129. Study Tour
At night in Los Angeles, the distant and old voice of the night watchman could be heard: "It's freezing cold, be careful on the slippery roads."
Yinshi is the time to get up.
If they were in the capital, the important officials of the court would have gathered in front of the Wenyuan Pavilion inside the Donghua Gate, breathing out white air, waiting outside the door for orders from the elders.
Chen Ji opened the curtain and looked at the hazy sky and mist outside the car window, thinking that he had to rush back to Anxi Street as soon as possible, otherwise he would be late for school again today.
He gently lowered the curtain. Inside the swaying carriage, Jin Zhu was slowly reminiscing, "One year, the assassination of the Minister of Revenue caused a sensation. His Majesty gave the Dali Temple seven days to apprehend the culprit. If they couldn't solve the case, all officials above the fifth rank in the Dali Temple would be demoted three ranks, and all officials below the fifth rank would be dismissed and sent home, never to be employed again."
"The capital at that time seemed to be immersed in an ice river. No one dared to breathe when walking on the street, for fear that the cold air would rush into their bodies if they opened their mouths. Unfortunately, the case was never solved in the end. It was not until the news came back that Lu Jin was promoted to a higher position in the Jing Dynasty that everyone knew what had happened. It was truly a difficult winter."
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As he spoke, he looked at Shopkeeper Yuan with a deep gaze: "Back then, so many Dali Temple secretaries, Sizhi, and city inspectors were all unable to come up with any clues. Now, after so many years, it's extremely difficult for us to find out anything."
Shopkeeper Yuan said, "Master Jinzhu, if I were lucky enough to become a Hidden Dragon of the Secret Service, I would definitely find out the identity of Sister Lu Jin. I believe she has not returned to the Jing Dynasty. Otherwise, with Lu Jin's status and position, she would not have to hide at all."
Jin Zhu laughed cheerfully and said, "Then why do you think she didn't return to Jing Dynasty? Maybe she's dead!"
Shopkeeper Yuan said, "If she is dead, with Lu Jin's means, he can naturally recover her body. If she is not dead, then there are only two things that can keep a woman: love and a child."
The Golden Pig clapped his hands with interest. "That makes sense, but does that mean you don't have any clues or ideas now?"
Shopkeeper Yuan nodded: "Yes."
Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Sir, if nothing happens here..."
Before he could say anything, Jin Zhu changed the subject and asked Shopkeeper Yuan, "Let's not talk about Sister Lu Jin for now. Let's talk about tonight. I think Shopkeeper Yuan still has some reservations, right?"
Shopkeeper Yuan's expression froze. "What do you mean, sir? I've said everything I need to say."
Golden Pig smiled and said, "It's true that you sold out all your colleagues in Luo City, but the highest-ranking official you betrayed was only a minor county clerk. There's still 18,000 taels missing from the accounts of Luo City's Bailu Pavilion. May I ask where this money went?"
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Shopkeeper Yuan sighed, "Master Jinzhu is amazing. He sorted out the accounts of Bailu Pavilion so quickly."
Golden Pig waved his hand: "It's not that I'm great, but my Imperial Household Department has the most powerful accountant in the entire Ning Dynasty."
Shopkeeper Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Sir, change the route and go to Tongji Street."
The Golden Pig patted the wall of the car and said, "Xifeng, go to Tongji Street."
Then, Manager Yuan said, "Sir, the Military Intelligence Department's internal accounts are the trump card I kept for myself after joining the Secret Service. They contain evidence and accounts of Bailu Pavilion, Hongxiu Zhao, and Mingquan Garden bribing officials from all over Yuzhou, including high-ranking officials in Luocheng. I am now handing them all over to you, Sir. I hope you can provide more support in the future."
Jin Zhu smiled and said, "Okay, okay. By the way, Chen Ji, what were you about to say just now?"
Chen Ji, who had originally planned to say goodbye, sat quietly in the car again. He shook his head: "It's okay..."
Are they high-ranking officials in Los Angeles? The number of people who could be considered high-ranking officials in Los Angeles is limited to a handful: Zhang Zhuo, Chen Liqin, and Liu Mingxian.
You can't leave at this time.
The carriage quietly drove into Tongji Street, where wealthy merchants gathered. Even at this time when daybreak was approaching, the faint sounds of duck laughter and erotic music could still be heard from some merchants' homes.
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The Golden Pig sneered, "We're fighting to the death just to protect a bunch of bastards like you."
The carriage arrived in front of an elegant mansion.
Shopkeeper Yuan said, "This is it. The account books are hidden inside."
The Golden Pig looked at him silently, then stretched out his hand and casually pushed the door, breaking the latch inside.
However, he did not go in through the main door, but walked to the side, jumped up lightly, squatted steadily on the eaves and looked inside.
.
There was no plot, no ambush, and the mansion was empty.
Shopkeeper Yuan said with a smile, "Master Jinzhu, now that I have decided to abandon evil and join the good, I will no longer do useless things."
The Golden Pigskin said with a wry smile, "Better safe than sorry. I'm not doubting you, it's just a habit."
"clear!"
The Golden Pig escorted the shopkeeper Yuan into the courtyard. The courtyard was not very big, but it had everything including rockery and a fish pond. There were more than ten koi carps swimming in the pond.
Shopkeeper Yuan limped over to find an iron pickaxe and smashed it hard at a rockery.
With a clang, the rockery broke apart, revealing a box hidden inside. The box was half a person's height. Xifeng opened it and saw that it was full of account books.
Shopkeeper Yuan said, "Zhang Zhuo, the prefect of Luocheng, received four thousand taels of silver, Liu Mingxian, the deputy magistrate of Luocheng, received two thousand taels of silver, and Chengqian, the deputy magistrate of Luocheng, received two thousand taels of silver. In addition, there are also the prefect of Kaifeng and the magistrate of Zheng County."
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Jin Zhu subconsciously glanced at Chen Ji, then looked at Shopkeeper Yuan and frowned, "Chen Liqin, the co-magistrate of Luocheng, is a man of integrity. How could he accept bribes from you? Are you wrongly accusing me?"
Shopkeeper Yuan laughed heartily. "You're joking, sir. All crows are evil. Looking at the Ning Dynasty and the Jing Dynasty, there are officials who don't accept bribes. But this Lord Chen never shows up in person, always having his servants collect the bribes. The account book clearly records when, where, and to whom the bribes were given, and the box is also marked."
Golden Pig winked at Xifeng, who immediately lit a fire in the yard.
Just as Manager Yuan was puzzled, the Golden Pig tore off the paper that Chen Liqin had left behind and casually threw it into the brazier, saying calmly, "Chen Liqin is an upright and honest man. He has never accepted bribes from you. Do you understand?"
Shopkeeper Yuan was startled for a moment, then smiled and said, "I understand, I understand."
But before the yellowed paper fell into the brazier, a thin hand caught it steadily, folded it and put it in his arms.
Chen Ji looked at Jin Zhu and said, "Sir, I'll keep this piece of paper."
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Jin Zhu thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, you're even more ruthless than I thought. Others are like fathers controlling their sons, but you, the son, want to control me instead."
Chen Ji looked at the account book in Jin Zhu's hand again: "Sir, the page about Zhang Zhuo."
The Golden Pig laughed heartily. "When I heard about you and Miss Zhang Er in Yingxian Tower earlier, I really thought it was a rumor. But later, when I sent an informant to investigate, I discovered that Master Zhang Zhu was just trying to buy time. With such a relationship, of course I have to do you a favor and help cover up a few things."
As he said this, he actually tore off the page about Zhang Zhuo.
Chen Ji didn't say anything. Just as he was about to reach out to take it, Jin Zhu suddenly withdrew his hand and solemnly warned him, "We are brothers now. I can naturally cover up some things for you, but I have only one request."
"Please speak, sir."
"Practice well."
The Golden Pig said seriously, "Only if you become an official sooner can you do more for me sooner."
Chen Ji bowed and said, "Don't worry, sir. I will practice diligently when I return."
The Golden Pig coughed and said, "Rest well first, then practice well."
Chen Ji nodded: "I understand."
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Jin Zhu slapped the piece of paper into Chen Ji's hand, and Chen Ji calmly threw the paper into the brazier.
The firelight cast a warm glow on his cheek.
He remembered Zhang Zhuo saying in the city gate, "I have great ambitions. Can you help me?"
This can be considered as helping.
At this time, the night watchman's gong sounded outside the yard: "The morning cock crows, early to bed and early to rise."
At the hour of Mao, the sun rises.
A hint of white appeared in the distant sky, and the clouds dispersed.
Chen Ji asked, "Sir, is there anything else you need me for today?"
The Golden Pig smiled and said, "That's all, that's all. Go back and have a good sleep. When you wake up, you can think of a way to enter the path of cultivation. If nothing important happens in the next few days, I won't come looking for you."
"I'll take my leave."
Chen Ji walked outside, and when he was out of the yard, he suddenly ran wildly.
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There was an ox cart parked in front of Zhixing Academy on West Street. A driver wearing a straw hat was bending down and grabbing a handful of grass to feed it into the mouth of an old ox.
There were some luggage on the long cart, as if the car was going on a long journey.
Next to the ox cart, Bai Li stood on tiptoe and looked towards the end of the long street, looking for a familiar figure.
The prince leaned against the door frame and said lazily, "This Anxi Street is so far visible that you can see the end at a glance. Even if you stand on tiptoe, you can't see any further."
Bai Li said angrily, "Liu Quxing said Chen Ji went out yesterday afternoon and hasn't come back yet. Aren't you worried that something might have happened to him?"
The prince yawned. "I'm used to this kid being so mysterious all the time. With his skills, even the spies can't do anything to him. What could possibly happen to him? Don't worry, he'll be here soon."
Bai Li said, "The key is that he hasn't received the news that Mr. Wang is going to take us to Luhun Mountain Villa for a study tour, and the luggage hasn't been prepared yet."
While the two were talking, Zhang Xia came out of the academy and asked curiously, "Is Chen Ji late again?"
Bai Li rolled his eyes at her and said, "He must have been delayed by something."
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Chen Wenxiao also walked out the door. "He had things to do yesterday, and he has things to do today. He's just an apprentice in a clinic, how could he have such important things to do every day? As his friends, you should also advise him. Since he has the opportunity to study with Mr. Wang, he should cherish it."
Mr. Wang, dressed in a blue Confucian robe, slowly walked out of the door and asked calmly, "Has Chen Ji not arrived yet?"
Bai Li was a little embarrassed: "Sir, Chen Ji must have been delayed by something. He definitely wasn't late on purpose."
Chen Wenxiao bowed and said, "Sir, if not, then we shouldn't wait for him. With the speed of the oxcart, if we're delayed for too long, we might not be able to stop in Yichuan County before sunset. Besides, this boy is stubborn and unrepentant, so there's no need to waste time on him."
Chen Wenzong frowned: "Shut up."
Mr. Wang's expression remained unchanged. He simply said, "As a teacher, I am a tireless teacher. How can I give up on my student just because he is naughty for a while? Let's wait a little longer."
After saying that, he put his hands behind his back and waited quietly.
The sound of running was heard in the distance. Everyone looked and saw Chen Ji appear at the end of the long street, running wildly.
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When Chen Ji arrived at the gate of the academy, he bent over with his hands on his knees, panting heavily and said, "Sir, I'm sorry, I'm late."
Mr. Wang did not immediately blame him, but said to Bai Li, "Go, get him a glass of water."
Bai Li ran into the backyard like the wind, and when he ran out, he held a wooden cup in front of Chen Ji and said, "Hurry up and drink some water."
Mr. Wang said casually, "You were running so fast just now, don't drink it directly, just rinse your mouth and it will be fine. In the early years, when I was suppressing a rebellion in Jiangzhou, a soldier under my command died after drinking water during a forced march."
Chen Ji stood up straight and rinsed his mouth.
Mr. Wang didn't ask anything this time, but simply instructed, "The rest of the people will take the car, and you will follow behind on foot."
After saying that, he got on the ox cart without looking back.
Chen Ji looked at Bai Li and asked in surprise, "Where are we going?"
Bai Li explained, "Songxian Luhun Villa is hosting a literary gathering. The high monks of Tuoluo Temple, Taoist priests from Laojun Mountain, and some scholars from the south will all be in attendance. Mr. Wang wants to take us there to see what it's like."
She took out a small cloth bag from her luggage and handed it to Chen Ji: "You haven't had breakfast yet. This is the snack I brought with you. Hurry up and eat it. We have to walk over 40 miles to Yichuan County today. You can't go hungry."
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "I have to tell Mr. Wang that I may not be able to study with him anymore."
Bai Li was stunned for a moment: "That's fine. If you really don't like studying the scriptures, then you don't have to study."
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Chen Ji walked towards the oxcart, but the driver suddenly stepped forward and pulled him aside. "Kid, hold on a little longer. The Ministry of Revenue will approve the money soon. Once the border troops have cotton gloves, it won't be too late for you to drop out of school."
Chen Ji and Bai Li finally saw the driver's face clearly under his straw hat and exclaimed in surprise, "Dad."
"Your Majesty?"
End of this chapter.
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