119. The Third Child of the Chen Family
Zhang Zhuo?
Chen Liqin?
The Liu family is going to take action against these two people? These two are officials appointed by the imperial court!
In the dark cell, the flame of the oil lamp on the wall suddenly stopped.
Shopkeeper Yuan lay flat on the table and let the spy bandage his wound, and the spy's movements slowly stopped.
Jin Zhu, who had been leaning over Manager Yuan's ear, subconsciously stood up and looked at Chen Ji with wide eyes: "They want to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin? How about I send some secret agents to protect them? After all, Master Chen is you..."
Chen Ji's right hand suddenly pressed on Manager Yuan's wound. In an instant, Manager Yuan's screams resounded throughout the inner prison, suppressing all other sounds.
After a moment, Chen Ji slowly asked, "What did the Liu family say?"
Shopkeeper Yuan panted and said, "Liu Mingxian said with certainty that after tomorrow, only the Liu family will be in Yuzhou, and no one else will interfere."
Chen Ji asked again: "Did he tell me the specific plan?"
Shopkeeper Yuan's face turned pale: "Why should I tell you?"
"I think you are talking nonsense," Chen Ji pressed on the wound on Manager Yuan's thigh with an expressionless face. The bleeding that had stopped originally broke open again, and Manager Yuan screamed violently.
Just as he was about to open the wound again to search for the aorta, Jin Zhu pulled Chen Ji's arm out of the cell and said in a low voice, "I know you're eager to save your father, but you haven't learned any torture techniques, so you won't use any restraint. You must not kill such an important prisoner."
Chen Ji was silent.
He didn't care about Chen Liqin's life or death at all, he just wanted to take the opportunity to "accidentally" kill Manager Yuan to avoid implicating Concubine Chu Yun and himself. But now that Jin Zhu stopped him in time, he had no chance.
Chen Ji could only sigh: "Sir, I was too impatient."
Golden Pig chuckled. "When I heard you were severing ties with Chen Jiaen, I was puzzled. How could someone truly sever blood ties? I bet you were just speaking in anger, mad at your father for sending you to the Taiping Medical Clinic as an apprentice."
Chen Ji hummed.
Jin Zhu patted Chen Ji's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. I promise I won't let anything happen to Lord Chen. I've just thought carefully about it. The Liu family does have the ability to kill Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin in Yuzhou, but they will never break off relations with the court right now. So all the Liu family needs to do is drive them away and not kill them."
"What will the Liu family do?"
"Framed."
Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu and said, "Your Excellency is saying that the Liu family wants to frame Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin and force them to transfer to other official positions...Does your Excellency know what these two gentlemen are planning tonight?"
The Golden Pig immediately replied, "Today we are going to host a Luming Banquet for all the newly-appointed candidates."
There were two banquets during the imperial examinations: the first was the Luming Banquet after the Autumn Examination, which was held to entertain the newly-appointed successful candidates; the second was the Qionglin Banquet after the Palace Examination, which was held to entertain the newly-appointed successful candidates. This was an old custom of the Ning Dynasty that had lasted for hundreds of years.
Chen Ji asked, "Where will the Luming Banquet be held?"
"Yingxian Tower," Jinzhu called to Xifeng, striding out with great strides. "Let's go to Yingxian Tower now. Tonight, we must not only protect Lord Chen, but also find evidence against the Liu family! If they dare to frame an official appointed by the imperial court, not only will our Secret Service have no place for the Liu family, but the imperial court, the Xu family, and the Chen family as well!"
Chen Ji glanced at Jin Zhu's back, then looked silently at Manager Yuan.
The golden pig stopped and looked back, his eyes piercing the long, dark corridor. "Let's go, what are you standing there for?"
"Here I come."
…
…
The original name of Yingxian Tower was Fuguifang.
On the grand opening day, a crane flew from the west and landed on the orange glazed tiles on the roof.
Therefore, the owner temporarily asked a craftsman to build a stone crane and placed it in front of the door, and changed the name to Yingxian Tower.
at this time.
There were crowds of carriages and horses in front of Yingxian Tower, and people bowing and greeting in an endless stream.
Chen Liqin and Zhang Zhuo, wearing bright red official robes, stood out among the blue-robed officials.
As the candidates entered the building and took their seats, Zhang Zhuo leaned over to Chen Liqin's ear and whispered, "Chen Ji has already agreed to let Prince Jing study at Zhixing Academy, but your little tricks have been exposed by Princess Baili. In my opinion, the simplest solution is to beat your housekeeper to death with a stick to vent his anger. Why go through all this trouble? That housekeeper is not a good person!"
Chen Liqin glanced at Zhang Zhuo and said, "My steward has been working diligently for over ten years. Even if he hasn't achieved any credit, he has certainly worked hard. Master Zhang talks about fighting and killing all the time. It's a disgrace to the society."
Zhang Zhuo said angrily, "Do you really think that just because the three brothers study in the same school, they will rekindle their brotherhood and remember your kindness? You might as well go to the City God Temple or Laojun Mountain to burn incense and pray for the Taoist God to appear!"
Chen Liqin's face darkened. "As long as he can learn some real skills and knowledge, I, as a father, will have done something for him. As for whether he remembers my kindness or not, that's his business."
Zhang Zhuo laughed angrily.
He flicked his sleeves and turned to walk into the building: "Just don't forget our agreement!"
Outside the back door of Yingxian Tower, the golden pig wearing a bamboo hat knocked gently on the door.
Xifeng opened the wooden door from the inside and welcomed Jin Zhu and Chen Ji in. "Sir, we have set up a tight net around us. If the Liu family comes to cause trouble, they will never return."
The Golden Pig sneered and walked forward into the Yingxian Tower: "You are quite a boaster. If you are so powerful, what do you need me for?"
Xifeng muttered softly, "You were calling me Sizhu yesterday..."
The Golden Pig turned around suddenly and said, "What the hell are you mumbling about? You're definitely not saying anything good!"
Xifeng quickly smiled and said, "It's alright, sir, you are wise and brave!"
Jin Zhu sneered and led Chen Ji into Yingxian Tower, hiding behind a pillar and observing silently.
In the hall, over thirty candidates sat at round tables, toasting and drinking together in a lively atmosphere. At the main table, the top five candidates for the Autumn Examination sat beside Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin, surprisingly sitting higher than the other officials.
During the banquet, an official raised his glass, stood up, and said to Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin with a smile, "I haven't congratulated you two yet."
Zhang Zhuo was stunned for a moment: "Master Xing, what kind of good news is this? My son didn't take the imperial examination."
The blue-robed official smiled and said, "The other day, Miss Zhang II said at the polo match that you were going to marry her off to the young master of the Chen Mansion. That's absolutely true. Now that you two are serving in the same mansion, and your two families are happily married, it's double happiness."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Yingxian Tower suddenly became quiet. The candidates looked silently towards the main table, and when they glanced at Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, they were all envious.
Lord Xing's gaze shifted between Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao, and he asked curiously, "My Lords, I wonder which young man Miss Zhang is betrothed to?"
Before Chen Liqin could speak, Chen Wenxiao smiled and said, "It's not us two brothers. The one Mr. Zhang likes is my third son."
Jinzhu slowly looked at Chen Ji from behind the pillar. Isn’t this the third son of the Chen family?
Chen Ji ignored his gaze and just listened with his head down.
Someone at the table whispered, "The third son of the Chen family? Is he the gambler who was sent to the clinic?"
"Shh, don't let Master Chen hear it!"
"I wonder why Master Zhang didn't marry his daughter to Chen Wenzong, or even Chen Wenxiao."
The Golden Pig looked at Chen Ji silently.
He saw Chen Ji just standing quietly behind the pillar, as if what was being discussed at the table had nothing to do with him.
The next moment, Chen Liqin said, "This is a misunderstanding. Master Zhang Zhuo only mentioned it twice as a joke. We didn't
Seriously. My son is naughty and unworthy of Miss Zhang Er."
Lord Xing froze, his hand holding up his wine glass, and asked awkwardly, "Then why is Miss Zhang..."
Zhang Zhuo smiled and explained, "She simply overheard my conversation with Lord Chen and mistakenly believed that we had already settled the matter. Little girls, like to believe everything they hear, went out and spread rumors, causing a misunderstanding. I hope everyone will stop spreading rumors."
Lord Xing sat back down awkwardly: "I see, I see."
However, Zhang Zhuo changed the subject and said with interest, "But I think you have misunderstood that kid Chen Ji. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. I have met him several times, and I personally think he is not as despicable as you all say. Not only me, but now even Prince Jing praises him highly. I guess there must have been some misunderstanding before."
Chen Liqin looked at Zhang Zhuo in surprise.
Behind the pillar, the Golden Pig lowered his voice and said cheerfully, "Neither your father nor your brother has ever spoken up for you, but this Lord Zhang and I share the same heroic views! Ignore them, practice hard, and make meritorious contributions. Once you ascend to the Twelve Zodiac Signs, it will be easy to confiscate their homes and exterminate their entire families!"
Chen Ji looked at the golden pig with a complicated expression, not knowing how to react...
…
…
The moon is at three o'clock.
The candles and lamps in Yingxian Tower were changed again and again, and the new scholars competed to recite poems and write couplets to show off their style in front of Zhang Zhuo.
However, everything was safe and sound, and the storm that Chen Ji and Jin Zhu were waiting for did not come.
Seeing that the Lu Ming Banquet was about to end, if the Liu family did not do something, they might not have another chance.
Jin Zhu's legs were numb from standing behind the pillar, and he wondered, "Damn it, has the news leaked out again?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "No, Xifeng is keeping a close eye on the spies and not allowing them to leave. No one can tip off the secrets."
Jin Zhu leaned against the pillar and rubbed his temples: "Could it be that the Jingchao thief is deceiving us?"
Chen Ji closed his eyes and thought.
wrong.
Manager Yuan was not lying. At that moment, the other party was trying to gain the trust of the Secret Service to save their lives. How could he deceive them on such a small matter?
But what exactly does the Liu family want to do?
What could the Liu family do to force Zhang Zhuo and Chen Liqin to leave Yuzhou in disgrace?
The Golden Pig said, "They are about to leave, so let's leave too."
"no."
"Um?"
In the darkness behind the pillar, Chen Ji suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Jin Zhu: "This is not the place where the Liu family is going to take action!"
Golden Pig was surprised: "Huh?"
Chen Ji asked, "Sir, may I bring the royal banner?"
Jin Zhu shook his head. "How can you carry something like that with you? If you lose it, you'll lose your head. Wait, why are you asking this..."
Chen Ji took a deep breath.
He pulled a gray cloth from his sleeve and covered his face with it. He lowered the brim of his bamboo hat and quickly came to Zhang Zhuo's side. "Master Zhang, my Secret Service needs assistance. Please come with us."
Zhang Zhuo narrowed his eyes slightly. "Secret Service? I'm a fifth-rank prefect of the current dynasty. If you ask me to assist you, I'll assist you."
Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then said solemnly to Zhang Zhuo, "Don't worry, Master Zhang. We are not trying to take you to the inner prison, but we need your assistance. If we miss this opportunity, tens of thousands of refugees outside the city will die, and your promising future will be ruined."
Zhang Zhuo listened to Chen Ji's voice and suddenly looked suspicious.
He stared into Chen Ji's eyes, and Chen Ji did not retreat or avoid.
Finally, Zhang Zhuo calmly stood up, smoothed the wrinkles on his red official robe with his hands, and said calmly: "I will go with you."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
