Green Mountain-Chapter 567 - 427: Ennoblement (Part 2)
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The Official and the Ministers went outside, two rows of little eunuchs carried palace lanterns to light the way, bypassing Chen Ji and the Crown Prince, leaving only Zhang Zhuo not in a hurry to leave.
He stood quietly outside the threshold of Renshou Palace, calmly watching as Jiefan Guard pinned Chen Ji beside the Filial Piety and Brotherly Love Stele, raising the imperial punishment rod and striking Chen Ji’s back one blow after another.
Twenty lashes of the rod, breaking two punishment rods.
In the palace, to prevent someone from committing fraud, the implication of twenty lashes of the rod is breaking two punishment rods, thirty lashes would break three, and fifty lashes means being directly beaten to death. If the person is not dead when the beating stops, the executor is sent to the Imperial Prison under the charge of deceiving the monarch.
Chen Ji was completely drunk and didn’t cry out in pain.
Jiefan Guard was about to drag him out of the palace, when Zhang Zhuo suddenly said, "Let me."
He bent over and lifted Chen Ji’s arm over his shoulder, but though Chen Ji looked thin, his body was heavy, and Zhang Zhuo could not bear it alone.
Zhang Zhuo looked around, finding no one nearby, he could only instruct the nearby Jiefan Guard, "Lend a hand, I’ll carry him out of the palace."
Jiefan Guard glanced at each other, "Lord Zhang, let us carry him instead."
Zhang Zhuo’s tone was undeniably firm, "I’ll do it." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
The Jiefan Guard had no choice, supporting Chen Ji on Zhang Zhuo’s back.
Zhang Zhuo, in his red official robe, slowly walked out carrying Chen Ji, passing through red walls and golden tiles, across grand palace halls. From the aerial night view, the two appeared particularly small on the broad palace path, like a lonely boat at sea.
Chen Ji didn’t open his eyes, his lips moved slightly, "Lord Zhang, being a scholar, be careful not to strain your back."
Zhang Zhuo chuckled, "Without this opportunity, the new policy and entry into the court might have had to wait another five years. You pushed me into the court, and I carry you out of the palace, it’s even. Only it’s a pity for you that you couldn’t take revenge after being hunted for days and nights."
"No matter, the Crown Prince won’t have good days either. Besides, my real enemy isn’t in the palace, it’s the second house of the Chen family," Chen Ji responded casually, "Why don’t you tell me about tonight’s events, I’ve looked at some but find them confusing and unclear."
"Then let me tell you," Zhang Zhuo said, carrying Chen Ji through the hanging flower gate beside the Imperial Extreme Hall: "Tonight Official Xu was on leave due to illness, and didn’t come to Renshou Palace. Official Chen has coveted the position of Principal Assistant for many days, upset with me drafting tickets at the Xu Mansion, so he’s been making moves lately."
"Now that the Crown Prince suddenly encountered trouble, he could only temporarily give up the position of Principal Assistant to preserve the Crown Prince from being deposed. Official Chen once taught the Crown Prince, and if Prince Fu inherited the throne, the Chen family would inevitably decline. Perhaps the Crown Prince has lost power now, but as long as he is preserved, there’s still a future... you should understand, Your Majesty can’t truly live forever."
Zhang Zhuo walked slowly, and Chen Ji patiently listened as he spoke.
"You brought back Liao Zhong, like putting a knife to Official Chen’s throat. So when Liao Zhong stood outside the palace gates, Your Majesty asked mountain bull, where’s Meng Ji, actually reminding Official Chen that he could make Liao Zhong speak truthfully or falsely. Whether he speaks truthfully or falsely is up to what Official Chen is willing to offer. After much deliberation, Official Chen decided to use Lu State to re-survey the fields and implement new policies for the court."
"However, Your Majesty is not only concerned about Official Chen, but also Official Hu. Whether Prince Fu can receive favor after the Crown Prince loses power depends on what Official Hu is willing to offer. So, if Official Hu is willing to provide Shan State and Shan State, then the game is alive."
Up to now, the Chen family, the Hu family, and the Xu family behind Zhang Zhuo have all become supporters of the new policy.
It seems as the Crown Prince said, this Renshou Palace is no different from the Six Livestock Farm, only that the farm sells slaves at fixed prices with wooden plaques around their necks stating their value in silver taels.
But the price in Renshou Palace requires guessing.
Zhang Zhuo carried Chen Ji past the Fengxian Hall ahead, continuing, "The Crown Prince is spared, only confined for half a year, which let Official Chen breathe a sigh of relief. As for Official Hu, previously Your Majesty never assigned Prince Fu tasks, allowing him to be a wealthy idle individual. Now he’s given the task of checking salt tax, regardless of whether it’s easy or difficult, it announces to the world that the Crown Prince can contend for what from now on Prince Fu can also contend... this is what Official Hu exchanged for with two states."
Chen Ji murmured softly, "Your Majesty sells things, truly expensive."
Zhang Zhuo laughed heartily, "People only think I, Zhang Zhuo, sell official positions expensively, while unknowingly Your Majesty’s wares are the priciest, the status of fame weighs as heavily as Mount Tai."
Chen Ji, hearing this, finally gained some insight: "Your Majesty promised Prince Fu the salt tax task, wanting to force the Hu family to fight with the Xu family. Your Majesty also arranged a marriage for the Qi family, asking if the Qi family is willing to change allegiance and break the alliance with the Chen and Qi families. As expected the Qi family responded, following the grand trend."
"Exactly, but the Qi family has always been opportunistic, and won’t sever ties with the Chen family." Zhang Zhuo also expressed some sentiment: "In one night, Your Majesty scrambled the chessboard, turning the court into a tangle, merely to gain time for the new policy without many hindrances. The only unexpected point is..."
Chen Ji remarked, "Liao Zhong?"
Zhang Zhuo hmm’d, "This Liao Zhong dedicatedly and diligently served the Crown Prince for twelve years yet was treated as a discard, likely now bears deep hatred towards the Crown Prince. His words at Renshou Palace undoubtedly suppress the Crown Prince from recovery for ten years."
Chen Ji recalled mountain bull’s words outside the hanging flower gate, irrelevant of Liao Zhong’s hatred or not, this is what the Prime Minister wanted... the Prime Minister wished for the Crown Prince not to rise for ten years.
He’d been in the capital for quite some time yet never met the Prime Minister.
What did the Prime Minister gain from tonight after all?
Suddenly, Zhang Zhuo spoke, "Chen Ji."
Chen Ji, "Hmm?"
Zhang Zhuo smiled, "You worked hard to bring Liao Zhong back, yet no one is willing to give you an explanation, do you harbor resentment?"
Chen Ji peacefully replied, "No."
Zhang Zhuo stopped walking, turned to look at the majestic Imperial Extreme Hall behind them, "Ah Chen Ji, a young knight brings joy, Jianghu indeed lifts spirits, but if there’s something you wish to do... aim to be a political power player."
Chen Ji laughed and said, "Noted."
Only then did Zhang Zhuo continue forward, carrying Chen Ji slowly out of the Imperial Palace Gate.
Outside the gate, Xiao Man anxiously paced back and forth, holding the Little Black Cat, while the little monk not far from her recited Ksitigarbha’s Vows silently.
The little monk murmured, "Miss Xiao Man, please stop pacing."
Xiao Man turned, glaring at him, "Just chant your scripture! You dodge practice daily, how long till your efforts show?"
The little monk closed his eyes, "Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk shall not argue with you. The hand pursues virtue, solemnly vows to save all beings, wielding raised implements, opening the gates of hell..."
At that moment, seeing Zhang Zhuo carrying Chen Ji out, Xiao Man hastily approached, "Lord Zhang, what happened to my master?"
Zhang Zhuo smiled, "It’s nothing, he just took a beating."
Xiao Man’s eyes widened, "Taking a beating counts as nothing?"
Zhang Zhuo noticed the Little Black Cat in her arms, slightly surprised, "This black cat..."
He lowered his voice, "Wasn’t it supposed to be in Qianqing Palace? No, it’s not the same one."
Chen Ji also opened his eyes, "Didn’t Lord Zhang have the Second Miss Zhang send it to me?"
Zhang Zhuo raised his eyebrows, "No."
Chen Ji fell into thought.
Xiao Man didn’t think much of it, only urging, "Lord Zhang, let the little monk carry my master, the two of us should quickly take him home to apply medicine."
Zhang Zhuo shook his head, "No rush."
Xiao Man was taken aback, "Why not rush?"
"Just wait." Zhang Zhuo carried Chen Ji, looking back to the Imperial Palace Gate, "Today, so many people used Chen Ji’s influence to gain what they wanted, yet Chen Ji hasn’t received anything. Let’s wait a little longer, he should attain some compensation."
Xiao Man’s mind was filled with doubt, "Lord Zhang, are you so certain?"
Zhang Zhuo spoke with conviction, "If they aren’t willing to give at least this bit of compensation, then we won’t sell ourselves to them."
The next moment, inside the Imperial Palace Gate, a little eunuch holding a dark yellow Imperial Decree announced loudly, "Chen Ji, receive the decree. Seeing as you are injured, forget the formalities!"
Chen Ji dismounted Zhang Zhuo’s back, bowing deeply, "Commoner Chen Ji receives the decree."
The little eunuch unfolded the Imperial Decree and declared loudly, "I am reminded of the ancient emperor, hunting and martial instruction to demonstrate martial prowess and encourage valor. Here stands Chen Ji, a master archer among heroes, arrow never missing its mark, pursuing beasts tirelessly on horseback. Battling tiger and leopard displays the bravery of Ben-yu, piercing armor shows the skill of Yang Youji. Ultimately acquiring the most, surpassing peers, seizing first place."
"Thy loyalty and valor already illustrated in the hunting ground, my generous reward shall not be spared for meritorious service. Bestowing upon thee the title ’Marquis of Wuxiang’, with a stipend of three hundred dan, allowing hereditary transfer without alteration. Thus pronounced!"
This, then, is the compensation Emperor Ning gives him.
Chen Ji is titled Marquis.
