The sky gradually darkened.

Chen Ji set out from Changping County.

He traveled ninety li along the official road, from morning to dusk, all the way to Renshou Palace. He turned a deaf ear to the difficulties posed by Honglu Temple, the mockery of others, and the persuasion of Zhang Li.

This time, he neither meekly followed at the end of the ceremonial procession nor stood submissively like a lamb to the slaughter before the Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele.

Instead, he crossed the high threshold, suppressing all voices.

This was what Chen Ji had promised Zhang Xia: he would find a way.

The veils in Renshou Palace fluttered in the wind, concealing any view of Emperor Ning's expression on the throne. He seemed like an emotionless deity, gazing down at the myriad forms of life.

Beneath the throne, officials holding ritual batons turned around in astonishment, looking at Chen Ji, and then shifted their gaze to Official Chen, who sat on an embroidered stool with his eyes closed, resting.

But Official Chen didn't even lift his eyelids, as if he had long known what would happen.

Someone in Renshou Palace muttered, "Foolhardy youngster."

Only Zhang Zhuo looked deeply at Chen Ji. Having worked with Chen Ji for a long time, he knew Chen Ji was never a foolhardy person.

Chen Ji knew the consequences of his actions beforehand, but it didn't matter to him.

At this moment, Emperor Ning on the throne slowly said, "Forcing your way into Renshou Palace, later you shall receive twenty strokes of the imperial punishment."

Chen Ji bowed low and said, "Your servant obeys the decree."

Emperor Ning's voice was as calm as a still lake: "Marquis of Wuxiang County, do you know how history will judge you after you speak your mind here in Renshou Palace today?"

Chen Ji was silent for a moment: "It doesn't matter."

Emperor Ning asked again: "Then what matters most?"

Chen Ji calmly replied: "One's true self matters most."

Emperor Ning seemed to hear something amusing and laughed heartily.

In the 32nd year of Jianing, the ministers heard such laughter in Renshou Palace for the first time.

Emperor Ning gradually stifled his laughter, slowly stood up, and, draped in a black Daoist robe, parted the veils and descended from the throne.

The ministers prostrated themselves on the ground, watching as Emperor Ning's steps passed by them, stopping beneath the dome decorated with the twenty-eight constellations.

He looked up at the twenty-eight constellations overhead and suddenly lamented: "Throughout the ages, the most revered achievements are virtue, merit, and words; though after a long time they are not forgotten, this is called immortality. Everyone, in the face of life and death's great terror, only leaving a name in history can be called 'immortality'. Your obsession with a posthumous reputation, isn't it also a pursuit of eternal life?"

Emperor Ning lowered his head, looking at the ministers prostrated at his feet, casually teasing: "Everyone says that I've become muddleheaded, seeking eternal life. Little do they know, you all guard your own interests every day, fearing losing your posthumous names, isn't that another form of fearing death?"

The ministers' expressions changed, and they all loudly said: "This minister is guilty unto death!"

Emperor Ning's voice was indifferent: "Alright, alright, we all seek immortality; there's no need to say guilty unto death. Marquis of Wuxiang County, tell us why you want to send Yuan Cheng back to the Jing Dynasty?"

Chen Ji, without raising his head, said: "Firstly, currently, Minister of the Secretariat Yuan Xiang of the Jing Dynasty holds sway over the court. Yuan Cheng has always been used by the Jing Dynasty's Royal Family to balance Yuan Xiang. Without Yuan Cheng, the Emperor of the Jing Dynasty, being elderly and frail, no longer has the strength to deal with Yuan Xiang. Only by letting Yuan Cheng return can Yuan Xiang be restrained for a few more years."

An official kneeling on the ground angrily rebuked: "Nonsense, no matter how powerful Yuan Xiang is, he is merely a minister. How can the Jing Dynasty Emperor not deal with him?"

Chen Ji did not argue, nor did he need to argue.

Emperor Ning just needed someone to be the first to say these words, so he stood up for Zhang Zhuo. That was all. As for who could convince whom afterward, that would require days of debate in court, unrelated to him, a mere Marquis of Wuxiang County.

Another person angrily accused: "Has the Marquis of Wuxiang County taken a bribe from the Jing Dynasty spies?"

"Once Yuan Cheng returns to the Jing Dynasty, he will surely march south to retaliate against our dynasty. The Marquis of Wuxiang County's intentions are punishable by death!"

Amidst the noise, Chen Ji's expression remained unchanged, and he continued to speak amidst the accusations: "Secondly, Yuan Cheng's sins are monstrous. In wartime, he should indeed be executed to rally the troops. But now, in times of peace, even if he were dismembered, what use would it be? It would be better to exchange him for something useful for our dynasty, such as warhorses. With five thousand more warhorses for us and five thousand fewer for the enemy, this trade is worthwhile."

As soon as he finished speaking, an Imperial Censor angrily pointed at Chen Ji: "I impeach the Marquis of Wuxiang County for not following the Honglu Temple's procedures and acting recklessly. I request Your Majesty to strip him of his title and exile him to Lingnan!"

Zhang Zhuo couldn't tolerate any more and stepped forward with his ritual baton: "Your Majesty, I believe…"

Chen Ji suddenly loudly interrupted Zhang Zhuo: "Thirdly, the Jing Dynasty's struggle for the throne is imminent. Yuan Cheng is the link between the Yuan Family and Jiang Family, supporting the Third Prince, while Yuan Xiang and Lu Jin support the Sixth Prince. Allowing Yuan Cheng to return will surely spark internal conflict, benefiting our dynasty in every way!"

Zhang Zhuo looked at Chen Ji with a complicated expression.

At this moment, a Minister of the Ministry of War loudly said: "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wuxiang County is still young and doesn't understand…"

Chen Ji straightened up and stared at the official: "Sir, you wear the red robe, and I wear the red robe too. Why bring up age here in Renshou Palace? Could it be that my red official robe is fake?"

The official faltered, unable to respond.

Renshou Palace fell silent once more, as the ministers knew that Chen Ji was determined to take the lead.

After a long while, Emperor Ning leisurely said: "Finished speaking?"

Chen Ji softly replied: "Your servant has finished speaking."

Emperor Ning waved his hand: "Then go receive your punishment."

Chen Ji responded: "Yes."

He stood, retreated, and left Renshou Palace, then went to lean beside the Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele.

Jiefan Guard looked up and saw Wu Xiu standing beside the throne with his feet turned out.

Jiefan Guard understood the signal and avoided hitting the spine with the twenty imperial punishments, instead striking Chen Ji's most load-bearing buttocks and thighs until two of the batons broke.

After enduring the punishment, Chen Ji stood up, patted the dust off his robe, and cupped his hands: "Your Majesty, I take my leave."

...

...

At dusk.

A little eunuch led Chen Ji through the deep palace. The red official robe of the young Marquis of Wuxiang complemented the red walls and golden tiles, yet the deep palace was too desolate. The two walked within the wide palace path like the last leaves on winter branches—emaciated branches, solitary leaves.

Chen Ji exhaled deeply, but heard the young eunuch ahead suddenly exclaim, "The Marquis of Wuxiang has such courage. In recent years, those who dare not be summoned into the palace can be counted on one hand, and those who can leave unharmed are even rarer."

Chen Ji was startled by these words, as it was the first time he had seen a eunuch dare to converse with a court official inside the palace.

Now, the little eunuch led him around a palace wall, and Chen Ji frowned: "Fengxian Hall? This isn't the way out of the palace."

The little eunuch said nothing, continuing to lead Chen Ji through the court.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Ji eventually lifted his foot to follow.

The little eunuch led him to a wooden building, stopped, and smiled: "The Marquis of Wuxiang is invited; Lord Prime Minister wants to see you."

Chen Ji looked up at the building's plaque, which boldly read "Jiefan."

Jiefan Building.

For some reason, Chen Ji felt a bit nervous, causing a slight sweat to seep into his palms.

The red gate before Jiefan Building opened, and the inside was exceedingly dim, as if the outside light could not penetrate the building's windows.

The mountain bull, armored, stood within the door and said in a deep voice, "Follow me."

Chen Ji walked inside and followed the mountain bull up the wooden staircase, the massive figure of the mountain bull making the stairs creak loudly.

Inside the building was a mix of pine and ink fragrances, as if its occupant were not a hated and feared eunuch of the intelligentsia and knights, but a diligent scholar.

The mountain bull led Chen Ji to the top floor, lightly knocking at a door.

The nimble, careful motion was incongruous with its bulky form, creating a strange discord.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"My lord, Chen Ji has arrived."

The room remained silent for a long time, then after more than ten breaths, someone inside shook a copper bell.

The mountain bull pushed open the door and calmly said, "Enter."

There were no reminders on what to pay attention to, no warnings not to be rash or harbor ill intent, as if certain the one stepping through the door dared not entertain such thoughts.

Chen Ji entered the room but did not see the Prime Minister himself; inside the dim room, the desk was shielded by a screen embroidered with a sitting dragon silently watching the arrivals.

His heart tightened, and he lowered his head: "Lord Prime Minister."

The person behind the screen continued writing a document without raising their head or speaking.

Chen Ji was puzzled but did not know why he had been summoned to Jiefan Building.

After much consideration, he tentatively started: "Going beyond Chongli Pass this time to escort Princess Liyang back to the capital, she is backed by three Military Governors of the Jing Dynasty, and Longyou Road is devoted to her cause with great ambition. Moreover, the rift between Princess Liyang and Lu Jin over the succession is irreconcilable, neither side yielding an inch. Bringing Yuan Cheng back to the Jing Dynasty with her might pose a significant threat to Lu Jin. In my opinion, her importance far exceeds that of Yuan Cheng."

Chen Ji pondered, for over a decade, the Spy Department and Military Intelligence Department had been at each other's throats, and Lu Jin should be the thorn in the Prime Minister's eye, the object of his concern.

Yet after waiting for a long time, the Prime Minister still didn't speak.

Chen Ji paused then continued: "Jiang Xianzong stood by while the Life-catcher Generals pursue Princess Liyang, perhaps having already allied with Lu Jin…"

He stealthily glanced up, but the indistinct silhouette behind the screen continued writing rigorously, showing no inclination to speak.

Perplexed, Chen Ji added: "In the recent trip to Chongli Pass, Jiao Tu and Yun Yang were very helpful, slaying more than twenty Life-catcher Generals, indeed a chief merit."

The silhouette behind the screen spoke calmly: "From Luocheng to Guyuan, from Guyuan to the Imperial Capital, and only after much difficulty did you enter my Jiefan Building. Speak of your own matters."

Chen Ji was slightly taken aback, then took a deep breath: "I simply wish to share your burdens and solve your troubles, my lord."

The hazy figure behind the screen paused writing, looked towards the screen, and in a detached tone said: "Everyone who enters my Jiefan Building seeks something; only you wish to share my burdens and solve my troubles?"

Chen Ji softly replied: "I believe that as long as I can share your burdens and solve your troubles, my lord…"

The Prime Minister's faint laugh came from behind the screen: "I built this building to solve problems for the world, yet unwittingly became the world's problem. You wish to share my burdens and solve my problems, but in the end, perhaps you too will become my problem. Young lad, stop beating around the bush and state what you seek."