Green Mountain-Chapter 577 - 437: Conceding Defeat

"Has the second brother found Chen Ji?"

"No."

"Did the second brother catch that Brother Pao under Chen Ji?"

"Caught him."

"Did they get anything from the interrogation?"

"No."

In the Wendan Hall, Official Chen lowered his eyes, contemplating silently, as Chen Xu stood with hands at his sides.

So many days had passed, and those attentive in the Capital were all waiting for Chen Ji to appear, yet the man himself was nowhere to be found. Even with his subordinate Brother Pao caught, he seemed to turn a blind eye.

Official Chen suddenly chuckled.

Chen Xu was surprised: "What is the Family Head laughing about?"

Official Chen chuckled and said: "I laugh at how the dignified second house of the Chen family, the legitimate heir, could stumble over a mere bastard... The second brother is too arrogant, arrogant enough to think Chen Ji can’t do anything to him. But as the saying goes, ’Virtue moves heaven, far-reaching; full receives loss, humble receives benefit, such is the way of heaven.’

Chen Xu respectfully said: "In fact, it’s also because the Family Head has been trimming the wings of the second master over the years, otherwise, Chen Ji wouldn’t have had this opportunity. However, it’s somewhat surprising that Chen Ji doesn’t care about Brother Pao’s life. I thought he was a man of deep feelings and loyalty."

"Hesitation leads to chaos," Official Chen raised his eyes towards outside the Wendan Hall: "If he were to lose his pace over Brother Pao, he would only diminish himself."

Chen Xu whispered: "Master, Meng Ji entered the Capital this morning, entered the palace to meet the Emperor at noon, and hasn’t come out by now, he must have been retained by His Majesty."

"We are waiting, the Emperor is also waiting," Official Chen said hoarsely: "Today the apricot bulletin is posted, both the inner and outer city are bustling, Meng Ji has also entered the capital, if Chen Ji were to make a move, today would be the day."

Chen Xu tentatively asked: "Master said the second master must not be allowed to stay, why not have me take action against the second master?"

"No need to rush," Official Chen said slowly: "The young people are ultimately immature and too impetuous. Chen Ji is using me as a knife, and why can’t I use him as well? Let’s wait a bit longer."

Chen Xu was puzzled: "What is the master waiting for?"

Official Chen’s fingers rubbed the armrest: "By this time... about right, go greet the guest."

Chen Xu was taken aback.

At this moment, a servant’s voice sounded outside Wendan Hall: "Second master, the Family Head is waiting for you in the Wendan Hall."

Chen Lizhi strode into the Wendan Hall, angrily saying: "Do you all just let that Chen Ji roam wild, not thinking that if my second house suffers, your first house won’t be implicated?"

Official Chen didn’t care about his tone, just pointed to the chair, calmly saying: "One who has thunder in their chest but a calm face can be honored as a General. Jingshu, you must have tranquility in doing things, no matter how big the matter is, you can sit down and talk about it first, there’s no obstacle that can’t be overcome."

Chen Lizhi’s face changed several times, but ultimately he sat down defiantly and said: "You are watching from across the shore, don’t blame me when the time comes to take the Chen family to the Six Livestock Farm for execution."

Official Chen lifted the teacup: "Your skills are not great, but your trouble-making abilities are enormous. If you think you can take the Chen family to be executed, feel free to try."

Chen Lizhi was speechless.

Seeing him silent, Official Chen continued: "Jingshu, unless absolutely necessary, don’t think about dying, let alone dragging everyone to die. This Chen family is not only my Chen family but also yours. Your second house now has eleven people ready to take the provincial examination, one participating in this imperial exam, twelve seventh-rank officials, three fifth-rank officials, and Chen Zhengyang is an inspector in Lu State, do you plan to take them to die as well?"

Chen Lizhi showed a difficult expression.

Official Chen smiled and said: "This isn’t just your matter, nor is it a decision you can make alone. If there were only you in the second house, the first house wouldn’t have been fighting with your second house for so many years."

Chen Lizhi’s expression turned weary, after contemplating for a while, he finally spoke: "This nephew came not for anything else, only tired of the Imperial Capital’s bureaucracy, planning to resign and return home, to teach and write in Lu State. In the Capital, only Wende and Chen Yu will remain, the elders of the second house have not been involved in family affairs for ten years, but will listen to the Family Head’s instructions."

Official Chen exhaled a long, turbid breath.

A family as sprawling as the Chen’s, matters aren’t solved by merely killing one or two people.

After the Chen family’s Minister of Revenue was assassinated over a decade ago, Official Chen spent over ten years carefully managing, yet he only gained half of Lu State.

And now, Chen Lizhi had admitted defeat.

Official Chen’s fingers rubbed the armrest, after a moment of silence, he spoke: "Let Wende return to Lu State to study as well."

Chen Lizhi abruptly raised his head: "Is the Family Head truly unable to tolerate even Wende?"

Official Chen replied leisurely: "It’s not that he can’t be tolerated. He’s been too restless in the Capital. With his talent, he could have taken the Minister position, but now he’s stuck as an Assistant Minister of Rites. Let him go to Lu State to focus for eight years and then return to the capital to resume post, perhaps achieving something greater."

Chen Lizhi’s face was as calm as water, and finally agreed: "Alright!"

After saying this "alright," Chen Lizhi seemed to lose his strength and suddenly looked ten years older.

Official Chen raised his eyes to look at him: "What burden are you carrying on your back?"

Chen Lizhi stood up to salute, answered with a non-sequitur: "Nephew will now go back to draft the resignation letter, I hope the Family Head will keep his word."

Official Chen watched Chen Lizhi’s back, casually instructing Chen Xu: "Find Chen Ji and tell him that within a year, I will give him an explanation, for now, let it go."

Chen Xu bowed out of the Wendan Hall: "Yes."

...

...

At this moment, in Biaobei Alley in the east of the city, the red gate of the Imperial Examination Hall opened wide.

The crowd outside cheered excitedly: "The results are out!"

The clerk of the Imperial Examination Hall held a knife to push back the crowd: "Move away quickly! If you go further forward, you will be charged with crashing the Imperial Examination Hall, and your property will be confiscated and you will be exiled!"

A clerk carried a ladder and held a jar of paste.

They brushed the paste on the wall of the Imperial Examination Hall, and then put up the huge apricot list. Before the apricot list was pasted, a sharp-eyed man saw the name of the top scorer and ran out of Biaobei Alley.

Outside the alley, his companion was holding a horse waiting, and when he saw him come out, he immediately handed over the reins: "Did you see it?"

"I saw the top scorer, stop the people behind me!" The man took the reins and mounted the horse, galloping away: "Chen Wenzong, the Young Master of the Chen family in Fuyou Street, is the top scorer!"

At the mouth of Biaobei Alley, his companion saw more people rushing out of the alley, immediately pretended to accidentally knock them down.

The person who was knocked over became furious: "Beat him up for me!"

The blocking man lay on the ground holding his head, though he was being beaten, he still smiled: Reporting the good news to the top scorer, and being the top scorer from the Chen family in Fuyou Street, receiving a reward of eight hundred taels, enough to cover a family’s expenses for several years.

It should be known that the Metropolitan Exam is unlike the Palace Exam which distinguishes the top three scholars, nor like the Provincial Exam which distinguishes the top scorer, second place, and third place. The only title is the top scorer, and only the top scorer receives the heaviest reward silver.

More and more people rushed out of Biaobei Alley, mounted the fast horses prepared by their companions, and hurried away to deliver the good news: "Young Master Shen Ye of Huqiu Poetry Society succeeded!"

Passing the Metropolitan Exam is called a tribute scholar.

Although they haven’t participated in the Palace Exam and are not yet scholars, the Palace Exam never eliminates anyone, so once you pass as a tribute scholar, you are already considered a scholar, which is a great joy.

The man on horseback arrived at Fuyou Street, shouting aloud: "Congratulations to Chen Wenzong, the Young Master of the Chen family in Fuyou Street, for being the top scorer!"

The front gate of the Chen family opened wide, and Chen Xu walked out briskly in a black Daoist robe, waving his hand to have the servants bring out eight hundred taels of silver, but his mind was not on the Imperial Examination and he did not rush back to report the good news.

Chen Xu looked across Fuyou Street and saw a person waiting under the eaves across the street for instructions. He gave a signal, and that person turned to walk toward the south of the city.

Chen Xu stood there in front of the Chen Mansion, with his hands folded in his sleeves, waiting quietly.

As dusk fell, the homes along the street hung lanterns, and pedestrians on the bluestone road gradually became sparse, yet Chen Xu still did not receive the news he wanted.

At a quarter past five, a vendor carrying a load passed in front of the Chen Mansion, gently shaking his head at Chen Xu.

At three quarters past five, another soldier from the Five Cities Military Department patrolling the city rode past, gently shaking his head at Chen Xu.

Chen Xu waited in front of the Chen Mansion until midnight, and all the Chen family’s servants were sent out. A total of twelve people returned to report, yet none of the twelve groups found Chen Ji.

He returned to Wendan Hall with a solemn face, only to find Official Chen already asleep in the Taishi Chair.

Chen Xu whispered: "Family Head."

Official Chen slowly opened his eyes: "Didn’t find him?" 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Chen Xu was ashamed: "Didn’t find him."

"It’s not your fault. If even you couldn’t find him, that’s his skill," Official Chen looked outside at the night sky and sighed softly: "Seems he is determined to have the second one killed."

Chen Xu was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

Official Chen pondered: "Today was already an excellent opportunity, there was no need to wait any longer. But since he didn’t show up today, it can only wait for another three days."

"On the day of the Palace Exam, when the top scorer parades?"

Official Chen nodded: "When the top scorer parades, the Yulin Army will act as guards. Under the protection of the Yulin Army, Wang Gui can be brought into the palace, ensuring absolute safety. At a time when all eyes are on them, no one will dare to clash with the Imperial Guard’s parade, and Li Xuan, being a Seeking Dao Realm Executive Officer, very few people have the ability to kill someone under his watch."

Chen Xu was shocked: "He really intends to send Wang Gui into the palace?"

Official Chen rarely appeared puzzled: "I originally thought he was bluffing, but now even I find it hard to understand. Is it possible that he didn’t plan to borrow my hands but is confident that just relying on Wang Gui can convict the second room? What exactly does Wang Gui know?"

Chen Xu spoke quietly: "I can arrange for personnel..."

Official Chen smiled: "If we do it, that would break the rules. Your Majesty is probably waiting for the Chen family to take a dangerous step."

He slowly stood up, supported by the armrest, and walked out of Wendan Hall, looking up at the plaque overhead.

Then he looked at the couplets on the left and right of Wendan Hall, the upper couplet wrote: "Even in dire straits, there is still a livelihood, starving is worse than reading," and the lower couplet wrote: "Learning is unsatisfactory, it requires all sorts of refinement, once proficient in literature, fortune will follow."

Official Chen touched the golden characters on the couplet: "Old, indeed! In the past, I could eat three bowls of rice per meal, walk with vigor, and stayed awake three days and nights during the Lu State disaster relief. Back then, I never thought I would become old. Now, I find it difficult to understand the mind of young people."

Chen Xu hurriedly said: "The family head is old and strong, surely will live a long life."

Official Chen laughed heartily: "I’m not like Your Majesty, never deceive myself with such matters, old is old."

"I have served for forty-seven years, encountering many opponents on this grand court, but most of them are lacking vitality, making moves and exchanges only seeking stability, having no spirit. Now Zhang Zhuo enters the court in his prime, and with the Chen Family stirring the Capital Territory, it has brought some vigor... Chen Xu, we cannot let Chen Ji succeed in this matter."

Chen Xu’s expression changed slightly: "Do you want to protect the second master?"

Official Chen smiled: "Not at all, I just suddenly have a competitive spirit, wanting that kid to know that an old crane can still defeat a young tiger."