CHAPTER 40: 38, OFFICIAL

In the Feiyun Garden, Consort Yun picked up the teacup and slowly stirred the floating tea leaves with the lid, speaking unhurriedly, "Today many people are holding their breaths waiting for you to make contact, yet not a single shadow has been seen. If there is no explanation for today’s matter, you may as well not leave the Prince Mansion."

Chen Ji quickly pondered: Why hadn’t Liu Shenyu, who was close to Princess Consort Jing, chosen to contact her instead of contacting Consort Yun?

Why did Princess Consort Jing not know of his identity as a Jing Dynasty spy?

And so on.

Suddenly, Chen Ji remembered the lead barium glass cup that had caused Princess Consort Jing to miscarry, as if there was a thread of clues guiding him in the dark to pursue the truth.

"Why don’t you answer?" Consort Yun asked in a deep voice, the dignified princess sitting on the Taishi Chair, with the python patterns on her garment seeming to gaze at Chen Ji with an intimidating presence without anger.

Chen Ji replied softly, "The Liu family had a major incident, the Spy Department’s Jiao Tu and Yun Yang almost uncovered the truth, so to be safe, our side temporarily suspended the plan."

In fact, he had gone to Zhou Chengyi’s mansion that night to inform Zhou Chengyi of the delivery date, but was killed by Yun Yang and Jiao Tu.

Chen Ji, who had come back from the dead, had no knowledge of this.

Consort Yun calmly said, "Simply canceling the agreed-upon matters at will by the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department is not enough of an explanation. Have you thought of a response yet, or would you rather go to my back garden to serve as fertilizer?"

Chen Ji suddenly said, "Having the Spy Department in Luocheng City is a threat to both our sides. Since you, my lady, are willing to show sincerity, our Military Intelligence Department should of course demonstrate our strength. The fact that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu ended up in prison today is the result of our Military Intelligence Department Si Cao’s planning. I wonder if it satisfies you, my lady?"

Consort Yun’s eyes lit up, "So the person who delivered the message was your Military Intelligence Department’s man. Who is this Si Cao, not only does he have spies planted in the Spy Department, but also has the power to infiltrate the Liu family without a trace!"

Chen Ji felt a shock in his heart; the events of the morning were known by Consort Yun in the afternoon, indicating that the Liu family maintained close communication with her.

He looked down and said, "Lord Si Cao is naturally one of the best in our Military Intelligence Department. With the Division Head assigning him here, he is naturally here to ensure the smooth cooperation between both sides."

Consort Yun’s demeanor was no longer imposing, much gentler now: "When I first met you, I saw that your Military Intelligence Department sent a green youngster to contact me, and I was somewhat neglectful of you. However, in the Late Star Garden, you proved that you are not just an idler. Very well, since every spy of the Military Intelligence Department in Luocheng City is elite, I am relieved."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ji replied, "Now that Yun Yang and Jiao Tu have been thrown into prison, taking advantage of the new head of the Spy Department not having arrived in Luocheng City yet, our transaction can proceed without fail. My lady, let’s reschedule the date and location of our transaction."

Consort Yun took a longer look at him: "Then let’s make it tomorrow night, same place as we previously agreed."

Chen Ji had no idea where the previous agreement had been made and how to communicate it to Si Cao, so he immediately said, "That won’t do, our Military Intelligence Department never carries out transactions in the same place twice... Please give a new address, Consort Yun."

"You are cautious indeed," Consort Yun thought for a moment: "This time let’s set it at the ’Golden Workshop’ in East Market Hongyi Lane. Find the old madam and say the words ’Luotian,’ and she will take you to where the goods are hidden."

At this moment, Chen Ji weighed his options carefully before finally voicing his doubts: "My lady, there’s something our Military Intelligence Department has not been able to understand."

Without having a full grasp of the situation, he would never be able to hold the initiative.

Consort Yun picked up the tea cup and gently sipped: "Please speak."

"Our investigation revealed that Liu Shenyu is Princess Consort Jing’s most cherished nephew, the only son of her own sister. Previously, we were hesitant to believe he would deliver messages on your behalf, which raised some doubts: why didn’t he contact Princess Consort Jing instead?"

Consort Yun chuckled: "Oh, my dear sister, the Liu family can’t control her, how dare they entrust great matters to her hands? Now the Liu family and I share the same interests, there’s no need for you to worry."

Chen Ji stood up: "Then I shall..."

"Hold on," said Consort Yun.

Chen Ji, puzzled: "My lady, is there anything else?"

Consort Yun smiled invitingly: "Tonight, the Princely Heir is hosting a literary gathering. Your two elder biological brothers will be attending too. How about I send a few invitations to the Medical Hall, and you and your fellow disciples can go together?"

After a moment’s thought, Chen Ji said, "There’s no need, my current identity is sensitive, I do not wish to implicate them. Today, I still need to arrange the matter of the handover of the goods, so I will take my leave."

As Chen Ji left the Feiyun Garden, he looked back one more time at the persimmon tree before turning and walking away.

...

...

On the official road of Luocheng City, a carriage was approaching from the north.

The carriage was modest, with only two attendants riding alongside, quite low-profile.

At this time, on the opposite side of the official road, a group of over a hundred riders came to meet them.

As they drew near, the officials from Henan Province could be seen stepping out of their sedan chairs and off their horses, hurriedly coming before the carriage to kneel and pay their respects: "We welcome Official Liu back to Henan Province. We failed to greet you from afar, please forgive us."

The Liu family had operated this province for hundreds of years, now holding over half of Henan Province’s farmland and tenants under their control.

No matter who came to Henan Province as an official, to collect taxes smoothly, to conscript labor, or to accumulate achievements, they all had to look to the Liu family’s favor.

Therefore, except for a very few scions of nobility who came to gain prestige, all officials knelt in welcome. Once you knelt, the officialdom of Henan Province would accept you; if not, you’d find it impossible to move forward.

Official Liu lifted the curtain and swept a listless glance over the officials kneeling on the ground, "My father has passed away, I truly have no heart to reminisce with all of you, disperse now."

With that said, the carriage slowly started to move again, an official approached the carriage closely and hurried to keep up, whispering to Official Liu behind the curtain, "Official, the eldest and second young masters are waiting at home for you."

But he heard Official Liu instruct: "I’m going to the ancestral tomb, let Liu Mingxian come see me."

The carriage made its way up to Beimang Mountain, where Official Liu stood in front of the shattered tomb, watching dozens of sturdy men carry new stone materials and pile up a new tomb.

No one knew how long he had stood there in front of the tomb.

Then, he saw Liu Mingxian, looking rushed, run up to Official Liu and kneel down: "Father!"

He didn’t speak, simply allowing his son to kneel.

Not until Liu Mingxian’s knees ached unbearably, and he couldn’t help but shift his body, did Official Liu leisurely ask, "After my death, will I too be exhumed and inspected?"

Liu Mingxian hurriedly lowered his head, "Father, it will never happen!"

Official Liu sent everyone down the mountain and then he, himself, lifted his robe and sat on a piece of stone, speaking slowly, "Liu Mingxian, today for what you call the ’great cause,’ you killed your grandfather, how do I know that tomorrow for the ’great cause,’ you won’t kill me as well?"

The mountain top was silent with no one around, Liu Mingxian lay prostrate on the ground, silent.

Official Liu rebuked, "Speak!"

Liu Mingxian quickly explained, "Father, it was not my intention, originally I planned to use grandfather’s death to force back the Spy Department, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are only good at killing but are brainless, I thought they would retreat if scared, who would’ve thought that they actually found Liu Shenyu’s evidence of guilt."

"Then why did you kill your grandfather?"

"We received intelligence that the Spy Department was on their way to exhume for examination, if they found the coffin empty, our Liu Family would have been guilty of deceiving the sovereign! So, I found ’Mandala Flower’ for grandfather to consume, only needing him to feign death for a short while in the coffin; who would have thought that grandfather, being so aged, could not withstand the potency of Mandala and passed away."

Official Liu was furiously angry, "Not telling the truth yet? It’s clear that your grandfather did not support your collusion with the Jing Dynasty, so you took this opportunity, to go all out and have him killed! Liu Mingxian, you are far too unscrupulous, I never would have thought that I, indeed, have raised a man-eating wolf for the Liu Family!"

Liu Mingxian suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with ferocity, "Father, since ascending to the throne, His Majesty has been scheming to eliminate our Liu Family. First, he used the Donglin Party to issue impeachment through the Imperial Censors, and now he incites the Eunuch Party to frame and slander us; he won’t rest until he has removed us!"

"Father, twenty years ago, our Liu Family’s people filled the court, and now, can we even maintain our positions in Henan Province? You are not unaware that the Chen family sent Chen Liqin as the Prefect, and that old fox Xu Gong sent his son-in-law Zhang Zhuo as the Luocheng City Prefect. These two are colluding and have vowed to scrutinize the fields and tenants of our Liu Family."

"Father, this is my last stand, if I continue to sit idle, the Liu Family’s centuries-old foundation will be gone, Father!"

The wind on the mountain brought a thin mist, and Official Liu sat amidst this mist somewhat desolate, "Each and every one of you refuses to listen to me, why then do you still call me father."

"I’ve told your aunt, His Majesty is naturally intelligent and has understood the art of rule since childhood; he cannot be controlled. But your aunt wouldn’t listen, from His Majesty’s ascension at eleven years old, she’s been holding onto court affairs, preventing His Majesty from ruling in person. His Majesty endured for six years and suffered much, how could he not hate our Liu Family?"

"Because he hates us, we have no way out, but if it really comes to a fight, it’s not certain that we can’t win! This world, is not the sole province of the Zhu family!" Liu Mingxian said fiercely.

Suddenly, Official Liu became disheartened, "Enough, enough, I’ll just ask you one last question, when you gave your sister that glass cup, did you know it would cause her to lose her child?"

Liu Mingxian shook his head in denial, "I had no idea, the cup was exquisitely beautiful, and I thought my sister would like it, that’s why I gave it to her."

"Still lying!" Official Liu kicked him to the ground.

Liu Mingxian no longer knelt on the ground, but stood up and dusted off the dust from his blue official robe, smoothing it out, "Father, ever since she married into the Prince Mansion, her heart has been only with Prince Jing, what place was there for the Liu Family? All she ever cared about was bearing a child for Prince Jing. I wanted her to work for the Liu Family, but she refused, so I crushed that hope of hers!"

"You are too cruel!"

"Father, am I as cruel as the Eunuch Party? If I weren’t cruel, how could I compete with them?"

"You..." Official Liu had words at his lips but didn’t know how to express them.

He sat on the stone, silent for an unknown period, eventually letting out a light sigh, "Today, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu were clapped in irons and put into prison, who tipped you off?"

Liu Mingxian saw his father’s softened tone and his face brightened up; he knew his father held a high position and wouldn’t act on emotion.

He respectfully said, "I don’t know, I’m investigating, the purpose of the other party has not been ascertained."

Official Liu’s expression turned serious, "Whether friend or foe, with such a person nearby, I cannot sleep peacefully. Find out quickly. I will dispatch people from Yanshi to you for coordination, and you must use these few individuals wisely, put away your arrogance."

"Understood."

Official Liu waved his hand, "Go, I am weary."

Liu Mingxian turned and descended the mountain, leaving Official Liu alone on the mountaintop.

Like a candle in the wind, the old man slowly stood up, leaning on the coffin in front of him, "Father, it’s been a long time since you’ve stepped out of the Liu Family Mansion to see the world."