward without following the rules.
Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up, and he followed suit and kept pestering her.
In the eyes of literati, Go is an art that embodies the laws of nature. However, in the hands of these two people, it suddenly became a tortoise-shaped punch like that of street thugs. As long as they can win, they will do anything.
Zhang Zhuo looked up at Chen Ji and exclaimed, "He's also someone who will do anything to win. Very good, very good!"
Chen Ji was puzzled and said, "I heard Lord Zhang praising the prince's chess skills earlier, saying that he was almost the best in Central China, but I didn't expect Lord Zhang to be even better than the prince."
"Hush," Zhang Zhuo chuckled cheerfully, "What's the big deal about losing a few games? How much is face worth? If His Majesty is so happy after winning the game and agrees to my request, it will benefit hundreds of thousands of people in Luo City."
Chen Ji seemed to be lost in thought.
At this moment, there was a sound of someone climbing over the wall in the backyard. Zhang Zhuo poked his head out to look at the corridor and saw Princess Baili just stepping over the gray tile wall.
He turned around and smiled at Chen Ji: "I have a banquet to attend today, let's talk another day!"
After saying that, Zhang Zhuo got into the official sedan chair outside the door without looking back.
Chen Ji looked at Old Man Yao blankly: "What on earth is he doing here?"
…
Sorry for posting late, I'm going to sleep for a while, and then I'll write today's
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