Green Mountain-Chapter 564 - 425: Mountain Bull

After the provincial examination, the results would be announced in mid-March, coinciding with the blooming of apricot flowers, thus the results list was also called "Apricot List".

After the Apricot List comes the palace examination, where Emperor Ning personally selects the top three, and no one can confidently say they will definitely become the top scholar.

So when Shen Ye boasted boldly in that moment, no one took him seriously.

Everyone merely saw him as an exuberant and reckless scholar, but no one would blame a young man for it. They would just smile kindly, maybe raise a cheer.

Perhaps because there were too many regrets in their own youth, this world always has a bit more patience for the young.

In the noisy crowd, Zhang Li rode the Qing Niu backward, writing the events of the moment into the Wordless Heavenly Scripture. No one knew he was the author of the Four Dreams of Bianliang, nor did anyone know a new story was about to emerge.

The chief disciple of the Huangshan Dao Court lingered in the Imperial Capital, captivated by its splendor, indulging in writing stories and novels. This might seem somewhat like neglecting one’s duty.

But who can decide what is a true occupation?

Prince Fu paid no attention to the clamor behind him, and without turning his head, said to Chen Ji, "Today’s events will surely be written into a new storybook by that cunning Taoist of Huangshan. Tsk tsk, isn’t this much better than the stinking air of the Four Dreams of Bianliang? Men and women loving and hating, where is the fun compared to a knight in fine attire and on a spirited horse?"

Chen Ji did not answer him, yet he continued cheerfully, "I’m sure this time I will be in the storybook too. Tomorrow, I’ll have Zhou Kuang go to the City God Temple to send two pots of good wine to that cunning Taoist, asking him to write me as gallant, righteous, and exceptionally handsome. What nickname do you think I should have in the story? Certainly, it can’t be Prince Fu... how about Prince Xian? I’ve long felt the title Prince Fu lacks grandeur, doesn’t match my heroic vigor at all, sounds just like a fat man with a big head and big ears..."

Walking from Anding Gate to Chang’an Street, Prince Fu kept chattering incessantly, "Why is it so far? My legs are achy from walking! Hey, how about you help lead my horse next time?"

Chen Ji drunkenly agreed, "Alright."

Prince Fu paused for a while, having spoken to himself without much response from Chen Ji, but now he agreed.

For a moment, Prince Fu couldn’t quite tell whether Chen Ji was truly drunk or not, nor how credible this promise was...

"The words of a drunkard can’t be trusted at all," Prince Fu suddenly turned to look at him, "Hey, young man, do you have confidence in overturning the case? Can Liao Zhong truly find something in the investigation? He seems somewhat lifeless to me... If you can overturn the case today, my leading the horse for you would be celebrated, maybe even recorded in history. But if you can’t, you and I have both become a laughingstock."

Chen Ji swayed on horseback and answered irrelevantly, "There are still five bowls."

Prince Fu angrily said, "Drink, drink, drink, you might as well drink yourself to death. In the 32nd year of Jianing, you might be the second one to enter the palace drunk when meeting the Emperor."

Chen Ji gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor, his eyes blurred, asking, "Who was the first?"

Prince Fu casually said, "The Deputy Director of the Observatory, Xu Shu, another one without proper conduct."

He led the horse southward, arriving at Jade River Bridge, when suddenly the lively crowd fell silent as if their throats had been squeezed, slowly stopping and then scattering like birds and beasts.

Prince Fu looked up.

Across Jade River Bridge, the neighboring streetlights were gone, and on the dark street lined Jiefan Guards wearing straw coats, hands on their waist knives, dividing into left and right. The gray straw coats and bamboo hats seemed like a black forest in the night.

In the middle of the bridge stood a person wearing a black Fish Dragon Robe, with an Over the Shoulder Python embroidered on the shoulder.

Lin Chaoqing.

Prince Fu squinted slightly and whispered, "I fear the bridge may not be passable."

Chen Ji, holding his wine jar, sat drunkenly on horseback, seemingly oblivious to the oppressive presence of the Jiefan Guards, continuing to drink on his own.

He took another swig of wine, eyes dreamy, and asked, "Is the Prince afraid?"

Prince Fu was silent for a moment, then laughed carefreely, leading the horse onto the bridge, "Afraid of what? Once I pass this hurdle, I can enter the palace to meet the Emperor."

The iron-shoed horses made a crisp sound on the Han Baiyu bridge, while beneath the bamboo hats, the eyes of the Jiefan Guards glared fiercely, staring at Prince Fu and Chen Ji approaching.

Lin Chaojing barred Prince Fu’s path but showed no hostility, courteously saying, "Prince, may I speak a few words with Chen Ji?"

Prince Fu raised his eyebrows, "What can’t be said in front of the Prince?"

Lin Chaoqing bowed with clasped fists, "It is of great consequence, I ask the Prince to grant some convenience."

Prince Fu gave Chen Ji a look and finally loosened the reins, silently stepping back a few paces.

Lin Chaoqing took the reins, looked up at Chen Ji, and slowly said, "Mr. Chen, Prince Fu cannot inherit the throne, if you wish to participate in the power struggle and gain success, I’m afraid you’re betting on the wrong horse."

Chen Ji sat on the horse, glancing askance at Lin Chaoqing. He placed the wine jar on the saddle, supporting it with both hands as he leaned forward, "Lord Lin, how is your drinking capacity?"

Lin Chaoqing smelled the overwhelming wine aroma, unflinching, "I don’t know whether you’re truly drunk or feigning it. Today, I’ll share some candid words with you, after which we’ll forget them, even if others ask, I won’t admit... It’s known that Your Majesty seeks immortality, so the Crown Prince is dispensable. But hundreds of emperors over thousands of years, who truly attained immortality? His Majesty knows, the officials also know, otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t be appointed."

The national fortune is tangible, incompatible with the cultivation of Executive Officers, and those above third-rank are impossible to cultivate, let alone the Emperor? Thus, the thought of immortality is bound to be unfulfilled.

The Emperor knows, civil servants know too, but nobody exposes the truth.

Lin Chaoqing continued, "Your Majesty has only two heirs, one being the Crown Prince, the other Prince Fu. You think if the Crown Prince falls, Prince Fu has a chance, but in the fourth year of Jianing during the Silkworm God ceremony, there were rumors that the Empress dismissed all female servants to be alone with Prince Jing. Ten months later, Prince Fu was born. Though lacking evidence, later Your Majesty broke with Prince Jing, the Empress has since been confined deep in the palace to the extent that she can’t see the young Prince Fu, explaining everything."

Lin Chaoqing affirmed, "Mr. Chen, the doubts about bloodline alone are enough to end any possibility for Prince Fu. Though the Crown Prince has lost power, the future of the Ning Dynasty still solely rests with the Crown Prince. We might as well bet on this, no matter what happens tonight, the Crown Prince will not die, nor will he be deposed."

No wonder Prince Fu, being the first-born of Ning, was not made Crown Prince; instead the younger son was chosen, and the officials stayed silent.

No wonder Consort Xue dared to frame the Empress, she was truly audacious.

No wonder the Chen family and Wu Xiu bet on the Crown Prince, there are simply no alternatives for Ning.

The Emperor will eventually pass away, just as the sun will set, the moon will rise.

By then, Ning needs the Crown Prince, and so does the officials. That’s why today all officials are voiceless, silently permitting the Five Cities Military Department block the Anding Gate, allowing the Jiefan Guards to line up at Jade River Bridge.

Lin Chaoqing calmly said, "Mr. Chen, have you thought it through? Don’t deceive yourself."

Chen Ji picked up the wine jar and took a big gulp, then spilled the wine in front of the horse. The clear wine flowed from the jar mouth, splashed on the Han Baiyu tiles, and poured on Lin Chaoqing’s black boots: "There are still four bowls left."

Saying this, he waved to Prince Fu in the distance: "Lead the horse!"

Prince Fu muttered softly: "You kid find it quite convenient to order me around now. Just wait until you sober up and see if I care about you then..."

He walked up to Lin Chaoqing, taking the reins: "Lord Lin, can we leave now?"

Lin Chaoqing remained silent for a long time, then slowly stepped aside: "Please."

Prince Fu led the horse through the Jiefan Guard, confidently and calmly. The two of them passed right by the Jiefan Guard and headed towards Chengtian Gate.

After they walked far away, Prince Fu secretly looked back, only to see the Jiefan Guards standing motionless at the bridgehead, like more than ten statues.

Once he confirmed the Jiefan Guards weren’t following, he finally relaxed his shoulders and let out a long sigh of relief: "I had already planned how to act out a scene to protect you, yet they remained inactive. It seems that this matter has already reached His Majesty’s ears. Father is waiting to see you at Renshou Palace, so they dare only be messengers and dare not stop us."

"Kid, you’ve drunk and been mad, now whether you can retreat safely tonight depends on Father’s mood."

The Imperial Palace Gate arrived.

...

...

In front of the Imperial Palace Gate.

On both sides of the palace path and the city walls, large fire pits were blazing, casting shadows on Yanchi Building, who knows who is guarded there.

Under the bright red palace walls, there was a man in his thirties, as massive as a mountain, donned in armor, holding a Heaven-Supporting Halberd in his hand.

The man saw Prince Fu leading the horse over and came straight to the horse, picking up Liao Zhong as if he were a chick. Chen Ji drunkenly glanced over, only to see that this man standing on the ground was as tall as he himself sitting on the horse.

Prince Fu was about to say something to the man when he saw Chen Ji actually reaching out to pat the man’s shoulder, praising: "You’re so tall!"

Prince Fu’s expression froze.

The towering man shot a cold glance, and Prince Fu quickly smiled and started to smooth things over with the man: "Mountain Bull brother, long time no see, this kid drank too much, don’t take it seriously with him."

Twelve Signs, Mountain Bull.

Some say Mountain Bull earned his reputation by forcefully killing through the poison-filled den of Wunian Mountain, catching the Prime Minister’s eye and being taken in as an adopted son. But some say it’s not true, as people coming out of Wunian Mountain never saw him there.

Others say Mountain Bull came from the border town during the famine in Datong in the 9th year of Jianing, escaped to the pass. On the way, swapped by his parents with others, almost ending up gutted and cooked, at that time not yet the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister bought Mountain Bull’s life with half a bowl of millet. It’s been said that the Prime Minister once personally told Mountain Bull not to value life too much, not to forget in the 9th year of Jianing, your life was worth only half a bowl of millet.

From that point forward, wherever the Prime Minister went, he always took him along.

At this moment, Mountain Bull ignored Prince Fu, turned his head coldly towards Chen Ji: "What happened to Liao Zhong?"

Chen Ji, eyes bleary with drunkenness: "Huh?"

Mountain Bull didn’t ask any further, his fist large as a bowl suddenly hammered on Liao Zhong’s Dantian, with fierce punch wind, causing Chen Ji’s and Prince Fu’s clothes to fly backward.

Only to see Liao Zhong trembling all over, suddenly opening his eyes, filled with bloodshot.

After one punch, Liao Zhong’s six spirits returned, his cultivation completely destroyed.

Mountain Bull, expression unchanged, reached out to pinch Liao Zhong’s large spine, the two fingers as thick as mallets slightly moved, and Liao Zhong’s bones made a crisp sound.

Mountain Bull’s big hand softly pinched down along Liao Zhong’s spine, crackling continuously echoed, as if dislocating each segment of his spine.

Liao Zhong’s eyes were red like a fierce ghost: "Kill me!"

Prince Fu was dumbfounded: "He can still speak?"

Liao Zhong’s whole body could only move his eyes and mouth, he stared viciously at Chen Ji: "Misjudged, I should have killed you at Guyuan."

Mountain Bull casually rubbed Liao Zhong’s chin, dislocating his jaw.

Chen Ji awkwardly slid from the saddle to the ground, leaned against the horse to steady himself.

Mountain Bull carried Liao Zhong inside the Imperial Palace Gate, Prince Fu hurriedly pulling at Chen Ji’s arm: "Stop drinking..."

But before finishing his words, Mountain Bull suddenly turned around and said: "Your Majesty is still discussing matters with the Officials, it will be a while before he can come forward to talk. Your Majesty’s order is, he’s allowed to drink his fill before entering the palace to meet the Emperor."

Prince Fu was stunned, then, incredibly, looked back at Chen Ji: "...Kid, you’ve saved your life. Hmm, you kid wouldn’t be my brother, would you?"

He then looked at Mountain Bull: "What about me?"

Mountain Bull, expressionless: "There is no matter for the Prince tonight, return to where you came from."

With that, he turned and walked into the Imperial Palace Gate.

Outside the Imperial Palace Gate, Chen Ji shouted: "Wait, I’m finished drinking."

He tilted his head and drank the wine in the jar, stuffing the jar into Prince Fu’s arms, and staggered along behind Mountain Bull into the Imperial Palace Gate.