Aoyama

Chapter 343 Trap
"Which forty-nine levels are they?"

"Eastern Kunlun, Western Kunlun, Yujing Mountain, Northern Juluzhou, Southern Zhanzhou, Great Western Paradise, Small Western Paradise, the Five Turbid Evil Worlds... Uncle Xu Shu mentioned them, but there are too many for me to remember."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Isn't there any record in Yuanjue Temple?"

The young monk explained: "The records related to the forty-nine heavens should all be in the most important seventh floor of the Sutra Library. They usually don't let me in, and they don't allow me to ask questions."

Chen Ji sat on the grass, leaning against a thick bamboo: "Did Master Xu Shu tell me how to return to the forty-ninth heaven?"

The little monk said as a matter of course: "Yes."

Chen Ji sat up straight suddenly: "What's going on?"

The young monk lowered his head and stroked the grass leaves on the ground, his fingertips slowly moving across the grass leaves: "As long as you practice to the divine realm, you can return to the forty-ninth heaven."

Chen Ji was surprised: "It's that simple?"

The little monk looked up in surprise: "It's not easy. It's hard to cultivate to the divine realm."

"No, no, no, what I mean is, the method to return to the Forty-Ninth Heaven is so... straightforward," Chen Ji frowned again, "No, no, since one can return to the Forty-Ninth Heaven by cultivating to the Divine Dao Realm, why are Lu Yang from the Jingchao Martial Temple and the disciple of the Huangshan Dao Court still in the human world?"

The young monk said, "It can only be done if they are in harmony with the Tao. If there is still one person in this world who practices the same way as them, then their practice will not be complete and they will not be able to ascend."

Chen Ji muttered to himself, "No wonder it is called the Divine Realm... These officials are already living gods."

Now he knows the method to return to the forty-ninth heaven, but if he wants to go back to his hometown, he must cultivate to the divine realm and then kill Lu Yang, or other mountain kings.

Before he could speak, the little monk carefully reminded him, "I'm afraid that the headmaster of the Martial Temple, Lu Yang, might be a little difficult to kill..."

Chen Ji woke up in shock.

This feeling of having all your secrets known to others is indeed a bit uncomfortable.

When the young monk saw Chen Ji's expression, he realized that he was answering Chen Ji's inner thoughts.

He slowly lowered his head: "I also want to try not to show that he can read minds, so that you won't worry, but I can't help it..."

Chen Ji smiled and patted his shoulder: "You won't tell anyone anyway, don't worry, I'm not afraid."

The bamboo forest sways.

In the cool breeze, the little monk turned his head and looked into Chen Ji's eyes. There are many people in this world who say one thing and mean another. What they say is one thing, and what they think is another.

But Chen Ji, his heart and mouth are consistent.

The little monk was delighted: "You are really not afraid!"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Why are you so happy? Prince Jing, the Crown Prince, and the Princess are not afraid of you."

The little monk shook his head: "They are protected by the dynasty's luck, so they are not worried. But you are different, you are really not afraid."

At this moment, the sound of dry bamboo leaves being crushed came from behind the two of them.

The sound was fragmented and particularly abrupt.

Chen Ji turned around suddenly, and saw two figures in the distance quietly approaching with their skirts lifted.

He slowly stood up and casually broke off a bamboo branch: "Who?"

After being discovered, the person no longer hid himself and swaggered through the bamboo forest to Chen Ji.

Qi Zhaoning led the maid and stood one step in front of Chen Ji, looking him up and down: "Hey, I heard from my brother that you are proficient in all eighteen kinds of weapons, is that true?"

Chen Ji took a step back and said, "Miss Qi San, you are a member of the Qi family, and I am an outsider. It is better not to meet in private."

Qi Zhaoning didn't care at all: "This is my Qi Mansion, who dares to say those gossips? Let me ask you, are the military exploits written in the memorial by the Crown Prince true?"

Chen Ji said calmly: "It's fake."

Qi Zhaoning was slightly disappointed: "It's fake..."

She thought again, "But it doesn't matter. We don't have to fight. My brother-in-law comes back from training every day sweating profusely. I can smell his sweat from a distance. It's so uncivilized. Let me ask you, the one in the Four Dreams of Bianliang singing about you and Princess Baili..."

Chen Ji lowered his eyes slightly: "It's also fake."

The little monk turned his head and looked at Chen Ji quietly.

It turns out that the mountain was not that high from the first day, but was piled up little by little every day with pieces of small and rough stones.

It piled up into a mountain.

Qi Zhaoning was startled. "Ah, is this a story made up in a storybook? But everyone says that you have led the princess's horse."

Chen Ji explained, "That day, Prince Jing wanted to lead my horse to thank me for saving the prince in Longwangtun. How could I, an apprentice in a medical clinic, really let the prince lead my horse? So I turned around and led the horse for Princess Baili, so that we could all save face."

Qi Zhaoning's eyes lit up. "So that's what happened. But don't call him Prince in front of outsiders. The man who plotted treason has been stripped of his title by His Majesty. Calling him Prince is the same crime as treason. And the same goes for Princess Baili. She is not a princess now. She is just a nun in Jingyang Palace. She will never be able to leave in this life."

Chen Ji suddenly clenched the bamboo stick in his hand.

The young monk was afraid of something happening, so he quickly pulled Chen Ji's arm and said, "Let's go, your colleagues are still waiting for you, don't keep them waiting..."

Before he could finish his words, a servant came running along the winding path and shouted from a distance, "Young Master Chen!"

Chen Ji frowned and looked over: "What's wrong?"

The servant came closer, panting, "Master Chen, the master sent someone to tell me that after the court refused to send troops to Goryeo today, all 117 Goryeo envoys in Mixiang, Dongjiang, committed suicide by swallowing poison. Now the Secret Service is investigating who sent the poison to the Goryeo envoys, and has taken away many clerks from the six ministries and civilians. Something big is going to happen in the capital, all Yulin troops should return to the governor's office as soon as possible to wait for the order, and don't let anyone find any evidence against them."

The so-called uncle is Qi Xianshu, the head of the Qi family's main house, the father of Qi Chenzhuo and Qi Chenwu, and Li Xuan's father-in-law.

It was as if there was a huge bronze bell in Chen Ji's mind.

Suicide by taking poison?

This was not suicide by taking poison, but poisoning by Jingchao Military Intelligence Department!

Only then did Chen Ji realize that the wooden box he handed over to the secretary contained poison used to kill the Goryeo envoys.

It's strange. The Secret Service searched everyone at the time and didn't find anyone smuggling the poison. How did the clerk bring the poison back to Huitong Hall?

What puzzled Chen Ji even more was why the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department wanted to kill the Goryeo envoy?

and many more!

Chen Ji was startled and turned around and left: "Little monk, go back to Yuanjue Temple first. I will find a way to rescue you another day."

……

……

When Chen Ji rushed to the outside of Hanbi Mountain House, he heard Qi Chenzhuo in the main hall saying with great excitement: "I saw that Buddhist disciple Wuzhai spit out a mouthful of blood and fell from the realm of seeking the Tao on the spot..."

Chen Ji suddenly opened the door and interrupted, "Everyone follow me!"

During the banquet, the Yulin Army turned around and looked.

Qi Chenzhuo asked doubtfully, "What's wrong, Master?"

Chen Ji said in a serious tone: "All the Korean envoys committed suicide by taking poison. We must now return to the Yulin Army Commander's Office to await the emperor's order!"

Li Xuan's expression changed, and he immediately stood up and walked out: "Let's go!"

The Yulin soldiers stood up in a panic, knocking over several tables, and the wine and dishes were scattered all over the floor.

They filed out of the side door of the Qi Mansion, turned onto Chang'an Street along the Right Street of the Mansion, and ran all the way. Duobao couldn't hold his liquor well, so he squatted on the bluestone street and vomited halfway through the run.

Li Xuan shouted in a low voice: "Carry him and carry him!" More than thirty people hurried on their way. Before they arrived at the Yulin Army Governor's Mansion, more than ten Jiefanwei wearing bamboo hats and straw raincoats came to meet them on horseback.

On the Chang'an Street in the dark night, the python that stretched over the shoulders of Jie Fanwei was looming under his straw raincoat. The first person put his hand on the hilt of the knife and asked in a stern voice, "Who is coming?"

Li Xuan took out the bronze medallion of the Yulin Army: "Yulin Army!"

Jie Fanwei narrowed his eyes to check the bronze medal. After confirming that it was correct, he glanced at the drunken faces of the crowd, sneered, and rode his horse to make way: "Go to the Governor's Mansion quickly and wait for orders. You are not allowed to leave the camp without being summoned!"

At this moment, the guards at the nine gates of the capital beat drums at the same time, and the drum sounds spread to every corner of the city. The cavalry of the Five Cities Military Department galloped in the inner city, shouting at the top of their lungs: "According to the imperial decree, clear the streets immediately, and arrest those who violate the order!"

curfew.

There hasn't been a curfew in the capital for a long time.

The Yulin Army lowered their heads and hurried into the Governor's Mansion. As soon as they entered the gate, they saw Wu Xuan Ge leading the Left Guards, all of whom were wearing silver armor and wiping their weapons on the training ground.

The white feathers above the heads of the Zuo Xiaowei Yulin Army swayed in the breeze, and the cold edge of their spears was illuminated by the moonlight.

Wu Xuan Ge heard the footsteps and looked up: "Lord Li is quite elegant. If the envoys of Jing Dynasty come south someday, Lord Li can go to compete in drinking. If he wins, it will be a glory for our dynasty."

Qi Zhuozhuo was about to argue, but was forcibly dragged into the armory of the Governor's Office by Li Xuan.

Duo Bao barely held on: "Commander-in-chief, he is just a commander..."

Li Xuan turned around and glared at him: "Is he wrong? Regardless of the purpose of Wu Xuan Ge coming to my Yulin Army, he is the real elite of my Ning Dynasty. Don't be unconvinced, correct your mistakes, learn from others. Today's mistake is mine, not yours, I will reflect on myself."

The Yulin Army was silent.

Li Xuan put on his body armor, chest armor, and arm armor, and when he was tying the straps, he suddenly said, "Everyone, quit drinking from today on. Don't break the rules unless you win a great victory. Forget about the military exploits we made in Guyuan. Try to be more worthy and don't let others look down on you!"

The Yulin soldiers were delighted: "Yes!"

Li Xuan turned to look at Chen Ji: "What do you think of what happened tonight?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I don't know either. Let's wait for the imperial court's order."

He put on his armor, held his spear upside down and walked out of the governor's mansion, standing alone in front of the gate.

Chen Ji looked through the Chengtian Gate in the north and looked towards the vermilion Wumen Gate. He saw countless Jiefan Guards on the city walls. On Chang'an Street in front of Chengtian Gate, hundreds of Jiefan Guards dressed in dragon robes stood in formation with torches held high.

The torch is like a dragon, separating the north and the south.

The fire dragon shone on the officials' sedan chairs as they rose and fell in front of the Meridian Gate, and officials summoned into the palace came in an endless stream.

It broke the sky.

Li Xuan came to Chen Ji's side, and Chen Ji asked in a low voice: "Master Li, what do you think about this matter?"

Li Xuan thought for a moment and replied: "Either the Chen family or the Xu family."

Chen Ji was startled: "Why do you say that?"

Li Xuan said: "During the discussion in Ning Dynasty, only two ministers wanted to send troops to fight against Jing, one is Chen and the other is Xu. It's because Chen family holds Dongying Port and Xu family holds Qidong Port. Their merchant ships sailed across the ocean, using Goryeo as a springboard to trade with Japan, and plundered silver from Japan and flowed into Ning Dynasty."

Li Xuan continued, "Goryeo has always had an ambiguous relationship with our dynasty and Jing Dynasty. In the early years, they also did things that stabbed our dynasty in the back. After all, they are across the sea from our dynasty, and the land is not adjacent. So Elder Qi and Elder Hu don't care about their life or death. Only the Chen family and the Xu family are determined to save Goryeo."

Chen Ji's heart sank. No wonder these debates in the Heavenly Court had not yielded any results.

But now everyone thought that it was the Goryeo envoy who committed suicide by taking poison. However, Chen Ji knew that this matter had nothing to do with the Chen family or the Xu family. It was the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department who wanted to poison the Goryeo envoy!

Chen Ji frowned, a sense of crisis lingering in his heart.

This time, what Si Caogui asked him to do was not only a test of his loyalty to the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department, but also forced him to hand in his surrender. As long as this matter existed, Chen Ji would never betray Jing and surrender to Ning, otherwise he would die.

Not only that, this plan also made the court officials suspicious of each other, and even the Chen and Xu families might be suspicious of each other.

Chen Ji slowly closed his eyes and reviewed the situation.

He personally handed the poison to the clerk of Huitong Hall. Will the poison be traced back to him?

will not.

At this time, everyone thought that the Goryeo envoy had committed suicide by taking poison in order to force the Ning Dynasty to send troops to Goryeo.

Although Chen Ji is also a member of the Chen family, even if everyone suspects the Chen family, they would not suspect him. After all, everyone knows that his discord with the Chen family has been made public, and even Jin Zhu would not think of him.

In addition, there were at least 800 people in Qipan Street and Dongjiang Rice Lane, if not 1,000, all of whom were officials and clerks who had just finished their work. Everyone was a suspect. If the Secret Service had followed its habit, they would have re-screened everyone who was present at the time, but Chen Ji was not among them.

After finishing his thought, Chen Ji slowly opened his eyes.

So the question is why did Jing Dynasty poison the Goryeo envoy? There is only one reason, Jing Dynasty wanted to force Ning Dynasty to send troops.

Chen Ji took a deep breath.

It's a trap.

The Goryeo envoys wanted the Ning Dynasty to send troops to fight against Jing, but Jing did the opposite and used the same trick on the Ning Dynasty, also wanting it to send troops.

There must be a trap waiting.

……

……

At this moment, the sound of hurried horse hooves came from a distance.

Chen Ji stood in front of the gate and looked up. It was Xuanshe who led more than a hundred secret spies and rode aggressively towards the Yulin Army Governor's Mansion!
He was startled and subconsciously clenched the spear in his hand. His mind raced as he wondered if there was anything he had overlooked that led the black snake here.

The next moment, Xuanshe, with a calm face, rode his horse into the Yulin Army Governor's Mansion.

After the spy behind him entered the camp, he immediately dismounted and closed the gate of the Governor's Mansion: "Seal off the Yulin Army Governor's Mansion to prevent anyone from escaping!"

Chen Ji clasped his fists and said, "Master Xuanshe, may I ask what the Yulin Army has done?"

The black snake glanced at him, sneered but did not answer.

The parade ground was silent. He, dressed in a black cloak, rode his horse slowly into the center of the Yulin Army. The sound of horse hooves was neither fast nor slow, but it seemed to step on everyone's heart.

When Xuanshe passed by Li Xuan, he looked down at him and sneered, "Master Li is really careless. What's the matter? Did you just come back from drinking?"

Li Xuan was silent for two breaths: "Xuan Snake, if you have any problems, just come to me. Whether it is exile or imprisonment, it is my business alone and has nothing to do with others."

Xuanshe said softly, "Such a big thing, I'm afraid Lord Li can't handle it alone."

The Yulin Army was facing a formidable enemy. Qi Chenzhuo said in a serious tone, "I have been imprisoned twice, so I am not afraid of the third time. But if you want to put us in prison without any explanation, my Qi family will not let it go."

Xuanshe glanced at Qi Zhuo nonchalantly and said, "The Qi family has such great power that I am a little scared. But my visit this time has nothing to do with you. Please get out of the way."

Qi Chenzhuo was stunned.

Xuanshe shouted, "Detain Wu Xuange and his men in the Governor's Mansion alone and interrogate them one by one!"

Chen Ji slowly loosened his grip on the spear, and Wu Xuan Ge shouted angrily, "Xuan Snake, what are you doing?"

Xuanshe smiled and said, "When the incident happened, you were the first to arrive at Dongjiang Mixiang. Something is fishy. I suspect that the poison that the Korean envoys took was given to them by you."

Wu Xuan Ge frowned: "We are the imperial guards. Someone on Qipan Street is deliberately causing chaos. We should go there immediately to quell the chaos. What's wrong with that?"

Xuanshe stretched out his hand from his black cloak and looked down nonchalantly to see if his nails were neatly trimmed. "I also want to believe that Commander Wu is innocent..."

At this point, he looked up at Wu Xuan Ge and smiled grimly, "But I believe more in the confession I got from the interrogation."

(End of this chapter)