Aoyama

Chapter 494 Arrangements for Funerals
For some reason, Chen Ji felt a strange sense of warmth and security as soon as Aunt Ping's voice came out.

It seemed that it was because the other party had a brilliant plan in Changping County and had repeatedly helped him escape, or it seemed that it was for something else.

Chen Ji walked around Aunt Ping, looking her up and down by the light shining from the windows of Mei Rui Lou, and exclaimed in amazement: "Aunt Ping is really skilled. This disguise is so good that I can't recognize her at all."

Madam Lu straightened up, her back no longer hunched: "This is not my skill, but a path to officialdom called 'Colorful Face,' created by a remarkable person in the Jing Dynasty."

Chen Ji asked curiously, "Are there many people who have mastered this technique?"

Madam Lu shook her head: "Not many. As far as I know, one faction is in the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Bureau, and the other is in Deng Huo. Each time they disguise themselves, the cost is high, so it's not easy to pull off."

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "What price?"

Lu said casually, "To kill someone who loves you deeply, you need to take their blood."

Chen Ji was startled.

Lu smiled and said, "I was just kidding you. That's a method used by the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Bureau. They can change your appearance at this price, and even your voice will be changed. It's seamless. My method, the Lantern Fire method, is a step down. I still need to disguise my voice and figure myself, but the cost is much lower."

Chen Ji remained calm. He always felt that Deng Huo and Jing Chao had some connection. Otherwise, how could Deng Huo's caravan penetrate deep into the heart of Jing Chao and have the same official connections as the Military Intelligence Bureau?

Aunt Ping seemed to be very familiar with the workings of the Military Intelligence Bureau.

He probed, "Aunt Ping seems to know a lot about the Military Intelligence Bureau?"

Madam Lu became serious and changed the subject: "What brings you to my lamplight today?"

After confirming that there were no outsiders around, Chen Ji said sincerely, "I was grateful for Aunt Ping's help in Changping before. Now it is time to repay this favor. I am willing to help Deng Huo find Si Cao Ding and clear General Wen Tao's name."

This time it was Lu's turn to scrutinize Chen Ji: "You've been back in Beijing from Changping for a while now, and I haven't seen you mention this matter to me again. I thought you were going to renege on your debt. Why are you suddenly bringing it up again today?"

Chen Ji said sincerely, "I went to Chongli Pass as soon as I came back from Changping, and I haven't had a chance to do anything since."

Madam Lu smiled enigmatically: "I understand. It seems you've run into trouble, and this trouble is related to the Jing Dynasty's Military Intelligence Bureau. What, are you worried they might harm Princess Liyang?"

Chen Ji remained sincere and said, "I mainly want to repay Aunt Ping for the favor she did for me before."

Madam Lu turned to leave: "The more unwilling you are to tell the truth, the more dangerous the truth is. If you can't be honest with me, Deng Huo, I won't risk so many lives to be your weapon."

"Aunt Ping."

Lu stopped in his tracks.

This time, Chen Ji said seriously, "Repaying the favor to Deng Huo is not an empty promise. Even if my own life is worthless, Deng Huo's Third Master Hu saved Zhang Xia and the little monk's lives in Baidadan City. This favor must be repaid sooner or later, and I will definitely help Deng Huo find Si Cao Ding."

Madam Lu turned to look at him: "Why is your life worthless?"

Chen Ji ignored these words and continued, "Now that Princess Li Yang has come to Ning Dynasty, the Military Intelligence Bureau will never allow Yuan Cheng to return to Jing Dynasty smoothly. We can take advantage of this. But before that, there is someone who must be killed."

Madam Lu frowned: "Who?"

Chen Ji did not directly mention Si Cao Gui, but instead said cryptically, "We'll only know when he appears... but I have another request."

Lu remained noncommittal: "Tell me about it."

Chen Ji pointed to the Plum Blossom Pavilion on the side: "This Plum Blossom Ferry is now run by the Gelaohui (a secret society), and Erdao (another secret society) is my good friend. Both of them are poor peasants with no one to rely on. If something happens to me one day, and they are implicated and also purged, I ask Deng Huo to lend a helping hand and help them smuggle themselves to Jingchao and send them to Princess Liyang. If Xiaoman is also purged, send Xiaoman away as well."

Madam Lu subconsciously turned to look at Mei Rui Lou: "Why do I feel like you're preparing for your funeral? What kind of thing requires you to arrange things in advance?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It's just better to be prepared."

After a moment's thought, Madam Lu said, "Alright, I promise you."

Just then, a thud came from the second floor of Mei Rui Tower, and Chen Ji's heart skipped a beat.

The two were in the shadows behind Mei Rui Lou, and if they wanted to go upstairs to check, they would have to go around to the main entrance.

But then Lu placed his hands on his waist and said, "Go."

Chen Ji tacitly stepped on the other's palm, flipped over and jumped onto the second-floor window. He squatted on the window frame and stared blankly at Princess Li Yang lying unconscious on the wooden floor.

He hesitated and said, "This is..."

The man, without changing his expression, brushed off non-existent dust from his shoulders: "I have fulfilled my mission."

Chen Ji: "..." He shouted downstairs, "Xiaoman!"

There was a thumping sound coming from the stairs, and Xiaoman poked her head out from the top of the stairs: "What's wrong, young master?"

Chen Ji instructed, "Carry her onto the carriage and return to the meeting hall."

Xiaoman glanced at the table: "I haven't even eaten a few bites of the hot dishes."

Chen Ji said irritably, "Why don't you sit here and eat for a while?"

Xiaoman shrank back: "No need, no need."

She carried Princess Liyang on her back and walked outside. When she reached the back door, she saw that Madam Lu had returned to her old and hunched appearance and was sitting in the coachman's seat.

"Get in the car," Lu said in a hoarse voice.

Xiaoman turned to look at Chen Ji, who nodded. Xiaoman carried Princess Liyang into the carriage, where he sat next to Madam Lu. Madam Lu gently shook the reins, and the carriage slowly moved forward.

Lu glanced at the Imperial Guards in plain clothes around her: "If the Military Intelligence Bureau really wants to take action, they can't protect you. I'll handle it."

Chen Ji suddenly felt relieved and smiled, "Thank you."

The carriage swayed and rattled through Zhengyang Gate, but before the procession even reached the Huitong Hall, a loud chorus could be heard from afar.

Li Xuan suddenly spurred his horse forward and stood in front of the carriage, saying, "Be careful."

The bluestone path outside Dongjiangmi Lane was filled with people. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that hundreds of scholars and literati were sitting on the ground, singing the triumphant song of the Ning Dynasty army: "...The living pick up broken halberds, the dead entrust their lives to the cuckoo. We wish to use our bodies to protect the peace of the country!"

As the carriage approached, the scholars and literati stopped singing and stood up to block the carriage. Lin Chaojing, the newly appointed Jinshi and a Hanlin Bachelor, stood at the front and said loudly: "This scoundrel Yuancheng has a blood feud with our dynasty. Chen Ji, the magistrate of Wuxiang County, accepted bribes from Jingchao and tried to release the tiger back into the mountains. His crimes are heinous!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scholars and literati behind Lin Chaojing began to clamor: "Strip him of his title and exile him to Lingnan!"

The furnace fire inside Chen Ji's body, which had originally turned bright yellow, was gradually fading in color, turning from bright yellow to true red, and then from true red to light red.

This didn't happen in an instant; it began the night he took the blame for Zhang Zhuo at Renshou Palace.

It was as if some immense force was being slowly drawn out of his body by this world, completely negating the changes brought about by the Four Dreams of Bianliang.

Li Xuan's brows furrowed tightly as he turned to Chen Ji: "Should I go and chase them away?"

Chen Ji calmly said, "Ignore them. Let them say what they want. These scholars are timid and know their place. They wouldn't dare to offend the procession. Let's continue on our way."

The carriage continued to move slowly, and when it came to the scholars, the other side automatically parted to let the procession pass.

The scholars and intellectuals shouted themselves hoarse, some even pressing their faces almost against Chen Ji's cheek as they cursed.

Lu turned to look at Chen Ji, but Chen Ji's expression remained unchanged, as if none of this existed, allowing himself to be condemned by everyone.

But at that moment, a woman's voice shouted from inside the carriage: "Assassination attempt! Someone is attempting an assassination! Catch the assassin!"

"what!"

The sharp sound actually drowned out the curses of the scholars, as if the assassin had already entered the carriage and was about to kill Princess Liyang on the spot.

The scholars looked at each other in bewilderment, then turned and ran away, none of them wanting to get involved in the case of the assassination of the Jing Dynasty envoy.

In the blink of an eye, Dongjiang Rice Alley was completely empty.

Chen Ji frowned. Where did this assassin come from? There wasn't one at all.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Princess Liyang exhaled a breath of alcohol, laughing drunkenly as she said, "Look, these are the scholars of your Southern Dynasty. Cowardly as mice, they all run away at the slightest fright."

Madam Lu turned around and looked at Princess Liyang, a strange light flashing in her eyes.

Chen Ji calmly said, "Your Highness would be better off not joking about assassination, otherwise no one will take it seriously next time."

Princess Liyang chuckled foolishly, "Lord Chen, why don't you come with me to the Jing Dynasty? With your abilities, you'll be promoted to a high-ranking position in no time. What's so great about the Southern Dynasty? It's full of spineless cowards..."

Worried that she might reveal the secrets of the sword seed sect, Chen Ji quickly pushed her forehead and shoved her back into the carriage: "Xiaoman, keep an eye on her, don't let her talk nonsense again."

Xiaoman quickly responded with an "eh," and tightly covered Princess Liyang's mouth.

(End of this chapter)