Aoyama

Chapter 370 Refutation
It was already late at night when they returned to the Chen residence.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Qin Zheng Garden, Chen Ji jumped off the carriage and suddenly turned around and said seriously, "Thank you for your protection tonight, sir."

Si Cao Gui shook his head and said coldly, "There's no need for this. Protecting you is only for the sake of the greater cause."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "I still want to say thank you."

After saying that, he knocked on the side door and went inside.

Si Cao Gui watched the brown wooden door slowly close, leaning against the car, seemingly lost in thought.

Inside the Chen residence, Chen Ji walked along the bluestone path and saw in the distance that the lights in the Ginkgo Garden were still on and the gate was open.

Come to the door.

Neither Xiaoman nor the little monk were in the courtyard. He saw Chen Liqin sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, his right arm resting on the stone table, supporting his forehead.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Liqin slowly raised his head: "Why are you only coming back now?"

Chen Liqin's dark complexion was flushed with wine, and his eyes were slightly unfocused, indicating that he had been drinking.

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Has Lord Chen been waiting here for a long time?"

Chen Liqin didn't exchange pleasantries with him and directly instructed, "Pack your things. I'll be transferred to Jinling as the Assistant Magistrate in the next few days. You'll be coming with me to Jinling. Don't bring too much; we can buy whatever we need when we get there."

Jinling was the founding capital of the Ning Dynasty, but the capital was later moved to Beijing to defend against the Jing Dynasty. The Jinling Tongzhi (assistant prefect) was different from those in other places; he was a fourth-rank official.

Chen Ji cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations on your promotion, Lord Chen, but I am only a centurion in the Imperial Guard and I am afraid I cannot leave."

Chen Liqin stood up: "It's alright, you have Zhang Zhuo to look after you, he will handle the transfer order for you."

Chen Ji remained silent.

Seeing that Chen Ji remained unmoved, Chen Liqin softened his tone and advised, "Everyone says that the capital is prosperous, but in fact, Nanjing is even more prosperous. There, merchants from all over gather, wine flags hang high, the city is paved with huge stones for more than forty miles, every neighborhood has a theater, Pipa Lane is filled with the sound of strings day and night, and Jubao Gate is bustling with carriages and horses..."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Lord Chen, I did not stay because of the prosperity of the capital."

Chen Liqin changed his story again: "There are also skilled ballad singers there, and at night, thousands of painted boats pass by on the Qinhuai River, each boat housing dozens of famous courtesans..."

Chen Ji shook his head and interrupted, "Lord Chen, this isn't your style of speaking, so there's no need for such clumsy persuasion. I know what you mean, but I can't leave."

Chen Liqin, drunk, said, "What do you know? You know nothing! Do you know about the decades-long feud between the first and second branches of the family? There are too many grievances and disputes involved, and it's absolutely not something you can get involved in! I've told you many times, don't get involved in the affairs between the first and second branches of the family. If they go crazy, they'll kill people!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Ji saw two shadows appear in the window of the main room, one with two buns on its head, and the other with smooth, round hair...

The two men pressed their ears against the window, as if they wanted to tear the paper window to listen.

Chen Ji kindly reminded Chen Liqin, "Lord Chen, please calm down and don't be impatient. Don't let others laugh at you."

Chen Liqin took a few deep breaths and slowly said, "If they want to fight, let them fight. The second branch of the family, Chen Lizhi, is vicious, but isn't the first branch just as cunning? The first branch has its own messy affairs that never end. Why are you getting involved in this muddy water? Take my advice and come with me to Jinling. Don't come back for the next few years."

Chen Ji shook his head: "No."

Chen Liqin was furious: "You have no choice but to come with me."

Chen Ji calmly replied, "Lord Chen, I still have matters to attend to in the capital."

Chen Liqin suddenly sneered, "What do you want? Don't you think you've latched onto Zhang Zhuo's coattails? But let me tell you plainly, Zhang Zhuo doesn't have the final say on Miss Zhang's marriage. It's his wife who has the final say. How could that woman let her daughter marry a son of a concubine? Unless you marry into the Zhang family!"

Inside the window, Xiaoman's shadow suddenly straightened up, as if she was about to rush into the courtyard. The little monk held her tightly from behind, preventing her from entering the courtyard.

Chen Ji calmly said, "Lord Chen misspoke after drinking. You should go back and rest early."

Chen Liqin said earnestly, "I sent you to Jinling, clearly for your own good..."

Chen Ji suddenly interrupted, "Why does Lord Chen have to act so concerned about me? Back at Prince Jing's residence, you chose Chen Wenxiao, not me."

Chen Liqin stood there, stunned: "You...how did you know? Did Zhang Zhuo tell you? Or Zhang Xia?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Lord Chen, I have no other intentions and I am not saddened by this. I just want to tell you that you have only been worried about being implicated from the beginning. You are a wise person who knows how to protect yourself. Just go to Jinling. Don't worry, I will not implicate you."

Chen Liqin flew into a rage: "I'm trying to protect myself? I just don't want to waste my time on the Chen family's messy affairs. Wouldn't it be better to keep my useful life to benefit the people?"

"To benefit the people?" Chen Ji pondered. "Lord Chen, where were you when the people of Guyuan were in imminent danger?"

Chen Liqin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He hid on the roof of the Dragon Gate Inn.

Chen Ji stared directly at Chen Liqin: "When Lord Chen was protecting himself in Guyuan, Brother Wen Zong still dared to angrily denounce the Jing Dynasty traitors... Does Lord Chen still remember the half of the people who died in Guyuan? Does Lord Chen still remember the thirty-four members of the Chen family who were poisoned at Guyuan Post Station? Lord Chen has probably forgotten, but I haven't forgotten, and neither has Brother Wen Zong. That's why he locked himself in the garden day and night to study and never went out."

Chen Liqin hesitated and said, "I didn't either..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ji bowed deeply to Chen Liqin and said, "Lord Chen, please wait. I must fight for this adoption."

After seeing Chen Liqin off, Chen Ji pushed open the door to the main room. Xiao Man and the little monk suddenly turned their backs. Xiao Man pulled out a rag from somewhere and pretended to wipe the table.

The young monk closed his eyes, holding a string of prayer beads in his hand, silently reciting the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra. Chen Ji said irritably, "Alright, stop pretending."

Xiaoman quickly threw down the rag and said with a grin, "Young Master has finally refuted the Third Master. You should have refuted him a long time ago. My aunt said years ago that the Third Master has great ambitions and speaks eloquently, but he is all talk and no action."

The little monk opened his eyes.

Before she could finish speaking, Xiaoman snapped, "Close your eyes!"

The little monk obediently closed his eyes again.

Chen Ji was taken aback: "What's going on?"

Xiaoman hesitated and said, "This monk has telepathy; he can see through people's thoughts just by looking at them. It's terrifying. Young master, why did you bring such a monk home? Quickly send him back to Yuanjue Temple, otherwise my... your secrets will be seen through by him."

Chen Ji laughed out loud, "It's alright, I'm not afraid. Little monk, open your eyes, it's alright."

The little monk had just opened his eyes when Xiaoman closed them again. She groped her way towards the door: "Young master, I'll go boil some water for you to wash your face... Oh!"

Xiaoman, with her eyes closed, tripped over the threshold and almost fell.

"Are you alright?" The little monk ran over to help Xiaoman up with an innocent look on his face.

Xiaoman panicked and ran towards the side room, yelling, "Ahhh, don't come any closer!"

Once the room quieted down, Chen Ji asked, puzzled, "Were you teasing her on purpose?"

The young monk clasped his hands together, his expression devout: "Amitabha, I've been playing all day."

Chen Ji: "...You're no pushover either. Alright, go to sleep."

He lay on the bed fully clothed, but couldn't fall asleep. His mind was filled with thoughts of the struggle with the second wife and the things he needed to do.

……

……

Chen Liqin wandered aimlessly through Qinzheng Garden until he returned to his residence, Qingzhu Garden, before coming to his senses.

Madam Liang came out from the main room to greet them and instructed her maid to bring them hot water.

She dampened a handkerchief with hot water and said, "Did you have a social engagement today, sir? I told the kitchen to make a hangover soup with green plums and lotus seeds. It will be served to you in a little while."

Chen Liqin looked at her profile and instructed, "Madam, I'm being transferred to Jinling. Pack your things and come with me. Once we get to Jinling, we'll get you a bigger house so you won't have to put up with other people's attitudes here in Qinzheng Garden."

Liang's movements suddenly froze, her hands still immersed in the water, forgetting to wring out the handkerchief.

Chen Liqin loosened the collar of his robe and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

Lady Liang lowered her eyes: "Master, you should go to Jinling. Wenzong is about to take the imperial examination, and I must stay in the capital to take care of him."

Chen Liqin said in a deep voice, "He's grown up now and doesn't need you to take care of him."

Madam Liang raised her head and said gently, "My lord, he is my only child, and he is all I can rely on in this life. I must stay by his side. Jinling is a long way away, so I will have the servants prepare your luggage later. The carriage cushions will also need to be thicker, and we will also bring some books for you to read on the road..."

Chen Liqin was about to persuade her again when he heard Madam Liang say in a low voice, "Master, have you forgotten how Wenxiao was killed by Yao Man and Chen Ji? I can't sleep at night. Every time I close my eyes, I see Wenxiao as a child, hugging my knees and calling 'Mother.' He said he was in pain and that he was cold... Master, you should leave. I must avenge this."

Chen Liqin was stunned for a long time before slowly lowering his hands: "Fine, fine, I'll go to Jinling alone. You all stay in the capital and kill each other out."

He staggered into the house, and when Liang tried to help him, he pushed her away.

Liang ignored him and stood still in the courtyard, watching Chen Liqin enter the house.

With a thud, Chen Liqin slammed the door shut. Madam Liang stood in the courtyard for a long time before dismissing the maids and servants and heading towards the second house.

……

……

Chessboard Street.

A carriage stopped in front of Bianyifang. The driver knocked on the door, and someone inside opened it and came out, standing in front of the carriage and clasping his hands in greeting, "Master has finally returned to the capital."

The driver used a bamboo stick to lift the curtain, revealing a woman in black sitting inside.

The woman, wearing a black veiled hat, calmly asked, "What important matter has come up lately?"

The man standing under the carriage said nervously, "Reporting to the master, Xiao Jiu was blinded by money and accidentally lost 400,000 salt permits from the border areas. Chen Yue of the Chen Family Salt Company promised to lend him 400,000 salt permits, and return them in full after the matter was settled, plus a commission of 20,000 taels of silver. Now the Chen Family Salt Company's matter has not been settled, and the 400,000 salt permits that were sold at a low price will not be recovered."

The woman asked calmly, "Where is Xiao Jiu?"

The man bowed his head and reported, "I'm being beaten by Third Master while he's hanging me from the roof beam."

The woman lifted her skirt and got out of the car, walking towards Bianyifang: "What's the use of fighting? Getting those 400,000 salt permits back is the important thing. I've never done a losing business in my life."

(End of this chapter)