191. Cunning
Yamen, candlelight, chess game.
Chen Ji placed the black piece and made a brilliant move.
Bai Long looked at this brilliant move and fell into deep thought.
This was the first time he had thought for more than ten breaths. After this move, he felt that although Chen Ji had given up a corner, he had revitalized the overall situation.
Bai Long smiled and said, "It seems I can't play fast chess with you. Life's enlightenment sometimes takes a moment, sometimes it takes a lifetime. How many people are confused and still haven't figured out what they want to do with their lives until they are in their eighties? Congratulations, it seems you have figured it out."
Chen Ji remained calm, "Lord Bailong, your compliment is too great. I haven't really figured it out yet. But you, sir, have the right path to becoming a Jinshi, so why did you choose to join the Secret Service?"
Bai Long looked up at him and said, "How dare you ask about my background? How disrespectful! If you do it again, I'll hang you from the beam and beat you."
Chen Ji didn't take this to heart. Now he realized that this white dragon was moody, but as long as you were still useful to him, you would be fine.
He thought for a moment and asked, "Just now the master said he had something to tell me. I wonder what it is. Do you want to capture Han Tong?"
"There's no rush to capture Han Tong. Now that he's slipped into the river, it's hard to find him. We'll have to wait and see." Bai Long looked at the chessboard and asked slowly, "How much do you know about Chen Luchi, the head of the Chen family?"
Chen Ji's heart trembled. The next target of the Secret Service is the Chen family?
Bai Long glanced at him and said, "Why, the Chen family doesn't even know about their own family affairs?"
Chen Ji said softly, "The head of the family is suspicious, moody, and stubborn. He has the final say in the Chen family and has the final say in all Chen furniture."
Bai Long was amused: "Where is Chen Lizun, the eldest son of the first wife?"
Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "He is weak and incompetent. He was able to reach the position of Director of the Ministry of Revenue only because of the protection of the Chen family. His status in the family is not high. The eldest branch of the family is ruled by his first wife, Wang."
"Chen Lizhi, the second son of the second wife?"
"On the surface, he appears kind and gentle, but in reality, he is sinister and cunning. He manages the Chen family's property, land, and family business. He also secretly runs a brothel and a gambling house, doing a profiteering business."
The so-called lamb interest is usury. If you lend out ten taels of silver, you have to pay back twenty taels next year, otherwise your family will be destroyed and your wife and children will be separated.
This kind of business cannot be done openly and can only be done behind the scenes by white gloves.
Bai Long's questioning helped Chen Ji escape danger.
In order to conceal his identity as a foreigner, he had carefully read the case files related to the Chen family in the inner prison, and they came in handy now.
However, Bai Long changed the subject: "Where is Chen Yu?"
Chen Ji hesitated... Chen Yu?
He had never heard of this person's name. There was no record of him even in the Secret Service's archives. Why would Bai Long suddenly ask about him?
How should I answer this? Should I know him, or shouldn't I?
According to Chen family custom, legitimate sons of the same generation had three-character names, such as Chen Liqin's "Li" (Li), which represented their generation. Illegitimate sons did not have this generation character, so they had two-character names.
Chen Yu must be a bastard of the Chen family, but I don't know where he is.
Which room is it from?
If Chen Ji and Chen Yu were familiar with each other, they must have exchanged letters with each other, but after such a long time, he had never seen each other's letters.
Chen Ji pondered for a moment and said, "Master Bailong, I am not familiar with this person."
"Not familiar?" Bai Long looked at Chen Ji. "Really? I thought you two entered the Chen Family Academy in the same year, so you should have known each other."
Chen Ji said calmly, "Sir, who dares to say they really understand anyone these days?"
"Indeed," Bai Long stood up and paced around the yamen. "I won't ask any more about your father's lineage in the third house. The first thing I want you to do is return to the Chen family."
Chen Ji was stunned. Going back to the Chen family?
Bai Long smiled and said, "I know you've said many times that you want to sever ties with the Chen family. But, how can there be any blood ties that can be severed in this world? I'm sure Master Chen will be overjoyed to have you return to the Chen family."
Chen Ji stood up and said, "Master Bailong has given an order, and I will obey it without any hesitation."
Bai Long laughed heartily. "The relationship between father and son has always been complicated. They are like ruler and subject, like friends, and like enemies. Only when your father lies on his deathbed, he is truly a father and son. I will not ask about the affairs between you two. It is time to let go of some of the grudges in the past and put the overall situation first."
Chen Ji lowered his head: "I understand."
With his head lowered, his eyes flickered.
Bai Long was absolutely right. The ordinary relationship between father and son was indeed difficult to break and sort out, but he happened to be from the forty-ninth heaven and had nothing to do with Chen Liqin.
But Bailong didn't know this.
The reason why Bai Long didn't kill him was not only because of Binghu's face, but also because the other party had wanted to take advantage of his Chen family identity for a long time.
When ordinary people play chess, they are considered masters if they can look three steps ahead before taking one step. But Bailong is different. He can look ten or even a hundred steps ahead before taking one step.
At this time, Bai Long smiled and said, "But you also need to understand that back at Prince Jing's mansion, Lord Chen didn't protect you, he only protected Chen Wenxiao. From now on, don't take family ties too seriously. You only need to serve His Majesty and the Minister of Internal Affairs, and don't worry about anything else."
Chen Ji humbly said, "As you command. But, Lord Bailong, why do you want me to return to the Chen family?"
Bai Long stood beside the desk, tapping his fingers on it. "After the Lantern Festival, Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao will be heading to the capital to take the imperial examinations. Chen Liqin's transfer order is also on the way. Chen Luchi wants to transfer him back to the capital to be the Junior Scholar of the Zhanshi Mansion, to serve in the Eastern Palace and assist the Crown Prince. If you return to the Chen family, you can naturally follow them back to the capital."
The Zhanshi Mansion is an institution responsible for serving the prince. The young Zhanshi is a fourth-rank official. After Chen Liqin's experience in Luocheng, his rank was promoted instead of demoted, and he rose rapidly to the top.
Bai Long looked at the night sky outside the government office and said, "Chen Ji, the capital is a truly dangerous place. Be cautious and careful in everything you do. Only by staying alive and protecting yourself can you do more."
Chen Ji was puzzled: "But sir, I am only the third son of a concubine. Even if I return to the Chen family and the capital, I am afraid that I will not be welcomed and will not be able to find out the core secrets of the Chen family."
Bai Long was happy: "I don't expect you to find out anything in the short term, go in first.
Stay here, I'll naturally assign you a job once we get to the capital."
Chen Ji asked calmly, "Sir, the Chen family is a noble family and would not associate with us."
Bai Long smiled and said, "Not many people know your identity as Hai Dong Qing. Some are dead, some are captured, and some are gone. I think Lord Chen is still in the dark. Don't worry, I will pass on the details and help you cover up a little bit."
At this time, footsteps were heard outside the door, and secret spies escorted the remnants of the Liu family into the yamen, a total of 47 people.
Chen Ji asked, "Sir, are all the remaining members of the Liu family going to be killed?"
Bai Long was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: "There are hundreds of thousands of people in the Liu family's side branches. If I kill them all, I will have nightmares in the middle of the night. Capture those who are outside the fifth generation and interrogate them. If there is no problem, release them."
"Um."
Bai Long waved at Chen Ji and said, "Go back and rest. The past is forgotten. Follow me from now on. I will take care of the princess' affairs for you and will not let her suffer."
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment: "Sir, can I go visit the princess?"
Bai Long laughed and scolded, "Don't push your luck in front of me. I'm not killing you because I value your talent. You're still very useful to me. Get lost."
Chen Ji bowed and said, "Yes."
Before leaving, Bai Long called out to him, "Chen Ji."
Chen Ji turned around and asked: "What are your instructions, sir?"
Bai Long said calmly, "If you want to succeed, you must be cunning and not let others see through you easily. Those who can't give up anything can't change anything."
Chen Ji was stunned for a moment, then replied, "I'll remember that."
"Go ahead."
When leaving the yamen, Chen Ji suddenly stopped in his tracks, because among the captured remnants of the Liu family, there was a familiar figure... Liu Quxing.
The snow in the courtyard was in a mess. Liu Quxing and his family had their hands tied and were detained in a crowd of people.
Liu Quxing hid timidly behind his mother. He accidentally looked up and saw Chen Ji coming out of the yamen. His eyes immediately turned red and he staggered towards him.
But Liu Quxing came up to him, spat on Chen Ji's face, lowered his voice, and roared from the bottom of his throat: "Are you also involved in the frame-up of Prince Jing's Mansion? Beast! Princess Wan and the Prince treated you like that, you are worse than a beast!"
Liu Quxing started to cry as he continued to curse: "What's wrong with this world? What's wrong with you all?"
Chen Ji stood there, standing in the heavy snow. He didn't say anything, nor did he raise his hand to wipe the saliva off his face.
The spy in charge of detaining the remnants of the Liu family was shocked when he saw Liu Quxing spitting on Chen Ji's face. He quickly ran over to grab Liu Quxing and said, "Sir, I deserve to die!"
Chen Ji wiped his saliva with his sleeve and said, "I know this man well. His family has never participated in the Liu family's rebellion. Let him go."
The spy was surprised: "Sir?"
Chen Ji looked at him calmly: "My words are not working well?"
The spy lowered his head: "Yes."
Chen Ji didn't even glance at Liu Quxing again, striding into the heavy snow. Later, he no longer liked the snow, nor did he look forward to the nights and days.
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