Aoyama

Chapter 200 Promotion
Chen Mansion, Mingquan Garden.

Unlike Tingquanyuan which is cluttered with clutter, this place is clean and elegant.

There are wintersweets planted in the yard, and it is the season when pink flowers bloom. There is also a clear fish pond under the plum tree. When the red and white koi fish are motionless, they seem to be floating in the air.

There are brand new blue bricks on the ground, brand new tiles on the roof, brand new tables and chairs inside the house, and a step-out bed that the carpenter had just made.

Chen Ji looked around the yard, but there was no joy on his face. This was not his home, he was just a guest here.

At this time, a servant followed behind him, walking closely.

Chen Ji turned around and looked at him: "Why are you following me?"

The servant hurriedly clasped his fists and replied, "The master has arranged for me to come and serve the Third Young Master... He was going to arrange a maid, but it's too late today and we can't find a procurator. Tomorrow the master will send someone to the West Market to find a procurator, and bring the maids in slavery here for you to choose from."

Chen Ji said casually: "Mingquan Garden doesn't need anyone to serve, and there is no need to buy maids. Go out, I want to talk to Master Zhang."

The servant said in embarrassment: "The master said that if it really doesn't work, your original maid will be assigned to you..."

Chen Ji waved his hand and said, "Go out. I won't make things difficult for you. Just repeat my exact words to Master Chen."

When the servant heard the words "Master Chen", his eyelids twitched and he bowed and left.

Chen Ji did not need anyone to serve him. On the one hand, he could take care of himself and was not used to being served. On the other hand, he had just returned to the Chen family, and he was afraid that someone in the mansion might be familiar with his previous living habits and might notice something.

As for his former maid, she was not allowed to stay by her side.

After the servant left, Zhang Zhuo stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, saying in amazement: "Chen Liqin didn't assign the former maids of the Chen Mansion to you because he was worried that Liang would assign her people to your courtyard and secretly make things difficult for you or tip you off. This Lord Chen is actually as clear as a mirror and knows everything."

Zhang Xia muttered, "The Chen family has always been like this, or rather, the Donglin Party has always been like this, saying one thing and thinking another, pretending to be confused when they know the truth."

Zhang Zhuo looked around Mingquan Garden. "Mrs. Liang is really good to her brother. The effort she put into renovating this courtyard is enough to build a new courtyard. No wonder she didn't want you to live here. She must be heartbroken now."

He turned around to look at Chen Ji, only to see Chen Ji bowing deeply and sincerely saying, "Thank you, Master Zhang, for your help."

Zhang Zhuo took two quick steps to help him up: "What are you doing? When the Liu family was in trouble, you stepped forward to save our Zhang family from danger. Helping you with this little thing is nothing. Besides, I have nothing to do today, so coming to Chen's house is really more exciting than going to a play."

Zhang Zheng laughed cheerfully and said, "How can listening to a play be as exciting as acting in one?"

After saying this, he also imitated Chen Ji and bowed deeply: "I didn't have the chance before, but I will thank you in person today. If I can hold a high position in the government in the future, I will definitely reward you generously."

Zhang Zhuo cursed, "You are so stupid that you can't even understand what you read, and yet you're trying to imitate the words in other people's plays? You have no right to be in such a high position!"

Zhang Zheng said aggrievedly, "You are the one who didn't allow me to take the imperial examination. Chen Wenxiao was able to pass the imperial examination and get the second place, so why can't I? Can you ask my second grandfather to help me? I also want to be an official."

Zhang Zhuo laughed angrily: "The bloody storm in the court is more dangerous than the swordplay in the martial arts world. It's for your own good that I don't let you, a fool, become an official."

Zhang Zheng was not angry, but still cheerful: "If you don't want to be an official, then don't be an official. You account for 70% of the intelligence and your sister accounts for 40%. I am okay with being a little stupid."

Zhang Zhuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Do you know how to count? This adds up to eleven points, a total of ten points, where does this extra point come from?"

Zhang Zheng was stunned for a moment: "Ah, really? Then I owe you one point."

Zhang Zhuo sighed: "...You are quite generous."

Chen Ji explained solemnly, "Master Zhang, I am not thanking you for what happened today, but for the Zhang family's cover for the prince and others to leave Ning Dynasty. In this world, the Zhang family is willing to risk their lives to help me, I will definitely remember it in my heart."

Zhang Zhuo sighed, "I have always admired Prince Jing as a person, and helping the prince is not entirely for you. It's not just me, there are also criticisms in the court now."

Chen Ji asked, "What criticism?"

Zhang Zhuo stroked his beard. "There is solid evidence for the Liu family's treason case, but there is no solid evidence for the Jing Wang's treason case. The eunuch party is still looking for the whereabouts of Concubine Yun. As long as Concubine Yun is not found, the Jing Wang will not be convicted. The civil officials in the court all believe that this was a frame-up by the eunuch party. An imperial censor is planning to report to the emperor, asking Your Majesty to re-investigate the case and clear the Jing Wang's name."

Chen Ji remained silent. Perhaps he was the only one who knew where Concubine Yun was now.

After a long while, he asked softly, "Doesn't the blood letter written by the prince in prison prove that he is plotting a rebellion?"

Zhang Zhuo shook his head: "To this day, we still don't know what was written in the blood letter. It is said that the Thousand Years Army was to be mobilized to break out of the prison. But even if it was to break out of the prison, everyone just thought that the prince was just trying to save himself. The crime was not punishable by death, and it was definitely not treason."

Zhang Zhuo turned to look at him: "You returned to the Chen family, do you want to use the power of the Chen family to rescue the princess?" Chen Ji did not answer.

Zhang Zhuo patted him on the shoulder and said, "I'm afraid you think it's a bit simple. If you want to save the princess, you must first vindicate Prince Jing, so that the princess can be freed from the crime. But everyone in the Chen family is good at protecting themselves, and they will not run around for Prince Jing."

Chen Ji said, "Thank you for your concern, Master Zhang. I have my own way."

Zhang Zhuo saw that he didn't want to talk any more, so he stopped asking questions and said earnestly, "I took you to the Zhang Mansion just now. Although it was a show, it was also sincere. Why don't you come to my Zhang family and become my adopted son, or... from now on, your business will be my business. When I enter the cabinet and become a minister, things will eventually turn around."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "How do we transfer?"

Zhang Zhuo looked around and said, "It was His Majesty who wanted to kill the prince, but His Majesty will pass away one day, and that will be the time for a turning point."

Chen Ji was stunned, these words rang in his ears like thunder.

The current emperor calls himself the Emperor of Longevity and devotes himself to practicing Taoism to prolong his life, seeking eternal life. Zhang Zhuo's words are already treasonous.

Chen Ji's eyes were dark and unclear: "How dare Lord Zhang say these words to me? I will just pretend that I heard nothing today."

Zhang Zhuo smiled and looked at the night sky: "You, at such a young age, have too many worries. Your Majesty, can you really become an immortal? If the emperor and generals can't even see through life and death, how can they control such a big country? They are just cowards."

Chen Ji's eyelids twitched slightly: "How does Lord Zhang view life and death?"

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Zhang Zhuo said with a carefree smile: "A coward will die several times in his life. Every time he retreats when faced with setbacks, it is like he dies once. Every time he gives up his ideal, it is like he dies once. But real men like me only die once in our lives. We are much better than them."

When Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zhuo, he suddenly felt a sense of heroism.

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

Chen Liqin came over with big strides, and the servant following behind him was holding a wooden tray with melons and cucumbers on it.

Zhang Zhuo's eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "You, the Chen family, really know how to enjoy life. You were able to get such a rare item in the winter, and you were willing to use it to entertain us. Not bad, not bad!"

Chen Liqin responded indifferently: "It seems that this is the first time that Lord Zhang has praised me."

Zhang Zhuo reached out to take the cucumber: "You deserve praise! You deserve praise!"

Chen Liqin pushed his hand away: "Master Zhang, you are too early to praise me. This is not for you, but for Chen Ji."

It was not easy to grow fruits and vegetables in the Ning Dynasty in winter. After the first snow, the only vegetables ordinary families could see were radishes and cabbages, and fruits were hard to come by.

There was a Tangquan Division in the capital, which was responsible for the hot springs in the suburbs of Beijing. Melons, cucumbers and leeks were planted in the high-temperature caves around the hot springs, commonly known as "Dongzi Goods".

The "Dongzi cucumber" is very small, less than two inches, but one can be sold for thousands of coins. If officials in the capital serve melons and cucumbers when entertaining guests, it is a great honor.

Zhang Zhuo rolled his eyes and asked, "Where did you get these cucumbers? Does the Chen family live such a luxurious life?"

Chen Liqin said casually: "There is a hot spring on Longmen Mountain in Luocheng. I had someone buy a hot spring a long time ago and plant fruits there."

After that, he placed the tray on the stone table in the courtyard and said as gently as possible: "Chen Ji, eat more. If it's not enough, I'll send someone to Longmen Mountain to get fresh food."

Chen Ji did not refuse and bowed his hands to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Master Chen."

Chen Liqin was speechless for a moment.

Zhang Zhuo laughed and said, "Chen Ji, Master Chen has taken great pains for you, but Master Chen may just feel guilty for a while, and his true colors will be revealed in a few days."

Chen Liqin raised his eyebrows and said, "Master Zhang, please stop alienating me and Chen Ji. After all, he is from my Chen family, not your Zhang family."

At this moment, a servant ran in from outside the door and shouted in joy: "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations, sir! Someone from the capital has come with your promotion documents!"

Chen Liqin turned around suddenly: "Really?"

"How dare I lie to you about something like this?" The servant ran into the yard and saw Zhang Zhuo, and hurriedly bowed: "Master Zhang is here too, and your promotion documents have also arrived and are on their way to your house!"

The prefect and the associate prefect of Luocheng are leaving office together.

(End of this chapter)