CHAPTER 424: 333. A PLACE TO STAND_2

Chen Ji hunched over to remind, "Your Majesty, under his banner Lin Yanchu, Li Guang and others also followed me to quell the rebellion."

Emperor Ning stared at Chen Ji’s head for a long time, "Wu Xiu, you go investigate who these people are, don’t wrong the meritorious subjects."

Prince Fu stood aside and secretly gave Chen Ji a thumbs up.

Before he could laugh, Emperor Ning coldly said, "Prince Fu was disrespectful at the Imperial Court, penalized with three years of salary deduction, and not allowed to leave the Imperial Capital without orders."

Prince Fu was just about to kneel and cry, but Emperor Ning calmly said, "Since you’re in the palace, go visit your mother and stop fooling around."

This time, Prince Fu sincerely knelt down again and kowtowed, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

He got up, faced the throne, and stepped out of Renshou Palace. Only when he crossed the threshold did he turn and stride away. Chen Ji, lying on the ground, quietly looked back, only to see Prince Fu walking faster and faster, gradually breaking into a jog.

He was nothing like a Vassal Prince.

At this moment, Official Chen spoke up to remind, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still waiting outside the palace."

Emperor Ning looked at Wu Xiu, "What is the Crown Prince here for?"

Wu Xiu replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is here to plead for the Yulin Army."

Emperor Ning said lightly, "Let him go back, it’s not too late to plead again after understanding the matter clearly next time, the Yulin Army doesn’t need his rescue."

Wu Xiu bowed his head in response, "Yes."

Emperor Ning shook the Three Mountains Bell at hand, "I’m tired, everyone go rest, let’s discuss the Korea matter tomorrow."

As Emperor Ning moved behind the imperial screen, the officials stood still, waiting for the senior officials to leave first.

Mr. Qi slowly got up, and as he passed by Chen Ji, he said kindly, "Regarding those two lads from my Qi family, I’ll have to trouble you to watch over them."

Chen Ji looked surprised and flattered, "Mr. Qi, your words are too heavy. It’s Lord Li and Lord Qi who watch over me."

Mr. Qi patted his shoulder, "I know their character well, it’s no loss for Qi Zhenzhuo to acknowledge you as his teacher. There’s a Literary Meeting at our house tomorrow, we’ve invited masters from Yuanjue Temple and the Mountain Master of Donglin Academy, you and your brother Chen Wenzong should come together."

Chen Ji looked towards Official Chen and Chen Lizun, Chen Lizun slightly nodded.

Chen Ji cupped his hands to Mr. Qi, "It’s more respectful to follow orders than to decline."

"Young and promising, with a boundless future," Mr. Qi turned and left, the officials looked at this small flag officer with unclear expressions.

Official Chen and Chen Lizun passed in front of Chen Ji, Chen Lizun advised, "Remember to have the kitchen prepare some food for you when you get back at night, don’t exhaust yourself."

Chen Ji bowed his head and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Mr. Chen."

Renshou Palace gradually emptied, Zhang Zhuo waited until everyone had left before pulling Chen Ji outwards, when passing the Crown Prince he tugged firmly at Chen Ji, preventing him from conversing with the Crown Prince.

Behind them, little eunuchs holding long copper bars extinguished each candle. This splendid palace gradually fell into darkness.

The light shining on the Crown Prince also gradually vanished until swallowed by darkness.

...

...

Two little eunuchs carrying two palace lanterns walked in front, with Chen Ji and Zhang Zhuo following silently behind.

Passing through the solemn and quiet red walls and grey tiles, Chen Ji couldn’t help turning back to look in the direction of Zhongcui Palace and Jingyang Palace, but his view was thoroughly blocked by Jiefan Building.

Zhang Zhuo stood still waiting for him, proceeding only after he finished looking around.

The two exited the Imperial Palace Gate, walked along the palace path out of Duan Gate, then out of Chengtian Gate. Walking through the long vermilion palace path felt like leaving a deep-sea whirlpool, where everyone was tugged and needed great determination to break free.

Zhang Zhuo looked sideways at Chen Ji, teasingly said, "You sure have courage, what if His Majesty hadn’t responded to you, wouldn’t you have been dragged out of the Imperial Palace Gate for execution?"

Chen Ji looked at the night scenery of the Imperial Capital, "Isn’t this all taught to me by Lord Zhang?"

Zhang Zhuo laughed happily, "I certainly didn’t teach you to gamble with your life. Tell me, where did your confidence come from that His Majesty would step in to protect you?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment and answered, "Since ancient times, emperors have cared about three things: silver, people, and who’s coveting their throne, everything else is unimportant. His Majesty uses Official Xu because he can help him earn silver, and now he employs Lord Zhang for the same reason. I suppose Zhang Xia has already sent the Wang family’s silver to the Imperial Treasury; having silver makes things more negotiable."

"Secondly, His Majesty sees aristocratic families as a hidden danger, if someone hands him the knife, he has no reason to refuse."

There was another reason Chen Ji did not speak out, but it was indeed the most critical.

Zhang Zhuo stood outside Chengtian Gate, hands behind his back, "You’re right, but not entirely right. Is sixty thousand taels a lot? Yes, but at the Ministry of Revenue, it’s the provisions for ten days for border army soldiers, requiring careful calculation; at the Ministry of War, it’s the cost of five hundred cannons; and in civilian life, it’s a death warrant for the sweat and blood of farmers across eight counties. But in the Imperial Treasury, it’s nothing significant."

Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "There’s much more behind this than sixty thousand taels, the vacancy left by Shuntian Prefect alone is worth sixty thousand taels."

Chen Ji curiously asked, "So straightforward?"

Zhang Zhuo gave him a sideways glance, "Do you know how the current Minister of the Ministry of Work got promoted? The year before last, he donated ’Longevity Gold’ worth eighty thousand taels of silver to His Majesty, and not long after, he was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of Work. Of course, not many people hold him in high regard, and those eighty thousand taels can only keep him in the ministerial position for three years as a thrill."

"And about confiscating the Wang Family, Wang Chong served nine years as Shuntian Prefect and secretly harbored bandit threats, he’s a fat sheep. The Jiefan Guard must squeeze him thoroughly, even the Wang family’s women will have to be sold at a good price in the Imperial Music Bureau."

Chen Ji asked again, "Why did Lord Zhang hint for me to stop at the Wang family earlier, wouldn’t it be better to take action against the second branch of the Chen family?"